by Amy Redwood
Her hands that had been perfectly dry, now felt slick. A ripple went through her and she straightened her spine, pulled her legs into her, opened her thighs. Arousal was easily winning the battle against her nervousness. The headboard pressed into her back and she jumped slightly when he lightly touched her shoulder.
“Lean forward but keep your eyes closed.”
Something slid behind the small of her back and when he gently pushed her backward, she found herself resting against a pillow. “Better?” he asked, his hand settling on the crown of her head.
She nodded, feeling how he curled one finger into her hair, gave a slight tug. He trailed lower and let his hand wander over her shoulder down to her breast. When he finally cupped her into his palm, the pad of his thumb flicking over her nipple, she let out a moan of longing.
Last night, she had gathered the foiled condoms, which he had scattered all over the bed, and placed them on the bedside table. Hopefully, he’d put them to good use tonight.
He squeezed her nipple, hard, and a jolt of liquid heat shot into her belly. Her clit awakened with need and she arched into his hand around her breast. “I love the sounds you make when I touch you,” he said, and then, regrettably, stopped touching her.
She heard a dull thud, a faint scraping over the carpet and the familiar squeaking the desk chair made when someone leaned back against it. She suspected that he’d pushed her clothes from the chair, placed it next to the bed and sat down. But if she opened her eyes to check, he’d leave.
“I want you to touch yourself,” he said, his voice so quiet she strained to hear him, “while I watch.”
Her heart skipped a beat, but she let her hand dip between her legs. A low groan came from his throat, however soft, but she’d heard it. She wondered if his eyes were still dark, or if they had that odd yellow light at their depths.
He’d leave if she opened her eyes to check.
She closed her eyes tighter as she traced her fingers over her pussy. She was wet, her folds swollen with want, and when she began stroking her clit, she rocked her hips against her hand, a low moan at the back of her throat. Knowing he watched her should have made her self-conscious, but it didn’t. When she spread her legs wider, she heard that his breathing picked up, just a notch, but it made her ready to come. The chair squeaked slightly, and she imaged him shifting on the seat, maybe to open his jeans to free his erection.
Picturing him pumping his cock in his fist, she slowly circled her clit. “Do you want me?” she whispered, and entered herself with a finger. “Does that turn you on, watching me?”
His laugh was deep and low in his throat, like a growl. “Everything about you turns me on,” he said. “I get hard watching you run barefoot at the beach. Watching you finger-fucking yourself makes me almost come in my pants.”
She bit her lip to keep from smiling, added a second finger. She could beg him to fuck her, and just thinking of his thick cock penetrating her core increased her arousal, but she was sure he waited for her to do just that. Leaning her head back, letting the last of her inhibitions slide away, she worked her fingers faster in and out of her cunt. Her hips bucked and a small whimper tore from her throat. With every thrust of her fingers, she climbed higher, her release just a few strokes away. Pressing her palm against her clit, she heard her own breathing become ragged, heard him swearing softly.
“Stop,” he said. “Don’t you dare.”
She froze, squirming with her need to climax. Her body was coiled like a spring and desperate for release. “Please,” she whispered, but slowly slipped her fingers out of her pussy. “Make me come.”
His hand wrapped around her arm as he all but hauled her off the bed. “Kneel,” he said, forcing her to her knees in front of him. He thrust his fingers into her hair, holding her head between his powerful hands, and then his hard erection pushed against her closed lips. “Open your mouth, Kat, and suck my cock.”
His demand shot straight between her legs, made her clit pulse. When she opened her mouth for him, he thrust his cock inside. She choked back a sob as the raw sexuality of his action sent another sharp contraction through her pussy. She twirled her tongue around him, reached up to cup his balls. The ache increased so much that she thought she’d come just from the feel of his thick cock in her mouth. Her fingers sneaked between her legs almost on their own accord. When she found her throbbing clit, she sucked him harder.
He groaned and his hips bucked against her face. “Christ, Kat, you do that a little too well. Get up.”
She rose slowly, shaking, desperate to feel him soothe that tight, empty ache inside her belly. Her thighs were damp with her juices, her clit swollen. If he touched her there, however lightly, she was sure that was all it would take to send her flying.
She opened her eyes, looked him straight in the eye.
There it was, she thought, studying his face. His pupils were huge, black, dilated. But instead of a dark-colored iris, there was a slim rim of yellow around each pupil.
For a heartbeat or two he returned her gaze, and something in his expression took her breath, made her heart jump in her throat. Something wild lurked beneath his handsome face, something primal. A rush of adrenaline flooded her blood, and she grew dizzy. When her knees gave way, he caught her around her shoulders.
“Switch off the light, Kat,” he said quietly, a dangerous tone in his voice.
It was a warning she didn’t care to ignore.
Taking a step away from him toward the small lamp, she turned the room dark with a flick of her finger. Blinking against the sudden darkness, she sensed, rather than saw him. Something very close to fear slid down her spine, made her skin tingle. She backed away, felt her shoulders hit something solid. Bracing her hands against the wall, she strained to see him, but only heard a crinkle of foil.
She let out a small shriek when he suddenly stood before her, his grip coming around her waist. He crowded her against the wall, leaning into her. Her nipples brushed against his hard chest and she rubbed up against him, the sensation making her choke back a moan. He lifted her, bracing her against the wall, supporting her with his hands. She felt him between her legs, felt his cock nudge at her opening.
“Spread your legs,” he gritted out.
She braced her hands on his shoulders as he entered her with one hard thrust that stole her breath. Pressure built inside her, hard and hot, raced along her spine, hit her deep inside her core. Wrapping her legs around him, she rocked against him, taking his cock deeper into her pussy. She wanted to stay like this forever—with him, buried deep inside her. “Trent, please,” she whispered, hearing her voice catch. She could see him now, his face so close and his breath warm against her skin. Closing her hands around his face, she leaned forward and kissed him, feeling how his body tensed like a bow underneath her touch.
“God, Yankee,” he said against her lips, “you really are killing me.” He kissed her, lightly, a sweet, tender kiss that tugged at her heart. “So wet, so hot,” he whispered. “I’ll fuck you all through the night, Kat, until you think it’s natural to have my cock inside your sweet cunt.”
Throat tight, she brought her mouth close to his ear. “I want every inch of you.” Her head tipped back, and she clung to him as he started fucking her against the wall, his thrusts deep and rhythmic. Each thrust of his cock stroked her clit and she could feel herself spin out of control, her climax simmering just beneath her skin. Harder, she thought, clasping her hands around his neck. “Fuck me harder,” she said, sucked in her breath when he did.
He hammered into her, his thick cock stretching her so wide, and she arched back, screamed when the tension finally broke. Her pussy clamped down on his cock as her orgasm coursed through her in hard shivers, and she dug her nails into his back, riding him to catch every last nuance of the incredible sensation he gave her. She felt his cock throb inside her, and he held her tighter, a hoarse growl at the back of his throat.
Everything inside her shook. Her thighs were trembling w
hen he lowered her, slipped out of her. A quick touch against her mouth and then he stepped away, switched on the small lamp. Without his touch, she suddenly felt strangely empty. And being with him felt so good, so right. But he would be back, she thought, he’d said so. He’d stay the night, he wouldn’t leave her now. At least not right now.
Tears sprang to her eyes, burned.
She balled her fists, sinking to the floor. She lowered her gaze, slung her arms around her knees. Shimmering silver, the torn and empty condom wrapper looked oddly forlorn on the carpet. She heard him entering the bathroom and took the moment to try to compose herself. Why, why did she have to cry every single fucking time? Was it because of him, because of Simon? Why? She pressed the knuckles of her hand against her closed eyes but couldn’t help that her cheeks grew wetter.
When the phone rang into the silence, bursting her bubble of thought, her tears stopped abruptly. Simon, she thought, and her heart gave a painful little twist. Her gaze drawn by the phone, she saw Trent appear in the doorframe of the bathroom.
She met his gaze, slowly rose to her feet, aware that she stood naked before him while he was dressed. The phone rang for a third time, a shrill tone that made her head hurt, and she stepped forward.
Simon, she thought, and stretched out her arm.
“Don’t answer,” he said quietly, his dark gaze never moving away from her face.
Her chest grew tight, tighter until it hurt. When the phone rang the fourth time, she picked up. “Yes?”
“Oh God, Katherine.”
She closed her eyes, hearing Simon’s familiar baritone. “You,” she whispered. “What do you want?”
She only heard the door snick closed as Trent left. She reached out, fresh tears springing to her eyes, and switched off the light. Immersed in darkness again, she hoped she wouldn’t notice that she was utterly alone.
“Katherine, I need to see you,” Simon’s voice was urgent, strained. “We need to talk.”
“Where are you?”
“Here, in Auckland of course.”
Chapter Seven
Trent shouldered his way through the door, pushed a stack of books aside and placed the two cups of coffee on the counter. The bookstore was empty at this time of morning, just as he had expected. The doorbell was still jingling and he started to wonder where Vivian was when she emerged from the storage room.
Her blonde curls were a mess and a smudge of dirt graced her cheek. She wore a scowl on her face as if something annoyed her. Still, her sight made him smile. He held a cup up. “Large soy latte, extra shot, no sugar.”
“Oh, sunshine, you’re a lifesaver.” Viv beamed, her face lighting up as she spotted him, and she stepped behind the counter and took the coffee, but not before pressing a quick kiss against his cheek. “I didn’t know you were back. How’s it going? And more importantly, what do you want?” She winked, sipped at her coffee, closed her eyes in bliss. “I just fell down a ladder and onto my butt. My balance sucks.”
He watched her, taking in her familiar scent. Everything about Vivian put him at ease, whereas everything about that Yankee… He sighed, realizing that he shouldn’t have waited so long to pay Viv a visit. “I’ve been back for a couple of days.”
“Heading straight back to work?”
“No, taking some time off.”
“Good for you. I’ve been up all night going over the books. I hate doing taxes.”
He nodded, refusing to think about his last night. There was no way in hell he’d start analyzing what he’d been feeling before or after she’d picked up that damn phone. But if she hadn’t picked it up, he’d have stayed with her for the rest of the night, the morning, the entire day. He would probably have stayed with her forever.
“Need help with it?” he asked, belatedly.
“Thanks, but unless you’ve morphed into an accountant it’s not exactly your area of expertise either. But come on over, you can help me here.” She grabbed him by the arm, pulled him after her into the storage room. “Put your brute strength to some use.”
Obliging, he helped her stack a couple of boxes high on a shelf, only half listening to her filling him in with the latest gossip. Relaxing for maybe the first time in days, he followed her back into the storefront again. It was kind of nice to be with a woman who wasn’t messing with his head.
His coffee was only lukewarm, but he took a sip anyway. “I need to stop by Ada’s first, but then I’ll head out to the west coast. I need some space, somewhere to run. Care to join?”
“Some people actually have to work for a living. I can’t just take the day off. Even though it’s been a while since I stretched my legs.” Viv gave him a quick grin then slapped her hand on her forehead. “I almost forgot. I have a huge shipment coming in and still have to do paperwork today.” She gave him a sly grin. “If I don’t want to miss the party tonight, I better get busy.”
“What party?”
“Focus, will you.” Viv slapped him against the shoulder. “Linda’s party. I just told you about it.”
“Oh that,” he said, wondering what was wrong with him. He should pull himself together and pay more attention. “Yes, I got her invite a while back, accepted it too.” Yes, he thought, it was the perfect solution for staying the fuck away from Katherine, at least for one night, or longer… “Then I’ll see you tonight,” he said. “It’s a date.”
“Sure, it’s a date.” She gave him another quick kiss then buzzed away and started to shelve books. “Switch the radio on, will you?”
He did, grinned when she started singing to it. Horrible voice, but she was a cute girl, he thought, and an even cuter wolf after she’d shifted.
“Viv, honey, you can’t sing.”
“I know.” She laughed, picked up her tune again.
If they ever had kids, he hoped they would get her temperament. “I can pick you up tonight,” he called over to her as she climbed on a step to reach the top shelf, her lithe figure stretched tall.
“Nah, don’t bother.”
“And you’re sure you don’t want to come along this morning?” It would be nice, he thought, having another shifter at his side while running through the kauri forest.
“I really can’t. And you do that lone wolf thing so well anyway.”
He rolled his neck, his muscles tight, but gave himself a mental push. “Are you seeing anyone right now?”
“Why? You hitting on me?” Her blue eyes crinkled in amusement.
“I might,” he said, but she only snorted.
“What about you?” she asked, pushing another book into place. “Breaking hearts as usual?”
Hesitating for only a second, he said, “I’ve given that up.”
“Sure you have, sunshine. Now go and run off that excess energy.” She gave him a quick wave. “See you tonight.”
He grabbed his now-cold coffee and all but stormed out of the store. It bugged him that she found the idea he was interested in her so funny. She was right though. He needed to run off some energy, relieve tension.
But tonight was as good a time as ever to start convincing her they were the perfect couple.
———
Katherine snapped on rubber gloves, wandered aimlessly through the rooms and didn’t know where to start. The villa—or the project as she’d started to call it—was still a depressing place to be. She suppressed a huge yawn, but the tiredness she felt was bone-deep.
Last night, she’d listened to Simon apologizing, begging, groveling. He didn’t deny or deflect. He called it his biggest mistake. While she listened, she wondered how many other women had listened to that same I-was-drunk-it-didn’t-mean-a-thing-I-love-you speech. It was everything she’d wanted him to say, but when his flood of words dried up, she was still underwhelmed by her own emotional response to it.
The thought didn’t hurt anymore—that he’d fucked another woman. The anger was gone. Strangely though, it didn’t mean that she was ready to fall back into his arms.
Feeling torn but
promising that she’d call him back after she’d thought about his plea for forgiveness, she’d hung up.
If only she’d never answered the damn phone in the first place.
She’d slipped into bed and fallen into a deep, dreamless sleep that was anything but invigorating. Nevertheless, she’d wolfed down a huge breakfast at Ada’s table.
A Trent-free breakfast table.
She’d thought it best to spend her day on her knees, scrubbing and cleaning, while she made up her mind what to do about Simon—when and where to meet him, on her terms. Not in her sleep out, not in his hotel, she thought. Definitely somewhere where other people were close by—it would make her feel less awkward—maybe in a cafe over a cup of coffee.
She almost felt as if she had some explaining to do—not vice versa.
Not at all sorry when a knock on the door interrupted her thoughts, she glanced up, half expecting to see Trent only to feel let down when she saw who really walked in.
“Hi there, how’s the work going?” Susan smiled cheerfully.
“Fine.” She tugged on her dirty shirt. Susan was dressed spotlessly, clad in a short skirt, a bright yellow blouse and impossibly high heels.
“I wanted to catch up on our last conversation and check if you have an agent now,” Susan said.
“Well, I gave the other agent I told you about a call, but he never called back,” Katherine said. “As you see, I have a lot to do and maybe I should fix the house first…”
Susan waved a contract under her nose. “I told you people are dying to buy in this area. The full-size lot alone is almost worth more than the house itself. I reached out to my client base. I think I have a very interested buyer.”
Katherine stared at her, trying to keep track. “Already? How? You mean, if I sign with you—”
“This is a standard contract and I can assure you, I have your best interests at heart,” Susan said, and laughed. “The higher we sell, the higher my commission. Sign and I’ll start flexing my muscles.”
