Snapped

by Christine d'Abo

  Something changed in Reid; I saw it flit across his face. Now wasn’t the time to deal with things, though. Instead I refocused my attention on Elsie. Tucking my clipboard under my arm, I took her hands in mine. “I know when someone has the talent to make it. If that means I have to push someone so they’ll excel, then I’m perfectly fine with that.” I gave her hands a squeeze before I let her go.

  “Reid, do you think we can set the timer back a few minutes for these people? We have projects to complete.”

  “All right, ten minutes added back on,” Brian called out. “Let’s get back to it!”

  Elsie slowly moved away from me and back to her crew. I wasn’t paying attention to her as much as I was to Reid. He knew. He knew the words had been for him. My stomach flipped when he stepped closer. This wasn’t the time or place for amends.

  “What the fuck was her problem?” Jennifer flounced up beside me. “Way to ruin your chances.”

  “It didn’t ruin anything,” I said, loud enough for others to hear. “I pushed when I shouldn’t have. End of story. It’s time someone called me out on this show. Sorry, I need to continue my rounds.” I walked away, ignoring her glare.

  “Five minutes left before we call time for the day.” Brian’s voice sent the pace of the work up another notch. “Five minutes.”

  The final flurry of activity ended with multiple sighs, moans and high-fives. I ignored everyone as I made my notes on the clipboard. I didn’t need any more criticism, verbal or otherwise, than I’d received already in the past twenty-four hours.

  “Judges, if you want to finish your notes, the cars will be here soon to take you back to the hotel,” Reid called out. “We’ll make it an early night. The last day of the competition is tomorrow.”

  He smiled at Rene as she handed in her notes. Jennifer came up behind me. “I tried, but he seems to have a preference. Too bad.” Brushing against my shoulder she sauntered over to him and handed in her own board.

  Dear God, please let me go home.

  Mustering as much disinterest as I could, I followed Jennifer. “Here you go.”

  Reid took my board, waiting until Jennifer moved away before saying anything. “Are you okay?”

  “I was trying to give her some advice. Apparently, I haven’t learned my lesson yet.”

  “Tamara—”

  I wasn’t about to wait around to hear his rebuttal, so I moved past him and made my way to where the cars were to pick us up.

  * * *

  Still damp from my shower, I didn’t bother to dry off and instead wrapped myself in my bathrobe. My skin was red from the near-scalding water, but the heat did the trick to ease my muscles. I couldn’t figure out why things had been getting to me as badly as they had been. Sure, a lot had happened in a short period of time, but that wasn’t the sort of thing to bother me.

  I’d finished pouring my second glass of wine from the bottle I’d had room service send up when there was a knock at my door. I wasn’t about to answer it. So not in the mood to talk to anyone. I walked past the door to the bathroom where I’d left my book.

  “Tamara, are you there?”

  Reid. What the hell?

  I flexed my fingers around my glass as I looked at my reflection in the mirror. Yeah, one look at post-shower me would be more than enough to scare him off. My hair hung in sopping strands down my back, and my face was still red from the hot water.

  “Tamara?”

  Dammit, I didn’t need this. “What do you want?”

  His sigh was audible through the door. “Open up.”

  “No.”

  “Please?”

  Dammit. Making sure my bathrobe was tied tightly, I took off the security chain and opened the door half a foot. “What?”

  His mouth fell open as his gaze traveled down my body. “Fuck.”

  “What can I do for you? I was about to climb into bed with a book.”

  “I was hoping we could talk.”

  “About what?”

  “You know.”

  He didn’t owe me an explanation any more than Elsie owed me an apology for her blowup on set. Still, the fact he was offering helped to ease the ache in my chest. I held the door open and motioned for him to come in. “Do you want a glass of wine?”

  “Sure.” I’m glad he took me up on the offer, because it gave me something to do with my hands. “So what did you want to say?”

  “I’m sorry, to start with.” He met my gaze as I handed him the glass. Before I moved away he lightly grabbed my arm, holding me close. “For a minute last night, it felt like we’d rewound three years. You were pushing me toward something, and I lashed out rather than say something.”

  “I shouldn’t have pushed.” I wanted to lean against him, take the comfort he was offering. Instead I shifted from his hold and sat on the edge of the bed. “You’re right, old habits. I have no right to suggest you do anything. And you don’t owe me an explanation.”

  “I think I do.” He pulled up the only chair in my room and rolled his glass in his hands, clearly trying to figure out where to start.

  “You’re the most stubborn woman I’ve ever known.” His lips curled into a soft smile and his eyes had that sparkle to them again. “After you left I was furious. I tried to tell myself that you hadn’t changed, that we could never work. You didn’t listen to me, my wishes and desires.”

  His words hurt, but I didn’t respond.

  “I was about to delete the pictures I’d taken of you. I stopped when I realized I hadn’t told you.”

  “Told me what?” I managed to squeak out.

  “Everything.” He swallowed down half the glass of wine. “You were right when you said I didn’t communicate. I didn’t tell you how dead inside I was when I got back. How it hurt to breathe because I wanted to die. I didn’t tell you how you helped make things better by dragging me into the light. I was so angry after Afghanistan, mostly at myself, that I couldn’t think straight. I wanted to kill myself, but I couldn’t. I knew you’d blame yourself if I did. So I kept going.”

  My cheeks were wet and my hands shook. “Reid...”

  “When we broke up I was determined to die. Came pretty fucking close. Ended up at the hospital and got the help I needed. I’m still working on it. I guess in a way I’ll always be working on it, but I’m getting there. That’s what my photography does for me. The pictures and you.”

  He shifted the chair closer so our knees touched. The terry cloth didn’t stop me from appreciating the feel of the contact between us. “It was killing me today, watching you and knowing you were upset. I wanted to be able to go to you.”

  “She was stressed. I’ve been there.”

  “I’m not an idiot.” Taking my hand, he laced our fingers together. “You were talking to me.”

  “Yes.” My heart began to race again.

  “Do you still love me?”

  I squeezed my eyes shut. “Yes.”

  He reached forward and picked me up, setting me onto his lap. With my legs spread on either side of him, my bathrobe fell open, revealing my nakedness. “Reid!”

  My words were silenced by his kiss, his tongue teasing mine until I gave in and kissed him back. Why did I think I was going to be able to walk away from him when this show was done? I pushed my hands into his hair, scratching my nails against his scalp as I deepened our contact. My pussy pressed against his jeans and I could feel his cock thickening beneath them. Shifting my hold on his shoulders, I slipped one hand between us and pulled open his fly.

  “What—” He started, until I sucked on his tongue.

  “Go with it.”

  The angle was awkward, but I pulled his cock out enough to be able to stroke it. His hand moved lower to cup my ass, squeezing my flesh on every other upstroke. Our kisses grew sloppy as I worked
his shaft. I moved my hand in such a way that my knuckles would make contact with my clit, teasing my arousal as much as I was pushing Reid.

  “Shit.” He pressed his forehead to my shoulder. “Stop.”

  “No.” I increased the pressure and upped the rhythm.

  “Gonna come.”

  “That’s the idea.”

  “God.”

  If he got turned on by me taking control and being in charge, then I was more than happy to help him out. His body shook beneath me as he continued to fuck my hand. Without access to his mouth, I shifted my attention to his ear, licking and biting the rim.

  “I’m not going to leave you alone ever again,” I whispered. “If you’ll take me back.”

  Reid groaned and his hips bucked. “Fuck yeah.”

  “When we get back to Toronto, you and I are going to spend the weekend in bed getting reacquainted.” I gasped when my knuckles pressed a bit too firmly against my clit. “I want your mouth on me as soon as you come.”

  He tensed and cried out as come shot from his cock to cover my hand and his jeans. I pumped him until nothing else came and he finally leaned back in the seat. When I knew I had his attention, I moved my fingers to my mouth and licked off some of the come.

  “Tasty.”

  There was no warning when he picked me up and threw me against the bed. His mouth was on my pussy, sucking and licking my clit until I couldn’t form a thought. My orgasm blindsided me, knocking the air from my lungs and vision from my eyes.

  “Shit!”

  I must have passed out, because the next thing I was aware of, Reid was stretched out beside me on the bed, propped on his elbow looking down at me. “There she is.”

  “Hey.” My mouth was dry and my feet were cold. “Wow.”

  “I was inspired.” He tucked my bathrobe around my neck more. “All weekend in bed, eh?”

  A giggle popped from me. “I wouldn’t want to be presumptuous. You might get annoyed with me after a few hours.”

  “I doubt that.” He leaned in and kissed my lips softly. “I love you.” I was too stunned to think of anything to say. Reid didn’t seem to mind, giving me another kiss, this time to my temple. “I’ll be holding you to your offer.”

  “Okay.” A weekend in bed was hardly a hardship. Or it wouldn’t be if I managed to come up with a solution to our money problems.

  “Good. You’re not one to back down from a challenge. It’s one of the things about you that turns me on.”

  He was right, and yet I’d walked away from the Reality Life proposal with nary a fight. I’d let Jennifer and Charles Warner get the better of me, the better of my business.

  “Hang on a sec.” I slipped from his embrace, marched over to the desk and flipped open my laptop.

  “Dare I ask?”

  “Something I should have done days ago.” I looked over my shoulder at him as I typed. “Thank you.”

  “I’m not sure for what, but you’re welcome.”

  With my emotions running free, it only took me a few minutes to plead my case for why our company was the best choice for the design contract.

  I was so wound up about making a good impression, about playing the game that I forgot why Sophia and I had started this business in the first place. Working with my best friend gives us both joy. We excite each other and that shows in our work.

  I hit Send, waited for the message to go and snapped the lid shut. “It might not matter now, but at least I can say I tried.”

  “Good.” He smiled and patted the bed. “You should get some rest. Last day of the contest is usually a crazy one.”

  An hour ago, I would have welcomed the thought of an early night. An hour ago, I was feeling lonely, angry and unsure of myself. I’d always had a plan, for good or ill, and it wasn’t often that I felt out of control of my life. The two weeks I’d spent on this show had managed to turn my carefully crafted plans upside down, which left me with a fresh set of eyes and a new perspective.

  There might not be any guarantees that this thing with Reid would work. But I’d never know if I didn’t try.

  With slow, deliberate motions, I pulled open my bathrobe and let it fall to the floor. “We can rest on the plane.”

  He gave his head a soft shake. “I can’t believe I ever let you go.”

  “You’ll have to make it up to me.”

  That was the last smart-ass comment I made for the next hour.

  Chapter Eleven

  Postproduction on final episode completed. Pleased with the end result. Ratings for Domestic Goddess have been excellent to this point. Fans have commented on Tamara in particular, liking her harsh but fair criticisms. I’ve heard rumblings from the top brass about the possibility of a show featuring both Tamara and Sophia. I’m thrilled for them.

  Time to get ready for the next one. That’s a wrap.

  Production Notes, Brian Merrick, Director

  The wind and rain beat against my bedroom window. Reid was in the kitchen making us snacks for the last half of the Domestic Goddess finale. I still wasn’t comfortable seeing myself on television—and don’t get me started on hearing my voice—but I was anxious to see how Brian had cut the last part together.

  Eight months I’d had to wait for this episode, but the memories came back as clearly as if things had happened yesterday. Reid and I hadn’t slept at all the night before filming this part of the show, and the makeup girls had needed additional time to mask the stubble burn that was present on the side of my neck. I’d gotten more than a few smiles and curious looks because of that.

  Reid, the bastard, had looked smug the entire time.

  “It’s starting!” I rolled up the sleeves of his shirt that I’d stolen from the floor. I did that a lot these days, wear his shirts. Sophia told me it was a sign that I was completely in love with him.

  I was. I also loved the smell of his aftershave.

  “You want a beer?”

  “Wine.”

  “That takes more effort.”

  “You know how the show ends.”

  “Details.” I could hear his laugh from here.

  We’d been pretty inseparable since the flight home from New York. Not that I had tons of free time to spend lying naked in bed. My pointed email to Charles Warner had created a bit of a ripple effect. While we didn’t win the Reality Life design contract for the head office, we did get a smaller contract for renovations on the Toronto building. That job gave us the funds we needed to pay off our loans, but had the added benefit of building our visibility. Last week we’d signed a third major contract, which would keep us busy for the next year and a half.

  Thank. God.

  Despite the craziness of my schedule, Reid was always there. After talking to his therapist, he’d decided to take a chance on displaying his photographs. In between contracts of his own, he’d reached out to a few galleries that focused on Canadian artists and had done his best to get some interest in his photographs. He’d even started selling the odd print, giving him the added confidence that his work really was as amazing as I’d told him it was.

  “It’s on,” I called out as soon as the lead-in music started.

  I still blushed whenever I appeared on screen, and within seconds picked apart every inch of my appearance. This time I looked for the stubble burn and was thankful I couldn’t make it out.

  “Do you have sex neck?” Reid entered the room and handed me my wine. “Damn, I was hoping we could see it.”

  “You’re lucky I don’t. Sophia wouldn’t let you hear the end of it otherwise.”

  “I’m not scared of her.” He settled in beside me and I took the opportunity to cuddle against him.

  “You’re totally scared of her.”

  “No, I’m scared of Fynn. Dude is huge.”

&n
bsp; “Shh. This is the part I wanted to see.”

  On the screen, Elsie turned to me and held out her hand. “I wanted to apologize for my blowup yesterday. I thought about what you were trying to tell me and I realized you were right. I didn’t have a plan. I do now.” I’d been shocked when Brian had decided to keep—albeit edited—the blowup between me and Elsie. That had garnered more than a little Twitter buzz and somehow we’d both come out as villain and hero.

  Reid kissed the top of my head. “You handled that like a pro.”

  “I got lucky.”

  The show jumped ahead to the final round of our critiques where we outlined the strengths and weaknesses of what the contestants had done. Jennifer was looking more than a little annoyed. That had to do with Rene asking me about my sex neck and my little adventure with Reid. That had been a fun conversation.

  “And the winner of Domestic Goddess is...” Rene opened the envelope and grinned.

  “Elsie!” Reid and I chimed in with her, before clapping and cheering.

  “Did I tell you that she sent me an email last week?” I set my wine down, turned and licked his nipple. “She’s finished up her first semester of a design program.”

  “Good for her.” He sucked in a breath and tugged on my hair until I looked up. “I want to make love to you.”

  We’d been doing that a lot recently. Yes, we still had crazy monkey sex wherever we could—the car, an old farmhouse, the back deck—but the longer we were together the more emotional our lovemaking became. Eight months might not be a long time, but it was enough for me to realize that he truly loved me.

  And that I loved him.

  “I’m leaving your shirt on.” I tugged him with me and scooted down in bed. “Kiss me.”

  This was as comfortable as it was exciting. I knew his body, the peaks and valleys created by his muscles, the springy feel of his chest hair against my fingers. My legs fell open and he wordlessly slipped between them. We’d recently stopped using condoms, and I still thrilled at the feel of his flesh as he pressed into me.