Fraud

by J. L. Berg

  I caught a glimpse of myself in the bathroom mirror. Disheveled hair, wrinkled clothes, and yep, I definitely smelled. “Good idea.”

  “I’m full of good ideas.” He grinned.

  “Too bad none of them are worth a dime,” I said as I made my way to the shower, pulling my stained shirt over my head.

  “Remind me of that tonight when you’re getting laid.” He laughed.

  I shook my head, ignoring his antics.

  I had a girl to win back.

  I thought about stopping for roses, but then I reconsidered.

  That slinging douche bag of a teacher had most likely ruined roses for me indefinitely. Seeing him saunter into that restaurant like he and Kate were already a done deal made my blood boil.

  I considered grabbing her a box of chocolates, but where do you get those outside of Valentine’s Day? It didn’t matter honestly.

  I was just trying to come up with delay tactics.

  Because, deep down, I knew I didn’t deserve this.

  I didn’t deserve any of this.

  Her, us…a second chance.

  Hell, I shouldn’t have even been given a first chance.

  It wasn’t fate that had brought us together. It was meddling. I’d placed myself in her path, forced myself in her life.

  I should walk away.

  But I couldn’t.

  After watching her every movement on my phone for the last week, I’d realized I wasn’t infatuated with Katelyn O’Malley because of what she could offer me, but because of what I could give to her.

  For a guy who’d only thought of himself most his life, it was a deep revelation.

  One I’d been grappling with for days, but my brother was right. I couldn’t sit around any longer and let her slip between my fingers.

  I needed to win her back.

  Starting now.

  Or at least, sometime in the next few minutes.

  I’d been parked outside her apartment for what seemed like an eternity. In reality, it was probably close to fifteen minutes. What I wouldn’t give for one of my brother’s high-tech apps now, so I could see what was going on in that apartment.

  Was she alone?

  Was the asswipe Brian there?

  “Fuck,” I cursed out loud, finally pulling the keys from the ignition. Pushing open the door, I stepped out and took one last deep breath.

  Here goes nothing.

  It didn’t take long for me to reach the front door. I didn’t even have to ring up to have her let me in. Some kind old lady was walking in with her groceries, and after taking several bags to her first-floor apartment, it was an easy elevator ride to Kate’s floor.

  Now, all I had to do was knock.

  I raised my hand to the door just as it opened.

  “Killian!” Kate said, slightly startled.

  I was also taken aback, but it swiftly subsided when I saw the tear stains on her cheeks and the redness around her eyes.

  “What’s wrong? Did someone hurt you?”

  “No. I mean, not really. I don’t know,” she blurted out all at once.

  I took her hand, pulling her inside.

  “But, wait, I need cat food. For my cat,” she said quietly, fresh tears spilling from her eyelids.

  “I’ll take care of it. Now, sit down. Tell me what happened.”

  She did as I’d said, taking a seat next to me on her blue paisley sofa. She hunched over as I rubbed her back, her hands cupping her swollen face.

  “I can’t talk about this with you,” she said, peeking out from between her fingers. “Especially not you.”

  I shook my head. “That’s not going to do. See, when I show up here and find you crying and upset, I want to kill someone…so unless you tell me what’s going on, I’m just going to figure it out myself. Starting with that jackass writing teacher.”

  Her head rose, a wide-eyed look of fear.

  “Are you going to start talking?”

  She grumbled, her head falling back to her hands. “We went on a date,” she explained. “We went on several dates—something you obviously already know.” She looked up, her red eyes squinting at mine. “How do you know that by the way?”

  “Never mind that. We’re talking about you.”

  “Anyway,” she continued, “we went out to a club tonight and were dancing. Drinking.”

  “I don’t like the direction this is taking,” I growled.

  She ignored me. “I thought he was into me, you know.”

  No, I didn’t want to know. Not at all.

  But I let her go on.

  “We came back here, and I kissed him. He kissed me back.”

  My fingers, the ones that weren’t currently rubbing her back, dug into my leg. Fucking rat bastard.

  “But I could tell he wasn’t into it. So, I thought maybe he wanted more. I untied my dress, and he freaked. He bolted. Right out the door.”

  More tears fell as I tried to make sense of what had happened.

  “So, he had the chance to sleep with you, and he ran?” I asked.

  She simply nodded into her palms.

  “He’s obviously gay.”

  “He’s not,” she replied. “He was married.”

  I shrugged. “Maybe that’s why it ended. Hell, maybe he’s not over his wife. I don’t know. The only thing I do know is, the guy is an absolute idiot to let an opportunity like that go.”

  “You did,” she reminded me.

  The words stung far more than I’d expected.

  “A mistake I regret, more than you can imagine.”

  Her gaze met mine. “So, you don’t think I repel men?”

  I smiled. “No, I don’t think you repel men. Although I’m glad you repelled that particular man, for whatever reason. I would have hated to come over here and kick his ass.”

  “Why?”

  “Because it’s really exhausting—the kicking of asses.”

  She snorted, wiping a few lingering tears from her cheek. “So, why did you come over in the first place? Why are you here now?”

  And here it was.

  My moment.

  I didn’t think I’d truly realized it until just then—after seeing her brush away the tears, knowing I had the power to heal her tears—that I’d give up everything for this woman.

  My life in New York, my friends, and yes, even my career.

  “I want a second chance,” I finally said, making her mouth drop. “I know I don’t deserve it, and I know I’ve caused nothing but confusion, but if you give me another chance, I promise I’ll make it up to—”

  Her mouth was on mine in an instant. I thought about telling her that we should take it slow, like she’d requested, but as soon as I felt her hot tongue flick mine, I was done for.

  I’d come to win her back, and by some damn miracle, I’d done just that.

  Now, it was time to show her that I might be worthy of it because I’d never stop trying.

  Never.

  When I pulled her onto my lap, she instantly wrapped her legs around my waist. It was goddamn torture. My cock jumped up to greet her through my jeans as her sweet little body pressed hard against mine.

  “Bedroom,” I mumbled through tangled kisses.

  “That way,” she answered, briefly pointing to an open door before burying her hand in my hair.

  I’d never been much for foreplay until this moment. It was like going to a concert and waiting for the headliner to come out. You stood around, maybe bobbing your head to the opening band. Maybe you knew some of their songs, had heard them on the radio, but it wasn’t what you had come for. It wasn’t why you were there.

  But, with Kate, I wanted to experience it all. From beginning to end, I knew this was going to be one hell of an adventure.

  Even the feel of her fingers tugging at my overgrown locks had me groaning for more.

  Without interrupting our make-out session, my hands drifted down her body, taking note of her soft curves and tight ass. She yelped out in surprise when I grabbed each
round cheek, picking her up in one swift movement. Her legs tightened.

  “Fuck,” I cursed.

  “What?” she said abruptly. “Am I too heavy? You can put me down.”

  I grinned, pulling back to look at her worried face. “I could hold you with one hand. I’m cursing because I’m not sure I can walk straight with this massive hard-on I have for you.”

  Worry turned to something closer to surprise as a tiny smile peeked out from the corner of her mouth.

  “Oh.” She grinned.

  “Bedroom?” I asked once again.

  She nodded.

  It was a short trip from the living room to her tiny bedroom. There wasn’t much too it, not that I spent much time looking around. I saw a dresser, nightstand, and bed.

  That was where my journey ended.

  Kneeling at the foot of her bed, I gently dropped her, watching her long blonde hair fan out beneath her. Breathless with swollen red lips from our kisses, she looked up at me, eager and willing.

  “Are you sure?” I asked, putting all the power in her hands. Exactly where it should be.

  “Yes,” she answered.

  “Because, if we do this tonight, I’m not going anywhere. This isn’t a one-time thing for me. You’ve gotten under my skin, Kate, and this, right here? This is a claiming. No more dates with Brian or anyone else. It’s just you and me, for as long as I can keep you.”

  She smiled, her eyes full of warmth. “Yes.”

  I didn’t waste a second. Bending down, I kissed her mouth once again, letting her full pouty lips breathe life into my lungs. Her arms wrapped around my neck, pulling me close. She must have been feeing brave because, as our kiss intensified, I felt her hands slide down my body to the buttons of my shirt.

  I grinned, letting her take charge.

  It was sexy as hell.

  Her nimble fingers made quick work of my shirt. I helped her out, wiggling out of it, and she tossed it to the floor.

  She grew still beneath me.

  “Kate?” I said, suddenly concerned.

  Eyes wide, she stared up at me with what appeared to be wonder.

  “What?” I asked, trying to gauge her mood.

  “You’re pretty fucking hot.” She grinned, slowly lifting both hands to my chest.

  I meant to fire back with a witty joke, but the instant her fingers touched my stomach, there was nothing but mush in my brain.

  So, instead, I groaned and let her feel me up. She roamed my body like an explorer who’d just embarked upon a new land.

  Every inch of skin, every curve of muscle, inspected and investigated.

  She moved her hands up my chest, over my shoulder blades, and down the broad muscles of my back.

  I’d never felt so treasured, like she was worshipping my body one inch at a time.

  So fucking hot.

  “Okay, my turn,” I said, my fingers moving to the hem of her shirt.

  I hesitated, waiting for her go-ahead. There was plenty of time for fast and hard lovemaking, but tonight, none of it would be rushed. I wanted her first time to be nothing but the best.

  And I’d spend every minute until the sun came up doing just that.

  “Now, lie back, and let me look at you.”

  She did as I’d requested, letting her body fall back on the bed. Still wearing the beautiful red dress she’d put on for her date with douche-bag Brian, I bent down and untied it from the neck, slowly pulling the fabric down to her waist.

  “Damn,” I whispered.

  “What?” She smiled.

  “Just thinking how lucky I am that Brian’s such an idiot.”

  “I probably wouldn’t have gone through with it anyway,” she admitted. “I was trying to forget you. But, honestly, it was like kissing my brother.”

  “You don’t have a brother,” I reminded her.

  “I know, but that’s how I imagine it would be like.”

  “Repugnant and wrong?”

  She laughed. “Something like that. Now, I think you were saying something about looking at me.”

  “Right.” I grinned, my hands skimming over her bare skin. “I think we’re going to move on to touching now.”

  “Yes,” she agreed. “I like that idea.”

  My hand slid up between her breasts, reaching for the tiny clasp that held her bra together. With a quick flick of my wrist, it released, leaving nothing but Kate and her raw beauty before me.

  “I’ve dreamed of these breasts,” I said, taking in the view.

  She wiggled out of the straps of her bra before saying. “I’ve dreamed of you, too.”

  This surprised me. “You have?”

  She nodded, a bit of embarrassment spreading across her rosy-red cheeks.

  “What did you dream, Kate?” I asked.

  “You kissed me.”

  I bent down and softly touched my lips to her, lingering just long enough, before I asked, “Like this?”

  Her head moved back and forth. “No.”

  Moving down her body, I kissed between the valley of her breasts before licking my way around until I sucked each of her perfect pink nipples between my lips.

  “Like this?” I asked.

  She shook her head, her face growing red with heat.

  I grinned.

  Moving lower, I trailed kisses down her stomach and along her belly button until I reached the edge of her dress. Pulling it lower, I looked up, my fingers on the hem of her panties.

  “Down here?”

  Her teeth bit into her bottom lip. “Yes.”

  My cock hardened. “Do you want me to lick you, Kate?” I asked, feeling like I might explode either way.

  She simply nodded.

  “Say it,” I demanded.

  “Yes,” she whispered.

  “Say what you want, Kate. I need to be sure.”

  Her gaze sharpened, like it did whenever she gained an ounce or two of courage.

  “Lick me, Killian,” she said.

  “That’s my girl.”

  Moving quickly, I slipped her dress and panties off in one rapid movement. I gave her a second to adjust to her nakedness, but she clearly didn’t need it.

  I’d expected her to cover up.

  To call a time-out.

  But she gazed up at me, her eyes begging for more.

  So, I gave it in spades.

  Just as I’d expected, she was a fucking feast for the eyes. Those long, lean legs from years of dedicated running gave way to nothing but flawless curves and silky smooth skin.

  “Beautiful,” I murmured.

  Starting at the innermost part of her ankle, I scattered a trail of kisses, working my way up to her knee and down the inside of her thigh. She quivered as my nose brushed her rosy bud.

  “Just wait,” I said, smiling as I breathed her in. “I haven’t even started yet.”

  I felt the bed shift as her fingers dug into the sheets seconds before my mouth descended.

  “Oh my God!” she cried out, arching her body.

  I reached up, pushing her hips into the mattress, as my tongue moved faster.

  Harder.

  She tasted like fucking honey, and soon, I was nearly intoxicated by her. I wanted to drown in her, suck up every drop of her, until two became one.

  “I…Killian, I think—” she began mumbling, her body tightening around me.

  As much as I wanted her first orgasm to be around my rock-hard dick, I knew this would only make it better.

  “It’s okay,” I said. “Just let it come.”

  Her body quaked against my face as her core squeezed around me, growing hotter…wetter.

  Until, finally, she let go, crying out her release, as her body quaked against me.

  But I wasn’t done yet.

  I grabbed her thighs, and while she was still writhing, I sucked down hard on her clit, drawing out her climax and making her cries so loud, people in Texas could probably hear her.

  “What was that?” she said as her body slowly came back to earth. />
  “An orgasm,” I answered.

  “I know that,” she replied, giving me a slow smirk, as I kissed her thigh. “But, I mean, I didn’t expect it to be so—”

  “Good?” I interjected, finishing her thought.

  She nodded.

  “You underestimated me.”

  “Clearly,” she agreed.

  Moving backward, I stepped off the bed and reached for the fly of my jeans. Her eyes immediately went downward.

  I grinned, undoing the single button, as her gaze dropped, watching the zipper slowly fall. She looked completely enraptured.

  Like a kid in a candy store. No, that was a terrible analogy for this situation.

  Like a tiger hunting its prey.

  She licked her lips, her eyes widening with rapt interest, and she was on edge, as if, at any moment, she’d pounce.

  I’d be her prey any damn day of the week.

  “I want you to do me a favor,” I said as my fingers wrapped around the edge of my jeans.

  “Uh-huh,” she murmured, her gaze never leaving my waist.

  “Never underestimate me again,” I demanded, removing the last of my clothing with a quick tug.

  “Never,” she said, her voice barely a whisper.

  I let her breathe me in, eyeing me from head to toe, as I stood in front of her, unabashed.

  “Tell me what you want, Kate,” I said again.

  Her knees squeezed together as her lips pursed.

  “Everything. God, I want you to do everything to me,” she begged.

  “Happy to oblige.”

  She watched as I slid a condom on and placed a tender hand on each knee. I slowly spread her legs, giving me room to slide up her body.

  Feeling the heat of her skin as it brushed against mine…

  Electric.

  Hearing the moans of ecstasy as my mouth found hers…

  Euphoric.

  “You’ll let me know if it hurts, if I need to stop or—”

  “Please, Killian,” she said. “Show me what I’ve been waiting for.”

  I smiled against her cheek.

  “This. This is what you’ve been waiting for,” I vowed.

  I never broke eye contact as my fingers traveled the length of her body, down her thigh and to the back of her knee. Slowly, I bent it, pushing it forward to allow the best angle.

  Humbled.

  That was the emotion running through my body as our gazes locked, and I slowly entered her.