by H. P. Landry
“Sure I do--,” he turned to look at my face. It finally registered what I was implying, and he quirked a brow.
“Just to talk more and get to know each other. I’ll make you some coffee and breakfast, since we were interrupted at the diner.” I smiled reassuringly, and he just smiled and shook his head slightly.
“Yeah, why not—let’s talk.”
Lord, what am I doing?
Chapter Nine
“So you’re telling me, that you’ve never?”
I shook my head. I wasn’t sure what I was expecting his reaction to be, but this wasn’t it.
“I can’t believe it—I have never met someone who hasn’t,” he exclaimed, his face registering complete disbelief.
“So what, I have never seen Star Wars. What’s the big deal?” I shrugged.
“Everyone has seen Star Wars. It’s a rite of passage. You, my child, have been denied the wonders of the galaxy and beyond.”
He was grinning, and I couldn’t help but feel butterflies in my stomach. I started to laugh and changed the subject quickly.
“Okay my turn— first kiss, how old were you?”
“Easy. I was twelve, and it was with Christy Foster while playing twenty seconds in heaven at Brandi Mitchell’s thirteenth birthday party. You?”
“I was eighteen, with Miles Alexander III, at his winter formal,” I shivered at the memory.
“Seriously, eighteen? So, you had your first kiss five years ago?” I nodded slightly. “When did you lose your virginity?”
Oh dear God.
I desperately cleared my throat and my face was burning. I felt my heart racing. Never had I felt this nervous before.
Why now?
“Um—I haven’t.” I looked down at my damask comforter and waited.
“Mylie, look at me.”
His voice was soft, and I lifted my head and gazed into his gorgeous eyes.
“You have nothing to be embarrassed about. I think it’s amazing.”
He searched my face in wonder, and I couldn’t fight the urge to kiss his full lips. I noticed how his tongued glided across his bottom lip, leaving it moist and delectable. My heart was racing for whole new reason. He tucked my hair away from eyes, placing the strands behind my ear, while staring at my lips.
“I’m going to kiss you Mylie.”
Please do!
I bobbed my head in agreement. His lips seared mine and awoke every nerve ending in my body. I moved my body closer to his, the rush of excitement and lust had me purring in ecstasy. He smelled so delicious. My other senses were focusing in between my thighs. I moaned. I was in utter bliss from his intoxicating kiss.
“Baby, you keep making those sounds, and you won’t be a virgin for long,” he groaned while I felt his erection pressed tightly against my belly.
I was panting. Most of me wanted to go with my desires, but my mind was telling me to stop. I didn’t have to ponder my decision for long because Xavier pulled away. His fingers slid the satin spaghetti strap down my shoulder and kissed my beauty mark.
“You’re perfect.”
He caressed my shoulder tenderly, following the path of my arm until he reached my hand. He brought my hand to his lips and kissed my palm. There were no more words, just a clear understanding that he would wait until I was ready. I thanked the Lord for this man, but especially for his patience because I still didn’t understand my feelings, and I felt conflicted. We crawled under the covers, and he snuggled close to me but never touched me inappropriately. We fell into a blissful sleep.
The following morning, I woke up and went to the kitchen to make breakfast while putting on a pot of coffee. My bare feet padded against the hard cherry-wood floors as I pulled out the griddle. I was making the batter when I heard a knock on the door. I looked down, realizing I was still wearing my satin spaghetti strap nightgown with the matching robe. I walked to the door thinking it was probably just Mrs. Pierson. The panel glass was frosted, so I couldn’t tell who it was, but the silhouette reminded me of Nik, so I opened the door quickly.
“What, you forgot—,” I didn’t finish the sentence because before me was the man who had been plaguing my thoughts. “Uh—Hi?” I swallow the large lump in my throat and stared at his clear blue eyes.
“Did I wake you?” his voice conjured memories of our kiss, sending chills down my skin.
“What’s for breakfast babe?”
I heard Xavier’s voice moving down the stairs and turned to see him wearing nothing more than a white towel wrapped around his perfect body. His hair was still wet, and he had droplets of water flowing down his chest. I felt my mouth fall open.
Am I drooling?
“Well if it isn’t Thor himself,” Damien quipped, while Xavier glared in response.
He walked quietly, never showing any emotion on his face, clearly learned from years of him practicing law. He possessively wrapped his arm around my waist.
Jeez, could this get anymore awkward?
“How’s it going teach? Screw any students lately?”
What?
I watched the exchange, shocked. I just wanted to hide, and they had answered my silent question: yes, it could get more awkward.
Damien
She was with Thor? How could she do this?
I watched as her eyes followed the drops of water that glistened off his skin, and then he wrapped his arm around her waist.
“Now, Mr. Bane, we all know that I am not the one who has a new assistant every month. What number are we on, thirteen?” I asked sarcastically.
“What do you––,” Xavier started to say, but a soft hand touched his chest, and he looked down to Mylie.
The way he searched her face for confirmation made me sick. It made me wonder what had happened between them. He nodded slightly and returned in the direction he had come from.
“Why are you here Damien?” Mylie’s sweet voice cracked, but I was livid. We had shared a kiss last night, and she already had another guy in her bed?
“What the fuck Mylie! What about last night,” I said through clenched teeth.
“You left! You said that you weren’t good for me and that I should be with Xavier, so that’s what I am doing.”
Shit! Why was I angry that she literally took my warning and did exactly what I told her to do?
“You’re right. I’m sorry. But I wasn’t prepared to see him in a towel after a night between the sheets,” I replied, with a touch of bitterness.
I never saw it coming.
SMACK.
She slapped me!
“You bastard! Get the fuck out!” she screamed at me.
She slammed her hands into my chest and pushed. She hit me hard enough for me to lose my balance, causing me to struggle to regain my footing. Only I didn’t see that I was on the edge of the step. I went flying down the stairs of the front porch, landing on my back.
I see stars.
“Oh my God!” She ran down the stairs, a frantic look on her face and tears on the brink of falling.
“What the fuck is your problem!” I seethed as I groaned. I tried to get up, and she reached out, offering her hand.
I put my hand into hers. Then I thought for a second before I yanked her down. When she lost her balance, she fell on top of me. She scrambled to get up, but I encircled her waist with my arms.
I whispered in her ear, “You’re mine.”
I felt her gasp for air as soon as I said the words, and I let her go. She leapt off of me, stumbling while running up the steps. She looked over her shoulder briefly and then slammed the door behind her. I got up casually, and dusted myself off. When I looked up at the windows of the old Victorian, I saw a familiar face. I just laughed and went on my way.
I walked down the sidewalk until I heard an elderly giggle. I turned to see that Mrs. Pierson was in her garden with a clear view of Mylie’s front porch.
“That was quite a show Professor James,” she had a twinkle in her eye and smiled.
“Was it now?�
�� I asked casually.
“You play a dangerous game Professor. It would be wise that you do not show your hand too early in the game.” She got up and walked through her yard going towards the front door. “Are you coming?”
“Yes ma’am.” I followed her up the steps.
What have I gotten myself into?
Chapter Ten
Mylie
I had folded Xavier’s washed clothes and placed them on the bed while he was in the restroom. So why had he came down in his towel? I couldn’t deny that I was still reeling from Damien’s claim nor could I deny the pleasure I had felt. Lost in thought while flipping griddlecakes, crisping bacon, and scrambling eggs over the stovetop, I didn’t sense Xavier as he wrapped his arms around my waist and kissed the back of my neck. I relaxed because he made me feel safe, but I still felt conflicted about my feelings towards Damien.
“Smells delicious,” he whispered in my ear, making me shiver in response. “Mmm, I love when you do that.”
“Mr. Bane, I will surely burn your food if you keep distracting me,” I teased.
“I am hungry,” he said thoughtfully, “but not for food.”
He turned me around, staring at me as if memorizing my face, then his gaze seemed to narrow in on my lips. He pulled me close, his eyes dark, primal, and I felt his arousal pressed against me. Someone cleared his or her throat, effectively throwing ice water over us. I put my forehead against his chest once I realized who it was.
“May I have a word, Mylie?” Nikolas asked.
I looked up to see Xavier’s confused face.
“Xavier, this is my brother Nik. Nik this is Xavier Bane.”
I turned around to finish cooking, but then Nik gave me a look that I had never seen before.
“I’m coming. Mind keeping an eye on the bacon?” I asked Xavier sweetly, who only smiled and kissed my forehead.
I followed Nik to his bedroom and shut the door behind us.
“What the hell has gotten into you Mylie? You’re on top of one guy on the porch, and then you are on the verge of bumping uglies with another in the kitchen?”
What the fuck?
“First of all, I wasn’t bumping uglies, butthair. How do you know about what happened outside?”
“Because I saw it through this window,” he said as he pointed to his bedroom window.
“I went to help him up, and I lost my balance and fell, that’s all,” I said it nonchalantly.
“Really? Since when do people wrap their arms around someone who fell accidently and make another run out there like a bat of hell? Did he force himself on you? I’ll kill him!” I saw as his face turned various shades of red and purple in a split second.
“God, no! It was an accident! Will you relax? I have company. We will talk about this later.”
“Exactly Mylie! Company? Since when do you bring guys over here?”
“I’m a grown adult and can do what I want. Jeez, Nik, since when did you go all paternal on me? Aren’t you the one who is sleeping his way through all of the girls in Sigma Phi Beta?”
I didn’t wait for an answer. He knew I was right, but it didn’t make me feel good to know that he was seeing me in a new light, in a way I had never wanted him to see me. I had spent my life looking for Mr. Right, and now, here I was, playing with two guys, and I wasn’t sure how I was feeling. I wondered if my mom was watching from above and could only imagine that she would be disappointed.
What am I doing? Can I get a sign please?
Damien
“It wasn’t long ago when I remember standing with a gentleman, not unlike you, who was chasing love.” She smiled as she sipped her Earl Grey tea.
“Is that so? Who was he?” I asked, genuinely interested in her story.
“Jonathan Justin Pierson,” she said as she winked. She seemed to become lost in thought for a moment before she continued.
“You see, Mylie reminds me a great deal of myself, and J.J. was a lot like you. The difference is, I was engaged. It was another time, and my family wanted me to marry Lucas Bane because his ancestors owned the largest cotton plantation in Pointe Hope. I wasn’t in love, but it didn’t stop my father from forcing my hand to marry Lucas.
“It was in the summer that I met J.J. at the local cotton festival, where I was crowned Pointe Hope’s Cotton Queen for the parade. I was speaking with Louise LeBaron, the wife of the Mayor Fred LeBaron, when she introduced me to her nephew, J.J. I tell you, it was like the parade around us disappeared, and it was just the two of us. I would never forget that feeling. He escorted me to the float and kissed my hand. I thought I had been electrocuted, as emotion shot through me like lightening making me pull my hand back abruptly.”
She stared at me, and I realized she somehow knew about the connection between Mylie and me.
“It was unfortunate that Lucas saw the interaction. He started telling people that I was a harlot and was sleeping with the mayor’s nephew. It was the biggest scandal in Pointe Hope at the time. My father was distraught because I had ruined his name in society. It was nothing more than an innocent gesture. One night, I heard a clinking sound and awoke to find J.J. throwing rocks at my window.
“He whisked me away that night, and the next morning we were married. It was the most amazing forty-eight years of my life, until he passed. It’s funny though, because it seems that history is repeating itself with the young Mr. Bane.”
Bane? Thor?
It was true, her story had in fact repeated itself in my mind. Xavier Bane was the son of Lucas Bane, but everyone knew that Lucas was a womanizer just like his father. Could I live with the fact that Xavier could very well be just like his father and grandfather? What would Mylie do?
“So, you see the problem now? Can you live with the idea that Mylie may marry the wrong man because the right one was too afraid to fight his own demons?”
I left Mrs. Pierson’s home, reflecting on what she had said. I was deep in thought when I saw Xavier leaving in his pickup truck.
Wasn’t expecting that one!
He drove away when Mylie came out. She was wearing cut off shorts with gardening gloves tucked in her back pocket. She had put on a white tank top, and with her gardening tools in one hand, she slipped on her faded blue Yankees baseball cap. She looked incredible. I didn’t realize I was walking towards her until I found myself standing next to her. She was reaching down to tie her shoes when she finally felt my presence. Startled, she screamed and fell on her butt.
“Jeez Professor, you scared me! What are you doing here?”
She got up and dusted her shorts with her hands then began to fix her shoes. I watched and said nothing.
“Cat got your tongue?” she teased, but never looked in my direction. She focused, instead, on the last loop on her laces.
She finally turned to look over her shoulder to look at me. The sun was shining in her face, and she covered her eyes with her palm to protect them from the rays.
“What’s wrong? Are you okay?” She got up and stared at me.
Was I okay?
I shook my head even before I knew it. She quickly took off the gloves and grabbed my hand in between hers.
“Hey, you can talk to me.”
I knew I could, but I didn’t want to. I didn’t want to love this woman, and I sure as hell wasn’t going to fall in love with anyone. I pulled my hand away and walked from the woman who could ruin everything.
Chapter Eleven
Mylie
What just happened?
I stared as he walked away, AGAIN! I was angry as hell, glaring at his broad shoulders as he walked away without a care in the world.
Oh, hell no! I ran after him and pulled his arm.
“You can’t do that Damien. You can’t just come to my home show me you care and just walk away.”
He was glaring down at me. As much as I wanted to shrink away, I stood strong because I was too angry with this man.
“I. Don’t. Care. I will never care,” he said it through cle
nched teeth.
“I say you do and you’re just too afraid––,” he grabbed my arm and dragged me back through the yard into my house, pulling me down the hall.
I wasn’t trying to fight him because I was only thinking of the delectable possibilities rolling through my mind. He pulled me through my door and threw me on the bed.
“Is this what you want Mylie? Someone to manhandle you? Does this turn you on?”
I tried to get up from the bed, but he pushed me down and straddled me. His strong legs pinned my legs together, and one hand had my arms above my head holding my wrists down. Lord, this felt wrong, but right at the same time. I was excited, and it scared the shit out of me. He grabbed my jaw and held my face only inches from his. The reminder of our kiss came to the forefront of my mind.
Kiss me!
“Is this what you want Mylie?” he whispered.
I felt his rage, but I couldn’t resist the temptation so I nodded. He clenched his eyes closed and when he opened them, I saw it: lust, desire, and raw hunger. We were feeling the same emotions.
“You can’t do that.” He let go of my wrists, but I pulled on his shirt, locking him in place.
“If you leave Damien ––,” he placed one finger over my lips, stopping me.
“Say it again?”
“Say what?”
“You never call me by name. Say it again,” he pleaded.
“Damien,” I said softly as he sighed in contentment and pressed his forehead against mine. He stared into my eyes. “Don’t leave,” I pleaded.
“I am not good for you Mylie, and as much as I want you, I am not good for you. I’m sorry.” Quickly jumping off me, he left the room, taking my heart with him.
I finally couldn’t take the conflicting feelings. I cried because I had, at long last, fallen in love, but with the wrong man. I asked for a sign, and I got it; I was undeniably in love with Damien James. And he was too fucked up to love me in return. I heard the front door close, and I let it all out. I couldn’t for the life of me understand why I finally fell in love but with someone who couldn’t love me.
Then there was Xavier. He was perfect in every way. We had spent the afternoon getting to know each other. We had so many things in common, and it would be easy to fall in love with Xavier, but I couldn’t as long Damien was in the picture. I got up from my bed and walked into the hallway.
