Hard To Love

by Tina Rose

  Chapter Two

  SIX YEARS LATER…

  Ella was sitting at a table sipping a glass of wine, listening to the sound of Carter Dawson’s smooth voice. It had been six years since she had spent the night with him. And an amazing night at that, one she still couldn’t get out of her head.

  “Ella, can I tell you again how great of a job you did,” Alana praised. Alana Hatfield was a friend and Ella’s first client.

  Alana and her new fiancé, Logan Montgomery, had just invested in Alana’s uncle’s beach hotel. Now, a huge add-on pavilion sat adjacent to the hotel’s pool, intended for parties, weddings and other events. This was their opening night to show it off. Ella was planning and promoting events on her own now, and had done a fabulous job on their engagement party. Small tables and chairs aligned the rails with white linen and hurricane lamps lit up the middle of each table. It was very romantic.

  Alana went on to tell Ella that she could use the pavilion as a place to host a benefit for her sister’s horse rescue. It was such a generous offer, and Ella couldn’t wait to tell her sister Liv about their good fortune. Then she suggested Carter as the performer. UGH.!

  Carter Dawson. That was one person Ella did her best to dodge. Ever since she had walked in on her cheating husband, and woke up in Carter’s arms the next morning, she avoided him like the plague. She had gathered her clothes as fast as she could, running for the door and hadn’t looked back since. She was finished with men. All men, especially Carter. He’d always been sexy, but now, he was drop dead gorgeous. Tall and muscular, with a broad back, big arms and thick wrists and forearms. Delicious shivers ran through her just thinking of him.

  “You thinking about me, beautiful?” a deep voice asked. Yes, oh yes I am.

  “Ugh. You wish Carter,” she lied. “Don’t you have some young fangirl to be chasing or something?” she snapped.

  “I don’t chase anybody. I don’t need to. Why do you keep avoiding me?” Even his voice radiated heat. Sitting down next to her at the table, the scent of soap and leather drifted up her nose, reminding her of the night they spent together. Currents of electricity shot straight to her core, causing moisture to pool in her panties.

  Avoiding his question, she turned her head to watch the ocean sunset, sipping her glass of red wine. Strong fingers gripped her chin, forcing her to make eye contact.

  “Carter, get your damn hands off me,” she demanded, trying to pull from his grasp. More liquid heat pooled between her legs. She loved the dominant side of him, that’s one thing she had never forgotten. Who was she kidding? She remembered every single detail about him.

  “Nope, not until you tell me your problem,” he smirked.

  “Why do you care anyway?” she asked, finally jerking herself from his grip.

  “Because, for years now you’ve skated around me, giving me dirty looks and hiding behind corners.”

  “You’re crazy,” she rolled her eyes.

  “Am I? Do you still get wet thinking of me fucking you, with my tongue, my fingers, my cock?” Grazing her hand with his index finger, she felt the heat coming off his body. “Cause I sure remember your mouth wrapped around my dick.”

  Yanking her hand away, her cheeks flushed crimson. “You’ve grown into a real ass, haven’t you?”

  Carter chuckled. “I still get under your skin. I see the goose bumps on your arms, your nipples hardening for me.” Moving closer to her neck, he inhaled deeply. “Mmm, I smell your arousal, Ella.”

  “Screw you, Carter.” she grated between clenched teeth.

  “That’s it, baby. Talk dirty to me, I love that dirty mouth of yours,” he said with a twinkle in his eyes.

  That was it. He was not going to get the best of her. “Actually, all I remember is a little boy monkeying around, trying to figure out which end was up.”

  Surprised, Carter laughed out loud. “Is that all you remember? Because I remember you screaming my name, over and over again. As a matter of fact, you were screaming so loud, it woke my neighbors.” He grabbed her chin again. “And baby, I’ve only gotten better.”

  “Get over yourself Carter.” Jerking loose, Ella shot from her chair, stomping off.

  Oh, that man infuriated her. Why did she let him get under her skin so bad? Feeling him watching her stomp off, she looked over her shoulder, and saw his smug grin. Raising the glass of wine she left sitting on the table and toasting her, he downed the burgundy drink, and winked. Asshole! This is why she avoided him. Cocky son-of-a-bitch, she thought to herself. She must’ve been really drunk the night she spent in his bed. As far away from Carter Dawson as she could is where she needed to stay. But, he was right. That night had been a night she still dreamed about. Damn him!

  Watching Ella run from him had Carter hard as steel. He loved the thrill of the chase. Still remembering the taste of her on his tongue and the feel of her soft skin against him just made it that much more intriguing. She was such a beautiful lady. Long mahogany colored hair flowed down her tanned back, and she had piercing green eyes that could see through to his soul. Oh yeah, he was going to show her what kind of a man he had grown into. Carter wanted nothing more than to show her his wicked desires.

  Never in her life had she been so pissed off and turned on at the same time. Her body betrayed her, humming at the memories of their one night of passion playing through her mind. Not paying attention to where she was walking, she smacked right into Becky’s boy toy, Dusty Richards, causing him to spill his beer down his shirt.

  “Damn girl, your ass on fire or something?” he laughed, wiping the beer off the front of his shirt.

  “Oh my god! Dusty, I’m so sorry,” she apologized, helping him wipe up the mess.

  “No biggie. What set your panties on fire?”

  Looking back toward the empty table where she had left Carter sitting, she said flatly, “Nothing.”

  “Nothing huh? Okay, if you say so. I’ll catch you later,” he said, shaking his head and walking away.

  Damn, damn, damn! Carter freaking Dawson. Growling, she pushed the door to the ladies room open, needing to splash water on her overheated body. She gripped the edge of the counter as she closed her eyes and took deep breaths to calm her wrecked nerves. That man had done a number on her, which had started six years ago. Hearing the door open, she turned to see Carter locking the deadbolt lock.

  A shocked gasp escaped her lips. “Carter, what the hell?”

  In two steps Carter closed the gap between them, grabbing her hips, he pushed her up against the counter. The heat from his chest radiated against her back.

  “I like it when you run from me, sweetness,” he whispered in her ear, wrapping his hands around her throat. “Do you feel how much I like it?” Grinding his hips against her ass, Carter rubbed his hard as steel erection against her.

  Ella whimpered. “Why are you doing this, Carter?”

  “Oh, I think you know why. I never forgot the feel of your pulse quickening under my fingers. You want me, I can feel it.”

  Catching his predatory gaze in the mirror, her mouth become suddenly dry, and her brain quit working. Seeing their reflection in the mirror, with his large tanned hand with long fingers wrapped around her throat, was sensual and exhilarating. Ella’s breaths came in short pants now, her chest rising and falling, but she refused to answer his question.

  “I’ve never forgotten how you taste either, Ella,” he said breathily, running his hand down the back of her short black skirt, over the curve of her bottom. He ran his hand under her skirt, up her thighs and past her panties, finding her soaked entrance. Thrusting two large fingers inside her opening, Carter bit down on her shoulder. Ella cried out loudly from the frisson of sensations he was sending through her body.

  “Carter, please,” she begged, as a thunderstorm of desire erupted through her body.

  “Please
what? What do you want, sweetness?” he gruffly whispered, pumping his fingers in and out of her.

  Closing her eyes, her mind went numb and she couldn’t form words. The hatred she felt just minutes ago was quickly vanishing with each pulse of his fingers. Her eyes snapped open as he abruptly slid his fingers out, leaving her wanting so much more. She watched as he sucked her juices from his middle finger.

  “Mmm, just like I remembered. Sweet honey,” he moaned. Clutching her chin, he rubbed his index finger across her bottom lip. Ella smelled her own arousal on his finger, making her ache that much more.

  “Open,” he demanded.

  Doing as she was told, Ella opened her mouth, as he slipped his index finger between her lips, swirling it on her tongue. She could taste her saltiness on his finger. This was the most erotic moment of her life.

  “See, kitten? Sweet honey,” he whispered.

  Someone picked that moment to knock on the door, disrupting their heated moment. Carter glared at her with lust filled eyes, twisting her face towards his, as he crashed into her mouth in a heated kiss. Releasing her quickly, he winked before unlocking the door and walking away. Ella shook her head, trying to shake herself from his love trance. Damn him! A businesswoman, in charge of her own life, she had been through hell and back, and didn’t take orders from anyone. Yet, she couldn’t tell this man no. What in the hell was wrong with her?

  Embarrassment flushed her neck and cheeks, as Alana’s Aunt Penny entered the restroom. Trying to avert eye contact, Ella turned on the cold water and grabbed a paper towel from the dispenser.

  “Are you okay dear? You look a little flushed.” Penny asked with humor in her voice.

  “Yes ma’am,” she replied with a shaky voice.

  “That Carter Dawson is something else, isn’t he?”

  “He’s something, alright.” Disgusted with herself for letting him get to her, again, she threw the paper towel in the garbage and stormed out of the restroom. Asshole! She needed to get the hell out of here before another encounter with Carter. Next time, she may not be able to control her raging sexual cravings that short-circuited her brain every time he was near.

  The desire for him had been there since the night they met, lying dormant. Staying far away from him over the years had helped keep that impulse at bay, but now, now he had unfurled it. Now what did she do?

  Making her way to Alana and Logan, she made the excuse of not feeling well, and said her goodbyes.

  “Hey girl, you okay?” Becky stopped her to ask.

  “Oh yeah, I just think I got too hot out here tonight,” she answered. That wasn’t far from the truth, so it was an easy lie.

  “You look a little flushed. Are you sure you’re okay? I can drive you home,” she offered.

  “No, that’s okay. I’m good, really.”

  “Okay. Call me later, okay?”

  “Absolutely.” They hugged one another and Ella made her way to the front parking lot to find her car. Fumbling around in her clutch, she found the key fob to open her car door. As she approached her car, adrenaline pulsed through her veins, seeing a tall, dark figure leaning against her car. Slowing her steps, she started to turn around and run, when she saw the dark figure’s face in the moonlight. Carter! Definitely should’ve turned around and run.

  On an exasperated sigh, she asked herself, “Now what?”

  “Sweet little things like you shouldn’t be out all alone in dark parking lots,” he smirked.

  “Yeah, I know. I may run into a crazy psychopath. Oh wait, too late,” she shot back to him. “What do you want, Carter?”

  “I thought I had made that clear. Maybe you need another reminder?” He stood from the car, and stalked toward her with a smirk written across his self-assured face.

  Oh god, she knew she wasn’t strong enough to fight him off this time. Although her mind told her to run for the hills, her feet weren’t listening. He stopped mere inches from her, his scent assailing her senses. Her breath hitched as he raised his hand, stopping just before he touched her. Scanning her body, he paid particular attention to her plumped up cleavage. That Victoria’s Secret sure knew what they were doing.

  “So, do we need a reminder?” he asked, finally making eye contact.

  “No, no, NO! We are not doing this. You, are not doing this.” she scowled. “I don’t know what your problem is tonight, Carter, but I’m not dealing with you.” Sidestepping him, she made it to her car door before he pushed her up against it, grinding his hard-on against her backside.

  “Oh, sweet Ella, we are going to do this. Maybe not tonight, but soon. I’ve thought about you for six years. Every time you’ve run from me has made me want you more. I will have you again, it’s just a matter of time, and Ella,” he said, licking his way up her neck to suck on her ear. “I can’t wait to show you what kind of man I’ve become.”

  “Fuck off Carter,” she panted, feeling the surreal feel of him moving against her ass. Her heartbeat raced, and the moisture seeped from her body.

  “Mmm, I’ve always loved that dirty mouth of yours.” When he covered her throat with his large hand, Ella felt heat radiate between her thighs. Dammit, how could such a douchebag turn her on so much?

  He squeezed her neck with his big hand. “Your heartbeat gives you away darlin’. I can feel how hard it beats for me.”

  “Psychopaths have that effect on people.”

  Chuckling in her ear one last time, he squeezed her ass cheek before kissing her neck and releasing her.

  “Tonight when you touch yourself, you’ll be thinking of me Ella,” he smirked, his hot breath tickling her skin. “And I like that idea.”

  “You’re ten kinds of crazy, you know that?” she sneered.

  “Goodbye sweetness. I’ll be seeing you soon.” Smiling with a devil’s glint in his eyes, he turned on a heel and strode back towards the pavilion.

  Crazy ass man! Little did he know, she already thought of him every time she touched herself. Which had been often in the past six years, since she hadn’t found a steady man in her life.

  Ella had gone through a horrible divorce from Derek. That crazy son-of-a-bitch tried suing her for alimony since she made more money than he did. Thank goodness the judge held his infidelity against him. She managed to keep her house and changed her name back to Reid. There was no way she wanted to go through life with that asshole’s name.

  Driving home, she couldn’t get Carter out of her mind. She could still smell his scent on her body, leather and soap. She was still feeling his hands roaming down her thighs, entering her wet pussy with his large calloused fingers, the roughness creating a frenzy of sensations throughout her body. A shudder ran through her at the thought. Now, she couldn’t wait to get B.O.B., her battery operated boyfriend, out of the drawer.

  Not wanting to rinse his scent from her body, Ella stripped out of her clothes and climbed under the cool soft sheets of her bed. Closing her eyes, she tuned out the hum of the vibrator, focusing on the memory of his hands and hot breath delighting her skin. She ran the tip of the vibrator across her clit, back and forth, pinching her nipples, as she remembered his moist mouth from long ago, dragging the pebbled tips between his teeth. Ripples of pleasure shot through her body as she screamed out his name.

  Opening her eyes, she let out a sigh of relief as she curled up under her comforter. Carter Dawson was the last man she wanted to think about, and the only one she dreamt of. Heaven help her. Knowing she was in trouble if she ever saw him again, she promised herself, she would keep away from him at all costs.

  Chapter Three

  Carter tossed and turned all night, having wild erotic dreams of Ella. Six years ago he had the best sex of his life with her, and seeing her tonight in that tight black skirt flooded his mind with their one night in heaven.

  No woman had ever compared to the way Ella�
�s body responded to his touch, and Carter had definitely had his share of sex with beautiful women. Women loved a man with a guitar. They practically threw themselves at him. But not Ella, she avoided him like the plague. That in itself made him want her more. But tonight, when he managed to get close enough to her to smell her sweet, spiced-vanilla scent, he was a goner, setting his mind on fire and leaving his body wanting.

  The phone ringing snapped him out of his own head. Grabbing his phone from the nightstand, he saw Gabe Thomas’ name on the screen. Gabe was Carter’s childhood friend, as well as his business partner. Both had a love of horses, so they started training horses and opened a farrier business. Gabe, however, had become the local horse whisperer.

  “What?” he snapped.

  “Damn son, uptight much? You sound like you need to get laid, my man,” Gabe laughed.

  “Shut up, dipshit.”

  “Are you going with me to that new horse rescue? They have three new horses we need to check out.”

  “Yeah, I’m going.” Rolling over, he sat up on the edge of the bed, scrubbing a hand down his face.

  “You alright? You don’t sound like your fun loving self.”

  “I’m fine,” he said gruffly. “I just didn’t sleep well last night.”

  “Well, get your boots on man, and pants ain’t optional. I’ll be there in fifteen.”

  Pants ain’t optional? Asshole. He was taking a cold shower. Gabe could wait, because this raging hard-on wasn’t going to.

  Cold water shot from the spigot, causing Carter to curse out loud. It did not, however, help his engorged dick. Turning up the heat, he imagined Ella’s hot, wet mouth wrapped around him, while he fisted himself, pumping up and down. He placed his forearm against the shower wall, leaning his head against the coldness of the tile, as he pumped himself harder. Feeling his balls tighten as his orgasm crept up on him, he yelled a string of curse words, shooting the creamy fluid against the wall.