Wish List: City Love 4

by Belinda Williams

“God, I love your hands,” I moaned, enjoying the way his rough fingertips grazed my skin.

  I heard the soft rumbling of his laughter. “These hands have been aching to touch you ever since you opened that damn front door of yours.”

  I pulled away to stare at him. “Really?”

  His reply was a look of such seriousness I felt my chest constrict.

  “I must have looked ridiculous!” I protested. “Standing there in a towel, with knee high boots, not to mention a horrible expression on my face because I was in pain.”

  “I wasn’t looking at your face.” I gaped at him and he grinned. “Joking. Sort of. Come here, Cate. I need you.”

  My stomach clenched. To have his desires expressed so simply, so honestly, was more of an aphrodisiac than I could have imagined. I dodged his hands, which were about to pull me down for another of those hot, sweet kisses. Not that I had a problem with those, I just had other priorities. I shuffled back and gripped the top of his boxers with both hands.

  He watched on with a small smile.

  I removed his pants slowly, recalling the way he’d done the same for me only days before. I bit my lip. My attraction possibly hadn’t been that obvious though.

  “Problem?” he asked, with a pained note to his voice.

  I reached out and took him in my hand, rubbing my thumb across the tip. “No problem,” I said brightly. “This is good.”

  He moaned and I giggled, I couldn’t help it.

  “Cate? What exactly are you laughing at?”

  I clamped a hand over my mouth, giggling harder.

  “Killing me, Cate.”

  “I’m not laughing at you, I promise. Well, not that part of you.” There was absolutely nothing wrong with that part of him, that was for sure. I rubbed my whole hand against the length, enjoying the weight of him, and the power of the position.

  He shifted in the bed and twisted toward the bedside table. After rifling through the contents of the top drawer, he threw a sachet at me.

  I picked it up and set it down beside me. “Really? I wasn’t finished yet.”

  I leaned over him and took him in my mouth, grinning to myself as the rest of his body stiffened. While there was no arguing I was aching for him, there wasn’t any reason I couldn’t have some fun along the way. I used my tongue to what I considered great effect and he moaned again.

  “Cate?” he said after a minute or two, sounding breathless. “Please climb on. Lot of pent up energy and I don’t want to misdirect it.”

  I released him and laughed, picking up the packet sitting beside me. When I’d rolled it on I sat looking at him, still holding him in my hand.

  “Is there a problem?” he asked gruffly.

  “Not at all. Just enjoying the view.”

  I let him grip my hips and ease me up above him.

  “Are you ready?” he asked. “I don’t want to rush you. Well, yeah, I do, but if you need …”

  I guided myself down onto him. I was ready.

  His fingers dug into my hips and I angled myself so he was deep inside of me, filling me up.

  “Cate.” Only one word, but it held so much. Desire, satisfaction, and a hint of awe.

  We started moving together, long, sweeping strokes that heated me from the inside, until the need ached in my fingers and toes. Until it pressed against my core, hot and burning, and it was too much, so much more than I’d anticipated. I reached out and gripped his shoulders, my fingers digging into his skin. He pulled me back down on top of him, his kisses urgent and demanding. His hands roamed my body, caressing my back, my breasts, my stomach. He was everywhere, inside and out, and I was lost. Desperately lost.

  I pushed away from him, because I didn’t know where to go to, or how I was supposed to handle this assault on my senses. He raised a strong arm and grasped my shoulder, holding me firm.

  I whimpered and squirmed on top of him. If I wasn’t completely breathless I would have protested or possibly even begged – for what, I had no idea. I let my head fall back and stared, unseeing, at the ceiling. I felt his other hand graze the rise of my breast, the taut stretch of my stomach, then slip between us.

  “Oh,” I breathed.

  He was going to ruin me or tear me apart, I wasn’t sure which. I forced myself to move so I could look at him again. Tiger’s eyes. Calm, watchful, ready to pounce.

  He didn’t say anything, just continued to move with me, his fingers matching our rhythm.

  And I broke in two, heat spearing through me. Pieces of me shattered in every direction, raining down on him as I quaked above him, sobbing. I felt him go rigid and his fingernails dig into my skin. He shook beneath me, his convulsive release wringing the last drops of pleasure from me.

  When we were still, Dave dropped his arm from my shoulder and guided me down onto his chest. Our bodies were slick with sweat, spent, and aftershocks trembled through us. I traced the flames inked into the skin on his arm with my finger while I listened to his steady breathing.

  I closed my eyes and breathed him in, contentment settling over me as my heartbeat slowed. Dave turned his face to mine and pressed his lips on my forehead, resting his hand on the back of my head.

  I sighed and buried my face into his neck as the realization hit me.

  I’d never truly had a home. But here in Dave’s arms, for the first time ever, I wondered.

  Chapter 32

  With the promise of breakfast, I opted for a shower instead of a bath.

  As I made my way downstairs afterwards, guided by the scent of eggs and toast, the sound of male voices made me pause.

  “I don’t appreciate being ignored.”

  I gripped the hand railing, immediately recognizing Michael Worthington’s voice.

  “No, you don’t appreciate it when someone says no,” I heard Dave say.

  “You’re foolish not to consider it,” his dad said.

  “You expected me to change?” The comment was made lightly, but I could still hear the challenging undertone in Dave’s voice.

  “If I expected you to change, I’d try to talk you out of the business purchase in the first place, but I’m well aware of your stubborn inclination toward recklessness.”

  “I don’t see how taking over a successful business is reckless, but then what would I know?”

  “You honestly think you’ve got the experience? Or the commitment? But that’s not what I’m here about. Why won’t you just consider using our money?”

  “Your money, Dad. It’s not mine.”

  “It will be yours one day.”

  “No thanks.”

  I frowned. I knew the rift between them ran deep, but so deep that Dave wouldn’t accept what was rightfully his when the time came?

  “Surely your financial planner discussed the benefits of avoiding the significant debt you’re about to take on?”

  “She did.”

  I bit my lip and considered creeping back upstairs until Dave’s father left.

  “She didn’t strike me as particularly competent,” Michael said.

  Ouch. I would probably regret it, but I wasn’t going anywhere now.

  “Why would you say that?”

  “She wasn’t prepared to discuss it for one. And she’s not returned or taken any of my phone calls.”

  “At my request. I’d call that professionalism.”

  “So you selected her on her professional merits, did you?”

  I sucked in a sharp breath. Michael’s question dripped with accusation. I shot a longing look at the stairs, then eyed the door that led to the kitchen warily. I should just stay out of it, but my feet were already moving.

  Dave froze as I came into view and Michael blinked at me in shock, obviously not expecting company.

  “Something like that,” I said to them both. I stopped in front of Michael and stuck my hand out. “Cate Harmon.”

  Michael blinked at me and took my hand. He was nothing like Dave. Tall and slender, he had none of the strength Dave exuded without trying. He
was all sharp angles and lines. Hair the color of storm clouds matched deep set gray eyes, which studied me cooly over an elongated nose. He registered my wet hair and casual outfit of jeans and a t-shirt then dropped my hand suddenly, looking between Dave and me.

  “You’ve got to be joking?” he asked.

  “No,” I said lightly, and headed for the counter. “How do you take your coffee, Michael?”

  I grabbed the kettle and hoped they couldn’t see the way my hands were shaking. I stuck it under the tap and filled it up.

  I didn’t wait for him to answer. “As I told Dave after our phone call, the ability to utilize family money for the business purchase could reduce his debt significantly. This would have a positive impact on his longer term financial plan. However, it was my client’s wishes to fund the purchase using alternative options.” I set the kettle back on the counter and switched it on, finally daring another look at Dave’s father.

  “Your client’s?”

  He said it with such derision I had to resist reaching out to steady myself on the counter. “Obviously I’m no longer looking after him personally,” I explained. “One of my associates is.” It wasn’t entirely a lie. I fully intended to explain the situation to my boss. I just hoped he’d be more understanding than Dave’s father.

  Michael shook his head. “Unbelievable.” He turned to Dave. “You’ll never change, will you?”

  Dave just gave his father a hard look.

  Michael turned back to me and cocked an eyebrow. “I’m a better judge of character than I thought. Maybe you should reflect on our earlier conversation when it comes to your involvement with my son. For your own benefit.”

  I didn’t reply. Instead I held his gaze, while my stomach churned with nerves.

  Michael nodded and walked toward the door. “Your mother’s looking forward to seeing you at Christmas, David.”

  “She can look forward to meeting Cate too.”

  Michael stiffened but didn’t turn around. He nodded once then walked out the back door.

  *

  “Far out,” said Scarlett. “Between your family and Dave’s, it’s like Days of our fucking Lives.”

  “At least it’s entertaining, I suppose.” I picked up the glass of white wine the waiter was offering. We were attending the official reception for Christa and Max. It was the first time I’d had the chance to catch up with Scarlett and Maddy post-elopement, post-family drama saga.

  “Will you go to Dave’s family Christmas?” Maddy asked.

  I nodded. “If Dave wants me to, although that means seeing his father again. And I thought my Dad was bad. Honestly, I expected Dave to be unhappy that I’d barged in on them like that. I really should have left things alone, but I couldn’t stand the way his father was carrying on.”

  “Prick,” Scarlett agreed.

  Maddy handed her empty glass to the waiter. “So Dave wasn’t upset?”

  I shook my head. “No. But I was! He was so awful to Dave and just as horrible to me. I can see why Dave wants absolutely nothing to do with him, which will make Christmas interesting. All he said afterwards was that he’d never seen his father leave so quickly, and thanked me for it.”

  “He didn’t say anything else?” Maddy asked.

  “No. We didn’t really talk about it.”

  “Interesting,” Scarlett murmured.

  I gave her a sharp look. “Why?”

  She shrugged. “Strong, silent type, I guess.”

  “You think he’s hiding something?” I asked.

  “No,” Scarlett said, frowning. “He seems like a pretty upfront guy. Unless you think he’s hiding something?”

  I paused to consider my own question thrown back at me. I wasn’t sure if Dave was hiding something exactly, just that there were things I was yet to learn. Like why his father considered him so reckless and irresponsible when that was so far from the man I knew.

  “Do you know what caused the rift with his father?” Maddy asked, mirroring my own thoughts.

  I sighed. “Only that after his sister’s car accident Lauren chose to live with Dave. That seemed to upset things.”

  Maddy nodded. “I’m sure he’ll tell you more if there’s more to tell.”

  I knew she was right. After everything that had happened the previous weekend with Christa’s wedding and my family, I hadn’t thought to ask. We’d both gone back to work on Tuesday and I’d been distracted trying to come up with the best way to tell my boss about the situation. Except when I finally worked up the courage to do it on Friday, he’d been out of the office all day at client meetings.

  I smiled to myself. The rest of the week hadn’t been all bad though. While I hadn’t had the opportunity to stay the night at Dave’s place again, he’d dropped by for dinner Wednesday and Thursday. Well, not just dinner exactly.

  “What?” Scarlett asked.

  I looked across at her. “Nothing,” I said quickly.

  “Not been doing a lot of talking, have you?” she said knowingly.

  “We talk.”

  “So he’s vocal in the bedroom?”

  “Scarlett!”

  “Leave her alone, Scarlett.” Maddy nodded toward the groomsmen standing on the far side of the room. “I hate to bring it up, but have you spoken to James yet?”

  I winced. “Not yet.”

  “I think he wants to talk to you.”

  We watched as James turned and caught my eye, then made his way through the groups of family and friends mingling.

  Maddy put a hand on Scarlett’s arm. “Come on.”

  Scarlett looked like she was about to protest but let Maddy pull her away.

  “Cate.” James arrived in front of me, and even to me he seemed in desperate need of a drink. Judging by the altercation a week ago it was probably better he didn’t have one though. He pushed a hand through his dark hair.

  “So,” he said. “Are you speaking to me?”

  In spite of myself I smiled. “Of course I am.”

  He nodded. “I’m really sorry, Cate. I don’t know what got into me. Well, too much alcohol obviously, but that’s still no excuse.”

  “James, it’s OK. Really. And I want to apologize too. For giving you the wrong impression. I wanted to talk to you about my feelings but last weekend didn’t seem the appropriate time.”

  “And then I got drunk and picked a fight with your boyfriend.” His blue eyes swam with regret. “That’s what he is, isn’t he? Your boyfriend?” Even now there was a hint of hopefulness in his tone, as if he might still have a chance.

  I nodded. “Not then, but he is now. I can understand why you were upset. If I’d been less worried about being nice—”

  James shook his head. “Never apologize for being too nice, Cate. It’s who you are and why everyone loves you.”

  I stared at him in surprise.

  He shrugged. “It’s true. You didn’t know about my break up, or how much I liked you. I tried to tell you – poorly – and I came across too strong. Then I got drunk and I can’t believe I implied because of some stupid list that I, we, should …” His voice trailed off and he gave me a sheepish look. “I’d understand if you hate me.”

  “I don’t hate you.”

  Relief smoothed the fine lines on his face. “Thank God.” He leaned in closer. “Are you sure you can’t find it in your heart to love me then?”

  I smiled at his persistence. “You deserve someone whose heart bursts with love for you, James. Don’t sell yourself short.”

  “Is that what it’s like for you?”

  For the second time, I stared at him.

  His smile was resigned. “I’ve seen the way you look at him, Cate. I think that’s what I was most upset by.”

  I reached out and grabbed his hand, still feeling guilty that I hadn’t been honest with him earlier. “Oh James, did I really?”

  He squeezed my hand. “You can’t help it. It’s how you feel. And judging by the way he hit me, he feels it too.” He bent down and kissed me on t
he cheek. “Save a dance for me later?”

  Chapter 33

  “It’s settled. You’re moving in with me.”

  “Excuse me?” I gaped at Lauren.

  “You heard me. It’s too soon for you to move in with Dave, and you love living here, so my place is the perfect solution.”

  “No, I—”

  “Yes, you can. Don’t give me any of that nice bullshit, Cate. You know I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t feel comfortable. And I am. Very comfortable. Plus, it’s nice having an extra pair of hands around the place. If it makes you feel any better, just think of it as me using you.”

  I shook my head and smiled in wonder at her. In the weeks since starting a relationship with Dave I’d fallen into an easy friendship with his sister. We talked often, and I began to realize just how much Dave did for his sister. She was fiercely independent but relied on him a lot too. I started picking up a few extra groceries for her when I could. On the occasions when Dave wasn’t able to drop her somewhere in his ute, I’d borrow Christa’s car. On the nights I wasn’t spending with Dave, Lauren and I would often have take-out together, and regularly it was the three of us. If I was honest, she helped me too. Christa was still on her honeymoon but I missed her. And I knew that sense of loss would only grow stronger when I had to move out of my apartment.

  “That’s what you’re doing, isn’t it?” Lauren asked. “Ending your lease? That’s what Dave told me you were doing.”

  I nodded, feeling a pang of sadness. “I can’t afford it by myself and I don’t want to live with a stranger.”

  “I’m not a stranger,” she pointed out.

  “No. You’re not, but you’re my boyfriend’s sister.”

  “And?”

  I shifted awkwardly on the sofa and put my dinner plate on the coffee table. “Well, what happens if things don’t work out between Dave and me? I mean, that would be—”

  “Pfft.” Lauren waved her hand at me. “You two are made for each other. If you leave him, I’ll kick you out because I’ll be angry with you, and if he leaves you, I’ll never speak to him again. Simple.”

  I laughed. “So no issues then?”

  “Nope. I’m good. Come on, Cate. Admit it, it makes sense.”