“What do you want?” I whisper the words into her ear and lick her neck.
“You, my love,” is her breathless response.
My own breath catches. Those words mean more to me than she knows. I drive my cock inside her. She’s so wet and once again I’ve returned home. I’m home. My mind in sudden overload, there’s so much I want to say to her, do to her, let her know what she means to me. I let the whirlwind of our passion take over. Kitty’s hips move, keeping perfect time to my thrusts. Every nerve that I have, that I am, is alive.
I nuzzle her neck, awash in such pleasure. Her nails scrape my back. There’s only one place I want to be. Kitty peppers kisses across my jaw and cheeks. The pressure mounts and I become lost in her. In us. Our moans and whimpers fill the confined space along with the smell of our lovemaking.
Kitty cries out, her head drops back. In seconds, I find my release. Hot fire consumes every pore until I explode and sag against her body. I gasp for breath, beads of perspiration race down my back. When I can think clearly, I shift my weight and drop onto the seat beside me.
Strands of her hair are glued to my sweaty chest. I play with them before letting go. Kitty presses her body besides mine. I look over at her, still trying to regain my breath. Those lovely eyes search mine. “You okay?” I ask.
Her breath catches and I realize she’s fighting back tears. “Did I hurt you?” I smack the side of my head. “I forgot a condom.”
“I’m using something.”
I twist toward her, let my fingertips brush against her cheek. “What is it then? Was it good for you?”
She laughs lightly. “Good? It was excellent.” A tear glides down her face.
“Then why are you crying, baby?” I drop my hand and fight back the franticness that wants to take over. What did I do wrong?
“Dev…” She grasps my hand and raises it up to kiss the bruises.
I try to pull my hand away. “You don’t need to do that—”
“Dev.” The seriousness in her tone stops me.
I’m afraid to hear what she’s going to say.
“Dev, I’m happy!” She drops more gentle kisses across my knuckles. “You are my shiny knight. You defended me. Somehow made that idiot apologize. And you love me. All of me. You never say anything mean or nasty. I love you for it all.”
A few more of her tears slip down. I swipe them. “I love you always.”
“That is apparent.”
I give her my most sheepish look. “Will we ever be okay? Can we start over? Or fix what we had?” I’m searching for the correct way to express myself but it’s confusing when she’s gazing at me that way. Like I’m her world.
“I need to tell you something.” With that, she sits up, pushing loose hairs off her face.
Sheer panic grips me. Do I want to hear what she says next?
10
Catalina
Devlin’s face drops so quickly, I’m afraid he misunderstood me. “Abuela gave me a very special Christmas gift. One I wasn’t expecting.”
He releases a rather shaky breath. “You didn’t say anything.”
I shrug. “With everything happening between the holiday and the wedding, I didn’t get a chance to. It’s not like I saw much of you this week. Plus, I needed some time to think.”
His brows knit together. I’ve stirred his curiosity. “She gave me the letters.”
Dev closes his eyes. “They do exist. I thought your mother destroyed them.”
I inhale deeply. “So did I. Abuela said she found them going through some of my parent’s personal effects. Some boxes she put away because she couldn’t deal with them yet.”
“And?” He drags in a tired-sounding breath.
I take in his strong jaw line, those to die for cheekbones, and that kissable mouth. “I understand why you did things the way you did. If my mother had given the letter to me, I would’ve fought to see you. At least I wouldn’t have been kept in the dark.” I fix my bra, pull on my panties and adjust my stockings. Dev gets dressed too.
He slides his shoes on and reaches over to pick up my gown.
After he helps me into it and zippers it up, I grab my bag from under the seat to find my make-up pouch. Ever so patient, he watches me touch up every layer and reapply my lipstick. “I think we need to continue on from where things broke off.” I pucker my lips and check my reflection in the compact I positioned against the headrest.
Dev groans. “Don’t do that again. You make me hard.”
“I do?” I twist my lips like a fish. He laughs, or is that a grimace?
He slips on his jacket, looking mighty fine. “How do we do that?”
I take my brush and run it through his locks before I fix mine. “Well, the way I see it, tonight is our chance. We’re dressed up, about to party the night away, and we’re surrounded by family and friends. Let’s treat this like the prom you missed.” When I’m satisfied with my hair and face, I put everything away.
“Okay. It makes sense.” He doesn’t sound assured. I’ll just have to show him.
I slip on one heel and reach for the second when he takes it from me. “May I?”
In response, I stretch out my leg and he takes his time sliding it on. Dampness pools again. “Kitty, I love you. I never stopped.”
The air around us changes, filling with that unmistakable current that occurs whenever we’re together. He runs his fingers up my calve and back down. “You look beautiful.”
My face warms from the effect of his words. “Thank you, my hot knight.”
Someone bangs on the window. “Catie? Dev? You guys in there?”
It’s Dulce. Our eyes widen and we burst out laughing.
Dev opens the door. My cousin and Dwight lean in to check out on us.
Dulce is radiant in her gown but freezing. Dwight takes off his jacket and wraps it around her shoulders. “You guys okay?” she asks. “I heard Dev went all caveman on Emilio. Yvonne is hurt he’s going to look ugly in her pictures.”
Dwight laughs. She laughs. They are so meant for one another.
Dev climbs out first and helps me. “I just needed to stand up for my love.”
My cousin’s hands flutter towards her heart. “I bet Dwight you two would be next to get married.” His arm wraps around her shoulder and they start to walk away.
Dev slams the door and takes ahold of my hand. I don’t feel the cold. We trail behind them, basking in the quiet beauty of the river spread out in front of us, at least the sections we can see from the glow of building lights.
Once inside, the happy couple to be head to the dance floor. Dev and I go straight for the buffet since we worked up an appetite. The aromas of Nuyorican cuisine makes me giddy. Working my way down the table, I chat with distant cousins and family friends, some I haven’t seen since my parents’ wake or funeral. By the time I sit down at the table, we’re the only ones left eating. Dev returns with a smile and two glasses of white wine.
He hands mine to me and clinks his against it in a sign of celebration. I wait.
Taking a drink, he savors the moment before putting his glass down. “The bartender told me Ricky was arrested this evening. Some big drug bust went down.”
“It’s about time.” I dig into my food. Everything, from the pork to seafood to plantains is delicious. Why isn’t he thrilled by that news?
Dev finishes before me and remains pensive. Something’s on his mind. I know that look.
Careful to leave room for the desserts and wedding cake, I push my plate away. “What?”
He scrubs his face before turning towards me. To be heard over the music, we move close. “Did you know Ricky had a thing for you? For a long time?”
I laugh but the sound is hollow. “Me? You’ve got to be kidding. Emilio tell you that basura? Because that’s what it is, Dev. Garbage.” My tone is shrill and I don’t mean to take my frustration out on him. I just got him back.
“Catalina…” He takes me by my shoulders and shakes me slightly. What the
hell?
Watching my expression, he sighs. “I wish you could see yourself the way I see you. You are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. You always have been. The day you went up to me at the bus stop, you asked me if I knew you.”
I giggle at that. “I don’t know what got into me that day. I think it’s because it was the first time I saw you dressed up, even though it was a uniform. It changed you. I noticed.”
“Want to know when I first noticed you?”
I shrug. “Sure. But it was easy to see me, the chubby kid in a sea of slim kids.”
His glance at the ceiling is a sure sign his patience is running thin. “I noticed you, Catalina, the very day I moved into Gran’ apartment. I was on my way down Sedgwick to go to the small supermarket across from the park. You swung open the gate where you lived.”
He remembers that day? “All right.” I take a long sip of my wine.
“You hit me with the gate, knocked me on my butt.”
Oh, that day. “Dios, that was you?”
Dev nods. “You helped me up, wiped off my shorts, and walked me to the store. You didn’t treat me differently. I wasn’t a scrawny, poor, pathetic kid. I was someone.”
This is what plagues Devlin. What his lovely selfish parents did to their darling boy. “You’ve always been someone.”
“So have you. Know what I noticed about you the first time? Your kind eyes, that sweet smile, a caring voice, and pretty hair. I thought you were beautiful then and even more now.”
The way he says that makes my heart swell up. I kiss him. He kisses back.
“Oh, please,” Zoe butts in from beside me. “First make-up sex in the limo, now lip-locking where we eat.”
We take our time pulling apart. “What did you say? You know about the limo?”
Dev’s face turns multiple shades of red. I cover my mouth to stop from laughing. He throws me a look and winds up chuckling.
She stands behind us, hands on our shoulders. “Seriously, I’m happy to see you two back together. There was a time when Ricky used to say you’d finally go out with him because Devlin wasn’t around. I called him on it one day. That jerktard told me he was glad you were gone, Devie, because you couldn’t have her.”
Something about what Zoe just said clicks somewhere in my brain. All the times he popped up somewhere wasn’t accidental? My mouth drops open. Dev grabs my hand.
“You couldn’t have her. That’s what he told me that day. My drugged-up mind distorted his words.”
Zoe watches us, clearly confused.
“Ricky set you up on prom day to get back at you for me falling in love with you.” I shake my head. “There was never anything nice about that guy. He oozed the ick-factor.”
Amanda hurries over and stumbles, knocking into Zoe. She’s been enjoying the adult beverages this evening. Yet, there’s something in the way Zoe catches her that’s interesting. My gaze shifts from one to the other.
“C’mon back to dance,” Amanda pouts.
Zoe pushes her away gently. “Stop drinking. They say their vows at a quarter to midnight.”
Amanda waves her off. “I’ll be fine by then.”
Relenting, Zoe yanks Amanda by the hand and stalks off.
Dev’s gaze follows them. “That was strange.”
I nod. “There’s a story just waiting to be told from those two.” I empty my glass and stand. “Time for prom to start, Mr. Fitzgerald.”
He smoothly jumps to his feet and bows. “Let’s go.”
Pushing in some chairs, I turn towards the dancing and Dev pinches my ass. I start to giggle again, and instead pinch him back. Twice. Nice, gentle love pulls. Something tells me we’re just getting started.
* * *
At exactly midnight, as the ball drops in Times Square on the screens behind them, Dulce and Dwight launch into their first kiss as husband and wife. Champagne flutes are handed out. Bedazzled horns are tooted by revelers wearing Happy News Year’s hats. From above us, silver and white balloons drop onto everyone.
Talk about magic.
The Justice of the Peace stops to shake hands and share greetings. The DJ plays the couple’s favorite Ed Sheeran tune and they begin their dance.
Dev pulls me against him as we join everyone to watch the first dance.
“You did good tonight.” We both wear hats, mine is black and his silver.
“I did. I held onto the rings and didn’t lose them.”
“A-ha.”
“You did better. You put so much of this night together. Are you sure you want to be a teacher? You’re so good at wedding planning.” His words are uttered close to my ear and a shiver courses down my spine. I never tire of that reaction.
The song ends. The familiar notes of another begins. “Here you go, my love.” Dev kisses my cheek before accompanying me onto the dance floor.
Marc Anthony’s melodic voice floats out from the speakers at the moment we join together and begin to move. Tears spring to my eyes and I choke up. I didn’t put this on the song list. “My Baby You” is my private favorite song. I stare at Dev. “You requested this?”
He shakes his head and dips down to explain. “This is a dedication to us from Dulce and Dwight. She said this would be our first song at our wedding.”
I begin to bawl. In the middle of my cousin’s wedding, in the middle of the dance floor, I let the waterworks free.
“Oh, baby.” Dev slows our dance to grasp the sides of my face and kiss each of my tears away. As the gorgeous love song plays, Devlin proves once again why it’s so easy to love him.
When he’s done, he wraps his arms around me and I lean against his chest. I clutch his jacket and close my eyes. We sway together, forgetting where we are. I simply allow myself to fall into the music and into the man holding me. During the second chorus, he slips my arms back around his neck without missing a beat and sings along.
My cheeks are still wet when the song ends and we pull apart. A young women who was in Dulce’s class drags her partner over. “Catie, does he have a brother?”
“Uh…” I don’t know who she’s talking about.
Dulce pipes up from behind me. “No, Sara, there’s only one Devlin.”
After she makes a face, Sara walks off with the guy beside her looking dejected.
Dev raises his eyebrows and I hear Dwight guffaw.
“Thank you, Catie, for the shower, for this, for everything,” Dulce says. Another song starts and her husband tugs her.
I reach out for a quick hug.
Before she pulls away, she whispers, “Did you feel it? When it happened? When you reconnected with your true love?” With a wave, she joins Dwight in another dance.
“What was that about?” Dev asks.
I watch her laugh and twirl in his arms, the picture of complete happiness. “Ah, something we talked about last week. That’s all.” The guitar chords wash over me and I recognize a beloved Juanes song.
When I try to catch Dulce, she’s already watching for my reaction. I mouth “thank you” and her grin is all I need. I devote the rest of the evening to the man holding me. My cousin’s right. When it happened, I knew it. For a second time. Except this time, it took two weeks to draw us back together again.
To think our second chance story began in a secret closet.
About the Author
Laurie Treacy grew up in NYC and currently resides in the beautiful Hudson Valley with her family. Living in an area steeped in supernatural lore and legends certainly inspires this author of YA and NA fantasy, urban fantasy, paranormal & contemporary romance. Laurie enjoys urban exploring and photographing forgotten places. A proud Whovian, she’s also a Miyazaki fan girl, loves playing video games and settling down for marathons of K-dramas with lots of frozen Goobers.
A member of RWA, YARWA, and FF&P, Laurie can be found online at http://www.laurietreacy.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/author.laurie.treacy
Twitter: @llt806
Make it a Doubl
e
Ann Anders
About the Story
Fairy tales are for children…
Colorado native Noel Blake wants to finish her bartending shift and head home for a good night’s sleep. She’s not the kind of girl who hooks up with hotel guests.
Elliot Stafford wants to finish his business in town and fly back to NYC as soon as possible. He’s not interested in anything this small town has to offer.
Neither of them planned on him becoming her knight in shining armor. Flying glass, blizzards, and an irrational attraction culminate into one amazing night. Only fools believe in love. Gotta be adult about this sort of thing.
Even though it felt like magic…
After unwittingly opening their hearts to each other once, might they be crazy enough to “make it a double?”
To every person who’s ever worked in a bar. Especially my good friends: Kathy W., Chris W., Heather, Courtney, Kathy B., Patty, Pattie, Chris B. and Rose.
Chapter One
“Would you like a menu or just something to drink?” Noel spoke to the man’s back. Even so, the greeting flowed easily. She did it hundreds of times a week. She was optimistic that way. Give everybody a smile until they prove they don’t deserve one.
She wasn’t so sure about this guy.
All she could see was his sleek black hair. He had been on his phone for the past ten minutes.
She hated when customers sat down at her bar and ignored her for a phone call. With only twelve barstools, the people sitting in them needed to be spending money –– Especially in the off season. Noel drove the forty miles of winding roads every night so that she could try to eke out a living, not because tending bar was such a hoot, much to the chagrin of some of her guests.
Covet the Curves: a Romance Collections Anthology Page 37
