by Rye Hart
“Mm. I love the way you milk it. You’re still so tight. I want to come inside you.”
I wanted him to. I loved the way it felt and somehow knowing he was leaving a part of himself behind had meant something to me before. Now it seemed like too much, too personal.
“Please, don’t.” I was shocked as the words fell from my lips without thinking.
“Where do you want it?” He kissed my ear and chills went down my neck and shoulder all the way to my hip.
I didn’t know what to say. I was near tears and angry that he was about to leave me all alone in his stupid castle with no one but staff, who were damned near invisible. “I don’t care, but not inside me.” My voice broke as tears spilled down my cheeks and he stilled behind me.
“Carrie?” He pulled away and tried to roll me toward him, but I fought against him with my eyes closed tight. I didn’t want to look at him; I didn’t want to see his face ever again.
I wished I could open my eyes and be back in Nebraska, and that this had all been a terrible dream. But there was no such magic here.
“Look at me, Carrie. Talk to me.”
“Why, do your other women talk to you, cry for you?” I didn’t want to be like all the rest. “I thought you wanted this.” He pressed his lips against my shoulder and held me. “I’m sorry if I hurt you.”
“How many women have you brought here?”
“Carrie…” he started, his voice cautious.
“Tell me, Chance. I’m one of how many? Dozens? I mean, because you’re ‘swimming in pussy’ right?” I couldn’t help myself.
He took a deep breath behind me. “So, you did overhear?” he said quietly.
“It’s not like you two were being quiet,” I answered.
“Then you heard me say that I you were different,” he said, turning me to face him.
“I heard you say you weren’t going to fuck up the good thing you had going because of me,” I said, refusing to meet his eyes.
He sighed and rubbed a hand over his face. “That was for Nate’s benefit. I didn’t like that he was pushing me, and honestly, Carrie, this is all new to me.”
“What, fucking a virgin?” I spit.
“Stop that,” he said, sharply. It’s different with you, Carrie.”
“So different that you’re holding me to my contract, instead of taking me home with you and treating me like an actual human being?”
For once, he didn’t have an answer, and I could actually feel my heart breaking.
“I don’t know how to do this Carrie. I’ve never felt like this before,” he said quietly.
Determined not to let myself get sucked back into his emotional immaturity, I steele myself and said the most insulting thing I could think of. “And you’ve had enough practice at to know, haven’t you?”
He opened his mouth to say something, but then closed it again without a word. A brief flash of pain shown in his blue eyes and he rolled over and got out of bed.
I watched him walk to the shower, fighting the urge to cry until he had shut the bathroom door behind himself. Once I heard the click of the lock, I let it all out, sobbing into my pillow until I fell asleep.
When I woke in the morning, Chance was gone.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN - CHANCE
Things had been a disaster since leaving Ireland. I had gotten caught up in a delay on Proctor’s end and ended up finishing out the week in New York. I had tried to talk to Carrie a few times to apologize and check in, but her distance didn’t have anything to do with the miles between us.
I had just tried to call her again when there came a knock at the door. I crossed the room, listening to the endless series of rings as I let Nate in. He was going to fly over to Nebraska and meet with the environmental team.
I gave up the call and tossed the phone to the couch where it bounced off and hit the rug. “She’s not answering. The deadline is close, and by the time I get there, I’ll only have a few more hours with her. Not that it’ll matter.”
“I’m sorry, man. Proctor’s an ass. All of that jumping through hoops and he’s still threatening to back out on the deal.”
I had to face facts that the deal might fall through. I put my team to work, but that is what took all my extra time.
“Right now, man, I’m more concerned with Carrie. If I don’t get back to her, I may never see her again.”
“Just go to the diner,” Nate offered.
“I signed a contract saying I wouldn’t go after her at the end of the deal.”
“So what, man? You’re in love with her, right? You have to be if you’re more concerned about her than your business deal. You’ve never let anyone get in the way.”
He was right; I hadn’t. I had lost relationships before over business, and I’d never gone after one of my contract women. I was content to let them all go, as there had been nothing special about any of them, until Carrie. I wouldn’t lose her.
“She’s different. She’s smart and caring and has her priorities in line. She’s been through a lot too, and I want to make life better for her. She deserves it.”
“Isn’t that what the hundred thousand will do?”
“It’s not enough. Not for me. I want her.” I gathered up my things, and we headed down to the car. I tried to call her again, still to no avail.
Minutes later we arrived at the airport. Nate clapped me on the shoulder as the driver took our luggage out of the trunk. “I’ll make sure this deal goes through, my friend.” His plane was leaving twenty minutes after mine, so we walked toward my plane only to be cut off by the pilot, Lou, who came out to meet me.
“We’ve got a delay. There’s a huge storm over the Atlantic.”
“How long are we looking at? I have to get to Ireland before midnight.”
“You won’t make it there before tomorrow morning, and that’s if you’re lucky. This is a big one.” Lou scratched his head and walked away.
“Dammit.” I grabbed the phone and dialed Carrie. It rang and rang.
Nate shook his head. “Wish there was something I could do, man.”
“I will call Rick. He’s the one who will meet her when it’s time to leave. Maybe he didn’t get his flight either.” I dialed Rick who answered with a chipper tone.
“Hey, Chance. How’s it hanging, buddy? You’ll be glad to know I’m in sunny Ireland looking for rainbows.”
“Fuck!” The word flew from my lips and Nate made a face and turned away. “No, I’m not glad to hear it. I was hoping you’d be delayed. I’m still in New York. I was going to try and be back in time to see Carrie, but I can’t get her on the phone. Can you contact her and ask her to answer? Or can you would just keep her there until I get there?” I was desperate, and I hoped it was apparent in my tone.
“Ah, you want me to break the agreement?” His voice lowered, and he whistled. “May I ask why?”
“Because I don’t want her to leave before I get a chance to talk to her.” I didn’t know why it mattered to him either way.
“Yeah, um, about that. I’m not going to be able to help you. It’s not my place to break the contractual agreement, and it’s your obligation to follow through on your end of the bargain.”
I knew all of that, but he was missing my point.
“No shit, but I need your help. I have to be able to talk to her, and my plane is not going to be there in time, so I want you to stall her.” I’d paid Rick thousands of dollars to work for me and set up these arrangements, not to mention I’d known him since he was a kid and had given him a leg up when no one else would. He owed me.
“No can do, friend. It’s legal and binding. I’m not getting sued or being charged with unlawful imprisonment. But, I will tell her you called and give her a message. If she then chooses to reach you, I’ll have her call, but if not, there’s nothing else can do, I’m sorry.”
I knew what he was saying was right, but I was growing increasingly desperate. “Look, just do me this one favor, man. I’ll take the heat.”
> “Do you know how many times one of your women have begged me for info on you? What if I had given in? Where would you be? There’s a reason I play by the rules, and I’m afraid that you have to as well. It’s only fair.”
“Just tell her it’s important!” I slammed down the phone and kicked my suitcase, sending it skidding across the tarmac.
Lou walked up with a frown. “I checked the weather; I can probably get you there by four a.m.”
“That’ll be too late. I may as well stay here in New York and hope that she calls.” I looked at the driver who was standing by the car with his hands resting behind his back. “Could you please take me back home?”
“Fly out to Nebraska with me. We’ll meet her at Angelo’s,” Nate offered.
I thought about it for precisely one second before nodding. “Yeah, I’ll do that.” This way, Rick was not on the hook for breaking the contract.
Nate and I boarded the plane and I spent the whole flight thinking about how to make things right with Carrie. I knew that she was pissed and hurt when I left and that was why she had lashed out. It had only proven to me that she had feelings for me too. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have been so angry. It gave me hope that I could get through to her and find a way to make this work.
I could see us together for the long haul. Each leaning on each other for comfort and strength, and having the best sex on earth in the process. I had lots more tricks up my sleeve all for her.
Every time I thought of how rough I’d gotten that last time, I cringed. I wasn’t so sure she’d been playing along, and even if she had been, I wanted more than someone playing a part. I hated that I’d made her do that. Role play was only good when both parties expected it.
I had never considered that I’d fall for her, but it wasn’t so terrible now that I was pretty sure she was feeling the same way. I just had to convince her that I wasn’t damaged goods, and that I could make her happy.
I hated to wait days to see her, but I knew she was due back at Angelo’s first thing Monday morning, so I would go there if I had to. Money or not, she wouldn’t quit her job, not when she was using the bulk of her payoff for hospital expenses. I just had to bide my time until she went back to work.
As we landed on Nebraska soil, I called her one more time, hoping against hope that she’d answer, but she didn’t. By the time we got to the hotel and checked in, I’d hoped to hear something, but I didn’t. There was nothing I could do but watch the clock and hope for a miracle.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN - CARRIE
The past few days had been hell. Lindy had met me at the airport and had driven me straight to the home so I could see my father. I spent a few hours there, sleeping in the chair, but it felt nice to be near him.
I’d gone home on Sunday to unpack and settle in, and I left only long enough to buy groceries for the week. The money had been wired to my account, so there was no waiting and Rick had me check the status of my account before he left. He’d also told me about Chance trying to reach me.
He had tried to convince me that Chance really wanted to see me, but I felt that if that were the truth, he would have taken me along with him to New York, or at least had the decency to come back when he said he would. By leaving me there all alone, he’d shown me that I was nothing more than a throwaway, like his others.
There was only one way that he would find me, and that’s if he showed up to the diner, but I wouldn’t be there. I’d called Lindy over, and the two of us sat on my back patio and talked about my plans.
“Are you sure you want to quit? I mean, I wouldn’t let this guy run you off from a perfectly good job. You know how hard it is to find something. Besides, wasn’t it in the contract that he wouldn’t try to contact you after?” I knew that Lindy didn’t want me to leave her hanging, but my mind was made up.
“I just can’t take the chance, Lindy. Besides, I have enough money now for my father’s surgery and to live comfortably for a bit while I find something else. Besides, I’ve been thinking that I’d like to enroll in school.”
“I can understand that you don’t want to see him again. Are you sure he can’t find you?”
“He doesn’t know my last name and the only link is to the diner. I doubt he’ll come around anyway. He got what he wanted.” Visions of him taking me over and over with his large cock caused an ache between my legs. I didn’t think I’d ever have something that special again; and it hadn’t even been real.
“If he does show?” She met my eyes. “I need you to tell me what you want me to do.”
“I want you to tell him to get lost and that I don’t want to see him. He doesn’t care about me. Not the same way I care about him and not the way I need him to. I was falling in love, Lindy.” I pulled my lips into a tight line and held my breath. It was all I could do to keep from crying. I hated admitting it out loud.
“I know. Men suck sometimes, but there are some good ones too. Look at your sweet father. You’ll get past this, and you’ll find someone to love you as he does. I’m sure of it.” Her comforting was sweet, but it did little to soothe my aching heart. The only thing that could do that was knowing Chance loved me and wanted me too.
I wiped the tears that escaped. “I just wish he’d been interested in me for real. I had been so flattered. I must have looked like an easy mark: the stupid little small-town waitress. I gave him my virginity. There’s no telling how many other women he’s made feel the same way.”
She nodded sympathetically. “Don’t call yourself stupid, Carrie. He was charismatic. Anyone would have fallen for it.”
I nodded and then decided I needed to change the subject.
“I’d like to learn more about this procedure and set it up. I’d like Dad to be home for the holidays. I know Dr. Ross had said that scheduling wouldn’t be an issue since the surgery doesn’t take long.”
“That sounds hopeful.” She knew how long I’d wanted to do the surgery and to have my dad back home.
“Yeah, I’m glad something does.”
We sat a while just visiting and when she left she promised that she would not tell Chance anything if he came by. I planned to call our boss in the early morning and tell him I had to quit, and Lindy had already prepared to take the shift so they wouldn’t be left hanging.
I had handed in my phone and when Rick asked if there was any final message I’d like to give Chance, I’d shaken my head. But now as I sat there I wish I’d told him how I felt and had him pass the message along. In a way, I wanted him to know he’d hurt me, but in another, I didn’t want him to know how much. I also thought that many other messages I could have left, but knew it was not good to sit and think of what should or could have been. I needed to move on with my life and try to make things better for my situation as well as my father’s. He had to be my number one priority and Chance needed to be history.
I hadn’t bothered to take any of the clothes that he’d bought me in Paris, or the dresses that he’d left in the closet. I knew those were things that he’d given the others, and I didn’t want to be anything more like them. If I didn’t need the hundred thousand so badly I’d have thrown it all in his face, but I had more than earned that money.
I soaked in the tub, and got ready for bed, hoping that things would be better once I got through the next day. Maybe in time, I could put Chance behind me, and the memories of him would fade.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN - CHANCE
Waiting on Monday to come had been hell, and I had sat in Angelo’s for a few hours Sunday hoping to see her friend Lindy.
I woke up late and cursed, seeing that the diner had opened two hours ago. I needed to check and see if she’d shown up for her morning shift and if not when she might be in.
“Are you heading out again?” Nate sipped his coffee and stared at his phone.
“Yes, and I hope to see her today. I’ll bribe Lindy if I have to just to get a moment with her.”
“That might not be wise; you know how women are protective of one another.”
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br /> “I’m sure a five-thousand-dollar tip will buy me what I need, especially when I explain that I’m in love with her.” I was going to march right in and declare that fact the moment I saw her. I’d played it out in my head a thousand times the night and day before. She’d be in that sexy waitress uniform, with her hair in that messy bun, and I’d walk right up and kiss her, or maybe she’d be so excited, we’d run to each other. It seemed like a cheesy love scene in a B movie, but I’d take it.
“You might piss her off. What if she just wants to be left alone? The billionaire status intimidates some people, you know. Some people are not impressed by it, and you already admitted she’s special and not like the others.”
“Thanks for the ounce of hope, friend.” I grabbed my phone off the table where it had charged through the night and then went to my room to grab my shoes.
“I’m not trying to be a downer man, but I just think if she didn’t jump at the chance to talk to you when Rick told her you wanted to, then she might not be so easily won. She’s got a lot on her plate.”
“I know, and I’d like to help her with it. Is that so wrong?”
“Just promise me this, Chance; if you strike out again, this will be the end of the chase?”
“I promise. But I’m not striking out. And it doesn’t count until I see her and she tells me for herself that it’s over.”
“Deal. Good luck, my friend.” He returned to his phone, and I heard the sound of a game loading its obnoxious music as I headed out.
I took off to the diner, hoping that I hadn’t missed an early morning shift change. When I walked in and caught a glimpse of Lindy’s smiling profile as she refilled a customer’s coffee cup, I breathed a sigh of relief. I glanced around, hoping to see Carrie, but she wasn’t there unless she was in the back.
I stood by the door until Lindy finished tending the table, when she turned around her eyes widened as she saw me.
