by Anara Bella
Through sheer determination, she forced her stomach to settle down. She cleared her throat, clinging to the highly improbable hope he was talking about something else. “Last night’s call?”
His eyes twinkled, and mischief etched every line of his features. “You’re not going to get out of it that easy, Thea. I know you remember calling me last night. And I know you remember why you called. I also know I’ll never forget it. Hell, my cock’s still half-hard just thinking about it.”
Her insides fell as if she’d just hurtled down a hundred foot roller coaster drop. There was no easy way out of this one. “I didn’t know what I was saying.”
Okay, that was lame.
“Your red face says otherwise. You remember and you meant every word of it. Why are you fighting this? I’m here and I want us to get back together.”
Just like that. “Are you kidding me?”
His gaze intent, he gave one slow shake of his head. “Not even close. What’s the problem? You afraid to own up to last night’s invitation?”
She shook her head. “I told you, I didn’t know what I was saying.”
He just looked at her, which made her feel kind of stupid. Her temper rose. Did he really think she was the kind of woman to let a man treat her the way he had ten years ago, and then just let him come back and sleep with her as if nothing had happened? “Screw it. I wasn’t going to tell you this but you have it coming.”
Instead of being taken aback by her outburst, he nodded. “Let me have it. It’s long overdue. I know I deserve it.”
“You sure as hell do.” Her mind raced with all the things she’d wanted to say to him over the years. He’d been the love of her life, her first real love, and he’d smashed her heart into smithereens when he’d up and left. Now was her chance to let him have it.
Yes indeedy, now was the time.
Huh.
She stalled, shocked to realize that when it came right down to it, years of hurt, anger and insults faded away and compressed into just one thing she really needed to know. Had always needed to know. “You know, Cain, I’m not an idiot. I understand why you wanted to have adventures and travel the world. We were both so young. Way too young to settle down. And I was stuck here helping dad out with the bar. But the thing I can’t forgive, or forget is how you were able to cast me off without a backward glance.”
He flinched as if she’d struck him. Satisfaction washed over her as she watched him grasp for words.
“Do you deny it?”
He shook his head. “That wasn’t how it was at all.”
“You could’ve fooled me. You didn’t even have the decency to tell me to my face you were leaving. You sent me a note. A goddamned note. It was like a slap in the face. It couldn’t have been more obvious you didn’t love me or care about me at all. Nor did you respect me, or what we had.”
If possible, Cain looked even more stricken than before. “I’m so sorry Thea. I never meant to hurt you. I was a total jerk and handled the whole thing wrong, but that’s not how I meant it.”
She shoved out of her chair and stood, leaning forward with her hands splayed out on the desk. “So then, tell me how it was, Cain. What did I miss?”
He looked away, the muscle in his jaw working hard. For a long moment he stared at the ceiling as if seeking direction from a higher source, before finally meeting her eyes again. “The note wasn’t about you. It was about me. I left a note because I couldn’t tell you in person. I couldn’t face you. There was no way I could’ve looked in your sweet eyes and told you I was leaving. I knew if I saw you again, I’d never be able to leave. And if I didn’t leave I would’ve ended up resenting you and the fact that I’d stayed.”
Stunned, she didn’t move or say a word. Of all the things he could have said, she’d never imagined this, and she worked hard to make sense of it.
When she didn’t say anything, he continued. “I was afraid of becoming like my father. My whole life he resented me and my mother for tying him down and keeping him from his dreams. He didn’t even try to hide it. He wanted to see the world and for a while my mother tried to accommodate him, moving from place to place every six months to a year, but she finally got fed up. When he wanted to leave Forsythia Falls she refused to move again. So dad left and never looked back. I didn’t want to do that to you or to any kids we might have.”
His sincerity was palpable, touching her in ways that surprised her. Something profound eased and shifted deep inside. She felt herself softening, and it was so weird and unexpected it totally threw her.
She remembered Cain at that age, and how much he’d hated that his father had abandoned him and she knew he wasn’t exaggerating or making it up. Fear of becoming just like his dad was what had always motivated him. She didn’t doubt what he said for a second. “I’m sorry you grew up that way, Cain. I really am.”
“Don’t apologize. I’m the one who’s sorry. And I’ll say it as many times as you need me to say it. I handled everything all wrong and I can’t ever take it back.”
“Yeah, you’re damned right about that.” But in the knowing, the sting she’d felt all these years ratcheted back to a dull roar instead of the blaring brass band it had been up until then. It was still there in the background of course. No doubt always would be. But it no longer felt like it was right there in her face, rubbing her heart and her pride raw.
“I’m not proud of the way I handled the situation.”
“Well, thank you for that at least.”
He reached across the desk and tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. “Then let’s get past this. Please. I can’t make up for what I did. I was too young and too stupid to appreciate what we had, and I didn’t want to make the same mistakes my father had. I handled it all wrong and I know it, but I never stopped caring about you. All these years have gone by and nothing’s changed for me. That’s why I’m back.”
She nodded thoughtfully. “You came back to make amends. I can understand that.”
“No. I’m back because I still love you. I’m back for you. To win you back.”
Her self-preservation sirens screamed a shrill warning. “That’s not going to happen.”
Disappointment, sharp and stark, swam across his face. “You won’t even give me—us—a chance.”
“We had our chance. We’ve both moved on.”
“And you no longer have any feelings for me?”
She forced out the lie. “No, I don’t.”
“Bullshit!”
Her gaze snapped to his. “It’s not bullshit. It’s the truth.”
“After last night’s call, you’re still trying to sell that load of crap? Sorry, I’m not buying.”
“Last night I was drunk. Sue me. I was horny, I have needs. So what?”
“That’s not it. You know we had more than just chemistry. We could have something good together if you give me a chance.”
She gritted her teeth, and clenched her jaw. “Fine, you want a chance?” There was one sure-fire way to drive home the point that this was just about physical needs.
She stepped around her desk, and stopped in front of him, enjoying the freeing feeling of control that washed over her. She needed to be in charge, and putting him in his place was one really good way to do it.
She flicked open the top button of her light blue sundress, seizing Cain’s undivided attention. Fleetingly, she wished she’d worn sexy lingerie today instead of a plain white bra and panties but, oh well. There was nothing she could do about it now. Besides, she didn’t need sexy lingerie to grab a man’s attention.
Cain’s nostrils flared. His hungry gaze was glued to her fingers as they released the next button down, revealing a nice view of her cleavage.
He swallowed, and fierce heat joined the hunger in his eyes.
“What’s the matter, Cain? Cat got your tongue?”
She flicked the third button free before running her finger down into the vee of her ample breasts. His mesmerized fascination had her all but p
urring. “See anything you like?”
He growled. His gaze shot to hers, no doubt trying to read her, before jamming it back down to her breasts. “I’ve always liked everything about you. You know that.”
Another button released. “Yes, I have a vague recollection of that.”
And another.
With confident fingers, she separated the two halves of her dress, shrugged it down to her waist and then shimmied her hips until the light cotton fabric gently drifted down to her feet.
“The real question is—” she ran a finger down his T-shirt covered, oh-so-ripped abs to the waistband of his jeans, “—do you still have the right stuff for me?”
Chapter Six
Lust ripped through Cain’s entire being, starting at the top of his head, and lancing its way straight to his toes. It landed with a double thud in his extremely interested dick.
Not that he was surprised by his immediate raging reaction to Thea’s seduction routine. She’d always affected him this way. From the very first moment he’d met her, he’d found her irresistible.
Even in a plain white bra and panties, she was the sexiest woman he’d ever laid eyes on. “There’s more to us than just sex, Thea.”
She tossed him a half shrug. “I just thought it might be nice to go down memory lane together. You know, with one final fuck. That is if you’re up for it.”
Disappointment speared through him. She was going to pretend this was all about sex. A part of him wanted to call her on it but then, maybe there was an advantage to not pushing the issue right now. Maybe he could reach her heart through sex. Maybe if she remembered how good they were in bed she’d remember just how much she’d loved him and what they had.
Thea’s eyes twinkled with sultry promise. “And lookie here—” he fought for control as her fingers continued past his waistband and skimmed over the bulge in his jeans, “—I guess you are at that.”
Fuck. He grabbed her hand away from his straining cock. “You’re playing with fire, darlin’. Watch out you don’t get burned.”
“Don’t worry about me. I can handle anything you throw my way. Maybe you’re the one who’s worried you can’t keep up. Or maybe you’re worried you’ll get burned.”
“I didn’t come back to town just for a quick fuck, Thea.”
“I didn’t say anything about it being quick.” She rubbed up against him and his heart nearly stopped. “I had something a bit more marathon-like in mind. You were always so good at taking your time.” She peeked up through her lashes, her very evocative pout a temptation all on its own. “I hope that hasn’t changed.”
Her obvious ploy to work him up didn’t fool him, but boy, was it working. This was Thea’s way of staying in the driver’s seat. Of that he had no doubt. She was determined to make it just about sex. What she didn’t realize was he was just as determined to make it more. He wanted them to be together again, and if it meant playing along with her little sex games, that’s just what he’d do. With a few of his own very important adjustments.
He grabbed her around the waist and lifted her off the floor. With a squeal of surprise, she wrapped her legs around his waist in a move as familiar as it was welcome.
Even through all the unwanted barriers separating their flesh, her scorching heat pressed against his erection. He couldn’t hold back the groan of pleasure. “I can outlast you, darlin’. But you’d better watch out, I’ve learned a few things along the way. You sure you can handle me?”
A split-second of doubt flashed across her beautiful features before she wiped her expression clean. “Bring it on, big boy.”
Hunger roared through his veins. “That’s all I needed to hear.”
He captured her lips in a devastating kiss meant to tease, to seduce, to gain her complete surrender. And surrender she did, her lips opening to the demands of his seeking tongue, mimicking the ultimate capitulation he sought as it tangled with hers.
This was so much more than a kiss, it was a battle of wills. A battle for domination, to determine whose agenda would be the one to triumph. Their lips ate at each other while he carried her to the desk, enjoying the feel of her lush ass filling his hands.
One handed, he swiped the desktop clean, then set her down on the edge, giving him easy access to her delectable body. Running his hands up her thighs as he took in the vision before him, he planned just how he’d kiss every inch of her soft flesh until she writhed in ecstasy and begged him for mercy. His cock jerked in anticipation.
God, he’d missed her so damned much. Everything about her—being with her like this, for sure, but even just talking to her, seeing her easy smile, and sharing her infectious joy of life. For so long, all he’d had were his hot fantasies based on their time together. They’d never been enough.
His gaze latched onto her breasts, remembering the sumptuous feel of them beneath his tongue, filling his hands, cushioning his body. As if reading his mind, she reached behind and unhooked her bra, letting the straps slip off her shoulders.
Accepting the silent invitation, he whisked the lacy lingerie down her arms, and threw it over his shoulder, drinking in the delicious sight. She’d been beautiful ten years ago, but she’d filled out since then, her curves becoming more womanly, even sexier now than before, which was saying something. His heart pounded furiously in his ears just thinking about kissing her sweet flesh again. The reality would be enough to make his dick explode.
Her nipples peaked under his heated gaze, calling out for his touch. He reached out to answer the unspoken call, and froze. Loud voices moved down the hallway past her office.
Thea swore. “The door. I didn’t think to lock it.”
“Shit.”
He hot-footed it to the door and snicked the lock into place. When he turned back, his breath stalled in his chest. Thea had removed her panties and now leaned back on the desk with her hands planted behind her, her legs spread wide in the most welcome invitation he’d ever received.
He hastened back to her, and ran his fingers down the waxed strip of red curls between her legs. Her stomach muscles clenched in response to his touch and his gut tightened.
“You like?”
Was she kidding? “Fuck yeah. But then I like everything I see.”
He trailed his finger past her neatly trimmed bush, skimming over her clit and she arched into his touch. But he didn’t linger, teasing her instead by continuing through her already wet folds until he breached her slick channel with his finger up to the second knuckle.
She gasped and he worked the digit in and out, loving how she clenched against him as if trying to hold onto him. “I like everything I can’t see too.”
She was so fucking hot. She always had been. From the moment they met, their relationship had been as explosive as fireworks, keeping them at the pinnacle of excitement with never-ending sparks of heat and passion. Even with how young he’d been, he’d recognized it was special. Fool that he was he hadn’t hung onto it. A mistake he wouldn’t make a second time.
In a move meant to tease, he removed his finger from her tight heat, loving the way she objected, wanting her to desire him more. He knelt before her, and separated her glistening folds, admiring the view. “You have the prettiest pussy I’ve ever seen. Absolutely perfect.”
With his face between her thighs, he took a deep breath, relishing the warm, enticing scent of her excitement before moving in and circling her clit with his tongue.
She gasped, and as he continued working the knot of sensitive flesh, a low sexy moan tore out of her throat. “Oh God. Don’t stop.”
He grinned. “Stopping never crossed my mind.”
And that was no joke. With his iron-hard dick throbbing in his pants, egging him on, he couldn’t have stopped if a hurricane blew the roof off the building. With licks and quick flicks, he tongued her clit until she was writhing and whimpering in ecstasy. A sound better than any aphrodisiac.
He couldn’t believe how fast she built to an orgasm, making him wonder if it had been a
while since she’d been with anyone. He selfishly hoped that was the case.
“Fuck me, Cain. Now.”
He teased her entrance with his finger, only easing in to the first knuckle before pulling out again. “Say please.”
“Fuck you.”
Rough laughter tore out of him. “Close enough.”
But he wasn’t done teasing her. He filled her hot sex with two fingers, working them in and out while working her clit until she exploded in a scream that would have brought the cops down on them if the music in the bar hadn’t been so loud.
She collapsed against the desk as he got to his feet, donned the condom he’d had in his wallet, grabbed her by the hips and plunged in. Hard and fast, he thrust into her scorching, wet channel. In no time, he was so close to the edge, he thought he’d go out of his fucking mind. There was no way he could stop. He just hoped he could last until she came again.
He worked her pussy hard, pistoning into her time and again, focusing on holding it together. When Thea reached up and started playing with her nipples, he almost lost it.
His breath shot out of him. “Fuck that’s hot. Don’t stop.”
Tiny flutters started up inside of her, milking him, pushing him ever closer to the edge. He held it together pretty well until she reached down with one hand and started playing with her clit.
Suddenly, she arched hard and screamed his name, flying over the top in wave after wave of bliss, and thank God for that because he was done. He couldn’t hold back any longer. He tunneled into her fast and furious, riding her hard until he came with a shout that should have shattered his eardrums. He continued pumping as he filled the condom with jet after jet of hot come.
With a wrenching groan, he collapsed against the desk, working hard to catch his breath.
Thea started to reach up but dropped her hand, looking every bit as wrung out as he felt. “Is the top of my head still intact?”
A laugh burst out of him. “If anyone should be asking that, it’s me, darlin’. Fuck, I don’t remember the last time I came that hard.”
