by Abby Wood
He scratched the back of his neck. “Yeah.”
“Figures. She’s so pumped. It’s her biggest job to date. We’ve been—” Doreen spotted Katina and smiled down the hallway. “There you are!”
“Hey…what are you doing here?” Katina glanced between him and Doreen.
She wasn’t fooling anyone. A thousand bucks said she’d called Doreen while she was upstairs and planned to have her friend come rescue her, because he’d read her right and it made her uncomfortable. He leaned against the wall, waiting to see what Katina would do.
“We need to work on that plan…the um, you know, the thing for the Mitchells.” Doreen oversmiled, showing all her teeth.
Katina pressed her hand against her forehead. “I totally forgot.”
“Do you have your car? You could follow me back to your place.” Doreen asked.
“No. Trent brought me. I’ll have to go with you.” Katina turned to Trent and kissed him quick. “Thank you for everything. I’m sorry to leave, but like I mentioned earlier, I do have work to do.”
He narrowed his eyes. “Come here.”
Her jaw dropped before she caught herself. “What?”
“Come here.”
She stepped closer. “What?”
“Go ahead and run this one time, but know that we will talk about this.” He hooked his thumb under her chin and held her gaze. “I’ll call you at nine. Answer the phone.”
She nodded. “‘Kay.”
He inhaled deeply. “Don’t forget your material.”
“Thanks.” She walked into the other room and returned clutching the cloth to her chest, watching him the whole way.
He walked to the door, saw them out, and then they were gone. He shut the door, and turned the dead bolt. He was not in a good mood. Not at all.
Chapter Eight
The bold-printed material Trent bought covered Katina’s legs. She removed a straight pin from the throw pillow and adjusted the corner of the fabric. Two hours she’d worked on one pillow, and she was no closer to finishing.
“I give up.” She tossed everything off her lap onto the couch and slouched.
Being alone after she’d returned from Trent’s house seemed like a good idea at the time. Now she wished she had let Doreen stay, even though she didn’t have any answers to Doreen’s many questions about her date with Trent.
Trent was invading her thoughts, and she barely had the energy to think about what happened between them, much less what the future held. She rolled off the couch. The situation called for ice cream. The more chocolate, the better.
With the carton clutched under her arm, the spoon stuck deep in the ice cream, she walked back into the living room. The doorbell rang. She changed directions and headed toward the door. If Doreen came back to bother her about Trent, then she’d make Doreen gain five pounds too as they hashed out her feelings.
She shoved the loaded spoon in her mouth to free her hand and turned the knob. Shit.
Trent stood in the hallway, glaring at her. “You didn’t even check to see who was here.”
She pulled the spoon out of her mouth, swallowed, and grimaced as the cold food moved down her throat. “Did too.”
“Bullshit.” He backed her up into the room, shut the door, and locked the dead bolt. “You don’t even use the lock.”
“I forgot.” She took another bite of ice cream to keep from saying more.
“Baby…” He shook his head.
“What?”
She couldn’t tell if he was happy to see her or wanted to kick her ass. A mix of emotions played across his face, none of them recognizable. And she refused to explore his reaction.
The look in his eyes told her not to push her luck. Deciding to play it safe, she walked around the couch, putting an obstacle between them, so she’d keep her distance. At this point, she knew better than to trust herself around Trent.
“You’re driving me nuts,” he mumbled as he stalked forward and around the couch.
She stared at him, tilting her head back the closer he came. Her nipples peaked, betraying her. “Fine. I’ll try to remember to use the lock.”
He kept coming closer. “You need to use the peephole too.”
“Sure, and I’ll do a background check on every person who knocks on my door to be on the safe side,” she said.
“Kat…” He stood in front of her and growled. “I hope you have a condom or two here.”
Oh, shit. A few scenarios played through her head, and all of them piqued her interest. “Why?”
Distracted by her ideas, she found the ice-cream carton taken out of her hands, and her body locked in his embrace. She gasped when her feet left the floor.
“Trent!”
“You want me.” He grinned, chuckling.
Dammit. He knew.
He carried her down the hallway, laughing harder when he carried her straight to her bedroom. She’d never seen him let loose, act silly, and she liked it. A lot.
In the middle of the room, he stopped and slid her down his body. She held on to him. Oh, boy.
She knew exactly why he’d come to the apartment instead of phoning. The proof was pressed against her. “You came over for me?”
“Yes,” he whispered. “I’m not going to let you get away with pushing me away. I want answers, but right now, I want you.”
She clung to his shirt. “You want me.”
“Yeah, baby.” He sank his fingers into the hair at the back of her neck. “You’ve got three seconds to turn around and grab on to the bed.”
She gaped at him. “You think I’ll just bend over? For you?”
“Absolutely.” A dimple showed up beside the corner of his mouth.
It was a standoff. She could yell bloody murder, run for the exit, and be free of Trent. She ran her hand across his stomach, feeling his muscles harden. She’d never see him again, and although he was bossy, dominating, and too sexy for his own good, she kinda liked when he went all caveman on her. He made her feel cherished, as if she was the only woman in his life and he wanted to protect her.
Without taking her gaze off him, she slowly undid the snap on her shorts, wiggled them past her hips, along with her panties, and kicked them off her feet. She slowly turned around, gazing over her shoulder as she leaned forward until her hands braced her upper body on the mattress.
“Fuck me,” he muttered.
She stifled a moan. So turned on by his authority and reaction, she forgot all about her ass showing. Her legs shook, and she clutched the bedspread.
“Only you can look seductively sexy and fucking innocent at the same time.” He swatted her butt.
Warmth filled her as she flinched. She braced herself for another slap, surprised that she wanted him to put his hand on her, to feel the sting of his touch, to have him make her take him.
“Jesus, baby. That’s hot. You pushing your ass up toward me,” he said.
Was she? Oh, God. She was.
He kept his gaze on her posterior. “Condom?”
“Bathroom. Medicine cabinet.” She straightened.
“No. Don’t move. Stay right where you are.” He stalked out of the room.
She thought about moving. It would take only a second to grab her shorts and put them back on. But she wanted Trent to get off on screwing her, and she doubted if she could tell him no when she wanted him inside her.
Her body vibrated as she waited for him to return. Sensitized to every touch, every look, every word, she could no more leave right now before he fucked her than tell him no. In the back of her mind, she knew if she followed his directions and pleased him, he’d take her higher and deeper. Just the way she wanted.
Trent returned. He walked behind her, and she hung her head, watching him step between her legs. The second they were done having sex, she was going to tell him he couldn’t come visit her whenever he wanted, and she was definitely not having sex whenever he wanted.
“I wish you could see how pretty you look bent over in front of me.�
�� He skimmed his thumb down her hip. “Did I tell you how I love when you blush? You get that way out in public when you think you’ve been goofy and quickly cover up with saying something brilliant to distract me. I see through you, baby.”
Her stubborn stance eased, and in its place, her eyes watered. She gazed over her shoulder, blinking. What was wrong with her? Why did she want to throw herself at him, and beg him not to give up on her, no matter what she threatened or threw at him?
“That’s it, baby.” He stroked her back. “You’re okay. Let your emotions out.”
She managed to nod once.
He leaned against her, kissed her bare shoulder, and whispered, “Relax. I’ll take care of you.”
She trembled. How did he know? Always one who fought for her independence, she craved someone who would take that power away from her. Doreen was right. She did want a man stronger than her.
Trent gave her an excuse to take a chance, to let down her guard. No. He demanded she pay attention and open herself up to him. No other man had the strength to force her to let herself be vulnerable.
“You’re very wet and ready for me,” he said.
Her position kept her from moving away from the slow glide of his finger through her wetness. She leaned her head against the mattress, caught up in the titillating pulses drumming her body. He forced her to feel things she’d always denied herself before.
Each stroke built her up higher. She silently begged him to skim her clit. It wouldn’t take more than that to set her off.
Suddenly he removed his hand and pushed up inside her with his cock, leaving her gasping as blinding pleasure seared her core. She stiffened. Oh God, oh God, oh God…
In.
Out.
In.
Out.
Then her whole body constricted in ecstasy. Hard, powerful, and wild.
He pushed into her, buried fully inside her, until she was balancing on her tiptoes, clinging to the edge of the mattress. She shook worse than if she were stuck outside in freezing weather. Butt naked.
Every thought centered on the pleasure drowning her. She wanted to wallow in the feelings forever.
He grunted, leaning over her back as he pulsed inside her, sending aftershocks of desire through her. His weight came down more, and she collapsed her upper body on the bed.
Then suddenly, he pulled out of her and wrapped his arms around her waist, holding her in a standing position. She missed the fullness of him inside her. He filled her with more than his body, and she wasn’t sure how to hold on to the feelings he created.
“From now on you always lock the damn dead bolt. When you’re home, when you leave, when you run down to do laundry. Every. Single. Time.” He kissed the side of her cheek.
She nodded. “‘Kay.”
After a minute of silence, he guided her onto the bed. He helped her lie down on her back. He gazed at her intently, and she marveled at the way his eyes appeared more gray than blue at the moment. She tried to get her brain to work, to understand what he was going to do next, but her mind melted away when his mouth came down on her mound. His hot breath caressed the already wet parts of her.
A surge of pleasure rolled through her. She raised her hips, grinding against his tongue, his lips, and his face. My God, why hadn’t she dated a man so determined before?
The incredible feeling of having his face between her legs, touching all her hidden spots, drove her higher. To her amazement, her body recovered quickly, and her core throbbed with need. He sucked her nub into his mouth and tapped his teeth against the sensitive exposed nerves. Her skin warmed, and the cool temperature of the room created more sensations over her hot upper body.
He sucked her clit. Hard.
Catapulted into the most exquisite orgasm of her life, she screamed his name, as spasm after spasm racked her body from the inside out to her limbs, consuming her entire body and leaving not one spot untouched.
Trent massaged her legs, letting her come down easily to enjoy every moment. His face appeared stern, but there was softness in his eyes. “Do you trust me, baby?”
She hesitated. He never gave her any reason to think he was anything but earnest. She liked that part of being with him. His dominance gave her permission to take a chance. That if she failed or weakened, he would be here to protect her.
“Yes.”
“Good.” He pushed off the mattress, walked out of the room, and returned after what she suspected was an errand to rid himself of the condom. “This is what’s going to happen. I’m not playing around anymore. We’re together. Because I give a damn about how my girl is protected, you will lock that dead bolt and be aware of your surroundings. When you agree to be only with me, I want us together all the time, except when we both have to work. If you want your friends around for company, then you damn well invite them over. I’m going to have Tim drive you around, because I would feel better knowing the most important person in my life is safe and protected. He’ll take you to your job sites and return to take you home when you’re finished. When you have an errand to run, call him, and he’ll take you. Are we clear?”
She stared up at him from the bed. The reality of what he ordered her to do penetrated her sexually satisfied brain. “Oh, shit.”
Chapter Nine
Trent sat on the couch in Katina’s apartment. Now that he’d set the rules, he expected the backlash. Katina had stayed in her room for an hour and then busied herself in the kitchen for another ten minutes before daring to glance in his direction.
He could wait.
She tried hard to hide her need to have a handle on the situation. From the bright red T-shirt and the knee-high boots she wore over skintight jeans after coming out of the bedroom, to her lack of smart-ass comments she normally threw at him, she was struggling to maintain her safe little world.
She reminded him of a Swedish warrior. Ready to cuss him out and go to war against the strongest of men, and she had his attention. He latched his hands behind his head and stretched his legs out, crossing his ankles. He had nowhere to go tonight, and he wasn’t leaving the apartment until he believed she was on board with his plans.
Her thick auburn hair hung loose and wild around her shoulders. Her large, high breasts, wide hips, and solid thighs pleased him, and he hardened. Again.
He couldn’t get enough of her. She was a woman who wouldn’t break under his weight and had enough curves for him to lose himself in.
He threw his arm along the back of the couch. “Tell me what you’re thinking.”
“Just taking everything in and trying to grasp what just happened.” She pursed her lips and walked back into the kitchen to stand behind the counter.
With the open floor plan, he could still keep his eye on her. She attempted to show him indifference, but her mood told a different story. He suspected she couldn’t handle what was happening, and he was trying to figure out why.
She walked to the window, putting her back to him, and gazed outside. He stood, his patience growing thin. No doubt, he’d gone overboard in the heat of the moment.
“Kat?”
She cupped her elbows in her hands. “What are we doing?”
He joined her at the window, wrapping his arms around her from behind. “Will you relax? Take what we’re doing, and roll with it. There’s no hidden agenda. I’m not playing a game. I want you to be comfortable. Most of all, I want you to be real.”
“Like you are?” she whispered.
“Yes.”
She pushed out of his embrace, turned around, and laughed. The sound showed no humor. “You’re so full of shit. You orchestrated this whole thing. You’re acting like the perfect man, saving me from the ex-boyfriend”—she pointed to the door—”drilling a hole in my damn apartment for a lock, and giving me mind-blowing sex, while showering me with more attention than I deserve. How am I supposed to relax when you’re…you’re bossing me around, and I don’t have time to tell you no?”
“Remember what I told you that firs
t day after I punched your boyfriend—”
“Ex-boyfriend,” she mumbled.
“Right.” He inhaled deeply. “There’s a certain way you treat a woman, and laying your hands on her without her permission is not acceptable.”
“Fine. That explains that, but what about earlier at your house? What about an hour ago when you ordered—yes, I said ordered—me to bend over and assume the position? Hm?” She planted her hands on her hips. “What about that damn dead bolt?”
He stepped to the right and leaned against the wall, grinning. “Baby, you should know something. The huffier you get, the more you turn me on. I got the biggest hard-on for you right now.”
She glanced down to the front of his jeans and swiftly inhaled. He laughed when she crossed her arms to cover her breasts. A pointless action, since he could read her response on her face. Her facial reactions showed every bit of pleasure she experienced, and he loved how innocent she seemed.
“I’m letting you know where I stand if you want to be with me.” He lifted the corner of his mouth and shrugged. “I take the safety of the woman I care about seriously. It’s a hazard that comes with the kind of business I run.”
“I get that.” She frowned and then whispered, “There’s more to it than that, isn’t there?”
He looked down at the floor. The guilt over his inability to protect those he loved most would always eat at him. It never lessened. “My sister was raped”—he cleared his throat—”when she walked out of a restaurant to the car while her boyfriend stayed behind to pay the bill. It happened fast. Nobody heard her screams in the alley. She thought she was safe to walk out alone, because her boyfriend was soon to be out after her.”
“Oh, God.” She covered her throat with her hand. “Is she okay?”
He nodded. “Now, mostly. After it happened, no.”
“That’s awful,” she whispered.
“Yes, it was.”
She turned and walked away from him. She trailed her finger along the edge of the table. She straightened the lampshade, picked up a dirty shirt on the floor, and tossed it down the hallway.
