by Abby Wood
At seventy-four years old, her dad carried himself with pride as he slapped Trent on the shoulder, said a few words she couldn’t hear, and made his way to the only woman he’d ever loved. He wrapped his arm around her mom, whispering in her ear. Warmth filled her as her mom lost her concerned expression and melted into his side, motioning Tim and Doreen to follow them back into the nightclub. Katina stared after them, until they disappeared behind the door, and then she dragged her gaze over to Trent.
Her heart sank. Worry and tension lined his face. She was totally self-absorbed and rude, not to mention terribly wrong for running out and making him worry.
“Can I explain?” she whispered. “Please?”
“Not here.” He held his hand out. “At home.”
She reached for him. The moment they connected, she continued, “I’m sor—”
“Baby, I swear, if you say one thing right now, I’m going to lose it.” He squeezed her hand. “Give me the drive home to check myself.”
She nodded and clamped her lips together. When they arrived at his car, she slid inside and buckled up. All the way to his house, she sat with her hands clasped together, staring straight ahead. She could give him time. It was the least she could do for what she’d done.
The past couple of weeks, she’d tried to hold back and deny what was happening. She’d put one roadblock up after another, trying to excuse the way she was feeling about Trent, and he never gave up on her. He’d kept his promise.
Tonight, she’d gone too far. She let her own worries and desperation break the one promise she’d made to him. She’d left the restaurant on her own, at night, in downtown Seattle. She was lucky. It could’ve turned out much worse, and in Trent’s mind, it had.
What happened to his sister could’ve happened to her, and Trent would’ve blamed himself, even though it would’ve been her fault. She blinked the moisture out of her vision and felt the tear slide down her cheek. The last thing she wanted to do was hurt him.
Chapter Eleven
Katina followed Trent into his house. Then she hung back in the kitchen as he opened the fridge, opened a bottle of beer, and sucked down more than she imagined he could in one drink. Throughout it all, she kept her mouth shut.
Finally, when she thought he was going to continue ignoring her, he looked her in the eyes. She wanted to turn away. She exhaled. The hurt and confusion she saw in his eyes killed her.
“I’m going to take a shower, and then we’re going to bed.” He walked past her, flipping switches on the walls to light his path.
Left in the kitchen, she stepped toward the table and sank onto a chair. Cushioning her head on her arms, she let herself cry for what she’d done. More than anything, she wished she could go back to when it dawned on her that she was falling in love with Trent and tell him right there in the restaurant, in front of everyone, and she hadn’t gone outside by herself.
Not wanting to upset him any longer and needing to apologize, she stood, wiped her face with her hands, and went upstairs. She undressed, slipped under the covers, and curled onto her side. And waited.
When the bathroom door opened, she closed her eyes, working up the strength to lay everything out in the open. For the first time, she wanted him to know her true feelings and not her excuses.
The bed dipped, and a cool breeze skimmed over her backside before he rolled toward her, wrapped his arm around her waist, and pulled her back against his front, holding her. His chest expanded, and the air that escaped his mouth tickled the back of her head.
Minutes ticked by, and she thought he was going to go to sleep. She stared into the hallway, where the light was still on, casting a beam across half of the bedroom floor. It wasn’t fair of her not to say anything, but she didn’t know where to start.
She was in his house, in his bed, and in his arms. His hand lay flat on her stomach, firmly, holding her against him. If she’d been honest with herself, she would’ve seen the truth before today.
The fear on his face when he’d found her on the sidewalk hurt her heart. He genuinely cared about her, and he continued to show her in every way.
She turned around and laid her face against his chest. His heartbeat pulsed through her. She kissed his neck, his jaw, and pulled him down and claimed his mouth. He took control and demanded more.
She reached down between them and wound her fingers around his hardening cock. Desperate to please him, she stroked.
He wrapped his hand around her wrist and dragged it above her head, rolling her over onto her back. She widened her legs as he gathered both her arms above her head and pushed into her. She moaned at the fullness, closing her eyes. Possessed by his strength, his power, and put in the position of being at his mercy, her body ignited instantly.
“Eyes on me,” he growled.
She blinked up at him and sucked in her breath. He pulled out and thrust back in. Her body spiraled tighter.
He didn’t look irritated or upset.
He looked hot and possessive.
It was a good look on him.
He held himself still, punishing them both. “What you did scared me, baby.”
“I know.” She raised her hips, needing more of him.
“For a minute…”
She heard his swallow, felt his body shudder, and sensed his struggle. With her hands held above her head, his body holding her against the mattress, she could only tell him the truth.
“I’m sorry, honey. I’m so sorry,” she whispered. “I’ll never run from you again.”
He lowered his head, bracing himself on his elbows. His forearms cupped her head, and his hands clasped hers. “The loss of you hit me, Katina. The moment you disappeared out the door and left me. I knew.”
She kissed his chin, his lips, his cheeks. “What?”
“I’ve fallen in love with you,” he whispered in her ear. “I know it’s soon, and we have a lot of shit to work out, but I knew if you walked out of my life, if something happened to you, I’d never recover. I’d be missing something beautiful.”
She smiled. “I was running because I—”
“No.” He moved his hips. “You gave me your word, and that’s enough.”
Her back arched as he stroked her with his length. She dug her heels into the backs of his thighs, trying to match his movements. There were so many things she wanted to tell him. She could no longer ignore what was happening between them.
“Trent?” She moaned. “Let me go. I need to touch.”
“Never had a woman who could give me everything I need. Every day, more comes from you, until I can’t wait to be with you and”—he grunted, plunging deep inside her—”be surprised.”
“Oh, God.”
Could this get any better? “Please,” she begged.
“So strong. Fucking gorgeous. Sweet and cute with your teasing when we’re together. So competent in your career. I want every part of you, baby.” His head came up and his eyes pierced hers. “You’re mine.”
Suddenly, his face dipped close, and he filled her vision. “Come for me, baby.”
And she did. It was that powerful. That possessive. He took her to the place he was experiencing, and the feelings were overwhelming. She squeezed him as pleasure curled and exploded from her center.
He arched, sinking to the root of his cock and holding himself stiff as he shot his load into her. He let her hands go, and she wrapped her arms around his shoulders, pulling him to her chest.
As he slipped out of her, his body hardened. “Fuck.”
“What, honey?” She stroked the back of his head.
“Fuck,” he muttered, pushing off her and rolling to his back. “I lost it. Fuck. You were in my head, and all I could do is show you.”
“What?” she said, scared of what he could possibly be thinking.
“I didn’t grab a condom.”
She sat up and leaned over him. Her hand sprawled on his bare chest. “It’s okay. I’m on the pill.”
His breath came out in a rush. Sh
e kissed his chin, grinning because he always looked out for her safety. For him to forget meant he was feeling the same obsession she was. “Thank you.”
He raised his head. “For?”
“For being you. For caring about me. For being strong enough not to give up on me,” she whispered. “You stopped me from telling you, but I need you to know that I’m falling for you hard, honey.”
He tucked her down against his side. “That’s good, baby. Real good.”
Several minutes later, Trent’s soft snores filled the silence. She smiled. He might’ve crashed out, but she knew she’d never be able to sleep with all the adrenaline flowing in her body. She had so much to look forward to, knowing he would never let her make an excuse to leave.
His strength and stubbornness wouldn’t allow her to push him out of her life. He knew her better than she knew herself, and believing he’d stop her from making the biggest mistake of her life by shoving him aside let her accept the truth. She wanted to keep him in her life.
She slipped out of the bed and went into the bathroom. After a quick shower, she hurried back, unwilling to spend any longer away from Trent. She slid under the blanket. He pulled her close again.
“Good?” he mumbled.
She sighed. “Yeah.”
She drifted off, aware of Trent’s hold on her tightening. The future excited her, and a strange contentment washed through her.
“Baby?” he whispered.
She patted his hand on her stomach. “Hm?”
“What scared you at the restaurant?” He kissed her bare shoulder. “Before you ran.”
She smiled in the darkness, even though she knew he couldn’t see. “Did you get a good look at my parents?”
“I guess.”
“Did you notice anything odd?” She turned onto her back, linking her fingers with his.
“You’ll have to help me out, babe. They’re your parents.”
“My dad is twenty-five years older than my mom.” She nuzzled his chest. “She’s often mistaken for his daughter.”
Trent rose up on his elbow. “And their age difference bothers you?”
She shook her head. “No. It’s always been that way. I don’t know any different. They’re my parents.”
“Then why react negatively about it now?”
Her parents’ relationship always fascinated her and yet tried her patience at the same time. Even though they’d lived apart for the last fifteen years, they were deeply in love and their lives were delicately meshed together. Nobody knew why their arrangement worked better with them both living in different houses, but it did.
“Because all my life, I never felt as pretty as my mom. She was the beauty queen, and I was the girl who rather play soccer than make sure my hair was styled. I laugh too loud, and Mom can hypnotize anyone with her softness.” She sighed. “Instead of trying to be more even tempered, more beautiful, and nicer, I rebelled.”
“I’m not an expert, but isn’t that what kids do?” he asked.
“Yeah.” She wrapped her arms around him.
“That doesn’t explain what caused you to panic…”
She laughed softly. “It’ll sound stupid now.”
He ran his hand through her hair, hooking the back of her neck. “Tell me.”
“All evening, I couldn’t believe we were having such a good time. I really like that Tim and Doreen are seeing each other, that we’re getting along, and I was looking forward to making plans to go out on your yacht. I mean, really looking forward to it. That surprised me.”
“You’re not making sense,” he said.
“I know.” She wet her lips and continued, “Then my parents showed up, and I saw the love they had for each other. It’s always like that. People can physically feel the way my dad admires and worships my mom, and she depends on my dad. If she didn’t have him, her world would crumble. It’s not that she’s weak. She’s a strong and confident woman. But she needs him to…I don’t know, be complete, I guess.”
“Yeah,” he whispered. “They look happy.”
“Right.” She laid her head on his chest. His heartbeat matched her own. “It dawned on me that we have what my parents have. I saw our future.”
He stroked her back. “That scared you?”
“No,” she said.
“Baby.” He groaned. “Are we going to talk all night, or are you going to get to the point of this conversation?”
She pulled back. “Trent. You don’t understand. I’ve turned into someone I thought I never wanted to be, and it’s freaked me out.”
“Apparently, but if you don’t tell me what it was, how the fuck am I supposed to fix it?”
She held her breath. “You’d do that?”
“Yeah.” He sat up and turned on the bedside lamp. “But I can’t do jack if you don’t tell me what the problem is.”
She plopped back down on the mattress and groaned. “I’ve turned into my mother.”
Trent stared at her. “That’s the reason you were scared?”
“Yes!” She stared up at the ceiling. “I’ve fought my whole life not to be like her, and instead, I’m exactly like her. Even down to falling for an older man and liking how egotistical you are.”
Trent laughed, rolling with her, until she sat on top of him. “You just said you’re proud of your parents, and you’re glad for the love they have for each other, but you don’t want to be like them? Do you see where that doesn’t make a whole lot of sense?”
“Ugh.” She squirmed. “All my adult life I’ve been searching for the right man. I’ve also been making it impossible for any man to grow close to me. I realized that earlier.”
“No argument there from me.” He latched his hands behind his head, propping himself up. “You put up a good fight.”
“I guess when they say a girl always looks for a man like her daddy, it’s true,” she admitted softly.
His brows lifted. “You’re calling me old?”
“Not old. Older.” She grinned. “And sexy. Wild. Gorgeous.”
Trent’s jaw tightened. She leaned down and kissed his chin. “What’s wrong?”
“Does our age difference bother you?” he asked.
She shook her head. “No. I’ve already told you that. I didn’t even think about our ages when we met, because it’s not abnormal in my life with my parents the way they are, and now that I know you”—she wiggled her brows—”I like it. I need you.”
“You’re sure?”
“Yeah, honey.” She sighed. “That’s the thing. I’ve been searching for a man who is strong and determined. I need someone like you in my life. I’ll be the first to admit I’m stubborn. Too stubborn. And, for some reason, I want—no, need, someone who I know is even more stubborn than me. It makes me feel…” She scrunched her nose, looking for the right word.
“Loved?”
She nodded. “Exactly.”
“Good.” He hugged her to him. “I like how we feed off each other. I need what you offer me too.”
She laid back down against him. “What’s that?”
“Trust.” He kissed her forehead. “Knowing you let me take care of you, even though you’re strong enough not to need me. It’s a powerful gift, baby.”
“Oh.” She swallowed.
At that moment, she believed everything would be okay, and she allowed herself to relax.
Chapter Twelve
The waves rocked the yacht better than the smoothest rocking chair. Katina lay on the polished wooden deck, gazing up at the sky. The glare of the setting sun cast shimmering rays of red, orange, and yellow over the surface and lulled her into a coma.
Full from the early dinner she’d shared with Trent, she wasn’t sure she could get up and walk to the car. “You might have to carry me.”
Trent sat upright beside her and smiled down at her. “You overcooked.”
“A little.” She laughed, rolling to her side and propping her head on her hand. “That’s the first time I’ve ever cooked fish tha
t came straight out of the water. I wasn’t sure I could eat the fish after I watched you clean it. But it was good.”
“We worked well together.” He stroked her hair. “I don’t take time to enjoy the water enough, but maybe I’ll make a point of it now. It’s more relaxing with you along. Maybe next time, we’ll leave earlier and get more fishing in. I can teach you how to catch your own dinner.”
She sat up and leaned against him, pulling her knees to her chest. “I’d like that. Well, except if it means I also have to clean the fish. That’s pretty much a no-go for me.”
“I’d clean your fish.” He laughed. “As long as you cook, I’d do about anything. That’s a nice surprise. I never thought I’d have a woman in my life who could feed me so well.”
They sat together in silence. She soaked up their time together, a little sad to see their day come to an end. Tomorrow, she had to go to work early, and she knew even though they’d see each other after work for a few hours, it’d be the weekend before she was able to stay all night in his arms.
He put his arm around her shoulders and kissed her lips. “What are you thinking about?”
“You.” She put her hand atop his. “I think I’m addicted to you. I’m not looking forward to getting up in the morning and going to work.”
“That’s not a bad thing.” He chuckled.
“It is when I have a deadline to meet.” She stretched out her legs. “Do you still want me to swing by after the Mitchells’ job tomorrow, or do you have other plans?”
“Yeah. You can come by anytime.”
She shrugged. “Just making sure.”
“I don’t have to be home for you to stay at the house. You know that. If I’m at work, all you have to do is call my cell. The only time it’ll be hard to get ahold of me is if I’m out on assignment.”
“‘Kay.” She snuggled against him. “It’s getting chilly.”
“Sun’s almost down,” he said.
“Yoo-hoo!” A female voice called out.
She snickered. “Sounds like Doreen and Tim are back.”
Trent kissed her quick and pushed himself to his feet. She grabbed the hand he offered and walked with him to the other side of the yacht. She peered down at the dock and waved.
