Spring Into Love

by Chantel Rhondeau

  Cara took one last sip of beer and set the empty bottle on the counter. “Well, I guess you’ve got all you need to foster Charlie. If you have any questions, you can give me a call.”

  She was leaving. His blood-deprived mind searched for a way to keep her here and failed. Dammit to hell. If he couldn’t stop her, at least she could tell him one thing before she walked out of his life a second time.

  She started to stride past him, but he gripped her arm. “I have one important question right now. Why did you dump me?”

  Chapter 4

  Cara gasped, the pressure of his fingers on her arm just short of bruising. His eyes were stormy and more serious than she ever remembered. What could she say? If she told him the reason, he’d be repulsed by her. Then they wouldn’t even be friendly acquaintances afterward, much less anything more. That terrible thought made her eyes sting.

  She took a deep breath and opted for a vague, “We had some great times, but it just wasn’t working.”

  “That a bullshit answer.” He gave her arm a little shake. “I think I deserve the truth.”

  Shit. Why couldn’t he just let it go? She tried again. “I’m thirty-one. My biological clock isn’t ticking yet, but it’s foolish to stay with someone I’m not compatible with in the long run.”

  “Define ‘compatible.’” Dropping her arm, he ran his hands through his hair, the gesture one of pure aggravation. “We got along great, didn’t we? One minute you were practically living here, and the next you were gone. No note, no explanation, just adios. I need to know what happened, Cara.”

  Her stomach twisted. She was being selfish. This wasn’t fair to Ron. Even if he hated her afterward, he had a right to know why she’d left. But once it was out, any feelings he had for her would truly be dead. Not able to meet his gaze and see his reaction, she turned away. “Okay. Yes. We got along great everywhere but in the bedroom. You’re just...too nice for me.” Not willing to discuss it further, she turned toward the front door.

  “What the fuck? Too nice!” He stepped in front of her, blocking her exit from the kitchen.

  She wanted to shove him out of her way, but she knew she'd never budge him. “Stop yelling. You want to scare Charlie?”

  He gritted his teeth, but his angry voice was lower when he continued. “Too nice? I was so careful with you--”

  “Did I ask you to be careful?” Dammit, she wasn’t a bad person. Men didn't apologize for liking kinky sex. Why did she have to justify her needs to any man, much less one who supposedly had loved her? Her frustration at male gender unleashed her temper. “You treated me like a porcelain doll, like I’d break if you looked at me cross-eyed.”

  He leaned closer, his arms folded over his muscular chest and his expression thunderous. “I’m over a foot taller and a hundred pounds heavier than you. What was I supposed to do, body slam you to the floor and screw you senseless?”

  “Yes!” God, it would have been wonderful if he’d been more sexually aggressive. “Anything but the same old lovemaking. I can count on the fingers of one hand the number of times we did something beside the missionary position. And we never once made love outside of the bedroom.” She spread her arms wide in a gesture meant to encompass his whole house. “I would have loved to have christened every room in this house, as well as the yard and our cars.” Cara dreaded his contempt, but she needed to finish this discussion. “I loved you, Ron, but I can’t commit to a man whose lovemaking is so...”

  “So what? Boring?” He was being sarcastic, but his mouth dropped open as something in her eyes must have confirmed his comment. “This is crazy. I put you first, made sure you came every time. Do you want a selfish bastard who just cares about his own needs?”

  He was crowding her personal space, and Cara’s anger spiked again, this time in self-defense. “You can be generous in bed and still open to new things. Selfish and daring aren’t synonymous. Hell, Ron, you wouldn’t even let me go down on you. When I tried, you'd always stop me.”

  “I didn’t want you to do me any favors.”

  “Favors? What are you talking about? If I hadn’t wanted to suck your cock, I wouldn’t have suggested it!”

  “So, Cara, you want what in a lover?” His lips twisted. “Some guy who’ll treat you like a slut?”

  There it was. The disdain she’d been expecting. “Yes, if that’s what it takes to add spice to my sex life.”

  For several seconds, she squeezed her eyes shut. He was so close, his musky scent was making her mouth water. She'd missed him, longed for him, since October. And, God help her, fighting with Ron was turning her on. What a rotten time for her libido to resurface. Too bad they hadn’t had this argument when they'd dated. Yeah, and whose fault is that, she reminded herself.

  “You want spice or kink? Just how far are you willing to go? Should I get a copy of the Kama Sutra?”

  “I’m not ashamed of my desires. How about you?” She was sick and tired of men scorning her for having a strong sex drive. And hearing the words from Ron was even worse. Cara balled her hands on her hips and leaned closer. “You’re the one who’s repressed. Ron Hart, Mr. Perfect Gentleman. Why keep such a tight leash on yourself? I’m not going to faint if you give into your urges.”

  His pupils dilated and his jaw clenched, but she wasn’t afraid. Ron would never hurt her, she knew that in her heart, but he might finally let his inner-caveman out. And if he threw off his good-boy manners and didn’t despise her for her fantasies, there might be a chance for them after all.

  Ron’s gaze dropped to her mouth. His voice deep and sensual, he asked, “You want me to give in to my urges, Cara?”

  Yes. God, yes. She’d had fantasies like this since she’d met him--Ron taking what he wanted from her, giving in to his wild side. Licking her lips in anticipation, she nodded.

  In a blur of motion, he pulled one of the ladderback chairs away from the table, sat down, and yanked her over his lap. Before she could do more than yelp in surprise, his hand smacked her bottom. It barely stung through her jeans. Ron was still being careful with her, not letting himself wallop her in his frustration. An erotic spanking from a lover had been one of her fantasies, but he didn't even like her anymore. And no one treated her like a spoiled brat.

  She tried to wiggle free. “Cut it out, Ron.”

  “Don’t you like my urges? Isn't a spanking kinky?”

  Cara literally saw red at his smug tone. “Let me up, you jerk!”

  “Stop yelling,” he chided, as she’d done to him earlier. “You want to scare Charlie?”

  “Why are you doing this?”

  He continued to administer stinging swats. “I loved you, dammit, and instead of telling me the truth, you just walked out of my life.” He easily captured her left hand when she tried to protect her butt with it. “I’ve spent seven long months--over two-hundred days and nights--wanting you and wondering what I’d done wrong. Hell, Cara, I like spice in my sex life and even kink, too. Maybe I would’ve enjoyed exploring your fantasies.”

  “And maybe you would have been turned off by them.”

  “You never gave me the chance to find out!”

  Unable to break away, she changed tactics and dug the nails of her free hand into his ankle through his sock. Instead of stopping, he brought his hand down harder. Her whole butt tingled, and the feeling was spreading to other intimate areas making her squirm even more. The ridge in his pants that pressed warm and thick against her stomach confirmed she wasn’t the only one getting off on this embarrassing but hot scene.

  She might be lusting after the bully, but she still had her pride. “You’ll regret this. Paybacks are hell.”

  “What’re you going to do? Leave me?” He smacked her again. “You’ve already done that, remember? But don't worry. After tonight, we won’t have to see each other ever again.”

  Cara stopped struggling. That simple truth did something the spanking hadn’t. It brought her to tears.

  Ron dumped her off his lap, and her tender
bottom hit the hardwood floor. Instead of helping her up, he stood and walked toward the hallway.

  Without looking back, he dismissed her. “Goodbye, Cara. You know the way out.”

  He wanted her gone? Mouth gaping, she watched him disappear into his bedroom. After making her want him more than her next breath, he was tossing her out? No way in hell.

  “Damn you, Ron Hart.” She charged after him, hands fisted, and entered his bedroom for the first time in over half a year. “This is why I never said anything. I knew you’d hate me if I told you.”

  His grim expression morphed into surprise as she shoved him hard. He stumbled against the wall, then caught her hands as she flailed at him. “I don’t hate you. I could never hate you, Cara.” When she continued to try to punch him, he jerked her close. “Stop it. You’ll hurt yourself.”

  She gasped, feeling his throbbing erection through their clothes. And despite her determination to make him pay, she wanted Ron’s thick, hard cock inside her. Now. She was wet and aching, tired of turning to her vibrator every time she woke from an erotic dream about this man. There was only one way to see if they had a shot at a future, to see if he could be the lover of her fantasies. Cara stopped trying to punish him and, with sensuous slowness, rubbed her body against his.

  Chapter 5

  Ron bit back a groan. He struggled for control as she pressed him back against the wall, using her body to massage his traitorous cock through his clothes. Was this her payback? Was Cara going to take him to the edge of orgasm and then walk out? Or would she drive him into embarrassing himself, climaxing in his pants like a hair-trigger kid about to get his first blow-job?

  He reversed their positions, carefully trapping her between his body and the wall. Her breath hitched, then quickened, the movement brushing her hardened nipples against his chest. God almighty. If she was teasing him as punishment for the spanking, it was clearly pushing her buttons as well as his. Her fingers ran over his shirt, stroking, then sliding down his abs toward his pants. Groaning, he caught her wrists and pressed them to the wall beside her shoulders. If he didn't stop those talented fingers, he'd never maintain the upper hand.

  Her eyes were dark with longing, and he remembered her skin pinkening with excitement just like this before she came. His body arched toward hers, wanting to be skin-to-skin with her, needing to be inside her again.

  “Cara.” His voice was so ragged he barely recognized it. “I’ll give you one more chance to leave. When I let go of your hands, if you don’t walk out of here, I swear I’m going to fuck you till you scream.”

  She gasped, her beautiful eyes widening, and her pulse fluttered under his fingers. But the last thing she looked was scared. Finding the strength somewhere, he slowly straightened until their bodies were no longer touching. Then he dropped her hands.

  Instead of running away, she stood on tiptoe, slid her arms around his neck, and brought his mouth to hers. After months of longing for her, the contact was shocking, as if he'd touched one of his station’s poorly grounded speakers with his tongue. And, God help him, he wanted more.

  Taking over the kiss, he deepened it, exploring and relishing with every sweep of his tongue. Cara tasted so good, so right, and he knew no matter how much he'd tried, he’d never stopped loving her. He wanted to carry her to bed, slowly stroke and lick her, and make love until dawn. Boring. He remembered her earlier comments and vowed tonight would be anything but boring.

  Ron pulled away, gratified when she made a noise of protest. Wet from his mouth, her lips were slightly swollen, and she ran her tongue across them as if savoring his flavor. Her eyes opened slowly, and the look she gave him was dazed. Before she could speak, he spun her around so she faced the wall, pulling her hands over her head and holding them in place with one of his.

  “You were warned.” He brushed his lips against her left ear, enjoying her shiver. “Your body is mine tonight, and I’m taking you every way a woman can be fucked.” At his crude words, her breathing grew erratic. His little temptress obviously liked dirty talk. Ron grinned. He was going to drive her as wild as she made him. Tonight he’d live up to his “Rabid Ron” DJ handle.

  With his free hand, he yanked her t-shirt out of her jeans. “I’m going to touch and bite and suck every inch of you. And I won’t be gentle, Cara.” He slid his fingers up under the shirt until he reached the front of her bra. He popped open the clasp and smoothed his palm across her delicate breasts. Then he captured one nipple between his thumb and forefinger and squeezed.

  Cara gave a strangled gasp, arching her back and pressing her sweet ass into his crotch. But she didn’t complain, so he pinched her again as he bit her nape.

  “Ron.” She called his name in a low, pleading moan as she writhed against him. “Now. Please.”

  “You're not in charge tonight, baby.” He let go of her hands and tugged off her t-shirt and bra, baring her from the waist up. As much as he wanted to feast on those gorgeous breasts, he kept her facing away from him. Placing her palms flat on the wall above her head, he ordered her to keep them there. And Cara obeyed.

  “Good girl,” he praised. “I wouldn’t want to have to spank you again so soon.” Then he quickly dragged off his own t-shirt and curled his body over her warm back, letting the ridge of his erection slide against the soft globes of her bottom. For a long moment, he reveled in the softness of her skin and the caress of her long braid against his chest. With her strawberry-blonde hair pulled back like that, her sensitive ears and long neck were exposed. Perfect.

  He roughly cupped her breasts and sucked the skin below her ear. Mine. The word echoed in his mind as the primitive urge to mark her throbbed in time with his cock. He sucked harder, then lifted his head and smiled in satisfaction at the rosy bruise. It was only the first of many love bites he’d decorate her body with tonight.

  She was almost sobbing his name, the needy little sounds shredding his control.

  “I want you naked and open for me.” Ron dropped his hands to her jeans, reached around to the zipper, and wrenched it down. She was panting now, like one of her canine charges, and his rapid breathing mirrored hers. If he didn’t get inside her soon, he’d lose it for sure.

  “I’m going to fuck you from behind, Cara, long and hard and so deep you’ll swear you feel me in your throat.” At his raw promise, she moaned again. He had to choke back an answering moan.

  “Kick off your shoes.” She did as he asked. He pushed down her jeans, and she stepped out of them without moving her hands from the wall. Her underwear was a lacy red thong that had his mouth going dry, but right now it was in his way. So he grasped the thin material that circled her hips and ripped the thong off her. Cara whimpered, the sound going straight to his groin.

  Her bottom was pink from the spanking, and he rubbed his palms against her tender skin. “Do you want my cock?”

  In answer, she arched her back in offer.

  “Say it,” he snapped.

  “Please, fuck me, Ron. I need you.”

  He unzipped his pants with shaking hands he was damn grateful she couldn't see. In quick, jerky movements, he toed off his sneakers and stripped off the rest of his clothes. Some sane part of his lust-fogged brain flashed a birth-control warning, and he managed to ask, “Are you still on the pill?”

  She nodded.

  “Have you had any other...,” the question clawed his throat, but he continued, “...partners since me?”

  Cara turned her head so she could meet his gaze. “No. I haven’t wanted anyone else since I met you.”

  Emotion tightened his chest, and he kissed her hard. “There hasn’t been anyone but you for me either.”

  Cara’s eyes welled, but the tears didn’t spill. “Show me. I need you inside me now.”

  Spooning her from behind, he slid his erection between her legs, brushing her wet core. They both groaned at the exquisite sensation. Reaching between her body and the wall, he stroked her mound, finding and rubbing the sweet spot hidden in its moist folds
. Then he drove his cock home.

  She screamed her pleasure, begging for more, urging him faster and deeper. She tilted her ass, aiding his penetration, as his thrusts shoved her up on her toes. The chant of mine, mine, mine continued through his head as seven months of sexual need spurred him on. He loved this woman, loved her forever, and he was never letting her walk away from him again.

  He tugged her braid, tilting up and turning her face toward him. When their eyes met, he demanded, “Give me your mouth.” As he continued to pump into her, she offered her full lips. Despite the awkward position, he kissed her deeply, his tongue sweeping inside over and over again in time with his cock until they needed to break apart for oxygen.

  Too soon her release hit, and the strength of her climax triggered his own. “Cara!” Pressing deeply into her shuddering body, Ron had the longest, strongest orgasm of his life.

  Chapter 6

  Cara’s hands trembled, and her legs threatened to collapse, but Ron’s arm around her waist held her tight against him. God, oh, God, that had been... She couldn't think of a word intense enough or wonderful enough. But best of all, she'd had this incredible experience with Ron, the man she loved.

  He remained inside her, and small contractions, both his and hers, echoed their simultaneous climax. Finally, their breathing slowed, and he slipped out and stepped back. Before she could mourn the loss of his warmth, he picked her up in his arms and carried her to the bathroom.

  She squeaked when Ron set her on the counter by the sink. The tile was cold, but it felt great against her flushed skin. Without speaking, he turned on the water in his Jacuzzi tub, and soon steam was filling the bathroom. The silence stretched between them, companionable and yet still sexually charged. She was almost afraid to speak and break the mood. Feeling a little shy, she looked at Ron under lowered lashes. She’d never been so turned on in her life. Would he think less of her for loving his coarse language and rough sex?