by Unknown
Kaycee heard his sharp intake of breath just before he released her mouth, and wondered if it had the same emotional impact on him as it did on her. She licked her lips, savoring the taste of him against her mouth. There was no way she’d ever get enough of this man’s kisses.
Silently, he reached for a second swab and dabbed antiseptic onto each of the punctures on her shoulder. He finished applying a large non-stick gauze pad, then taped it in place.
A sigh of relief escaped him when it was over. “All finished. Those wounds are pretty nasty.”
“Your hands are trembling,” she said.
“Yeah.” It was all he said. She sighed softly as he returned all the supplies to the little first-aid kit and then shoved it back inside the drawer. He stood up, towering over her. She looked up and saw him shiver. “You’re cold.”
Realizing he was cold shocked her.
“The air conditioning and my wet clothes, sort of feels like I’m wrapped up in icy sea weed.” He laughed.
“Where are you going?”
He turned back to her. She dragged the damp towel from around her head and dropped it to the floor. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to be so needy or such a clinging vine. Honestly, I’ve never been the helpless type.”
“Noo…hey.” He brushed a damp curl back from her face. “I’m just going to change clothes, baby.”
She grabbed his hand pulling him back on the bed beside her. “Don’t leave me. Stay with me? Make love to me. Wipe out the memory of his touch.”
“Sweetheart.” He cupped the side of her face and searched her eyes. “I don’t think that’s a good idea. The last thing you need is me—”
“Then hold me,” she whispered. “I want to feel your arms around me. I can still feel his hands on me…his mouth, him, between my legs. Please, I need you to erase all of it from my mind.”
He pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead. “Darlin’, I’d love to hold you beneath me, make love to you, but the last thing you need right now is me going at you. Not right this minute. You’re shaking so hard your teeth are knocking together.”
“So are yours.”
“But for a very different reason.”
He helped her slide beneath the covers and eased the damp towel from around her body. Slowly, he unsnapped his shirt and tossed it aside. The wet denim clung to his thighs making it difficult to slide the jeans down his hips.
She watched him strip with avid curiosity. Her throat went dry at the sight of his hard, sculpted backside. He had the most bodacious rear she’d ever seen. Not that she’d seen that many male asses to compare his to, but a friend of hers had insisted on taking her to watch male strippers on her twenty-first birthday. Those men had nothing on Jace.
Then he turned to face her, and she lost her breath. They didn’t have any bragging rights when it came to what dangled in front, either.
Last night, she’d been too intoxicated to appreciate any view she might have had of him, today she could only gasp in awe at the spectacular view. His wide chest, liberally sprinkled with dark, curly hair, made her fingers clench with the need to touch him. She already knew his stomach was washboard hard and put any six-pack abs to shame.
Unbidden, her gaze drifted lower, following the arrow of black hair that shot straight down and fanned into a dark nest at the junction of his thighs. Long and lean, he had sleekness to his build. He reminded her of a streamlined jaguar. The man was pure rangy muscle and iron strength.
Heat curled in her stomach. It twisted and turned and snaked its way down to the very core of her femininity where dampness gathered and spread its hot coils of desire. Would he always have the power to make her want him? To make her fingers itch to trace the tight ridges of his abdomen?
Would she always grow weak with need when she was near him? Yes. She thought the answer was probably yes to all her silent questions.
He walked toward her, his sleek muscular body taut. His hot gaze followed the path of hers and she heard his sharply indrawn breath.
She eyed his jutting shaft without shame or embarrassment. How had her body accepted something that big and thick? She didn’t think she’d ever seen a stallion that looked more superior or any more powerful than this man’s engorged cock.
What healthy red-blooded woman wouldn’t want a piece of it?
He must have sensed her nervousness, because he paused and cleared his throat. “I can put on clothes if it makes you feel safer?”
She swallowed nervously, and lowered her gaze. “No. I’m–it’s okay.”
He slid underneath the covers and pulled her into his arms. “Sure?”
She rested her head on his shoulder, and couldn’t resist sifting her fingers through the soft, thick hair on his chest. “Yes.”
Her heart skipped once, twice, before making up its mind to bump in a steady rhythm. She raised herself up on one elbow and drew a deep breath, licked her dry lips, and allowed her gaze to travel slowly over his rugged face. She took her time looking him over, from the masculine curve of his strong jaw, to the sensual fullness of his lower lip. Her finger trembled when she traced the sensual line of his lips. God, he was gorgeous. It should be a crime for a man to have lips like that.
He made a sound, a low husky growl that sent shivers down her spine. “Don’t touch me like that, sweetheart. Where you’re concerned, I have no control.”
“You do,” she whispered. “Yes, you do. You won’t hurt me.”
He rolled, shifting his body halfway on top of her smaller one. His hard shaft throbbed against her thigh. “I don’t want to hurt you, darlin’, but—”
She pressed a fingertip against his lips. “Then you won’t. Kiss me, Jace. I need your mouth on mine. I need your taste on my tongue. I feel as if I’ll go insane if you don’t rid me of his touch.”
He cupped her face between trembling hands. His mouth met hers in an exquisitely gentle caress. He deepened the kiss, but kept it tender, soothing, then slowly, reluctantly, he pulled away. “Let me just hold you, baby.”
Before she could reply, he pulled her back in his arms and traced his fingertips up and down her shoulder. She thought he was fascinated with her skin. He was always touching her, caressing her. His warm breath brushed her throat as he pressed a kiss there. Callused fingers sifted through her hair and gently wrapped it around a meaty fist.
He pulled her closer to his big body. “You’ll be the death of me, sweetheart.”
She sighed and slid her arms around his waist content to lie in his arms. Her eyes grew heavy and drifted shut.
“Okay?” Jace brushed stray curls from her forehead and face. When she didn’t answer, he glanced down at her, worried. Sweet Jesus, his wife had fallen asleep.
His heart clenched. She trusted him, felt safe enough with him to fall asleep.
Winning her trust, that had to be the sweetest reward.
First, her trust, next, her heart, he wanted it all, her, her love and the future they’d carve out together.
He traced her brows with an unsteady fingertip. “Sleep, darlin’. I’ll be right here when you wake up.”
She wiggled closer to him and sighed. “I’m fine now,” she mumbled sleepily.
His lips quirked with a satisfied smile, he was fine now too. His wife was back where she belonged, wrapped in the cradle of his arms.
Chapter Eleven
Our greatest glory is not in never failing but in rising each time we fall.
~Confucius
Penthouse Suite
Saturday 12:30 p.m.
Kaycee awoke with the full realization she was supposed to be somewhere else. She lay there for a long minute fighting the fog that clouded her mind.
Where was she supposed to be?
She blinked and tried to gather her thoughts.
Duel’s office. OhmiGod!
Crap! She’d really screwed things up this time. She was supposed to be in the middle of a job interview.
Instead, she was here in one of the hotel’s penthouse sui
tes in bed with her husband.
Again.
What was wrong with her? Where was her mind?
Certainly not on securing the job she needed desperately.
Duel was probably wondering where she’d disappeared to.
She didn’t know how long she’d been asleep. But there was no doubt she had to get her ass moving. She looked around the tousled room. What was she going to wear? Her clothes were in the trash, stained with Smitt’s semen and her blood, certainly, she couldn’t wear them.
Still, she had to get out of the bed and away from the man who had apparently made it his goal in life to keep her flat on her back in his bed. No, that wasn’t fair. He’d only held her. Pity.
But she’d needed that. Once again, he’d come to her rescue. She couldn’t fault him for it or even blame him for the trouble she was in. But there was something wrong with this picture, she thought grumpily. Something wrong with needing the comfort a stranger gave her.
Where was her pride?
Her independence?
She had to stop being such a weakling.
Kaycee frowned, uneasy with the way Jace was spooned against her backside. His big body fit snugly against hers. His cock rested firmly along the crease of her ass. One move from her and it would be between her thighs, inside her.
And then it was.
He’d simply nudged her legs apart and entered her in a long, gradual filling. One powerful arm plastered her stomach and held her tight as he rocked his hips. His hand slid downward, his fingers searching for and finding the nub that had already hardened. He rubbed and teased and all the while, he gave her the long, slow strokes from his cock. Kaycee moaned, wiggling her hips, taking him deeper. She heard his sharp intake of breath, felt him surge deeper and deeper, then she went over the edge taking him with her. He shuddered and wet warmth jetted inside her. He stayed inside her, his arm draped across her waist, his fingers curled possessively around her breast.
She felt his smile against the nape of her neck where he pressed a kiss there. As if reading her mind earlier, he said softly, “You were asleep exactly thirty minutes. Do you know you snore?”
She looked over her shoulder at him. “I do not!” Indignation rang in her voice.
He laughed and pulled out of her. Rolling her toward him until the tips of her breasts brushed the thick hair on his chest, he grinned. “Yes, you do, darlin’.”
He pressed a light kiss across her brow, nibbled at her mouth.
She groaned as his tongue eased inside her mouth. The kiss was warm and undemanding, tender. Gently erotic. He slowly released her mouth and rested his forehead against hers, drawing in a deep breath. “You make these little snubbing noises in the back of your throat when you’re sleeping. They drive me wild, among other things.”
As if to make his point, he casually thrust his thighs against her. His shaft throbbed against her mound. She twisted in an attempt to get from beneath him. “You are insatiable. And snubbing noises aren’t the same as snoring.”
He smiled. “No, it’s insatiable. Can I help it if it has a mind of its own? And yes, they are.”
“It doesn’t have a mind,” she replied seriously, “much like its owner.”
“Oh, you’ll pay for that smart remark.” He rolled out of bed in one smooth move.
“No mind, have I?” He strolled over to the dresser and opened a drawer.
Kaycee eyed his bare backside with lustful appreciation. The man had the cutest ass.
How could a woman resist a man with cute buns?
He turned and her eyes drifted over him. Even soft, his manly package was impressive. She licked her lips and wondered how he would taste. One day soon, she intended to find out.
No, that wasn’t true.
There was only now.
No tomorrows.
There shouldn’t have even been a now.
Yet, he’d just made love to her again—again, he hadn’t used protection. They were taking unnecessary risks, both of them, because this time when she got up and left this room, that was it. No turning back. She had to get Jace out of her life. There was no choice. Smitt made his threats very clear. She knew he meant exactly what he said. He’d kill Jace. He’d kill Taylor. And possibly Duel.
When she left, she couldn’t look back.
Besides, she had her own life, plans, and none of it included a long, lanky cowboy who walked like sin on a hoof and who made making love feel even better than sin.
She refused to risk his life.
The task she set before her wasn’t going to be easy. She didn’t think Jace would willingly allow her to walk away. The man couldn’t keep his hands off her. He wasn’t going to let her simply disappear from his life. That meant a battle of wills. No matter what, no matter how cruel she had to be, she had to cut him out of her life.
He stopped beside the bed, took her left hand, and slid a ring onto her ring finger.
“I’ve been waiting for you to wake up so I could give you this.”
Aw, damn. Kaycee gaped at the thing that glittered back at her. How was one cruel to a man who was so devastatingly sweet?
And thoughtful?
How did you say ugly words to a man who just slipped a beautiful gold band with a huge marquee-cut amethyst onto your finger? Tears stung her eyes. She blinked. She had to find the words to be mean and cruel, a man who’d shown her nothing but concern and kindness, who’d protected her reputation by wedding her when she’d been willing to toss it away.
“I know it sounds corny, but it reminded me of your eyes,” he said softly.
Kaycee bit her lip as she casually slipped the ring off her finger and pressed it into his hand. “I can’t accept this.”
“Darlin’, it’s not exactly a gift. It’s a wedding ring.”
“I know what it is.” She flung back the covers, then grabbed for the sheet and drew it over breasts. She looked frantically about the room searching for something to wear. Panic punched her in the gut. It was all she could do to keep from breaking down and bawling like a baby. “I don’t have any clothes.”
“Look at me,” he demanded.
She lifted her gaze to lock with his.
“What did I do wrong?”
“You didn’t do anything wrong, but it can’t work for us.”
“Damn it, all I did was put my ring on your finger. A ring you have every right to expect. You’re my wife. I want the whole world to know it. What’s wrong with that?
“I can’t stay married to you. I want an annulment.”
For an intense moment, he stared at her. He shook his head. “No. No annulment.”
“A divorce, then. I don’t care which. I just want you out of my life!”
He grabbed a pair of clean jeans from the closet and jerked them on, dragging them up over his lean hips. Raking trembling fingers through his hair, he swore beneath his breath. “Damn woman, you’re going to drive me crazy. There will be no annulment or divorce,” he said stubbornly. “How can you sleep with me, lay in my arms, let me make love to you, and five minutes later, yell you want a divorce?”
“I didn’t let you do anything. You just sort of…did it.”
“I didn’t hear any complaints.”
“It doesn’t matter if you didn’t. I want a divorce!”
“No. You might be pregnant. Don’t think I’ll let you walk away or that I’ll turn my back on you or a child we’ve created together. Damn it, I won’t do it!”
She took an involuntary step back.
She couldn’t do this.
She couldn’t rip out his heart.
Her breath escaped in little hitches. Smitt had left her with no choice. “I don’t want a baby.” She made the word baby sound like it was something disgusting. “Especially, if you’re the father.”
She didn’t think she’d ever seen a man’s eyes look so bleak or hurt.
“You should have thought of that last night and a while ago, before you allowed me inside your body. I doubt you’re on the pi
ll. I certainly took no precautions.”
“And whose fault is that? You have condoms. I saw the packages on the floor.”
He stopped pacing and whirled to glare at her. “On the floor isn’t the same thing as on my cock. You never said a damn word about using protection, so I didn’t use them.”
“So it’s my fault.” Inwardly, she died a little. “You’re right, of course. It is my fault. I never should have taken that first drink. I’d never had a drink before. I didn’t know it would hit me like it did. I hadn’t eaten all day. You took advantage of me being under the influence.”
He looked at her as if she’d grown two heads and carried a pitchfork. “Whoa. Wait just a minute. Don’t you dare accuse me of taking unfair advantage of you because you had one too many drinks. You wanted me as much as I wanted you. You begged me to make love to you.”
Kaycee winced. “I didn’t know what I was saying. What I was doing.”
“Ah, the hell you didn’t. You knew exactly what you were doing. You’re not getting out of it that easy.” His dark eyes snapped with fury. “I didn’t go there by myself, honey. You were there with me every step of the way. In fact, you were there more than I was, multiple orgasms as I recall.”
Heat scalded her face. He had to remind her of those. “If I’m pregnant, it’s my problem. I’ll take care of it.”
He froze. Raw panic flashed across his face. “You’ll take care of it? Don’t even think about it.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Abortion! Don’t think about it.”
“I wasn’t thinking about that.” Her lips trembled. God, what a mess. “The thought never crossed my mind.”
He threaded his fingers through his hair, relief etched upon his dark face when he turned back to face her. “It’s not just your problem. We’re in this together. And we’re in it for the long haul.”
“I can’t listen to this. I have to go. I have a job interview.” She swung her legs over the side of the bed, forcing him to take a step back.
“Where in hell do you think you’re going?”
