by Ali Parker
The elevator stopped on a few floors before it reached theirs, and Rebecca’s heart was pounding so hard in her chest that it hurt. Fear and lust rolled around in her stomach, her mind rushing through all the things she needed to do before the night began. She needed a shower and had to shave her legs. When was the last time she had shaved? It was winter.
Dear God, did I not shave this week?
The door opened and Jason moved forward, taking her with him. He moved beside her, taking her hand and walking toward the door with a stern look on his face. He looked ten years older than her as he fumbled with the key, his breathing a little abnormal.
She moved into the room behind him and turned to put her purse on the counter just beside the door before being caught completely off guard by his body crashing into hers. She hit the door behind her, his hands placed perfectly so as not to allow her to get hurt.
Air rushed from her lungs as his body pressed against her, his mouth claiming hers with a passion she didn’t know existed. Her hands slid up over his hips to his back, the strong muscles tensing and contracting as his hips pressed forward in a natural hunger that seemed overwhelming. She pressed forward, meeting his kiss with passion, her leg coming up to hook over his hip and her arms wrapping around his neck. He picked her up and buried his face in her neck, licks and kisses covering her within a matter of minutes. He toted her toward the bed and carefully bent over, laying her on her back and smiling down at her, his lips red and puffy, his clothes disheveled.
He groaned as he reached out, his hands latching on to her hips and pulling a little. “I haven’t in all of my life seen anything more beautiful. Tell me you’re mine. Tell me I’m yours, Becca.”
He leaned over and ran the tip of his nose over her bellybutton and in the space between her breasts as he let his body descend onto hers. He propped himself up with his elbows on either side of her head. “Tell me you want this as bad as I do.”
She swallowed hard, scared of what might come out of her mouth if she spoke. She’d always dreamed of passion like this, but had started to think it didn’t exist. Her body ached in all the places she knew he wanted to touch, and her throat went dry at the very thought of him being hers and her being his, especially in the carnal way that he implied.
He leaned down and kissed her lips, his hips shifting again, forcing her to open her legs to him. He thrust his hips again and groaned. She followed his thoughts by closing her eyes and lifting her hips, moaning loudly despite her desire not to. He kissed her neck, his hands running down her sides, beckoning her to cry out for relief.
“That’s it, baby. Tell me. Tell me you want me, Becca, and I’ll give you anything you want.”
She felt a part of her snap. The part that thought maybe Kade was the one. The part that had given up hope of being anything to anyone a long time ago. The part that wanted to run to the world of business and make everyone fidget in their seats because she was so intimidating that they couldn’t help themselves.
She didn’t need that hope or that promise or that power. She needed him.
“I want you. I want this … I need it.” She looked up into his eyes, the beautiful chestnut color darkening as her words reached him.
A soft smile of satisfaction covered his wicked mouth and she shivered at the promise of a long night of moans and gasping breaths, of caresses and demands, both tender and rough, that were most certainly to come. She’d not expected to accept him as a part of her future, and now, drowning in the smell of his desire and the strong needy grasp of his hands, she couldn’t imagine it without him.
“And you’ll get it, baby,” he whispered and leaned up to pull his shirt off, a smile lifting his mouth. “Take your dress off … now.”
Chapter 21
The soft buzz of the alarm was an unwelcome pest. Rebecca rolled over and pressed the snooze button, Jason moving up to snuggle in behind her. She collapsed back on her pillow. The seven a.m. wake up call had given her only two hours of sleep. There was definitely something to be said about younger men … they had endless energy.
“Morning, beautiful,” he whispered, kissing the side of her neck and then her shoulder.
She looked over at him and smiled at the sight of his handsome face filled with affection.
“This is like a dream.”
“What is?” she asked and then turned over to cough, pulling the covers up to cover herself.
“Me waking up next to you.”
He leaned over and kissed her lips, her hand coming up to touch his face. He moved closer, as if he wanted to replay the night’s events, and she laughed, unable to help herself.
“What?”
“What? It’s seven in the morning and we have a meeting at nine.”
He laughed and kissed her again before getting up and baring himself without concern. “Alright, but don’t expect me to not try again soon. It’s like finding the keys to heaven and being coached to use them sparingly. Yeah, right.”
He moved to the bathroom, and the sound of the shower started as she sat up and smiled. She would swear the world almost looking a little brighter. She needed to take a shower too, but joining him would make them late, him happy and her tired all over again.
She wrapped the sheet around her and walked to the desk, messing around with the papers for their meeting and trying to organize everything into one folder. She wanted to be done with this business deal, and was, in her own mind. Why Mr. Vandenbilt felt the need to have her present to the board instead of just giving them an update was beyond her, but the account was too big to complain about anything. Her phone buzzed and she fished it from her purse.
It was Parker, asking how the night went. She laughed and texted him back that she’d given Jason the room and slept in the car.
He called immediately.
“You did not. He wouldn’t let you sleep in the car.”
“It was cold, and he’s not as great as you think, but thanks for whatever you were trying to do.”
“That bastard. I’ll kill him.”
She laughed as the bathroom door opened and Jason walked out in a small white towel. The deep grooves of his chest and abs caught her eye immediately. “I’m totally kidding. No killing anyone, okay?”
Jason nodded at her and mouthed, ‘Your mother?’
She nodded yes and he dropped his towel. The beauty of him standing naked before her left her speechless as Parker kept asking questions in her ear.
Jason mouthed, ‘You like?’ as he turned around slowly. The pure audacity of this man, with his perfectly constructed body.
“Rebecca … hey … you there?”
“I love it,” she whispered and turned the phone off, dropping her sheet and walking across the room.
“Wait … now what the hell happened?” Parker sat down in the small recliner in Rebecca’s living room, a smile on his mouth.
“We decided to give things a try.” She shrugged as she blushed.
Parker’s head went back as he laughed and yelled, “You slept with him!”
Rebecca shook her head. “I did not.”
“You so freaking did.” He got up and walked toward her, Rebecca turning and running to the kitchen as Parker chased her down. She laughed as she ended up cornered against the pantry door.
Parker stopped in front of her and looked down at her. “Tell me the truth. Did you sleep with him?”
“There wasn’t really much sleeping.”
Parker laughed loudly and moved back, a sweet smile on his lips. “I’m happy for you, but I’m ecstatic for him.”
“What do you mean? You’re my friend. Not his.”
“I know, but that kid’s bee—”
“Guy,” she cut him off, her eyebrow lifted.
“Right. That guy’s been in love with you for the last year. He’s perfect for you, and yet your stupid obsession with Kade and age hang-ups have done nothing but push him away.”
Rebecca rolled her eyes. “Why didn’t you just tell me? You could’ve b
rought it to my attention, you know.”
“I tried, you pain in the butt. You wouldn’t listen.”
“Yeah, well I don’t have time to listen now either.” She slipped through the small space between him and the kitchen cabinet, walking to her room to slip out of her work clothes and into a pair of jeans and a sweater. She was meeting Kade, and the conversation was sure to go the opposite of what he probably expected. She needed to set things straight between them and explain why she wasn’t interested.
The last time he’d seen her all those years ago, he’d left her with her heart bleeding. If you would’ve asked anyone in that town or that went to school with them, they’d all say that she was waiting on him to come back for her. She’d almost become the subject of old-maid jokes.
“You’re not really going to dinner with Kade, are you?”
“Yes.”
“Does Jason know?”
“Yes and no.”
“What the hell does that mean?” Parker walked into the bedroom as she was throwing her jacket on the bed.
“Get out while I change and I’ll explain in a minute.”
He turned around. “There, now explain.”
“You’ll peek. Get out of here.”
“Damn straight. I wouldn’t be a man if I didn’t peek.” He huffed and walked out.
She finished getting ready and pulled her hair into a ponytail, checking herself in the mirror and smiling at what she saw. Her skin looked healthier and the worry around her eyes seemed to have melted some. Love had a power that was far too great to understand. Still, even though Jason was comfortable talking about his love for her, she wasn’t yet ready to go that far in her emotional confessions.
She walked toward the living room, her tennis shoes in her hand as she texted Jason that she’d call him after a while. He was most likely asleep, the long night, stressful meeting with Mr. Vandenbilt and then the flight home had most likely taken its toll on him. She’d slept the whole way home, her head on his shoulder and his hand on her leg, but he couldn’t sleep on a plane.
“Does he know?”
“He knows that I need to talk with Kade, Parker. I don’t know if I mentioned I was going tonight.”
“You should tell him.”
“Why? That makes no sense.”
“Are you guys together?” Parker asked.
She bent over to slip on her shoes. “Yes.”
“Then he needs to know. What if he sees you?”
“That’s ridiculous. I don’t think he’s that insecure.”
Parker walked her to the door, a sad look on his handsome features. “I am.”
She nodded, leaning in to hug him tightly. “You’re right. I shouldn’t assume anything. I’ll tell him.”
“Good. Be safe and get back here. I want details on the sex.”
“I’m not giving you details.”
“Yes you are.”
“No, I’m n—” the door slammed and she could hear Parker laughing from the other side.
“Corrupt.”
Rebecca climbed out of her car. The pub was packed with people because it was two dollar beer night. Thursday night was college night, and all the University of Houston students enjoyed a release. She remembered all too well having many Thursday nights at Barney’s. She pulled her coat tighter and walked toward the front door, a nagging sensation about Parker’s warning eating at her. She didn’t want to text Jason. It seemed like a controlling, silly thing to do.
Yes they were together, but they were starting out with a trusting relationship. If he texted her that he was going to have dinner with an old flame she would either be put off or think it was a silly text and wonder if he thought she was controlling and overbearing. Either way, Parker wanted her to do it because of his own situation, not because it was reasonable.
She walked in and was greeted by an uber-happy hostess who bopped up to the front. Rebecca smiled politely and pointed toward Kade, who was standing and waving his hand at her. The girl smiled brightly, looking at Rebecca as if she’d hit the jackpot by having dinner with someone as good looking as Kade McMillian.
There was some truth to the good looking part, but the jackpot was broken. She smiled and slipped out of her coat, sliding into the booth across from him.
“Aren’t you a sight for sore eyes?” He smiled and handed her a menu from the holder on the side of the table. “I remember this place from high school, but man, has it changed.”
“Most things do over sixteen years.” She looked up at him, sitting back and shrugging when he gave her a knowing look.
“Did you like the roses?”
“I did. They were beautiful.”
“As are you, Becca.” He leaned forward, placing his well-formed forearms on the table, the flex of his biceps grabbing her attention. He was wickedly delicious, if nothing else, but he always had been. Too bad the beauty on the outside was made hollow by the lack of care on the inside.
“Thanks. You didn’t need to get the flowers.”
“I know, but I wanted to.” He looked up at the waitress as she approached, a nervous smile on her lips.
“Can I get you two something to drink?”
“Sure. Becca, what you want, baby?”
Rebecca looked up from the menu, a little shocked by his words and yet understanding that he meant to impress her by shutting the poor waitress down.
“I’ll take a Coke, please.”
“Yeah, me too.” Kade kept his eyes on her, his hands clasped on the table in front of them. “Look, I want to clear the air between us. You were my best friend for ten years.”
“Eleven.”
“Eleven years. I’ve thought about you a million times over the last sixteen years, Becca.”
“You could’ve called, or visited or written. Hell, an e-mail would’ve worked.” She sat back, heat flushing her chest and face. She was glad he hadn’t done any of those things now, but the fact remained clear—he’d jacked up royally and she’d wasted her life waiting on him. It wasn’t his fault, it was hers, but it sure as hell felt better to be angry at him.
“I know. I know. I honestly wasn’t sure you’d want to talk to me.”
“You think?” She leaned forward, the grimace on her face most likely not at all attractive, but he didn’t seem to mind. “Tell me the last thing you remember before you left.”
He flinched and sat back, dropping his hands to his lap. His sea-blue eyes swam with guilt and his jaw locked into place. “That’s not fair.”
“Bullshit. What’s not fair is me loving you for eleven years and praying that you’d notice me. That … that’s not fair,” she growled at him, her fist hitting the table softly.
“It’s not fair, and I’m sorry—I didn’t ask you to love me.”
“No, you didn’t, did you? You certainly didn’t ask me to stop either.”
“I didn’t know that you were in love with me, Becca. I’d have asked you to go with me. I loved you too. That’s why I’m sitting here. My life has been one crappy wreck after the next. I knew I should’ve taken you with me. Every girl I’ve been with has been you, all of them look like you, and yet none of them could measure up because they weren’t you.”
Shock raced through her at his words. He’d been in love with her back then? He’d wanted to be with her? How could he have just left without so much as a forwarding address if he’d felt that way? How could he have walked away without ever looking back?
He sighed, and she closed her eyes, tears swimming in her vision. The truth was, it was too late. She didn’t care how he felt now, and nothing he could say about how he’d felt back then could change anything. Coming to dinner with him was a mistake. She’d thought she needed closure, clarity, but she realized in that moment that he was nothing more than a part of her past.
Jason and her company were the future, and the man in front of her was nothing more than a memory in a hardcover book in the drawer under her bookshelf.
“I have to go.” She opened her
eyes as tears dripped down her cheeks. She slipped out of the booth, and he did too, moving to stand in front of her.
“No. I don’t want you to go. I’m sorry, and I’ll spend the rest of forever proving it. I made a mistake, and I promise you I paid for it.” He reached up and touched the side of her face. It was all she could do not to pull back and walk away.
His pain echoed hers, but where she’d finally found solace in a different future, he obviously hadn’t done that.
“Sixteen years of waiting for you to come back for me, to realize how great I was and that I was the only one that you belonged with.” She sucked in a painful breath. “Sixteen years, and now I don’t feel anything, Kade. I’m tired and sad, and I want to go home to my boyfriend. This has done nothing but remind me of the wasted time I spent hoping you’d return.”
“You don’t feel anything?”
She steeled her shoulders and shook her head, for the first time in her life relieved that she didn’t. “No, I don’t feel anything but sad for both of us.”
He cupped the other side of her face, pulling her toward him and pressing his lips to hers with fierce passion. She pulled back, putting a hand on his chest and hating the hurt on his face.
“Becca?”
A sick wave of grief washed over her as she turned from Kade to see Jason standing down the aisle, a brown bag and two drinks in his hands. She moved toward him, but he turned to walk out the door.
She could hear Kade’s footsteps behind her, but she didn’t care, she needed to explain to Jason what had just happened. She reached the parking lot as he was jogging to his car.
“Jason. Jason, wait. That wasn’t what it looked like.”
