“You’re too tough on yourself.”
“You’re too easy on me.”
She shook her head, refusing my self-condemnation. “You’re a good man, Declan, even if you don’t believe it yourself. You were going to buy your mother a house. You wanted to take care of her, even though she hadn’t ever taken good care of you.” I hadn’t thought of it that way before. Words stuck in my throat.
Again, she seemed to sense what I needed. “And here, all along I thought you had a black heart,” she teased me, lightening the mood, her bewitching fingers moving up and down my chest.
“I remember.” I caressed her side, my hand fitting perfectly along the curve of her waist. “You gave me a piece of obsidian.”
“I can’t believe you remember that!” She sounded delighted.
“I named my company after it.”
“What?” Her fingers stilled.
“Obsidian Investors. It stuck with me, how you’d given me that chunk of rock and told me ‘It’s cool and black. Like your heart.’”
“Did I say all that? That’s horrible!”
“You added some other things, like that’s what I wanted people to think. As if you knew otherwise.” I pulled her against me tight.
“So you named your company after that?”
I nodded. “It fit me. You were right. I have a black heart.”
She shook her head against me and I could feel her fight it. She’d always thought I was more than that, always seen more to me than even I had, myself. Then I felt her sigh against me, as if her whole body deflated.
“You did break my heart, you know.” She spoke, quiet and sad though without reproach. “When you left.”
Here it was, the conversation I knew we’d have to have at some point. I didn’t know how much she knew about why I’d left, if Harlan had told her at some point, or if she’d guessed. Right then I realized she had no idea.
“I had to do it.” The words felt hollow coming out and I knew they must sound even worse to her. But at the time, I’d really felt that way. “I did it for you.”
“Bullshit.” She said it low and certain, not angry, just calling my bluff.
“Well, your father certainly saw it that way.”
“My father?” She pulled herself up, sitting now. I liked her naked, her pretty pink breasts out and exposed for me, but I missed her wrapped around me, our mingled body heat.
I pulled myself up to sitting as well. “That last night, the night you came down to my cabin.” She nodded. “Your father knew. He was watching and saw you leave my place.”
Her eyes grew round and she brought her hand up to her mouth.
“He was waiting for me when I came out of the shower,” I continued. “He fired me. Kicked me out and told me never to set foot there again.”
“He did?” Kara asked, shocked.
“So he never told you? I figured he might do that.” That was cruel of him, but smart. It really sealed the deal, made sure Kara thought I was the trash he knew me to be. As if I’d up and leave her after those nights together with no note, no explanation, like it all meant nothing.
“Why didn’t you tell me? Why didn’t you ever…” She held up her hand, her palm upturned as if holding all of the phone calls and text messages and love letters and visits I’d never made.
“Because Harlan was right. I wasn’t good enough for you.”
“Bullshit.” This time she sounded angrier, more defiant.
“He never said anything to you about why I left?”
“Never.” She shook her head.
I swore. “He sure as shit said something to me. He told me I wasn’t good enough for you. I wasn’t going to treat you right, give you the future you deserved.”
“No.” She shook her head, refusing this version of the story, tears stinging her eyes.
“Yes,” I insisted, and she knew I was telling the truth. “Thing was, he knew what he was talking about. What did I have, back then? I had nothing.”
“It didn’t matter!” Kara insisted, leaning toward me.
“It did matter.”
“Not to me.”
“You have to remember how it was for me back then. I had nothing. He pissed me off when he pointed it out, but I knew he was right. I had no business pulling you down into the gutter with me.”
“Declan, you’re all I’ve ever wanted.” Her eyes, wide and luminous, her lips pink and parted, I didn’t know how I’d ever lucked into her falling back into my life. After all the crap I’d been through, all the many years alone and fighting my way through day-to-day, maybe it was time? Maybe it was time to finally have what I’d always really wanted?
I wrapped her in my arms and crushed her to me, kissing her breathless, worshipping her.
Room service. Damn it. I heard it again, a knock at the door. Reluctantly, I stood and pulled on a robe. My woman needed to eat. Shutting the bedroom door, I let them into the suite to set the trays down. After giving them a good tip, I sent them out and locked the door. No more intrusions.
She enjoyed her breakfast. I just wanted to feast on her. Once she was done, I did just that, licking and tasting every inch of her body and bringing her yet another orgasm. A man could get addicted to it, the feel of her shivers and shudders, her needy pants and groans.
After a while we drifted off again, relaxed and sated and happy. That’s how we passed the rest of the day, in bed, naked, chatting, stroking, coming, snoozing, eating from time to time. It might have been the best day of my life.
Late afternoon, I scooped her up in my arms and carried her to the shower. She needed some hot steam, warm water pounding on her sore muscles. I was working her hard, I knew that. My lust for her knew no bounds. I wanted her again, all the time. I had to pace myself so she could keep up.
But once we were in the shower, I couldn’t help myself. Naked, in the heat, I cupped my hands underneath her ass cheeks and pushed her up against the wall.
“I need to taste you,” I breathed into her, then knelt down to bring my face to her pussy.
“Ahh! Declan!” She cried out as I brought my tongue down between her folds, slick and hot, licking her most intimate, private places. I loved how she tasted, her sweet juices. I could feast on her every day. The sounds she made, the desperate moans and gasps, the sighs of pleasure, the jagged feel of her breathing as she started to pant. The twist of her fingers in my hair, agitated, needy, pulling at me, pushing me into her slit. I loved driving her wild.
“I’m going to—” At the sound of her words, I thrust my tongue hard up into her, using my hands to spread her wide apart, giving me all the access I required. She shuddered and came on my tongue, screaming and clawing at me with raw animal pleasure.
Before she even finished coming, I stood up and positioned her right where I wanted her up against the wall, my hands still firmly under her ass. I plunged my raging hard cock directly into her wet, quivering pussy. She screamed and exploded all over again, another orgasm wracking her as I filled her completely, spearing her without warning.
“Yes!” she cried out. “Oh, yes!”
Her hands up at my shoulders, I pressed her against the wall and began to fuck her deliberate and slow, burying my cock into her deep again and again up to the hilt. Moaning, her eyes closed, she melted into me, groaning with the leisurely feel of it. I wanted it slow, wanted it to build, never wanted it to end.
“Kara,” I whispered in her ear. She leaned toward me, her eyes still closed in pleasure. I remembered her question from earlier. I knew how to answer it now. “You asked me what feels like home to me.” I drove into her, full and hard and she took me in, every inch, warm and slick and groaning with delight. “You feel like home.”
“Declan!” she called out, overcome. “I love you.”
Senseless, I drove into her, wanting nothing more than this, nothing more than her. She felt so tight and hot and wet.
“Kara!” I called out as I built up, my balls tightening, filling with my come.
She was why I’d done all of this, I realized. All of the money, wealth, power. Every property I acquired, every investor I secured, every new success—it was all for Kara, to prove I could be the right one for her. And now I finally had her. She was mine.
I wanted to give her the necklace I’d bought for her. Once I’d seen the dress she’d wear to the party tonight, I knew I had to get it for her. She’d look radiant in nothing at all, but I wanted to drape her in jewels, make her shine and shimmer like the goddess she was.
Dreamily, she wrapped her arms around my neck as I picked her up, turned off the water and carried her out of the shower. I put her down gingerly, tenderly. I knew her legs might not be feeling so strong. I wanted to make this woman weak with orgasms, leave her powerless in my bed for weeks. But that would all have to start tomorrow. Tonight we had a gala at the Met. Technically, I had to be there in 30 minutes. I could pull that off, all I had to do was put on my tux, but a woman would want more time to get ready for a black tie affair. Especially after what I’d done to her all day long.
“Why don’t you take your time getting ready?” I smiled at her and took a towel down from the rack to dry her soft, creamy skin. She was going to look amazing in the strapless dress tonight, the one that made her look like Venus rising from the half-shell. Of course Venus wore nothing but her long hair in that famous painting. I’d like Kara in that look.
“I have to get there early and take care of some business,” I explained reluctantly. “But you can take your time and have Vladimir drive you over when you’re ready.”
“Sounds good.” She looked up at me, smiling the slightly dazed, blissed-out smile of a woman who’d just experienced several intense orgasms.
“I have something for you to wear tonight. With your dress.”
“What a dress that is.” She shook her head in amazement. Earlier that day the dressmaker had had it delivered to the hotel wrapped in tissue paper and plastic, two people carrying it into the room.
I ducked into the bedroom and pulled out a large, black velvet case. Offering it to her, I stepped back. I wanted to see her face.
Smiling shyly at me, she lifted up the top. Her jaw dropped open. “Declan, I can’t!”
“Oh, yes, you can.” I stepped toward her. I couldn’t help it, I needed to touch her again, feel her, clasp the necklace on her myself.
“It’s so beautiful!”
I picked it up and placed it along her skin, the rubies and diamonds sparkling against her strawberries and cream complexion. She lifted her hair and I clasped it in back.
“Let me see.” I took a step away again so I could take all of her in.
She looked at me, her eyes dreamy and filled with love, the jewels glittering at her throat, her naked, pink body exposed and perfect for me to ravish.
“Do you know how beautiful you are?” I asked, husky.
She smiled, looking down, shy again. “You make me feel beautiful.”
“You’re so much more beautiful than any piece of jewelry. You make the diamonds look dull.” Wrapping a hand around her low back, I leaned down for a kiss. I couldn’t resist one hand up to the soft mound of her breast, my fingers finding the sensitive bud at the tip. At the low sound in her throat, I closed my eyes and rested my forehead to hers. I had to stop myself. I had to head to the party.
But I wouldn’t fight this any longer. I’d surrender to the madness. If insanity felt this amazing, I was all for it.
“I have to go,” I said, my voice laden with disappointment.
“You probably have to put on some clothes first.” Kara sounded disappointed, too.
“I guess I have to.” I grinned at her.
Freshly shaved, tuxedo on, hair combed, I was ready in ten minutes. Kara still sat on the bed where she’d lazily watched me get ready. I gave her one more kiss on her forehead.
“Join me soon?”
“Yes.” She nodded, smiling. “In about an hour.”
“I can’t wait.”
I really couldn’t. I wanted to show her everything, the glamour and festivity of the gala, and then anything and everything else she might enjoy for the rest of our lives. We had so much to do together, so much ahead of us. Because this time, I wasn’t letting go. I finally had her, the one I’d always wanted. The only woman I’d ever loved.
I loved her. I knew that now. And tonight I’d tell her.
CHAPTER 9
Kara
I watched Declan leave the hotel room in a daze. What had he done to me? Had anyone ever lost their mind, cause of insanity multiple intense orgasms? What a way to go! You’d lose your grip on reality with such a huge smile on your face.
I didn’t think I’d ever recover. Good thing I’d never have to try. This was real, what we had. I loved him and he loved me. I knew he did, in every fiber of my being. It was in the way he touched me, held me, kissed me, made love to me. We belonged together. And now nothing stood in our way.
I walked over to the opulent bathroom and sat down on a satin pedestal at a three-way mirror. It was set up for some serious work to take place, the lighting, the space, you could really lay out all of your artist’s tools and devote time to perfecting your image. In a soft, fluffy robe, I applied lotions and powders and grinned at my reflection from ear to ear. Glowing like I was, I felt like I didn’t need any make-up at all. Typically critical of myself, tonight I could tell I looked radiant. Especially wearing his necklace.
I’d never seen anything so stunning. I had no idea what it cost. I didn’t want to know, I’d be too scared to wear it and I never wanted to take it off. The diamonds caught the light and sparkled like sunshine around my neck. The rubies would accent the deep red of my dress perfectly. And Declan had claimed I looked like the finest gem of all.
All those worries about not fitting into his world—they were gone. First of all, I didn’t care anymore. All that mattered was Declan and he loved me so why did the opinions of other snobby people affect me in the least? Second of all, on Declan’s arm, the world was my oyster. He was a VIP host tonight, the founder of one of the charities being celebrated at the gala, and I was his guest.
This man took me places I’d never dreamed I’d go, and I didn’t just mean fancy parties. Today we’d never even left the hotel room but I’d been transported, experiencing emotions and intense pleasure I’d never imagined. The things he’d done to me, that I’d let him do to me and loved over the past week? I was over feeling sheepish, shy, shocked about it all. When you loved each other, everything felt intense. No wonder I responded to him like butter in a heat wave, he was my soul mate. This was how it was supposed to be.
I blow-dried and styled my hair, smiling the whole time. You’d think my cheeks would start to hurt after a while, but maybe all those years with too few smiles were balancing things out now. I felt absolutely fine, no end in sight. I brushed my hair out straight and left it down, simple. It looked sleek and full, the highlights I’d gotten last week adding depth and shine and movement.
It took a while to work myself into the dress. The corset presented a challenge. I had no maid or stepsister to pull me into it tight. Instead, I wiggled and twisted and managed as best I could. But once I finally got myself all hooked up, maneuvered the dress over my head, zipped up the side, slipped on my heels, that smile broke out over my face all over again.
Holy shit, I looked like a bombshell. From every angle in the mirror I shone radiant and divine. With high, high heels and the drape and cut of the dress my legs looked a mile long. I swept my hair off my shoulder and watched the diamond necklace shimmer and sparkle.
At that moment, I believed in fairy tales. Hope bloomed full in my heart. This might have started as
a bargain, an agreement based on an exchange of sex and money. But now it was much more than that. Dreams did come true. We understood each other in a way no one else ever could. Everything was going to work out and I was the luckiest girl on earth.
Searching for my purse, I found my cell phone and realized I hadn’t checked it in over a day. I’d been too busy enjoying myself with Declan. I had a voicemail from yesterday. It was our ranch foreman, Bill. His voice sounded tired. He apologized for bothering me. He said he’d hoped he wouldn’t have to talk to me until I got back from my trip. But then a couple of guys from the bank had come out to the ranch. We had until five p.m. Monday to come up with the money or they were foreclosing. The time had come.
Panic set in quick, a tight grip on my throat. I took a deep breath and told myself to calm down. That wasn’t my reality anymore. Declan was real and he cared about me, deeply. He was going to help me out and this would simply be a nightmare I’d wake up from, clean and simple in the morning sunshine. I couldn’t wait.
Then I saw a text message from a couple of hours ago. Lymon, the toad man:
You have 24 hours.
What did he think he was, a terrorist? Was he issuing a bomb threat? I tried to calm myself down by rolling my eyes, telling myself this guy was over-the-top crazy. He was such a goon, harassing me for my answer. I’d have him out of my hair soon enough, too. But his text message sent a cold chill down my gorgeously-dressed spine.
I put the phone down quick. He didn’t get to ruin my night on the town with my man. And I didn’t need him anyway. He didn’t even deserve a response.
But as Vladimir drove me over to the Met, I felt unsettled and nervous. My joie de vivre of moments ago had fled and now I was just a plain rancher’s daughter heading out to an overwhelmingly fancy party. I had no idea what to expect. Would there be paparazzi there with cameras? Celebrities? People with microphones trying to talk to me?
Suddenly, my stomach balled in a knot and I wished I were headed anywhere else. I couldn’t catch a deep enough breath in the stupid corset and I felt light-headed. What I wouldn’t give to be at home sitting out on my porch swing looking at the stars and humming to myself. Or settling into my old, worn, soft couch with a comfy blanket, hot cocoa and a delicious romance novel.
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