by L. R. Potter
She blinked up at him sluggishly and smiled at him coyly as she leaned forward and pressed her lips against his. She rocked her hips and he was once again reminded of being buried deep within her. Grasping her hips once more, he lifted her, then let her slide back down. For him, the intensity of the moment was now gone. He held her quivering form against his cool body and plunged up into her automatically until they both found their release.
Panting, she buried her face in the crook of his neck. “Did I do something wrong,” she whispered.
He wrapped his arms securely around her and pressed his lips against her temple. “No, of course not. Why do you ask?”
She shrugged her shoulders, “I… I just don’t really know your rules to this… whatever it is. You seemed… to… I don’t know… want it over or something.” She blushed and buried her face back in the crook of his neck.
He pulled her back to look into her face. She was just so beautiful. He traced the contours of her face. “I’m sorry. I was afraid of hurting you,” he said truthfully, but for reasons she wouldn’t understand.
She studied his face looking for reassurance. He should have realized how incredibly fragile she was right now. She’d gone through a lot in the past week. He pulled her back into his chest and wrapped his arms around her. He stared off over her shoulder. He couldn’t help but think he’d just made a serious mistake. This was bound to blow up in his face.
Pressing one last kiss against her temple, he reached behind and unlatched her still trembling arms from around his neck. He pressed a kiss against her knuckles. “I need to go. Are you going to be okay?” he asked.
Her head was swimming and she shivered at the distance now between them. She was oddly hurt by it even though he’d told her this was how it would be. She couldn’t help but wonder if his withdrawal had to do with what she’d told him about her family. She swallowed hard and only nodded.
She berated herself for needing this man she barely knew. Was she so desperate to not be alone that she was willing to cling to just anyone? How pathetic did that make her? But as she looked into his majestic face and took in the magical allure he exuded, she knew it was something more than that. It was almost as if he were the other half of herself – the part of her soul which had been missing; the part she’d been searching for. And now, he was pulling away from her. Panic burned in her chest.
Inhaling deeply to center herself, she rose quickly from his body and stumbled back as a severe feeling of lightheadedness overtook her. He reached out a hand to steady her and it took everything in her not to flinch away from his touch.
“Arabella,” he said softly.
Working to fortified herself, she stepped back, his hand falling away from her hip. She glanced away from him and shrugged his shirt from her shoulders. “Here,” she said handing it to him, “You’ll need this.” With that, she turned and rushed to the master bathroom. Needing to drown him out, she turned the shower on and stood under the pounding water for a long while. When she emerged, he was gone.
Chapter 9
It took her three days to pack-up her brother’s apartment. More often than not, she’d take whole drawers and empty them into a box. She just couldn’t bear to invade his privacy any more than that, as stupid as that seemed. Every day, she loaded the boxes into her catering van and drove them to her house and unloaded them, placing them in Ian’s old room. One day soon, she’d go through them and figure out what to keep and what to get rid of.
During these three days, while she’d heard from Drew too many times, she’d not heard from Lynx at all. She tried to remember that this was what she’d agreed to, but it still hurt. Her stomach stayed in knots at the uncertainty of her situation (not relationship) with him. He’d said they’d continue as long as it pleased him, maybe that time was now over and he’d moved on. How would she know?
Her cellphone rang and now she was at the point she no longer got a catch in heart that it might be Lynx… she knew better, it wouldn’t be. Glancing at it, she heaved a heavy sigh, Drew.
“Hey,” she said without preamble.
“How’d the Benson’s party go?” he asked.
She rubbed a hand over face as exhaustion coursed through her. She’d gotten up early to clean Ian’s apartment before coming back to prepare for a catering job for forty people. Now, she needed to shower and get ready for her set at the Night Owl. She really didn’t want to talk to Drew. She felt bad every time she had these thoughts. He’d always been there for her and Ian.
“It was fine,” she finally said.
“Are you ever going to come by?” he asked.
She didn’t answer for a long moment. “I don’t think so,” she said simply.
“Ara… I want to see you. Please come by.”
“What’s the point?”
“I don’t know why you’re being so hard about this,” he said.
“I’m sure you don’t,” she said coolly.
“Fine! Then I’ll come to you,” he said forcefully.
“I have to work tonight.”
“Then I’m coming over in the morning. You will talk to me. You can’t negate a whole lifetime over one stupid mistake!”
Her heart clinched in her chest. One stupid mistake in exchange for her brother’s life. One stupid mistake in exchange for her. But she was tired of fighting with him about this. She was done. Not that she didn’t appreciate the irony of the situation - she didn’t want him… and the person she wanted she couldn’t have.
“Please don’t come by. We’ve said all that needs to be said,” she said quietly, none of her feelings bleeding through.
“I don’t accept that,” he said firmly.
“So, you’ve said.”
“Ara… please,” he begged.
“Drew… I… I need to go to work. I’ll talk to you later,” she said as she clicked her phone off, knowing she had no intention of speaking to him.
She pushed herself up and began to prepare for the club. She’d been so busy with Ian’s things and her catering jobs, her laundry was beginning to pile up. She was forced to dig in the back of her closet to find something suitable. She dressed quickly, swept her hair up in an elegant twist, and headed off. She’d known, no matter what, that she could no longer sing at the club. She knew things with Lynx wouldn’t last forever, and that it was better to have a plan in place to avoid him. This was step-one. After much arguing from Karmyl, she’d finally agreed to continue until they could hire another singer. She figured she’d have to continue for another couple of weeks.
The club looked busy for a Thursday night. She lifted a hand to Tobias, behind the bar, who flagged her down. She stopped with a small smile.
“Karmyl had that benefit for the shelter tonight, she left me your check. Stop after you’re done and I’ll give it to you, alright?” he said.
“Oh, I forgot about the banquet. Yeah, thanks, I’ll be back shortly,” she replied before continuing on to go store her items.
Her dressing room sounded much more glamorous than the closet-sized room it was. But she was thrilled to have even that much privacy. She sat at her minuscule dressing table and waited until the last possible second before going out. She didn’t want to face anyone. It had been a long week.
Glancing one last time at the clock, she stood and smoothed the red silk of her haltered-top dress. The high slit shifted to reveal her pale thigh. She adjusted the top as it clung to her slim frame, outlining her ample breasts, before nipping at her waist. She closed the door and went to stand at the edge of the stage until she was due up. She glanced around the room, telling herself she wasn’t looking for him, but was instantly stabbed with disappointment when she didn’t see his sexy dark-haired head. The tables were filled with couples, the low-light of the candles on each table flickering over their faces. She resolutely turned her mind away from them. She was here to do a job.
She moved across the stage, gave a small smile and wave to Tommy, before continuing to the microphone. As she’d do
ne a thousand times, she wrapped her hands around the stand and bowed her head until the music began. She sang the familiar songs and swayed to the sultry music. She kept her eyes demurely lowered, not that she’d have been able to see anyone in the audience anyway.
Halfway through their set, she and Tommy took a fifteen-minute break, as was their custom. She headed toward the bar where Tobias had a tall glass of room-temperature water with a teaspoon of honey mixed in waiting for her. She drank the water quickly and it immediately soothed her throat. She lifted a hand unconsciously to the small wounds on her neck. They seemed to have gotten worse since her attack. She noticed it right after the morning she’d been with Lynx. She’d wondered if maybe he’d irritated the punctures with his beard… or his lips. She inhaled sharply at the memory of his lips and tongue against her sensitive flesh.
She spun in her seat at the bar and glanced once more around the room, hoping that maybe, just maybe he’d be there. Instead of his dark sultry eyes, her eyes encountered Drew’s green ones. He was seated at the back of the club in a place which would accommodate his casted-leg. He saluted her with his glass. Her lips thinned and she exhaled. Pain, raw and visceral burned deep in her belly. She knew she was being unfair, but seeing him reminded her of all she’d lost, and she didn’t know if she could bear seeing him. However, knowing he’d not just go away, she slid from the stool and slowly made her way to his table. He smiled hesitantly, and she returned it in kind.
“I’m surprised to see you here,” she said.
“I told you I wanted to see you.”
“This isn’t a good time. I’m here to work,” she told him with mild rebuke.
“Ara… how can you throw everything away like this? We were together a long time… we’ve been through a lot together,” he said, hurt lacing his words.
She blinked up at him as his words ran like lava over her skin. “Me? How can I throw it away? I didn’t do this… you did this. You were such a coward. You left a damned voicemail on my phone,” she said heatedly. Quickly, she glanced around as the volume of her voice hit her. She didn’t need any more bad attention given to her.
“Ara… I’m sorry. I was wrong. I don’t know how to fix this,” he said aguishly.
Her heart twisted at both his tone and his words. They’d been friends for such a long time – more than friends. He’d been such a big part of her entire life. The hole he’d left still hungered to be filled. It came to her in a rush… she no longer wanted that hole filled by him… no, she hungered for another.
Swallowing at her own selfishness, as emotions swirled around her, she finally said, “I… I need time. Give me time.”
“Ara…” he began.
“Drew, please,” she pleaded.
He stared into her face for a long moment. “Okay,” he finally whispered.
The soft sounds of the sax filled the air. She glanced at the stage and saw Tommy nod his head at her. Turning back, she said, “Drew… I’ve got to…” she trailed off.
“Go,” he said.
She gave him a small nod before turning and made her way quickly to the stage. Surprisingly, she finished the set without mishaps. She closed her eyes and bowed as the crowd applauded. She touched Tommy’s hand briefly before leaving the stage. She glanced to where Drew had been and was sadly pleased to see him no longer there.
She stepped back up to the bar, leaning her forearms against its smooth edge, waiting for Tobias to finish his current drink order so she could collect her check and head home. She closed her eyes and bowed her head, laying it lightly against her forearms. The day had been excruciatingly long. Cleaning out Ian’s apartment had been like telling him goodbye all over again. It had eaten at her. Then to have to end the day with a confrontation with Drew had just turned an already bad day to an even worse one.
The hairs on the back of her neck were her first indication of impeding danger. She tensed involuntarily and raised her head. She flinched when she felt hands land on her hips. Her eyes jerked up to the mirror positioned above the bar just in time to see Lynx lean into her and press his lips against her nape. Her heart began to beat against her chest like a hundred birds struggling to gain their freedom. He inhaled deeply, slid his hands around her waist, and pulled her firmly against his erection. She closed her eyes and struggled to breathe. When she reopened them, she found herself staring into the fathomless depths of his eyes.
“Arabella,” he murmured against her ear, causing ripples of need to float across her skin.
She swallowed as desire swirled low in her belly.
“Cat got your tongue,” he said with a chuckle.
She couldn’t look away from his eyes. Even though she knew she should be furious at him for ignoring her for three days, she found all she wanted was to be taken by him.
“Dance with me,” he murmured as he pressed his lips once again against her neck. She trembled at the cool touch of his lips.
Without waiting for an answer, he grabbed her hand still placed on the bar, and spun her slowly. He smiled appreciatively at her dress as it swirled around her legs, before tugging her toward the dance floor. It took her a moment to realize he was wearing a black tuxedo. It fit his lean form superbly and magnificently. She went willingly into his arms, placing her hands around his neck. The dim lighting, made the atmosphere intimate and romantic.
“Breathe, Arabella,” he said, with a grin.
“I… I… I…” she struggled to say anything, but found it nearly impossible to string two words together.
He smiled down at her. “You what?”
She swallowed hard at his devilish grin. “I’ve missed you,” she finally got out.
The easy grin slipped slowly from his face. He leaned his head until it rested against hers. “Oh, Arabella. What am I going to do with you,” he whispered against her ear.
Her mouth went dry at all the possibilities. With her heart pounding, in a small, breathless voice, she whispered, “Whatever you want.”
Her unexpected words caused him to falter for a split second. He inhaled sharply. “God, woman!” Swinging around, he tugged her quickly behind him as he made his way to her dressing room.
He’d barely gotten the door shut and locked before he had his lips on hers. Almost brutally, he shoved her against the far wall and thrust his tongue into her mouth, ravishing her. When he finally pulled back, they were both breathing hard. As if unable to help himself, he thrust his tongue back into her mouth and ran his hands down the silky sides of her dress.
Catching the material in his hands, it took everything in him not to rip the dress from her body. Instead, he bunched it in his hands and slid it up her body. With impatient fingers, he pushed aside her red, lacy panties. He groaned against her lips when he found her wet. “Arabella, Arabella, Arabella,” he whispered into her mouth.
She whimpered when he removed his fingers from the spot of her desperate need. Without breaking the kiss, he raised his hands and pulled the ends of the tie at the back of her neck. The top slid down quickly. He broke away long enough to take in her bare-chested nakedness. He lowered his lips to surround one rosy tip with those cool lips of his. She shivered and buried her hands in his luxurious hair. Every part of her body crying out for his touch… for his kiss.
He kissed his way across her chest and graced her other breast to the same treatment. She moaned and arched into him as fire ripped through her body. He moved a hand between them and she heard the unzipping of his zipper.
“Wrap your legs around me,” he whispered against her ear, seconds before his hands landed on her bottom and picked her up effortlessly. She followed his direction without question. “Shove you panties aside and put me inside you,” he directed.
She began to pant at his command. Quickly she complied with his words and a second later he was shoved in deep. Their moans intermingled.
“I’ve needed you for days,” he rasped. “What are you doing to me,” he demanded. He didn’t give her a chance to answer – even if she c
ould have. The only language she currently understood was what his body was saying to her own. With her back against the wall and her legs wrapped over his hips, he bucked into her like the savage he was. He thrust his tongue back into her mouth.
She began to shake as fire exploded in her body. She jerked against him and clung as her body ignited. She gasped at the intensity of her desire. She whimpered against his lips, begging him to release her. “Please, please, please.”
The need to sink his teeth into her neck was almost unbearable. Remembering the look in her eyes the last time, was the only thing which stopped him. He wanted nothing more than to lay her down and pound the hell out of her, while he drank just as frantically from her body. He knew it would be heaven to be able to do that, but he just couldn’t bring himself to do it. Instead, he closed his eyes and slammed over and over into her. She clutched frantically against the roots of his hair and gritted her teeth as her body finally released her from its powerful hold. “Yes, yes, Lynx, yes,” she cried.
He grunted against her as he found his release shortly after hers. They stayed pressed against the wall, their panting breaths, the only sound in the room. As they calmed, he slowly released her and her legs trembled as they struggled to keep her upright. And if it hadn’t been for him, she’d have surely fallen.
With his hands at her waist, he leaned down and rested his face against her head. Against her ear, he rasped, “I needed that. Thank you.”
She slipped her hands around his waist, underneath his tuxedo jacket, and huddled into his body. She’d missed him so much. That need scared the hell out of her. She didn’t want to be dependent on him. It was debilitating… it made her weak. She wanted to demand to know where’d he had been for the last three days… demand to know why he’d not at least called her. She wanted to tell him how much she’d missed him… how much she’d wanted him.
But she did none of those things. That wasn’t what this was about… he’d been very clear. Anguish gripped her insides. Could she really do this? Be a part of something so volatile? It seemed she had no choice. She wanted him too much. How was this possible? She barely knew him. It didn’t seem to matter. It was almost as if she didn’t have any control over her own being. She craved him with everything inside her.
