Reunited (Tueday Temptations)

by HELEN HARDT

  “Brett!” The scream came from her throat, yet whirled as though it came from above.

  She climaxed with the full force of her desires.

  “I feel you coming, Kath. God, I feel you coming.” He forced her down onto his hardness with one final thrust, and the contractions of his cock pushed against her wet channel.

  “Never like this with anyone else, Kath,” he said again. “Never. I swear to you.”

  Twenty years earlier

  His lips were firm against hers. Kathryn froze. Oh, she wanted to kiss Brett Falcone. Wanted it more than her next breath of oxygen, truth be known. But fear paralyzed her. She had never kissed before. What if she did it wrong? What if he laughed at her? She couldn’t relive that horrid nightmare of middle school.

  He sucked gently against her mouth, and then withdrew. “It’s okay,” he whispered. “Open your mouth. Let me in.”

  He really wanted to kiss her. Wanted to French kiss her. How sad was it that she was old enough to vote and had never French kissed before?

  Well, her days of never having been kissed were about to end. Her skin chilled, and fear dashed through her. She took a deep breath through her nose, and then parted her lips.

  His tongue darted between them. When it touched hers, she quivered. Did she like that sensation? Oh yes, she liked it very much.

  Tentatively she probed his tongue with hers. A deep moan rumbled from his throat. Did that mean he liked what she was doing? From the moan that echoed from her own throat, she knew the answer was yes. The surface of his tongue fascinated her. It was silky and wet, yet textured, and sublime against her own. She swirled hers around it, and then, when a surge of boldness overtook her, she sucked it between her lips and gently bit it.

  He groaned louder this time, shoved his tongue farther into her mouth and kissed her deeper. Her heart thudded. Suddenly, she couldn’t catch her breath. She ripped her mouth away.

  “Wow, Kath,” Brett said. “No one’s ever kissed me like that before.”

  “Did I do something wrong?” She hated the words as soon as they’d left her mouth. Geez, that’s smart. Just go ahead and tell him you don’t have a clue what you’re doing. Of course, he had probably figured that out already.

  “God, no. It was amazing.” His face came nearer. “Kiss me again.”

  He took her lips with more force this time and she parted her own in invitation. His flavor intoxicated her—a little mint, a little tannin from the iced tea he had drunk, a little spiciness from the pizza. It added up to something she didn’t think she’d ever get enough of.

  When she probed his mouth with her tongue, he sucked her tongue this time. Oh, she could see why he liked that so much! The sensation melted through her like honey—sweet suction, sweet kisses, sweet longing.

  The kiss went on and on. Every few minutes he’d break away and suck at her neck, nibble on her earlobe, then return to her lips and take her breath away once more with drugging kisses.

  How long it lasted, she had no idea. She’d be content to kiss Brett Falcone forever, but when his hand slid up her side and cupped her breast, she froze.

  She ripped her mouth away. “What do you think you’re doing?”

  “I…I don’t know. You seemed to be enjoying the kissing. I just thought—”

  “Thought you’d feel me up, did you?”

  “Well, yeah. I mean, I’m turned on, you’re turned on.”

  “I…I should never have let this happen. I’m your tutor. It’s…it’s unprofessional. Unethical.”

  “You’re not my teacher, Kath. You’re a student, just like I am. We’re both the same age. Both eighteen. We can do whatever we want. And right now I really want to kiss you some more.”

  So did she. Truth be told, she wanted his hand back on her breast. Fear bolted through her. Not just her breast. She ached for him to touch the throbbing spot between her legs.

  “Brett, you have to go now.”

  “Why?”

  “Because Deb and Bruce will be home soon. Or Terry might wake up. And I have my own homework to do.”

  “It’s Friday night, Kath.”

  Okay, then. “You have a girlfriend, remember?”

  He stilled, then plunked down on the couch. “Yeah, I remember.”

  “What do you think she’d think of all this?”

  “I wasn’t actually thinking about her at the moment.”

  “That’s pretty clear.”

  “I wanted to kiss you. I like your mouth. It’s so pretty. Your lips are pretty, and you have a nice smile. I…I just wanted to feel them against mine, that’s all. And when you hugged me—”

  “I hugged you because you found the answer to our question. I was impressed, Brett. You’re very smart. I never knew that.”

  “I’m not smart, Kath.”

  “Yeah. You are. Mr. Phillips told me and I didn’t believe him. But now I do. You have a natural curiosity that shows how intelligent you are. I mean, I’ve been curious about the whole negatives multiplying into positive thing forever, but I never took the time to sit down and figure it out. To really make a connection between the properties.”

  “That’s what I did?”

  She let out a shaky laugh. “Yeah, that’s what you did. I’m impressed. But I already told you that.”

  “You did?”

  “Weren’t you listening?”

  “I actually impressed you?”

  “Yeah, you did.”

  “Wow.” His dark eyes softened. “Wow. Here I thought I was the only one who was impressed.”

  “Impressed by what?”

  “By you, Kath. Always you. I’ve been watching you forever, it seems.”

  She jolted. Had he just said he’d been watching her? Yes, that’s what he’d said. “What do you mean?”

  “I’ve watched you grow into one of the most beautiful girls in school.”

  Her skin tingled and her tummy tightened. “Excuse me?”

  “You think I don’t regret the things I said to you in middle school? I do. I’ve regretted them ever since. I told you I had no idea how much it hurt you. I knew it was wrong. I let peer pressure control my life. I stopped doing that so much in high school and I’ve been a happier person. A better person, I think. Anyway, it’s over now. I wish I could take it back but I can’t undo it.”

  “No, you can’t.”

  “You’ve always fascinated me. You’re incredible. So smart. I always wanted to be smart, to make my parents proud. To be able to do something more with my life than what my parents could. Not that they aren’t good parents. But I want more, Kath.”

  “You can have more.”

  “Yeah, I think I can. That’s why I wanted you for my tutor.”

  “I thought you wanted me because I was ‘a fox.’”

  He laughed. “Well, that, too. Looking at you is no hardship. But you truly are the smartest person I know.” He cleared his throat, and his handsome face reddened. “I’ve always wanted to know you better. I just didn’t know how to approach you, given our past. I didn’t know how to apologize to you, to make you understand I never meant any of that. But that’s so superficial. I did it, I can’t take it back. So I couldn’t approach you. Then when this whole baseball scholarship came up and I needed a tutor, I figured this was my chance to spend time with you. Get to know you. Find out if what I was feeling was real.”

  “What you were feeling? What are you talking about, Brett?”

  “I’ve got a—”

  He looked away. Was the Italian Stallion actually embarrassed?

  “I like you, Kath. I have for a few years now.”

  She jerked her head around. “You’re playing me.”

  “I’m not. I swear. I just kissed you, didn’t I?”

  She longed to believe him, longed for this to somehow be real, but the image of him and his friends jeering seared into her mind. She swallowed her nausea.

  “It’s probably some bet with your jock butthole buddies. See you long it takes you to
get the nerd to fall for you, right? Well, it’s not going to happen, Brett. I guarantee it.”

  “Hey.” He stood and gripped her elbow. “I don’t kiss anyone I don’t want to kiss, you got that?”

  “Shouldn’t you be kissing your girlfriend?”

  He smiled a lazy smile. “She’s not here.”

  “Ha. And I am, is that it? Any port in a storm?”

  “No.” He raked his fingers through his gorgeous black hair. “You’re twisting it all around, damn it.”

  “Twisting what around? There’s nothing to twist around, because there’s nothing between us. So go back to your butthole buddies and tell them you got the nerd queen to kiss you. Collect your twenty bucks, or whatever it is you won, and have a big laugh at my expense.”

  “Kath, it’s not like that. There’s no bet. I swear.”

  “Right. I’m supposed to believe you, the Italian Stallion, wanted to kiss me, Kathryn Zurakowsky, the Pollock, the nerd, the ugly duckling.”

  “Who’s turned into a beautiful swan.”

  “And what if I hadn’t?”

  “If you hadn’t what?”

  “Turned into a beautiful swan? Would you want to kiss me then?”

  “I don’t know. Would you want to kiss me if I wasn’t good looking?”

  Well, he had her there, and that pissed her off. Her blood boiled. “Who said I wanted to kiss you?”

  He laughed that time. Damn him.

  “For someone who didn’t want to kiss me, you gave a good impression of enjoying it.”

  She had enjoyed it. It had been heaven. But she had never kissed before. It would probably be that great with anyone.

  “Maybe I’m just a good kisser.”

  “Ha. Right. If I had a dollar I’d bet you’d never been kissed before.”

  “Get out.” Kathryn pulled him to his feet. “Get out. I’ve had enough of you. You can find yourself another tutor, too. I don’t need to deal with you. Go kiss your girlfriend—remember her? Or kiss some butt-ugly old lady for all I care. Now get out of here before I call the cops!”

  His lips came down on hers again.

  Chapter Six

  “Wow, Kath.” Brett buttoned his pants as Kathryn replaced her bra and blouse. “Wow.”

  “Yeah. I’m sorry.”

  “God, don’t be sorry.”

  “Oh, I’m not sorry it happened, Brett. I’m sorry I didn’t have more self-control. I’m acting like a horny teenager.”

  “We both were, Kath. We’re acting like the horny teenagers we once were. I meant it when I said it’s never been like that with anyone else. Not the kisses, not the sex. I mean, I just took you quick and hard against the wall, and I felt more than I’ve ever felt during the longest lovemaking session with Michelle.”

  A spear entered her heart at the mention of Brett’s wife. Ex-wife. That little prefix made all the difference. He was free to be with her now. And she was free to be with him. Sort of.

  He was right about the kisses. An image emerged in her mind, of her and Brett after their first kiss, and her thought that kissing would be the same with anyone. That the kiss with him had been nothing special.

  She’d been wrong. So very wrong.

  She’d done a lot of kissing in her life. None had equaled those fumbled attempts she’d shared with Brett twenty years ago, and none equaled their passionate embraces now.

  Still, she’d had unprotected sex. She trusted that he’d had a vasectomy, so she wasn’t worried about pregnancy. But she hadn’t seen him in twenty years. Who knew who he had been with? Not the smartest move she’d ever made.

  “Uh, Brett?” She fumbled with her hair.

  “Your hair looks beautiful,” he said, tucking a strand behind her ear. “It’s as soft as I remember.” He grinned. “What?”

  “I don’t want to spoil the mood, but…I need to know, you know, that you’re clean.”

  “Clean?”

  “Yeah. I know I can’t get pregnant, but I don’t want to—”

  “Kath,” he said, looking directly into her eyes. His gaze burned. “I swear to you, I’m clean. I’ve only been with two women in my life and you’re one of them.”

  Her eyes widened. Truly? The Italian Stallion had never been with another woman?

  “I should probably be more concerned about you,” he said, “but I’m not.”

  “Oh?” The insult rankled her. “You don’t think I’ve been with anyone but you and my husband?”

  “No, I’m absolutely sure you have.”

  “Yeah, I have. Plenty, if you want to know.” But not a one who had mattered. “So why aren’t you more concerned?”

  “Because I know you. If there was any issue, you wouldn’t have made love to me. You wouldn’t have put me in danger.”

  “True. I’m a doctor.”

  “Yes, but that’s not how I know. I just know you. You’re a kind, gentle person, and you’d never do anything to harm another living soul.”

  Especially not one she cared about so deeply.

  “No, I wouldn’t. But just so you know, I’ve had all the tests, and I’m clean.”

  “Well, I had all the tests when I had my vasectomy three years ago, and I’m clean as well. But I didn’t need the tests, because I’m serious. I’ve only been with you and Michelle.”

  “I can’t believe it.” She shook her head.

  “Why not?”

  “Because you’re Brett Falcone. The Italian Stallion.”

  He laughed. “No one’s called me that in years.”

  “You still look the part, I must say. You’re still as handsome and delectable as ever.”

  “And you’re still the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. You take my breath away, Kath.”

  “Wow. Wow.”

  “You keep saying that.” He smiled.

  “I just can’t imagine why you’ve never been with anyone else.”

  “I don’t know why it’s so hard to believe. I married Michelle after you left. She was a virgin on our wedding night. I was married to her until a year ago. I’ve dated a few women, but there was never enough connection to sleep with them.” He pulled her into his arms. “I’d be happy only sleeping with you from now on.”

  Her skin warmed. She could get used this. Get used to being held in his arms, his nose sniffing her hair, his hands wandering up her back, caressing her.

  But too much remained between them that he didn’t know about. If he ever found out—

  The phone interrupted her thoughts. She pulled away. “I’m sorry. Will you excuse me for a moment?”

  “Sure.” He kissed her cheek, and her tummy fluttered. “Don’t be too long, okay?”

  She walked to the kitchen and grabbed the phone off the cradle.

  “Hello?”

  “Yes, hello,” a deep masculine voice said. “I’m looking for Kathryn Zurakowsky Abbott.”

  “This is she. How may I help you?”

  “Well,” he cleared his throat. “My name is Michael Patton.”

  “Yes?”

  “I…uh…”

  “What is it, Mr. Patton?”

  “I don’t quite know how to say this.” He cleared his throat again. “I think I’m your son.”

  Twenty years earlier

  Kathryn couldn’t help herself. She kissed him back. More than kissed him back. She threaded her fingers through his black hair—it was as soft as she’d imagined. She caressed his muscular shoulders, his biceps, his sinewy forearms. She ran her fingers over the fabric of his shirt, taking in the hardness of his chest, the firmness of his abdomen. She pushed closer to him, snaked her arms around his waist, squeezed the solid globes of his buttocks.

  An ache grew in her tummy, her heart. She wanted to touch more of him. His bare skin. Feel his fingers slide over her own bare flesh. Her skin heated, her pulse raced, an inferno blazed between her legs.

  He pulled her closer and his hardness pressed against her abdomen. His penis. She knew what it was. She’d had the sex ed class
, the talk with her mother, the gossip with her friends.

  She’d never imagined how good it would feel against her, though. How much she’d desire to touch it, to make him feel good…

  Out of hand.

  This was getting out of hand.

  Yet she couldn’t break away. Couldn’t bring herself to withdraw her lips from the sweet firmness of his, the sweet sensation of his tongue twirling around her own…

  Somewhere in the background, the click of a key in a lock.

  Deb and Bruce were home!

  She pushed Brett away and wiped her mouth. Oh, she must look disheveled. This was not good. They didn’t care if she had people over. They’d come over to find her studying with friends before. But this…

  Her hands whipped to her lips. They felt tender, swollen. Oh my. Did she look as though she had just been kissed? Because she sure felt as though she had just been kissed. Thoroughly, undoubtedly kissed.

  She patted down her clothes. Luckily they weren’t in disarray. Brett hadn’t attempted to feel her again. He looked amazing. Tousled and gorgeous.

  “Fix your hair!” she said through clenched teeth.

  He shook his head and it fell into place.

  “Now sit down with the math book. Hurry.”

  She sat down next to him as the door opened.

  “Hi, Kathryn,” Deb said. “Studying on a Friday night?”

  “Tutoring, actually.” She tried to sound casual, but her voice shook. She hoped Deb and Bruce didn’t notice. “This is Brett. I’m helping him with his algebra.”

  “Need to get my grades up for baseball,” Brett offered.

  “Well, then, I see why you’re at it on a Friday,” Bruce said. “Sports was always my greatest motivation.” He pulled his wallet out of his pocket and handed Kathryn some bills. “Here you go, Kathryn. Thanks very much.”

  “No problem. Terry’s never any trouble. She’s been sleeping soundly since bedtime.” She eyed the pizza carton on the coffee table. “Oh, let me just clean up a little.”

  “No worries,” Deb said. “I’ve got it. You two go on. Enough studying for one night. Maybe you can hit a late show somewhere.”

  “Oh, I don’t think—” Kathryn began.

  “Yeah, that’s a great idea, Kath,” Brett said. “How about it?”