Bachelor Unforgiving

by Brenda Jackson

  Getting out of the car and closing the door behind him, he headed for her door.

  * * *

  Kara was on her way down the stairs when she heard the ringing of her doorbell. She didn’t have to wonder who was at her door. The deep pounding in her chest gave the identity of her visitor away. Why was Virgil here? To help pack up her things for her move to the hotel? A booty call? The thought of the latter caused a heat to stir in the pit of her stomach. She really should be upset that sex was the only thing to bring him here, but pathetic as it might sound, she wanted to believe that making love to her would eventually come to mean something to him again.

  She opened the door and stepped aside for him to enter. “Virgil, how was your trip?”

  “Productive.”

  She thought he smelled fresh. And when he strolled by she picked up the scent of his aftershave and thought it was a turn-on. Instead of stopping in the foyer, he kept walking to her living room. She followed and saw him staring at her packed luggage.

  She went over to the sofa and sat down, crossing her legs. “Any reason you’re here?”

  He moved his gaze to her, especially to her legs, which were exposed because of the short skirt she was wearing. Every time his eyes moved up and down her body, she could feel the sensual pull between them. “I had wanted to take you to dinner.”

  “And I told you what I’d be doing. Didn’t you believe me?”

  He shoved his hands into his pockets. “Yes, I believed you. In fact I came by to see if you needed my help.”

  “No thanks.”

  “You sure?”

  “Positive.”

  Why did he have to stand over there, looking so perfectly male? And why was she looking at his sensuous mouth and recalling how it could take hers, make love to it, mate with it as if it was something he had every right to do?

  He walked over to where she sat and he came to a stop right in front of her. She couldn’t miss his aroused state. The huge bulge pressing hard against the zipper of his jeans was something that definitely caught her attention. And then he said in a voice that was deep and husky, “I want you.”

  She fixed her mouth to tell him the last thing she needed was for him to make a booty call now, but the words couldn’t part from her lips. He was still fighting her, battling with emotions. Only someone who’d known him as well as she had could detect the struggle. Even now, he didn’t want to want her, but something was driving him to do so anyway.

  She knew how Virgil’s mind worked. He stood there with his focus directly on her, trying to figure out why he wanted her so much. Why, considering their history, he wanted to strip her naked and make love to her, right where she sat. There was a dark intensity in the depths of his gaze, and the lines around his mouth were deep and drawn. She wondered if he was remembering the night they’d made love, right here in this house, under this roof. Of the time he had dropped to his knees, in the middle of her foyer and tasted her.

  Kara was remembering those things and had to believe he was remembering them, as well. She had to believe this wasn’t just another booty call but that it was one with a purpose. One that could bring her closer to her goal of cracking through the wall he’d erected around his heart.

  She slowly eased from the sofa and stood in front of him, so close their bodies touched. She could feel his hard erection pressing against her middle. Just as she was certain that he could feel the hard buds of her nipples pressing into his chest.

  At that moment she decided that although he’d made the booty call, she would be the one to take ownership of it.

  “So you think you want me, Virgil?”

  From the arch of his brow she knew her question surprised him. Evidently he figured any other woman would take what he’d said without question. In the end he would see she wasn’t just any other woman. She was the one who loved him. The one he’d once loved. The one who was fighting hard to regain that love.

  “I know I want you, Kara.”

  Hearing the words spoken so huskily from his lips should have been enough for her but it wasn’t. She was fighting to hear him say different words, words that went deeper than just desire. “I’m glad you want me. Now let me show you just how much I want you.”

  She tugged her blouse over her head and shimmied seductively out of her skirt. And before he could catch his next breath, she reached out and whisked his T-shirt over his head.

  * * *

  Virgil’s gaze scanned Kara as she stood there in a skimpy pair of panties. Evidently this was one of those times it suited her since she wasn’t wearing a bra. Honestly, she didn’t need one. Her breasts were beautiful, firm and full. While he watched, she slid out of her panties.

  He was convinced there was not another woman with this much sensuality who walked the face of this earth. Would there always be this sensuous pull between them? One so strong it could create such an intense yearning that it threatened his control? And then there was her gutsiness. It had a way of increasing sexual tension between them to the point where he wanted nothing more than to make love to her all night and most of the next day—nonstop.

  She pulled his belt through the loops of his jeans and tossed it aside; however, what made him get harder was when she slowly eased down his zipper. “Take off your jeans, Virgil.”

  Virgil had no problem doing what she asked and quickly kicked off his shoes and removed his socks before lowering the jeans down his legs. When he tucked his fingers into the waistband of his briefs to tug them down his legs, as well, she placed her hand on his. “I can manage from here.”

  He nodded as he fixed his gaze on the lushness of her mouth, and he couldn’t fight the heat that flared inside him when she licked her lips. And when she knelt in front of him and began easing his briefs down, he swore he could feel the floor beneath his feet shift. Awareness of what she was about to do filled his every pore with sexual greed. Even the air he was breathing seemed to thicken.

  When she darted her tongue out of her mouth to moisten the head of his erection, it provoked a deep pounding right there in his crotch. He knew the shape and fullness of her lips, knew what her mouth was capable of doing, and he prepared himself for what was to come. No sooner had that thought entered his mind than she opened her mouth and took him all in. His breath caught while his entire body began to sizzle. He reached out and buried his fingers in her hair and released a torturous moan when a surge of hot, sharp sensation rushed through him.

  Then she began sucking on him, just the way she’d done in all his dreams. Just the way she used to do when they’d been a couple. Just the way she knew he liked. Desire twisted his gut and every nerve in his body flared with the intensity of what she was doing. He could feel his erection enlarging and throbbing right in her mouth. She didn’t let up and at the rate she was going, he would soon shatter into pieces. But he wanted to be inside of her when he did. And he wanted to be looking into her eyes when their bodies joined.

  Ignoring her protest, he reached down and pulled her up and together they tumbled to the sofa. To cushion the impact he made sure she landed on top, straddling him.

  She glanced down, flashed him a sexy smile and said, “Perfect landing.”

  Quickly taking advantage of their positions, she opened her legs wider and lowered her body down onto his shaft. Staring up at her, he gritted his teeth, but that didn’t stop the moan from escaping. And when she began riding him, emotions he’d conditioned himself not to feel ripped through him and he grabbed her tight. This wasn’t the first time they’d made love on her sofa, but it was the first time they’d done so with her on top.

  Every bone in his body quivered with each and every erotic movement of her hips. He felt sexual sensations in every pore, every nerve. When frissons of heat raced up his spine he cupped the back of her head and lowered her mouth down to his. He needed this kiss as much as he ne
eded everything else she was doing to him. The taste of her consumed him while at the same time thickening the blood in his veins.

  And when sensations of a magnitude he’d never confronted before seemed to slam into both of them at the same time, they were pushed over the edge together. He had to hold on and maintain balance for the both of them, otherwise they would have tumbled to the floor. She broke her mouth free of his and screamed his name, and the sound seemed to pulverize every bone in his body.

  He could feel his release exploding inside her, jetting all the way to her womb. It occurred to him then that he wasn’t wearing a condom, and he hoped like hell she was still on the pill. But at that moment he didn’t want to think about any possible risks of an unplanned pregnancy. He just wanted to think about how she’d made him feel.

  They lay there as pleasure continued to flow through them, even when they were too tired to move. He loved her nakedness and gently stroked her back. Moments later she finally lifted her head to gaze down at him.

  “You need to leave. I still have a lot of packing to do,” she whispered in a tone he didn’t think was too convincing. Not when he could feel himself getting hard inside of her again.

  “I told you I would help.”

  “I don’t want your help, Virgil.”

  “Tough,” he said, leaning up and swiping his tongue across the pout that had formed on her lips. “Oh, and I forgot to mention that you’re moving in with me.”

  Chapter 17

  Kara stretched out her legs and when they came into contact with a muscular and hairy one, she recalled where she was and whose bed she was in. She slowly opened her eyes as memories from last night assailed her. After making love a second time at her place, that time in her bed, she and Virgil had dressed and he had helped her finish packing. It was way past midnight when they’d arrived at his home. By then she was too exhausted to unpack anything. Not even a nightgown.

  They had showered together and he’d given her one of his T-shirts to sleep in. For all the good it had done. Once in his bed, he’d immediately taken the shirt off her. And they’d made love again. That was probably why he was still sleeping beside her. She glanced over at the clock, saw it was past eight and hoped he didn’t have any meetings planned at the office this morning.

  She snuggled back up to him as a feeling of happiness washed over her. A part of her truly believed that no matter what Virgil said or how much he wanted to deny it, he loved her. The fact that she was here, under his roof, in his bed and nestled in his arms spoke volumes. She was certain he still thought it was about nothing more than sex, but she knew better and would be patient until he realized that fact, as well. There were still a lot of roads they would have to travel, more mountains they would need to climb. Trust and faith had to be rebuilt, but she believed they could do it and would do everything within her power to show Virgil that they could, as well. It would take one step at a time.

  She believed being here with him this way was a start. It was more than what she’d had a few weeks ago. Even when she remembered his attitude toward her six months ago and where she was now, it was almost akin to a miracle. Somehow she had managed to put a crack in his wall of defense, but that wasn’t good enough. She wouldn’t be totally satisfied until that wall came tumbling down.

  Still feeling totally exhausted, she closed her eyes when sleep overtook her again.

  * * *

  Virgil awakened to Kara’s scent. It surrounded him and he would be surprised if it hadn’t permeated his skin. He liked it. Always had. And the thought that she was here in his bed was simply unreal.

  He glanced down at her. She was snuggled close to his side with their legs entwined. Her head was resting on his chest and one of her arms was thrown across his midsection. It was like déjà vu, reliving how things used to be, on those mornings when he would wake up beside her. Things could never be that way again so he would enjoy this while it lasted.

  He glanced over at the clock and was glad he’d cleared his calendar for the morning. Besides, he needed to work on that proposal for Stan Nelson, the wealthy Canadian who’d come highly recommended by a college classmate and friend. He’d been courting the Nelson Group for almost a year now and when he’d met with the man this week in Toronto, Virgil had felt it was almost a done deal. But he wasn’t ready to mention it to anyone just yet. Not even to his father. He figured pulling something like this off would definitely make his dad a happy man. Hopefully happy enough to actually retire this time. And what Virgil liked about Nelson was that the man—who was known as a womanizer—didn’t give a damn about Virgil’s reputation. He wanted a man he could trust his money with.

  Virgil knew he had to keep the deal quiet until everything was finalized, which hopefully would be in a couple of weeks. He glanced down at Kara again. On the drive here he had asked if she was still on the pill and had been relieved to find out she was. But then why had the image of a little girl with her features flashed through his mind?

  As much as he wanted to wake Kara up so they could make love again, he knew he couldn’t. She needed her rest. He glanced around the room and his eyes lit on her luggage, which he’d brought in after she’d fallen asleep. For someone who was only staying a week or so, she’d certainly packed a lot of stuff. But then, he would have to admit he didn’t know of any woman who traveled light.

  There were a few calls he needed to make this morning, so he slowly detached himself from Kara and eased out of bed. Already he felt a sense of loss with their bodies no longer connected. Grabbing his bathrobe off a chair he slid it over his naked body, remembering every single detail about the times they’d made love at her place and his. Before heading for the bathroom, he glanced back over at Kara and put the thought out of his mind that she looked as though she belonged in his bed.

  * * *

  Kara awoke and she pulled herself up in bed to find she was alone. Where had Virgil gone? The smell of coffee was a dead giveaway. He had to have a cup first thing in the morning while he read the newspaper.

  Easing out of bed, she couldn’t help but smile when she saw he’d brought all her luggage into his bedroom. Last night they had left everything downstairs, and although she had slept in his bed, she wasn’t sure if that’s how things would be or if he would expect her to use one of his guest rooms. It seemed he’d made the decision for her to share this room with him.

  When she heard her cell phone, she quickly rushed across the room to dig it out of her purse. She answered, not recognizing the caller ID. “Hello?”

  “Where are you? I stopped by your place this morning and a group of workers were there. They said you had moved out to have some work done on your floors.”

  Kara eased into the wingback chair upon hearing her sister’s voice. She hadn’t talked to Marti since the day they’d had breakfast together at the Racetrack Café. Kara was trying hard to find it in her heart to forgive Marti and move on, but each time she tried doing so, she had a funny feeling about something that wouldn’t go away.

  “Why did you stop by my place?” Although she’d never told Marti she wasn’t welcome there anymore, she certainly hadn’t invited her sister over, either.

  “To invite you to lunch and to give you my new cell number.”

  Marti had had her old cell number for years. “Why did you change it?”

  “I started getting weird calls from a man I didn’t know. Not sure how he got my number so I decided to change it.”

  Kara’s concern for her sister kicked in. No matter what, she loved her and didn’t want anything to happen to her. “Did you report it to the police?”

  “No. Hopefully, changing my phone number will do the trick. If not, I’ll go to the cops.” There was a pause and then Marti asked, “So where are you? If you needed a place to stay, you could have crashed here with me.”

  Kara knew there was no way she cou
ld have done that. “Thanks, but I’m living with Virgil for a while.”

  “He’s letting you do that?”

  Kara raised a brow. Why was there surprise in Marti’s voice? As far as Marti and anyone else knew—except for Virgil’s parents and possibly his godbrothers—they had gotten back together.

  “And why wouldn’t he, Marti? Virgil and I are back together again.” The lie was part of their ruse, but she couldn’t help hoping it would eventually be true.

  “No reason. Well, you have my number now. I hope we can do lunch soon.”

  Maybe they should. She didn’t like the thought of Marti having to change her phone number because of harassing calls. “Yes, let’s. I’ll call you next week and we can plan something then.”

  “Thanks, Kara. I’ll await your call.”

  * * *

  Virgil turned from the stove when he heard Kara enter his kitchen, trying not to remember what happened the last time she’d done so. He remembered as if it had been yesterday. He was doing the same thing then that he was doing now, which was fixing breakfast, when he’d turned around. Instead of being fully dressed like she was now, she’d opted to wear just his dress shirt, unbuttoned, with nothing else on underneath. He recalled sweeping her into his arms to carry her back upstairs, but they hadn’t made it that far and had ended up making love on the stairs.

  “Something smells good.”

  He started to tell her that she smelled good. Frying bacon had nothing on her. He’d also liked her scent right before they’d made love. It was always a good indication of when she wanted it as much as he did.

  “I wondered when the smell of bacon would bring you down here. It’s almost lunchtime.”

  “I noticed, and why aren’t you at work?”

  “I decided to play hooky today and hang out with you.”

  Kara liked the sound of that. She tried not to notice how good Virgil looked shirtless, shoeless and with a pair of jeans riding low on his hips. He was one sexy man who knew his way around the kitchen, thanks to two grandmothers who knew the meaning of good food.