Make You Mine

by Katy Kaylee

  I’d been prepared to deal with the brusk, sometimes rude behavior of New Yorkers, but the way these ladies were acting wasn’t the New York attitude. No, this was the mean girls clique that never grew up when they left high school.

  My stomach roiled as it occurred to me that I was no better than these women. My revenge plan against Lucas was as obnoxiously adolescent as their pact and bully clique. God, even Charlie had said my idea was juvenile. If she thought my plan was immature, it must be downright infantile.

  Needing to get away to rethink what the hell I was doing, I said, “Now, if you ladies don’t mind, I have work to do.”

  We stood in a standoff for several seconds. Finally, I stepped to the side to walk around her. When I did, I was bumped and felt warm liquid spread on my new silk blouse.

  “Goddammit!” The annoyance I’d been holding burst.

  “Oh God, Torryn, I’m so sorry.” Lucas quickly set the two coffee cups, the contents of which were now on my blouse, on the Stoogettes’ desk. He snapped up tissues from a box and started patting at me.

  I grabbed the tissues and did the job myself, but it was no use. “My blouse is ruined.” I looked up at him. He hadn’t just ruined my blouse. He’d ruined my beautiful memories of my first love by disappearing six years ago. He ruined my ability to believe in love and trust men. He’d ruined me by turning me into a woman who’d plot and carry out a heinous plan to break a heart into so many bits it wouldn’t ever heal. That wasn’t me.

  “Excuse me.” I pushed my way from him and hurried to my office. I tossed the tissues aside. They wouldn’t make any difference anyhow. I went behind my desk and stared out the window, as I fought to pull my emotions and my breath back under control. I was nearly hyperventilating in shame.

  “Torryn.”

  I swung around at his voice.

  “It’s okay, Lucas.” I hoped he’d leave me alone if I alleviated his guilt over my shirt. I couldn’t face him.

  “I’m sorry about your shirt. Let me make it up to you.”

  Annoyance flared again. “You can’t fix everything with sex, Lucas.”

  His eyes flashed with surprise. “That’s not what I meant.”

  I took a breath. I wasn’t going to be that woman. The one that appeared go hysterical over spilled coffee on an expensive blouse.

  “I’m sorry. I’ve just had a really bad morning.”

  I’d set out to hurt Lucas, and with those words, I succeeded. The pain and then anger on his face was as clear as the coffee stain on my shirt.

  “Bad morning.” He repeated my words. He stared at me for a moment like he didn’t know me. Then he looked down for a few breaths. When his gaze returned, his eyes were flat and lifeless. I knew that look because it was one I used when I erected walls to keep people away. “I’m sorry, Torryn. I’ll leave. Just remember, you were the one begging me to fuck you this morning.” He turned and started toward my office door.

  I was stunned at first because he was usually the one to diffuse a situation, but this time, he’d given up. But worse still was that I’d hurt him. It was my intention to do that, and yet, in a matter of minutes, I realized just how wrong it was and how quickly it could backfire. My plan was contingent on his falling in love while I stayed indifferent. But I wasn’t indifferent. And as he made his way out the door, it was clear he wasn’t in love. I’d just orchestrated my own heartbreak. Good going, Torryn.

  I rushed around my desk completely aware of the irony of my situation. “Lucas! Please, let me explain.” Guilt was a bitch and it was about to bring me groveling to my knees. I reached out and grabbed his arm to stop him. “I didn’t mean when we were together.”

  He stopped and looked at me with those flat unreadable eyes.

  “Being with you was wonderful. I didn’t want it to end.”

  “Could have fooled me the way you ran out of my apartment. You couldn’t get away fast enough.”

  That was true but not in the way he was thinking. “Lucas, I’m overwhelmed.” While unusual for me, it wasn’t far from the truth. “I’m in a new city, the second day on a new job, and seeing you…after all this time…” I released a long breath.

  His eyes softened and then closed. When he opened them, they looked apologetic. “You’re right, I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking of all the changes for you.”

  Oh, thank God. “I’m still learning to move at the city’s pace and how people act—”

  “Are people not treating you well?” He glanced out the door toward the Stoogettes. “I’ve heard rumors that the admin help staff can be difficult.”

  I shook my head. I could deal with those numbnuts. “It’s not any one thing. Just a convergence of it all at once.”

  He nodded. “It is too fast…you and me I mean.” His facial expression was apprehensive as if he was afraid of my answer. “I don’t want to be a part of making you feel overwhelmed.”

  There was a part of me that felt we fell together too fast. If I hadn’t been hell-bent on hurting him, would I have slept with him? Maybe. Probably. Still, based on the crazy emotions I was feeling now, it was clear, I was more likely to get hurt than him. The safest course of action would be to retreat. To move into a colleague relationship, maybe a friendship, but no more than that.

  “I just need a little time to settle in and adjust.”

  He nodded and stepped back slightly. Without realizing it, I stepped toward him. So much for keeping my distance. “I could use some support.”

  His blue eyes glittered. “I can help you Torryn. I want to help.” He looked down briefly and then up at me again. “I can’t stop thinking about you. But I understand there’s a lot going on and now that you’re here, we’ve got time. We can start by you letting me take you to get a new blouse.”

  I’d nearly forgotten about my coffee soaked shirt. “That’s okay. Accidents happen.”

  He smirked. “I may be a computer nerd, but I’ve been in New York long enough to know that this shirt I ruined is expensive. Please let me replace it.”

  I smiled as I saw the Lucas I’d loved back in Natchitoches. “Well, if you insist.”

  “Good. Get your things.”

  “What, now?”

  “Yes now. You can’t work in that. And while I’d be happy to give you the shirt off my back, it would probably make the other women in the office jealous.” He leaned toward me with a cocky grin. “They think I’m a catch.”

  If only he knew. “Really?” I studied him. “Are you sure?”

  He quirked a brow. “You doubt my male magnetism?”

  My body heated as the memory of his male magnetism flashed in my mind. “No. But,” I started as I got our discussion back on track. “It’s my second day at the job. I can’t just leave.”

  “Oliver will understand. In fact, he’ll probably insist on paying to make up for you having to suffer such a mishap on the job.” He reached out his hand and rubbed my arm. “Really, Torryn. It will be okay. The first week is always about settling in anyway. You won’t be expected to do any real work until next week.”

  “I’m not sure I believe you. At least about the settling in and real work. But, it would be nice to work in a clean shirt.”

  “Then it’s settled. Let’s go.

  Chapter 14

  Lucas

  I sat in one of the wingback chairs of the dressing room waiting area sipping a complimentary glass of white wine while Torryn tried on clothes. She’d already showed off a couple of blouse options, but I didn’t really notice them. How could I when I couldn’t take my eyes off her?

  I felt like I was on the cusp of something, but a little uneasy about whether it was something good or bad. First, she was distant and when she said she’d had a bad morning, it felt it like a punch in the gut. I hadn’t realized how far and fast I’d fallen for her again until her words crushed my heart like a bug. Or maybe I’d never stopped loving her. I’d known she was always going to have a special place in my heart, but I hadn’t realized just how deep and i
ntense my feelings still were.

  Now, I was cautiously hopeful. She appeared sincere in her explanation of why she seemed aloof. She’d never been one to get overwhelmed, but that didn’t mean it didn’t happen. The truth was, being in a new town, especially a place like New York, as well as starting a new job, and, I suppose, seeing me again, could be a lot. I decided to give her the benefit of the doubt. After all, my mom and Oliver both said that we weren’t eighteen anymore. We’d both changed. Perhaps this was how she’d changed.

  “What do you think of this?”

  I looked up to see Torryn, tearing my gaze away from her beautiful eyes to notice the outfit she’d put on. It was a sleek bright red dress. It was fairly plain with a v-neck, tapered waist, and straight cut that stopped just above her knees. But it made my mouth water. The dress let Torryn’s body do all the work, and boy did it. Her breasts were expertly showcased without being bawdy. The accent around the waist showed off the amazing curves of her hips.

  “Turn around.” I made a twirling gesture with my finger.

  She gave me a coy smile but did as I asked, making a slow turn.

  Holy shit. I moved my coat to cover my lap as I was now noticeably hard. I considered rushing her into the dressing room and dealing with my dick. The only thing stopping me was that I was sure getting arrested for indecent exposure would stress her out more, and make no bones about it, what I wanted to do to her was indecent. Maybe even illegal in some states.

  “Will you think I’m a pervert if I mention that you have the finest ass of any woman I’ve ever met.”

  She swayed that luscious ass side to side before turning back to me. “Glad you like it.” She looked down and then back up at me. This time, her expression was a little uneasy.

  “What’s wrong? You don’t like it? Because I have to tell you, you look stunning, Torryn. Amazing.”

  She smiled, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “I love it, but…” she didn’t finish.

  “But what?”

  “It’s a bit more than I can afford right now.”

  She was kidding, right? “I’m paying. I ruined your shirt, remember.”

  “This isn’t a replacement for a shirt.”

  “It is now.” I stood, not caring at the moment that the whole world might see how much I wanted this woman. I put my hands on her arms and gently rubbed, hoping to convince her to let me do this for her. Even as a kid, she was determined to make her own way in the world. Her parents did well financially, but she insisted on paying for everything herself, including college, once she could hold a job. It was admirable, until it was annoying, like now. “Please let me buy this for you. Consider it a gift to me, because seeing you in it is like a present.”

  She smiled brightly.

  “I’d like to unwrap this present later.” I pulled her close so she could feel how much I wanted to take her body right here, right now. It was the first time I’d held her since she’d left this morning and we’d had our argument. I wasn’t sure where we stood and if it was okay for me to touch her intimately or make suggestive comments. Her eyes flashed with heat, letting me know she was interested, but she didn’t settle against me as I would have hoped.

  I released her. “You have to have this dress. Grab your clothes, and I’ll pay for it. Then we can take the blouse to the dry cleaners, just in case that can be salvaged.”

  She hesitated.

  “Torryn, please.”

  She gently bit her lower lip, and once again, my body responded. She looked down at the dress and then at me. “I really do want it.”

  “Perfect. I’ll go pay for it now.” I started to turn to find the lady who’d helped us when we arrived so I could pay for the dress.

  Torryn’s hand caught my arm. “Thank you, Lucas.”

  I smiled at her. “Thank you for letting me do this for you.”

  She nodded and went back to the dressing area to get her clothes. The shop lady folded and put Torryn’s dress suit into a bag, and we left the shop, me the with most beautiful woman in a stunning red dress on my arm.

  I’d ordered a car from my app when I paid for the dress and it was waiting to take us back to the office once we exited the store. Except, I didn’t want to go back to work. I wasn’t done spending time alone with Torryn.

  When we got downtown, I had the car let us off in front of the dry cleaner I used so we could drop off Torryn’s shirt. Although I hated that I ruined it, I was also glad I did, because I couldn’t take my eyes off her in this red dress. Neither could any other man who passed us on the street.

  With the shirt dropped off, there was nothing to keep us from going back to work. Think Lucas. I had to come up with another plan because I wasn’t ready to be apart from her. I looked up the street and saw a billboard for a new movie.

  “Remember when you worked at the movie theater in high school and you’d sneak me in and we’d make out in the back of the theater?”

  She smirked at me. “Yes.”

  “Let’s go to the movies.”

  She rolled her eyes. “I can’t Lucas, I have to work.”

  “No, you don’t.”

  She shook her head in a way that said I was incorrigible. “It’s my second day of a new job, I can’t play hooky.”

  “Yes, you can. I have an in with the boss. I’ll arrange it so that it’s part of your job.” I grinned because yes, indeed, I was incorrigible.

  “There is nothing about my job that involves going to the movies.”

  I shrugged. “So, I’ll find a way. Maybe it’s a part of my work and I need your help.”

  “Lucas.”

  “Torryn.” I waited for her next excuse, but it didn’t come and I realized that maybe she was getting ready to acquiesce. She just needed one more little nudge. “Consider it part of your settling into your life in the city. Oliver wants you to be happy and on your game, and the sooner you settle in, the faster that will happen.”

  She put a hand on her curvy hip and I wished it was my hand. “You’re not going to let this go, are you?”

  I wanted to tell her I wasn’t going to let her go. Ever. But now wasn’t the time or place for that. “Nope. Not this time.”

  She sighed. “After that, we go back to work?”

  “If you want. Or we can just take the day.”

  “So what movie are we going to see?”

  “Let’s go see what’s playing.” I wanted to take her hand, but instead, I held out my arm. I was ridiculously happy when she slipped her arm through mine.

  Fifteen minutes later, we were sitting in a darkened theater waiting for some rom-com to start. We sat in the middle of the nearly empty theater instead of our usual spot in high school, the back corner where no one would see us. I was okay with that. She was still next to me. Even in the dark I could feel her warmth and inhale her sweet scent.

  Ten minutes into the movie, Torryn rested her head on my shoulder like she used to do in high school. I tilted my head and kissed the top of her hair. It smelled like her; a mix of vanilla and citrus.

  “Lucas?” Her soft voice asked.

  “Hmm?” I turned to look into those amazing green eyes.

  “I’m sorry.”

  I frowned. “About what?”

  She inhaled a deep breath. “This morning.”

  There was a strange expression on her face that had me thinking she meant more than that, but I didn’t ask. “It’s okay. I just hope you’re alright.”

  “Yes.” Her eyes turned flirty. “I’m thinking I need to make it up to you though.” Her hand squeezed my thigh and then moved upward. Immediately my dick was ready to come out and play.

  “You’re playing with fire there.” I adjusted myself in the chair so she could have better access to do whatever it was she wanted to do.

  “I like it hot. Don’t you?” Her hand slid over my painfully throbbing cock.

  “Fuck yea.”

  Chapter 15

  Torryn

  I’m a hot mess. This morning it w
as because guilt over my juvenile revenge plot was getting the best of me. Then it was because despite my knowing my heart was safer if I stayed away from Lucas, I just couldn’t seem to resist him. He’s been kind, funny, and sexy, and no girl could stay away from that.

  Even now, he was being a complete gentleman. He didn’t touch me intimately even though his eyes and hardon indicated he’d wanted to at the dress boutique. He sat us in the middle of the theater instead of the back corner, clearly thinking we were going to watch whatever movie was playing.

  But as for me, I was hot and horny, and, God help me, I needed this man. Thankfully, he seemed perfectly happy to let me touch him. He was hard, long and thick under his slacks. My body responded, remembering how it felt when he slid inside me this morning and took me to heaven.

  I slid the zipper down, wanting to touch that hard steel. Maybe I’d even bend over and taste it. I’d never gone down on him before. Not that I didn’t want to in high school. I just wasn’t sure how to do it, and most of the time we were so hot and heavy, he was inside me before much else could happen.

  “Oh yeah, Torryn.” His eyes shut and his head dropped back when my hand finally slipped inside his pants and boxers, wrapped around him, and slowly stroked.

  I was a strong independent kid that grew into a strong independent woman. But with Lucas, I felt a different kind of strong. Feminine and sexually strong. He acted as if my touch was the best thing ever. We’d been apart for so many years, and it would be unreasonable to think he hadn’t been with other women, and so it was hard not to wonder how happy they made him in bed. Did I compare? Was I just as good? Better? Worse?

  I ran my thumb around the base of the rim, loving the long groan he let out. I pushed the thought of other women aside and focused on him, wanting to make it up to him for my trying to hurt him. For succeeding in hurting him.

  I jumped when his hand slid up my thigh, and under my dress. I hadn’t expected he’d touch me back. Not that he wouldn’t want to, but this was for him. My gift to him. I was going to tell him so, but his long finger slid over the wet panel of my panties and all thought fled from my mind. It was my turn to gasp, as his finger slid under the panel and found my hard, swollen clit. He flicked and then pressed and I about came out of my skin.