“Nothing’s up. I’m just not in a partying mood.”
“You’d better be. Mateo’s invited every silver-spooned resident in Trenton. He’s expecting your appearance.”
“I know.” She moved from the seat the moment Gina released her hair. Looking at the slinky black dress she’d purchased for the night did nothing to change her mood. She’d felt a rush of excitement upon seeing it in the store, but now it failed to stir her. Maybe it was the thought that Dylan wouldn’t be there to see her in it.
Why the hell am I even thinking about him, anyway? She handed in her resignation the day after leaving his apartment and she hadn’t seen him since. He hadn’t called, or texted, making it more than obvious that he’d moved on. She tried not to care. Tried to block out the pain. But there was no escaping the depression that latched on to her since that night.
Mateo seemed pleased with her decision to leave the job. “It wasn’t right for you, anyway,” he said. “Maybe it’s time to think about coming to work for me.”
“No, thanks, dad,” she replied. “I’ll make my own way.”
“Why should you? Your old man is ready to clear a path for you, sweetheart.”
“I know. And I’m saying no. I think you’ve done enough ‘clearing’ for me, daddy.” She harbored the same resentment towards Mateo as she did for Dylan. It was his fault as much as Dylan’s that they weren’t together.
“What the hell does that mean?”
“Nothing.” It was no use letting him know how much his interference hurt her. It would change nothing; not his obsession with getting her and Raphael together, and certainly not Dylan’s feelings for her. What’s done is done; I’m moving on.
“What’s happened to you, Carina? I hardly recognize the sulky, defiant girl you’ve become.”
“That’s the problem. I’m not a girl anymore.” She held his gaze, matching his hard expression. “I am a woman.”
She’d stormed away that day, hoping he’d gotten the message that she wanted to live without him breathing down her neck, orchestrating her life.
In a week she had an upcoming interview that she scored on her own and she planned to attend this time. For the past two weeks she kicked herself for letting the last one go. All because she misinterpreted a good fuck for something more. But that was a mistake of the past. She looked forward to kicking the interview’s butt and starting afresh.
“The guests are arriving,” Gina announced, looking through the front window. She rushed to the mirror, checked her curls and rearranged the bust of her gown. Giving the mirror a satisfied smile, she turned to Carina. “I’m heading out. Please, don’t disappoint your father.”
“I won’t.” She raised the dress up as Gina left her bedroom. It was an off-shoulder number designed to fit like a second skin. Heads would turn tonight, she was sure, just not the one she wanted.
God, when will I get over him? Make it soon, please!
She removed her robe and stepped into the dress, wishing the night was already over. All she wanted was to sink under her covers and lose herself to sleep.
***
“You made it.” Mateo reached for her hand as she walked up to him and gave it a generous squeeze.
“Of course, I did. You know I wouldn’t let you down.” She gave him a once-over and a thumbs up. “You look handsome, daddy.”
And he did. At fifty-two, Mateo was in great shape and the tuxedo he wore emphasized his athletic built. His thick, black curls fell into a neat arrangement above his shoulders, giving him a youthful look.
“Thanks, baby girl.” He leaned in to kiss her cheek.
“And this is some party,” she continued, looking around. The tastefully decorated main hall seemed filled with beautiful, elegantly dressed men and women. A small band stood on a makeshift stage near the staircase playing a traditional flamenco number. A pair of aerial dancers defied gravity from silk fabrics hanging from the ceiling. Servers moved through the crowd with trays of champagne and finger food. “You went all out.”
“Only the best is good enough; you know that,” Mateo replied. “Speaking of which, Raphael is somewhere around; you should go find him.”
“You never give up, do you?” she shook her head in wonder. After the disastrous date at the restaurant, she’d gone the extra mile to avoid seeing Raphael. To date, her strategy worked. Why the hell would she seek him out now?
“Why should I? Raphael’s a great catch.”
“No, daddy.” It was time to kill his fantasy. “Raphael’s a womanizing pig who just wants to get up my skirt. You may think he has noble intentions, but he doesn’t.”
Mateo waved to a couple who called his name, the smile not reaching his eyes. “Ca—”
“For heaven’s sake, Mateo, leave her alone,” Gina said. “She’s not a child anymore.”
“But—”
“No buts. She’s able to make her own choices. Give her a chance.”
Mateo blew a breath, but his expression softened. “Fine.”
Let’s see how long this will last, Carina thought. She suspected that his campaign would continue when Gina wasn’t around.
Mateo’s eyes caught something in the distance and a wide smile adorned his face. “Seems as if I made a match,” he said to Gina. “They look great together, don’t they?” Gina gave an uncomfortable smile in response.
Curious, Carina whipped around to look. And wished she hadn’t.
Seeing Dylan on the dance floor with a woman pressed against him and his lips against her ear brought a solid blow. For an instant she remained still, watching as they swayed among the other dancers. Mateo was right; they looked great together, sharing similar blond features, both looking like they’d stepped from the covers of a magazine. The woman was stunning, with a model’s body and legs that did not seem to quit. Carina had a feeling that those legs would embellish Dylan’s back by the end of the night. There was a blatant intimacy that surrounded them, a telltale sign.
Feeling sick to her stomach, Carina reached for a flute of champagne from a passing waiter and emptied it at once.
“Hey, slow down,” Mateo warned.
Carina placed the glass on the table. “Excuse me, daddy, Gina. I need fresh air.” Without waiting for their response, she dashed out. Stepping into the cool night air, she took deep breaths to calm her racing heart. But each inhale felt like a knife through her chest.
She stumbled to the garden and dropped to a seat facing the water fountain. The music wafted from the house, pumping, the jubilant vibe clashing against her sorrow. She did not want to return to the party. No. She couldn’t bear seeing Dylan with that woman.
Just the thought of him touching the slender, blond woman, bringing her to an amazing climax the same way he did her—it drove her insane. She tried to clear the image away, but it was no use.
I need to move on. I need to—
“Carina.”
The low, husky tone made her twist in the seat, then she shot to her feet to face him.
“Go away.”
Dylan took several steps towards her. She raised her hands. “Don’t come any closer.”
“You look... amazing.” There was a tenderness in his gaze, mixed with a look of longing. “That dress…”
She tried to ignore the searing ache that settled between her thighs. “I said, go away.”
He closed the distance with a desperate look. “I’ve tried—still trying, but it seems impossible. You’re under my skin.”
Carina gripped the arm of the seat so tight her knuckles hurt. “Don’t do this to me, Dylan. Just… don’t.” She reversed, then took off in the opposite direction, running as fast as her heels could carry her, wanting to put as great a distance between them as possible. Her scuttle took her across the courtyard and down the pathway that led to the guest house. She could hear his heavy footsteps behind her and she quickened her pace, but tripped on the downward slope that led to her front door. He was on her within a second, catching her as she went down.
Luckily, the twist on her ankle wasn’t so bad.
She straightened and shrugged from his hold. “I’m fine, thanks.”
“Can we talk, please?”
“Oh, that’s an excellent idea, isn’t it?” she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “My father’s just across the way; aren’t you scared he’ll find us together?”
Dylan threw a backwards glance at the guest house. “I just need a minute.”
“To do what? Break my heart again?” She stepped off while fanning him away. “Just leave me alone. Go back to your date.”
“She’s not my date. We just met.”
“Yeah, whatever. I’m sure you and your blond bombshell have plans for tonight, so why don’t you go see about that?”
He gave her an endearing smile and shook his head. “You’re even cuter when you’re jealous.”
“Oh, please. I’m so not.” Pulling the front door, she stepped inside, but he was right behind, slipping in before she closed the door.
“Get out!” She directed every ounce of her fury at him via her expression. It did not seem to faze him. He remained where he was, as calm as she was angry.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “You’re upset, and it’s justified. But I never meant to hurt you. I need you to understand why we had to end things.”
“I already know, Dylan. You’re a coward. You don’t have the balls to stand up to my father. But don’t worry; I’ll find the right man who will.”
Dylan’s expression darkened at her last comment. He closed the gap between them and said, “if you think there’s a man alive who has enough balls to cross your father, then I hope you find him. But I’m not a coward; I want to stay alive, that’s all.” He shook his head with a scoff then turned to leave.
“Coward.”
He paused with his back to her. His shoulders raised as he inhaled deeply.
“You have no guts. No—”
He whipped around to face her and the fire in his eyes cut her words short. Before she could process anything else, he approached with a force that almost knocked her off her feet.
The feel of his lips was like having a cold glass of lemonade on a hot day. Refreshing, satisfying, needed. Oh, how she missed this, the sweet taste of his mouth. The alcohol he’d drunk earlier added to the mix, giving her a heady feeling. She looped her arms around his neck and kissed him back, pulling him further in with hard strokes of her tongue, communicating with each lash that she did not want him to stop.
The kiss seemed to last forever. When they came up for air, he wore a wild, hungry look she’d never seen before. She stared at him, waiting for his next move, praying it was the one she wanted.
A soft growl escaped him and he reached for her again. She gasped as he pressed her to him, her breasts crushing against his chest. In one swift movement he unzipped her dress and it fell in a heap at her feet.
The desire in his eyes was a glorious thing to see. And it was all for her. He wanted her. The realization gave her a blast of confidence. She stepped from the dress, reaching behind to unclasp the strapless bra, releasing it as slowly as she could. Her eyes never left him as she removed her panties and released them in the same fashion. His arousal was obvious, not just from the look in his eyes but the growing bulge in his pants. She licked her lips. Her sex tightened in response.
But Dylan made no move. He stared, flexing his fists, and Carina sensed his hesitation. A flare of panic erupted. She was horny as hell and he was here, with a perfect cock that could give her the desired release. There would be no rest tonight if he walked away.
She moved towards him, counting her luck when he did not back away. “I’m giving myself to you, Dylan,” she said. “Just my body. No strings. After tonight, we’ll pretend this never happened.” The lie tore her inside. There was no way she would forget tonight—or any other memory she made with him. Her feelings for him made it impossible to keep her heart from the mix.
But I’ll lie through my teeth, if that’s what it takes to have him inside me.
“No strings?” he repeated.
She ignored the ache in her chest. “None.”
The reward for her lie was worth it. With the soft carpet beneath her, his hot, skillful lips explored every inch of her body, kissing, licking, sucking her to madness. His fingers joined in, adding to her glorious torture, bringing her to an orgasm over and over. But still it wasn’t enough. She needed that connection with his hard, thick length.
As his fingers left her sex, she rose, pushing him to the side.
“Wha—”
“My turn.” She chuckled at his surprised look and pushed him again. He fell on his back and she moved over to straddle him. His nostrils flared as his chest bounced, the anticipation clear as day. A powerful feeling overcome her as she raised above him and positioned her entrance at the tip of his cock. She had control. And by god, she would use it. By the end of tonight, Dylan would see the need to fight for her.
She bore down, gasping as he filled her. Again, she marveled at how well they fit; how could Dylan not see—feel it?
“Oh, fuck,” he said with a sigh, clutching her hips.
Maybe he did. She hoped to god he did.
She braced her arms on either side and spread her thighs, flicking her waist as she raised up. Her sex released his cock on the way up and clutched it in a tight hold on the way down. Dylan hissed, and as she repeated the movement with more urgency, his moans increased.
“God, Carina.” He began to move beneath her. “You feel so fucking good…” He raised his knees and knifed upwards, cutting through her like a hot knife through butter. Carina whimpered as he drilled within her, giving her a taste of heaven with each stroke.
It was too much, and not enough. She needed more. More…
Dylan’s breathing hitched as he fucked her, his eyes like blazing balls in their sockets. She could not look away, did not want to. She wanted him to look at her this way forever.
Was it too much to ask?
His grip on her waist tightened and his hips jerked as his cock rolled through her. With a loud grunt he shuddered, and the vulnerability in his gaze aroused her even more. Coupled with his deliberate strokes, it sent her over the edge once more. It was stronger than ever before, more intense, more fulfilling.
Yes, this was it, what she’d been craving all night; an immense relief to knock her off her feet. Dylan was the only man who could give her what she wanted—the only man she wanted to give herself to.
She curled to him with a satisfied sigh, loving the feel of his sweat-ridden body beneath her. His fingers stroked her back, making soft lines upwards, then down again. She could hear his heart thudding against her breast, the sound comforting, almost like a lullaby.
I love you, Dylan, she said with a soft whisper, low enough that he could not hear. It wasn’t the time to declare her feelings for him but she needed to release it somehow.
But someday…
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
“Hey, Emily, give me a head count, please.”
“One patient remaining, Dr. Cole. Mrs. Hernandez.”
“Just her?”
“Yes. It’s almost seven, doctor.”
Dylan glanced at the clock, which he hadn’t done in hours. Sure enough, the work day had ended almost two hours ago. As usual, his office remained open long afterwards to accommodate additional clients.
“Ok. Send her in, please.” Another hour tops would take him home to bed.
Alone. Where the memories of Carina still remained. He hadn’t spoken to her since the night they made love on her living room carpet two months ago. It had taken every ounce of his willpower not to call her, but it was the right thing to do. She’d given him a pass that night, a no-strings encounter. The best thing to do was take it and move on.
But that night… damn, it made it hard for him to even think about taking the next step. It still aroused him each time it crossed his mind; Carina’s long mane framing the passion in her eyes as she fucked him like
never before, the tightness of her sex, her sweet perfume, the soft purrs that erupted from her—
“Dr. Cole?”
Dylan looked up as Mrs. Hernandez entered the room with an uncertain smile. He rose from his chair and gestured for her to sit. “I’m sorry, my mind took a leave of absence.”
“I understand,” she replied. “It’s been a long day.”
He gave her a grateful smile and opened her file as his cell phone rang. Seeing Carina’s name on the screen sent his heart rate in overdrive. He pressed the silencer and tucked the phone in his top drawer. “Sorry about that,” he told Mrs. Hernandez. “Now, about your results…”
***
Dylan watched as Mrs. Hernandez drew the door close upon exit. The minute it snapped shut, he reached into the drawer for the cell phone. Staring at her number, he debated whether or not to call. To get involved with Carina in any way would spell disaster. He hadn’t gotten a visit from Mateo since his subliminal threat and he wanted to keep it that way. Still, he wanted to know why she called.
He recalled hearing her whispered words that night; I love you, Dylan. It shook his core, stealing his breath for a moment. He did not know what to say, or do. Before then, he’d never probed his feelings for Carina for he did not want to see how deep they went. What’s the use? he thought. He couldn’t have her, anyway.
His mind decided. No use returning her call. He had to keep his distance. The decision did nothing to ease his longing for her, though.
It was time to return to the dating scene. Over two months had passed since he’d been out with another woman. Not that he hadn’t gotten many offers, but none of them did it for him. None brought the spark he’d found with Carina.
Sadly, he would have to find and settle for the next best thing.
Doctor Love: A Medical Romance Series (Medical Heart Throb Series) Page 12