Mr. Satisfaction

by Jackson, Brenda

  And he could tell from the way she was looking at him, the way her gaze was traveling over him slowly, taking in every piece of his clothing and the body underneath, that she was intensely stimulated. If Peyton’s claim was true and she hadn’t been with anyone else since their breakup, then she was probably in one hell of an erotic dilemma. Cat was one hell of a highly charged sexual being. There were times he could make her come just from kissing her, and the look she had in her eyes was making his skin heat up. But he knew he had to slow things up a bit, to initiate his own plan and give her something to think about, to mull over … to set right.

  He moved, crossing the room to come stand before her. “You were right, Cat, and although it took me a while, I finally realized that everything you said that night was true. Marriage isn’t for everyone, and it wasn’t fair for me to push you into doing something you weren’t ready for. And from the way things have been going in my life, it seems that I really wasn’t ready for such a move either. I had only thought I wanted to marry you.”

  Cat’s heart suddenly dropped down into her knees, and she had to hold herself up to stop from falling. “You only thought you wanted to marry me?”

  “Yes. I saw what Mel, Colin, and Lisa and Peyton had, and assumed that I wanted it for myself. For us.”

  “But you realized later that you didn’t?” she asked, the words forming a tight knot in her chest. A huge disappointment in her heart.

  “Yes. And I agree with everything you said. Why mess up a good thing with a commitment? You and I were doing okay having an affair, and I should have left well enough alone. But no, I didn’t do that. I had this vision of us getting married, having babies, and living happily ever after. But there’s more to life than falling in love, isn’t there? And you made me see that.”

  “I did?” she asked, not knowing what else to say.

  “Yes,” he said, reaching out and taking her hands in his, stroking a palm with his thumb, sending pleasure radiating through her body. “I wanted to talk to you last week at Colin and Mel’s party, but couldn’t. The timing wasn’t right. But it looks like fate brought us together this weekend, and I want you to know how I feel, how I’ve been feeling. I want us to get back together, Cat, pick up where we left off a year ago.”

  She took a deep breath and pulled her hands away from his and placed them in the pockets of her skirt. Things definitely weren’t going the way she had planned. He was using all the words she had spoken a year ago in anger, in fear of entrusting her life to a committed relationship, to end things between them.

  “By picking up where we left off, you mean you want us to engage in another affair? One that has no promises of ever leading elsewhere?” she asked quietly.

  He nodded, watching her closely. “Yes. That sort of relationship seems to work between us the best. We won’t date others like before, but then we won’t bring up certain words, like love and marriage, ever again. That way neither of us will feel pressured about anything. It will be just like you wanted. No strings attached and no expectations.”

  He had hated lying to her, but those had been the words she had thrown in his face that night, the words that had caused him twelve months of heartache. And it would be up to her to set things right between them, and he hoped to God that she did so before the weekend was over. He didn’t want either of them to leave Sunday until they knew for sure that their future was dead set with each other and that it included love and marriage.

  No strings attached and no expectations. A part of Cat had heard Rory’s words and wanted to cry out that she might have wanted things that way then, but now she wanted love and marriage. A part of her felt angry, frustrated, caught in a trap of her own making. His offer of a loveless relationship was something she would have been glad to agree to last year, but now …

  Suddenly remembering something, she tilted her head and gave him a pointed look. “What about your new girlfriend?”

  “My new girlfriend?”

  “Yes, her name was Shari or something.”

  “We broke up last month.”

  She stared at him. Confused. Lisa must not have known that. “You broke up with your girlfriend a month ago?”

  “Yes.” Moments later he asked, “Are you seeing anyone?”

  A part of her wanted to tell him that although he had sought out someone else after their breakup, she had not. But then she had to remember she was the one who’d decided that she no longer wanted him as part of her life. “No, I’m not seeing anyone.”

  “Then is there any reason we can’t resume what we once had?”

  For the moment Cat kept her expression noncommittal, thinking that yes, there was a reason. She loved him, and she now wanted those things he had wanted back then. But it seemed he had moved on. It would be hard to maintain the type of relationship he wanted, knowing what her feelings were. But then, she had gotten herself in this mess and it was up to her to get herself out of it.

  She could either tell him that she’d been wrong and wanted more than what he was offering, or she could go along with him for now and formulate another plan to make him fall heads over heel in love with her again, make him crave commitment and marriage.

  Hoping she wasn’t making a mistake, she lowered her lashes and then slowly raised them provocatively, until she met his gaze and said, “It depends on what kind of weekend you want.”

  They held each other’s eyes, and then he leaned over close and spoke in a low, sexy tone. His lips were just inches from hers. “How about an unforgettable one?”

  “I think—” She made her decision and wrapped her arms around his neck. Her body was beginning to tingle, her nerve endings were sizzling, and her senses were reeling. “—that it will work.”

  She then pulled his mouth to hers and began kissing him deeply.

  4

  Rory’s entire body immediately responded. And when Cat sucked his tongue into her mouth, he growled deep within his throat and slanted his mouth across hers, suddenly becoming unbearably aroused.

  He felt seared by the kiss she was giving him, and already her fingers were working at the fastening of his jeans, pulling down his zipper. He could taste the urgency of her kiss. She was hungry and hot. He thought of suggesting that she slow down, but when she reached inside his jeans, discovered he wasn’t wearing any underwear, and immediately took hold of his shaft, any such words died on his lips.

  All the while, her mouth continued to devour his.

  “I want you, Rory,” she whispered, breaking off the kiss and taking a step back. He watched as she quickly pulled her blouse over her head and tossed it aside. Just as he’d thought. She wasn’t wearing a bra. And then her hand went to the side zipper of her skirt, and within seconds it slid down her legs into a pool at her feet, leaving her totally and completely naked. His suspicions about the panties had been right also. She wasn’t wearing any.

  His chest began vibrating with uncontrollable desire, and he ripped his own shirt over his head. And since she had already unfastened and unzipped his jeans, it didn’t take much to finish removing them. It seemed that she intended to jump his bones, when she came back into his arms, and holding on tightly to his shoulders, she wrapped her legs around his waist. He sucked in a deep breath when he felt the dampness between her legs brush against his huge erection.

  She claimed his mouth again, and he knew it was his time to take charge and lead them into something that was uninhibited and unadulterated. When it came to making love, there was no limitations, no dos and don’ts. Whenever passion flared this out of control between them, there was no gentleness or politeness. Those were the times when they both liked being aggressive and uncivilized.

  And this would be one of those times they took it to the max.

  “Take me, Rory, hard, fast. Now!”

  He didn’t have to be told twice and quickly headed for the nearest wall and pressed her body against it. Sexual energy crackled between them, and seemingly of their own accord, the legs wrapped around his
waist widened, undeniably ready for him to take possession.

  “Are you sure you want this?” he asked, his tongue darting out to lick the area around her lips.

  “Oh, yes.” Cat reached down and took him into her hand. The moment she touched him there again, heat flared through every point in his body, building a blazing fire within him.

  “Then get ready, because here I come … one of many.”

  “Oh, that sounds good, and this feels good too,” she said, running her hand over the iron-ridged hardness of his erection, the smoothness of its head, stroking him into oblivion.

  Rory was about to lose it, but somehow he managed to ask, “You’re still on the pill?”

  She met his gaze. “Yes.” Her words came out as a whisper. “And I haven’t done this with anyone else since you.”

  His gaze burned into hers when he said, “I haven’t done this with anyone else since you either.”

  He watched the slow lifting of her brow and knew now would be a perfect time to tell her there was never a Shari. There had never been anyone but her. But he knew to do so would mean divulging other things, providing explanations, and even now although he knew she wanted this, she wanted him, he wasn’t sure she wanted a future.

  “You and Shari never made love?” She asked, like the information had left her breathless and dizzy. She of all people knew how sexual he was.

  “No. We never got that far. Besides, I couldn’t imagine going inside any woman’s body other than yours.” And that had been the truth. No other woman could turn him on as quickly and as completely.

  “Oh, Rory. That means … ”

  “Yeah.” He shuddered at the same time she did at the thought. That meant he would definitely be keeping her on her back this weekend, against the wall, on the table, on the floor, in the shower. Whenever. Wherever. They had twelve months to make up for. But somehow during those intimate moments he would break through her mind’s defenses—as well as her heart’s—and make her realize an affair was the last thing the two of them wanted to share. There had to be something more solid and concrete between them.

  Something more permanent.

  When he leaned forward to kiss her, the thought of forever was on his mind, and when he felt her place the tip of him against her wet opening, he entered her in one hard stroke.

  He released a low growl when he felt her muscles clamp tight on his throbbing erection. He sank in deeper, with the intent of going to the hilt. And to accommodate him, she spread her legs wider, seemingly needing him as much as he needed her.

  And this weekend, he intended for her to get as much of him as she could take. He intended to have his Cat purring one minute and scratching heatedly the next. He intended for her to see that in bed or out, they were meant to be together.

  CAT PULLED BACK from Rory’s kiss and met his intense gaze when a torrent of sensations overtook her at being completely filled by him. They were so closely connected that the firm and solid plane of his stomach rested smack up against the flatness of hers. And she could feel the thick width and length of him, throbbing inside her. Her inner muscles gently squeezed him, and she heard another low growl come from deep within his throat. And when he began to move, in and out, she grabbed hold of his shoulders as the lower part of her body picked up the rhythm he was creating.

  When he went in, their bodies would automatically lock tight while he grinded her almost into the wall, forcing her body to arch into him for even deeper penetration. Then he would pull out. Almost. The friction of flesh sliding against flesh made sensation after sensation roll through her. An urgency for more was creeping up her spine, rushing blood through her veins, and making more heat settle in the area where their bodies connected.

  And then he increased the tempo and went faster, harder. Cat wondered if it was possible for a person’s body to shatter into a thousand pieces—because hers was definitely heading there. He was wringing her out wet. She gasped when he went deeper, harder still, and wondered if her body would make a permanent impression on the wall.

  His movements became even more frantic, urgent, his breathing that much more forced. And the dark eyes that dared her to look away filled her to overflowing. She loved him. She would always love him. And she was determined that before they left the cabin, he would know just how much and that an affair would not work for them.

  Then she felt him stiffen, felt the first sign of a release shoot inside her. And the moment she felt it—the hot, sticky substance his body had created—she shuddered, and his name slipped from her lips just moments before he captured them in his.

  He rocked into her, time and time again, when the big O hit both of them, throwing their bodies into long, deep, mind-blowing spasms. Of all the times they’d made love, she’d never known a time that had been so powerful or so intense. She couldn’t hold back the convulsions that began overtaking her as another intense and fiery orgasm ripped through her.

  He hollered out her name, and she felt it again, a thick stream of release shooting inside her, making their connection that much more profound, intimate, and urgent. And when he gripped her hips to get the full effect, she knew if she hadn’t been on the pill, there was no way she wouldn’t be getting pregnant at this very moment.

  When he released another hard groan, his shaft tightened inside her. She held hard to his shoulders and knew round two was about to begin. She also knew that one day she would have his baby … as well as his heart. With this man she would have all the things she’d ever wanted but had been afraid to go after.

  A life with Rory was all that really mattered to her. It was the only thing she wanted.

  5

  Hungry?”

  Cat shifted positions on the black leather sofa, not remembering how and when she’d gotten there, and glanced over at Rory. He was on the floor naked, on his knees, placing more logs in the fireplace. He looked so completely male, so powerfully sexual, that all she could do was stare. Apparently he didn’t know just what a tempting pose he was in. He had one of the finest butts that she’d ever seen.

  When she didn’t answer, he glanced over his shoulder and saw just where her gaze had been. He smiled. “What are you doing?”

  “Watching you.”

  “Is that a good thing or a bad thing?”

  She laughed. “Considering how we’ve spent the first hour, I’d like to think its a good thing.”

  “I’d like to think so too. I miss being with you.”

  “In bed?”

  He was glad she’d asked. “No, sex between us will always be good. But I missed your company, as well. I missed knowing you would be coming by on Friday nights and I would talk you into staying over. I miss taking you to the movies, dinner, and our talks. Hell, I missed spending time with you, period, Cat.”

  He watched a slow smile touch her lips. She liked knowing she’d been missed. “And do you know what the hardest day was of all?” he asked.

  “No, what?”

  “Your birthday. I know how special your birthday is to you, and I regretted not being there to make it even more exceptional.”

  She shifted, trying to get more comfortable on the sofa while remembering that day. Her parents never had a lot of money, but they always made sure each of their six children had birthdays they would remember. There had never been a birthday when she didn’t get something, even if it was something inexpensive like a box of crayons and a coloring book.

  She glanced back over at Rory. “Dad said you came by.” Her parents and Rory had developed a close relationship that didn’t end when the affair had. Although her mother and father never brought it up, she heard Rory had dropped by to check on them periodically.

  “Yes, I decided to leave my gift to you with your father instead of dropping it off at your place.”

  Cat nodded, remembering the beautiful bracelet he’d given her. Considering they had broken up, at the time she’d thought it had been kind of him to get her anything. She had left a message on his answering machine th
anking him. “You could have come over, Rory.”

  “No, I couldn’t.”

  Startled, she blinked. And then she remembered. She had said a lot of things to him that night, and now she vividly recalled telling him not to show his face around her place again. She suddenly felt a thick knot in her throat. It was a wonder he was even speaking to her. She’d been in rare form that night and had gone off on him something terrible.

  “Rory, I—”

  “No, it doesn’t matter,” he said, crawling back over to the sofa. “We’re back together, and that’s all that matters.” He reached out and slowly began caressing her arm. “We want the same things now, so there won’t be a misunderstanding between us ever again. Neither of us want love and commitment. Now, I’m going to ask you again. Are you hungry?”

  Hearing him state that false assumption hurt. “Yes, I’m hungry.”

  He stood, and then he took her hand and pulled her up with him. Neither had bothered to put their clothes back on. “Then I think we’d better get dressed so I can feed you. How do salmon patties and grits sound?”

  “Mouthwatering.”

  “Like this?”

  He pulled her closer to him, and the mouth that settled over hers was firm, and the taste and scent of him were renewing her senses. Cat practically melted against him, and she felt herself moaning deep in her throat. When he raised his head, the eyes looking down at her were dark, heated.

  “Umm, no. Not even close. Mouthwatering salmon patties can’t compete with your kiss,” she said honestly. “And I think that’s what I missed the most. Seeing you each day, and knowing that before you left at night you would give me a kiss to make my toes tingle, a kiss that would make it much easier to get through the next day. Then there were our talks, and the time we spent together doing things, like the time you showed me how to landscape my yard. There were so many things I missed not having you around, Rory.”