I stopped before her and took in the vision of her. Dressed in a black leather mini skirt that showed off her bronze legs and a little peach camisole top that hugged her waist, she looked like she’d just stepped out of a dream. Her hair flowing down her shoulders in long dark graceful waves added to that sultry look she presented.
What made my heart soar was the step she took toward me in her heels. One step to me instead of away, and that unleashed that desire in its entirety.
I reached out and touched her cheek, loving the feel of satin skin beneath my fingertips and the vulnerability that flashed in her eyes.
My body acted off its own free will when I lowered my lips to hers and kissed her.
Chapter 11
Mia
* * *
‘Live out your hopes and fantasies.’-Madam Phoebe.
It was the kind of kiss you never wanted to stop. The kind you never said good night to.
Hot, raw, and primal.
Just like him. Exactly like him, and I wanted it all.
Yes, it was possible I’d lost my mind.
Could I blame carpe diem for this newest impulsive act of mine?
I’d worked from home again today only because I spent last night thinking about him. More so when I got a text from Allen letting me know I’d love the Sydney sky. Then it me that he was serious about me.
I could tell. I knew it from the way he’d sounded on our last date, and from the way he’d looked. I could tell from the tone of the text.
He wanted me to text back saying I’d join him or with something to show I’d planned to.
All I could do was text back saying I was sure I would and that he should have a good time. Just flat like that. Flat because I had another man on my mind. I planned to message in a few days and let him know I wouldn’t be going to see him and that I was dating again.
It was only fair and respectful since the man I had on my mind had taken up residence there and wouldn’t be leaving.
Right now he was soul kissing me at the balcony of the sports bar. A place I’d only ever been to one time only because of the nature of the place.
Right now, I didn’t care. I savored the kiss and the way Eric’s hands explored my face.
When his kiss turned hungry, I could have melted. Then my body remembered it all. Us together up against the wall of the locker room at the stadium.
I remembered, and I knew we couldn’t stay here much longer.
He pulled away from me, leaving my lips burning with the fire from the kiss, and the sinful look in his eyes told me he felt the same way I did. He didn’t need to speak. I’d seen that look one time only, and that was last year just before he’d dragged me into the locker room at the stadium. It was a look so scandalous it made my entire body blush.
It was the same look now, except there was a little more to it that fanned the flames of desire within me.
I knew exactly what he meant to do when he took hold of my hand, and I let him. He took my hand and led me through the door that verged on to the second floor. We took a few stairs and headed into the VIP section. It was just above the floor we’d been on. All we could hear in here was the loud club mix. Eric continued with me into a room and released my hand only to lock the door.
I walked further inside admiring the floor. Part of it was made of glass, allowing you to see the activity below; the other part where we stood was hard concrete that sounded against my heels. Down below, people mingled at the bar and played pool. Completely oblivious to the roil of high sexual emotion that consumed this room above them.
Warm fingers fluttered over my hands and pulled my attention back to the object of my desire. I turned and looked at him, aware that this whole time, we hadn’t actually said anything. He took hold of my face, cupping it, then lowered to resume the kiss. The kiss that had sent me here tonight, like bait enticing me to what I knew only he could give.
His lips, hard and searching, seared over mine, burning me up from the inside out, setting my soul on fire.
It beckoned me to seize the moment.
And I would. I had.
I did from the moment I got dressed this evening and came here looking for him.
I would do it now too, and I’d give in to the call of temptation. Allowing it to take me wherever it wanted. I’d never been able to resist temptation, and definitely not the temptation of this man.
Once again, the kiss turned hungry, and, having the privacy he needed, he moved with me to the wall. I smoothed my hands up to his jaw, holding him to me like I needed him to live. It was something that consumed me, and my body acted beyond my control when I tugged on his shirt, moving from the hem and up.
He pulled on my top too, and his hot fingers fluttered over my bare skin as it came out of my skirt. The slight touch drove me insane. Wild and insane with a mad combo of want and need. I needed him and wanted him.
When I pulled on his shirt again, the buttons at the top popped off. He tore his lips away from mine briefly just to rip the shirt off, sending the other buttons flying then bouncing on the floor.
In one swift move he reached for the edge of my top and pulled the whole thing up over my head, then undid the little butterfly clasp of my bra, allowing my breasts to spill out.
He captured my lips again, claiming my mouth while he cupped the weight of my breasts. The wild heat in his hands and the raw need he touched me with hardened my nipples instantly.
I would have loved for him to touch me like that everywhere, but I knew there was nothing that was going to be slow about us tonight. And definitely not when he shoved my skirt up my hips and tore off my panties.
That was when all reality faded into the ether, shutting out the real world.
He moved back, pulled a condom from his back pocket, then undid his belt buckle. I just about managed to savor the nanoseconds he took to unleash the massive length of his cock and sheath himself with the condom. I was already ready for him in every sense of the word. Ready for him to pick me up so I could wrap my legs around him and ready for him.
Wet and ready for him when he settled me down onto his cock and plunged deep inside my pussy, making me gasp and arch my back into the hard wall of his chest.
This was it. What I’d been missing. The part of him that had captured me so long ago and held me in its command with such a force that I couldn’t forget him.
This was exactly how it happened last time. The same fire burned me.
My legs tightened around his waist, heels digging into his back as he started to move with me. Inching deeper until I’d completely adjusted to take his width, then pumping slow, then fast and faster. Then even faster, sending a wave of raw passion sweeping through us.
Passion, pure, undiluted, and erotic, washed over me, and I came in an instant crying out his name as the greedy orgasm sent me over the edge. Right over the edge of control I’d tried to cling to.
There were no exceptions tonight. Not in the moment of the mad lock of wildness we shared.
His pumps sped up even more, and he pushed me right up into the wall, angling my body so he could fuck me harder. Hard, rough strokes shook my body, building the climax again, taking me higher and higher. So high I couldn’t see anything.
Then time stilled, keeping us there as we both got lost in the rhythm of what I had to admit was a long time coming. All the chasing and me fleeing. Deep down I knew it was because I knew what he could give me. I knew that no matter who I’d been with, before him or after him, nobody and nothing would come close to this.
Nothing came close to him. It was a thing I had to accept and the fool I was thought I could try to forget.
The buildup of another wave rippled through me, tightening my walls around his cock as he pistoned harder, pounding into me. I could feel it and feel it grip him too. We both lost control this time and came in mutual surrender.
The ultimate pleasure cascaded over the two of us in such a force that I had to tighten my hold on him, encircling my arms around his ne
ck.
I was breathing so hard and my heart was drumming so fast I thought it was going to leap out of my chest. At first, my thoughts were scrambled along with my brain, then, as my breathing stilled, so did my thoughts.
Everything came back telling me I did it again.
I did the same thing all over again. With the same man. Same mistake. Or was it?
Neither time was; neither time felt like it was a mistake.
It all felt like it was the same time and eighteen months hadn’t passed. But… then this was the part where he’d put me down and leave me.
Would the same thing happen again?
Just like the first time we’d talked, he’d reached the real me and got me to this point where he’d taken what he wanted from me, and I gave it willingly like a puppet on a string.
This occurrence was like that, except I had that excuse which I understood. But …what if he really did just set me down and put me aside?
As if in answer to my thought his hand crept up my back and held me closer to him. Held me with that reassurance that spoke to mind, telling me without words that he wanted. That this time would be different. That he wanted me and he wouldn’t put me aside and make me feel anything other than the magical connection we’d shared.
It coursed through me still singing through my veins, seeping warmth into me. Still breathing hard, I lifted my head, just so I could look at him.
Those eyes of his bore into mine. “Come home with me,” he said in a raspy voice. Those were the first words he’d spoken all night.
I widened my eyes and stared back into his. “Home?”
“Yes… home. It’s where I should have taken you that first time.” A little smile tugged at the corners of his lips.
I ran my hands across his cheek, over his beard, loving the flicker of adventure that raced through me.
Home with him.
“Yes.” I nodded, definitely agreeing. I couldn’t think of a better idea.
Chapter 12
Eric
* * *
18 Months ago…
Another date night that ended with me kissing her on her porch.
Tonight was the third time we’d been out this week.
Another date, another night of her delicious lips on mine, and I wanted her bad.
Wanted her and had to resist because I knew I’d want more than just a night of her in my bed, or her bed.
I pulled away from her lips, and she pouted.
“Why?” she asked, pretending to be annoyed.
“One more kiss, and you’ll end up naked right here against the wall.”
She got a saucy look on her face that could have definitely made me take her right now.
“What if I want to be naked up against the wall,” she cooed.
I took hold of her tiny waist and granted the request, moving with her to the wall. A wild erotic flame flickered in those green eyes of hers as I did so and pinned her to the wall. It was one of anticipation.
Fuck, how I wished I could truly have her up against this wall and make her mine. I had a plan though. A slow-as-hell plan but one I had in motion.
Yes, she would be mine, but not tonight. I understood her and knew I had to work a little harder to break down that wall of defense completely. All I had done so far was crack the surface. I wanted in though. I wanted inside big time.
I wanted the goddess to give herself to me. No holding back. None of this jock and athlete shit she’d droned on about. I wanted her, not the face she presented to the world. To get that I had to play slow.
“This is the preview of us in the very near future,” I informed her.
“Why isn’t it us tonight? You do realize I sound crazy to myself right now and I’m practically handing myself over to you, the jock.”
“That’s why. You expect me to be a jock and take you.”
“Maybe I do. Didn’t you say something about great sex?”
“I want more than that.”
My answer surprised her, and she was more surprised when I stepped away.
“What more could you want?”
I smirked and intensified my gaze on her. “You.”
I watched the look of realization fill her beautiful face. I was glad she understood me.
“Me?”
“I want you, no principles, no philosophies, no carpe diem, no Madam Phoebe. I just want you.” I took a step back and smiled at her surprise.
“Do I get you too?”
“You always had me, princess.” I raised my palms and shrugged. “Date night Friday. Meet me at the stadium. We’re going to the little Italian place you lied about not liking.”
She laughed. “Okay, Eric. I don’t know what the hell kind of magic you worked on me, but here I am planning to go out with you again, and wondering why I won’t see you tomorrow.”
“Training. I want to make sure my attention is on you.” Gilly and Coach were like two peas in a pod. They were serious about this pre-training schedule, and I was too. Didn’t mean I couldn’t indulge in my new excitement.
“Okay. Friday.”
I gave her one last smile and left her. It was possibly the earliest we’d said good night in the last few days. In the sense that it had just gone midnight.
It was late, and I wished I could head home and think of her, but I had one last important thing I had to do before the day really did end. My dad wanted me to take a look at his car. The man could call any mechanic he wanted in this world, but yet he claimed to only trust me when it came to cars. The car that needed fixing was one of his Ferraris. He called it his everyday car. Apparently, the windshield wipers were playing up. It sounded like a fuse had gone somewhere.
All I’d do tonight was have a look and confirm it was that. Tomorrow, I’d sort out the rest.
That was what I planned to do until I saw Uncle Rory’s car parked up on the drive. That instantly got my attention because I couldn’t imagine why he’d be at my parents’ house at this hour.
Neither my mom nor my dad got on with him. It was odd, and I hated it because Rory was my idol. He was exactly like me to the T, and truth be told, I always said that growing up, I would have preferred to live with him than with my parents.
My attention also spiked because three months ago I’d overheard him arguing with Mom. I didn’t know what it was about because I’d only caught the end part of the argument, but he’d walked out. I’d just arrived and entered through the back garden because I had a doggie treat for Ben. I’d actually been playing fetch in the back with him for about half an hour before I walked inside and heard them arguing in the sitting room.
Neither saw me. Dad hadn’t been in.
I got out of my truck and headed inside the house. When I was a kid, I used to love the size of my parents’ house. It was great to run around in, then as I got older it became great to sneak girls in and out without anyone knowing any different, and best of all, it was great for snooping around.
It still was.
I went in, and raised voices greeted me. They were in the sitting room again, and I was guessing from the loudness in their voices that Dad wasn’t in.
I wasn’t stupid. There were only so many late-night business meetings a guy could have, and right now, I happened to know that Dad was screwing around with a woman half his age. I’d heard about it on the grapevine.
I found my usual hiding spot through the arch in the living room that led into the sitting room. There was a bookcase there that gave me cover between the shadows.
This felt a lot like me at sixteen all over again, spying on Dad making his shady deals or arranging to hook up with some woman. It was also unfortunately how I’d found out he was a cheater. I saw him kissing the maid right in here. I, however, stopped watching when he ordered her to take her clothes off.
I was fifteen years old, and I actually confronted him about it. All he did was laugh it off, then it bothered me to no end knowing he continued to do the same old thing and knew that I knew he was an asshole
.
“You have to stop this,” Mom snarled at Rory, pulling me from my thoughts. “Just drop it, Rory, drop it now.”
“Like fuck I will,” Rory snarled. He brought a hand to his head and looked like he was going to tear his hair out. “This is unfair. How could you do this to me? How could you have done this to me?” he demanded.
I couldn’t imagine what the fuck had gotten him so worked up and angry with her. What could Mom have done to him?
“Rory, calm yourself.” A tear ran down her cheek. “Please calm down and drop this.”
“Drop this? Are you crazy? Are you crazy? Eric isn’t Jack’s son.”
Numbness filled me in an instant with an empowering heaviness that gripped on my soul.
My ears …
My ears started to buzz then a ringing sound came from deep, deep within. Ringing in tandem with the pounding of my heart which was beating a hundred miles per hour.
What the fuck did he just say?
What. Did. He. Say?
My dad… wasn’t my father.
“Please, don’t tell him.” Mom pleaded. “It would ruin me. He’d want a divorce.” She looked so distressed. So distressed she was shaking.
I didn’t care though because I was too overwhelmed by what Rory had said to think about her.
“Selfish bitch. Always thinking of yourself. Always.” Rory stormed out the door, and Mom crumbled. She started crying and walked in the opposite direction toward the kitchen.
She was still shaking, but so was I.
I was shaking and couldn’t stop. I left the house like that, and the tremor made my hands quiver as I drove home.
The next day, after a sleepless night, I decided to go to Rory’s. I couldn’t keep the revelation to myself. No way. If he knew that Dad wasn’t my father, then he must have known who was.
I couldn’t speak to Mom. The fact of the matter was this, I would defend her on the regular against anyone who spoke to her badly, but truth was truth. Mom was selfish, and she loved money. She loved the lifestyle Dad gave her, and the image. I knew he cheated, but she’d always known.
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