He gaped at Dylan. Come to think of it, he didn't see Kris' reaction to Blake's gesture. He was in too much of a hurry to leave the vicinity.
"She chose to go to dinner and a party with Blake instead of going with me to Mum's engagement party," he continued, although a feeling of dread started to settle in his stomach.
"Blake called her for a meeting. That was why she cancelled on you. She didn't tell you the real reason because she wanted to surprise you if the news was good. As for the dinner and the party, if you'd let her explain, you'll see it was all about work. It wasn't a date." Dylan sighed. "Trey, I can understand why reacted like you did. I understand you want to avoid being hurt again. The irony is, by shutting Kris out of your life, you're hurting anyway. Not only that, you hurt her, too. Badly."
Trey buried his face in his hands, tears close to the surface.
Kris saw him get into a cab with Connie…a woman who had her arms around him…a woman Kris thought he'd slept with on the same day he refused to see her. Oh, God.
And then she gave up her dream job.
"How could she throw away the role Blake gave her?" he asked in anguish. "She was so excited about that job. She really, really wanted it."
Even though it was like a knife in his heart, he truly wanted that stint for Kris. It would do wonders for her career.
"Because of you, you dummy," Dylan said gently.
Trey squeezed his eyes shut. He couldn't let Kris give up her future just like that. He wouldn't be able to sleep at night knowing she was still slaving in her office job when she could be getting paid to teach dance and interact with high-profile people.
He sat up straight and looked beseechingly at his best friends. "Guys, I'm afraid I won't be able to do any work today. I have to find a way to get Kris her dream job back. But, please, let me deal with this alone. Don't tell her anything until I've spoken to her."
He didn't want to disappoint her any further if he couldn't pull it off.
CHAPTER TWENTY
Kris plastered a smile on her face as she helped Sam and Ari prepare food in the kitchen for their mini-party while Dylan and Adam looked after barbecuing some meat and sausages outside. She couldn't believe her Sydney break was almost over, and by tomorrow, she'd be back in Melbourne.
It was funny. Just a few days ago, she was desperate for a way to stay there a while longer. Now she couldn't wait to leave. She should have listened to Sam and Ari when they said it was a bad idea to get involved with Trey. God, she missed him so damned much. But at the same time, she didn't want to see him ever again for hurting her so badly.
Not only did he not trust her, not only did he not give her a chance to explain, but he quickly went back to his playboy ways as if they never happened.
She did try to understand him, knowing of his issues with his mother. But if his reaction to every fight or misunderstanding was to shut her out and have sex with some random woman, then she simply couldn't be with him.
That fact hurt like hell.
The doorbell rang and she frowned. As far as she knew, they weren't expecting anyone else.
She went to answer the door and froze as she stared at the man who rang the bell.
"What are you doing here?" she hissed.
"I want to talk to you," Trey said softly.
She gaped at him—she couldn't help herself—and noticed the dark bags under his eyes and the sadness in their depths. Sadness mixed with…fear?
It tugged at her heartstrings, but she refused to succumb. He'd slept with another woman, damn it!
"What do you want to talk about?" she asked coldly.
"Us."
"There is no 'us', Trey."
Trey swallowed visibly and rapidly blinked, as if he was trying to maintain composure.
"I didn't sleep with that woman," he whispered, his eyes pleading.
"Oh? So by that I presume you mean you didn't stay overnight? So what did you do then? Screwed her for a couple of hours then left before midnight?"
He winced. "No! I did get in the taxi with her. I did go to her place, but her front porch was as far as I went. I did plan to have sex with her. But I couldn't, Kris. I felt like I was cheating on you, and I couldn't go through with it."
Her mind was in a whirl. "Why did you plan to sleep with her in the first place?"
"I was hurting and I wanted to forget. I thought you wanted Blake instead of me."
"How could you think that after the time we spent together? Did you think that was all a lie?" she half-shouted.
"Well, Blake owns a dance studio, he introduces you to celebrities—"
"You thought I'd cast you aside for that?"
"I thought you already had when—"
"Shut up. Just shut up," she said angrily. "You didn't even bother to talk to me, Trey. You don't trust me. And you know what the worst part is?" Her eyes flooded and she bit her lip to stop it from trembling. "The worst part is you were willing to just walk away without a fight."
She looked down as tears cascaded down her cheeks. Impatiently, she brushed them away.
"I'm sorry, baby. I just didn't know how to handle—"
"Please, Trey. I don't want to talk about it. I'm leaving tomorrow and I don't see how we could possibly salvage this relationship after everything that happened. If you don't mind, I'd like you to leave. The guys were so good at organising this day for Sam and me. I don't want to ruin it for them."
"Kris," Trey whispered in a plea.
"Please, Trey. I can't deal with this now."
"Now? Okay. I'll come back later."
She smiled sadly. "I'll be gone, Trey."
*******
Kris looked around as she and Sam entered their apartment. She waited for the feeling of homecoming that embraced her every time she was back after a long period of being away. All that came was a deep sense of emptiness and a huge chunk of regret.
Did she do the right thing by refusing to speak with Trey? Sure, this whole saga started because he didn't want to talk to her, but did she have to perpetuate the cycle? He had looked utterly devastated.
"You okay, Kris?" Sam asked, looking at her with concern.
"Yeah," she said with a small smile and walked to her bedroom.
The big panoramic print of Sydney Harbour hanging on her wall greeted her. A silent gasp escaped her, followed by soft sniffing, until she gave in and wept with deep, heart-wrenching sobs.
Sam was instantly beside her. "Hush, sweetie."
"Oh, Sam. I love him," she cried.
"I know, honey."
"I miss him."
"I know."
"What should I do?"
"I don't know," Sam said. "You're asking someone who couldn't even snare a man who knows his way around a woman's body."
Kris chuckled despite her tears. "It's only because you've always been too conservative. You go for the ones who look too safe and you end up getting bored with each other." She sniffed. "While I always go for playboys and get burned every single time. Why do I do that?"
"Why don't we switch preferences next time? You go for the safe, boring ones, and I'll go for the dangerous players," Sam joked. "Maybe we'll have more luck then."
Kris hugged her cousin. "Thank you for making me laugh."
"Anytime."
"I think I'm going to have a bath then go to bed," she said.
"You don't want to have dinner?"
"No. I'm not hungry, just tired."
"Okay. I might order some Chinese. I'm kind of peckish but I don't feel like cooking. I might even order enough for tomorrow," Sam said.
*******
Kris knew she should get out of the bath soon. She'd been in there for too long and she was getting thirsty—even hungry.
Gingerly, she stepped out of the tub, dried herself and donned a robe. She now felt like having some of the Chinese food that had been delivered. She'd heard the security buzzer go off five minutes ago.
She walked out to the living area and stopped dead in her tracks
when she saw who was sitting with Sam on the couch.
Trey.
"Hi," he croaked, getting to his feet when he noticed her.
She forced her lungs to function as she grappled with the tidal wave of emotions that threatened to engulf her.
"I'll leave you two alone," Sam said, standing up and walking toward her bedroom. Then she stopped abruptly and looked at Kris. "You know, it might be better if you talk in your bedroom, Kris. Then you won't get interrupted when the food arrives."
Kris didn't respond; she couldn't move.
Sam gave Trey a gentle nudge in her direction. "Go."
Trey moved slowly toward her while she remained frozen. She stared at him, unable to look away, and noticed the strained look on his face and the moistness of his eyes. Her heart beat wildly, and her lips parted to take in more oxygen.
"Which one's your bedroom?" Trey asked softly.
Silently, with arms folded across her chest, she turned and walked, and he followed.
*
"What are you doing here?" she asked as she stood by the window, looking out.
"To say I'm sorry," Trey said from behind her. "And to ask for another chance."
She took a deep breath. Yes, she missed him so damned much. Hell, yes, she loved him, completely and utterly. But she was still hurting.
"I shouldn't have shut you out when you wanted to explain what happened," Trey continued softly when she didn't respond. "And I shouldn't have reacted the way I did. I'm so sorry, Kris."
Trey gently grasped her arms and turned her around. She looked up and fresh tears sprung to her eyes at the sincerity and vulnerability in his expression.
"I haven't opened up to a woman the way I've opened up to you, Kris. Before I knew it, my whole heart was already in your hands. When I saw you with Blake at the restaurant that night, and he intimated you were on a date, I felt like you'd just mangled my heart and threw it right back at my face. All my defence mechanisms rose. I tried to protect myself from further pain and made stupid decisions in the process."
Trey tenderly swiped away the tears that streamed down her cheeks with his thumbs.
"I know you wanted to explain, but when I saw Blake brush something from the corner of your mouth, and you allowed him, I—"
"What?" she asked in surprise. She knew it. That guy she saw hastening away from the coffee shop was Trey.
"When I saw him touching you like that, after I thought you went out on a date with him the night before—" Trey shook his head, remembered hurt displayed in his expression. "I honestly thought it was all over. I pretended I didn't care—that it wasn't a big deal—so I could lessen the pain. I did attempt to have a one-night stand with someone but I swear I didn't sleep with her. I simply couldn't," he said hoarsely.
"I'm so sorry I even got into a taxi with another woman. If the roles were reversed and I saw you going home with another man…" Trey shut his eyes, his face a picture of agony.
She placed a palm on Trey's cheek. She couldn't bear his haunted, distressed look any longer.
Trey grasped her hand with his and pressed it against his lips. When he opened his eyes, they were swimming in tears.
A sob escaped her and she launched herself at him.
Trey inhaled shakily as he crushed her to him.
They stood there, holding each other tightly, unmoving but from the heaving of their chests, silent but from their deep breathing. Their hearts healed as their tears turned to relief and gratitude.
"I love you, Kris," Trey whispered in her ear.
She leaned back against his arms and cupped his dear, dear face. "I love you, too, Trey."
His face expressed wondrous joy as he fitted his lips with hers.
They kissed for long minutes, softly and tenderly at first then passionately and hungrily.
Their mouths fused and their hands explored avidly, greedy for more of each other.
Trey backed her on to the wall and pressed his hard body against her soft one. "God, I missed you," he breathed, untying the sash of her robe and feverishly running his hands on her bare skin.
She let out a small moan, her head tilting to the side to give him full access to her neck and throat.
Trey groaned and lifted her so her legs wrapped around him. He adjusted them so she fit perfectly against him, his erection digging deliciously against her sensitised, excited nub.
Their hips gyrated in tandem, pleasuring and driving each other crazy with the friction happening through their clothes.
"Oh, baby," Trey gasped against her mouth, his tongue plunging inside as he kissed her senselessly.
"Trey, I want you inside me, please. Now," she panted. She was so close, but she didn't want to come while he was still fully dressed.
Trey grunted and set her down, proceeding to divest her of her robe and panties in record time. She helped by unbuttoning his jeans and pushing them down along with his boxers. When they were both naked, Trey carried her to the bed and lay on top of her.
He stared in her eyes for a long moment, caressing her face with the tips of his fingers. "I love you," he whispered again.
"I love you," she whispered back.
With a swift move, Trey rolled on his back and brought her on top of him. "Ride me," he said, his voice hoarse with desire.
She positioned herself and angled her hips to take him in. A loud moan escaped her when her dripping wet core took in all of his granite-hard cock.
She bounced on top of him, trying to slow down her movements to prolong their lovemaking, as their passionate sounds mingled and filled the room.
"God, Kris, you feel so good," Trey gasped, his mouth hung open and his face contorted in rapture.
She mewled, seeing Trey undone heightened her pleasure and spiralled her upwards. Uncontrollably, she rocked against him faster and harder. Faster and harder. Oh, he felt so damn good.
Her body tensed, and with a loud, gasping cry, she clenched around his thrusting hardness over and over again.
"Oh, God…baby…huh!!" Trey groaned as he erupted inside her, the hot jets of his release prolonging her orgasm.
Barely five seconds later, they heard timid knocking on the door.
"Uh, guys," Sam said tentatively. "I'm so sorry to interrupt but, uh, I just realised I don't have enough cash on me and, uh, the food is here. Um, Kris, do you have fifteen dollars?"
They chuckled.
"You have excellent timing, Sammy," Kris called out.
"I'm so sorry," Sam replied in a highly embarrassed tone.
Kris grinned at Trey. "I am quite hungry and I probably would need lots of energy for tonight," she said seductively.
"Good thing Sam ordered some food then," he said, kissing her tenderly before releasing her.
*******
Kris couldn't keep the smile off her face as she helped Sam set the table.
"You didn't bring an overnight bag with you, did you?" she asked Trey.
He grinned and he pointed to one sitting in a corner.
"Oh, good," she said. "How long are you staying?"
"I have to leave here at six tomorrow," he said with a sigh.
"So early?" she asked with clear disappointment.
"Unfortunately. We have a project we need to deliver to a client by the end of this week and we're behind on it. My fault. Adam and Dylan have already taken some of the load off me so I can be here tonight, but they need me to pull my finger out and finish some things."
"Okay," she said as they all sat to eat.
"Baby," Trey said as Kris loaded his plate with food. "I know you turned down Blake's job offer."
She shrugged. "There'll be other opportunities."
"Not like the one he offered you," Trey contended. "Where else would you get the chance to meet high profile people and work on big projects like Hollywood movies?"
"It's too late now. I already quit," she said nonchalantly, although she did feel the sting of a missed opportunity.
"I don't think so," Trey said, looking a
t her warily.
"You wouldn't mind me working for Blake?" she asked, her eyebrows arching in surprise.
"No. I trust you," he said quietly.
She smiled at him—a happy smile that conveyed how much those words meant to her. But the issue with Blake wasn't simple.
"Thank you, honey. But…I can't go back. When I told Blake my decision, I was kind of rude to him and gave him a piece of my mind. He was appalled at how uncomfortable he made me feel and he apologised. He said he'd back off and that he still wanted us to work together. But I was so ill-tempered and unreasonable at that time that I blamed him for starting our troubles and walked out."
Trey glanced at Sam who had been quietly watching them while she ate. Sam smiled at him encouragingly.
Kris' curiosity was piqued. What?
Trey cleared his throat. "I've spoken with Blake."
"You have?" she asked in surprise. "About my job?"
"Yes. Well, about your job and about us and about how he should keep his hands off you."
Her eyes widened. "You told him to keep his hands off me? But I'm not even around him anymore. I'm also not taking the Melbourne role he offered me."
"Okay, hear me out," Trey said, shifting in his seat to face her fully. "I can't stand the thought of you giving up your dream job and the incredible opportunity for big things in your career because of me."
"But I don't think I can work with Blake anymore, after what I said to him."
"When I went to see Blake," Trey said, "I told him everything about us and why you left. To cut a long story short, he's still keen to have you work in his studio. He does respect and admire your talents and abilities. So the three-month stint is still yours if you want it. After that, the two of you can figure out where you both want to head—in the professional sense, of course."
Kris gaped at him, shocked and not knowing what to say. "You're really okay with it?" she asked when she found her voice again.
Trey nodded, sincerity etched in his face. "I can't have you throwing this away, Kris."
"When does Blake want me to start?" she asked, excitement bubbling within her again.
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