For Keeps

by Adriana Hunter

  Tyler clenched his fists at his side. He wanted nothing more than to deck his own father right now, to break that nose he knew had cost the old man a fortune.

  “Tell me what you did, Dad.” His voice was a low, threatening growl.

  With a disgusted expression, he waved Tyler off and sat back down. “I didn’t do anything except tell her I was sorry to see her leave and send her with a small severance check when she came in here and gave her notice. So, son, perhaps the question to ask is, what did you do?”

  Though he didn’t want to believe it, his father wouldn’t lie at this point. He wanted to hurt Tyler, so he would’ve happily admitted if he’d fired Valerie, or if he’d said something to her that made her quit. Confused, Tyler could only imagine what may have happened to make her want to leave so quickly without saying goodbye.

  He stormed back up the stairs, ignoring the elevator and taking the steps two at a time, and grabbed his things. How likely was it that one of his cousins had finally crossed the line so far that they’d run her off? He hurried back to the parking garage, sliding into his car. Within seconds he was peeling out of the parking lot, heading straight for Valerie’s house. He tried calling her, but he only got her voicemail. Frustrated, he left a message.

  “Valerie, it’s me. Listen, I don’t know what happened, but I want to talk to you. And if it’s something my cousins said or did, or something my father said, I’ll take care of it. I’m not going to let anyone hurt you. I’m on my way to your place, hopefully you’re there.”

  He hung up and cursed, weaving through the streets with careless abandoned. His only thought was getting to Valerie as quickly as he could.

  * * *

  Hanging up the phone, Valerie breathed a sigh of relief. She’d been afraid she’d made a mistake walking out on her job, even if she needed to get away. She didn’t know how long it would take to find another one, and while the senior Princeton had cut her a decent check that would get her through a couple of weeks, she knew she needed to find something quickly before she fell further behind.

  She’d gone back through her email as soon as she’d gotten home and found a request she’d received around the time she’d started working for Princeton from a criminal law firm that was almost as big and well known as they were. At the time, they hadn’t been offering a paying internship, and she’d turned it down.

  But she’d called one of the girls in her class who had taken up an internship with them to ask about the firm, and they were hiring for a decent salary. So, she’d contacted them directly and they’d been thrilled and relieved to discover that the position was still available. She’d be starting on Monday.

  Her phone had beeped during the call, and she’d pulled it from her ear long enough to look at the caller ID and see she had no intention of answering it. After she hung up, she saw the voicemail light on and debated listening to the message, deciding against it. It would only hurt more to hear Tyler’s voice right now, especially if he was calling making excuses for what she had uncovered.

  Hesitating for only a brief moment, she erased the message without listening to it, she decided to take a shower and try to relax. She pulled off her shirt and skirt, padding to the bathroom to turn on the faucet. When someone knocked on her door, she growled to herself. She’d forgotten what it was like to be home during the day, with salespeople knocking on the door constantly. Throwing a towel around her shoulders and holding it over her chest, she went to answer the second knock, opening the door just a crack so she could look out and tell whoever it was she wasn’t interested. But when she popped the door open a crack, all words were lost, and she found herself staring into the piercing blue eyes that still managed to take her breath away.

  There stood Tyler, square on her doorstep, his face inches from the door opening. He didn’t speak, but his eyes told a story of confusion and pain. Valerie felt the butterflies flutter through her belly but taking a deep breath she found her voice long enough to question him.

  “Tyler, what are you doing here?”

  He shot her a look, more of a wince that spoke of his uncertainty.

  “You just left without saying goodbye. Something had to have happened. Valerie? What’s going on?”

  She shook her head, her anger returning at his feigned innocence. “Nothing, Tyler. I just found a better offer and would rather work where I’m treated with respect.”

  She started to close the door in his face, but he pushed his palm against it, holding it open. “Valerie, talk to me. What the hell is wrong with you? Did I do something? Because I don’t remember having said or done anything to piss you off.”

  She scowled at him. “Sometimes, it’s the things you don’t say.” She tried to close the door again, to put space between them, but he was too strong.

  Tyler didn’t understand why she was so angry with him. Had one of his cousins told her something vile and untrue that would have her in such a mood? It was a logical explanation.

  “Valerie, whatever those guys told you about me, or whatever you heard that has you so upset, I’m sorry. I just don’t understand… please, talk to me.”

  She scoffed. “Oh, I don’t blame your family at all. Who would want a fat piece of trash from the wrong side of the tracks poisoning the bloodline? Tyler, you should just leave. Just forget about it…about me.”

  He saw pain on her face and it broke his heart. He had to know why she would feel this way, had to know why everything that had been so incredibly wonderful only a few hours ago was suddenly turning to stone.

  “Trash, Valerie. I wouldn’t be with you if you were trash.”

  She raised an eyebrow at him, trying to hold back the tears that wanted to flow unhindered down her cheeks. “I’m not stupid, Tyler. I was an easy mark, right? Why? Because I’m not skinny like all of the girls at the office? Because you thought that maybe I hadn’t dated in awhile and you’d come rushing in and sweep me off my feet? I’m not so desperate, Tyler – and regardless of what you or your family think of I’m a decent, kind person who deserves to be loved. Really loved. Not just a quick fix for a guy looking to secure his trust fund.”

  As realization set in, Tyler’s eyes swirled grey, resentment for his father replacing the look of confusion with a look of pure hatred.

  “Valerie, that was never my intention. I’ve bucked against that rule since it was put in place. I wasn’t dating you to make my father happy. He very much disapproves of everything I do, so I stopped trying.”

  Valerie shook her head. “Is that why you took the job at the law firm? Is that why you’re studying to take the bar? Tell me, Tyler, what is it you really wanted to do with your life? If you stopped trying to make your father happy, you would have gone ahead and joined a hockey team, wouldn’t you? So, tell me why I should believe that you aren’t using me?”

  Tyler’s face fell, and Valerie instinctively wanted to reach out and touch his cheek in comfort. But she held back, too angry still to show how much she actually cared. It was too late for that. She’d fallen for someone who had no real interest in her, and she sure as hell wasn’t going to settle for that.

  “I walked out, Valerie.” He almost choked on the words, his emotions out of control. He was usually so passive, so laid back about everything. He never felt passionately about anything, even his adrenaline highs. He didn’t understand the depth of emotion he swam in right now, and it threatened to drown him.

  “I asked my father where you were, and when he told me you left, I told him I didn’t care about the trust fund and walked out.” She’d stopped holding the door, so he pushed it open further and stepped inside, closer to her. She squeezed the towel tightly around her, defensively, still eyeing him warily. “And when I left, I came straight here.”

  Valerie sighed. It sounded good, but how could it be the truth?

  “Go back to work, Tyler. You’d hate your life without the money. You need it. You need the yacht, and the motorcycle, and the fast cars and all the finer things in life. You don�
��t need me. And if it’s the job you’re worried about, I already have another one lined up. The joy of being at the top of your class is that everyone wants you.”

  But Tyler refused to listen. “I’m glad you found another job, if that’s what you want. But something I’ve realized since I met you is that, with all the ‘finer’ things in life, I’ve never been more than content. I’ve never been on fire about anything I’ve ever done in my life, with the exception of hockey. That’s the only thing I’ve ever been passionate about.” He put a hand on her shoulder, and she twitched but didn’t’ pull away. “But I’m passionate about you. Valerie, you have changed my life. You’re a beautiful, sexy, intelligent woman who deserves all the finer things in life herself. And I would rather be with you than have my father’s money. I can make it in this world without him. As long as I have you.”

  Her lip trembling, Valerie stood there, a shiver running down her spine as he caressed her arm. She could feel the heat of his body radiating, and it twisted her insides. She hated how much she wanted him, how much she wanted to believe what he told her.

  “Why would you walk away from such an easy, perfect life? It doesn’t make any sense.”

  She stared up into his eyes, shining with intensity. “Valerie, I want you. Why is that so hard to believe? Can’t you just believe me, give me a chance to prove it?” His hand snaked from her arm around her waist, tickling over the small of her back under the towel. His touch on her bare skin made her gasp, and her breath came in short pants.

  “Prove it?” she whispered as he toyed with her spine. She stepped closer so their bodies almost touched. “How would you prove it?”

  A crooked half smile, filled with mischief, curled his lips. “Well, first I’d start by making love to you because you truly are the most beautiful woman that I’ve ever seen.” He leaned down and brushed his lips on the top of her ear and continued in a whisper, “Then I’d forget about the trust fund and focus instead on being with you. I’d make it my job to show you just how incredible you are. I know we barely know each other but there’s something about you that has literally attached itself to my heart and it won’t let go. I don’t ever want it to let go. It’s like my very soul is tethered to yours.”

  She couldn’t hold back the moan of relief mixed with desire as his tongue drew a trail down her jaw line and to the corner of her mouth. She put her palms against his chest with the intention of pushing him away, but she lost the towel in the process, and his lips found her shoulder, nibbling and teasing, and she pressed against him. How could something that felt so right, so good, be wrong? She could feel his erection against her stomach and knew he wanted her.

  Tyler felt her lift her head, and he turned to take her lips. He could taste her desire, the sweet honey of her as a woman. He dove into her, breathing her in and drinking of her, his hands roaming her body, touching as much of her skin as possible. When she reached for his shirt, he lifted his arms and broke the kiss long enough for her to pull it over his head, then preyed on her lips yet again, his tongue dancing with hers.

  Despite her better judgment, Valerie let him back her toward the bedroom, then into the bathroom. The water roaring behind her from the shower spray was like a dull whine compared to the rush of blood to every extremity of her body as he lit her senses on fire.

  She fumbled around, trying to help Tyler get his jeans off, but her hands wouldn’t cooperate and he finally stayed them, holding them against her chest as he undressed. Valerie could have choked, literally, at the sight of his gorgeous erection, perfectly straight and pleading for her to touch it, to lick it, to let it gain relief inside of her.

  Tyler was the only man with whom she’d ever felt secure enough to just reach out and touch him, regardless of her concerns regarding her size, her class, or anything else that got in the way. None of that mattered. Not anymore.

  So now, as he held her hand while she stepped into the shower, she waited for him to join her and immediately reached out to grip his cock, watching his eyes roll back in his head as she used the water to lubricate him, slicking her hand up and down and around his head with tender but insistent motions. Tyler took one nipple in his mouth and began to suckle, nipping with his teeth and flicking with his tongue until Valerie screamed, nearly coming just from his light touch.

  As she felt her body go loose, spineless, he used one hand to tease and play with her breasts, rolling the round nipple between his finger and thumb until she thrust her breasts toward him, begging him for even more attention. Instead, she found herself being forced to open up to his fingers, as he spread open her folds and stroked her clit, running circles around it and petting her with such expert, skillful fingers that her entire body convulsed even before he pushed two fingers deep inside of her.

  “Tyler,” she groaned, desperate for mercy.

  With the water streaming over her skin and through her hair, Valerie let go of her inhibitions, and she grinded against his fingers as they found that internal button, doubling her pleasure as she felt waves of release roll over her like a crashing wave again and again. When she thought she couldn’t bear anymore, Tyler pulled out, reaching around behind her and grabbing her ass. He lifted her up easily, and she wrapped her legs around him, pressing her to the slick, hot shower wall.

  Tyler could no longer hold back. He had to be inside of her, and she was wet and ripe for the taking. With one stroke, he filled her with every inch of this girth, fighting to hold perfectly still as she writhed, her vaginal walls convulsing around him as he impaled her, trying to keep himself under control. He wanted to savor this, not let it get away from him. Every long, slow stroke brought them both closer, and he moaned out into her neck, her hot breath and sensuous pleading for more echoing in the shower stall.

  He gave her what she wanted…needed…pushing his cock deep inside of her before pulling it out for a brief second, only to thrust his shaft back into her hot, velvet pocket. He moved in a maddening pace, his body betraying him as he struggled to deny himself release, knowing it would only heighten the reward in the end. This wasn’t just about himself anymore – not like all of the others, this woman meant something to him and he wanted to make sure she was pleasured in every way.

  “God, Tyler, please!” she begged, and finally, he gave in, suddenly switching to a violent frenzy of a rhythm that offered no mercy. He would claim her as his own, and leave her ravished and satisfied.

  Valerie’s back banged against the wall with rapid force as Tyler drove into her like a jackhammer, causing her pussy to pulsate in a violent stream of orgasm after orgasm until she was entirely spent. She cried out his name, clawed at his shoulders, and screamed her pleasure in wordless throes of passion. It all culminated in a final moment, with Tyler pushing deep inside her with his own release, and her entire body buzzed as he exploded, just before they both went limp.

  It took all of Tyler’s willpower to keep holding Valerie up as the energy drained from his body. He was having difficulty breathing, and he could barely support his own body with wobbly legs. But he could tell Valerie wouldn’t be able to stand, so finally, he lifted her from him, both of them groaning as he slid out of her, and helped her to balance herself against the wall. He leaned over her, kissing her deeply and thoroughly, his thirst quenched but his hunger for her never satisfied.

  She looked up at him in wonder, her lids hooded so she had to strain to see properly, as he grabbed the body scrub and wash and began to lather her body with soap, washing her as if it was a kind of worship.

  “Tyler, I…” She wasn’t sure she was comfortable with it. After all, sex was one thing, but so many of the little imperfections, the curves she hated could go unnoticed there. In this incredibly intimate situation, there was nothing off limits, nothing that couldn’t be seen.

  “Shh,” he told her, massaging her breasts in circles with the sudsy material until she closed her eyes and moaned, feeling them grow heavy and her nipples taut. And as he continued down her body, rubbing the soapy
loofah between her legs, over her wet folds, cleaning off their sex, it was all she could do not to get excited for him all over again.

  When he was finished, Valerie felt invigorated, as if she’d come back from the dead, and she lathered her hair and rinsed while he finished cleaning himself off, and stepped out of the shower to dry and dress. When she was done, she didn’t want to come out of the shower without being wrapped in a towel, but she thought better of her shyness and threw the curtain open to find Tyler watching her like a predator waiting for his prey to tire out so he could strike.

  “I suppose I should let you finish your routine in peace,” he offered, though he wanted nothing more right now than to watch her every move, then throw her in her bed and take her again, over and over, until he’d wrung both of them completely dry and they shriveled up.

  Valerie shrugged, suddenly not caring that he was here as she began to towel off her hair, leaving her body fully exposed to him. It was almost fun, like teasing, and she smiled to herself. Tyler couldn’t take his eyes away from her, releasing a deep breath that rolled in a soft whistle.

  “Valerie, I’m crazy about you. But are you sure that you’re ready for this?”

  “Of course I’m sure.”

  Tyler nodded. He knew what he wanted, what he felt for Valerie but he didn’t want her getting involved in anything that she wasn’t sure about. He knew just how crazy his family could be.

  “So you don’t want to slow down a bit? Take our time in feeling all of… this… out?”

  Valerie smiled. She didn’t have to even think about it. “Absolutely not.”

  He chuckled, his eyes sparkling with desire. “Good answer.”

  He kissed her softly, drawing her into his arms in a tight embrace until she pushed against him with a giggle, forcing him to release her so she could finish dressing.