The Worst of Me

by Lisa J. Hobman

  Chapter Twenty

  Catriona

  The water was as hot as she could stand it and she was encapsulated in a relaxing cocoon of steam. Allowing the soothing cascade to cover her sore muscles and sensitive skin, she closed her eyes and played the last couple of hours over in her mind. How the hell had she gone from starting World War III with Nick to giving him her virginity? It brought a whole new meaning to the phrase “Make love not war” that was for certain.

  She thought back to the way he had connected with her, eye to eye, soul to soul, as he had slipped into her intimate flesh and clung to her body. Memories played like a movie in her mind and she tried hard to recall every single thing just in case it never happened again. The weight of him on top of her—which was strange at first but oh so good. The myriad wonderful sensations that shot through her body like bursts of light and brought her to the most incredible climax over and over again. It was the first sexual contact ... real sexual contact—aside from the odd awkward fumble—that she’d had with a man and the pleasure he gifted her far outweighed any she had given herself.

  Her nipples tightened at the thought of his mouth suckling on them, teasing them, nibbling them. And that familiar throb of desire began at the junction of her thighs as she washed herself, her fingers slipping and sliding where his had been. The urge to pleasure herself was strong, but the urge to let him do it again was stronger still.

  Once she was clean and had dried herself off she slipped the T-shirt back over her head and tied her hair up into a knot with the little black band she kept around her wrist. She walked back through to the kitchen to find Nick stirring something around a pan that she guessed to be scrambled eggs.

  Oblivious to her at that moment, his back was turned and he was singing along to a track playing on his phone. She immediately recognised the song from the day they had cleaned the cottage. It was the one by Black Stone Cherry called “Stay”—the one she’d really liked and had made her think of Nick when she had looked it up online at home.

  She watched the sculpted muscles of his back working under his toned skin as he moved around the small kitchen, his shirtless frame filling the space. His hair was loose and in serious need of combing but somehow the bed-hair thing looked good on him. The dragon tattoo wrapped its way around his ribs and onto his back and there was a tattoo of three wolves on the opposite bicep that she hadn’t really noticed before. The artwork really was spectacular and his ink only added to his already mounting sex appeal. He really was delicious. And what made it worse was that she really liked the guy too. She could have coped if he’d been gorgeous but the prize dick she’d previously presumed him to be.

  But damn him, he had gone and broken down that illusion.

  As if sensing her presence he turned and his face lit up with the most handsome smile that crinkled the corners of his eyes when he saw her. Her stomach flipped as if she was falling ... in the physical sense of course ...

  He pointed at her with the spatula he’d been using. “How the hell do you girls do that knotty bun thing? I’ve seen some blokes wearing it and I’ve tried but ... well to say I’m inept would be an understatement. Any chance you could show me? It’d be great for working out and stuff.”

  She couldn’t help laughing at his request to be taught to tie his hair up. “Here, watch me.” She turned and removed the small band from around her hair, allowing her Titian curls to fall free. Then she turned to check he was paying attention but his eyes weren’t on her head. “Oy, are you watching?”

  He lifted his chin and saluted her with the spatula. “I’m watching ... but when you lift your arms I can see your arse in those black panties and I get distracted.”

  She rolled her eyes but secretly loved the fact that he was fixated by her bottom. He simply shrugged as if to exclaim his innocence.

  “Okay so you grab your hair like so ... ” She twisted her hair and wrapped the band around it. “Et voilà.”

  She turned and held her hands out and he placed the spatula down and proceeded to give her a round of applause, followed by a wolf whistle. I could get used to this.

  “Okay, come and grab some food and let’s eat.” He served up scrambled eggs and bacon onto two plates and carried them over to the small pine table.

  Cat joined him and tucked in. Clearly the rumours about sex giving you an appetite were true after all. She was famished. It was rather distracting for her too with such a fine specimen of masculinity sitting bare-chested only a foot away.

  Eyeing his ink again she asked, “Does your tattoo have a meaning?” She trailed her hungry gaze up his torso until she met his eyes. Oh hell, those eyes ...

  “The dragon? Not really. I wish I could tell you some magical story about a fight or a struggle but ... I just liked it.”

  “Did it hurt?”

  He laughed. “Like the mother of a bitch. Don’t get one done. Seriously. I said I’d have no more after that experience but then ... well I had the wolf trio on my bicep to represent my family. My mum, my sister and me. Wolves are very pack orientated creatures. They look after their own. And that’s what I try to do. Family means such a lot to me.”

  Oh, no. Please, no. Stop giving me reasons to like you more. Just stop. Cat turned her attention on her food and decided more questions would only exacerbate her increasing case of lust/like for the temporary interloper.

  They fell silent for a while but shared a few smiles and furtive glances until Nick pushed his plate away. “How are you feeling now? Do you still need the painkillers?”

  “No. No, I think I’m okay, thank you. And ... look I’m sorry about getting all emotional on you before. I feel really stupid.”

  He leaned across and squeezed her forearm. “Stop with the apologies. Seriously. You have nothing to apologise for. Sex can be ... intense ... if you’re doing it right.” He pulled his lip between his teeth and she wanted to bite it as he had hers. A flush of heat swelled up inside of her and she once again turned her attention to her food. It was a self-preservation thing. The more she looked, the more he spoke, the more she wanted.

  Once they had finished eating Nick sat back in his chair. “Okay, I’m going to have a go at the hair thing. Will you watch me, oh guru of hair, and check I’m doing it right?”

  So they’d gone from enemies, to lovers, to girls at a sleepover in a matter of hours. The bizarre turn of events tickled her and she found herself smiling.

  “What’s so funny? Are you laughing at my ineptitude, Cat for short?”

  She touched her hand to her chest and fluttered her eyelashes. “Who? Me? Never. Go on then. Give it your best shot, Random.”

  “Hmm. I think I preferred Randall when you were pissed.” He chuckled. “Well, here goes nothing.”

  She watched in amusement as he attempted the famous ‘man-bun’ three times and finally, on the last attempt, he succeeded. He deserved his own round of applause and she willingly obliged. “See, it wasn’t so hard. And it really suits you.” It suits you a little too much.

  She was shocked to discover he bore a striking resemblance to the male model in the online video Lorna had teased her about and she wanted him again. Desperately. That newly familiar fluttering began to stir at the junction of her thighs and her nipples stood to attention.

  A knowing smile turned up the corners of his mouth and he stood. “Miss McCreadie, I’d like to take you to bed again.” He held out his hand and she slipped hers into it where it was immediately enveloped by his strong fingers.

  Cat lay by Nick’s side on his bed. The only sound in the room was that of their rapid panting breaths. The second time had been so much better and less painful although she was admittedly a little sore. When she turned her head she found him watching her.

  She grinned. “What?”

  He propped himself up on his elbow and placed his hand on her stomach. Even that little touch sent shivers across her skin.

  “You’re so fucking sexy, do you know that?”

  She covered her eye
s. “Oh stop.”

  He pulled her into his body and squeezed her bottom. “I mean it, Cat. I may lock the doors and not let you leave until I’ve had my fill.”

  She moved her hand and playfully tugged at his hair. “I think the villagers may wonder where I’ve gone.”

  “I’ll just tell them you can’t come out because you’re my sex slave and everyone knows a rock star needs his sex slave.”

  And just like that her mood was broken. Back to earth with a resounding thud and her smile disappeared. She’d had sex—twice—with a famous rock star who would be gone soon. And then she would no doubt become some distant memory. It was the stuff of most women’s fantasies. But for Cat it wasn’t like that. His fame, his fortune, his looks, none of it mattered. Okay, so the fact that he was drop dead gorgeous helped ... a lot. But after all the perfect women he’d bedded what could she possibly mean to him?

  Just another notch on his metaphorical bedpost.

  A deep frown creased his brow. “Hey, what happened? What did I say?”

  “It’s nothing. Well ... it’s something but it’s nothing that can be helped.”

  He mischievously spanked her bottom. “Speak, sex slave. I order you to speak.”

  She tried to smile. “I just ... I can see this getting very complicated, that’s all. I mean ... okay so it was just sex ... we’re both adult enough to know that.” She nodded emphatically trying to convince both herself and him that she meant her words. “But ... everyone knows sex complicates things. And ... I don’t ... I don’t want to fall for you.”

  He swallowed hard and shook his head but didn’t speak. After a few silent moments he lifted his hand and tucked her hair behind her ear. “I don’t want you to fall for me either, Cat.”

  His whispered words made her heart ache and her throat began to tighten with trapped emotion that she could not allow to be released. Not again.

  Terrified of killing the mood completely she clambered off the bed and began to collect her discarded clothing. “Well then we have a deal. It won’t happen.” She tapped her chin and looked to the ceiling, pretending to formulate a plan. “I know! We’ll maybe just have mind blowing sex a few more times and it’ll all be good. Now come on, I think we need fresh air.” She skipped off toward the stairs, chewing the inside of her cheek and focusing on not falling to her death due to her jelly-like legs.

  Once on the ground floor again she made her way into the bathroom and shut the door. Leaning back on it she rested her head and closed her eyes, fighting the turmoil of emotions deep inside her.

  Oh, please, no. I think it may be a little bit too late.

  Chapter Twenty One

  Nick

  After a brief walk on the beach, Cat had driven home and Nick was left to his own devices once more. When he’d watched her leave he’d wondered if she was okay. Taking her virginity in such bizarre circumstances hadn’t been his intention but fuck, when she’d arrived at his house all angry at him he’d wanted to carry her, caveman-like, up to his bedroom and show her who was boss. But of course he was being ridiculous. No man could be the boss of Catriona. She was strong-willed and he loved that about her.

  Love.

  Now that was a scary four letter word.

  Their conversation had turned a little serious for a brief moment after the second time they’d had sex. The last thing he wanted to do was hurt her but there was no way he was going to fall in love. He wasn’t even sure if he had the ability to really love in him. He wanted it someday, of course, but his head was too screwed. And there were too many unknown variables about his future.

  But the truth was she definitely got under his skin.

  He poured a fresh cup of coffee and stood looking out of the back window over the pretty little garden. In the distance the sun was setting and changing the colour of the sky from blue to orange to pink. A couple of stars had made an early appearance and he stared up in wonder, allowing his shoulders to relax as he took in the view.

  Gairloch was simply stunning.

  But Cat entered his mind once again and the brief serious interlude they had shared troubled him. What if she fell for him? Sex was a strange thing to throw into the mix of a friendship; she’d even said so herself. But then they had never really been friends. So what did that mean? Maybe she would realise he wasn’t the loving kind and it would all be okay in the end?

  Because there would be an end.

  At some point he would have to go back on the road and he was doubtful whether he would return to Gairloch—in spite of the way it had taken hold of his heart.

  Perhaps it was just the emotions of the aftermath of losing her virginity finally that had niggled at her. But what about him? How could he explain away the new emotions he’d experienced? Fuck it, Nick. It was just sex. Sex isn’t love. You know this. And it’s been a while since you’ve had sex when sober. So that’s all it is. Yes, he decided, that was most likely what it was. And Cat was a strong woman. She’d be fine.

  She’d have to be.

  ♫♫♫

  Catriona

  Cat was due at work and when she’d left Nick she’d tried not to think about the implications of what had taken place between them. Instead, when she arrived at the pub she had focused on changing into something appropriate and stocking the bar.

  The pub wasn’t too busy, thankfully, and she’d been able to let her dad go for a break, but in between customers she stood staring into space thinking about the time she’d spent with Nick. Every look, every touch returned to her mind making her tingle with desire and smile as she absent-mindedly wiped the bar down. She didn’t even look up when the door opened and someone walked in, accompanied by an icy breeze.

  “You been with him today?” Camden’s voice startled her and she snapped her eyes up to meet his. They were red-rimmed and the distinct smell of stale alcohol assaulted her nostrils.

  “Camden, I asked you not to come in here. Would you just leave please? I don’t want a scene.” She glanced around at the customers who, thankfully, were more interested in their own conversations.

  He wobbled a little and leaned on the bar for support. “I saw you. On the beach. You fucking kissed him, you whore.”

  “Right, that’s it, get out,” she hissed and pointed to the door.

  He held up his hands. “Whoa, whoa. Come on now. I was joking. It was a joke.” He forced a laugh but it was clearly laced with malice.

  She folded her arms defensively across her chest. “You don’t call someone a whore as a joke, Cam. Now please just leave.”

  People had started to take notice and Cat took furtive glances to see how concerned they appeared to be. The last thing she needed was to lose business over this drunken arsehole.

  “Camden, please go on home. You’ve clearly had enough and I won’t be serving you. Now just go, eh?”

  He stepped forward and leaned toward her across the bar. “But I want you back, Catty Kit. I love you so much. You know I do,” he whined. “We’re meant to be you and me ... ooh that rhymes. I could write a song for you. I bet that long-haired wanker couldn’t do that, eh?”

  The fact that Camden still wasn’t aware who Nick was was a relief. “Watch your language, Camden, and Nick’s not a wanker. Now just go home.”

  Unfortunately Camden was as tenacious as ever. “Do you love him? I bet you fucked him, didn’t you? I bet you couldn’t wait to get shot of me so you could jump into his bed.”

  His aggression was mounting and she was silently thankful there was a few feet of oak separating them. “I will call the police if you don’t leave right now. I swear.”

  He laughed without a shred of humour. “You’re not denying it then? So you did fuck him. I knew it, you slut.”

  That was it. She snapped and her location became secondary as she launched a verbal tirade. “Well, I think it takes someone with a lot of experience in that area to really know, eh, Camden? Oh, and how is Sorcha? You know, the woman you had sex with when you and I were still engaged? You sti
ll sleeping with her now our engagement is off, eh? You’re the wanker, Camden. You’re the cheater and the whore.” She became aware that her voice had gained substantial volume. She shook with rage and her heart drilled at her ribcage. How dare he?

  “I think it’d be best if you left, mate.” The deep voice caused both Cat and Camden to swirl around in its direction. They were greeted by a wide-eyed, furious Nick, fists clenched, nostrils flared, peering out from under his eyelids with a sneer that could curdle milk tugging at his lip. Anger radiated from his very being and he stood in a wide stance, filling the doorway.

  “Aww, you got your boyfriend to come and sort me out did you, Kitty Cat?” Camden slurred and wobbled again.

  Cat's jaw ached from being clenched tightly and her stomach knotted at his condescending nickname for her. “He’s not my boyfriend, you drunken idiot. Just go home.”

  Nick stepped further into the bar. “Do as the lady says, Camden. It’s for the best.”

  Camden stepped toward him and lunged, fist first, but luckily Nick was stone cold sober and he managed to step aside and dodge the first punch. The second, however, caught him off guard and connected with his jaw with a loud thwack.

  Cat gasped and ran around to the other side of the bar to grab her inebriated, flailing ex-boyfriend but Nick had managed to quickly wrestle him to the ground and pin him down.

  Nick growled at Camden. “You’ll hit me once and once only, pal. And then I’ll get really fucking pissed off. Believe me, it takes a lot to rile me but you don’t want to be in the room if it gets that far. Now go the fuck home and sober up, you dip-shit.”

  He clambered off the tall blonde drunk and stepped back, rubbing his jaw that had become swollen and reddened after the impact of Camden’s knuckles.

  Camden scrambled to his feet just as his brother burst through the door. “Aww shit, Cam. I told you to stay away, you great fool.” Frazer grabbed his younger brother and glanced over to Cat. “Are you okay, sweetheart?”