Last Chance (Lake Placid Series Book 6)

by Natalie Ann

  ***

  Riley had never felt so drained in her life. Never felt so relaxed, either.

  Who would have thought being tossed on the bed and a few teeth marks would be such a major turn-on? But it was, and she wanted more of it. She wanted to feel Trevor inside of her.

  This muscular man that was bigger than anyone else she’d been with before, the one that had an easygoing nature about him, even a sweet tender side, was now dominating her like she’d never been before. Like she’d never thought she’d want before.

  “Trevor,” she said, letting out a little whimper when he stood up. Her body felt cold now, missing the heat of his touch. “Don’t go.”

  “I’m not going anywhere,” he said.

  She opened one eye and saw him undressing. Not even hurrying, just taking his sweet little time as he watched her watching him with a satisfied smirk on his face.

  “You sure are cocky,” she heard herself say.

  “I’m beginning to think you like that a whole lot, too.”

  “I sure do,” she said, leaning up on her elbow to watch him slide his boxers off. He was put together nicer than she imagined.

  He was pulling his wallet out of his pocket, then a condom, only to toss it on the bed next to her, her eyes following its landing.

  “Do you want the pleasure?”

  “Come here,” she said, reaching for him. But rather than grab the condom and put it on, she lowered her head and put her mouth around him instead.

  “Shit,” he said, pulling her head back gently.

  “Ah, not so much in control as you’re leading me to believe,” she said, grinning, then picking up the condom. She wouldn’t push it right now. Another time, though.

  “You’re evil.”

  She only smiled again, then covered him and scooted up the bed. “Show me what you think should be done to evil women.”

  He stared at her for the moment and she realized what she’d said to him. Words she’d never thought she’d ever voice. Words she’d never even come close to saying or even wanting to say before. What the heck had come over her?

  But when Trevor smirked at her, then climbed on the bed and covered her body with his, she realized exactly what had come over her. Trevor.

  He didn’t waste time now either, just slid right in, laced their fingers together, and started to move.

  His mouth covered hers, silencing any words or commands from either of them. Their bodies did all the talking now and it seemed they knew exactly what needed to be said.

  It didn’t take long for them to find a rhythm. Not a steady one either, but more of trying to finish a marathon while sprinting the remaining distance after they’d already burned themselves out. Trying their hardest to get to the end at the same time. To feel the triumph and success.

  And when Trevor pinned her hands over her head, moved his lips to her ear and nipped her there, she saw the finish line in sight. She lifted her legs up, wrapped them around his back, and let him bring them both home for the victory.

  Always Be Right

  Riley found she was stunned breathless. Not by what they did, or how it made her feel, but that she did it and felt it with someone she’d known for such a short period of time.

  “How you holding up there?” Trevor asked her.

  “Pretty darn good. Better than good. How about you?”

  He ran his hand down the side of her face. “I feel pretty awesome myself. Mind telling me where the wildcat came from? I get the feeling it’s never been unleashed before.”

  She could lie and say it had, but she had a feeling he’d see right through it. “Maybe it’s you.”

  “Maybe, for some of that,” he said, “but not all.”

  She took a deep breath. “Let’s just say you aren’t the typical guy I’ve dated, so it might be I’ve had this hidden little wildcat in me that no one else has been able to lure out,” she said, guessing at it herself.

  He rolled over on his back, pulling her on top of him. “So tell me about it.”

  If she thought this conversation was weird, or at an odd time, she didn’t let on. “You know most of it already. Not much to say. I seem to attract men who let me run the show.”

  “Because you’re intimidating,” he said.

  “Only at work,” she argued.

  “Definitely at work. Especially when you’ve got needles and tools in your hands.”

  “Do you still dislike your dentist?” She smiled, pressing her hips into his.

  “I never disliked her personally, just her job. But now I’m even warming up to that. Back to my question, though—you intimidate men. I can see where it can happen.”

  “I guess. It just seems to me that most men that make the first move with me are too cocky. Like I need to be their little lady and they have to take care of me. I don’t need someone to take care of me. But I don’t want to be the one that makes all the decisions, either.”

  “And that is what you’ve ended up with?” he asked.

  “Not always, but close. I would end up making the first move with someone I’ve gotten to know a little. Let’s just say that sometimes on the surface they seem like they are confident, but in the end they just want a free ride. So maybe it’s my judgment that’s off.”

  He jumped back quickly. “Meaning?”

  “Meaning that the few times I’ve been with someone I thought was a little more aggressive, for lack of a better word, they were only like that for show. It’s like they thought I wanted it, and gave it to me. In the end, they did everything I wanted and said because they wanted the perks of dating me, but it wasn’t who they really were or wanted to be.”

  “Your family’s wealth and influence?” he asked.

  “Yeah. Like they were afraid to go against anything I wanted or said, and risk losing that. I don’t want to always be right.”

  He laughed at her. “I don’t know that I’ve ever heard a woman say that.”

  She frowned. “I can’t explain it. I guess I just don’t want to be the one to always make all the decisions in a relationship. To call the shots. Sometimes I gave in just so it didn’t fall on me, but then I hated doing that.”

  “Now I know what your father meant,” he said, leaning down and kissing her. “There’s not a lot of winning with you.”

  She didn’t care that he pointed that out. “I never thought so before, but maybe there is a part of it there. I don’t know. Can we talk about something else? I mean, you’re naked in my bed, I’m naked with you, and we’re talking about the people I’ve dated in the past.”

  “Good point. How about we don’t talk for the next thirty minutes and just see if we can come up with something else to pass the time?”

  “See. Just like that. Nice suggestion…that I didn’t have to come up with!”

  ***

  If Trevor was confused, he was trying not to show it. From the way Riley was just now, to the words she was saying.

  He’d known all along she had “complication” written all over her. He’d just never guessed how much.

  “So back to our conversation from earlier,” Trevor said when they found themselves back in her kitchen hours later. Her in a T-shirt, him in his jeans and nothing else. Both of them scarfing down the leftover pizza.

  “What conversation was that?” she asked around a mouthful.

  “Your past relationships. Did you know you’re adorable when you frown like that?”

  “I’m not trying to be adorable. What do you want to know specifically?” she asked, sighing.

  “Why you end up with people that don’t seem to suit you.”

  “I don’t really know the answer to that. It always seems like I’m attracted to someone and then they end up not being the person I thought they were. Or hoped they’d be.”

  He wasn’t sure what to make of that statement, but he did know he didn’t care for it. “What are you looking for? Maybe we need to get that out in the open so you can save yourself frustration later on.”

&n
bsp; “I’m pretty sure I know what I’m getting with you,” she said, grinning. “Then again, I’ve thought that before. So here goes. Wealth aside—because wealth is only a number to me—I want an equal partner. I want someone who can take care of himself and not worry he has to take care of me, but that we talk about things. Discuss them. One person isn’t always getting their way. One person isn’t always compromising.”

  “I don’t care that you have your own practice. I don’t care that your family is wealthy and well known in circles I would never belong to. I don’t care that you drive a vehicle worth more than the average family income of my town.”

  “I believe you,” she said, interrupting him.

  “Where you’re wrong, though, is in an equal partnership, each takes care of the other. Not financially, though it could happen, but mentally. Emotionally. Physically,” he said, lifting his eyebrow.

  She blushed and he was surprised to see that. “I stand corrected then.”

  “You don’t say you’re wrong often, do you?” It was clear to him, even if she didn’t want to admit it.

  But she did. “No.”

  “See, this is where you’re wishy washy,” he said, deciding on accuracy over diplomacy. “Where you give conflicting information. You say you don’t always want to be the one that is right. The one that makes all the decisions, but when I ask if you are wrong often, you get annoyed over that. Why?”

  She got comfortable in the chair at her island, her shirt not doing much in the way of covering the fact she was naked under it. If he didn’t know better, he might think she was trying to distract him; only she looked so confused at the moment while she processed what he said.

  “I guess I’m annoyed right now that you’re pointing that out.”

  “Annoyed at me?” he asked, his lips twitching.

  “More at myself. I’ve always been this confident person that knew what I wanted and just went after it. I’ve worked hard so that I’m not told no.”

  “Ah,” he said. “So you’ve always gotten your way. Daddy’s little girl?” Somehow he really wasn’t surprised.

  “Actually, no. I worked hard to earn respect from my father. My parents never handed anything over to Max and me. I’m not saying we had to have part-time jobs like most kids, but we worked in his office when we were teens. We had to earn our spending money. We were taught early the value of hard work, and appreciated it.”

  “I didn’t expect to hear that. Now I’m really confused.”

  “I know. I’m sorry. I’ve worked hard so that I could get what I want out of life. Because I’m a woman, I felt I had to work twice as hard to prove I deserved something just as much as a man. By working hard, I always got what I wanted. Does that make sense?”

  “Yes. It also goes back to why I think so many men are intimidated by you. Maybe the men approaching you are ones that know they could never compete. No man wants to be in a relationship where it’s a nonstop win-or-lose challenge.”

  “I’m not trying to win anything, though,” she argued.

  “Not in your eyes, but maybe in theirs. Some men don’t like to feel as if they will never measure up.”

  “I guess. You’ve given me a lot to think about now. It’s frustrating to always know what I want, then think I have it and I don’t.”

  “What do you think now?”

  “I think you’re probably exactly what I know you are. At least I hope.”

  “And what’s that?” he asked, holding his breath and wondering why. Somehow she’d come to mean a hell of a lot more than just a woman he’d been on two dates with.

  “Someone who is going to keep me on my toes and make me realize I’ve been wrong a lot in my life.”

  He stood up and pulled her forward into his arms. “I’ll keep you on your toes, but I’m not out to prove you’re wrong. And I don’t want to prove you’re right. I just want you to be yourself, and understand that it’s not always black and white and lined up the way we want.”

  “I’m glad we talked about this. I don’t feel like I’m waiting for you to change on me now. Or for something to happen to make me run.”

  “What?” he asked suddenly.

  “Nothing,” she said quickly. “I just meant something to make me hide within myself. Don’t read more into it. You’ve tired me out. How about we get some sleep? I can’t wait to taste this omelet you bragged about earlier.”

  Her explanation made sense. Only he wasn’t buying it.

  I Can Help

  How the hell could she have slipped and said something like that? What was wrong with her?

  Yes, it was probably the best sex of her life.

  Sure, Trevor was most things she thought she’d want from a guy.

  But he’d called her out on a few things that no one else had the nerve to do before. Part of her was irked over it, until he said she was flip flopping again. No, “wishy washy” were his words. Words he’d said a few times now.

  She’d never thought she was before. She’d always felt knowing what she wanted and working toward it was one of her best character traits. Now she was being told the one thing she thought was a good characteristic—a strong one—might have only existed in her mind.

  She rolled over on her other side, just too wound up to sleep right now. Trevor was breathing softly next to her. He wasn’t a cuddler, and she was happy about that. She liked her side of the bed just fine.

  After a few moments, she fluffed her pillow up and lay her head back down.

  Was Trevor right? Did her actions and attitude scream “power—stand back if you can’t beat me”?

  Did she come off as cold?

  She’d always been calm and cool, collected even. But she didn’t think she was cold.

  Then she remembered he’d never used that word. She was fabricating things in her head now. She had to stop doing that. When did she start doing that?

  Maybe she was having a nervous breakdown? It wouldn’t be the first time that thought had crossed her mind.

  “What’s wrong?”

  She turned back over to face Trevor. “Nothing. I can’t sleep for some reason.”

  “Want to talk about it?” he asked.

  That was the first time anyone asked her that. Normally when her mind was wound up tight, everyone just ignored her. Let her figure it out on her own. Maybe because that was always her preference. Maybe she was cold!

  “You’re tired. You’ve got to get up in the morning,” she said.

  “We both do, but that doesn’t matter.” He pulled her over against his side and the warmth of his body started to soothe her like the feeling of putting clothes on right out of the dryer on a cold damp day.

  “I have a lot of things going through my mind right now.”

  “About us? What happened tonight?”

  He was pretty perceptive. “Yeah. It’s all good, though.”

  “If it was all good, you’d be sleeping.”

  She let out a short laugh. “Good point.”

  “So what is going through your mind? Maybe I can help.”

  “You’ve helped enough already tonight.” She regretted saying that the minute it was out of her mouth.

  She felt the bed move, and him get up. She figured he was leaving and she was ready to apologize when the light turned on. He didn’t grab his clothes though, he just climbed back in bed and pulled her close, looking at her face. Must be he wanted to see her reactions now.

  “I obviously upset you tonight and that wasn’t my intention. Maybe I said more than I should have. There’s something about you that has me all twisted up inside and that doesn’t happen often. All I can say is that when you made the comment about people changing or not being who you thought they were, I just wanted to be upfront and let you know I’m not that kind of person. It seems I didn’t do a good job with it, though.”

  She was glad to know he was as confused as her. Maybe it was how fast they were moving. Not on the physical level, but emotionally. She couldn’t remember ever m
oving this fast emotionally before. Physically, even, now that she really thought of it.

  “You were brutally honest tonight, but I needed to hear it. I should know those things. Things no one else has ever had the guts to tell me. If I was as smart as I tell everyone, then I should have seen it myself.”

  “Did you ever fight or have disagreements with anyone you were in a relationship with?”

  “Disagreements, sure. But not really fighting.” She thought back and realized it never happened. Whenever she got mad, the person she was dating relented, gave in or maybe gave up.

  “So that’s another way you seemed to get what you wanted?”

  “I guess. Is it crazy to want someone to fight with me? To want them to give me an argument of why it doesn’t have to be the way I want it to be?”

  “It’s not crazy at all. The best things in life are worth fighting for. If someone isn’t willing to fight, then maybe they weren’t worthy of you.”

  She liked the sound of that. “What about you?”

  “I don’t fight often, Riley. But I can and I will. I can get my point across without yelling, if that is what you’re asking. I don’t give in often, not if I believe in what I’m saying. Not if it’s worth taking a stand.”

  “You did tonight. You got your point across.” Was she worth it to him? Was that what he was trying to say? Or should she read between the lines?

  “And yet we weren’t fighting but talking. Just talking honestly. There is a big difference.”

  She kissed his chest. She found she liked being against him right now. “There is. I’m learning it. It’s sort of demoralizing to know that I’m learning this at twenty-nine years old.”

  He ran his hand down her head and over her shoulders, then down the curve of her spine. “Everyone has to learn at some point. It doesn’t matter when you learn it, as long as you do.”

  “Do you think I’m crazy?” She really couldn’t think of another way to ask this without saying much more. It seemed the time to do it and have it come off a little lighthearted at best.

  “Hardly. I think you’re just confused. You’ve had a lot of upheaval in your life in the past three months. Didn’t you say you made a quick decision to move? Not too many people can do that and land on their feet. Not too many people make a decision like that without a significant reason.”