Graham took a long deep swallow of his beer as he stared out at the blackness. On one hand, he was relieved not to have a starry, moonlit night but on the other, he didn’t want any surprises. Guy was in place watching for anyone who didn’t belong in the area; he’d offered, refusing to hire anyone else. Not many people knew Graham’s home address and he liked to keep it that way. According to Guy he had the place fortified enough that Fort Knox had a thing or two to learn from him.
The softest of sounds made him turn his head. The light from the kitchen backlit Tarin causing her to appear ethereal. As though being reeled in by an invisible thread, he walked toward her. At one point, she looked like she was going to bolt but she didn’t. The only sign that she was uncomfortable was the stiffening of her body, making her appear like a statue. As he came closer, he reached up and brushed the back of his fingers against her cheek. She held his gaze for the longest time before she gently nuzzled his hand.
He cupped her face as he lowered his lips to hers. Her arms lifted and molded their way around him, pulling him in tight. He took that as a sign, a good one. He lifted her up and almost stopped to grin as she wrapped her legs around his waist. The hallway was short and wide and didn’t hinder his movement at all. But the heat they were generating made him weak in the knees and he had to stop to lean against the wall. Their lips remained fused as he finally stumbled into the bedroom and although he’d planned on setting her down gently, they crashed onto the bed. He barely managed to flip out his arm to keep from landing heavily on her.
She was making the cutest mewling sound he’d ever heard. Pulling back slightly despite her protest, he watched her until her darkened, kittenish eyes opened and told him all he needed to know. Her hands caressed him under his t-shirt, raking her nails down over his hard abs one minute and clutching him to her the next. To make it easier for her he pulled his top over his head. She bit her lip as her eyes drank in every last bit of his chest. That look alone damn near sent him over the top.
His lips brushed against hers just before he flipped over, placing her on top.
“Eeee.”
He loved her little squeal. His hands reached under her blouse so he could stroke her skin.
“Ohhh.” She placed her fingers on his forearms. He held still watching her, letting her decide where this was going. She squeezed her eyes tight for the longest moment before she took a deep breath and sat up. He let his arms drop to his sides. Her gaze locked onto his as she slowly reached for the top button. It felt like forever before she managed to finally undo it. The teasing was almost sending him over the top. She’d undo it, pull back her blouse a bit and then slide the button back through. When she finally got to the third one and was flashing him some pink lace, he wanted to rip the blouse from her body. But he didn’t; he could tell how much she was enjoying the control she had. His fingers curled into the bed sheets. That’s when she upped the torture.
Her hips started undulating against his raging erection. Not able to take anymore, he pulled her down to him. How they ever managed to get all their clothes off he wasn’t sure, because neither one of them could keep their hands off the other’s body.
When he finally had her naked he took a moment to drink in her perfection. “You’re so beautiful.”
Her happy smile dimmed a bit and she dropped her gaze down to look at his chest.
He tipped her chin up with his index finger. He searched her eyes. “I’m not sure why that bothers you because you are. Very. Inside and out. You’re an amazing woman. And I don’t have to tell you what you do to me.” He arched his hips slightly letting her feel the full length of him.
Her teeth nibbled at her lower lip as her eyes darkened.
“I don’t sleep with a lot of women if that’s what you’re thinking. Or that it’s a line. It’s not. I’ve been fighting my attraction to you since day one.” Realizing that talking never really made a difference, he let his actions speak for him. He pulled her down to him and kissed her deeply and fully, letting her know she was the only woman he was interested in. And she was in charge.
There were times he wasn’t sure if he was going to survive his decision to let her control their lovemaking. She was a natural born tease. And he loved every minute of it.
~~~~
Tarin lifted her head to look down at the man that might have stolen something from her. Only he didn’t know it and she had freely given it. She didn’t believe in love or at least she hadn’t. Now she wasn’t sure. She only knew this man who didn’t trust her may have every right to hate her. And now she’d complicated it by jumping into bed with him. She’d only wanted to feel something real for a change.
Slowly getting up, she tiptoed from his bedroom. Her jacket was tossed over the arm of the sofa. She picked it up and pulled out her cell phone and dialed.
“Hello.” The groggy answer was almost enough to get her to hang up.
“Hi Bobbie.”
“Tarin.”
“I want answers. I’ve known you all my life.”
“You know.”
“I know. But I want to hear it from you. I need to hear you tell me that you screwed me over.”
“I didn’t, it’s not—”
Unable to listen to the sobs that choked her voice, Tarin hung up but that didn’t stop the contact. Ten texts came in, in rapid succession, each one apologizing and begging to explain. She texted her back, a time and a place to meet, then shut off her phone.