Gloria's Man (3 page)

"Mine," he growled. "Forever mine!"

Gloria's body shivered, his words pleasing to her, even though she knew in her heart it was pillow talk. But, oh, how she wanted it to be true! This man called to her on a level she'd never thought possible. It was more than simply good sex; she actually liked the man. The few times she'd been in his company, he'd always been the perfect gentlemen. Even now, with his lovemaking almost brutal in its intensity, he ensured her pleasure, giving much more than he took.

Without thinking about what she was saying, not caring if she had to pretend her words meant nothing later, Gloria breathed, "Yes. Yours."

And her world exploded.

A Happy Valentine’s After All

Gloria came back to her apartment later that day to find Donovan still there. She sat in her car for a full five minutes, trying to decide what she should do before she summoned the courage to go inside.

"Where have you been?" Donovan's voice oozed concern. "I was so worried!"

Gloria stiffened when he pulled her into his arms in a fierce embrace the second she opened the door. His touch repulsed her now. Strange how she'd once turned to him for comfort, and now she couldn't bear to even look at him. Betrayal was a bitter pill to swallow. She left the door open when he would have closed it behind her.

"What are you doing here, Donovan? I told you to leave yesterday."

He had the gall to look surprised. "Where else would I be? I know you didn't really mean it when you told me to get out. We're soul mates."

Oh, no. He did
not
pull that puppy dog-eye crap with her. Not after she’d found him in her bed screwing her best friend.

"Of course I meant it," she snapped, shoving him away from her and stalking away. "Get out. You can get your things tomorrow while I'm at work and leave the key under the mat."

"Can't we at least talk about this? What I did was wrong, but I realize what a mistake I made, sweetheart. I love you."

There was a time in their relationship when Gloria would have given in just because Donovan had a way of wearing her down. He'd keep on apologizing, swearing his undying love, even crying until she gave in just to shut him up. Things would be okay for a while, then they'd be back to the same old thing. Namely, Donovan treating her like a doormat. Well, it was over. She might not have Raulf Lundgrin, but she certainly didn't want to go back to Donovan Eddings.

"You were fucking my best friend and her boyfriend. In my bed. What more is there to talk about?"

"Just give me a chance, Gloria..."

He was interrupted by someone clearing his throat. "Am I interrupting?"

Raulf!

Gloria's heart leapt at the sight of him. He looked straight at her, his blue eyes intense and seeming to see straight to her soul. When she met his gaze and smiled, he let out a breath and answered her smile with one of her own.

"No."

"Yes!"

Gloria couldn't help but roll her eyes. As if Donovan had a say in this.

Raulf raised an eyebrow and shifted his icy gaze to Donovan. "I wasn't asking you." Effectively dismissing Donovan, Raulf turned his attention back to Gloria. Her heart thundered in her chest. Why was he here?

"I'd hoped to speak to you before you left this morning, but it seems you wore me out." There it was. Why that simple proclamation make her so absurdly happy when it should have shocked and humiliated her was beyond her at the moment. All that mattered was that Raulf was there. He was there and he was making damned sure Donovan knew where she'd spent last night.

"Wait." Donovan stepped closer to Gloria. "You slept with Raulf Lundgrin? Isn't he Tasha's man?" Gloria could see the wheels in Donovan's mind whirling. He was about to equate what she'd done with what he'd done.

"No. I'm not." Raulf didn't even look at Donovan. "I'm Gloria's"

There was no way Gloria could have stopped the smile she knew lit her face. Raulf reached for her and she went into his arms without hesitation. She knew Donovan wanted to protest. It was just the way he was. Raulf glanced his way, however, and the other man stiffened.

"Well, I guess I'll be leaving."

"That would be best," Raulf replied mildly. There was nothing overtly threatening in what Raulf said, but the way he said it, the way his hold on Gloria tightened slightly seemed to deflate Donovan.

When he'd left, Raulf pulled back to look at her, his eyes intent. "Are you sorry he's gone?"

"How could I be? He didn't love me. Why should I waste my time on him when I meant so little to him?"

Raulf smiled at her, tucking a stray tendril of hair behind her ear before kissing her lightly. "That's only because he was too stupid to see what was right in front of him."

"So what now?" she asked, needing to know what her future held. Was that all for show? Did he do it only to help her get rid of a soul-sucking boyfriend?

"Now," his smile widened, "we see if sex is as good in your apartment as it is in my house, and I'm pretty sure this is an experiment that will need to be repeated many, many times... for years and years"

Who was she to argue?