In Blood and Worth Loving 2: Lost Without You (7 page)

“Sounds like a personal problem to me.”

His smile vanished and he reached across the table to recapture her hand. “Don’t waste either of our times trying to convince me you’re indifferent to me. We both know better.” She shook her head. “You know I want him back. That doesn’t leave any room for the way you’re behaving and talking.”

“This is what it is, sweet.”

“Meaning?”

“Meaning I always get the woman of my choice.”

There was no point in pretending his words didn’t delight and flatter her. She moistened her lips. “What about your women? I have no desire to be just another of your conquests.” He lifted her fingers to his mouth. “I’m sure my matchmaking niece has already told you that I’m not married, engaged, or otherwise committed.” He smiled. “I’m yours to command, sweet.” She stared at him, her stomach twisting into knots. “Oh, Jay.”

“Be careful how you handle me.”

The idea of handling him excited her. To cover it, she shrugged. “Or?”

“Or you might find it difficult to tell me no.”

Assuming she wanted to tell him no. She experienced a thrill at the thought. “You’re supposed to be helping me win him back.”

win him back.”

“I’ll do that—when hell freezes the fuck over!”

She compressed her lips. “If that’s how you feel, why are we here?” His easy smile returned. “You enchant me.”

She stared at him. Whether she actually should, she believed him. The truthfulness of his assertion was visible in his eyes and clear in his voice. Or did she just want to believe he meant what he said?

He nodded. “I’ve never had to lie to get what I want from a woman, sweet. I mean it. You totally enchant me—

you have from the moment we met.”

She swallowed slowly. Her heart raced. “I don’t know what to say,” she admitted.

“Then just listen. I want to get to know you—in the biblical sense.” So he wanted the easy pussy he accused her of giving Michael. “That’s not going to happen!” She tugged at her hand until he released it.

“I wouldn’t bet on that.”

“And I wouldn’t bet on that caveman attitude getting you very far.” He laughed and then abruptly sat staring at her neck in silence.

She placed a hand over her throat. “What?”

He shook his head and extended his hand. “Let’s call a truce and dance.” Slow dancing with him was not a good idea but she placed her hand in his.

He squeezed it gently before releasing it and rising. “Trust me, sweet. I won’t ever willingly hurt you.” Despite her misgivings about the advisability of dancing with him after his admission, his words resonated deep inside her. Tossing caution aside, she walked onto the dance floor with him. When he stopped, she went willingly into his arms.

Although he held her close, he didn’t attempt to grind against her nor did he allow his hands to slide down her back to touch her ass.

After several moments, her comfort level with him increased enough for her to slip her arms inside his jacket.

“Who were you with?” she asked him.

“When?”

She kept her cheek against his shoulder. “The night we met at the club.”

“Rayna.”

She looked up at him. “Rayna?”

“Rayna.”

“But you said…you implied—”

“You said you weren’t alone and I said I wasn’t either. You decided I must be with someone in whom I had a romantic interest. The assumption was yours.”

“You let me think you were with another woman!”

“I let you? Okay. My bad.” He tightened his arm around her waist. “We don’t have enough time together to waste it arguing, sweet.”

She nodded. He was right. Why argue when she could enjoy being in the circle of his arms? She pressed her cheek against his shoulder again. “Do you love her…them?”

He brushed his lips against the top of her head. “Who?”

“Your woman…women. Are you in love with any of them?”

“No.”

She lifted her head again to look up at him. “Why not? Because you still love your wife?”

“I have and expect to always have the fondest memories of my Little Brown Reed. She was the only woman I’ve ever loved. I’ll never forget her and will always cherish her memory and the time we shared.”

“But?”

“But I’m no longer in love with her or anyone else.” He bent his head to brush his lips against her ear. “I’m yours for the taking, sweet.”

She trembled and gripped the back of his shirt. “Don’t.”

He nibbled her ear. “Don’t what?”

“Don’t make me feel things for you I don’t want to feel.”

“You can trust me,” he whispered but lifted his head.

“You can trust me,” he whispered but lifted his head.

“I think I do trust you, but I still want him back.”

“You keep telling yourself that while I change your mind.”

She sucked in a breath but made no effort to pull away from him.

They finished the dance in silence.

The next was fast and rhythmic. She was delighted to find he was a sexy, skillful dancer who seemed to enjoy dancing fast as much as he did dancing slowly.

After two more fast dances, they returned to their table.

“Would you like anything else?” he asked.

She glanced at the table. Neither one of them had done more than pick at their food but she found she had no appetite. “No. I think it’s time to think about calling it a night.” He nodded and signaled for the maître d’.

His failure to try to talk her into staying disappointed her.

After settling the bill, he slipped an arm around her shoulders.

She bit her lip, hesitated, and then tentatively put an arm around his waist, under his jacket.

At her car, she moistened her lips before looking up at him. “I had a good time tonight. Thanks for—”

“I’ll follow you home,” he told her.

She met his gaze and decided not to waste her time telling him that wasn’t necessary. Besides, she liked the idea he wanted to see her safely home.

“Okay.” She extended her hand for her keys.

He reached in his pocket and placed a key fob in her palm.

She stared down at it. “You gave me your fob by mistake,” she said.

He shook his head. “I thought you might like to drive my car,” he said.

“Yes?”

“Yes.”

“I’d better not.”

“Why not, sweet?”

“Money is really tight. My budget isn’t going to stretch to cover any damage I might do it.”

“Can’t you drive?”

“Of course I can, but even a scratch on this will cost a small fortune.”

“Money isn’t tight for me.” He bent his head to brush his lips against her neck. “If you manage to do any damage, I’ll repair it. Drive it home without any worries or fears, sweet.”

“You’re sure?”

He nodded.

Smiling, she walked over to his car and slipped in.

He leaned down to tell her where a few key components were before he walked over to her car and got inside.

She took a deep breath, adjusted the driver ‘s seat, and started the car. She drove slowly for the first mile before the joy of driving such an expensive and powerful car kicked in. Then she settled back and enjoyed the remaining drive.

The small ranch home she’d bought after her divorce from Michael was located on a quiet, tree-lined cul-de-sac.

They parked in her two spots on the side of the house before getting out of their respective cars.

She walked over to him and extended his key fob.

“Did you like driving it?”

She nodded. “Oh, yes.”

“Good. Then keep it.”

“What?”

He slipped her keys back into his pocket. “I’ll have Rayna draw up a bill of sale or whatever is necessary to make our exchanging cars legal.”

“You can’t be serious.”

“Oh, but I am.”

“You can’t possibly want to drive my four-year old car.”

“You’re right. I don’t. I’ll donate it to one of Rayna’s worthy causes.”

“I’m not going to keep your car, Jay.”

“Why not?”

“Even if I wanted to, I couldn’t afford the upkeep.”

“There won’t be any besides gas. It’s only two months old.”

“Jay—”

“I’ll tell you what. Keep it for a week and see if you change your mind.”

“I can’t!”

“Of course you can. It’s fully insured and I’m not going to take no for an answer.” He took his key fob, pushed it into her handbag, and turned her towards her house. “End of discussion.” The thought of driving his car for the next week overcame her remaining reluctance. But she was not going to keep it. “Fine. I’ll keep it for a week.”

“Great. Now I’ll see you to your door, sweet.”

As they approached the entrance door, she saw two vases of red roses on the top step.

She let out a happy laugh and turned to grip the lapels of Jayvyn’s jacket. “Thank you.” After a slight moment of indecision, she stretched on her toes and pressed a quick kiss against the corner of his mouth.

He smiled. “Let me carry them inside for you.”

“Thanks.”

Inside her front door, he sat the roses on the hall table before he brushed his fingers against her neck. “What time shall I pick you up tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow? What do you mean?”

“I mean we’re having dinner tomorrow night.”

“It’s Saturday.”

“And?” He grinned. “Let me guess. You don’t eat on Saturday.”

“I do, but—”

“Why don’t we say five-thirty?”

“Why don’t we say you haven’t asked me and I haven’t said I want to see you tomorrow.”

“Okay. We’ll make it six. I’ll see you tomorrow night, sweet.” He drew her into his arms.

Ignoring the voice of reason that urged her to push him away, she linked her arms around his neck and lifted her face with her lips parted.

Cupping his palms over her ass, he pulled her close, grinding against her.

She licked her lips and eagerly awaited the feel of his mouth on hers.

Instead of taking the lips she offered, he continued to grind against her as he sucked, licked, and nipped at the side of her neck.

A jolt of desire thundered through her, searing away all commonsense. With her panties wet and feeling as if she were on fire for him, she hungrily rubbed her pussy against him.

He inhaled and stepped quickly away from her. “I’m not a boy who can’t control himself, but if you get me hot, I’m going to expect you to satisfy me. So don’t start anything you’re not prepared to finish tonight, sweet.” Mindless with need, she gripped his ass and ground herself against him again, hoping to feel his cock hardening against her.

“Shit! Stop that or I swear I’m going to spank your big ass until it stings and then fuck it and your pussy so hard and so deep you’ll think I’ve branded you as mine. And if that asshole comes around again, he’ll discover the pussy he thought was his is now all mine to eat, fuck, and suck until your pussy will cream every time I look at you.” The hot lustful words spoken in a brusque voice shocked her back to her senses.

She gasped and jerked away from him, her cheeks burning. “Jay! Please.”

“Please what? Fuck you?”

She shook her head, but she ached to feel his cock sliding inside her.

“I could easily change your mind.”

There was no damn doubt about that. “Please don’t try, Jay.”

He bent his head to press a long, hot, blistering kiss against the side of her neck before he abruptly lifted his head, and quickly left.

Trembling with frustrated need, Cayenne locked the door, set the alarm, and stumbled into the bathroom.

Feeling the need to wash her desire for him away, she took a long cool shower before slipping into bed.

Feeling the need to wash her desire for him away, she took a long cool shower before slipping into bed.

* * *

When he left Cayenne, Jayvyn called Toni.

She answered immediately. “Darling, where have you been? I’ve been calling you all night.”

“I had my ringer off.”

“Why?”

“Never mind where I’ve been or why I didn’t answer. I’m on my way to my condo. Meet me there?”

“Of course.”

He arrived first. He undressed and showered before he sat nude in the darkened living room waiting for her.

“Do you have company, darling?” she asked as she let herself in with her key.

“No.”

“Then who’s wreck is that parked in your second spot?”

“I traded cars with a friend. Now that’s enough talk,” he said, rising.

Within seconds of her arrival, he had her stripped and pressed against the closed entrance door. He thrust his cock deep in her tight, hot ass while he sank his incisors into the side of her neck.

“Oh, yes!” She moaned, reached back to pull him closer. “My ass is yours, darling. Take it and enjoy it.” He kept her against the door for nearly two hours, alternatively fucking her ass and her pussy. With each deep thrust, he struggled to reach a level of satisfaction that would alleviate some of the incessant hunger he’d felt since meeting Cayenne.

Although he came several times, when he finally slipped out of her, his hunger for sexual intimacy was unabated. Damn. He stalked into the master suite to the take another shower. As he stood under an onslaught of cold water, he found it difficult to dismiss thoughts of Cayenne.

He could hear Toni slipping into his bed. She couldn’t give him what he needed or wanted and he felt no pressing need for her presence. Alighting from the shower, he dried off, and stalked back into the bedroom.

Toni lay posed on his bed with her legs parted.

He could see moisture on her pussy lips. The scent of her arousal filled the air.

She smiled at him. “Come join me, darling.”

He crossed the room to sit on the side of the bed. Clearly, she still felt as horny as he did. “I’m going home,” he told her.

She narrowed her gaze. “Isn’t this home?”

His Rittenhouse Square condo was large and luxurious, but the mansion where he and his brothers had chosen to settle down was and always would be home—at least until circumstances forced them to move on. “I meant to the mansion.”

“Why? Is she there?”

He tensed. “Is who there?”

“The woman’s whose perfume you reeked of when you arrived. Is she there waiting for you?” Fems possessed an extremely keen scent of smell. The shower hadn’t done the job. He shrugged. “I don’t owe you any explanation, but if I had someone waiting there for me, I wouldn’t have called you. I’m going home to work.” He kissed her on the side of her neck and rose to dress. “I’ll call you on a few days.”