KEPT: A Second Chance Fairy Tale (35 page)

“What do you mean?”

“She used him to hurt Michael. Hence my feelings for her.”

“I love her name,” I state my opinion as fact, then add, “Victoria Holden sounds like an actress’s name.”

“Oh, she was good at that. Acting, that is.”

I ignore his comment regarding a dead woman not here to defend herself and move to the next topic. “He told me a little bit about Caleb.”

Corbin all but drops his paper cup to the table. “What?”

“His son. That’s who we were just talking about. Caleb, right?”

He nods, but eyes me curiously.

“Why don’t you look like you know what I’m talking about?”

Leaning forward, he voices louder than necessary, “Because Michael hasn’t said his name to anyone, including Lillie or me, in so long, I forgot what it sounded like hearing someone else say it.”

“His sister…”

“Oh yes. Deni. She’s about as nutty as you are,” he quips, lifting a chip to his mouth.

“I’m not nutty!” I cry out, and the couple beside us turns to watch Corbin laugh. “I’m not. Anyway, Denise started it all when she told me about the accident.”

“It was a long time ago,” he returns. “Things happen,” he says next, then sits up and looks directly at me. “
People
happen.”

Shaking my head after I’ve wrapped the rest of my lunch for the trash, I reply, “I don’t get what you’re saying.”

“Lucy, stop,” he insists.

His warm hand covers mine, so I look up and blink. The caring expression on his face is surprising. Other than my first day, when I was insulted by Michael, Corbin’s always been so light and jovial.

His expression now is heavy, matching his observation. “I know you’ll deny this, and I wish you wouldn’t because I think we should talk about it, but I think you have feelings for Michael.” Obviously, Michael never told him anything. “And I think he has feelings for you.”

I don’t know how to respond. If I admit it and Corbin addresses Michael, he’ll think he can’t trust me.

“It’s complicated.”

“It’s not.” He gives me a small smile. “Lucy, I don’t want to sound like I’m prying.”

“Then don’t,” I reply, grabbing my tray and starting to stand.

Corbin reaches out and takes my arm. He looks up at me with determination. “This has nothing to do with working at the office together,” he explains. “It’s more about you not knowing everything there is to know about him.”

“Good thing nothing’s going on then, right?” I answer, looking down at his concerned expression. I don’t get a good feeling.

“Of all the men…” he mumbles, picking up his tray. “Seriously, this shit could’ve been so much easier if you were my type.”

I laugh at his ridiculousness, making my way to the door with him trailing behind.

Once we’re in the car, Corbin double-checks his seatbelt and says, “By the way…” He hands me his American Express card. “You need a dress for Saturday night. Take this. We’ll expense it.”

“I don’t need that,” I deny, pushing his hand away. “I have a dress.”

Corbin’s eyebrow cocks on one side. “You have a formal dress?”

“Yes.”

“I’m about to sound like a dick, but just go with it.”

“What?” I snap.

“It’s not like…”

“What?”

“It covers you, right? ‘Cause you’re going to this with both Michael and me and, well… I’m protective, but he will lose his shit if the other guests hit on you because of what you’re wearing.”

Pushing his hand harder, ensuring he gets my point, I say, “I have a dress with enough material to cover me. How’s that?”

“Okay,” he replies quietly.

As I start the car, I observe, “A new car and a credit card all in one day. I’m feeling pretty special.”

“Mike has always taken care of the women in his life.”

“Oh god,” I breathe. “Not again.”

“I’m saying nothing more,” he concludes and, thankfully, doesn’t mention the topic again.

Michael

“Y
OU CAN’T INTIMIDATE ME,” LUCY
says at the same time she starts backing up. The little liar is full of shit. Her breathing hasn’t been steady since she started to challenge me at dinner.

“I don’t want to intimidate you,” I calmly return while slowly walking toward her. “We’re going to talk.”

After talking with Corbin, I’ve made the decision to discuss Lucy’s situation with Margret. I plan to coerce her in whatever way needed to let us flush out this woman in any way possible. I’m not proud of the fact that I’ll probably enjoy every minute, either.

My shirt has already been discarded. The scratches along my ribs from her fingernails are evidence of her still very aroused state. On the way home, Lucy had an idea as soon as Marcus rolled up the dividing window separating us from him. Before the damn thing was secure, she’d already crawled onto my lap and unbuttoned half my shirt. I’d like to take credit for the heat in her eyes right now, but can’t. She got herself worked up while I watched. She did this all on her own.

All through dinner, I refused to touch her, trying to keep us focused on saying things that needed to be said. I’ll admit, I was close as fuck to breaking, hardly holding my composure as her shy hand aggressively stroked my cock under my suit pants.

“You don’t look like you’re about to talk,” she notes, her wide eyes staring at my chest. “You look like you’re about to come unglued.”

Smiling smugly, I advise, “Oh, I will.
After
we talk.”

The excitement in her eyes fades. “Really?”

“Yes, really.”

“You and I haven’t been together since…” She pauses, her jaw dropping. “Are you breaking up with me?”

She’s ridiculous.

“Are we in third grade? No, I’m not breaking up with you. Get over here.”

Shaking her head, she crosses her arms over her chest. The cute, black dress she chose for our first official date tonight bunches slightly in the front, revealing more of her than I’ve seen all week. Not to mention her black lace bra does nothing to help my attempt at stalling.

“Come here, Lucy.”

“We’re talking,” she points out. “This was all your idea. I can’t talk if you’re touching me. So, go on. Talk.”

I’ve thought of things to say. I’ve never been so open with another person. Not even–especially not–with Victoria. Our life had settled in a way separate from each other. I didn’t wonder where she was when she wasn’t with me. Not like I do with Lucy. She’s under my skin.

“I don’t want you to see anyone else.”

Her eyebrows lift, and I see thoughts conjuring behind her eyes. I don’t want to know what those are until I’ve finished what I have to say.

“I think you get me, but I want to be
sure
you get me.”

“I wasn’t thinking of seeing anyone else,” she interrupts. “I like this.” She points between us. “And as long as you’re not, ya know, ruining moods as you do, I think I’ll
really
like this.”

“Ruining moods?”

“You tend to do that,” she explains, reaching behind her for the silver zipper I noticed earlier. I had planned on removing her dress myself, but I’m not let down. I’ve learned I can’t plan on much with Lucy.

“I won’t see other people,” I continue. “No one but you for as long as this lasts.”

“And telling Corbin and Lillie?”

“Yes. We’ll do it together Saturday night.”

Lucy shakes her head, taunting me with a smile. Her hands reach her shoulders and she slowly brings the dress down over her chest, stomach, and thighs. Her black lace bra, which I’ve seen only glimpses of, matches the black lace panties, which I hadn’t.

Christ
.

I close my eyes, willing myself to stay still until we’re done.

“Michael,” she says softly, closer than she was before. I swallow hard, not answering. “Look at me,” she requests.

My hands ball into fists at my sides. My jaw clenches so hard, it’s a wonder I haven’t broken teeth.

“Michael,” she says again, putting her hands on me.

Giving up and looking down at her, I find her eyes are soft. The familiar way she handles me proves such care.

“I don’t know if I’m any good at this, Lucy,” I admit, covering her cheek with my hand.

“Dating?” she innocently asks.

No. Loving someone without breaking them.

Giving another person power to ruin me like I’ve been ruined.

This is another kind of damnation, though. This isn’t the same as losing a child I loved or a wife I tolerated. This is a future I never planned on having.

“Yes. Dating,” I choose to say, leaving out the rest. “There are things you don’t know and I have to tell you.”

Part of my subconscious begs me to tell her the truth. That I’ve been watching her for so long when I had no business doing so. I’ve been ensuring she’s been taken care of when it wasn’t my place to do so. Lucy lost her husband, not her ability to take care of herself.

Her eyes roam my face. She’s trying to understand, but she couldn’t possibly. “Tell me.”

Selfishly, I’m not ready to explain. The skin of her neck and chest are pale in comparison to her pink cheeks. It’s too distracting.

Bending to kiss her, I allow my fingertips to rest at her neck. I feel her pulse beating against my own, so free and alive–and willing to be loved.

And that’s what Lucy is. Willing to be loved.

She’s also proven she’s willing to put up with all of me. After everything I told her in Chicago, it could have sent her running, but it didn’t. Rather, it brought us closer.

“I need to tell you something, but I can’t do it like this.”

“Enough talking,” she clips. “We’re not seeing other people, and we’re telling the others. So?”

“Lucy,” I breathe, stepping back and turning around.

Her hand grabs mine. Without hesitation, she pulls me toward my bed. When my body lands on hers, her hips start to move. I feel the warmth of her fingers running the expanse of my back as I brace my arms on either side of her face.

“You’re so insistent,” I explain the obvious. “I wanted to talk.”

“And we will,” she tells me, reaching between us and undoing my buckle first, then heading for the zipper of my pants. Once I’m free, she uses her thighs to help push them down, all while her hips continue to move with mine.

And she’s smirking.

“You’re relentless,” I hiss out when she grabs my cock and strokes it once.

Lucy is seducing me the only way she knows how. There’s a true innocence to a woman going after what she wants, trusting a man she, by all rights, hardly knows to be gentle and care for her. She doesn’t realize how I’ve grown to care for her, though. And until Chicago, neither had I.

Her body continues moving, but her eyes hold mine. She’s removed her bra, panties, and my pants. Once in position, her gaze locked on mine, I slide into her, thrusting quick and hard.

“There,” she breathes, holding me against her, using her powerful thighs to keep me still. I could move if I wanted, but giving her the power makes her playful seduction all the more worth watching.

“You happy with yourself?” I ask, still unmoving. Her hands tear at my back, her fingernails digging deep.

“Very happy.” Then she sets me free, loosening her legs and allowing me to finally take over. “I never thought it’d be like this,” she whispers in my ear as my tongue and teeth work her neck. The longer I taste her, the harder she grips me from inside. “To feel like this. I don’t think I ever have.”

Hearing her say this, feeling her words as we’re so close, my body begins to ache with anticipation. The softness of her chest against mine, her fingers grasping the skin of my shoulders as she holds me to her, have already started to undo me. I won’t let her.

“Turn around,” I demand. When she hesitates, I ask, “Lucy, do you trust me?”

For all intents and purposes, Lucy’s inexperienced. Before it ended, her marriage was still young. All I know about her has told me she’s only been with a few men, possibly just the one.

“Yes,” she returns.

Positioned behind her, I grab her thighs. “Cheek to the pillow, Lucy. Don’t move.”

My hand travels over the soft skin of her ass. I position my cock outside her entrance and she inhales. I’m making her nervous. To gain her attention, I deliver a hard slap to one of her cheeks. The sound of my palm meeting her flesh echoes in the room with a pop. She jumps in place, then I enter her.

“Oh, my god,” she exhales, holding her cheek to the pillow. I can tell by the way her arms are positioned at her side that she’s debating on making a run for it or turning around to face me.

“Don’t fucking move, Lucy.”

“Do it again,” she pleads.

My cock swells inside her and I’m forced to take a breath. I look at the ceiling rather than at her as my hand delivers another slap on the opposite side.

“Michael,” she pushes out, clenching me. “Oh god. Oh god.”

She’s on the edge and taking me with her.

“Turn around,” I clip, harsher than necessary.

She does, her legs spread in front of me. She watches as I grab her thighs and pull her body to the edge of the bed before driving into her again – hard and fast. My hands on each side of her waist move her body into me. When her fingers come up to touch my chest, I lose control.