Taking His Woman (4 page)

“Give me a second,” he said.

Erica watched him walk away from the table and
approach the bar where the waiter stood. She admired Chris’s fine ass from
where she sat. Chris might be a bastard on a lot of scales, but at least his
body was something to look at. Feeling the heat of her blush staining her
cheeks, she gazed down at her hands. Ben never made her feel like this, wild
and uninhibited, free for the whole world to see. Ben gave her the safety net
that she’d worked so hard to achieve. He left her feeling secure whereas Chris
was the total opposite. Could she live a life always feeling safe? The feelings
evoked by Ben were mediocre. How could she force Ben into a relationship where
she would feel no passion or love?

Since Chris had walked back into her life, her
whole world had become nothing but confusion. Her thoughts and feelings were
all over the place. The levelheadedness was gone.

He came back minutes later looking pretty happy
with himself. “They’re going to wrap our food up. I’ve gone for a couple of
burgers instead of the steak.”

“How are you going to drive?” she asked, seeing
his hand wrapped in the towel.

“No worries. It only hurts a little. I’m still
good to drive.”

“What if they give you drugs or something to
help with the pain?”

Chris reached over, touching her hand. “Don’t
worry, baby. I’ve got this.”

She didn’t bother to question him. The waiter
came out with their order wrapped in some fancy tubs. Erica carried them out to
the car while he fired everything up. His hand looked fine. There was no blood
seeping out of the towel.

“Are you sure you’re not going to pass out on
me?”

“Have a little faith. I’m only doing this as a
precaution for your sake. Strap in.” She buckled her seat belt before he pulled
out of the restaurant. This time she kept her focus on him instead of looking
out of the car window.

“You look beautiful,” he said.

“Chris, you don’t have to say stuff like that
to me.”

“I want to. You look amazing, and thank you for
agreeing to go out with me tonight. I know it took a lot from you, and I
appreciate it.”

What could she say to that?

“The way you asked didn’t leave me much
choice.”

She heard him sigh. “This thing with Ben, do
you think you’ll marry him?” Erica tucked her hair behind her ear. She would do
anything to stop herself from answering his question.

“I should accept. He’s a great guy. He’s sweet,
caring, and everything—”

“That I’m not,” he said, interrupting her.

Erica heard the sadness in his voice, and she
couldn’t allow him to go on thinking that he meant nothing to her. “And he is
everything you’re not.”

She felt his eyes on her body in the quiet
assessment he had always used to make to her. She rubbed her hands over her
dress, which lay along her thighs. He would be looking straight ahead, watching
the road. When she thought it was safe enough to look at him, she did. His jaw
was clenched. She saw the way he kept his gaze on the road rather than look at
her.

For the rest of the journey, Erica kept her
mouth shut. She didn’t want to cause any other problems.

Chris parked close to the entrance to the
emergency department. She followed him inside. He talked to the nurse on the
desk and filled out some forms before they both took a seat waiting for a
doctor. She clutched her hands in her lap, as hospitals always made her
nervous. The number of people who entered and didn’t come back out again scared
her. He grabbed her hand, interlocking their fingers. She knew he was offering
her his strength. Erica gave his hand a gentle squeeze. Their silent
communication meant more to her than any words that could be spoken.

The doctor came out, and Chris pulled her into
the waiting room.

“Sorry for the delay. We’ve had a lot of
accidents today,” the doctor said.

“No problem. I just wanted to get this checked
out to ease my lady’s mind.” Erica scowled at him. She stayed out of the way of
the doctor. Chris gave her a wink, which made her smile even though she tried
not to.

He explained what happened to the doctor, who
then removed the towel. She saw there were a few cuts but nothing else. She’d
been worrying for nothing.

The doctor cleaned up the cuts to make sure
there was no glass. He advised for Chris not to shatter any more in his hand
and handed over some papers before leaving them.

“See, I’m okay. A fuss for nothing,” he said.

“All right, but I’m still glad we made sure. I
would have been worrying for the rest of the night.”

He took her hand once again, leading her out to
the car.

“Where are we going?” she asked.

“We’ve still got to eat. I’m taking you some
place. Buckle up and relax.” He closed the door, going round the car to his own
side. The excitement of the surprise made her giggle when he started the car.
She hadn’t felt so carefree in a long time. “I missed that sound.”

He put the car into gear, and they were off,
the town and the beach far behind them.

****

Chris knew a quaint little place with a water
fountain and the most amazing view of the city. With it being a Friday,
everywhere was busy, but he knew the fountain wouldn’t be. There were not many
bars, clubs, or restaurant in the area for people to sit and eat. He found a
parking lot with plenty of spaces. While Erica got out, he grabbed their food,
taking her hand in the process, and he walked her to his destination.

There were a few people around the fountain but
not enough to spoil their time together.

“Wow,” she said.

Chris stopped, giving her enough time to enjoy
the view. “I know it’s not some landmark or anything. To me, this is
beautiful.”

Lights surrounded the base of the fountain
lighting the water up like a running glow. “I’ve never seen anything so
beautiful. At least nothing as good as this in the city,” she said.

“Come. Sit and eat.” They took their seats on
the edge. Erica ran her hand in the water. Chris pulled out a coin and handed
it to her. “Make a wish and pay the toll.”

“I’m not a child,” she said, refusing to take
the coin.

“I know. This is fun, and who can’t believe in wishes?”
To show her, he closed his eyes, made a wish, and threw the coin in.

“You made a wish?”

“Yes.”

I wished
for you to be happy.

He grabbed another coin and handed it to her.
She took it, staring from him to the coin and back again.

“I don’t need to know your wish. Just once let
go and believe in something that cannot be explained.”

She stared at the coin, before she held it
close to her chest, whispered something he couldn’t hear, and then threw it
into the water.

He held out her box of fried chicken. She gazed
at him for several moments before taking the box from him.

“I’ve never done that before,” she said.

“Thrown coins into a fountain?”

She nodded her head. Chris didn’t ask any
further questions. He knew she held a lot in about her past. When she was
ready, she’d share with him.

“Thank you,” she said.

“What for?”

“For not asking.
So many
people want to know everyone’s past. I’m not ready to talk about it.”

He took out a burger, eating the few pieces of
lettuce that had escaped. “Sometimes it gets easier if you talk with someone,
but I also know keeping it in can be the best.”

Erica smiled, taking a bite of her fried
chicken. Watching her eat was special to him. Most women picked at salads as if
they had
mold
or something on them. Erica dug in,
taking chunks of chicken and the coleslaw he handed to her.

“Wow, this tastes good,” she said.

“Burger is great. Take a bite.” He offered up
his food, and she took some. Watching her teeth sink into the bun made him
smile. His dick twitched with how open she was. Even after the crap he’d said
to her all that time ago, she still kept herself open like a book.

“Okay, this food is too damn good. Have some
chicken.” She pulled some off and fed it to him from her fingers. He licked her
fingers that held the chicken. Her gasp filled the air, making his dick harden.
Chris remembered that gasp. He knew her juice would be pooling in her panties,
and her slit would be red and creamy.

“Tastes good.”
He wasn’t
referring to the chicken. The memory of her pussy was still clear in his mind.
The years melted away, and the only people who remained were Erica and he. If
he could go back in time he would do things differently. On the Monday he never
would say the horrid words that had come out of his mouth. When he really
thought about it, his actions were no different from his father’s to Molly.

She looked away first. He saw the blush on her
cheeks. The rise and fall of her chest showed her rapid breathing. Gazing down
her body, he saw her pointed nipples and farther down, the unmistakable
tightening of her legs. His woman was turned on.

Putting the food down and out of the way, he
moved closer to her. Her chicken was discarded. Chris cupped her cheek, turning
her face to look at him. He ran his thumb along the bottom lip. Her tongue
peeked out, stroking his thumb. What he wanted to do to her must be illegal in
some countries. The need to take her now was a struggle to hold back.

“Chris, what are you doing?” Her voice held
uncertainty but also lust. She wanted him as much as he wanted her, but fear
held her back.

“Don’t talk. I’m doing what I should have done
on that Monday morning.” Before she could protest, he slammed his lips down on
hers, taking away whatever protest she may have had.

She gave way to his touch. Her lips opened,
giving him access inside her mouth. He plundered inside, tasting her. Her
fingers dug into his shoulders where she gripped him. Chris wanted her to mark
him. He tilted her head back, deepening the kiss, giving her no choice but to
give into his touch. She melted in the same way she had done three years ago.
Pushing the blonde strands off her face, he held her hair in his fist. Her
little cries of pleasure made his cock pulse, leaking pre-cum out of the tip.
He growled against her lips before moving down to her neck.

He kissed
along her delicate neck, nibbling and biting. For a few seconds he thought
about Ben, and he bit down, sucking on her flesh. He may be a well-respected
businessman, but Ben was a challenge he wanted rid of. Seeing his love bite on
her neck would make his intentions clear.

“Chris.”
She spoke his name with a sigh on her lips. He smiled, kissed the red roughened
area,
then
pulled away.

Her hand
went to her neck where he’d given her the love bite. “You did that on purpose,”
she said.

“I want
you, Erica. This time I’m not going to screw up.” Chris moved her hand away and
stroked the spot. “Give me a chance. Give us a chance, and I swear I’ll make it
worth your while.”

Chapter Four

“I’ll see
you soon,” Chris said. He turned and moved back towards his car. He’d dropped
her off at her front door like a true gentleman. She watched him get inside his
car before opening the door to the beach house, where she was staying with
friends.

Erica
looked back at Chris and gave him a wave. Her body hummed with excitement from
his kiss. This was how she remembered her crush on him, the scalding heat of
his touch on her lips and neck never failed to make her pant for more of him.
She held her neck where he’d bitten her. The claiming from the touch could not
be mistaken for anything other than a possessive man showing the world who she
was. Erica closed the front door as his tail lights faded in the distance. She
leaned against the closed door with a smile on her lips.

“So,
you’re just going to give yourself to him again?” Ben asked. He sat at the
counter with a beer in his hand. The sight of him sent the happiness away from
her. In the moments with Chris, she’d forgotten about him. It was easy to do as
Ben never made her feel wild with need. Chris was different.

“I don’t
really think that’s any of your business,” she said.

“Not my
business?
For fuck’s sake, Erica.
I asked you to marry
me. I thought we had a thing going.”

He had a
point, and the
shame of her actions made her turn
, pulling
her hand away from her neck. Ben got up, shoving her hair off her shoulder. His
were actions so rough and not like Chris. Why was she suddenly comparing him to
Chris and finding Ben lacking?

“Ben, I
care about you—”

“Bullshit.
If you cared about me you wouldn’t have let that fucker mark you.” The anger
was so unlike the Ben she knew.