Page 14 of Scarred Trust

I felt a sense of warmth spread across my face. My lips were tingling. Those sensations continued through my body. There was a weight on my legs, but it was comfortable, like a weighted blanket surrounding me, and I didn’t want it to stop. Her voice was quiet, but the heat increased and demanded that I respond. It pulled me from the depths of my sanctuary with a sense of urgency to find this source.

The scent of freshly baked bread surrounded me. Without opening my eyes, the taste of sweet, creamy coffee told me it was Cate. I gave in to the excitement of having her in my arms again. I claimed her mouth with mine, relearning every part. My arms wrapped around her, one hand at the back of her neck and the other on her hip, pulling her closer.

I heard her hum of satisfaction, and suddenly I remembered our argument, my accusations, and her apology. More importantly, my lack of one. I broke the kiss. She straddled my lap, panting. We’d been building to the moment for too long to back away. I watched her face for any signs of anger or regret.

I was studying her heartbeat thrumming on her neck when I saw a flash in her eyes. It felt like the temperature shifted with her mood, and she started to move away. I pulled her closer, staring into her eyes, trying to tell her everything I couldn’t articulate.

If it hadn’t been for the mischievous smile that bloomed on her face, I would have been concerned when she climbed off my lap.

Standing next to the booth we'd been ensconced in, Cate held her hand out to me. I slid off of the bench seat and joined her, folding my hand into hers.

As she led me down the hallway past the kitchen, I felt like I was in a trance, ready to follow her anywhere.

She opened a door I had probably passed a dozen times before but didn't remember ever taking notice of it. Walking up a narrow staircase, I was fixated on the movement of her body swaying with every step. It made me desperate to explore her curves without anything so bothersome as clothes.

When we reached another door, Cate turned and smiled at me like it was a cute joke. I had missed that smile and those lips. I was done waiting. I pressed my body to hers against the door. I kissed her deeply, letting our mouths remember each other. Slow and languid, we recalled the tastes, the touches, and how our tongues enjoyed dancing together.

I instantly knew this was a bad idea. Not in the usual way guys would say that they’re going to be owned or manipulated, but how my mama says this woman would be good for me. She was an elixir breathing the lifeforce into me, healing wounds I didn’t even know I had.

Turning the doorknob, we stumbled into a small space, illuminated only by the streetlights peeking around the curtains. Not bothering with the lights, we were kissing again, but hungrily, like we’d been deprived of sustenance for too long. While Cate backed us further into the room, both of us searched for buttons and hems.

Her hands eased down my back, and she could probably feel the ridges of my scars through my shirt. It took significant effort for me not to flinch or pull away as I had previously. I didn’t remember saying anything, but she stopped when I distracted her with lips against her quickening pulse on the side of her neck.

Her heated skin transformed her usual earthy spice scent into a veritable feast for my senses. The anticipation of learning how Cate tasted all over spurred my need for more.

I tugged at her shirt, wanting more access to all of her immediately. When she tossed it aside, revealing her perfect breasts scantily covered in a scrap of lace, I felt rewarded. My lips explored her warm, succulent curves.

Her nails trailed down my chest, sending sparks to my groin. She continued down my body, stroking my cock through my pants and humming her approval. I appreciated her respect for my boundaries and the encouragement of my erection. Removing her bra, I demonstrated my gratitude by sucking a nipple into my mouth with a swirl of my tongue. She sighed and slipped her hand into my pants. Her hot hand sent jolts of electricity through me when it connected with my cock, her thumb rubbing across the tip.

I’ve realized too late that I should have resolved our disagreements before I touched her. I’m ready to agree to anything just to ensure that she stays forever. My heart is already packing up to move to her place.

Without the fear of losing my heart, because it was already gone, I let my body have all that she was giving and that I’d been craving. I wanted to take my time to map every inch of her body, and memorise each of her responsive noises for the particularly sensitive spots. In my fantasies of her, I had taken my time, drawing out her pleasure. I had imagined her exhausted body covered in a sheen of sweat from all the times I had made her come.

Cate’s hand squeezed and pumped in an exhilarating combination that had my cock arguing its urgent need. Flashes of her petal pink lips stretched around me made me groan. It had been a long time since someone had touched me like this. I needed to shift things before I disappointed her.

I trailed hot kisses down her soft belly and slid her pants to the floor until I was kneeling in front of her. Looking up her body to her face, I admired the treasure this woman was sharing with me. With my mouth on her hip, I traced the curve down to the tender flesh of her inner thigh. She reclined on the edge of the bed when the scrape of my teeth elicited a gasp. Her legs opened wider as I kissed higher until my face was buried. I worshiped every tantalizing fold and nerve with my tongue and fingers until she was crying out her release.

After grabbing something out of her nightstand, she kissed me and eased me back until I was lying on the floor. When she slid my pants over my hips, my cock sprang up, eager for his turn. Her tongue licked my length, making my eyes roll with the intensity of my reaction. My restraint was only going to last for so long, and I wanted her to take all she needed before I indulged in my fantasies.

Sliding my hand to the back of her neck, I guided her up my torso. As she smiled down at me, I watched the gentle shift of her breasts while she opened a little package and wrapped my shaft with the condom. She rode my body, setting the pace agonisingly slow. My hands wandered, finding the secret places that would help build to her climax.

When her breathing increased and she was chasing a magic spot, I turned us over. I rocked into her, following her hips as my cue for what she needed. I was exhausted, thrilled, and frustrated when my blinding orgasm was ignited by her entire body tightening around me in her release.

We laid in a panting, satisfied twist of limbs on the floor. When Cate got up, I was sure she was going to throw my clothes at me and escort me to the door like my ex used to. But Cate patted the side of the bed, waiting for me to join her. When I did, she curled up against me, her head nestled on my chest. She drifted off with the trust of a child.

Watching her, long after she had fallen asleep, I warred with myself about leaving. I hated how the past still haunted me. I knew some of the same reflex reactions were at the root of my argument with Cate.

Sleep wasn’t going to come with my mind spinning, like it did most nights. I got dressed and made my way downstairs. Telling myself I still hadn’t decided what to do, I checked the doors and locks around the restaurant.

The last one was the back door. I stared at the handle, thinking of all we had shared in this hallway. Leaving would mean I used her for sex and threw away any chance we could have of reconciliation. Being an arrogant ass once might be forgivable, though I hadn’t gotten that confirmed by Cate. But a second time was a personality trait I didn’t want. Securing the lock, I removed my jacket and climbed the stairs back to what I hoped to be my future.

Chapter 9

BARELY AWAKE, I STRETCHED my body sideways until my hand connected with something hard. I pressed against it, feeling the warmth coming from Wes’s strong chest. I had always hoped that when we finally shared this moment, I would wake tangled with him, his hands clutching his favorite parts of my body. Instead, he was so far on the other side of the bed, it looked like he was afraid to touch me.

I thought Wes would have wanted to escape in the night. Not wanting to make things awkward, I pretended to sleep but then dozed off while waiting. He had said that he didn’t sleep well and was used to being on the night shift. So I was surprised that not only was he still here but also that he was asleep.

The street lights were penetrating through the curtains, providing a hazy glow in the room, which was just enough for me to admire his peaceful expression as he slept. His long eyelashes rested on his cheeks. My hand rested on his chest. He still had a shirt on that he refused to take off. I think of all the times that he flinched when I touched the scars on the back of his neck. He thought I couldn’t see how he tried to hide them from everyone. Once upon a time I thought I could get him to trust me enough to remove his shirt, but last night had proved that this was not the time, and I wondered if there ever would be one.