Cate
Natalia was waving from a booth, and she was sitting with someone. As I moved to the table, the person with her turned around.
Shit.
It was Aleksandr. And wow, he looked less than thrilled. I took a deep breath and plastered a smile on my face.
“Hey,” I said to Natalia as I got close.
“Hey, you,” she reached out and gave me a one-armed hug. “Have a seat. You want a drink?” She scooted out from the bench, moving me into it.
Aleksandr still hadn’t said a word. Great. I’d accepted Natalia’s invite because I wanted to relax after my shift. Getting glared at by the hottest guy I’d ever met was not on my to-do list this evening.
“Um, sure. A mule?”
Natalia nodded and was gone before I could even open my mouth up to protest. I sat down and gave Aleksandr a smile.
“How are you?” I asked.
His lips narrowed in time with his brows, and then he said, “Good. How are you?”
I ran a hand through my hair. “Tired. I am not cut out for retail.”
One eyebrow lifted. “Oh? What are you cut out for?”
I wasn’t imagining the sarcasm in his question. I ignored it. “Working in some aspect of marine biology. If the animals don’t like you, they poop on you, or try to bite you. It’s very clear. They don’t pretend to like you as they bite.”
He looked at me for a moment and then a smile broke his stern expression, and he threw his head back and laughed. I smiled, feeling some of the tension between us dissipating.
“That’s a great description of a mall at Christmas.”
“When did you start doing the Santa? Has your dad finally retired?” I asked.
His expression sobered. “No. He’s not feeling great, so I’m helping out.”
That was surprising to hear. When I’d left for college, Aleks had been the one that the family thought would take over the business.
“I thought you were next in line for the throne,” I said.
He smiled. “Yeah, so did everyone else. But I didn’t want it. No, it’s Nat who’s the heir to all things Santa. She kicks ass and does an excellent job.”
“She’s probably great at it,” I said.
“She is. So…” he stopped, clasping his hands around his drink. “What brings you back here?”
“I’m done with school, I mean, I graduated. I finished my last internship, and now I’m looking for a job.”
Something passed across his face I couldn’t understand. Seeing it brought back a rush of feeling, of one of the last times we’d been together, which had ended in a fight. Like a lot of the time we spent together before I went to school. It brought a rush of heat that went from my middle straight down between my legs.
That part of our relationship had never been a problem. I felt my face heat up as I remembered—and then I stopped. I did not need to go down that road. Hopefully it was dark enough in here that Aleksandr couldn’t see the blush I was sure was there.
Just because I’d never, in the past five years, I’d never met anyone who made me feel like I had when I was with him, even though we’d never slept together. That could change now—STOP! I told myself.
“Congratulations on graduating. Are you looking around here?” His eyelids lowered, giving him the hooded look of a panther, or some other predator.
He was making it difficult to forget all we’d had. I wondered where Natalia was with my drink. Glancing around, I saw she was still at the bar, her back to us.
“Anywhere,” I shrugged, trying to stay casual.
“Kind of like college?”
Well that was a loaded question. But to hell with him—I had to do what was right for me. And I’d do the same thing now. I straightened and nodded. “Yes. I have applications in to a lot of places. Zoos, aquariums, university research facilities… anywhere that I might fit.”
Now it was his turn to nod. “That makes sense. They’d be lucky to have you.”
I hadn’t expected that and I smiled, feeling the heat rush to my cheeks and other parts again. Damn that man. All he needed to do was let me into the warmth of him, and I was putty. It had nearly killed me to walk away from him once.
I wasn’t sure I could do it again. Not if he turned on the charm, which it felt like he was about to do. As I was considering this, I felt a leg nudge up against mine.
My eyes flew to Aleksandr’s, and I could see the smile lurking there. He glanced over his shoulder and then back to me. Reaching across the table, he placed his hand on mine.
The touch of his skin sent a spark from my hand to the rest of my body, which woke up and took notice of the man across from me. I inhaled deeply, trying to keep my wits together.
“What are you doing?” I asked, hating that my voice trembled a little. He’d always had this effect on me. Damn him.
“Isn’t this why you’re here?” The eyebrow went up. “Isn’t that why you and Nat cooked up this little accidental meeting? Because you wanted to get together?”
I snatched my hand back. “No! Natalia didn’t even tell me it was the two of you. She just asked me if I wanted to meet her after work. Your name wasn’t even mentioned as hard as that might be to believe!”
“It’s OK, Cate. You can tell me the truth. I am in a mood to grant wishes,” he smiled suggestively and leaned across the table. “Ho, ho, ho and all that.”
I slid over and stood up, gathering my coat and purse. “You arrogant ass. You’re not one bit better than you were five years ago!” I turned and walked away, nearly running into Natalia.
“Hey! Where are you going? I have your drink!”
“Sorry, Natalia. I didn’t realize your brother was going to be here, and I just don’t have the patience to deal with him. Call me tomorrow, OK?” I patted her arm and edged around her. I didn’t want to argue, or try to explain. I hurried from the bar and out the door to my car.
Damn Aleksandr Dragomirov straight to hell.
* * *
Aleksandr
“What in the hell did you do?” Nat stomped over and slammed the drink she was holding on the table.
“Nothing!”
She glared, hands on hips.
“Well, I might have… it doesn’t matter! I didn’t do anything wrong—well, not really,” I amended. I’d assumed, and now I looked foolish and arrogant.
“You need to get your ass out there and apologize before she leaves,” Nat demanded.
“What? No!”
“Yes! She’s someone I always liked, and I lost her once because of you! Now go!” She stood back and pointed at the door.
I glared back. She didn’t move.
Damn it. I sighed and got up from the table. As I went out the door, I pulled my jacket around me, looking to see where Cate might be.
There was only one car in the parking lot that was turned on, warming up. A red Beetle.
It screamed Cate. I jogged over, hoping it was her and not someone who would call the cops on me. I could see her hair. Good, it was her. When I got to the car, I knocked on the window.
She jumped as she looked up, letting out a little scream. Then she glared.
“Roll down the window, will you?”
She shook her head.
“Come on, Cate. Please. I’m sorry.”
Our gazes locked, and then she visibly sighed. The window slid down. “What?” She asked impatiently.
“I’m sorry. I came off like an ass, and that wasn’t—OK, it was my intention. But I’m sorry. Will you come back in?”
Her glare softened. “I don’t think that’s a good idea. Just tell Natalia I’ll talk to her tomorrow. And I’ll make sure I don’t meet up with her if you’re with her.”
She started to roll the window back up.
“Wait! Please Cate, please come back in.” For whatever reason, I wanted her to. When we’d been sitting in the bar, I wanted to make her ache like I’d ached for her for the entire first year she was gone. To feel the pain of every almost call I’d made to her, dialing six numbers, and then hanging up. To all the times I woke up after dreaming of her. To see her sitting across from me, a tan still on her face from wherever she’d been last—I’d wanted to lash out, to make her feel my pain. Had she said yes, she wanted to see me tonight—I’d planned on telling her no thanks.
Not very mature. Or kind. Or anything good.
But now, I just felt like an asshole, and I wanted to make this right. For Nat, at least. “Please,” I said again.
She looked down, and then the door moved, and Cate got out. The spicy vanilla scent that she wore filled the surrounding air, and I felt my cock get hard. I might be over her, but my cock still wanted her as much as before. She looked even better now than she had five years ago, and she’d ended things with me before we’d slept together.
“I can’t do this, Aleks,” she said. “I’m not going to fight with you, or rehash old history.”
“I don’t want to do that either. I was an asshole. I’m sorry.”
She looked at me, not saying anything, then sighed again. “You weren’t. I wasn’t. It just wasn’t our time, Aleks. That’s all.”
“What, our time is now?” I couldn’t believe that had just come out of my mouth.
“No. We had our chance. That’s in the past. Look,” she ran her hand through her hair. “Tell Natalia I’m sorry. And… I’m sorry to you. There are obviously things—”
Whatever she was going to say was didn’t happen because I lost my mind and leaned down and kissed her. Gently, carefully. I let my lips brush against hers, asking a question.
Cate stiffened, and I stopped. I hadn’t meant to kiss her, to be a pushy ass, and I began to pull away. I didn’t even know what I meant now. “I’m sorry, Cate, I—”
Her arms came up and wrapped themselves around my neck as she pulled me close and kissed me hard. Apparently I wasn’t the only one who lost their mind.
At first, I was shocked. Then I realized that Cate—Cate!—had just kissed me back, and I got my head out of my ass. I slid my arms around her waist and held her to me, loving the feel of her against me. My cock nestled at the top of her legs, and instinctively, I pulled her up against me.
Her hands twined in my hair and she kissed me even more intensely. Holy shit, was this happening?
I took a step forward, letting her rest against her car. Her legs came up, wrapping themselves around my waist.
“You are so fucking hot,” I murmured against her lips. I thought my cock was going to explode. How long had I waited to be this close to her? Years. And now, here she was. I hadn’t screwed things up.
“I want you,” she said, tugging at my hair. “But not here.”
My hands removed her feet from around my waist, and I let her slide to the ground. “Get in,” I growled, reaching behind her for the door of her Beetle. “And follow me.”
Even in the dark, I could see her open her mouth to—what, I don’t know. I kissed her. “Come home with me. Please?”
She stopped short of saying whatever she was going to say, and after a moment, she nodded.
I kissed her again, relief and gratitude mixing with my raging need to have this woman naked in a room with a closed door. Thank God I lived less than five minutes from here. I didn’t want to, but I let her go, and went to my car.
As I started the car and checked to make sure she was behind me, my heart was singing. It wasn’t just my cock that was excited. Although that was the most pressing matter, I thought with a laugh.
I was finally going to have Cate Morgan in my bed.
Keeping the car under the speed limit was tough, but I did it, and within minutes, we were pulling into my driveway. I had a cottage behind the garage. It was originally an outbuilding that I’d fixed up. I was so glad to have a place with no nosy family, no distractions. Now, finally, it was going to be just me and Cate.
She parked behind me and got out and when she was close, I held out a hand. Even though every part of me was screaming for me to hurry, I wanted to make sure this was what she wanted. I didn’t want a repeat of the last time we’d been together. I’d been sure we were finally going to sleep together then, too.
And she’d walked out.
All this time, I thought I was past her, over it. Even up until ten minutes ago. But here I was, obviously not over it. All it took was time in her company. As her hand curled in mine, I hoped that I’d be able to hold it together. I felt like a teenager about to sleep with someone for the first time.
The moment we were in the door, she dropped her bag, and I swooped down and picked her up, pressing her against me. I could feel every inch of her, and I was so hard that it hurt.
“You sure?” I asked. My voice came out as a growl.
She nodded, kissing me and biting my lip. “Yes. Totally.”
“Thank God. I have to have you.”
“That’s mutual. Take me to your bed, Aleks. Now.”
“As you wish,” I grinned, grabbing her ass and loving her wrapping her legs around me as I walked us down the hall. She said it was mutual. Mutual. She wanted this—me—as much as I wanted her.
Cate kissed my neck, and down to my collarbone. She ran her tongue along it, then bit my shoulder. I loved that she used her teeth.
Kicking the door to the bedroom open, I took two steps in and set her down on the bed. She immediately pulled her shirt off and then unbuttoned her pants. Watching her get naked was my dream come to life.
“Hey!” She nudged my thigh with her foot. “I can’t be the only one getting naked here. It’s not gonna work, cowboy,” she added with a laugh.
I laughed. I’d been so engrossed by seeing her in her red panties. They glowed against her skin. “I’m under your spell.”
“Good. Fewer clothes, then.” She got up on her knees, naked.
Her nipples were hard, and her lips were open. Her breath was coming fast because I could see her chest rising and falling. I shucked my jeans as I pulled my shirt over my head.
“I can’t wait,” she said, biting her lip. “Oh, my.” Her eyes went down to my cock.
As if seeing her like this wasn’t glorious enough, she was impressed seeing me naked. This was the woman for me. I just had to make her see it.
I joined her on the bed, crawling toward her. She fell back, and I leaned down and lightly grazed her hip with my teeth.
Cate hissed as her body arched up to me. Could she be any more perfect?
I didn’t think so.