Knock.
“Someone’s at the door,” I hear a fucking dude’s voice say.
No motherfucking way.
“Sure thing, hot stuff.”
I’ll kill him.
My whole body locks up ready to beat the ever-living fuck out of whoever is in her house. I don’t give a fuck if she’s happy with him. He’s done.
Time’s up.
He opens the door and I puff myself up taller. His eyes widen as he looks up.
Yeah, that’s right, douchebag. Now test me. I fucking dare you.
“Can I help you?” He smiles and I push forward through the door. “Hey asshole!” He calls to me but I couldn’t give a shit.
“Catherine!” I yell and he grabs my arm.
Without a second thought, I grab him and push him up against the wall. Holding him there with my forearm.
“Where is she?” I ask and he holds on to my arm trying to make sure he has access to air.
“Can’t. Breathe. Dying,” he barely gets out.
I lean in and my voice is cold as ice. “If I wanted you dead, you’d be dead. Where the fuck is Catherine?”
“Fuck you,” he says and I push harder on his neck.
The questions swirl in my head. Did he see her naked? Has he seen her face when she comes? Has he known what it’s like to sink into her and bury yourself so deep you don’t know where you begin and end?
My eyes narrow into slits as he tries to push against my arm.
“Jackson!” Catherine calls out and is already at my side trying to pull me off. “Put him down! Now!” she screams and pushes me.
“You’re fucking kidding me.” I let go and he slumps to the floor, gasping for air.
“You idiot!” She pushes me and goes to his side. “He’s my assistant!”
Ohhh, so this is her “not old” assistant, Tristan.
I stand there seething, ready to punch something, someone. I can’t fucking believe this. It’s been one month. One. Not a year, but a month and she’s already moved on. She’s already fucking someone else.
“Seems you moved on pretty easily.”
I’m too late.
“Unreal. You’re unreal,” Catherine says as she stands up after checking on him. “I haven’t moved on, you asshole!” She pushes me forward and her touch wakes every part of me. “He’s my assistant. Not my lover. You haven’t called, or anything, in weeks, and then you show up and almost kill my only friend here.”
“There’s a fucking guy in your apartment! What did you expect me to think?” I ask as she pushes me back again. I stumble, walking backwards, as the rage practically steams out of her head.
Nice. I’m retreating from a five-foot-two woman. I’m a pussy.
“Wait, this is Jackson?” the assistant says from the floor. He’s not a small guy by any means, but I’ll lay his ass out if he touches her.
Catherine glares at me and turns to him. “Tristan, can you give me a minute with my friend?”
“Can I watch?” he replies but his eyes stay fixed a beat too long. My fists flex unconsciously.
“No!” Catherine yells.
“Damn, he’s hot. Be careful, hot stuff, and call me in the morning.” Tristan kisses her cheek and I growl.
This woman is going to be the death of me.
Tristan smiles at me and then looks at Catherine. “Logan’s going to love this story.” He turns to me and extends his hand. “I’m Tristan, by the way. Her assistant. Her very gay assistant.”
Motherfucker.
I suddenly feel like I’m going to be laid out.
Or she’s going to kill me.
I extend my hand and grip a little too tight. I may have figured out what an idiot I am, but that doesn’t mean shit. “Jackson. Her …” I trail off not knowing what to call myself.
“Dead ex-boyfriend,” Catherine replies and glares at me.
“Nice to meet you.” Tristan looks me up and down, but I’m smart enough to keep my mouth shut and nod.
She walks him out the door while I stand there waiting for the wrath to begin.
Five.
Four.
Three.
Another two heartbeats pass and I anticipate her fury.
But instead she stands there with her back against the door. Waiting for God knows what.
Not sure if I should speak or keep my fucking mouth shut, I just wait.
“Want something to drink?” she asks sweetly lifting her brow.
I’m so fucked.
“No, I’m fine. Look …” I start to backtrack. “Think about how this looked for me.”
“Hmmm,” she says as she pours herself a glass of water.
“You’ve been gone a month. I fly here and some guy opens the door.” I keep going because if my foot is this far in my mouth, I might as well lodge it all the way in. “He’s calling you ‘hot stuff’ and I snapped.”
“Mmmm hmmm,” Catherine hums as she puts the glass to her lips and looks at me over the rim.
I start to make my way over to her. There’s no way I can keep standing here without touching her. “You would’ve lost it if I was with another woman.”
“Would I?” she asks, standing her ground as I stalk her.
I smile at this game we’re playing, stepping forward. “I think you would.”
Her lip slips between her teeth and I’m instantly hard. I need to get it under control.
“Why are you here?” she asks and her eyes drop to her glass.
Moving quickly, I’m in front of her in an instant. My finger pulls her chin up and my world stops. She doesn’t see it.
“For you.”
“Jackson,” she sighs and tries to step away, but I grip her and pull her closer. I breathe her in, and when her hands grab my arms, I feel her tremble.
“I had this speech planned out but nothing with us ever goes as planned.” I chuckle and she looks up.
Her brown eyes pin me and I need to touch her, taste her. I crash my lips to hers.
They mold to mine and I kiss her like a man dying of thirst. I need more. My hands move up and hold her neck in place. She sighs and my tongue delves into her mouth.
Heaven.
Every piece of her is heaven.
Catherine moans and I forget about everything but her. The sound she makes leaves me desperate for more. I want to taste her skin and sink deep inside her. I want to make love to her for hours until neither of us can move and then do it again.
She breaks the kiss and pulls back. “I can’t do this again. I can’t go through losing you anymore.”
Good, because that’s not happening ever again.
“I’m here for you. I’m not leaving.”
She looks up and narrows her eyes, “I haven’t heard from you in weeks.”
I walk towards her as she takes another step back. She’s not running from me ever again.
“I couldn’t hear your voice and not hop on a plane. So I’m here now and I’m not leaving. I love you.”
I need her. Right now. Lacing my fingers in her hair, I take hold of her again. I push her back and lift her onto the counter. When her legs wrap around me, I feel her heat and I lose it.
Every part of my brain detaches and all I can think about is feeling her. Her small hands glide up my arms as my lips press against hers. I graze my tongue at the seam of her perfect mouth, waiting for her to let me in. She opens them slightly and it’s all the permission I need. My tongue pushes against hers and I pull her closer to me as she whimpers.
I pull back and nip at her ear. “I fucking need you. Tell me you want this.” She has to tell me before I fucking erupt.
“I-I,” she stutters, and my mouth covers hers again, pushing her to give me the damn answer I need. If I can keep her from overthinking, we might be able to get through this.
“Do you want me, Catherine?” My lips brush over hers, and every part of me is rock hard.
Her breathing increases and I take my tongue and sweep it across her lips. Per-fucking-fection.
“Jackson,” she moans my name and I cover her mouth with mine again.
Fucking hell.
“Answer me. Do you want me?” I kiss her swollen lips, needing her again. “To keep going?”
“Yes!” she cries out as my hand finds its way up her shirt where I find she doesn’t have a bra on. Nice.
“I’m not going to stop, so you better be absolutely fucking sure, baby.” I don’t know how or why I’m still talking.
She grabs my shirt and our eyes lock. Her pupils dilate and the fire burns through them. “You better not.”
Hell yes. Don’t have to tell me twice.
As much as I’d love to tease her and make her beg, I don’t have the patience for it. I want to claim her. I want to feel her wrap her perfect legs around me and fuck me until all I can see, hear, feel, taste, and smell is her. I hope she’s ready because I sure as shit am.
Releasing her perfect tits, my hands glide down her sides and pull her shirt off. I tease her with my tongue before sucking her nipple in my mouth as she writhes in my arms.
“You missed me, baby? Want me to fuck you now?” I know how much it turns her on when I talk dirty to her.
“God, yes.”
I break away and smirk. I’m a cocky bastard but I can’t help it. “I told you I was compared to God.”
Her head falls back and she laughs. When she looks back up, she smiles. “Your humility is astounding. Now,” her eyes harden, “Do you want to talk or do you want to show me how much you missed me?” She winks and pulls my head close.
There’s my sex kitten.
Catherine takes hold of the kiss and I give her the control for a minute. She needs to feel the power and I’m willing to give it up for her. Plus, it’s hot as hell when she gets aggressive. Her fingers weave in my hair and she pulls—hard. I almost blow my load right there.
I pull back and her eyes are liquid. I lift her and slide her shorts and thong off. I’m completely unprepared when she hops off the counter and backs me against it.
She’s completely bare and she hooks her finger in my belt loop and pulls me against her. My hands glide across her delicate back to her round ass and I grip it roughly, lifting her up. Her hands fumble with the button and my jeans fall around my ankles.
With her mouth fused to mine, I shake my jeans off and grind down against her as she tries to line herself up with my dick.
“Not yet, baby,” I manage to choke out as I try to find the bed or a couch.
“Hurry,” she moans and then pushes her lips to mine.
Not able to see where the hell I’m going, I walk into the table.
Perfect.
“I’m going to fuck you so hard right now, but I promise I’ll be sweet next time.” I give her warning because the very thin thread is about to snap and I can’t control myself.
Her hand wraps around my dick and I almost drop her. “I don’t need sweet. I just need you.”
Jesus Christ that feels fucking amazing.
“You’ve got me, baby.”
She glides her hand up and down and I’m harder than I’ve ever been.
“Promise?” she asks, placing a kiss on my neck.
“Oh yeah, I promise.” I lay her on the table and pull her hips close.
Before she can say another word, I push inside her.
Home.
I’m home and I don’t plan on leaving again.
Her eyes close and I lift her hips and sink deeper. Wet, hot, and mine.
She moans and I wrap her legs around my back and lift her up. I can’t get deep enough. I want her to feel me everywhere. I’m like an animal needing to possess her. There will be no doubt when we finish how I feel.
“Catherine,” I say through gritted teeth. “Look at me.”
When her deep brown eyes meet mine, her hands cup my face. “Take me.”
I snap. The words I need to hear from her. With her back on the table, I take this time to plunge into her again. I ride her in and out, allowing her to milk my cock as I lose my fucking mind. She’s every breath I breathe, every beat of my heart, and I never want it to stop.
“Fuck. I’m losing it.”
Needing her to come, I put my thumb on her clit and rub in circles. I feel her clench and I have to bite my tongue to stop from finishing right then. Her hands find my arms and she holds on while I pound her relentlessly. Each thrust I lose myself in her. I claim her each time I slide in and out. The need to protect her, keep her safe, and ensure she never runs from me again surges through my body.
“I fucking love you. You’re mine.”
My fingers press harder into her clit and I feel her thighs tighten around my hips. I fuck her harder and as her eyes stay locked on mine, I can feel her get closer, her nails digging into my forearms. She scrapes them down my arms as she falls apart. I can’t last much longer.
My hands grip her thighs roughly and she screams my name over and over.
“Catherine!” I call out as I slam against her harder and lose myself over the edge while her pussy squeezes around my cock draining every ounce of me until I’m empty.
My head drops and rests on her breasts as our breathing calms.
That was intense.
I close my eyes and focus on her heart beating beneath me. Catherine’s hands slide slowly up and down my back when she lets out a deep breath.
If she pulls away, I’m gonna lose my shit.
“How long are you here for?” she asks, already sounding defeated.
“Forever.”
She huffs, “I don’t think that’s funny.”
“I wasn’t kidding.”
Why does everything with this woman need to be so damn complicated?
“Jackson, be serious.”
Standing up, I put my hands on her sides and look at her. I need to make sure she sees everything in my heart when I get this out. Considering she seems to need me to spell it out, it’s best I give myself little room for misinterpretation.
“I sold Raven.”
Her eyes go wide. “You what?”
“I sold it. It’s gone.”
“Why?” Catherine’s mouth falls open.
“Because I love you. Because a life without you isn’t the life I want. Because every day I think of you. Every moment I want to be with you. So you being in California and me being in New York isn’t working. The day you left me, I made a choice.”
“But, Jackson, you can’t.”
“I did.”
“This is crazy,” she says and starts to shift under me.
“Goddammit, Catherine,” I say, growing frustrated as I pin her down from getting away.
She tries to slide out from under me and can’t. Trying to hide from me, she puts her hands over her face.
Here we go.
“Why don’t you get it?” I ask pulling her hands away.
“Get what?”
I take her hands in mine and pour my heart out. “I’m not leaving. I choose you. You’re it for me. I love you—infinitely.”
“But you can’t give everything up for me. You’ll resent me.”
I rub small circles on her tiny palms. “Catherine, I didn’t give everything up because of you. I gave it up for me. For us. I loved you enough to let you go, but I love you enough to give up everything for you. You didn’t ask me to do this. I did this because my life without you doesn’t work. This is your dream and I won’t ask you to choose, but you, you are my dream.”
She gasps as tears fall from her eyes. I’ve laid it all out for her. I let her up, and she sits on the table as I wait.
“I guess the question is, do you feel the same?”
Her beautiful eyes lock on mine as the word I want to hear falls from her perfect lips. “Yes.”
“Yes?” I ask needing her to tell me again.
She hops down and wraps her arms around me. Her eyes glimmer and are filled with love. “You’re it for me. Always have been and always will be.”