Blackwater 2 - Vance's rules (11 page)

“Naughty, naughty,” he said as he caressed her belly with his work-roughened hand. “Did he ever find out?”

“Nope, and I’m not sorry I lied.”

His fingers drifted lower until he was within an inch of her pussy. “Hmm, why is that, beautiful?”

“Because that night turned out to be one of the most magical nights of my life,” she said in an unsteady voice. Vance played havoc with her senses. Between his passionate touches and the walk down memory lane, Shayla wasn’t sure if she was coming or going.

Vance’s hand stilled. “For me too, honey,” he told her in a low voice.

His words sent Shayla’s heart into a tailspin. “Really?” she asked, holding her breath for his answer.

“Really,” he replied. “I don’t even remember the movie we went to see. All I remember is you. How pretty you looked with the moonlight shinning through the windows. The way you sort of breathed out my name when I finally managed to get beneath your pretty jean skirt.”

Tears stung her eyes. “I can’t believe you remember what I wore.”

“I could never forget that night, Shay,” he said as his hand slid a little farther south. When his palm covered her mound, Shayla could hardly breathe without panting. “Especially since I managed to coax three orgasms from you.”

His cocky words had her grinning. “Of course, you were much younger then.”

He stiffened. “Are you saying I’m too old to get it up, woman?”

She turned her head to look into his eyes. “If the shoe fits…”

He took hold of her chin and pressed a kiss to her lips. When she felt a hard length pressing against her bottom, she moaned. “Does that thing ever rest?” she whispered against his mouth. “Not that I’m complaining, mind you.”

His hand coasted upward and covered one breast and squeezed. “Not where you’re concerned.” He turned her to her back and moved on top of her. With his arms at either side of her body, caging her in, he murmured, “And I’m not dodging what you said. I just need time to think it through, okay?”

She nodded. “Just promise me you will think about it.”

He licked her bottom lip. “I will. Later,” he said as he proceeded to take her to heaven once more.

Chapter Ten

As Vance sat at his kitchen table the next morning going over a bid for a small strip mall, Shayla’s words ran through his head. She loved him, she’d said. Just like that, as if it were that simple.

“Damn it,” he muttered as he realized the figures he’d written were wrong. He’d been sitting there for an hour trying to get the damn thing right, but he was distracted. Shayla’s voice kept playing over and over in his head like a broken record.

He wadded the paper up and tossed it in the vicinity of the trash can. He needed to finish the freaking thing already. More coffee; that was what he needed. Maybe it’d help him get his head out of his ass so he could focus for five damn minutes. When he stood and started for the coffeepot, a loud knock on his front door stopped him. Not Shayla—she’d said she had a phone conference with an online vendor and email to catch up on. Apparently, she’d been away from work too long and shit was piling up. Suited him fine. The day away from each other was supposed to do him good. Give him time to think straight. But the only thing he’d done so far was think about Shayla’s little bombshell.

Well, that and the way she’d come undone in his arms. His cock thickened in his jeans at the reminder.

Another knock on his door, louder this time, tore Vance out of his lusty musings. When he reached it and yanked it open, Sammy stood on his porch, frowning.

“It’s cold as hell out here,” he groused. “Mind letting me in?”

Vance stepped back. “Sorry, I was going over a bid.”

Sammy stepped inside and slammed the door shut. He looked around the room before asking, “Shayla here?”

“No, she had some things to do today. We’re meeting later tonight.” And already he missed her. Christ, this wasn’t good.

Sammy unfastened his coat and tossed it over the recliner, then rubbed his hands together to warm them. “How’s it going between you two anyway? You seemed awfully chummy at the diner.”

“She told me she loves me,” Vance blurted out as he headed to the kitchen.

“Already?” Sammy took a chair out at the table and straddled it.

“My thoughts exactly.” Vance grabbed the coffeepot and held it up. Sammy nodded. As he went about pouring them each a cup, he said, “I didn’t return the sentiment.”

“I don’t imagine you did. It’s too soon.” He took the cup from his outstretched hand and blew on the hot liquid. “What did you say?”

“That I needed to think about it.” He shrugged and leaned against the counter. “I don’t think I handled it well, but she blindsided me.” He shook his head. “What was I supposed to say?”

“Women have a tendency to do that,” Sammy replied with a grin. “Julie sure as hell managed to throw me for a loop.”

“A good loop, though. With Shayla, I just don’t know. Sometimes it’s like we’re just getting to know each other, but other times it feels like I’ve known her my whole life. Like the years we were separated didn’t even exist.”

“About that. What was her reason for dumping you, if you don’t mind me asking?”

Vance related the story about Shayla’s tyrant father. “Damn,” Sammy said. He took a careful sip of his coffee. “I can’t believe that bastard had the nerve to threaten you. To threaten the Jennings.”

“Well, according to Shayla, she broke it off because she was trying to protect me.” He shifted from foot to foot, suddenly uncomfortable with the discussion. Uncomfortable with the knowledge that Shayla had tried to shield him when he hadn’t even known what she was going through. Oh yeah, he was a real friggin’ catch.

Sammy rubbed his chin. “I remember her dad. I ran into him a few times at the diner. Both times, he tried to get out of paying his bill.”

Vance snorted. “And how’d that work out for him?”

Sammy chuckled and took another sip of his coffee. “Oh, you know Dad. All he had to do was glare and grown men scattered. Riggs was no different.”

Vance sighed. “I still can’t believe Shayla went through all that shit. I should’ve known, God damn it. I should’ve protected her.”

Sammy took one last drink and stood. “She’s a strong woman, Vance. I could see it in her eyes at the diner yesterday.”

“You were giving her the evil eye,” Vance grumbled as he stared at his oldest brother. “What was that, a test?”

He brought his cup to the sink and ran water in it. “I needed to know if she was good enough to date my little brother.” He turned and said, “I haven’t forgotten what it did to you when she left. You were a fucking mess for a long time, bro.”

He couldn’t deny it, so instead, Vance asked, “And did she pass?”

“I like her,” he said with a grin. “So, don’t screw it up by being an idiot.”

Vance shook his head. “Gee, thanks for the words of wisdom, Sammy.”

He chuckled. “Any time, buddy.” He checked the clock. “I need to head to the diner. Will you be there later?”

“Maybe, but I need to see Shayla first.” He wondered if she’d even want to see him, considering how he’d reacted to her declaration.

Sammy hit him on the back, nearly breaking a rib. “I’ve got faith in you, bro.”

After his brother left, Vance stood in the kitchen and thought back over the last few days. His stomach clenched as he imagined how different things would’ve been if Shayla hadn’t walked back into his calm little world and turned it upside down. He would’ve lived the rest of his life thinking she’d dumped him all those years ago because she’d gotten bored. The truth was a much harder pill to swallow because it forced him to face up to the fact he’d been wrong about her. She’d tried to keep him safe from her father’s wrath.

Sammy was right, Shayla was a strong, confident woman now, and Vance could easily imagine spending the next fifty years with her. Did he dare risk it? Yeah, she’d confessed her love for him, but what if she woke up tomorrow or next week or next month thinking she’d made a mistake? He couldn’t lose her again. Once had been hard enough.

By the time Vance arrived at Shayla’s apartment, his hands were shaking. They’d talked on the phone, and she’d said the “L” word again. Once more, Vance had managed to evade her. Her ensuing silence had scared him more than he cared admit.

As she opened the door and their gazes connected, Vance saw her stiffen. “You’re here,” she said. Okay, that didn’t sound too damn inviting.

He frowned at her. “We decided on five o’clock, right?”

“Of course,” she said, not letting him in. “It’s just…I have more work to do tonight. I really should—”

Vance planted his hand on the doorframe and leaned closer to her. “Are you blowing me off, Shay?”

“No,” she quickly replied. She looked down at the floor. “Maybe. Gees, I-I don’t mean—”

Vance leaned close and swallowed her ramblings with a kiss. He wrapped his arms around her middle and pulled her against him, aching to feel her curves and valleys up close. Vance had a need to taste her. To flood his system with her floral scent and tangy flavor. To forget all the past hurts and start anew. He licked her lips, and they parted for him. Vance thrust his tongue in and teased the inner recesses. She moaned and wrapped her arms around his neck. Vance nudged her backward, into the apartment, then kicked the door shut behind him. He reached back and flipped the lock.

When her soft body molded to his, he went a little wild. In that moment, Vance knew he would do anything, say anything to keep her close. The idea that she had so much control over him bothered him to no end.

Vance lifted his head and stared down at her. Her eyes were closed, and her face was flushed. He stared at the soft, black sweater covering her heaving breasts and the snug-fitting jeans that emphasized her gorgeous curves and knew he would never be able to walk away from her. She fucking owned him. When she shook her head and opened her eyes, Vance could see the worry in the pretty green depths.

“What’s wrong?” he asked, all but holding his breath.

“You know the answer to that. I want more from you, Vance. I want some indication that you feel something other than chemistry here.”

“I do,” he bit out.

She rolled her eyes. “I’ve told you I love you twice now. You never said a word either time.”

She was pushing for a commitment, but Vance’s heart rebelled. She’d burned him once. Even if it wasn’t her idea and she’d had no say in the matter, it still had him erring on the side of caution now. “We’re good together, honey,” he offered. “Can’t that be enough for now?”

Vance didn’t give Shayla time to respond as he bent his knees and lifted her into his arms. He took her to her bedroom and flipped on the light. Her eyes shot wide, and he saw realization dawn.

“Vance, please,” she pleaded, “we need to talk.”

“We will,” he promised as he bent his head and covered her mouth with his. It lasted only a few seconds before Shayla pulled back and moaned, “I can’t do this.”

“Yes,” he growled, “you can, dammit.” He let her pull away, but only because he had other plans. Vance enjoyed kissing Shayla, but there were other, more exciting things he wanted to do with her—like drive her wild with pleasure. Anything but think about love and commitment, two things he’d managed to successfully avoid for the last twelve years.

Vance placed her on the bed, then moved on top of her. When she turned her head away, he took her face in his hands and forced her to look at him. “Do I stay or go, Shay?” he asked her in a gentle voice. “I won’t touch you unless it’s what you want. I swear it.”

She brought her hand to his face and caressed his jaw. “I always want you, Vance.”

He touched a freckle next to her lip and asked, “Even when I make you angry?”

A smile played at her mouth, and Vance let out a long breath. “I might want to strangle you, but that doesn’t seem to dampen my desire one iota.”

Vance moved between her legs and unbuttoned her jeans. “I think about you twenty-four hours a day. When I’m brushing my teeth, I imagine your pretty smile. When I’m going over a bid, your soft voice in my head breaks my concentration.” Vance saw fire spark in Shayla’s green eyes. “It’s been over twelve hours since I last tasted you, honey. I’m going crazy.”

Her cheeks bloomed pink at his erotic words. So sweet and yet so full of passion, that was his Shay. Vance took his time removing her clothes. Her jeans went first, then her sweater and bra. Her distended, mauve nipples beckoned him to suck. The soft red curls covering her mound were still hidden from his view by a pair of black silk panties. “That won’t do,” he said as he took hold of them in both hands and yanked, effortlessly tearing the flimsy material. He tossed them aside, pleased now that her glistening curls were visible.

“Those weren’t cheap, Vance Jennings,” she muttered.

“I’ll replace them,” he vowed. “Black. Red. White. Any color you want, honey.” Staring at the beauty of her pussy, Vance murmured, “Fuck, you are one sexy woman. Wet and so damn lickable.”

“Oh, Vance,” she moaned.

“Put your legs over my shoulders,” he instructed her. She did as he bid, and the position put the apex of her thighs directly in line with his mouth. Vance’s cock hardened at the luscious sight. He grasped her hips, then pulled her closer and placed a soft kiss against her pussy. “Mm, that’s the flavor I’ve been craving,” he whispered as he used his thumbs to spread her pussy lips open, exposing her clitoris. He sucked it into his greedy mouth. Fuck, he was starving for some of her sweet cream.