HAYES
Islam the door that leads from the garage into my house and toss my keys, not caring that they aren’t hanging on the hook. Only the under cabinet lighting in the kitchen is on and I walk through the dark living room, down the hall and into my bedroom.
Another day and another refusal from Cat to make our relationship public. Every day it’s another excuse, and they’re all the same bullshit. It comes down to her afraid that it could backfire and possibly hurt our friendship. But she’s ignoring the fact that this is a once in a lifetime love. I don’t throw around the word love lightly, and I certainly have never said it to another woman. Even my high school girlfriend who told me a number of times that she loved me. My only response to that was backatcha. I didn’t mean it, of course, because I didn’t feel it. I just didn’t want to hurt her feelings.
But Cat…she’sit. Yet she chooses to deny herself and me what we deserve.
I rip my boots off and place my hat on the shelf next to the others. I’m midway in taking my shirt off when I hear thedoorbell ring followed by a series of knocks. I’m sure it’s just Vaughan coming to check on me, and the sooner I can get him out of here the better. I just want to wallow in my sorrows with a bottle of beer and a replay of my favorite movie; 8 Seconds.
I flip the locks and pull the door open without turning on the porch light, and instead of Vaughan standing there I’m surprised by a remorseful looking Cat.
“Cat. What’re you–” She lunges at me, her arms thrown around my neck, and plants her lips on mine in a bruising kiss.
She’s greedy and controlling and I stumble backwards as she pushes me inside. Her fingers tangle in my messy hair as she moans, and her sweater scratches my bare chest.
“I’m sorry,” she mumbles against my lips. “I’m stupid and I should’ve said it back.”
“Wait.” With the strength of ten men, I pry my lips from hers and step back. “What are you sorry for? For letting me walk out the door when you could’ve stopped it all by just saying the words? Does that mean you’re ready now?”
She rubs her lips together and blinks, adjusting her eyes to the dark entryway. “I’m sorry for making you feel insignificant, because you’re not. You’re amazing and caring, you’re funny and so loving and I haven’t told you that enough. You’re my dream man, if you want the truth, and I’ve been stubborn in admitting that to myself.”
“And?” I say, rolling my hand for her to continue.
She inhales and blows out a deep breath. “And…and I love you, too.”
Fireworks explode behind my eyes and my heart flies over the moon. I scoop her up in my arms, her legs wrapping around my waist, and use my memory to guide us back to my bedroom while our lips stay locked in a kiss.
She breaks away and begins kissing my jaw and down my neck. Her warm tongue licks along the veins and she sucksthe base of my collarbone. Her teeth nip and it shoots a shock straight to my nipples all the way down to my dick.
I toss her on the bed and waste no time in pulling off her sneakers and rolling down her leggings. She pushes up on her elbows and watches me as I run my nose up the inside of her leg and come to a stop at the juncture of her thighs, breathing in her arousal.
She drops her head back, eyes closed and mouth hanging open, when I swipe my tongue over the wet center of her panties. My teeth pinch the thin fabric and I pull back, stretching them until I hear the seams start to rip. I finish the job with my hands and let the scrap of fabric hang from my fingers.
“What are you planning to do with those, cowboy?” she asks me with a saucy look in her eyes.
“Tuck them under my pillow at night so I can fall asleep with the scent of you lingering.” I push my shirt off and work to get my buckle undone and jeans off while Cat works leisurely on removing her sweater.
She’s teasing me and it’s wreaking havoc on my coordination. I feel like a one legged acrobat on a highwire with every inch of skin she reveals. At one point, I trip when my feet get stuck and I end up with my face pressed flat to the mattress. Not very suave but can you blame a man when a gorgeous woman is stripping herself naked in front of him?
Finally getting the last leg out of my jeans, I kick them out of sight and pounce on her. She giggles when I land on all fours, hovering over her like a lion ready to eat his catch.
“You shouldn’t be laughing, darlin’. You’re being punished for being a brat earlier.”
She bats her eyelashes and lets her fingers walk their way across my shoulders. “Punish me? What are you going to do to me, Mr. Jolly Rancher? You gonna rope me like one of your calves? Tie me up and brand me?”
I take her wrist and stretch her arm above her head, then repeat it with the other one. Her breasts protrude, her back arches, and I see her breathing deepen. The tell-tale signs that she’s waiting for me to feast on her.
“Would you like that? Being tied up and branded as mine?”
“Maybe.” The rumble that rips through my chest is carnal.
I leap from the bed before she can think better of it and change her mind, and race into my closet to grab something I can use. A belt seems a bit too much, especially since all of mine are thick leather and large buckles. My eyes frantically search the contents and land on the only thing that may work.
“A tube sock? Are you for real right now?” She arches one of her perfect brows and smirks.
With my dick still fully charged and ready to go, I pull the other hand out from behind my back and offer her the choice. “Well, it’s either the sock or this?”
The thick, wide leather belt unravels like a snake and she jumps as if it might actually bite her. She volleys between the two –three if you count the number of times she points her eyes right at my dick– trying to decide which will hurt the least. Or the most, I don’t know.
