“I don’t have to skew anything. Your acts speak for themselves.”
“What acts?” he asked.
“The prison.”
“The prison that the governor and even Mayor Valentine supported. The prison that would have brought jobs to people in Salvation that didn’t live on a farm. This town is dying, Les…Erica.”
“I’m not questioning your intent. I’m questioning your means. You threaten and intimidate the people of Salvation. You sent goons to harass the Jones family.”
He looked down. “That was unfortunate. I fired them.”
“You tricked Ryder Simms to play for Wallace’s campaign rally thereby betraying his sister Sinclair.”
His lips twitched upward slightly. “Had he asked more questions he’d have known. But like most people, he chose the money. And it’s turned out well for him. His sister forgave him. He’s married. His home is fixed up. And he’s made a deal to buy the Salvation Station. Maybe he should thank me.”
Damn it, he had a point. “What about Frank Campbell?”
“What about him? I offered him a chance to get out of debt.”
“Only to get back at the mayor.”
He cocked his head as he studied me. “You seem to only see the bad in me, and not the good.”
“There is no good, Simon.”
He flinched at that.
“Any good is incidental. You didn’t give a crap about helping Frank. In fact, I bet you were thrilled to discover that he was in financial straits because it would make it easier to get back at the mayor.”
“See, skewed. You’re biased.”
“What about bringing in Holly St. James’ ex and having him pretend to love her again.”
His jaw ticked and he went back to the bar. “That was low even for me, I’ll admit.”
“It was exactly like you. It’s all about you and you don’t care who you hurt to get what you want.”
“What about what you want, Erica?” He strode toward me, his eyes filled with anger and…hurt. How could he possibly be hurt? “You want to see me ruined.”
“I want people to know the truth about you.” I held my ground as he stepped up until we were inches apart. Heat radiated between us. I told myself it was anger, even though being this close to him confused my heart.
“The truth is…”
“Tell me, Simon, what is the truth?”
His eyes were dark, but not menacing as they held my gaze. “The truth is that I hate that you’re the one. I hate that you’re back here and that I’m going to throw you out again even though the first time was so fucking hard.”
What the hell?
“Damn it!” He leaned in, and his lips consumed mine. It was like an inferno, blasting through me. I could taste his frustration, his anger, and yes, hurt. That made no sense. I put my hands on his chest, surely to push him away, and yet my fingers fisted in his shirt, holding him to me.
He groaned, taking the kiss deeper. His hands slid up my waist to my breasts. I expected him to be rough and greedy as the man, Stark, that he’d become, but instead they were gentle as he brushed his thumbs over my hard nipples. This was Simon. My gentle, sweet, guarded man. I knew they were one in the same, and yet, my heart…my soul yearned for the man I’d known five years ago. The man who was kissing me and caressing me now. This was a big mistake, but I was helpless to push him away. If I could have my Simon back, if only for a brief moment, I’d take him. God help me.
One hand continued to gently massage my nipple through my dress, like he remembered exactly what I liked. His other lifted the skirt of my dress up, his hand soft on my thigh. I ground into him, needing to feel his reaction. Needing to know that he was hard and heavy for me.
His erection was like an iron rod against my cleft. We both moaned at the contact. He dropped to his knees, pulling my panties down as he pushed me back onto the window seat. There were no words, as he opened my thighs and breathed in my wetness for him. His tongue was like his hands; soft and gentle as they lapped through my folds. My body writhed and rocked as his gentle assault began.
Why had he not believed me? Why had he pushed me away? The only answer had been that he didn’t want children, and that broke my heart. While I didn’t think Stark had much to offer a family except financial security, my Simon had so much love to give if he’d only trust in it. In the end, he didn’t and he’d pushed me away in the cruelest way possible.