“I don’t give a fuck about why we can’t do this. Nothing has ever felt so fucking right, God dammit.” His fingers slide into my hair and with a slight pressure behind my head, our mouths meet in a tentative kiss.
The first taste of his lips is a delicious sensation, and when I give him access to my mouth, the touch of his tongue causes shivers of desire to race through me.
Diego growls in the back of his throat and with a slight change of position, I’m sitting astride his lap with his hands on my bottom as his mouth holds onto mine hungrily. He slides me closer and pure white-hot fire rushes through my core at the feel of his erection pressing against me.
I undulate over him and gasp, panting for breath with the want and need being so close to the surface for this man…unfortunately my brain starts working again and I pull my lips away. Breathing deeply, our foreheads rest together as our eyes stay connected, and everything Diego is feeling is clear for me to see—lust, want, need…and something more that I can’t think about, that I won’t think about.
“There’s a connection between us,” Diego states, reaching up to brush my hair back from my face. “It’s there, Rae, whether you want it there or not.”
“You don’t seem bothered by it.” I make no move to climb from him. I’m not even sure that my legs would hold me up if I tried.
“I’m not bothered by it and I want to see where this between us goes. I’ve never had a woman drive me this crazy. God Rae, I want us to give it a chance.” Diego tugs me down onto him and wraps his arms around my back. “Please, Rae. I’ve never been in a relationship before, but I want to try with you.”
I close my eyes from the need I hear in his voice. The thought of being with Diego makes my heart sing, but I know that his family will make it difficult for him, and us.
My silence speaks for itself because slowly Diego withdraws and lies back against the pillow.
Tears hover on my lashes at the harsh words out of his mouth. “Dammit, Diego,” I hiss, and stumble from the bed. “Do you think walki
ng away from you is that easy? Because it isn’t.” I pull my boots back on and glare. “I feel the connection, and I want you. I want to be with you.” I catch my breath as a cry escapes my lips. “This isn’t easy for me, Diego… My daughter is five years younger than you.”
Grabbing some tissue, I wipe at my tears. “Your mom hates me because of this.” I wave my arm back and forth between us. “You’ve no idea how much I wish that I was younger or you were older so then we might stand a chance.”
I grab my purse and dash to the door, but find I’m unable to leave without one last look at him. I rest my palm against the door and glancing over my shoulder, I see the distress on his face, which probably matches my own. “Please take care of yourself, Diego. It would break my heart if something happened to you.”
As my face crumples, I shove out of his room and stumble against the wall beside his closed door. I slide down and bury my face in my drawn up knees while my heart shatters.
I’m not sure how long I’ve been sitting on the floor crying, but a handful of tissue is shoved into my hands.
Mumbling, “Thank you,” I wipe at my face before I look at the man who silently stands in front of me.
Kasey.
He doesn’t smile or say anything, but he does reach down and securing his hands around my wrists, he tugs me to my feet.
Wrapping an arm around my shoulders, he leads me away from Diego’s room.
I don’t ask where we’re going because I’m not sure I can speak without tears drowning me all over again. So instead, I trust him and it turns out he’s taking me to the hospital cafeteria.
Moving over to an empty table, he pushes me gently toward the chairs and walks off. My eyes track his every move while he grabs two coffees and some food, carrying it all on a tray he makes his way over to me.
He places the tray on the table and sits opposite. “Breakfast rolls,” he adds as he passes me one of the packets. “Figured you’d need something having spent the night with Diego.”
Tears hover in my eyes and clog my throat as I accept the food and the warm coffee. Without adding milk or sugar, I take a sip of the dark liquid and sigh as it runs down my raw throat.
Kasey watches me while eating his own breakfast and all I see is compassion in his gaze. He isn’t judging me for wanting Diego, and that gives me the confidence to talk to him.
“I told Diego that we couldn’t be together.” I bite my lip and take another sip of coffee to try and keep my emotions from overflowing. “He means a lot to me, Kasey. A lot more than he should.”
Taking a bite of my roll, I slowly chew as Kasey screws his wrapper up now he’s finished eating. I haven’t really spoken to Kasey before. We’ve exchanged pleasantries briefly at their family home, but I haven’t seen much of him since.
He’s tall, over six feet, with a slim build and broad in the shoulders. The blond hair and short beard are in contrast to that of his brothers. Kasey plays for an NHL team, the New York Mavericks, which is why he isn’t around too much. He’s a handsome man, but no one turns my head the way that Diego does.
“My brother has never been serious about a woman before, Rae,” Kasey says resting his elbows on the table while holding my gaze. “I love him and want the best for him—”
“Which isn’t me,” I interrupt before he can finish.
His eyes flash with impatience before he continues, “I was going to say that you make him happy…although confused.”