Never Got Over You

Walking over to my side, he opened the door. “So, Kate Kensington …” He enunciated every syllable in my name with a smile. “Would you like me to help you get out of the car, or will your team of butlers come out and do that for you?”

“Okay, look,” I said. “I didn’t want to mention my real last name to you for a reason.” I took his hand as he helped me out of the truck.

“And what reason is that?”

“Because of what you said earlier about my family being stuck-up and out of touch.”

“They are.”

“Either way,” I said, “you have some pretty awful preconceptions about my family already.”

“Is any of it true?”

“All of it is true.” I admitted, looking into his eyes. “But I’m nothing like them, and I never will be.”

“Hmmm.” He stepped closer and gently pulled the bunny headband from my hair. “Next time, be honest about who you are. Most guys might get highly upset about a girl lying to them on the first night they meet.”

“Are you most guys?”

“Not at all.” His lips curved into a smile.

“So, you’re not mad that I lied to you?”

“No.” He wrapped an arm around my waist, pulling me against his chest. “Just don’t do it again…” He pressed his mouth against mine before I could say another word—before I could promise that I wouldn’t, and the feel of his lips obliterated every single fantasy I’d had during our ride.

His mouth was perfection, soft yet firm, and I couldn’t help but shut my eyes as he continued using it on me. He slid his tongue against the corners of my mouth, silently demanding that I let him control our kiss.

I gave in and shut my eyes as he gripped my waist a little tighter, as he kissed me like no man had ever kissed me before.

I wrapped my arms around his neck and threaded my fingers through his hair. As he deepened our kiss, I tried to pull back to take a breath, but he didn’t let me. He bit down hard on my bottom lip—forcing my eyes to flutter open.

He didn’t have to say a word. His green-eyed gaze said it all. “I’m running this kiss, not you.”

I nodded slowly, accepting his terms, and shut my eyes once more.

He quickly returned to controlling my mouth—taming my tongue with his, teasingly biting my bottom lip until I moaned.

With our mouths still locked, he gently pushed me back against the door of his truck.

His cock hardened against my stomach, and I felt a sudden, needy ache between my thighs.

Oh my god…

Rubbing his hands up and down my sides, he whispered against my lips. “Look at me.”

I shook my head, still entranced—the aching between my thighs growing with each second, each touch of his lips.

“Kate,” he repeated, skimming his right hand against my bare back. “Look at me…”

I obliged and stared into his eyes.

Keeping his gaze locked on mine, he slowly pushed the fabric of my costume to the side, slipping his finger past my lace panties and gently rubbing his finger against my soaking wet clit.

My breathing slowed as it swelled under his touch, as he pressed another kiss against my mouth.

The words, “Please just fuck me now,” were on the tip of my tongue, but he moved his hand away and gave me one last kiss that nearly brought me to my knees.

“Now,” he said, stepping back as he looked me up and down, “Show me how easy it is to walk away from that kiss …”

still cuts me deeply

Kate

I ALWAYS NOTICED THE distinct notes and sounds of every city I lived in, no matter how long I stayed. Phoenix was a soft and soothing hum, a dry parallel to the loud and choppy rains that fell in Cincinnati. Chicago was a constant cacophony of rage and traffic, while New York City bore the strained and haunting sound of broken dreams and desperation.

I never—ever, wanted to hear an encore from any of those cities, and I couldn’t wait to bring the annoying, rat skittering sound of Philadelphia to an end.

I was now standing in one of this city’s dirtiest alleyways, looking through the frosted glass of Matt & Will’s Pawn Shop. My cello stood silently for sale in the main window with a golden five-thousand-dollar price tag. It was less than ten percent of what it was worth, but ten times more than what I had in my bank account.

Don’t dwell, Kate. Don’t dwell…

Cursing under my breath, I walked past it, carrying a dripping bag of reeking trash to the dumpster. With every step forward, I winced?feeling how swollen my feet were from working a full shift the night before. I had four more hours left on my second job and I was hoping that for once, they would fly by.