It was entirely possible she’d been listening from the corridor, and then pretended to be coming to find him.
“Baby, I’m sorry.”
She stood silent for a long moment, staring at her sneaker-clad feet. He noticed the sneakers were well-worn. If she was his, he’d make certain she had everything she needed. He would try to anticipate her every want before she even had it.
Of course there was probably no way she’d agree to have anything to do with him after this. First he’d been a complete asshole to her and now she’d been humiliated.
“Don’t be sorry. And stop calling me baby. I believe you. It would be just like that bitch to eavesdrop. She’d take any opportunity she could to humiliate me.” She squared her shoulders, raising her head to look at him. Disgust filled her face. “And I gave her exactly what she wanted, I ran away like a coward.”
Admiration filled him. He could see she wasn’t about to let what Carin had said knock her back for long. Still, he’d be having a long talk with Carin. This was not acceptable behavior.
“I thought you had told people in order to humiliate me and make me leave. I’m sorry.”
He was horrified she’d believe he could be that cruel and manipulative. “God, I really have lowered your opinion of me, haven’t I?”
“I know you don’t want me here.”
“That’s not true, baby. I made some mistakes and I’ve been an asshole, but I never wanted you to leave.”
“Just stay away from you. I understand,” she said stiffly. “Message received. I will do my best to keep away from you.” She turned to walk away and he grabbed her arm, gently pulling her back around. He cupped her shoulders, keeping her in front of him.
“No, baby, I don’t think you understand at all.”
“Stop calling me baby! We don’t mean anything to each other. You don’t want me.”
“Oh, I want you. So much…” Leaning down he took her mouth with his, sweeping his tongue between her lips to taste her. Reaching around, he cupped her ass, pulling her tight against his body so her stomach was pressed against his erection.
His body was engulfed with a fiery heat as need throbbed in his veins. Finally, he forced himself to pull away, knowing he couldn’t take things further without an explanation. And an apology.
“I’m sorry for the way I behaved earlier,” he said in a low voice, loving the glazed look in her eyes. “I was a jerk. I was mad because someone else paid for something for you. I want the sole right to buy you gifts, to look after you, to protect you. I want you to be with me.”
“What?” She looked dumbstruck.
He cupped her face. “I want you, Tara.”
“Oh.”
“Say you still want me. That I haven’t ruined things.” He ran a thumb over her cheek. “I want to take you home with me. I want to touch you, taste you, fuck you over and over. Say yes.”
“Yes,” she whispered.
Satisfaction filled him.
“Who paid for your membership?”
“What?” she asked with a shake of her head, as though trying to clear it.
“Who paid for your membership? I want to pay them back.”
“It was Reagan.”
“Reagan?” He couldn’t help the surprise in his voice. “I thought…”
“That it was a male? Someone I’d had sex with in lieu of payment?” Hurt and anger filled her face.
“No. No!” Things were going downhill fast. He cupped her face, staring down at her seriously. “Look, I am sorry for jumping to conclusions. It was wrong of me. Can we start again?”
“Sure, I guess so,” she told him, although there was still a hint of hurt in her gaze.