“Robin, I know you say there’s nothing to forgive but I remember a time when you’d hug me and I would know it would be okay between us.”
“Not everything in life goes away with a big hug. A lot of shit has happened since then. You can’t always forget, and sometimes the damage is too far gone. I’m sorry, Dad. I don’t know what it is you want from me.” She nibbled on her lip. “I … I need to go and see Preacher.” Talking to her dad wasn’t on her list of problems to deal with.
Tonight wasn’t about having problems, though, it was about having some fun. At least for Anne it was.
Walking into Preacher’s office, she saw him standing at the window, looking out over his men. He held a bottle of beer in his hands, and he appeared relaxed. He turned toward her.
“I thought you’d stopped drinking,” she said.
“I’ve come to make an exception. How is Anne?”
“Having fun.” She let go of the door and walked closer to him. With every step she took, her body seemed to get even hotter beneath the collar. This never happened with Reaper, not even close. Rounding his desk, she leaned up against it and watched him. “Thank you for arranging everything.”
“I promised my guys a bloodbath soon, and a party. They were more than happy to oblige. Besides, Anne is fresh meat to them. You look beautiful.”
“Only you can talk about fresh meat and me looking beautiful within the same sentence.”
“There’s a full stop in there somewhere. It’s two different ones,” he said. “I can also say beautiful is an understatement. You look amazing.”
She laughed.
He stepped up close and she took the bottle from his grip. Tilting it to her lips, she swallowed some of the liquid.
“Why are you here, Robin?”
“You said there was a party.”
“Out there is a party. I want to know why you’re here, in this room.”
“I came to see you.”
His fingers danced across her thigh, teasing her. She stared at his lips, wanting them on her.
“I can read your body, Robin, and I know what you want.”
“You do?”
“Yes.”
“Good.” She opened his jacket, putting her hands on his body. “You know, I keep telling myself I shouldn’t want you. How I’ve got responsibilities now and I’ve got to stay away from you. You’re not Bethany’s father and I’ve fucked up everything I’ve touched so far.”
“Then why don’t you stop?” he asked.
“I don’t want to let you go. I had to live without you for what already feels like a lifetime.”
One of his hands gripped the back of her neck, tilting her head back so she’d look at him. His tight grip turned her on even more. This man owned her. The feelings she had, the consuming need rushing through her body. Each day, her yearning for him grew even more, making it impossible for her to focus on anything but him.
She licked her lips, staring at him.
“Tell me what it is you want,” he said.
“I want your lips on mine.” She moaned as he took possession of her mouth. There was no force or pain, or guilt, just a need. After running her hands up the inside of his jacket, she shoved it off his shoulders and let out another moan as he stepped between her spread thighs.
She whimpered his name. His other hand slid down her body, cupping her breast, stroking over her nipple before he broke the kiss. “You can stop this at any time.”
“I don’t want you to stop. Please, Preacher, kiss me.”
“I’m going to do more than kiss you.”