Hard Ride (11 page)

Chapter Twenty Eight

Katie stared at the screen, trying to work through the red haze fogging her thinking. Over and over, she replayed the conversation. Had she overreacted?
Possible
. But his words triggered the memories of her father, and his patronizing way of handling the two women he was supposed to have loved. The many times he’d said women shouldn’t run businesses, women weren’t able to take care of themselves, for her to find a “good man” to take care of her. He’d paid for her college education at Harvard, nagging every semester that she’d still not found a husband. He’d been investing in her finding a male to take over his business.

But Houston isn’t your father, as he’s proven many times.
Her mind wouldn’t allow the thought to be pushed aside, or thrown out. It was easier to think of Houston as any other man, just really good in bed. But her conscious knew it was wrong to categorize Houston as a man like her father.

Slapping a hand over her eyes, she pushed the recliner back, and mumbled, “So many Daddy issues.”

Katie heard the sound of sneakers on carpet and looked up to see Heather. “What’s up, Buttercup?”

“I think you need to talk, so I came in to offer an ear, or a shoulder, whichever is needed.” Heather, short and curvy, with long brunette hair, was the kind of person forever with a smile. She’d been working for the Parker family since Katie was a teenager.

Katie put a hand on her arm, “Always did know when I needed to talk.”

“Is the memories of your father coming between you and the hunky man that’s been staying with us?” Heather took Katie’s hand, and held it.

“He was supposed to be a friend with benefits. Now he wants more, and tries to tell me what to do. Kind of pisses me off.”

“Yeah, I saw that.
FwBs are awesome, have one myself. But Katie, you see him as more. I think it’s why you’re having such a hard time.”

Katie stared at the blank screen,
knowing she wouldn’t be able to change the subject. Heather was a dog with a bone. “Doesn’t matter if I did.”

“Why? I’ve seen him handle you at the hospital, he was your saving grace. He’s attentive, intelligent, doesn’t see you as a woman to be conquered, and well, to be honest, that man is hot.”

Katie giggled, “Yeah, he is all of those things.”

“Then what is the problem?”

Katie turned to meet Heather’s warm brown eyes. “What if I turn out like my father? Overbearing and emotionally abusive, what if I think this is love, but is really just a serious case of lust?”

“One, you are not Mr. Parker. I can say that with complete authority. He was a sociopathic ass who treated you and your mother like dogs to be kept tied out back. Second, the very fact you ask yourself those questions means you aren’t. It’s time to take more chances, outside of business. I’ve watched you avoid intimate
relationships for fifteen years, Katie. Time to grab your tits and charge in. Take a chance. You might get hurt, but at least you tried.” Heather stood, kissed her forehead, and took three steps before turning around, “You’re like a little sister to me, always have been. Houston hurts you when you decide to be vulnerable, I’ll personally kick that fantastic ass of his.” She strode out of the room.

Katie chuckled, thinking over the conversation. Heather was right, as always. Despite being a widow at the very young age of thirty-six, she didn’t let life hold her back. It was time to imitate her, and give it a shot.

Chapter Twenty Nine

Houston sat at the desk, pulling up spreadsheet after spreadsheet, cross checking them with receipts, and finally decided to hack the email accounts. Working his magic, he got into the company email server, and started sifting through various accounts. He was rather proud of Katie’s paranoia, not allowing emails to be deleted, and they were chock full of very interesting information.

“What are you doing, Houston? Does Katie know you’re here?” Mike stormed through the office door.

“Yes, she does. She can’t get into the office today, so I’m helping,” Houston met Mike’s light blue eyes, fear and anger reflecting in the depths.

“Well I need her to approve a new supplier. You don’t have that authority. So if you don’t mind, I need to get some work done.” Mike bent over the side of the desk, his face a mask of aggression.

Houston leaned back, and let his gaze sweep over Mike. It was the first time he’d ever seen the man show a spine. He stood, took a step forward, crowding Mike. “I have her express permission to be here. If you have a problem with that, call her.” He grabbed the handset and held it out. Mike was practically vibrating, and his hand shook grabbing the handset.

“No need, you two, I’m right here. Houston, what do you have pulled up?” Katie took slow steps into the office, shooing them both out of the way.

“I think you’ll find it extremely interesting,” Houston waved Katie into the plush chair, and maneuvering between Mike and Katie.

“He hacked the server? Some of those emails are personal!” Mike yelled,
making a lunge for the keyboard.

Houston grabbed the smaller man’s chest, shoving him into the back wall and holding him in place. “This is company property, including all emails. Did you not read the employee handbook?”

Mike started to sweat heavily, his breathing labored. He fell limp against the wall, a hand over his eyes, tears falling between his fingers.

Houston held him easily, but watched Katie. She was tabbing through spreadsheets, invoices, the bank accounts, and finally, to the emails.
Her expression of concentration never changed, her eyes moving rapidly. She took a few notes. He could almost hear the well-greased wheels of her brain turning, putting all the pieces together. His Hellcat was highly intelligent, even if a little self-blind.

She minimized everything, pointed a finger at Mike, and picked up the phone. “Yes, this is Katie Parker. I have proof of embezzlement, assault with a deadly weapon,
kidnapping and assault with intent to harm.” She rattled off the shop address, hung up and swung the chair around to face Mike.

“Why? Why would you do this to me?” her face held betrayal and pain, eyes filled with tears. “I took a chance on you when no one else would, Mike! What changed? According to all of this, it’s only been the last six months.”

Mike remained silent.

She wiped the lone tear that fell, and turned to the computer, printing as sirens could be heard in the distance.
She grabbed the paper, carefully tapped it on the desk, and pulled out a file folder.

Houston wanted to kill Mike. He knew of Mike’s past, and her
willingness to overlook it. It wasn’t everyday someone was willing to train an ex-con and give them a chance. And the little punk just blew it.

He waited until the police had their evidence, read Mike his rights and hauled him off before giving Katie the attention she needed.

She sat in the chair, speaking in monotone, handing over the paperwork, promising to go to the station to fill out multiple reports in a few hours. The crowd of uniforms left, the attorney was called, and Katie sat in the leather office chair, staring at the top of the desk.

It broke his heart to see her beaten. He wanted the fire, for her to throw things, to yell, make pithy remarks, to scratch and bite. Not the look of defeat making her appear smaller, weak, as if life was going to win.

He took the two steps to her chair, lifted her easily against his chest and sat down. Pulling her head into his neck, he rubbed her back, one hand gently running along the outside of her thigh, and rocking her.

“I’m not a child, I’ll handle this.” Her voice was muffled, the little puffs of breath against his neck giving him goosebumps.

“There is nothing wrong with taking comfort from someone else, Hellcat.” He wasn’t sure how she would take that statement, but he wasn’t given to hiding from her. “I like holding you, letting you wrap your mind around things. I enjoy it.”

He held her in place when her body tensed, but sighed in relief when she didn’t insist on getting up. He kept her close,
her weight perfect on his lap, the way she fit into him, the feeling of contentment permeating his bones.

All he had to do was convince her of the same thing.

Chapter Thirty

Sitting on Houston’s lap, she wondered if she could give in to the emotions battering the long standing wall. It was one thing to say she was, but to do it something else entirely.

His hands soothe
d the raw nerves, and she relaxed. After several minutes, something changed. She wasn’t sure what, but his hands slid past the ends of her shorts, sliding over her knees, the calluses on his palms leaving a trail.

She sat up, palms on either side of his face, and gave a half smile at the heat radiating in a single look. She stood, and shook her head at his questioning look.
He’d locked up the shop after the police left, so they were safe for whatever she wanted. And she wanted him. His body for comfort, to feel, to taste, to touch, and his nature to help her feel safe.

She sat on the desk, pulling off the t-shirt and bra. A window was open somewhere, allowing a hot, humid breeze to rake across her chest. Her nipples hardened in response, a sensual feeling as Houston’s breathing jumped four notches, eyes widening, pupils dilating to the size of saucers. She undid the jean shorts, and wiggled to get out of them, adding
extra movement from side to side to keep her breasts swaying. His low moan let her know she was doing something right. He reached out to her, but she gently pushed his hand down.

“No, watch.” She had no idea what she was doing, but his reactions would tell her if she was doing it right.

He blinked, face going slack. His voice, deep and rough, wove its own spell, “Two can play that game, Hellcat.” He whipped off the t-shirt, his muscles playing in the light from an overhead skylight.

Her mouth watered, hands feeling the hard muscles from memory. Her
body clenched in low places, the sight of his scars sexy, a reminder of his warrior status.

She ran her hands over her flat stomach, watching as unzipped his jeans, releasing the massive erection. Her mouth watered when he gripped it, slowly sliding his hand up and down over the smooth skin. She’d leaned forward, her own hands plumping her breasts, pinching her nipples, breathing getting faster.

“Keep going, Hellcat. Don’t stop,” he ordered.

Blinking back to reality, she put a hand on the desk
behind her, leaning into her arm, watching as he played with his balls and stroked the hard shaft faster. Precum glistened on the head, and spreading her legs, she used a hand to slide down to the apex of her thighs. She slid two fingers between swollen lips, feeling how wet she’d become at the sight of him. Dipping into her core, she gasped at the feeling, and moved her fingertips to the hard bud waiting. With slow circles, she put a little pressure, letting the pleasure flow through her body, felt the muscles clench.

She liked Houston’s eyes never leaving her hand, how hard he was breathing, the muscles on his chest and arms popping. His hand moved faster, as sweat beaded on his forehead. He was beautiful. He was magnificent.

Rubbing faster, and a little harder, she knew the orgasm wasn’t going to hold off for much longer.

Sitting up, she reached forward, stopped his hand and pulled on the chair. As his long legs slid under the desk, she widened her legs over the armrests.

“Let’s hope the chair is up for a little extra weight,” she whispered, moving her body over his. Balancing on the armrests, using her thigh muscles to stay up, she reached between them, grabbed his throbbing cock, and positioned it at her opening. Sliding onto the head, she let go, gripped the armrests and lowered herself until he was fully inside of her.

She’d closed her eyes, trying not to cum, but when she looked at Houston, head back, neck muscles tight, eyes closed, mouth slightly open, she couldn’t stop the inevitable. Rocking her hips, she whimpered, and when the pleasure spread to every inch of skin, filling her to bursting, she let out a yell.

Houston grabbed her hips, moving her up and down. It created a full body spasm, squeezing around his hardness, setting off yet another orgasm.

He rocked her harder, and
as he came, he held her in place, every one of his muscles tense, as he came, bathing her womb. He released a long moan, shuddering and pulling her against him.

“We … made … a … mess,” he said between breaths.

“Thank goodness.” Her body was boneless and she wasn’t sure her legs were still in place.

He chuckled. A hand sliding into her hair, holding her close. “Katie?”

“Hmm?” The smell of man and salt and sex lulled her, making it easy to accept his comfort.

“I love you.”

She blinked, mind a tornado, her heart picking up speed. “I … I, um, I love you, too.” Her voice was thin, the worry evident.

He kissed the top of her head, “Are you scared, Hellcat?”

“No.” She tried to think of the words to adequately describe her state of mind. “I’m terrified.”

“Good, so am I. But we’ll work it all out, okay?” He hugged her close, and she reveled in the feel of his skin against hers.

“Do you promise? Even when I get super bitchy? Or stupid? Or bossy?” Wrapped her arms around his neck, breathing in deeply.

“I promise to let you be the boss, but you have to let me be the protector, and promise to talk to me, not at me.”

“I promise to try.”

“That’s all I ask, Hellcat.”