Lie to Me (25 page)

“I’m not sure I’m good for you, but I can’t live without you. It’s really very self-centered.” He looked humble, apologetic.

She took in a shaky breath. “No, it’s what I want.”

“It’s still selfish of me.” He licked his lips, which made her want to kiss him, but this wasn’t the time. She waited while he cleared his throat. Once more he met her gaze straight on, and she felt chills rack her body. He spoke in a soft, low, velvety voice. “Dearest, if you’re willing to take a chance, and I can’t offer guarantees—” She could see his Adam’s apple bobbing up and down quickly, and he suddenly looked nervous. “I love you too much not to ask—no beg—for another chance.”

Casey was too shocked to speak. She could only stare into his eyes—those beautiful, aqua, pool-colored, bedroom eyes with their sweeping brown lashes.

When she didn’t answer, he held her chin, making her look right at him. “I can’t leave you like I thought I could. I had it all planned out, that I’d just walk away, but everything is working out for me here and I think I should stay.” He paused and she saw his throat working. “I want you and Miles with me.”

She felt a lump in her throat.

“Tonight made me see—I have to at least ask. Have to try.” His thumb on her chin pressed harder, his face tensed and his eyes glowed bright with emotion.

Silence screamed between them as tension fogged the air.

Their gazes locked and he tried to look brave, but she saw a tic in his jaw. His throat worked harder and she felt his hands shaking.

Shit.

Casey finally gathered her wits. Her blood rushed through so loudly that she could barely hear herself speak. When she found her voice, it came out hoarse and whispery. “In the end, aren’t I always right?” Then she felt her face crumble and the tears fell, tears she hated, but couldn’t control.

He put his arms around her and drew her into him, and she shut her eyes and buried them the crook of his neck. Water flowed from her face to his flesh, refusing to stop. She tried to fight the crying, but found it did no good. Not this time.

He cradled her tightly, and patted her on the back. “Don’t,” he said, crooning into her ear. “Makes me feel like a jerk for not giving in earlier. Please don’t.” He wrapped her so tightly that she could barely breathe, but she didn’t care.

Casey let the strength of his solid arms and the heat from his body engulf her. She never wanted him to go, didn’t want this moment to end. She felt a strong wave of possessiveness. Nobody but her would ever lay a hand on him again, he would be hers.

As he gently rubbed her back, he murmured, “These are happy tears, I hope.”

She laughed and cried at the same time, as she pulled back to gaze at his tender expression. “Yes.”

He stroked her cheek with his thumb. “When I saw you with Sam, although I knew it probably didn’t mean anything, something snapped in me. I want to be the only man to touch you; you’re mine.” His eyes flashed darker, with deep feeling, and their sharpness and marble blue hypnotized her.

She lost herself in his gaze and cupped her palm around the hard planes of face. His stubbed chin brushed her hand, but it felt good. “I swear I just had the same thoughts about you, that you’re mine.”

“Really?” He smiled, looking pleased.

She nodded. “Yep. We’re totally in sync tonight.”

“About time the truth penetrated my thick skull.” He gave her a sheepish look, yet his voice remained strong.

“And which truth is that, Mr. Ballantine?” She stroked the side of his hair and tucked it behind his ear.

“I can’t leave you. I can only leave if you force me, like last time.”

“Last time I had no choice.”

“Oh, I know. I’ll do all I can to make sure you’re never in that position again.” He found her lips and they kissed, his tongue lazily and lovingly sweeping through her mouth, causing icy heat within her. Finally, he pulled back, still very close. “I promise to get treatment right away if I slip.”

“That’s what I wanted from you, to go to treatment.” Tears stung the corners of her eyes.

“I know. You were right.” His fingers played with her hair, wrapping it around his hand. “I’m older now. And smarter. I know what’s at stake. My beautiful child and the woman of my dreams. I’ll try to avoid that first sip of alcohol that would set me back; I have too much to lose.”

“We’re in this together. I hope you don’t slide, but, if you do and are willing to help yourself, I’ll stand by your side”

That adoring stare again. “I love you.”

Their gazes froze on one another’s.

He suddenly grasped the bottom of her red sweater and she grabbed the bottom of the plain white t-shirt he’d thrown on when he’d found her gone. They slowly pulled off one another’s shirts off without a word. Their jeans were removed next. Damian tossed his on the floor, then hers atop his.

Naked in the dark living room, wrapped up in one another, Casey sniffed in leftover leather smell from his jacket, an earthy, sexy musk, and hot-blooded male. All that had happened within the past few days made her wish to do something she’d shied away from in the past. Now she had an uncontrollable urge to drop her silly barrier. “I’m going to suck you, babe, and I want you to come. I’ll swallow.”

He gave her a wary look. “In the past—”

“This is for the future. I want to do this. I don’t know why I wouldn’t do it before.”

His features softened and he smiled, nodding. “If you insist.”

“You’re my sex slave, and I insist.” She kissed him quickly on the lips, and then slid down his hard, sweaty body until her lips rested near his hard, throbbing cock. Her night vision had sharpened and she could make out the shape and size in the dark. She admired it, her breath rushing in her ears, and then she took his flaming manhood into her hand and started licking it, tasting the salty discharge near the head.

He sucked in a fast rush of air and stiffened.

Her body stiffened too. His pleasure turned her on. She licked the slippery sides of his throbbing length a few more times, while he mumbled intelligible utterances. Finally, she eagerly slid his wet, silky cock past her lips, loving the idea of such an intimate act, loving the feel of his heated flesh inside the tenderness of her flaming mouth. She shut her eyes, remembering his wish to spend his life with her…she thought about how much she loved him…

His groans of pleasure made her suck harder and faster, arousing her, as she concentrated on how wonderful it felt to have him inside of her this way. Why, before now, had she made him pull out before he came? It seemed ridiculous tonight. She would have giggled if his large, pulsing cock weren’t blocking that ability. And she certainly wouldn’t let go of it to giggle.

Damian soon seemed lost to his sensations. He moaned, mumbled, called her name, and finally tensed and shuddered with a sound that resembled a soft roar. When his hot liquid spilled into her waiting mouth, he, out of habit, tried to pull out, but a hand gently held him in place. Eager to savor him, she swallowed, drinking down the salty, hot fluid.

Instantly her insides were bathed in his soothing warmth. He wasn’t finished and she was ready, ready for more. He shuddered a few times, and she basked at his pleasure. With greed, she sucked all he poured into her, refusing to give up a drop. When nothing remained, she let out a contented sigh and let her body fall to the mattress. She felt her mouth turning up as her eyes shut. Never had she dreamed she could do that or that she would like it. Her body tingled with desire. She could still feel the heat coating her throat and stomach.

Damian sat up. “Get over here.” He grabbed her under her arms returning her to his face. Then he stretched out clasping her body close. His hot breath tickled her ear as he whispered, “I hope you enjoyed that. Drove
me
insane and meant a lot to me.”

“Same here.” She smiled into his embrace, and then kissed him all over his face, until their lips met. It seemed as if she’d fallen in love with him all over again. Yet she’d never stopped loving him for one second.

Later, they held each other tight.

“Most couples don’t have as much as we do,” Damian murmured, “and I don’t mean just sexually.”

“No, they don’t.”

“You’re right; we were meant to be together.”

She pressed her body hard into his, causing a humming throughout her. “I’m always right.”

He laughed, stroking her hair back. “That’s why you’ll always be my better half.”

They snuggled in one another’s arms, their breathing slowing, their hearts slowing, their hands slowly caressing one another. God knew how much later, Casey lifted her head off of his chest and looked at the clock. “Three thirty,” she said, with a groan.

He tried pulling her head back down. “Who cares?”

“No, Damian. I care. We have to dress. Miles gets up sometimes as early as five. He can’t see us lying here naked.”

“No.” He let out a resigned breath that seemed to shiver through her.

Casey reached over and turned on the lamp, and they both squinted at the intrusive light.

As they stood and dressed, she said, “I’m glad I won’t have to sleep on the recliner tonight. It’ll be so much nicer having you beside me.”

He was sitting in the middle of the sofa bed, legs crossed. His head poked through his t-shirt and he shot her a dazzling grin. “That’s right. If Miles finds us asleep in one another’s arms tomorrow morning—as long as we aren’t naked—it’s just something he’ll have to get used to, isn’t it?”

She snapped the button of her jeans shut and started climbing on the mattress to get to him. “Miles is going to be really happy about this.”

“He will.”

As she reached him, he took her in his arms and she poised her lips for a kiss. He bent his head, ready to accommodate her when…

His cell phone rang.

Casey’s stomach lurched as she froze. “Who’d call this late?”

“Must be an emergency.”

Casey pushed herself off of him and sat beside him. He quickly fumbled for the cell phone in his back jeans pocket. “Yes?” he said, in an anxious voice. His eyes struck hers.

Casey lifted her eyebrows, waiting. She hoped it wasn’t another mishap—Alex was here, but Sam…or Michael…her heart raced.

“Reese!” Damian said, shrugging as he stared at Casey. “Um, is everything all right? Are the kids all right?”

Reese!
Casey wanted to grab the phone and smash it.
How dare Reese intrude on this special time? What a disappointment.
Then she remembered all that Reese had done for Damian: saved his life, helped him with his alcoholism, and lent him money to start his own business— she had to be mature about this. Reese had no idea about what had just transpired between them, but why had she called at this ungodly hour?

She knew questions danced in her eyes as she kept looking at Damian.

“Oh, I see, Reese. You thought I’d be sleeping and that my phone would be turned off, and you were just going to leave a message.” He spoke carefully, as if explaining everything to Casey. His eyes sharpened as he suddenly raked a hand through his hair. “Reese, how could you come to Wisconsin without telling me first?” He sounded sharp with her and Casey covered her eyes. Damian’s voice softened the next time he spoke. “You caught me off-guard, that’s all. I’m not angry.”

Casey hugged her knees to her chest as she listened. She should have known it wouldn’t go smoothly. Nothing with Damian ever did.

“I know I haven’t called for a few days,” he said. “A lot has happened.” He quickly told her about Alex’s accident and the slashed tires, apparently listened to her spate of concern and fear and assured her that he was fine. “I have something to tell you, and, from what you’ve said, I think you already know what it will be,” he finally said, his gaze on Casey. She felt herself quiver with happiness. Then she felt a wave of sadness for Reese.

But not too much sadness.

“No, dear,” Damian said to Reese, in a quiet voice, “I’ll never forget our five years together, or how you helped me… No, I haven’t forgotten that you stayed at my apartment while I recovered and waited on me hand and foot. You were more than kind; it was far more than I deserved. Nobody has done anything close to that for me…”

Casey began feeling annoyed. She would have done the same if he’d told her where he lived!

“Yes, that was a lot of money you lent me, but I paid you back with interest… Yes, I remember you didn’t want me to, but I did anyways…”

For some reason, Casey wanted to hit the woman, and then she felt immediately guilty. Damian wouldn’t even be alive if not for her…

“Yes, you introduced me to your friends from AA and I value every one of them.”

Casey finally covered her ears, but she could still hear.

Damian walked around the sofa bed to stand closer to her, and then he put a reassuring hand on her head. She couldn’t help looking up at him and smiling as he winked at her.

“Reese, I need to see you tomorrow and, by the things you’ve said, I think you suspect the reason. What hotel are you at, dear?”

Casey leaned against him, resting her head on his shoulder as if keeping him from Reese.

Reese who had done more for him than she’d ever done for anybody in her life. She should greet the woman with a hug; she owed her. She’d do it too, even if it killed her because of a childish, misplaced jealously. The kind she’d upbraided Damian for experiencing.

Damian spoke calming words to Reese, sounding more and more fatigued with each comforting sentence. Finally, he said, “Look, we’ll talk about everything tomorrow, I promise. Right now, it’s too late…yes; I’ll come by for sure. Good-bye.” He tossed his cell to the side of the bed and hugged Casey. “Shit.” He set his cheek on her head.

“Did she cry?”

“Reese doesn’t cry.”

“Never? All right. Well, why is she here?” She tried to hold in the hostility that she couldn’t entirely extinguish.

“She came to be with me.”

Casey wrapped her arms around him. “She can’t have you.” She tried to sound like she was teasing.

“She doesn’t.” He feathered his lips in her hair. “We had good times the past five years, but not like you and me.”

Casey felt a wave of love toward him. She took his hand.