SCARRED - Part 2 (The SCARRED Series - Book 2) (8 page)

He smiled, “Of course. You know where it’s at.” As he watched her go he felt his heart ache for her again. He couldn’t fathom finding out at twenty-four years old that you weren’t who you thought you were...especially if that twenty-four years had already been filled with so much pain. He took out a skillet and poured olive oil into the bottom of it. He was dropping the chicken in when he heard Chloe come back into the room.

“What are you making?” she asked.

“Stir fry. It’s my specialty.” She raised an eyebrow at him and he smiled sheepishly and said, “Okay fine, it’s the only thing that I know how to cook. But, it’s delicious. You’ll love it.”

“I’m not sure if I should stay...”

He turned so he was facing her and cautiously reached for her hands. She didn’t pull back so he took them both in his and said, “It’s only dinner, Chloe. I will never ask you to do anything that you don’t want to do or aren’t comfortable doing.”

She nodded and he could see in her eyes that she wanted to trust him. She was trying and that was all that he could ask for in that moment. He did wish that she would take off those contact lenses. He wanted to really see her eyes. Eyes were important to him. He truly believed that they were the windows to your soul. He wanted to see her soul and although he knew in his head that it was way too soon for him to feel that way, his heart said something different.

“Can I help?” she asked.

“Nope, sit down and relax and watch the master at work.”

She smiled, but to her credit she sat and watched and appeared to be interested. Every once in a while, her eyes would drift over to the album and he wished that he could read her thoughts. When dinner was ready, he fixed them both a plate and they took it up top to eat on the deck.

They sat at a little bistro table Derek had there and he opened a bottle of wine. After pouring them both a glass he picked his up and said, “To new friends.”

Chloe toasted with him and took a sip of her wine. She was quiet and he just let her be, knowing how much she had on her mind. The sun was beginning to set and as he agonized in his own heart over the pain and confusion in her eyes, he wondered if the beauty of the landscape only intensified it. Chloe was probably feeling that there was nothing beautiful right now about her crazy, mixed-up world. He knew that she’d been hurt and badly from the scars he had seen and felt. He knew that she didn’t seem to have anyone in her life other than a small handful of friends that she made at a place she despised.

She should be a teacher, sharing her knowledge with children and reaping the joys that – that would bring to them. Instead, she was stuck in a job she hated with people that as far as Derek was concerned, had no right to even be in her solar system. The defiant sky continued to adorn itself with the brilliant colors of orange and red and he watched her face as she glared at the swirls of color. Her eyes were pink from crying and only made darker by the reflection of the sky.

“This is good,” she said after picking through it several times and finally taking a bite.

“Thanks,” he said, “It’s my secret sauce that makes it.”

With a smile she said, “What’s so secret about it?”

“No one but me knows the recipe. I keep it in a locked box and have security guarding it around the clock.”

She laughed and he loved the sound of it. “It’s not really that good,” she said.

He grabbed his heart with his right hand and said, “Oh my God, that was a direct hit.”

She laughed again. “I was kidding, it’s fantastic.”

“It is,” he said, “but maybe you don’t get that because you’re not tasting it right.”

“I’m not tasting it right?” she said.

“Yes, there’s a certain way to eat certain delicacies...” She cocked an eyebrow and he said, “In some countries, my stir-fry is considered a delicacy.”

“Oh I’m sure,” she said with a grin.

“As I was saying, there is a certain way to eat it that intensifies both the flavors and the experience.”

“And how is that?” she asked.

“May I show you?”

“Okay...” Derek got out of his chair and took her by her hand. He pulled her to her feet and then reached down and picked up a spoon off the table. He slathered it with peanut sauce and then swiped it across his lips.

Chloe rolled her eyes and said, “What a lame way to get a kiss.”

“I’m completely serious here. It tastes ten times better this way. Don’t you want to try it?” He realized he was holding his breath, worried he was going to frighten her away again when suddenly she was on her tip toes and he felt her warm tongue run slowly across his bottom lip. She pulled it back in, smacked a few times and he said, “So what do you think?”

“I can’t be sure,” she said. Then she lifted up again and this time she ran her tongue across his top lip and again across his bottom. He could feel himself getting aroused and he was sorely tempted to open his mouth and join her tongue. He didn’t though; he stood still, waiting to see what she would do.

When she finished cleaning off his lips she said, “It’s definitely got more flavor that way. Stick out your tongue.”

“My tongue?”

“Yes, stick it out.”

He did as she asked and she picked up the spoon and ran it over his tongue. Then without further preamble she wrapped her hands behind his neck and pulled his mouth down to hers. She let her tongue slip into his mouth as their lips met and she tasted him like he was a sweet piece of dark chocolate. He wrapped her up in his arms and held her tight while they kissed. She felt so good in his arms and he resolved then and there that he was going to do whatever it took to keep her there. 

Taking a step back, she looked up at his towering frame and then her eyes fell to his chest. Chloe started unbuttoning his shirt. The material was thin but one could tell it was expensive. On the fourth button she could feel her hands start to tremble, not from fear, but uncertainty. Her eyes roamed his tanned torso as she unhooked the last button and pushed his shirt apart. She looked up at Derek, watching the intensity that pooled in his beautiful blue eyes. Pure desire was the only thing she saw. She watched as he slipped his shirt off, hovering above her and her entire body started to tremble.

Chloe couldn't fight the urge not to touch his skin, so she did. Her delicate fingers ran down his chest to his wash board abs as he dipped his head down to hers and kissed her again.

"Let's go downstairs." He whispered.

Reaching the bedroom his fingers lightly traced her arm and she could feel the heat from his touch. Chloe's hands ran the firm muscles of his abdomen and when she looked up at him, he was staring at her with such intensity that it made her weak in the knees.

There was absolutely no thought of resistance as Derek removed her clothes and then his own. His lips crashed into hers and their tongues dueled like it was their last night together. Chloe moaned into his mouth and ran her fingernails down his back pulling him in closer. She could feel the hardness of his cock press into thigh and she could feel herself become instantly wet.

Derek's large hands roamed her body and then gently dipped down to her pussy. His fingers grazed over her wet folds. She was so wet for him. Clinging on to his biceps for support, she leaned her head into his chest as she felt his fingers dip inside her. Slowly gliding in and out of her pussy, she let out a soft moan as he went deeper and faster, caressing her inner walls. His lips trailed down her neck and then he slowly eased her onto the bed.

Climbing on to the bed, his hand kneaded the soft flesh of Chloe's breast. His thumb and forefinger tweaked her nipple before his mouth claimed it in one mouth full. His lips and tongue rolled and sucked driving her crazy with desire. She arched her back pushing her breast further into his mouth when she felt his fingers slip inside once again and caress her inner walls. Chloe writhed beneath him and her breaths were coming in pants. She moaned helplessly as his fingers sped up their pace delving between her wet folds. Feeling the first wave hit her she bucked against his touch when suddenly his lips were licking her pussy as he finger fucked her harder. He lapped at her clit and sucked her wet pussy lips as her body exploded into a million pieces. Her hands fisted the comforter underneath her as she screamed out in pure ecstasy, as her orgasm rolling through her body.

"You’re so beautiful." His deep husky voice said as he looked up at her.

Breathing heavily, Chloe smiled and grabbed his shoulders, trying to pull him up to her. "I need you now Derek." She whispered.

She watched Derek climb on top of her and grabbed his cock in his hand. He slowly swiped his thick mushroom tip up and down her folds a few times and then lightly pushed in the tip. Pulling back out and then slipping the tip in just an inch. Seconds later Chloe could feel his thick cock make its way in completely filling her. She moaned as he slid in and out stretching her to accommodate his size. The sensation was almost too much to bare as she wrapped her legs around him, wanting him in deeper.

"You feel so fucking good Chloe." Derek whispered dipping down planting kisses on her collar bone.

She moaned out load, uncontrollably as he pushed in and out of her faster. Her nails ran the length of his back in a plea for more. Chloe started to buck wildly against his powerful thrusts as another orgasm ripped through her body, making her tremble and see spots.

"On my God." She screamed out as the wave hit her again and his last hard thrust rammed her hard and he exploded with her. They both collapsed, exhausted and panting for air.

"Jesus Christ. That was amazing." Derek said staring into her brown rimmed blue eyes. He rolled onto his side and took a deep breath.

“Yes it was Mr. Stark.”

––––––––

C
hloe woke up early; she could tell that the sun was just beginning to find its way into the portside window of the yacht. She was facing away from Derek, so she couldn’t see him, but she could feel the strength of his arms wrapped around her and the rise and fall of his chest against her back. She lay still, enjoying it and also wondering if she’d maybe lost her mind just a little bit. Part of her wanted to believe that the man who made love to her last night and was holding her this morning was fully aware that the woman he had in his arms was Chloe and not Sarah.

She knew that even if all the other risks of this relationship were put aside, that one alone would be monumental. When Derek spoke about Sarah she could still see the pain and the love in his eyes. He not only loved her when she was alive, he still loved her. He still clung to his memories of her and for two years he’d lived his life in a sort of limbo without her. Then along comes Chloe. Her twin...if not in birth then definitely her doppelganger. They were identical, or at least they would be if Chloe took out the contacts and stopped dying her hair brown. What if this was all some twisted fantasy in his head? What if she let her guard down and began to develop feelings for him only to find out that what he wants is a clone of his sweet, deceased wife?

Chloe thought about those photos she had looked at. Sarah looked like she was full of life. In every photo, she was doing something fun and she looked happy. There were pictures of her skiing...something that Chloe had never done; pictures of her in high school on the cheerleading team and singing in the school choir. There were photos of her and her parents at places like Disneyworld and Six Flags, riding roller coasters and hugging cartoon characters. There were pictures of her dancing and laughing and playing...and then there were the ones that had been really hard for Chloe to look at...the pictures of her life with Derek. She was looking at everything that she was denied throughout her life and it hurt like hell.

She had come to the page where their engagement announcement had been cut carefully from the newspaper and slipped into a plastic sleeve. The date showed that it was only four years ago but there was a more innocent, younger look to Derek’s face then. Likely it was because he hadn’t been through the horrible, tragic loss of the woman he adored yet. That would have to take its toll. There was a picture on the next page of the two of them standing underneath a tree. They were holding hands and she was looking up at him and him down at her. The look they were sharing was so intense that it almost jumped right up off the page. Was Chloe insane to believe that she could ever even come close to competing with that?

She felt Derek stir next to her and still self-conscious during the daylight of the scars that covered her back; she rolled so that she was facing him. His eyes were still closed, but he smiled. “Good morning, beautiful,” he said.

Chloe felt that flutter in her stomach and the catch in her throat. She knew that if this was a bad idea, she had already let it go way too far. But she was face to face with him and his gorgeous lips were a mere fraction of an inch away. She’d have to be made of stone to resist. She kissed him softly and when she pulled back, the arm around her waist tightened and pulled her in deeper instead. They kissed passionately then and she thought that he had to have the sweetest morning breath that she’d ever tasted on her own lips. When he finally let her up for air she said, “Good morning.” He tried to lean in and kiss her again and she pulled back and said, “I should probably head home.”

“Why?”

“Why?”

He opened his eyes and looked at her. God, she was beautiful. “Yes, why should you head home? If you stay, I will make you breakfast...”

“I thought you could only do stir-fry.”

“I did say that, didn’t I? The truth is, stir-fry is all I can do for dinner, but I’m a master pancake maker.”

Chloe laughed, “You seem to be a “master” at a lot of things.”

“This is true,” he said. “When I take an interest in something, I generally don’t give up on it until I’ve mastered it. I’m determined like that.”

“So, I’ve had the stir-fry and I guess I could stay for the pancakes...what else have you mastered?”

He laid his hand across his chest again and gave her a wounded look. “Are you out of arrows yet because one more direct hit like that and I’m not sure I can survive?”