Surrender To You (9 page)

“What, no smug satisfaction that I have no job and therefore, no need to stay here?”

The flash of hurt on his face was so fast I nearly missed it. I almost felt guilty, considering our interlude the evening before.

Until he spoke. “Oh goodie, just what I always wanted,” he drawled with obvious sarcasm. “You comin’ home because you lost your job instead of by your own choice.”

Standing abruptly, I strolled closer to him until our knees touched and put my hands on the arms of his chair, leaning in so our noses nearly touched. I nearly laughed at his sudden intake of breath at my proximity to him.

“Make no mistake, Stefan. I
am
coming home by choice because I have more than enough money to stay here and look for another job for at least a year, if not more.” I really didn’t know how much money I had, which meant it was time I called my Accountant but that didn’t matter right this second.

His eyebrows shot up at that even though he didn’t say anything. His eyes dropped to my chest though, which is when I realized he could see down my shirt. Ignoring that fact, I continued.

“Let’s also be clear that I am coming home
because I want to
and not because of you or anything you’ve done or said.”

Then, he grinned and the naughty look in his eyes that accompanied it sent my pulse racing.

Before I could move, I was straddling his lap and his right hand was sliding under my skirt. Wrapping his other hand in my hair, he tugged my head down and captured my lips with his, both of our eyes closing upon the contact. Tracing the entrance to my mouth with his tongue, I decided to go with it for the moment and gave myself freely. Sighing, I parted my lips and his tongue plunged inside, instantly sparring with mine.

His hand had reached the apex of my thighs. I tasted his growl of frustration as he tried to cup me in his hand, only to be thwarted by the tightness of the skirt. Releasing my hair and pulling his other hand out, we continued to devour each others mouths as he pushed the skirt up on each side. Another growl as the fabric stopped moving at the tightest part and his hands found the zipper in the back, quickly loosening the garment and shoving it up onto my waist.

Then, he moved to my blouse. Making quick work of the buttons, he shoved it open and encircled my body with his arms, cradling my ass with one hand and supporting my back with the other.

“When I stand up, wrap your legs around me,” he murmured into my mouth just seconds before he stood.

Doing as he bid, he started walking, only to shock me as I felt the wall against my back.

“What…why don’t we go to the bedroom?” I asked as I ripped my lips away from him.

Drawing his head back, he reached a hand between us as he answered with hooded eyes.

“Because I want to fuck you against this wall.”

And with those words, the fire that had been building in me lit up completely. The rush of desire almost had me gasping. He hadn’t even really touched me and I knew I was ready for him. And at this point, I didn’t have a good reason not to reach out and take this moment for me.

Yet, I knew I had to make something clear.

“Hold on,” I implored, putting one hand to his chest even as I felt him undo the button on his pants.

He just stood there, staring at me in silence, waiting.

“This…whatever it is. Between us. It’s for the rest of the time you’re here and that’s it.”

At that, his eyes darkened and I thought he would argue. Instead, he shrugged and I felt vaguely disappointed.

“If that’s what you want,” he declared.

Before I could say yes, that’s what I wanted, he claimed my lips with his own again, the kiss more punishing this time in its ferocity. He stepped closer and I felt his hand push my flimsy thong to the side. Preparing for the onslaught I knew was coming, I brought arms up and around his neck, anchoring my body to his.

One, two fingers found me and I moaned as he rocked them in and out, over and over until I thought I’d go mad. The faster his hands went, the more I moaned. Ripping his mouth from mine, he nibbled my earlobe before searing a path down my neck, the kisses hot against my skin. I knew they weren’t marking me but it felt that way.

Tilting my head slightly to give him better access, I buried my face in his neck, kissing the exposed skin there and tasting his salty skin. So focused on the sensations, I jumped at the sound of his voice, so deep with desire my insides clenched at the sound.

“Your body is so ready for me. Are you ready?” The words were just above a whisper, the self-control he was exhibiting apparent in the stillness of his body.

“Mmmhmm,” was my reply and that was all he needed.

Lining up our bodies, he slowly entered me. The bite of his teeth against my neck was nothing compared to the torture below, the center of me that was nearly begging for release. When he grabbed my hips and shoved me all the way down, I screamed as my orgasm rolled over me but Stefan didn’t slow down.

Over and over, he pulled to the edge before slamming me down again, at a pace that had me gasping for breath. The raw act of possession left me captivated, and my body on the edge of another orgasm. Then, he whispered in my ear, slowing to an almost glacial pace.

“Tell me you’re mine.”

I froze, even as the rest of me was on fire, begging for relief. “No.”

He retreated, leaving our bodies barely connected and me gripping his shoulders. “Now Ellie. Say it. You’re mine. You always have been, just admit it and I’ll give you what you want.”

He surged forward again and I sobbed as he left just as quickly.

“No, damn you!”

“Fucking say it! I love you dammit, the least you can do is admit that you’re mine as much as I am yours.”

My body quivering with need, I could no longer deny him - or myself.

“Fine! I’m yours!” I shouted. “I’m yours, I’ve always fucking been yours.”

And with that, he pounded into me. Again and again.

I shattered into a million pieces as he grunted, trembling as his body shook with its own release.

Through my tears, I whispered, “Sometimes, I really don’t like you.”

Bringing his eyes up to mine, I saw the pain in them as he pressed a soft kiss to my lips.

“That’s okay honey. At times, I don’t really like you either.”

~*~

“Did you know?”

It was near midnight and we were lying in my bed, naked. I didn’t figure there was any need to continue making him sleep on the couch - and admittedly, I liked being held. It was different than it used to be in a delicious sort of way. He was more muscled now and the weight of his body against mine as we spooned made me feel safe. Odd, since at this point, I considered him the biggest threat to the little bubble of a life I’d created for myself.

“Hmm? Did I know what?” He whispered as his arm caressed my side, dipping down into my waist before rising at the curve of my hips.

I knew this to be a soothing gesture of his and smiled at the sameness of some things even among changes.

“That your mother was going to give me the house. I mean, before she asked you all to sign off on it.”

“Yeah, of course. Since I was the firstborn, she’d always said I’d be the one to get it, so she and I had a long talk beforehand.”

I tensed up. “Wait…you were supposed to get the house?”

I turned my head as if to look at him, but he had me locked in his embrace with the other arm so I couldn’t really turn around to face him.

“Yep,” was all he said as I felt his smile against my neck.

“Why would you let her give it to me? Neither of you even knew if I was still alive.”

He laughed then. “Of course we knew you were alive! We may not have known where you lived, but your mother constantly assured my mother that you were all right. I have to give your mom credit though - for someone who is a major gossip, she never once let it slip where you were living at.”

That was pretty good. I can’t say I ever bothered to ask and it’s not like anybody had ever shown up here. He still hadn’t answered my question though.

“And…?”

He sighed, the exhale tickling my neck. “It’s a hard question to answer, honey.”

I huffed. “How many times—”

He pinched my nipple, cutting me off in mid-sentence. “I’m pretty sure that you just admitted a little bit ago that you
are
mine. So, that makes you my honey. Get used to it.”

Slapping his roaming hand with my free one, I wiggled fruitlessly to get extricate myself from his hold. “And as
I
remember it, I said this’ll only happen ‘til you’re gone!”

With a little maneuvering and quick reflexes on his part, I was on my tummy with my hands pinned to my side within seconds. His body covered mine as he kissed me all over my shoulders and neck. Moving up to nip and lick at my ear, it wasn’t long before I squirmed beneath him, my hands itching to touch him and make him hot like he made me so easily.

The devilish chuckle in my ear as he guided himself to me below made me still. He leaned in, his words harsh, raw.

“Here’s the thing, Ellie. You
are
mine,” he reiterated, hissing as he entered me just a little and stopped. “I don’t know what happened all those years ago. And maybe I shouldn’t have walked away but I wasn’t willing to stand there, watching you waste away before me any longer.” Another inch forward. “Five long years I’ve regretted it. I let my mother give you that house because I foolishly hoped - wished really - that even if it was another few decades, the gift of that house would bring you back to me.”

At that, he thrust deep and stopped. I was speechless at his words, the only sound a moan as he wrapped his arms around me. He didn’t stop there, though.

“We both made mistakes. I can’t say I knew what was going on with you because I didn’t. The way I see it, the both of us have been give another chance to try again, to make things better. We can never go back to what we were, never fix things. We can move forward though. Won’t you give me a second chance?”

I really didn’t want to cry again, yet my throat closed with panic as tears sprung to my eyes. He was putting himself out there and all I wanted to do was shake my head. Deny it, deny him. Deny us.

Going backwards wasn’t what I wanted, was it?

For once, I didn’t know but as I spoke, I heard the bitterness I’d kept locked up the past five years seep into my voice. “It doesn’t work like that, Stefan. I’ve changed…you’ve changed. I’m not sure trying again is worth it.”

He withdrew slowly, tortuously. “Ah, but that’s where you’re wrong honey. If I think you’re worth waiting potential decades for, then I’d say I’m a pretty good risk. And your body is certainly not complaining.”

It wasn’t, but my body was a traitor. I shook my head. “I’m not convinced…”

“Good thing I’ve got time to persuade you then.”

After that, his seduction left me speechless. Which was probably a good thing because I may have been tempted to tell him exactly what he wanted to hear. And I wasn’t ready for that.

I wasn’t sure I ever would be.

CHAPTER TEN

The day of Stefan’s return home came quickly.

Without work, I spent much of the previous week packing up most of my personal items while researching moving companies and their prices. Because my move was across the country, the most expedient form of moving meant shipping everything and then just driving there. It would take me about three days, but a little alone time to myself seemed like a great plan.

Stefan, on the other hand, had helped me pack a little but otherwise spent the week working - either on his computer, or on his phone. Several times he had gone outside to take a call and it left me rather curious as to the caller’s identity. He’d always come back with a smile though and apologize for being so rude.

It was hard not to like him. And I really put some effort into it.

Sitting at the dining room table, I didn’t even blink when the door opened, Stefan returning from his run. He headed straight to the shower after nodding at me and I went back to reading my book. He’d asked me earlier in the week if I would take him to the airport and I really didn’t have a reason to say no.

His flight was in three hours so we had to leave pretty soon. He didn’t take long though and when he walked out of the bathroom wearing nothing, I stared. He winked at me.

“How about one final quickie?”

My body hummed to life at his words. Tamping down the impulse to say yes, I sent him what I hoped came across as a ‘dirty’ and ‘you wish’ look. “We don’t have time. Your flight leaves at ten.”

“I suppose you’re right,” he said with a sigh. “Give me a few moments.”

He walked back into the room a few moments later, buttoning up his shirt. At the touch on my shoulder, I looked up to find him smiling. Nodding at my e-reader, he asked, “What are you reading?”

“A book.”

“Oh, you’re funny. What’s it about?”

“Nothing you’d be interested in. It’s a romance novel.”

He rolled his eyes. “If I wasn’t interested, I wouldn’t ask. Now, title?”

Huffing, I turned it off and set it on the table. “If you must know, it’s called ‘The Healing Heart’ and you wouldn’t know the author.”

“Again, what’s it about?”

I didn’t dare stand up, although his close proximity as his hand rested on my shoulder made me wish I’d taken him up on his offer for one final time to be close to him. “It’s a romance, what do ya think? Either way, it’s upbeat and happy and just feel good. No drama, no angst, just love.”

“Ugh.” He smiled down at me even with the sound of disgust. “So what you’re saying is, it’s not realistic. Let me guess. The hero is completely amazing and has no faults? And I bet the heroine is the same too, huh?”

I scowled and stood up, my hands on his chest as I pushed him away from me gently. “You’re an ass.”

“Come on!” He laughed as I put the device in my purse. “There’s no such thing as a man with no faults.”

“You’re the expert.”

“Ouch! I’m wounded!” A hand up to his heart, I smiled at his antics. “Ah, see. You
can’t
resist my charms.”

I sighed. “Ready to go now?”

“What’s the paragons name?”