The Fall (27 page)

“What the hell were you thinking leaving me alone like that?”

“Good morning to you, too,” I said cheerfully.

“Way to go, Martin?”

“Okay, maybe the note was a bit tacky,” I said. “At least I made you coffee.”

“It’s not funny,” he said standing in front of me, clear hurt running through his beautiful features, the memory of his lips on every surface of my body coming back in waves.

“Stop acting like a scorned whore,” I scolded. “I had to get to work,” I said, hopping onto the railing to sit as he paced in front of me. “And I told you I wanted to take things slow,” I reminded him.

“Stop acting like a catty female. This isn’t cool. What happened last night was amazing, we reconnected.”

“Look, spare me the lecture. I was happy about it until you came barreling out here with your
feelings
,” I said smugly. His head snapped up in anger and he didn’t hesitate before gripping my throat, pressing his lips to mine. I moaned into him and captured his tongue as he took my mouth completely, leaving me panting and breathless.

“Deny it all you want, Dallas.” He backed away, glancing behind me before pushing me over the railing. I screamed out in a panic until I landed in the hedge directly behind me.

He leaned over as I thrashed all my limbs, his brows lifted in challenge. “Obviously, I need to do a better job of screwing some sense into you.” He walked out of my line of sight, and I heard him exclaim, “Rose!”

“Dean,” she piped happily as I struggled to hoist myself back up, my legs still hooked over the railing.

“Damn it, you idiots, help me up!” I screamed. I heard Dean chuckle as they continued to make small talk while I struggled like hell to lift myself up. What seemed like an eternity later, Rose popped her head over and laughed hysterically, trying to push her words out. “You rang?”

“Help me up or so help me God, I’ll wear a fluffy, fuchsia Cinderella dress and start the chicken dance at your wedding.”

“I’ll see you later, Dallas,” Dean shouted as if I were far away. “I’ll see you soon, Rose.”

I started to scream. “You bas—”

“He’s gone,” she said as she pulled me to my feet.

“I hate that man, I swear,” I said, my blood draining from my head back into my limbs.

“I can tell,” she cooed. “Looks like you two are back to the norm.”

“Seriously, what grown man pushes a woman into some bushes?” I huffed, wiping myself off.

“One that has to put up with your crazy ass,” she answered quickly. “Kudos to Dean.”

“It’s not funny. How did you know I was here?”

“Beatrice,” she said simply, as if I should know better.

“Of course,” I said, scanning my sister. “You doing okay?” She looked exhausted. It was apparent by the small circles under her eyes that she hadn’t been sleeping.

“It’s just a lot with the wedding. I’m so thankful for all you and Mom have done, but it’s just a lot.”

“Whatever you need,” I offered as she walked with me back into the hospital.

“So are you going to come clean?” she asked as I froze at the door. I looked at my sister as she slowly crossed her arms in front of her and pursed her lips.

“Rose, I don’t know what to say. I couldn’t think of a good time to tell you.” Clearly, my sister knew about my plans in oncology. I hated the fact that she’d found out the way she did.

“I’m happy for you! I always knew Dean would be the one.” Her eyes twinkled with mischief. “It’s so easy to see you two are crazy for each other, why would I mind?”

“Oh, Dean, yeah.” I checked my phone to keep from meeting her watchful eye.

Rose took a step forward, scrutinizing me. “What aren’t you telling me?”

“We need to talk and soon, but today is not the day.” Opening the door, I ushered her through.

“Fine,” she said, looking at her phone for the time. “I have fifteen minutes until lab. I just wanted to stop by and say hello. I’ll be buried in my books for the next few weeks so text me.”

I nodded and gave her a half-hug.

“Dallas, I know how badly the break up hurt you. I never told you this because you’ve always been so tight lipped, but I want you to know I’m here for you...you know, if you want to talk.”

I pushed out a breath in frustration. “I just broke up with Josh, and I’m trying to do better here. I hardly have time for anything else.”

She simply nodded and started walking. “Bye,” I said, drawing out the word in exaggeration. Though Rose and I had always been close, I’d never really told her the truth about the years I was away at college. I’d kept most of my time with Dean and after to myself, never revealing too much.

After work, I decided to get in some much-needed exercise. I saw Dean’s Jag in the garage and looked at my cell for a message, cursing my weakness at wanting to hear from him already. I was rewarded.

DEAN: Tonight?

I waited until I was in my car to answer. My insatiable craving for him was awakened with his touch. As long as I didn’t let my heart lead, I was safe. I knew it would not take much to be in over my head. I was walking a very tight rope with little to no net already.

DALLAS: Maybe.

I decided being indecisive was better. I told him I’d wanted to take things slow. Becoming dependent on him was not an option. I wanted control over my emotions. I couldn’t afford to let them run rampant. I would keep the promise to myself to do better with my health, and make my career my priority. If Dean was sincere about having a place in my life, he would have to make do with my best-laid plans.

I took the treadmill at a leisurely pace, cursing my stupidity. My thighs were burning in seconds. I noticed the gym filling up and ignored my surroundings as much as possible. Running outside in Texas during early fall could be fatal on the days the bogus weather decided to bring summer temperatures. I hated jogging in place. It was probably the liberal part of me talking. My mother had imbedded the thought that joining the masses in a room full of health nuts was a type of conformity. Or maybe it was the fact that I hated working out. Either way, I groaned as I picked up the pace and started the long trek into my first mile.

I felt his eyes on me first. I turned in his direction to see he was openly staring at me. I felt my chest tighten as I stared back. Josh was on the treadmill diagonal to mine. We had joined the gym together and had never run into each other once in the entire time we had the membership. I cursed the fate that had brought us back into the same room. The truth was, I’d missed him. The friend he was to me. He knew my habits, my moods, and he knew how to make the bitchy me smile. He’d been my best friend. I stopped my machine and walked off, but he stopped me before I reached the locker room.

“How are you?”

“I thought we weren’t going to do this.” My voice was shaking. I felt horrible guilt knowing I had just bedded Dean last night. The way he was staring at me now, it was if he knew.

“I know what I said,” he said tightly. “I just had to ask you.”

“I’m fine. I’m working a lot.”

I let my eyes wander over his tight fitting t-shirt and loose shorts. His hair was pulled back in a low, short ponytail. I was filled with the recollection of our time together and felt a painful tug in my chest.

“Me too. I got offered the position of sous,” he said, smiling. “Today, in fact. Do you want to go help me celebrate with a drink?”

“Josh, that’s wonderful! I’m so happy for you.” Without thinking, I leaned into him and gripped him tightly to me.

“She has plans.”

I jumped at Dean’s voice and looked over to see him eyeing us with nothing but menace. The change in the air was instantaneous and permeated with animosity. He looked ready to kill in his gym clothes, a chrome water bottle in hand that he held with white knuckled ferocity. It was no big mystery why he was here. The hospital was only a block away, but I was starting to think coincidence no longer had a welcome place in my life.

“Of course she has plans,” Josh said sarcastically as he looked at me with disgust. “I figured as much.”

“Josh, listen—”

“Fucking forget it. You can have the gym,” he said bitterly.

“Thanks,” Dean said as he glared at Josh’s retreating head. Josh took a step back, meeting his glare. “You’re nothing but curiosity for her. She’ll get bored.”

“You don’t know shit,” Dean said, snapping back, his teeth bared and his skin tinting as his anger built.

“I know I’d never heard a word about you in the time I spent with her. Not a word,” Josh shot back confidently.”

“Stop it,” I said forcefully, taking a step between them before turning to Dean. “Stop it.” He didn’t look at me, keeping his eyes glued on Josh. I grabbed Josh by the arm, pulling on it hard as he remained locked in a standoff with Dean. “Come on, Josh, please,” I pleaded as he took another step toward Dean. “I’ll be there when you fuck up. I love her that much.” Josh turned to me and looked down at my hand on his arm. I pulled at it again as he followed me out of the gym.

I saw his truck and walked over to it as he reluctantly followed.

“I would ask you why but, I’m afraid to,” he said, looking down at his tires.

“I hate myself so much right now,” I said quickly. “I can’t tell you how sorry I am.”

“Do you love him?” he asked earnestly, searching my face.

“I used to.” He nodded and jumped into his truck. “I have to leave right now. I’ll hurt him if I don’t.” I backed away from his truck as he took another look at me. “I meant what I said, and I might hate myself for it later, but Dallas, if he fucks up, I’ll be there.”

“I don’t deserve that. Don’t do that.”

“I guess I can’t help it.” He started the truck then pulled away, leaving my heart gushing with regret. I looked back at the gym and couldn’t face going back in. I was more than furious. As if Dean sensed my hesitation, he stepped outside, walking toward me.

“Caveman!” I shouted as he approached me. “What the hell is wrong with you? It isn’t enough that I’m with you right now, you had to rub it in his face? Make him feel like that?” Dean didn’t slow his pace and crashed into me, lifting me with both hands under my ass, my legs instinctively wrapping around him. My surprised scream was muffled by his mouth as he took it with possessive fierceness. I fought him for only seconds before succumbing to the kiss. He pulled me tighter to him, walking toward his Jag. I heard it chirp before he sat me down in the passenger seat. I fumed as he got in and quickly started driving.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” I said, staring at him while he drove. “Talk to me damn it!” He continued driving as I questioned him, but didn’t say a word. We pulled into a private drive, which I assumed was his, and he pressed the garage door opener. Glaring at him, he refused to look at me. I got out and followed him inside. I was just about to start laying into him again when he turned on me, his dark eyes filled with hunger. My words caught in my throat as he gripped my neck, turning me to face the door we had just walked through. I shuddered when his breath hit my ear, my back to his chest, his erection brushing along the top of my ass.

“I need you to stop fighting me,” he scolded on a heat-filled whisper, his tongue darting in and out of the shell of my ear. I was panting as he held me tightly to him by the throat, his other hand slipping into my shorts and underneath my panties. “I need you to stop making this so damn hard on us both, because all I want ...” he paused, slipping his fingers inside me as I sank against him, “is you.” He pulled his fingers from inside me, sliding them up to massage me in slow circles. I gripped him behind me as I started to feel the pull.

“Dean,” I pleaded, my heart pounding against my chest. As aggressive of a lover as he used to be, it was nothing like the man behind me now circling my soaked sex with skilled fingers. I didn’t have time to worry about the fact that I was still sticky from my workout, or what had happened after, because seconds later I was spread out on his counter as he licked at my sex wildly. I gasped his name twice before he let up and pulled me to sit in front of him. He pulled his shorts down and I gripped him in my hand, the fire in my eyes matching his. He pulled me from the counter, gripping my ass as he slid me onto his length. I moaned out, the delicious soreness from last night making an appearance, before I began to move on top of him as he ground his hips into me. “So fucking good,” he said as I gripped the counter behind me, grinding into him. “I know you feel it, feel
us
”
He grunted out as his icy eyes seared through me along with his thrusts.

He turned us around and laid me down on his rug as he burned his way through me, leaving nothing left. I milked his length with my sex as I came again, calling out to him repeatedly. He pulled away, slowing his pace and rolling his hips expertly so I felt every stone inch of him.

“I’ve thought about nothing but this all day. The way you look when I’m buried inside you, the way you breathe my name, the way you tremble around me when you come. I won’t let anything or anyone else get in the way of us, of this.” He stilled as he spilled himself inside of me. I stroked his back, catching my breath. He pulled away, his beautiful black locks falling across his forehead.

“I just need us to
be
...without all the bullshit for a while. I don’t want anything taking away from this.” He searched my face for my understanding. I nodded as he took my lips then quickly pulled back. “Try with me, Dallas. Please just give me a chance.” His heart was beating so fast, I could feel his anxiety rolling off of him. Josh had intimidated him, though he would never admit it. Dean was proud in that way. I’d never seen him act so violently possessive toward me. I was as equally turned on as I was put off by it.