Wrecked (13 page)

CHAPTER 13

Wade stood at the window and watched the landscapers work below. The buzz and whir of their machines had started not long after the sun had risen.

CeCe moved up beside him. “What’s so interesting out there?”

She rested her hand on his back, lightly, barely touching him, but he was hyper aware of its presence, and hers.

“Your work crew. Do you realize you have as many men working here as my granddaddy has working his cattle ranch?”

By Wade’s estimate, CeCe employed about one man per acre. Of course, at the ranch, the grass was meant to feed the cattle, not to look pretty. And hers certainly did look pretty.

Dark green and lush in spite of the drought and neat as a pin. There’d be not one blade out of place after these men got done.

“You never told me your family has a ranch.”

“You never asked.” He turned and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close. “Does Maria work today?”

“Yes.”

“Then I guess it’ll have to be here then.”

“What will have to be in here?”

“Our morning exercise.” He could see by her expression she knew exactly what kind of exercise he was referring to.

“Still insatiable, I see.”

“Yup. That’s the meaning of the word insatiable, beautiful. Never able to be satisfied. So why do you keep acting surprised that I haven’t changed?”

Today was Thursday, and he’d only been with CeCe since Sunday night. Not nearly long enough to have his fill of her yet.

Of course, there had been a few women in his sordid past he’d had quite enough of after an hour, so perhaps he shouldn’t be so presumptuous.

“Because you continue to surprise me, Wade Long.”

“Right back at ya, sister.” He grinned while backing her toward the bed. “Now hush up and let me love you before I have to leave.”

“Leave?” Her brow creased.

He hadn’t mentioned it before because he had a feeling it was going to put a damper on things. He was sorry he’d mentioned it now, before the sex.

A man of his vast experience with women should have known better. Always bring up the tough subjects after sex, not before.

“Event starts tomorrow night. It’s an eleven-hour drive. I need to get going today.”

“Of course.” She nodded but somehow he didn’t believe that was the end of this conversation.

He trailed a finger over her bare thigh to distract her. Him too. He wasn’t looking forward to the end of this thing—whatever this thing was.

A fling. A relationship. Something in between.

Whatever it was, it ended when he left.

Yeah, he might run across her again next time he was in California. And if she were still single maybe they’d spend another night or two in bed.

Two things made that unlikely. A woman like CeCe wouldn’t be single for long. She was rich, attractive and needy. Any number of men would line up to fulfill all of her needs.

More, she didn’t seem like the casual, booty call type. He couldn’t show up a couple of times a year. What would he say to her?
Hey,
I’m in town for the weekend. Wanna fuck?

Yeah, she’d lay into him for that, he was sure. Maybe that wouldn’t be that bad. Just thinking about the daggers she’d shoot him with those eyes that showed every emotion so clearly had him getting hard.

Moving his hand up beneath the hem of her sexy lace nightie, Wade didn’t stop until he reached the heat of her core.

At his first contact with her clit, CeCe hissed in a sharp breath.

How he loved the way she reacted to his every touch. How her eyes lost focus and her lips parted as she gasped for breath.

Wade brushed kisses along her neck and was treated with her soft moan. “Do you realize how fucking beautiful you look when you come?”

“Not coming yet,” she gasped.

He smiled at how, even now, she had to be contrary. “You will be soon.”

“We’ll see.” She drew in a shaky breath as a crease formed between her brows.

He recognized that particular frown. He’d seen it enough the past few days. She was close. All she’d need was a little push to send her over the edge.

Wade leaned in and scraped his teeth over the skin of her throat. She tipped her hips up and started to shake and he knew he’d won this round.

Though, there were certainly no losers in this particular sport.

CeCe was still gasping when Wade took her mouth in a hard kiss. He hadn’t ever been with a woman he enjoyed kissing as much as he liked fucking.

Damned if he knew why, but CeCe’s mouth called to him. Made him want to possess her lips as much as he wanted to sink his cock into her.

It was the strangest thing but he didn’t fight the urge. Instead, he tossed her on the bed and settled his body over her.

Tangling his fingers in her hair, he thrust his tongue against hers. He’d eventually have to get a condom because he had every intention of being inside this woman at least one more time before he left her. But for now, this was good. Really good.

His intention was to take his time, but it didn’t work out that way. He found himself unable to wait. He needed to have her. All of her. Not soon, not later, but now.

That’s when he knew he was in trouble.

It was going to be harder to leave this woman than he’d ever anticipated. He was almost saddened at the thought of leaving.

When had the end of a one-night, or even a four-night stand ever affected him like this?

Never.

And that was exactly why he had to leave.

Between both of their track records of failed marriages and the differences between him and CeCe, they were doomed.

If they ever got off the ground at all.

Kick ass sex, their being incredible in bed together—and out of it—wasn’t good enough for the long term.

They might be okay for a little while, but in the long run it would all go to shit just like every other relationship he’d ever tried and failed at.

Wade’s thoughts had put a damper on what was most likely his last time with CeCe, but he hadn’t been able to control the rambling in his head.

Taking back control of his wayward mind, he focused on CeCe, on every detail about her. Memorizing the things he’d relive later when he was behind the wheel for that long ass drive.

How damn long her legs were. The longest legs he’d ever seen on a woman and he’d seen quite a few.

How fair her skin was. So pale she’d burn to a crisp if she ever spent time working outdoors under the sun on the ranch. Not that she was likely to ever do that, which brought Wade full circle to how impossibly different they were.

When he left and she finally got back to her life and her job, she’d be up in her fancy corporate offices and he’d be rolling around down in the dirt. Literally.

She opened her eyes. The big blue orbs focused on him. “You okay?”

“Sure. Why you ask?”

“I don’t know. You’re not as—enthusiastic as usual. I thought maybe your ribs hurt.” She ran a finger over the bruises that were beginning to turn all sorts of pretty colors, just like they always did. “It looks painful.”

“That little old bruise? Nah. I’m used to being banged up. And I got to be wreck of the night so, you know, that made it all worth it.” As she rolled her eyes at him, Wade forced a smile and lied, “Don’t you worry about me. I’ve never felt better. Let me show you.”

He reached for a condom and decided to try to turn that lie into reality.

Wade planted his palms on skin so soft it felt like silk, but with the added benefit of a heat that fabric didn’t possess.

The warmth of her skin was only surpassed by the heat that surrounded him as he pushed inside her.

His lids drifted closed from the sensation, but the sound of her soft gasp as he entered her had him forcing his eyes open again. CeCe was beautiful at anytime, but even more so while he loved her.

As much as he’d tried to take his time, it was impossible. He lost his control and pounded himself to conclusion much too soon, which is what always seemed to happen with CeCe.

The orgasm rocked him to the core. Not just his body, but somehow the rest of him too.

He didn’t know if it was his head or his heart—maybe it was his very soul—but some part of him was trying to grasp onto CeCe and never let her go. Skip the event, move in here and never leave.

That irrational thought prompted Wade to roll off her before he lost all common sense. “I’m gonna shower.”

Still gasping from the loving, CeCe nodded.

Before the need to shower was the need for something to drink. Alcohol might have helped more, but instead he pulled on shorts and made his way to the kitchen for a bottle of water from the fridge. He’d worked up a thirst.

Barely through the doorway of the kitchen, Wade realized it was a good thing he’d taken the time to put on shorts. A shirt might have been good too. “Mornin’, Maria.”

“Good morning, Mr. Wade. The coffee is ready.”

“Thanks.” He smiled. Over the past few days he’d gotten her to call him Wade, but dropping the mister seemed beyond her.

He grabbed the water and also pulled out the container of half and half for CeCe’s coffee.

Scooping sugar into CeCe’s mug, he had to think his bringing her coffee in bed would win him some pretty big brownie points.

Maybe enough she’d hop in the shower with him. The stall was certainly big enough for two and those multiple pulsating heads held all sorts of potential.

With CeCe’s coffee prepared just the way she liked it, he picked up her mug and his water bottle and turned to find Maria smiling at him.

That could be because he was once again only partially dressed in front of the poor older woman, but she should be used to it by now. She’d seen him in all sorts of states of undress over the past half a week. Today’s shorts were a huge step up from the underwear he’d been wearing the day they first met.

Pausing, he raised a brow in her direction and waited.

She pressed her hands to her cheeks, shaking her head. “I’m so sorry. It’s just, I’m happy you’re here, Mr. Wade.”

“Well, I’m glad. But why is that?”

“Because of Mrs. Cole. She’s happy since you’re here.”

“Is she? How can you tell?” Wade knew CeCe had been well fucked since he’d arrived but he didn’t think Maria was the kind of person who would bring that up.

“She smiles now. She never used to before. Not really. Not all the way to her heart.” Maria tapped her own chest with a fist.

The comment brought a lump to Wade’s throat. “Um, I’m gonna bring her this before it gets cold.”

Blowing out a breath, he headed down the hallway. Shower, pack and then he had to leave. If he didn’t do it now, he had a bad feeling he wouldn’t be able to.

CHAPTER 14

“How have you been feeling?” Dr. Stein asked.

“Fine.” CeCe pedaled faster on the exercise bike as the therapist eyed her more closely.

“Are you sure?” The older man, who looked too much like Freud to not be a good therapist, lifted one bushy brow.

“Yes. I’m fine. Why do you ask?”

“If you pedal any faster you might lift off.”

“I missed my workout four days this week. I have to make up for the days I took off.”
 

“And why did you miss your workout?”

Talking was difficult while pedaling at this speed, but the Dr. Stein had agreed to not only meet at her home, but also during her work out.

This was multi-tasking in the extreme, but it had been her idea, so CeCe had no choice but to talk.

The Cole name definitely had its benefits. And its downside.

One of those negatives was her packed schedule as she tried to handle all the things she’d ignored while playing bed sports with Wade.

Dr. Stein had asked her a question, and she had no choice but to answer. Therapy only worked when she was totally honest—with the doctor and with herself.

CeCe threw caution to the wind and let the truth fly. “I spent the first half of the week in bed with a totally inappropriate man.”