Page 15 of Starting Our Chance

8 Duke

As I drove home Sundayafternoon with the stack of reports Nikki had left for me on the passenger seat, I knew I had some difficult business decisions to make. There was another investor—two towns over—who wanted my funds to service his projects. After church, however, Nikki had flat out asked me at brunch to put all my eggs in her basket. She was ready for more and wanted to build some pretty ambitious developments.

But instead of thinking of all the business possibilities, my mind returned again and again to the gray eyed beauty who had declared her intentions to stay in Waynesboro Parish. I can’t read into that . . .. Even if those were the words I’d craved to hear from her lips.

And why wouldn’t she look at me?Of course, she wasn’t there to answer that question. I hit the steering wheel in frustration.

I was sick of holding back, yet terrified of moving forward. That pert mouth had been the finest thing I had ever tasted, and yet I wasn’t going to take more until I was sure I stood a real shot with her. Sure, I had played the field a little, but none of the other women I had been with were as driven as I was. Work had always come first. I had broken my back to make an estate I was proud of. Dammit, I was so close to fulfilling the dream of my success and having something that would support me and my family for generations! I gripped the steering wheel tighter.

Like a crack of light shining through the clouds, I saw a lone figure jogging the back country road ahead. I would know that body anywhere. Sure, I had seen her out here running these roads before—years ago. But now, it was a stab to the heart from the past.

Before I knew what I was doing, I slammed the car to a stop and threw the door open a second later.

“No more games, Lore,” I bellowed.

To her credit, she didn’t flinch. Instead, she slowed to a trot and closed the distance between us. Hands flying to her hips, she bit out, “I never was playing anything. Most especially not with you.”

“And just how the fuck was I supposed to know that?” I stalked right up to her, staring her down.

“You could have asked.” Lore met my heat with everything she had in her vibrant body, pressing hers against mine. “I am here to stay.”

“You didn’t know that when you showed up.” I dropped my voice to a low whisper, but it still came out a growl. “What happened in New York? What’s changed?”

She tried to step away, but I held her firm. So, Lore turned her head and dropped her gaze to the ground. Those gray eyes stayed focused on something down there as she whispered, “I can’t tell you.”

Moving my hands up her body, I grabbed her shoulders and gave her a little shake. “I said no more games!”

I broke our contact and went to leave, but she reached for me, clinging tight. “It is for your own good—your own safety that you don’t know. The fewer who know, the better. Please. Believe me. It is all taken care of, and as long as I just go about a normal life, I’ll be fine.”

Crossing my arms over my chest, I just stood there. “Why did you go to Dylan?” I demanded, switching topics. I hated the way her eyes widened at the accusation, and she took a step back.

“Oh, Lord, you think I wanted that trash?” She slapped an open palm against my chest. “Fuck you!”

I remained silent. That was how things had once been. Hadn’t she proven she wanted him badly enough to go back and forth with him all semester in high school? Had she hoped he had changed and was waiting for her to realize that—instead of realizing that I was standing right here in front of her?

“I never wanted him back then, I only thought I did. Now that I’m home, I don’t want him getting in the way of something I have always wanted but been too much of a coward to take.” Lore’s voice broke on the last few words. She turned to leave this time, but I wasn’t allowing that. Lunging forward, I grabbed her once again, and this time I was going to keep her in my arms. To hell with everything, this was where Lore belonged, and I was going to keep her.

“What do you want, Lore?” This time my voice was free from menace. I reached out and cupped her cheek in the palm of my hand. Her breath hitched in the back of her throat, and her eyes bored holes into mine. “I’m waiting.”

“You.” Her little pink tongue darted out to wet her lips and she trailed her finger along my chest, making her feelings crystal clear. “I want you, Duke.”

Encircling her back with my other arm, I crushed her body tight against mine and dropped my head to kiss her. We were pressed together, sensations igniting between us; the thrum of energy was intoxicating.

Loretta Jane’s mouth was just as sweet as I remembered—a most tantalizing memory turned into reality. Her body shivered against mine, sending a stab of desire through me. Need rippled down my spine, an overwhelming craving. She kept kissing me until we both stopped breathing.

I knew this moment wouldn’t last forever. But damn me if I wasn’t going to make the most of it. I took everything she was willing to give and then demanded more. Her hands were everywhere as her body willingly submitted under my demands.

A whimper escaped her chest, and I caught it from her lips. The sound had me crazy, pulling her even closer. She had completely taken my mouth, our tongues clashing in a frenzied manner that had my breath coming in short gasps. There was a desperate craving from my very soul, and I was forced to acknowledge it.

This was by far the best kiss I’d ever experienced—and it wasn’t over yet.

I dragged her over to my truck, pinning her hands above her head. Dipping my own down lower, I raked my teeth over the sensitive skin on her neck before rasping out, “Do you want me to stop?” I know my voice sounded gravelly and harsh to my ears, but it didn’t faze Lore. The smoldering look she shot me warned me what kind of storm that stopping my advances would bring about. She was quickly ceasing to be the girl next door and what she was always meant to be: mine.

Shaking her head vehemently from side to side, she gasped, “No. Oh, God, Duke, don’t stop.”

Kissing my way back to her lips, I smiled, hovering over her mouth teasingly while I asked, “You want more, Lore?”

Her answer was to arch her body ever so slightly and give me access to whatever I wanted to take. Her hands slipped into my hair, then they were running up and down my arms and shoulders.

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