“All I’m saying, is that good people sometimes do questionable things. Give him a chance.” Henry’s voice is low and metered like he’s had these conversations before.
The door knocks and my heart stiffens. Nothing about me going to jail for five days equals what Wilder did. They are two completely different things.
I bite the tip of my thumb as I stare at Wilder’s shadow out the side window. Maybe Wilder deservesat leasta conversation. If only I knew the conversation wouldn’t turn into my clothes on the floor and my pussy being spread wide over his giant cock.
I really need the courage to open the door, but I already know how this goes. I unlock the door, Wilder steps inside, twists that baseball cap backward, and I melt in place. Next, I’m some cheap, morally deficient slut, and my children are being raised by a criminal.
I suck in a deep breath and disconnect the line with Henry without a goodbye. It’s not intentional and I regret it immediately, but my heart is racing. There’s a bear at the door and despite knowing how dangerous he could be...I want to let him in.I want him to maul me. I want to disappear in his arms and forget the world, even if it’s only for one more day.
His deep voice booms through the walls, calling out, “Ten minutes. That’s all I want.”
Ten minutes.Ten minutes seems harmless. Hell, I gave five years to a man that I barely liked. Ten minutes is nothing.
I step toward the door and take a deep breath, trying to temper the hormonal response my body is having. I know Wilder is trouble… but I’m not sure I care.
Chapter Ten
Wilder
In one brief second, I learn more about myself than I’ve known my entire life.
I’m an impatient man. An all or nothing, intense, extremely impatient man.
Bree stands still as I stalk toward her, landing my hand on the side of her face as I back her against the wall. She’s panting, her eyes on me, her hands on my shoulder. I lean forward and she welcomes my lips, lifting onto the tips of her toes to reach me.
I swallow down her muffled sighs and kiss my way to the lobe of her ear. “I’m sorry. I should’ve—”
“Don’t stop.” Her tone is needy, the same way it had been a few nights before.
“But I want you to know what I did. I was a dumb kid. I got sucked into doing stupid shit by some guy out of the Springs, and I—”
“I was in jail, too,” she pants unbuttoning my shirt. “Five days. I was protesting a bulldozing of the conservation on the Colorado University campus.”
A slow grin creeps up onto my face. “You’re a criminal?”
She tilts her head to the side and strips off my shirt, landing her soft lips on my chest. “Henry had a lot of nice things to say about you. You should thank him.”
“I had a feeling he’d call. Didn’t want him to, but I’m glad he did.” I run my hand over her bare arms. She’s wearing a short black night gown with lace trim. “Are you okay? I don’t want to do this if I can’t keep you, Bree.”
She stares at me, and her gaze deepens with thought. “You’re crazy.”
I nod and fight back a smile. “Kind of feeling it. Have been since I met you.”
“Then what are you doing here? Why are you fighting for this? For me? For this terrible mess of a life I’ve made?” She’s breathless as she speaks. “Why not just fuck me and walk away? We don’t have to be in love for this to make sense. We’re attracted to each other. We can stop after sex. I’m okay with that.”
My heart beats hard against my rib cage and my throat goes dry. “If you think for a second, you’re the kind of woman I can fuck and walk away from, I’ve done this all wrong. I want to hold you in the morning. I want to help you get the girls ready for school. I want you on my lap every night while we watch TV, and I want every worry you have in my ear. Do you understand that? I want all of you, Bree.”
Tears roll down her cheek. “And what do you get from all that? An apple pie?”
“If I’m lucky, I get do this whole life thing with you and the girls. That’s enough, Bree. That’s what I want. You… you’re enough. You’ve always been enough.”
She beats her fist against my chest, crying before kissing me gently. “Why are you messing with me? Stop!”
“If you truly want me to stop, I will. I’ll walk away and I’ll never bother you again. I just had to try one last time.” I take a calming breath. “Is that what you want, Bree? Would you like me to leave for good?”
Bree stares at me long and hard. It’s the same way she looked under the stars when I knew part of her wanted to push me away, but she didn’t.
She draws in a deep breath and lets it out slowly. “We both know I want you, Wilder. I want you so bad. I think about the way your hands felt on my skin, the way your big frame took me over. I think about how great you were with the girls… but it’s only been a short time. I can’t rush into this. I have to go slow. I’m sorry.” She drags her gaze up to mine slowly, tears rolling down her cheek. “I’ll call you when I’m ready.”
