The Winner Takes It All Page 25

  Her fingers clenched on the edge of the sink, her gaze glued to the hard lines of his face. “Shane, please, harder.”

  The tension grew. And grew. But refused to release.

  “No.” Another smooth thrust. “I’ve been dreaming about this all day. You feel like fucking heaven and it’s going to last.”

  Her muscles clenched, his words heating her.

  “Besides”—another nip on her throat—“this is payback.”

  And it had never been sweeter. Hotter. More erotic. Her nipples grew impossibly hard, rubbing against the fabric of her bra. She angled her hips, opening her legs wider to get more pressure on her clit.

  He yanked her back, angling her hips away from the sink. The friction she desperately needed, gone. He slapped her ass, hard. “No coming yet.”

  A jolt of electricity shot through her. She liked this. Too much for comfort, which increased her arousal by a hundred times. She bit her lip. The tension built to a fevered pitch.

  He slid his arm around her waist, bent low close to her ear. “That’s right, baby, you can’t hide from me, I know exactly what you like.” His fingers tightened around her throat. “Who you are.”

  He did. It was like, with him, she was the woman she was always meant to be. She circled her hips, arching into him, making them both moan with pleasure.

  “Again,” he said, and she complied. He pushed forward to meet her, their bodies grinding together.

  It was so slow. So excruciatingly slow.

  And each time he filled her he became more a part of her.

  Sweat beaded along her spine as her pleasure keened into tight focus, where all thoughts ceased to exist.

  They moved together, almost languid, but hot, thick desperation filled the air. Like they couldn’t get close enough.

  “Shane.” His name a gasped, breathless plea. Sensation built inside her, taking her higher and higher but never cresting.

  He slammed powerfully into her wet, swollen, aching core.

  “Oh God.” Her voice almost unrecognizable, her fingers clenched on the sink.

  He cupped her breasts, pulling down the fabric of her tank top so they swelled over the top before unhooking her bra. Then his fingers were on her nipples, playing with the hard buds in time with his strokes.

  “Watch.” That gruff, low voice.

  She shuddered, looked into the mirror again, catching his gaze.

  So hot on hers, so possessive and primal, her inner walls clamped down on his cock.

  He growled, pinched her nipples, sending another bolt of fire racing along her nerves.

  He shook his head. “No, not me, you.”

  Her gaze clung to him for a moment, then she faced herself in the mirror. Who was that woman looking back at her? Hair a wild mess around her face, cheeks flushed, her lips swollen. She looked undone, worked up, crazy in lust. Like she’d do anything.

  Her gaze fell to his big tan hands playing over her breasts, strong and powerful against her pale skin.

  She throbbed. Everywhere. Energy pulsed through her as he took her higher and higher, until she thought she might break.

  He covered her back with his chest. “So hot. And wet. And tight. Only for me.”

  One hand slid down her stomach, his fingers played over her clit. Mindless, she groaned. “Yes, only you, Shane.”

  “You ready, baby?”

  She nodded.

  His pace increased, his thrusts impossibly deeper.

  She cried out. Threw her hips back to meet him.

  The small powder room filled with the sound of their harsh breath. Their bodies slapping together as the air grew humid with desire and sex.

  Need, deep inside her, threatened to break her in two.

  He pounded into her.

  She wound tighter.

  Tighter.

  Tighter.

  The orgasm crashed over her, consuming her. She cried out and his hand clamped over her mouth as she screamed, climaxing uncontrollably.

  He buried his face into her neck, low growls vibrating against her throat as he thrust into her. His teeth scraped over the sensitive skin at her throat as he came, spilling inside her, filling her up, setting off another wave as they shuddered together.

  He kept moving, thrusting, drawing out the pleasure until they were nothing but a helpless, limp heap of sweaty bodies.

  She looked into the mirror. Gaze intense, he watched her. Out of nowhere she blushed.

  Everything about the sex had been raw. Desperate and unbearably intimate. She felt exposed. Vulnerable.

  He put his palm on her back, the weight of his hand strong and steady. “It will be okay, Cecilia.”

  She blinked. The realization swept through her like a tornado.

  She loved him. Hopelessly.

  It terrified her.

  He pulled out, turned her around, and gathered her in his arms.

  She buried her head in the curve of his neck, sucking in the spicy male scent of him. And she felt safe. Home. Emotions welled inside her, her throat closing over as she fought to push it all back down.

  She needed him.

  He stroked her hair. “It will be okay. I promise.”

  Of course he promised, because there was nothing Shane couldn’t do if he put his mind to it.

  She nodded against his neck. “I’m okay.”

  His thumbs pressed under her chin until she looked at him.

  She met his gaze.

  “I’m not going to be able to let you go, Cecilia. I just can’t.”

  Relief filled her, and the tightness in her muscles relaxed. “Okay.”

  He kissed her. “We’ll figure it out.”

  She nodded. “Yes.”

  It was simple and not simple at all.

  He rubbed a thumb over her cheek. “I’ll give you whatever you want, you know that, right? And if that means running for congress”—he shuddered, but his green eyes were light with amusement—“for the wrong party, we’ll figure it out.”

  She wanted to tell him that she didn’t think she wanted to run, but then she looked into his eyes and saw it—what Maddie had talked about that day.

  Shane Donovan would do anything for her. Anything. If it was in his power to give it to her, he would. No matter the cost. It gleamed there, bright and true. He’d move heaven and earth for her.

  And for the first time she felt accepted. Cared for.

  Neither of them had spoken the word, but it hung there between them. A silent promise, still too soon to say out loud.

  She reached up and ran a finger over his jaw. “Who takes care of you, Shane?”

  He blinked, confusion clouding his gaze. “I don’t know what you mean.”

  “You take care of everyone else, but who takes care of you?”

  He opened his mouth, closed it, frowned.

  Before he could collect his thoughts, she stood on tiptoes and brushed her mouth over his. And made a promise of her own. “I will.”

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Cecilia practically danced on air the following morning as she slathered lavender body lotion over her legs and mooned over Shane.

  Last night had been the best night of her life. He’d lavished her body with attention, making love to her over and over again, their joining all the sweeter for the time in between. Long, wet kisses. Soft exploration. And talking. Low, intimate conversations until he was wrapped tightly around her heart. Interwoven into the fabric of her skin.

  Her phone beeped but she ignored it. The only people calling were the people she didn’t wish to talk to at the moment.

  But she wouldn’t ignore them for long. She was telling her father she wouldn’t marry Miles.

  As for her future plans? She liked the idea of starting something of her own. Something she was responsible for and that allowed her to have control over her destiny. She’d even opened her laptop and done some research. Started making a list of people to talk to.

  She smoothed lotion over her legs. She’d figure out the
details. What mattered now was she felt excited and alive. She intended to cling to that crystal clear vision of her future from yesterday.

  Her phone beeped again.

  And again.

  And then again.

  She frowned and walked over to the desk where her cell lay abandoned, to see fifteen missed calls from her father and five text messages. Since he wasn’t a man who resorted to texting, curiosity got the better of her and she opened her messaging app.

  We need to talk. It’s urgent.

  Cecilia, it’s imperative we speak.

  Two more messages of equal urgency and then the last one raised the fine hairs on the back of her neck.

  We need to talk about Shane Donovan and your future.

  Her heart started to pound. She took a deep breath and blew it out. Her time was up. She’d have to tell her father the truth and call off her faux engagement.

  She pressed his contact number. It rang once before he picked up.

  “I see I finally have your attention.” He used the cold, stern tone that had always turned her into a mess when she was younger.

  But it didn’t work. Not this time. “What do you want, Father?”

  “We have a problem on our hands. I flew into Chicago yesterday to deal with it and now it’s time to clean up your mess. I need you back in the city in five hours for a meeting with Miles.”

  Dread crawled up her throat. She’d lived in fear of his disapproval for so long, it was a hard habit to break. But she ripped the Band-Aid off because Shane deserved it, and she intended to keep the promises she’d made to him last night. “Dad, that’s not going to happen. I know we need to talk, but I can’t marry Miles. I’m not marrying him.”

  “Based on your behavior at the benefit I assumed you’d say that, so I suggest you read my last e-mail. Go ahead, I’ll wait.”

  Panic beat wildly in her chest. Something was wrong. She could feel it in her bones. She clicked the e-mail icon and opened the last message from her father.

  Subject: We’re prepared to release this at five o’clock today.

  She opened the PDF document. Everything inside her stilled, became cold and dead, like she’d been frozen into a statue. She quickly skimmed the article, a detailed account that claimed Shane was contributing to slush funds in order to obtain city contracts.

  Bile churned like battery acid in her stomach. A wave of nausea swept through her and threatened to bring her to her knees. Her voice shook when she put the phone back up to her ear. “But this isn’t true.”

  “It doesn’t matter if it’s true,” he said, his voice ruthless. “I happen to know the new city planner isn’t too fond of Donovan and is looking for any excuse to pull the plug.”

  She felt sick. She knew about the troubles Shane had been having with the planner. His worries about his staff if the contract was pulled. “You’re blackmailing me?”

  A long pause. “Think of it as motivation.”

  “Why are you doing this?” She shook her head. “Why do you even care if I run for congress?”

  He laughed, and she hated him. “Do you really think this is about you?”

  Tears pricked in her eyes and she sat on the bed. All her happiness evaporated into thin air like a desert mirage. Of course, she’d forgotten, it never had anything to do with her. “I’m your daughter. Doesn’t that matter to you?”

  “I’m doing this for your own good. What? You’re going to blow your whole future for an affair with a construction worker?”

  She didn’t bother arguing that Shane was so much more. “Yeah, that was the plan.”

  “You’re smarter than that. I trust I’ll see you in five hours.”

  More than anything in the world she wanted to throw his threats in his face, but she couldn’t. She could not let Shane suffer because of her.

  She wanted to run to him and tell him everything. But she couldn’t. He could never find out. She knew him now, knew the lengths he’d go to for the people he cared about. She’d seen it in his eyes. In every move he’d made the night before.

  If he found out, he’d refuse to be intimidated. He’d sacrifice that contract for her.

  Last night she’d promised to take care of him, and that’s what she needed to do. Even though he’d hate her for it. She closed her eyes. “I’ll be there.”

  Shane went to find Cecilia when she hadn’t shown up for breakfast. When he’d left she’d been about to take a shower, but it had been over an hour and he still hadn’t seen her.

  At breakfast on the patio, the conversation had swirled around him, but he hadn’t paid any attention because all he could think about was her. After last night he could no longer ignore the truth. He loved her. And he was pretty sure she loved him too.

  In the darkness, they’d told each other in a million silent ways.

  It was too fast. Too quick. But it knocked him over the second she put her hand on his cheek and said she wanted to take care of him. He’d never believed he’d needed that, or even wanted it. Taking care of his family, that was his job and he’d done it willingly. But Cecilia was a woman who could shoulder the weight with him.

  It wouldn’t crush her.

  She was too strong for that. Too stubborn. Just like him.

  He knocked on the door then pushed it open. The room was empty, the bed neatly made, lace curtains blowing in the springtime breeze.

  But she wasn’t there.

  He frowned, a trickle of unease sliding irrationally down his spine. A paper rustled on the desk, under the old-fashioned telephone. He walked over and picked it up.

  Shane, I had to run into the city for an emergency meeting, but I’ll be back tonight. C.

  The note didn’t make him feel better.

  Why wouldn’t she have talked to him? Called him? Hell, texted him?

  She left a note?

  What the fuck did that mean?

  He ran down the stairs and flew out onto the front porch, but her car was already gone.

  She’d slunk off to Chicago? Without one word?

  From his pocket, he fished out his cell. There were no messages. He dialed Cecilia’s number and it went straight to voice mail.

  Something had happened; he was sure of it.

  With the note clutched in his fist, he walked back inside, down the hallway, through the kitchen door and straight out to the back, zeroing in on Charlotte Riley. “She’s gone.”

  Charlotte’s fork paused midway to her mouth before she lowered it slowly back to her plate with hardly a clang. “Pardon?”

  Anger and panic churned inside him, seeping out of his pores as aggression. “Cecilia. Your daughter. She’s gone.”

  The older woman’s golden eyes darkened. “She left?”

  Shane threw the crumpled note on the table. “She said she had an emergency meeting and would be back tonight.”

  Her expression cleared and the rest of the table seemed to let out a collective sigh.

  Charlotte picked up her fork again. “Oh well, she’ll be back.”

  Shane shook his head. “Something is wrong.”

  Maddie’s mouth turned down. “Shane, she had a meeting.”

  “Bullshit.” It was all bullshit. They didn’t know her like he did. Every instinct he had was on rapid-fire alert and he was never wrong.

  Mitch put his hand on the back of Maddie’s chair. “I’m sure everything is fine. My father probably had a problem she needed to fix.”

  Shane’s hands clenched into fists. “She’s not even speaking to your father.”

  “But she still has a job to do,” Mitch said rationally, making Shane want to punch him.

  “She would have said something to me; she wouldn’t just leave.”

  Mitch glanced pointedly at the paper on the table. “She left a note.”

  “You don’t know shit.”

  James cleared his throat. “She’ll be back tonight and you can talk to her then.”

  Charlotte’s expression turned distressed, and she fiddled with her nap
kin in her lap. “I have to agree with Mitchell. Cecilia’s always been single-minded when it comes to work.”

  Shane pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to get them to see reason. “She currently has about twenty voice mails and a hundred e-mails she hasn’t looked at in days. Her laptop is still sitting in her bedroom in the case. She couldn’t give a fuck about work.”

  “Shane!” Maddie jerked her head toward Charlotte and scowled.

  “It’s okay, dear.” The older woman patted his sister’s hand.

  James pursed his lips. “What do you want us to do?”

  Shane looked at them, sitting there relaxed at the table. They all thought he was being irrational. Acting crazy. Even though he knew he was right.

  But what could he do? Chicago was a big city, she wasn’t answering her phone, and she’d be back tonight. He shook his head. “Nothing. Forget it.” He swiveled on his heel and walked back into the kitchen to collect himself.

  A minute later the back door opened and he turned around to find Cecilia’s mother standing there, her hands wringing. Her gaze shifted uneasily around the room, then it settled back on him. “I—” She cleared her throat. “I didn’t realize you were so involved with Cecilia.”

  His jaw hardened and he nodded sharply. Damned if he was going to deny it. She was his.

  Charlotte looked past him. “I knew there was some tension between you, but I didn’t know it moved past attraction.”

  What was he supposed to say? He wasn’t about to admit they were sleeping together. Although clearly she was the last to know, since they hadn’t exactly been discreet. He shrugged and said noncommittally, “I care about Cecilia.”

  “That’s clear,” she said, a small smile lifting her lips. “But that’s what worries me.”

  “Don’t be.” Shane didn’t quite get where Charlotte was going, but he was 100 percent certain he didn’t want to know. “Everything’s fine.”

  “Do you know? About her plans?”