Bit by the Bug (Matthews Sisters 1) (22 page)

Please be informed that Mr and Mrs Vincent Richmond require your attendance at dinner on Sunday with their son. Mrs Richmond will be calling at the office during your working hours. It is requisite you secure a personal invitation through their son, Dr Vincent Richmond, or the aforementioned agreement between both parties will be terminated.

Who wrote notes like that?

Please be informed? It is requisite? Aforementioned agreement?

If the feminine script was any indication, it was from Mimi Richmond. But why refer to herself in the third person?

‘Rich people,’ Kat said derisively under her breath. Vincent was working and she wasn’t worried about him overhearing her muttering. ‘Always acting like they’re about to be sued.’

It was Friday, which meant she had only a couple of days. Would Vincent invite her along with him? If he didn’t, she could hardly blame him. He didn’t know it, but she’d met his parents and could see why they’d be an embarrassment to him.

She glanced at the phone. How in the world did Mimi expect her to ‘secure a personal invitation’ from Vincent? It’s not like she could say, ‘Hey, take me to your parents’ house’, could she?

‘Yeah, nothing says desperation like begging an invitation to meet mom and dad.’ Kat made a sour face at the note. Groaning, she stuffed the parchment back into her camera bag and stood. She frowned as she put her head down on the desk, hitting her forehead lightly against the hard, photo-covered surface as she spoke, ‘What am I going to do?’

‘Kat? Katarina Matthews?’

Kat whipped her head up and gasped, ‘Jack?’

A photograph stuck to her forehead and she pulled it off. It was a close-up of a pinned beetle. She threw it on the table, shivering in disgust even though it was just a picture.

‘Kat?’ Jack called, his voice sounding closer.

‘Oh, gawd!’ Kat stood up too fast and hit her knee on the side of the desk. ‘Ow! Shit!’

What in the world was Jack doing there? Could this day get any worse? Groaning, she remembered their last meeting – outside Sedurre. She had tried calling him one night, but he didn’t answer and he never called her back.

‘Is there a Kat Matthews working here?’

Hopping and rubbing her bare knee, she looked around the office in a panic. It was a useless task because there was nothing there that would help her. Glancing down, she examined her outfit. Spearmint-green pleated sheer organza was accented by rose-coloured ribbon and bead-work on the neckline. The camisole dress was cute, with a baby doll waistline, but in her panic she worried it
might be a little too cute – especially for work. Jack noticed details like that.

Hurrying out the door before Jack broke Vincent’s concentration and caused him to come out of his laboratory, she rushed down the hallway. Forcing a smile, she said in a hush, ‘Jack, what are you doing here?’

He paused, looking confused and a little hurt. ‘Am I not welcome . . .?’

Kat stayed quiet as she passed Vincent’s door, only to assure him quietly, ‘No, I didn’t mean it like that.’

Jack’s corduroy blazer was a switch from the T-shirts and sweaters she was used to seeing him in. He wore a new pair of blue jeans and brown boots. As he was an actor, she didn’t give much thought to his attire. He could show up wearing a military uniform or a Roman toga and she’d not think anything about it. ‘It’s just Dr Richmond doesn’t like to be disturbed when he’s working. He likes his quiet.’

‘Ah, sorry. I forgot you worked for a cranky old guy.’

‘Yeah.’ she laughed nervously.

Unlike the last time they met, he pulled her into a big affectionate hug and swung her lightly back and forth before letting her go. ‘I missed you, Kat.’

‘I missed you too, Jack,’ she said. It wasn’t a lie. She couldn’t just turn off years of friendship because they no longer wanted to be with each other intimately. Besides, there was something familiar and warm about Jack’s embrace, even if it wasn’t fused with sexual desire anymore. No, that flame had died.

‘I came by because I wanted to give you some tickets,’ he said. ‘I got your message, but I’ve been really busy. The show was put back on under a new director and I want you to be there for the opening. It’s a week from tomorrow.’

‘Oh, Jack,’ Kat said, happy for him. She looked at the tickets and saw the address. ‘Broadway? It was moved to Broadway? Oh, Jack, that’s great!’

‘I thought you could bring Zoe with you,’ he said.

‘Oh, um . . .’ She thought of Vincent. Of course she couldn’t bring him. ‘Yeah, yeah, maybe. That would be great. She got a promotion at work and is really busy these days, but I’ll definitely ask her.’

‘I would’ve gotten tickets for all your sisters, but they only give me so many to hand out.’

‘No, this is wonderful. Thank you for dropping them by.’ Kat grabbed his arm and tried to urge him back down the hall. He was talking a little louder than she would have liked.

‘I have a confession.’ Jack was stronger than she was and stopped her insistent pull easily. ‘The tickets are just an excuse, Kat. I really came because I wanted to talk to you. I need to talk to you.’

‘Oh, how about we just sneak out for coffee?’ she again grabbed his arm and tried to lure him out of the building.

‘I’m sorry. I have to do this now, Kat. I can’t wait any longer and I want you to know I’m quite serious this time,’ said Jack. Kat was on the verge of forcibly hauling him towards the front door when the worst possible thing happened – she heard Vincent’s door open just as Jack pulled away from her and started to bend down on one knee.

‘Katarina Matthews,’ Jack said, in a tone every woman instantly understood. Jack was proposing marriage to her – and in front of Vincent!

‘Butterfly, who’s your guest?’ Vincent said behind her.

Kat was so tense she couldn’t react as fast as she should have. Time stopped and each second seemed to draw out into a hellish eternity. She saw every detail of Jack’s face as it turned from blinking confusion to horror when Vincent slid his arm along her waist and kissed her temple.

‘Sweetheart?’ Vincent asked his tone questioning. She wasn’t fooled. He knew what he was doing – staking claim to her as his woman.

Kat laughed nervously. Jack slowly rose to his feet. That’s when she saw the ring in his hand. The diamond glinted in the hallway light. Jack hadn’t been lying – he was quite serious.

‘Kat?’ Jack asked, his voice unsure. The look of hurt on his face tore at her.

‘Ah,’ Kat tried to speak but nothing would come out. Her stomach was in knots. The awkward silence only lasted a few seconds, but to Kat it felt a lot longer. She was mortified, unsure what she should do or say, and she was embarrassed for Jack. It was hard enough for a man like him to propose, let alone to have that proposal seen by the woman’s boyfriend. For Vincent made certain Jack knew where he stood in Kat’s life.

‘Old man, huh,’ Jack said, scowling at her. She knew he was as embarrassed as she was, maybe more so as he had humiliation on top of it.

‘Jack, I’m sorry. I can’t do this,’ she said, trying to be gentle and not sure he heard her. Jack stormed out of the building in anger. Vincent’s hand on her was like a weight. She pulled away from him. ‘Damn it, Vincent. Did you have to embarrass him like that?’

‘Who is he, Kat?’ Vincent demanded, his voice losing all the sweetness it had held moments before. ‘Another boyfriend?’

Kat blinked several times, trying to make sense of what was happening. It was the first time Vincent had ever referred to himself as her boyfriend. Part of her wanted to shout for joy, the other part of her wanted to slap him for being insensitive to Jack’s feelings.

‘Damn it, Vincent!’ Kat lifted her hands as if she could strangle him without touching him. With a growl of frustration, she ran after Jack. ‘Jack, wait up.’

When Kat got outside it was to find Jack already halfway into a cab. His eyes met her briefly. He was livid. She tried calling to him, but he slammed the door and the car took off before she could reach him.

‘Damn it!’ she yelled, as she turned to confront Vincent. She stormed back inside, her chest heaving as she tried to catch her breath. Jack had been on bended knee. He was going to propose and Vincent saw it. She didn’t want to marry Jack, would’ve told him no, but she would have done it gently, sweetly, and not with Vincent pawing her like a piece of property!

‘Who is he?’ Vincent demanded. He hadn’t moved from the hall. Kat walked around the empty reception desk to face him. ‘You mind telling me exactly what’s going on, Katarina? How many of us are you seeing? Because I have a really hard time believing some stranger walked in off the street and decided to marry the first girl he found in this building.’

Even angry, she had to admit his jealousy was really sexy. She’d never seen him so worked up before – not even when she squished his milking spider.

‘For your information, that was Jack. The friend I told you about. We broke up the day I met you.’ Kat marched up to him and pushed at his chest. ‘I’ve seen him one time since then and had no idea he was going to show up here today.’

‘Ka –’

‘You have no right treating me like I’m some piece of meat to be fought over by a couple of lions. And you have no right accusing me of anything.’

‘Why? Because I’m not your boyfriend?’

‘No, because I have too much integrity to cheat on you, you stupid ape!’ There was an animal magnetism to the moment, a hot fire that crackled its way over her body. ‘And for you to imply I could is deeply insulting. If you want to know anything from me, all you have to do is ask me.’

‘Are you saying we’re exclusive?’ His words were still heated and he was breathing hard, his chest rising and falling in hard pants.

‘I’m not going to answer that.’

‘But, you just said –’

‘I don’t like your tone,’ she yelled.

Unable to resist, she growled as she grabbed his face in her hands. She pulled him roughly against her, as she fought her way into his mouth with her tongue. Angrily, she ripped his lab coat open, causing the snaps to part in a series of hard pops. His teeth bit into her lips as he kissed her back just as hard. Within seconds, he had her pressed up against the wall. The wood bit into her back, but she didn’t care.

‘You had no reason to hurt his feelings like that,’ she said, breaking away long enough to take a long gulp of air.

‘Quit talking about him,’ Vincent demanded. His hands flew to his waist and he unbuttoned his pants. They slithered down his legs to the floor. Kissing her neck, he scraped his teeth along her pulse, sucking and nipping her like he was a vampire about to bite. The sting of his kiss felt nice, powerful. Her nipples ached but she didn’t want to waste time undressing.

‘You’re one to talk. You didn’t tell your boss about us, or Dr Waters. You called me Ms Matthews like you were ashamed of me.’ Kat lifted her skirt and pulled off her underwear, kicking them aside.

‘I knew you were mad at me,’ he exclaimed. ‘I knew it wasn’t just your period.’

‘Damn right I was mad at you! You acted like you were ashamed to be with me. I bet you still haven’t told them. I bet you haven’t told anyone about us!’

‘That’s not true. I told my family last night. Oh, and what about you? If you saw that guy since we’ve been together, you obviously didn’t tell him you were taken.’ Vincent’s hands gripped into her arms before he roughly caressed his way down her body. ‘I bet you haven’t told anyone anything, have you?’

‘And what would you have me tell people? Huh?’

Vincent grabbed her by the thighs and lifted her up
against the wall, holding her body open. She grabbed his shoulders, clawing into his flesh. Her body was wet and she was highly aroused by this dominant side of him. The tip of his cock slid along her wet folds, so warm and alive.

‘That you’re mine,’ he said passionately, right before he thrust inside her.

Kat gasped, her mouth opened wide. The stunning combination of his words combined with his body’s claim was too much. There was something more intimate about this time, about the hard pumping way his hips slammed into her with an angry driving force. He’d never taken her like this, his cock hammering into her, fucking her like he was trying to stake claim to her pussy, to her soul.

‘Vincent,’ she gasped.

His hands dug into her ass, squeezing the cheeks hard as he supported her weight. He buried his face in her neck, breathing harshly against her. The sound of it was loud in her ear. She gripped his arms, digging her nails hard into his skin. Vincent groaned, she knew he liked a bit of pain with his sex. The slapping of their joining flesh stimulated her clit, hitting again and again in stings of intense pleasure.

‘Oh, shit, I’m coming!’ Kat tensed, her body tightening on his as he continued to take her hard. When he pulled away from her neck, his face was unguarded, completely thrown in passion for her. The look was raw, erotic, real. She climaxed, clawing at him as the pleasure completely overrode all thoughts in her head. Vincent grunted, slamming into her one last time. Stiffening, he came, buried inside her.

She draped weakly against him. Vincent let go of her legs and she slid back down to the floor. For a long moment, they stood together, breathing hard, unable to speak. Then, slowly, he leaned over and pulled up his pants.

‘I’m sorry,’ he said, his voice low.

‘No condom?’ She read the concern in his eyes, automatically knowing he wasn’t apologising for the rough sex. They’d both gotten off.

He nodded.

‘I’ve been tested.’

‘We already discussed that,’ he said. ‘I believe you.’

‘I’m sure we’re fine,’ she said, not wanting to think of the possibility of getting pregnant, as she tried to remember if she’d taken her birth control pill that morning. The thing was easy to forget but the shots made her queasy.

He nodded and said no more about it. The mistake was done, there wasn’t anything to say anyway.

‘Did you mean it?’ In the aftermath of release, she couldn’t find the anger she had before. ‘When you said I’m yours, did you mean it?’

‘Do you want to be mine?’ He stroked her cheek.

‘I . . .’ There was tenderness in him. She couldn’t answer. Not now. She couldn’t have a moment as special as this rooted in deceit. To say she cared for him, that she might even love him would be wrong. No, there had to be honesty between them first – complete and unfettered honesty. She had to make things right.