The Darkest Danger (Shattered Series Book 2) (16 page)

     Still, though, she couldn’t hide her embarrassed flush whenever his deep gaze settled on her. Without a doubt, like her, he was obsessing about that night when both of their inhibitions had been lowered.

     But, days later, on an early Wednesday morning, she ran fresh out of luck as she encountered him while en route to the kitchen, and he was on his way to the study. She looked to the floor as they passed. “Hi, Jarrod,” she said quickly, flushing red, and continued walking. “Good morning.”

     “Olivia, wait,” Jarrod said, grasping her elbow, and stayed her. His intense green eyes ran over her face. “We need to talk.”

     Tilting her chin, she met his gaze. “There’s nothing for us to talk about.”

     A speculative gleam shone in his eyes. “Oh, I beg to differ,” he murmured quietly. “And I don’t think discussing our situation here is a wise idea since Rosa and Meghan are close by. We’ll talk in the study.”

     “Since you’re going to be so boorish with your behavior, I have no choice but to acquiesce,” she said primly, pulling free. “Meghan and I have a full day planned. As a matter of fact, we’ll start our riding lessons shortly. So let’s get on with this.”
     His nod was brisk. “Fine. I know how important that time is for the both of you.”

     With his long gait, Jarrod led the way to the study, and a moment later, she settled in the chair across the mahogany desk while he took the chair behind it. After edging the chair closer to the desk, he eyed her across the space. “You want to tell me what’s going on?”

     Her brows knitted in confusion. “What do you mean, what’s going on?”
     Leaning back in the chair, he ran a cool green gaze over her. “You know what the hell I mean. Why were you in my room the other night?”

     Flushing red, she looked down at the floor. “I think it’s best that we forget that anything ever happened.”

     “What if I don’t want to forget?” Jarrod demanded roughly, eyeing her close, and a dangerous gleam glinted in his eyes. “As a matter of fact, I believe it’ll be a grave mistake if we do.”

     “I---I suppose that I should apologize for invading your space and privacy like that,” she stammered, and her blush deepened. “It was wrong of me---”

     “Damn it, Olivia. I don’t want your apology,” he muttered, sounding on edge, and pushed himself up from the chair before walking around the desk. Once he reached the front, he perched on the desk’s edge, and now, only a few inches separated them. “Don’t you get it? I don’t want there to be any barriers between us at all. Whenever you feel the need to invade my privacy like that, you’re free to do so. I want you to.”

     She swallowed hard. “Again, it was wrong of me to come into the bathroom while you were showering---”

     “You wanted to be with me,” he whispered, and his words held so much longing.

     “You don’t know what I wanted,” she said stiffly, staring down at the floor. “I suppose that I got a little carried away, and I’m embarrassed that you saw me touching myself---”

     “No. I don’t ever want you to be ashamed of what you want sexually. It’s the biggest crime that you can commit against yourself. Even if you’re too afraid to voice your thoughts about that night, I’m not.” Kneeling down before the chair, he grasped her shaky hands in his. “Like now, you were trembling all over with need. You wanted me to touch you where you were touching yourself. You wanted me inside you, buried so deep that you couldn’t breathe. I bet you were dripping wet from the inside out, weren’t you?” he taunted, reaching out to caress her cheek. “When I touch you deep down there, your sweet wetness seeps from your thighs like falling rain.”

     “Stop it,” she whispered, haunted by his words, and against her will, her eyes clung to his. “Don’t say those things to me. You don’t have that right anymore.”

     “And that’s where you’re wrong again, my sweet love. I have every right because of the way I feel about you. I’m not ashamed to admit that I’m literally obsessed by the idea of being with you in every way. Something tells me that it’s the same for you even though you’re not willing to admit that yet. But, soon, you will again. I have a confession,” he rasped, tracing her palm with the pad of his thumb, a move that sent shivers coursing up her spine. “From the moment that you came in, I knew that you were there.”

     Her stunned gaze met his. “What?” she gasped.

     “As soon as you walked in, I felt your presence,” he said, and his green gaze was hypnotizing. “But, still, I thought that it was just a figment of my imagination. When you ventured further in, I caught sight of your reflection in the mirror, and all I can remember is being thrilled by the fact that you came to me.” His eyes had a look of longing. “I’ve never seen you look so vulnerable and lost.”

     “You had no right,” she accused, breathing fast, not from exertion, but from the fact that he was touching her and so close.

     “Again, I had every right, just as I do now,” he rasped, sliding his hands up her calves slowly before easing them beneath her skirt. His warm hands clutched her silken clad thighs, and her skin was afire in the thin pantyhose. Watching her, he slid his hands across her thighs in deep, massaging motions, and sensual danger lurked in his green depths. As she took in a shuddering breath, a satisfied gleam shone in his eyes. “And just like that night, I want to climb inside you and take you until you can’t even remember your fucking name. My name is the only thing that you’ll call until you have not a single breath remaining.”
     “I told you to stop it,” she whispered, clutching the arms of the chair, struggling to keep her body to still, and failed to. As his hands neared the edges of the pantyhose, her body rose from the chair on its own volition, seeking his touch, and then, she gasped as he tugged them gently down her thighs and calves. In a silent whisper, they cascaded to the carpeted floor. “Jarrod, we can’t do this. This is wrong.”

     “Why is wrong when we both want it?” he whispered in turn, hauling her forward, and thrilled her senses with another dangerous stare. “And if you say you don’t, I’m going to call you for the liar that you are.” 

     Breathless, helpless against her selfish desires, she tumbled onto his lap. “Jarrod---” she said weakly, laying a hand against his chest, but did little to thwart his amorous efforts. “Please---”

     “No, don’t you fucking rationalize the fact that we want each other. Don’t talk, just feel,” he rasped, and the shadows played across her face as his head descended. His words breathed close to her badly trembling lips. “Feel what you feel for me and don’t be afraid of it.”

     Her eyes fluttered closed as he drew closer.

     His lips were just a hair breadth away, she mulled, inhaling an unsteady breath.

    
And was the word ‘want’ truly a word to describe her obsessive need for this man?

     The cell phone shrilled on his desk.

     But, it was an intrusion that was needed, she mulled, dazed, pushing away from him before stumbling up. “I have to go,” she mumbled with an embarrassed flush, bending over to retrieve the pantyhose and heels. “This was a mistake.”

     As he stood beside her, she avoided looking at him.

     “Damn it, Olivia, wait,” he muttered, grabbing her hand. “We aren’t finished.”

     Firming her lips, she pulled free. “You have an important call---”

     “Fuck the call. Whoever the hell it is, I’ll call them right back,” he cursed, raking a hand through his hair, and then blew a frustrated breath. “I want to talk about us---you and me---to hell with everything else.”

     She stared at him defiantly. “But, there is no us, not anymore.”

     “How can you even say that after what happened the other night and just now?” he fired back, looking at her accusingly. “You want to be with me just as much as I want to be with you. You can lie to yourself all that you want.”

     “I’m not the one who needs to face the truth, you are,” she stated firmly, holding the articles of clothing close to her body. “The truth is we’re further apart than we’ve ever been, and us having sex isn’t going to change any of that.”

     The hurt look flashed along his handsome visage. “So, it’s just sex to you now?” he asked, stiffening, and then, angered, he strode back behind the desk. After taking a seat in the chair that he’d vacated earlier, he began shuffling through the papers.

     “What do you want me to do, Jarrod?” she continued, and her own anger seethed at the edges. “Pretend that nothing’s happened between us or that you haven’t been lying to me for months?”

     “And you’ll never let me forget that fact, will you?” he said angrily, hurling the pen to the desk. “Let me guess. You’re going to make it your life’s mission to remind me that I’m a cad for ruining your precious virtue. Don’t worry, sweetheart. It’s working because the truth is permanently ingrained in my dark conscience.”
     “I hope it is because I will never forget what you’ve done to me,” she stated firmly, facing her own hurt again. “Every moment, I need to be reminded of the fact that you used me. That way I won’t continue to make mistakes like I did the other night.”

     “So, rather than masturbating in my full view, you’ll do it in your bed alone,” he bit back in a whiplash tongue. “You will never be able to run far enough to erase the memory of my touch. While your mind is busy conjuring up these convoluted denials, your body will always be your biggest betrayer.”

     She inhaled a sharp breath. “Damn you.”

     “And I won’t be the only one damned, will I? Every moment that you deprive yourself of being with me, you’ll be reminded that you are,” Jarrod muttered, leaning back in the chair, and his green eyes were frozen over. Looking away from her coolly, he picked the pen from the desk again. “It’s obvious that we’ve reached an impasse again. I have some things to work on. You can see your own way out.”

     She barely suppressed her hurt and stunned gasp at his blatant dismissal. “Just stay away from me, Jarrod. That’s all I ask.”

     Firming her shoulders, she didn’t look back as she marched for the door.

     He didn’t look up until the door closed behind her.

     Releasing a tired sigh, he hurled the pen back on the desk before standing.

     “Way to go, Sabatino,” he muttered, shaking his head, and stared out the window. “You’ve scared her off again and with these tactics, you’ll never win her back.”

     The morning sun was already emitting heat, and it couldn’t even be felt from the window pane that he stood close to, he thought, trailing his eyes over the outdoor space. Probably, it’d show no mercy within the elements.

     Then, he caught sight of Meghan and Olivia, and they were both racing towards the stables. Of course, Meghan was in the lead, he grinned, taking in his daughter’s silent laughter as it played across her face. At some point, Olivia had changed into a t-shirt and shorts, and now, she chased after his daughter with a playful gleefulness.

     For a moment, he just stood there and absorbed the sight of the playful banter between his daughter and the woman that he loved, mulling at the prospect of them all being happy again. Suddenly restless, he let the curtain fall.

     But, as he turned to face the silence, the truth of his past deceits grappled him.

    
What if it was too late for him to rectify his sins and win her back?

Chapter 9

     Three weeks passed, and like she had at Laramie Rock, she settled in at Widow’s Pointe. Her days, of course, were spent with Meghan with them playing or hanging out with Rosa. She’d also been surprised to learn that she knew how to ride horseback which only created more opportunity for her and Meghan to spend together.

     And her nights…they went to totally obsessing about their last encounter and Jarrod’s proposition, she mulled, stretching with a wide yawn as the Monday morning sunlight spilled across the bed, announcing the arrival of a new day.

     She’d yet to give an answer.

     Not that he seemed eager that she did, she thought, disappointed, falling back against the pillows. Truth be told, since their argument weeks before, he’d more than given her the space that she’d asked for.

     No doubt, it was a case of be careful what you wish for, she sighed, despondent. She’d asked that he’d leave her alone, and he had in subtle ways so that Rosa or Meghan wouldn’t notice their mutual discord.

    She bit her lip in concentration.

     In ways, he was there, but not there.

     At breakfast, lunch, and dinner, his presence was felt. Not only that, but things seemed to be thawing between him and Meghan with her being more receptive to him.

     When it came to her, he was cordial, and he was almost treating her like a distant relative or friend, she frowned, clutching the pillow close to her body. Plus, at no point, had he made any romantic overtures towards her or made opportunities to be alone with her. At night, when she’d retreated for bed, he always made sure to be busy in the study, pouring over paperwork. But, still, for hours, she’d laid alone in the huge bed, staring at the adjoining door, waiting and secretly praying that he’d come to her.

     For hadn’t he claimed that he’d do everything in his power to win her back, her mind argued.

     “But, you haven’t, and I want to know why,” she murmured, kicking the covers off. “And there’s only one way to find out.”

     A fast look at the clock said that it was around 7:00 am, and if her guess was right, he was helping out at the stables. Minutes later, face freshly scrubbed and devoid of any makeup, dressed in a form-fitting scoop-necked, black tank top, cut-off denim shorts, and canvas shoes, she stood in the bathroom mirror and finished twisting her long dark tresses into a loose ponytail. Hopefully, her attire wasn’t too suggestive, she thought, biting her lip, noticing her cleavage.

    
But, of course, it was suggestive
.

     “With the way that he’s been acting lately, I’m sure that he won’t even notice,” she scoffed, glaring at herself in the mirror. “He’s being a total bummer on the attention factor.”

     But, deep down, she hoped that he would really notice her, she realized to her shame.

     Giving a final look at her reflection, satisfied with her appearance, she moved away.

     A few moments later, she was taking the stairs, and surprisingly, she didn’t meet Rosa along the way. That was odd considering how she liked to start the day early. However, for the past weeks, Rosa had been tolerating and engaging in fun shenanigans with her and Meghan. Undoubtedly, she was worn from all of that excitement, she smiled, reaching the front door. Once, she was standing on the other side of the door on the outside, she waved at the guards before skipping down the steps, and soon, was on her way.

     Again, the walk was satisfying, she realized, inhaling a deep breath. Southern country living was definitely agreeing with her. As she ventured further, the stables soon loomed in sight.

     Surprisingly, none of the groomsmen or workmen was present yet, she noted, looking around. So, that meant that all of the horses were still inside and hadn’t been worked out yet.

      The whinnying neighs met her as she entered the well-kept stables. As she had a week before, she went in pursuit. While she meandered along the aisle, the horses eyed her curiously, some of them even giving welcoming snorts as she passed.

      When she reached the small office, she peeked inside only to find it vacant. “Where are you?” she mulled aloud, resuming her trek. “Why are you suddenly becoming a difficult man to find?”

     She continued down the narrow aisle before taking the sharp corner. Just as she had weeks ago, she collided into solid muscle.

     Slowly, her eyes traveled up the sweat-glistened, muscled chest. Her heart skipped a thousand beats, for didn’t her treacherous body know what it’d find?

     She absorbed the sight of him.

     If she thought he couldn’t seem more handsomely roguish, she was wrong. The dark stubble shadowed his jaw line, indicating that he hadn’t shaven yet. Once more, his dark hair was dampened with sweat, curling teasingly along his face. Within the shadows, his green eyes glinted with naked promises. A single bead of sweat trailed down the center of his chest on down to his taut abdomen. Rather than ripped jeans, the light gray running pants hang low on his lean hips.

     And by gads, didn’t she feel his heated gaze as it roamed over her? He wasn’t even touching her, and she was already aflame.

     Heaven help her…

     Her startled eyes flew to his. “W-what are you doing,” she stammered nervously, taking a step back. 

     Jarrod arched a brow. “Working---what else?” he said lazily, picking up the muck bucket and disinfectant from the ground. “Normally, after an early morning run, I start my day off out here, getting things ready before the guys come in. More than that, it invigorates me for the day.” He flicked an interested gaze over her. “I think the question is:
why are you here
?”  

     “I was looking for you,” she blurted, reddening.

     “Hmmm….is that so?” he inquired, sliding his intense gaze over her. “Why?”

     “You’ve been avoiding me for weeks,” she said, raising her chin stubbornly, and met his gaze head on. “And I want to know why.”

     “That’s a strange request, especially since it comes from the very woman that said she needed space,” Jarrod said coolly. “I’m simply honoring your wishes.”

    Narrowing her eyes, she crossed her arms along her chest. “No, you’re not,” she insisted. “I know you. There’s something going on with you, and it has been for awhile now.” She fought against the hurt. “And you’ve gone out of your way to treat me---”

     “How have I been treating you?” he challenged, and a gleam shone in his eyes. “Is it not in the manner that you prefer?” He made a fateful step closer to her one that made her pulse skyrocket out of control. “If that’s the case, I can rectify that right here and right now. Just say the words, sweetheart.”

     “Jarrod, stop,” she admonished, holding a hand out, and deterred him. But, still, she fought to ignore the fluttering butterflies in her chest. “Let’s just stick to the real reason why I’m here.”

     “A reason that you haven’t been totally clear about,” he muttered, obviously miffed at her small rebuttal. “Or even explained.”

     “If you’d give me the opportunity, I would,” she said with the utmost haughtiness. Then, swallowing hard, she stared at the wall of his chest. “I’m here to talk to you about your proposition.”

     “My proposition---you mean to tell me that subject is still an option? Your non-reaction made me wonder if it even were.” His green eyes simmered with sensual intent. “No doubt your conscience has been raging war against itself while you’ve mulled it over, hasn’t it?”

     She reddened further. “I think that it’s rather preposterous that you’d even propose such an idea---”

     “Are you here to discuss the absurdity of my offer, or are you here to give me an answer?” he asked smoothly. “If you’re here to say that you abhor the idea, I’m calling bullshit on that one. You can lie to yourself if you want. But, I know that you’re completely intrigued by it.”

     “Don’t dare assume that you know what I feel or want,” she said hotly, although his words were true. She cleared her throat uncomfortably. “I just want to know the parameters of what this business relationship will entail.”

     “Business relationship?” he scoffed, giving a short laugh. “Now, exactly, who is being absurd? We both know there will be nothing ‘businessy’ about the situation at all.” He set her afire with another daring look. “As a matter of fact, it’ll be primal, raw, and risqué in every sense. Deep down, you know those truths.”

     With those words, he moved past her.

     Against their own accord, her eyes fell to his lean hips, watching them rise and fall in the light gray running pants as he walked. A red sweat rag dangled from his hip pocket, and it swayed along with his movements.

     Like the enslaved creature that she was, she followed. But, as he entered the last stall on the right, her bravado began to fade. Taking a collective breath, she paused on the outside. Still, though, she could hear his flurry of activities as he worked.

     Unable to resist the pull to him, she moved to the stall’s entrance, and once more, lost her very breath. Mesmerized, going mute, she watched as he worked. The muck bucket and disinfectant now rested in the corner and had been replaced with the pitchfork that he held. In the corner of the stall, there lay two bales of hay, and at the moment, he was working on breaking one of them apart.

     With his every movement, she absorbed his manliness, fascinated with the ripples of his muscles as they rose and fell under his labor. The beads of sweat glistened on his tanned skin. And oh, how many days and nights had she tasted and licked away that very moisture from his hard body, she mulled, dazed, biting her lip.

     She started when he spoke again.

     “Something wrong?” Jarrod asked, propping the pitchfork against the wall, and then, extracted the red rag from his hip pocket. Watching her with a keen eye, he wiped the sweat from his face. Then, with a deliberate slowness, he sponged the moisture from his neck before sliding the rag further down his hard body.

     Their eyes met.

     Clung…

     For how long would they be able to deny their intense and volatile attraction? And didn’t they both sense their mutual desperation?

     “Nothing’s wrong,” she said, flustered, tearing her gaze away. “Why would there be?”

     Shrugging, he returned the rag to his hip pocket. “I don’t know. Why don’t you tell me,” he replied, plopping down on the bale of hay, and then, patted the space beside him. “Please, sit down.”

     She stared at a space above his head. “I’d rather stand,” she murmured, clearing her throat again.

     “Come on, Olivia,” he said smoothly. “Don’t tell me that you’re afraid of being close to me.”

     Of course, she was!

     Hadn’t her treacherous heart and body betrayed her enough in these last moments!

     “Don’t be ridiculous,” she replied, spitting out the small white lie. “What reason would I have to be?”

     The devilment twinkled in his eyes. “It’s a well known fact that I’m quite irresistible,” he teased with a wicked grin. “But, of course, you know that already, don’t you?”

     “You ego has always been massive,” she uttered, rolling her eyes skyward, but still, crossed the stall. “It’s no wonder as to why you’re full of yourself.”

    Before her nerves deserted her, she sat down beside him, and an uncomfortable silence fell.

     “It’s obvious that you have questions. What do you want to know first?” Jarrod asked, breaking the tension.

     “I---I need to know why,” she stammered, and to her shame, her voice trembled. “The reasons why you’re doing this.”

     “You know why in the hell I’m doing this,” he said roughly. “But, if you want me to repeat my reasons a million times, I will, if that’s what it’ll take for you to really hear me.” Reaching out, he grasped her chin, directing her gaze to his. “I want to be with you. Whatever it takes, I’m going to convince you that what we share is real.”

     Gulping hard, she watched his lips move. Her eyes fluttered to his, and she found herself drowning in a pool of green.

     “You mentioned parameters,” he said thickly, tracing along the edges of her face with a finger, and sent deep shivers running along her spine. “We will spend a considerable amount of time together, and do whatever the day entails whether that is morning walks, lunch dates, dinner, or late night strolls. Whatever happens---happens. There will be no room for regrets.” He paused briefly. “Things will only go as far as you want them. I will not pressure you into anything that you’re not ready for.”

     With reluctance, she pushed his hand away. “Then, why are you sleeping in the adjoining bedroom rather than your own?” she probed. “If your intent is not to pressure me?”

     “Is it a crime that I want to be close to you?” he rasped, and his words caressed her like a soft whisper. “I can’t bear the thought of being away from you, not even for a minute. So, if that’s my crime, I’m guilty of it.” His soulful gaze stole hers. “Would you be more comfortable if I slept downstairs? If so, that can be arranged---”

     “No,” she interrupted quickly, flushing red. “I—I mean, there’s no point in doing that. I’m fine with our living arrangements. It’s your home. You can do whatever you want.”