Page 34 of Desirous

Smiling, I shake my head. “No. My father called me to let me know you were here. I hurried and got dressed to get here as soon as I could because I was hoping to have a chance to talk to you.”

“You came here for me?”

“Of course. I want to prove to you I’m sorry for what I did. I keep trying and failing, but I figure one of these times I’m going to say the right thing and then you won’t hate me anymore.”

Kat wipes the tears from under her eyes and sighs. “I don’t hate you, Alex.”

“Well, that’s progress.”

“You don’t want to be with someone like me. Trust me on that. I’m a mess. I mean, that you can’t see that tells me you’re either blind or willfully ignorant, but I am.”

I tuck her hair behind her ear and slide my finger along her jaw to tilt her chin up so she has to look at me when I say, “I don’t think you’re a mess. I think you’re beautiful and talented and someone I want to spend time with.”

“Even after all the things I said to you? Why?”

She seems to think I need a better excuse than her being beautiful and talented. So I give her another reason, the one reason that means more to me than any other.

“I’ve never met anyone who challenges me like you do. And not just because you make me climb over those walls you’ve built up around you. You’re as good a chef as I am, maybe better because you’ve had to fight to be recognized, and I love being around you because of that. No other woman I’ve ever been with has ever shared that passion I have for cooking. I’m not sure I knew it, but I’ve wanted to meet someone like you for so long, and now that I have, I’m not letting you go without a fight, Kat Truesdale.”

“Even though I’m a fucked-up mess with daddy issues that keep getting in our way?”

I smile at her attempt to make me think she isn’t the most incredible woman I’ve ever met. “We’ll work on that. If you’re willing, I am. What do you say? Will you give me another chance?”

Kat nods and throws her arms around me. “I’m so sorry I’ve been so difficult, Alex. I don’t mean to be like this. I guess I’ve been working hard on those walls around me.”

As I press a kiss to the top of her head, she sighs against me, and I feel like what just happened changed everything between us.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Kat

We walk into his condo,and it feels different this time. I feel different. Something about admitting how messed up I am and not having him run away makes me want to believe this thing between us can happen.

I want it to. After all the time I’ve spent trying to hate Alex March, I think it might be time to give another emotion a chance. Maybe even love.

He holds my hand as he leads me to his bedroom, and I love how strong and protective his hand feels against my skin. Since Rafe, I’ve worked hard to make sure I don’t need or even want that kind of strength in any man.

Tonight, I want to admit to myself I crave that in my life.

“Do you want anything to eat?” he asks, almost as an afterthought, like he realized we’re almost to his bed and he hasn’t even offered me anything before we get naked. “I could make you something small, in case you’re hungry since you didn’t have dessert at dinner.”

His dark eyes seem to dance in the dim light from the sconce on the wall as we walk past it. He is the most beautiful creature I’ve ever seen, and right now as he’s trying to be sweet and thoughtful, I know why so many women want him.

“I’m not hungry. For food, at least,” I say with a big smile, happy to let him know how much I look forward to us being together.

“Okay,” he says with a chuckle. “Just let me know if I can get you anything.”

I tug on his hand to stop him, and when he turns to face me, I lift myself up on my toes to take the first thing I want from him. Pressing a kiss to his lips, I savor the sweetness of desire on them.

“That’s one thing I was hungry for,” I say against them, loving their softness.

“I’ve got more of that. Feel free to take all you want.”

I let my hands drift down over his chest and bite my lip in anticipation of him naked beneath me in a few seconds. “Be careful. I’ll take you up on that offer.”

Alex stuffs his hand into my hair and tugs my head back so tingles of pain race across my scalp. Brushing his lips against mine, he whispers, “Good. I want you to.”

Lifting me off the floor, he brings me up to waist level, and I wrap my legs around his body. God, I’ve missed him! His hands slide beneath my ass, and his cock presses against the front of my damp panties. Thick and long and hard, just the feel of him against my needy clit makes me wish I hadn't worn anything under my dress.

---