Page 30 of Twisted Fate

His lips crashed down on mine as he pulled me against him. His free hand speared into my hair as he slid the hand that had lifted my shirt around my waist, the warm skin of his arm sliding over my bare torso. It took my brain a moment to catch up to what was happening, but when it finally did, I threw my arms around his neck and arched my back, pressing my breasts into his hard chest. A low groan rumbled in his throat as he tightened his grip, and my nipples pebbled against the thin cotton of my shirt. If he took a step back, there’d be no hiding how turned on I was by him.

He leaned into me and pressed me against the kitchen counter as his tongue probed inside my mouth. I opened for him and tilted my head to let him in deeper. He kissed me like a man crazed for my touch. It was desperate and hungry and made me crave more.

His hands dropped to my ass, and he gave it a squeeze before lifting me onto the counter and stepping between my open legs. I let out an unladylike groan when his rock-hard erection connected with my soaking wet core. My panties did little to conceal my arousal, and I was certain he could feel the wetness through the thin material of his lounge pants. He pressed into me, his hands on my ass as he ground his cock against my heated flesh. My belly coiled tightly at the sensation as tingles spread out from my center. It wouldn’t take long for me to come undone if he kept stroking me like that, working his hard ridge against my swollen clit.

His mouth dropped to my throat, and I tilted my head back to grant him better access. The warmth of his mouth was a welcome sensation despite the rising temperature in the room. His tongue darted out to taste my skin the same moment his hand slid forward, his fingers skimming over my panties. I squeezed my eyes closed tightly, preparing for his touch in the exact spot I needed it. The pad of his thumb skimmed over the damp cotton just as light flashed behind my eyelids. A second later, a loud crash rocketed through the house, and Vance jumped back, startled by the thunder.

He was panting, and his nostrils flared as they pulled in air. His gaze bored into me, his eyes scanning over my body from my mussed hair to the too large t-shirt hanging off my shoulders, the hem pulled up to my waist. He scrubbed a frustrated hand over his face and then his hair before settling both hands on his hips. He looked torn, his eyes full of lust and regret.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered, averting his gaze. “I shouldn’t have done that.” Without a second glance, he stormed out of the kitchen, and a moment later his heavy footsteps thudded up the stairs. I was left sitting there on the kitchen counter, half naked and confused, wondering what the hell just happened.

29

Vance

Fuck,what had I done? My pulse pounded in my ears as I stalked toward the stairs.

Don’t run. Stay calm.

I climbed the steps two at a time, doing my best to put as much distance between Delilah and me as I could. I needed space to think and clear my head. The booze was a bad decision. Normally I could ward off her charms and keep my defenses up. But the single malt whiskey had weakened me. Seeing her in nothing but my t-shirt had landed the final blow to my resistance.

It didn’t help that I knew she wanted me too. I’d ignored it for weeks, hoping if I didn’t encourage her affections, she’d forget about it and move on.Wishful thinking. It was official. I was a fucking idiot.

I shut my bedroom door behind me, went straight to my en-suite, and turned on the shower. Pulling my shirt over my head, I tried to ignore the erection straining against my pants. That was a problem I’d have to resolve immediately. I couldn’t think clearly with my libido driving and controlling my impulses. He needed to take a back seat so I could think with something other than my dick.

I knew I shouldn’t have thought of Delilah. It was only adding fuel to an already raging fire, but I couldn’t get the scent of her arousal out of my nose or forget the feel of the damp cotton between her thighs. Her name fell softly from my lips as my climax spilled onto the shower floor.

I quickly washed off before stepping out into the steaming bathroom. Rubbing my hand over the mirror, I forced myself to look at the reflection staring back at me. This was who I’d become? The type of man who lusted after the nanny? I wasn’t supposed to be attracted to her. I wasn’t allowed to want her.

Was I?

Was it really so wrong to feel this way about Delilah? Would I have this guilt eating me up inside if she was a stranger and not Sarah’s cousin? Would it be less taboo if she wasn’t Charlie’s biological mother? All these questions swirled around in my head with no solid answers.

My wife had been gone nearly eight months, and Delilah was the first person to make me feel alive again. I loved Charlie. She was my everything and the only reason I’d survived those first several months, but Delilah’s touch had sparked something inside of me that revived my soul. I wanted to live again, not just exist for the sake of my daughter.

I finished drying and stepped into a fresh pair of pants. The pair I’d worn earlier were bundled up tightly in my hamper. They bore Delilah’s scent, and I knew if I put them on again, I wouldn’t getanysleep tonight. It was hard enough thinking about her just down the hall, in the guest bedroom all alone. Was she touching herself beneath the sheets just like I had in the shower? Did she need the self-satisfaction to soothe the aching need like I did?

Fuck, I was hard again thinking about her touching herself. I could go to her, apologize for pulling away so abruptly.

No.

I wouldn’t use her to satisfy my needs. We both needed time to process our feelings and what happened in the kitchen. I wasn’t sure where we'd go from here, but jumping into bed together wasn’t the answer. As badly as I wanted to ignore logic and just follow my instincts, I couldn't do that. Not to her, not to myself, and certainly not to Charlie. If Delilah and I got involved and things went sideways, my daughter was the one who would suffer. And that was a chance I simply couldn’t take.

30

Delilah

Sunlight blazedthrough the eastward facing window, the storms from the night before gone with nothing but the damp ground left behind as evidence. I checked the time and immediately hopped out of bed. Vance was probably already up and getting ready for work. I didn’t want to run into him after what transpired last night. I tore his t-shirt over my head, sparing only a second to indulge in the scent of him that still lingered there. Dressing in my clothes from yesterday, I tiptoed across the hall to the bathroom. After relieving my bladder and brushing my teeth again, I rushed back to make the bed. I paused at the top of the steps to see if I could hear anyone moving about downstairs before heading down there. Luckily, the coast was clear, so I grabbed my purse and dug my keys out as I went to the door. Swinging it open, I went to step onto the front porch but stopped dead in my tracks when I nearly ran into someone.

I gasped when I looked up to see Vance’s mom standing on the other side, arm raised like she was about to knock.

“Delilah,” she screeched in surprise.

“Vivian,” I said, equally as startled. I knew it was her day to watch Charlie, but I hadn’t realized she’d be here this early.

Shit. This looked bad. It looked like I was sneaking out to avoid being seen doing the walk of shame. Her eyes narrowed with suspicion as she took in my disheveled appearance and deer in the headlights expression.

“What are you doing here this time of the morning?” she questioned, one eyebrow lifted in inquiry. “On your day off,” she added, her tone steeped in suspicion.

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