Page 56 of Edge of Ruin
“I painted that scene after I broke up with Ronnie,” Rafael said, wistfully. “That was my ‘man-alone-battling-his-demons’ period.”
“Yeah, that about sums up the last few years of my life, too,” I said ruefully.
I dug my keys out of my purse and gave Rafael a tight hug. “It was great to see you, Rafael. I’m happy to see you doing so well.”
“Thank you, angel. Let me know what you decide. Contact me on the astral plane, by all means, but call my cell phone, too, okay?”
“I’ll do that. Thanks.”
Jack climbed into the van and slammed his door shut. Rafael waved exuberantly as I backed out of the parking spot.
The silence was unbearable. Jack sat like a graven image in the dark, not responding to any of my attempts to speak. We got to the toll bridge, and I scrabbled in the dark for quarters. He handed me the change. The small contact gave me courage.
I flung them into the basket and let the van surge forward. “Jack,” I began.
“Don’t start.” He was using his cool, detached voice again, the one that I had not heard for weeks. Not since before we had become lovers.
“You have the wrong idea. Rafael is a good friend, but he talks too much, and he has no idea where my head is right now?—”
“Shut up and drive, Vivi,” Jack said.
I closed my mouth with a snap, stung into silence. When I pulled into the driveway at home and killed the engine, he got out without a word and headed toward the house.
I stared after him, wondering if I was even still welcome in there.
Edna leaped and bounded at his heels, licking at his hand as he unlocked the front door and shoving her way in when the door opened. In any case, I had to retrieve my rambunctious dog, so I walked slowly up onto the porch and stepped inside, shutting the door. It was dark inside the big room, but he had not turned on any lights, so I didn’t either. The dark made it easier. I didn’t really want him to see my face.
“I don’t want Rafael’s job, if that’s what you’re thinking,” I told him. “It’s a fabulous offer, but it’s not for me.”
“That’s not how it looked.” Jack’s voice was bleak. “You looked tempted. And you should be. That job’s a road back to the career you always wanted. All your hopes and dreams and training. Do what you have to do. Don’t let me hold you back.”
I shook my head. “No. I have everything I need right here. Rafael was trying to help me, but I don’t need any help. His timing just sucked, that’s all.”
“No, his timing was perfect,” Jack said. “I was starting to delude myself. I owe him for bringing me back to earth.”
That drove me right over the top. I took a step closer to him and whacked at his chest with the heels of my hands. “You were not deluding yourself! You were starting to trust me, and I deserve to be trusted! We have something special!” I whacked him again, trying to shove him back toward the couch. “Thick-brained lug! Would you just take a goddamn chance on me?”
He trapped both of my wrists in one hand. “Don’t get in a wresting match with me, Vivi.”
“Why the hell not? What’s the point of controlling myself? Why bother?”
“Because I’ll win.” He dragged me close and cupped my ass so I could feel his erection. “Is that what you want? I’ll give it to you like that right now, if it is.”
We stared at each other, grim and furious. Angry as I was, he always aroused me. And I couldn’t back down with this guy. Something inside me just wouldn’t allow it.
My heart pounded when he pushed me back onto the couch and shoved up my skirt. His fingers parted my folds, slid inside me, found me already wet and yielding.
I clenched around his delving fingers. Ashamed, to have made it so goddamn easy for him. It wasn’t right to be so compromised. So helplessly strung out on him. I shoved at his chest, scratching at him, but I was trembling, melting down.
Wondering, too, if sex might make him more mellow and receptive.
“You like it like this?” He wrenched open his belt.
“What if I do?” I responded, my voice shaking. “And besides. It’s not ‘it’ that I love. It’s you. Get that through your thick head!”
“Shut up and let me focus on the one thing we’ve got going for us.” He slid the thick bulb of his cockhead up and down my pussy.
“Don’t shush me, you son of a bitch?—”
