Page 39 of Second Chances
I wonder what it looks like.
She hadn’t even seen what the result had been. In her defense, she’d been pretty well-occupied. Pulling on an oversized sweater-dress and some over-the-knee boots was the best fashion statement Beth could manage on such short notice.
Why today?
Her mind was still reeling over everything that she had learned last night; the biggest bomb was that Darcy had been celibate for the past five years. She knew his ex had done a number on him, she did, but the fact that it had traumatized him so much to the point where he didn’t even want to be bothered with the physical pleasure of being with someone…it blew her mind.
On the other hand, it still brought butterflies to her stomach to think that she was the one who had pulled him from that uncaring, unemotional place; that she was the one to show him what a loving relationship could be like. Not that she had much practice, which was a little overwhelming.No pressure, Beth.
And then there was the whole other issue of Darcy’s ex being in town. She desperately wanted to know who this woman was and what she wanted with Darcy now, after five years. Deep down, Beth already knew what she wanted:Darcy.This woman, after everything that she had done, expected to come back here and find Darcy waiting patiently for her, gratefully willing to enter back into some sort of relationship with her.Boy, was this woman delusional if she thought that.
Grabbing her phone from the bed, Beth realized she was supposed to be in the fashion district in ten minutes - it was going to be cutting it close. She turned to rush out and find Darcy, only to run into the solid wall of his chest.
“Hi,” she said softly, immediately losing her train of thought.
“Where are you going?” Darcy responded, his voice demanding and his controlling mask in place.
“Ahh, well, Jane just called. She wants me to meet them over at Kleinfeld’s so she can try on dresses,” Beth quickly explained. “It was a last-minute thing but she really wants me there and I don’t want to miss it, even though I kind of do want to miss it.”
“Who is ‘them’?”
Man, he is still on edge from this whole ex-encounter.
“Jane, my mom, and Caroline,” she answered calmly.
Even though his protective mask was in place, Beth could have sworn she saw an almost imperceptible flicker of rage in his eyes, but as soon as she blinked it was gone.
“Caroline who?”
Alright, Mr. Nosey-Pants.
“Caroline Bingley. You know, your best friend’s sister,” Beth said, trying to lighten the mood a little.
No response that time. No flicker of anything.And that was what put her on guard.No-emotion Darcy was the old Darcy, the one who existed before their relationship, before his admission that he didn’t want to be like that anymore. In spite of all their arguments and problems,hehadn’t returned.So, why was he back now?
“And what if I want you to stay?” His voice was cool and decisive; Mr. Intolerable was definitely back.
“And what if I know that you won’t make me?” Beth retorted, giving him a small smile to portray some measure of playfulness even though her eyes were unwavering, daring him to make that same mistake again.
Suddenly, his hands were on her hips, spinning them both around to push her up against the wall. Darcy’s body was flush against hers, trapping her, and she could feel the hard evidence of his erection pressing into her stomach.
“Darcy, what are you doing?” Beth asked in shock as her breath rushed out of her.
“Seeing if you want to stay.”
“Darcy, I can’t. I have to g—” Her protest was cut off as his mouth came down hard on hers, devouring her attempt to rationalize with him.
She kissed him back, hoping it would calm him into letting her go because she was definitely going to be late now. Unfortunately, her plan backfired, as she felt Darcy’s determined fingers delving underneath her thong to reach her wet folds. Her body betraying her, she moaned into his mouth as his fingers stroked her clit.
“Please,”she moaned. Whether she was begging to be released or for release, she couldn’t decide.
Expertly and swiftly his fingers stroked her core sending her over the edge of her orgasm. She screamed into his mouth as stars burst behind her eyelids. Her passage clenched and coated his fingers that gently rode the waves of her pleasure, bringing her back down to Earth.
“Stay with me,” she heard him whisper through the fog of satiation that surrounded her.
Darcy, ever the expert in delivering both pleasure and pain.
Beth blinked a few times to orient herself and try to control the budding tears forming in her eyes. She could still feel how aroused he was, but that was something he was going to have to deal with on his own. She grabbed his arm and extricated his hand from underneath her sweater.
