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At the time, Catalina had been mortified that her mother caught them. But it wasn’t until after the breakup that she realized why her mother had been so disappointed.
Patrick Rowling had really done a number on Catalina’s mum. And it was those thoughts that could quickly put a bucket of cold water on this encounter, but she refused to allow Patrick to steal one more moment of happiness from her life...he’d already taken enough from her.
Will may not be down on his knees proposing marriage, but he was down on his knees showing her affection. And maybe she hoped that would be a stepping-stone to something more... But right now, that was all she wanted. She’d fought this pull toward him for too long. She hadn’t wanted to let herself believe they could be more, but now she couldn’t deny herself. She couldn’t avoid the inevitable...she was falling for Will all over again.
“She didn’t even know we were dating,” Catalina murmured, her euphoric state suddenly overtaking her ability to speak coherently.
“Not many people did. That’s when I realized I didn’t want to keep us a secret anymore.”
And that had been the start of their spiral toward the heartbreak she’d barely recovered from.
Once they were an “official” item, Patrick had intervened and put a stop to his good son turning to the maid. Shocking, since turning to the staff for pleasure certainly hadn’t been below Patrick at one time. Not that what Catalina and Will shared had been anything like that. But the idea that Patrick could act as if he were so far above people was absolutely absurd.
“Don’t tense on me now,” Will warned. “You’re supposed to be relaxing.”
Catalina blew out a breath. “I’m trying. It’s just hard when I’m stuck between the past and whatever is happening to us now.”
Will came up to his knees, easing his way between her parted legs, his hands resting on the tops of her thighs, his fingertips brushing just beneath the hem of her dress.
“It’s two different times. We’re two different people. There’s nothing to compare. Focus on now.”
She stared down at those bright blue eyes, the wide open shirt and something dark against his chest. Was that...
“Do you have a tattoo?” she asked, reaching to pull back the shirt.
He said nothing as she eased the material aside. The glimpse she got wasn’t enough. Catalina didn’t ask, she merely gripped the shirt and pushed it off his shoulders. Will shifted until it fell to the floor.
Sure enough, black ink swirled over the left side of his chest and over his shoulder. She had no idea what the design was. All she knew was that it was sexy.
Without asking, she reached out and traced a thin line over his heart, then on up. The line thickened as it curled around his shoulder. Taut muscles tensed beneath her featherlight touch.
Catalina brought her gaze up to Will’s. The intensity of his stare made her breath catch in her throat and stilled her hand.
“Don’t stop,” he whispered through clenched teeth.
“Will...”
His hand came up to cover hers. “Touch me, Cat.”
He’d just handed her the reins.
With just enough pressure, he flattened her hand between his palm and his shoulder. The warmth of his skin penetrated her own, the heat sliding through her entire body.
“I—I want to but—”
She shook her head, killing the rest of her fears before they could be released and never taken back.
“But what?” he muttered, pushing her hair behind her ear, letting his fingertips trail over her cheek, her jawline and down her neck until she trembled.
“I’m not sure I can go any farther than that,” she confessed. “I don’t want to tease you.”
“I’ve fantasized about you touching me like this for years. You’re not teasing, you’re fulfilling a fantasy.”
Catalina stared into those aqua eyes and knew without a doubt he was serious. The fact that he’d been dreaming of her for this long confused her further, brought on even more questions than answers.
“Don’t go there,” he warned as if he knew where her thoughts were headed. “Keep touching me, Cat. Whatever happens here is about you and me and right this moment. Don’t let past memories rob us of this time together.”
Catalina opened her mouth, but Will placed one finger over her lips. “I have no expectations. Close your eyes.”
Even though her heart beat out of control from anticipation and a slither of fear of the unknown, she did as he commanded.
