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If I don’t get myself under control soon, I’ll be no better than my pathetic father. Is this what happened to my dad? Had the man been so infatuated with my mother, so whipped, that, after she gained control over his body, she was able to destroy him? It seems a very likely conclusion to draw from the way things ended with my parents.
Sex is essential to survival. It might not be listed as one of the food groups, but it should be. A myriad of women are ready and waiting to offer the use of their bodies. There’s no reason a man should ever lock himself down with just one.
Okay, the thought of making love with any woman other than McKenzie turns my stomach. But that’s something I have to change. I need to cut this off, to push her out of my life, if I want to keep my sanity intact. I don’t need answers about who she is. Screw all of the mystery.
It’s settled. I’m going to fly McKenzie back home, release her from her contract with me, and never see her again. Even though she’s friends with my sister-in-law, I can easily avoid her. However, the thought of this infuriates me. Since when do I, Byron Astor, need to hide from anything or anyone? I haven’t done that since I was a child and witnessed my parents’ gruesome murder. That day hardened me, and I’m determined to stay hard.
As I shift uncomfortably on the front porch, I realize I’m already hard in other ways. McKenzie and I made love only a few hours before, and it’s taking every ounce of my strength not to march back into our cabin and wake her by sinking deep within her tight body.
There’s so much that doesn’t fit when it comes to McKenzie. The entire point of this weekend was to exorcise her from my system, not to raise more questions I fear I’ll never find answers to. I’d originally planned to satisfy my bodily needs then interrogate her. I haven’t gotten around to the interrogation part.
I have to stay focused, to remember who and what she is. She messed in the life of my brother. And if a person messes with one of the brothers, then they mess with all of us. Tyler and Blake are the only blood relatives I have, the only true friends I have, the only two people on the planet I’d take a bullet for — okay, maybe three if you include Bill.
No matter how hard I try to resist opening my heart, I’m forced to do it against my will. Now I have a nephew too, so I guess my list of dying-for-people is growing. I didn’t want to like Justin. But how can I not adore the small boy with so much strength? The kid reminds me a lot of my brother Blake.
Why does everything have to change? Why can’t we simply go through our lives with no bumps in the road? That’s an easy answer . . . because of women.
The creaking door alerts me I’m no longer alone, but even without it, I’d know. I have a sense when McKenzie’s around. Ifeelher presence.
It doesn’t fill me with anger. Instead, I feel her satin-encased arms wrap around my back and bring peace to my thoughts. Her open hands slide beneath my shirt and caress the skin of my stomach as she leans into my back.
“Morning,” she mumbles. The rasp of her voice sends lust surging through me. Closing my eyes, I take a deep breath as I try to tamp down my desire.
“You’re up a lot earlier than I thought you’d be,” I say. My hands involuntarily rise to settle over hers, and I caress her soft skin.
“I woke up cold without you beside me,” she whispers.
Her words should send terror through me, or anger, or anything other than an odd sense of joy. I don’t want her to get used to me being here. This is all temporary, and though she’s said she knows the score, she’s getting too familiar already.
So why am I not pushing her away?
“I have an obligatory party I’m attending Friday. You’ll come with me, McKenzie.” Yep, I called it right. Insanity.
Her hands still on my skin and her body tenses the slightest bit, then I feel her take a breath and relax. She resumes caressing my skin, but the tension inside her remains.
“I’d prefer not to, Byron.”
I wait, but she doesn’t explain. So I lean against the sturdy rail around the porch and fold her into my arms, needing to look in her eyes to see what she’s trying to hide.
“I want you there.” If I want it, she should know that’s exactly what I’ll get. We’ve gone over this territory several times before.
“No, you don’t. I’m not good with parties, and I’m sure you have a long list of people willing to go with you.”
Anger flashes through me. She’s right. This event is far too much like a date, and we aren’t dating. We aren’t boyfriend and girlfriend. We aren’t anything to each other. I should be grateful she’s refusing me. So why am I upset?
“I know what I want. I want you there,” I say, a dangerous edge to my voice.
She’s quiet for a moment as she looks at me. “We both know what we’re doing, Byron. Don’t try to make it something it’s not.” She speaks with a smile, but she’s not kidding.
Before I can respond, a wicked gleam lights her eyes, and she pulls from my grasp, drops to her knees, and reaches inside my sweats. She pulls me free, and the cool air doesn’t affect my hardness at all.
“What in the hell are you doing, McKenzie? People could walk by,” I say, turning to look out at the trail only a few hundred yards from our cabin.
“Then you’d better shield me,” she says. She takes me in her mouth and makes me forget everything we’ve talked about.
Within minutes, I feel my release coming. “Stop. Now,” I groan, but my fingers are tangled in her hair, holding her in place.
My words only serve to spur her on and speed her up. I barely manage to muffle my cry as I spill my pleasure inside the warm recesses of her mouth. After I stop shaking, I drag her into my arms, covering myself as I struggle to figure out what this sorceress is doing to me.
