Fallen for You (14 page)

***

Mark turned quickly and walked away. He was pissed.
What the hell is she doing here with him?
He put their order in and then punched the kitchen wall. “Damn it,” he exhaled loudly, shaking his hand. He saw that their crab cakes were ready. Now he had to go back out there and see her being ogled again.

Mark brought out the crab cakes, placed them on the table and scurried away without speaking. Usually, he was very engaging with Mr. Statton, but he didn’t care about his tip right now. He hoped that he would somehow have a chance to talk to Kate privately. Maybe she would excuse herself to the ladies room.

***

“Do you two know each other?” Neil asked. “You both seem uncomfortable and Mark is acting strange. Is something going on that I should know about?

Kate took a big sip of wine. “I see why you are a good lawyer. You’re very perceptive, counselor. Mark goes to school with me. He has expressed interest in me. He’s the one I told you about at lunch on Thursday who wants to be my study partner. I gave him my phone number, but he never called. So, technically nothing is going on between us.” She took another sip of wine.

“Technically…I see,” said Neil. “So he isn’t just some random guy who wants to fuck you, he’s someone you see every day who wants to fuck you. It’s written all over his face,” Neil said exhaling sharply. He was infuriated.

Kate didn’t know what to say. She took a bite of her crab cake.

“How many classes do you have with him?” Neil growled.

“All of them.”

“Great, so you see him every day the entire time that you are at school.”

“Yes, but like I said, nothing has happened between us. Plus, he has so many girls interested in him, I’m sure his feelings for me will fade away quickly,” she said, reaching her hand out to his, but not quite touching him.

Neil took a bite of his crab cakes. Kate stared at him, hoping he would say something. An awkward silence fell between them. They both drank their wine. Mark delivered their salads and refilled their wine glasses. The silence was deafening.

After Mark strolled away, she broke the silence. “I’m not interested in him. I want you. I gave myself to you last night. I’m not the kind of girl to sleep around with a bunch of different guys. Last night was special to me.” She couldn’t mask the hurt in her voice.

Neil sighed, relaxing. “That’s what I needed to hear, baby. I told you last night that I want to be your man. I can’t stand the thought of you being with anyone else. You have completely dazzled me. I don’t want anyone else to have you. Tell me that you are mine, that you won’t be with any other man,” he pleaded.

Kate could see the need in his eyes. She reached her hand out to his again. He placed his hand on hers and began stroking her thumb with his. She was taken aback by his openness, but it gave her courage to be honest.

“I’m yours, Neil. I don’t want anyone else. Please believe me.”

“Good, baby. That’s what I need to know. I know that I sound desperate, but I don’t care. I want and I need you. You’re the first woman I’ve needed since – in a really long time. I just don’t want to lose you.”

He motioned to a waitress walking by. “Please tell our waiter that we need our dinner to go. We’ll also need these salads wrapped up. Please have him include one slice of the chocolate cake,” he said authoritatively.

“I hope you don’t mind, but I don’t want to share you anymore. We can eat dinner on my terrace.”

Kate was relieved. “That would be great. I’m just going to go to the ladies room before we go.” Neil stood up and she headed to the bathroom.

Apparently, Mark caught a glimpse of her getting up and he followed her into the ladies room, locking the door behind him. No one else was in there.

“Mark, what are you doing in here?” she asked, startled to hear the door lock.

“A better question is, what are you doing here with him?”

“How is that any of your business? You are not my boyfriend. In fact, I heard all about you spending the night with Melanie.”

“Who?” he asked, frantically searching his memory for that name. “Oh, she doesn’t matter,” Mark said, grabbing her by the shoulders. His fingers dug into her arms.

“Neil Statton comes here every week with a different woman. He just wants one thing from you. He’s a player,” Mark exclaimed, glaring at her.

“Take your hands off me, Mark. It obviously takes one to know one. You have groupies following you around at school like you’re a rock star. Do you really expect me to believe that you aren’t sleeping around with them? Like I said, I know about Melanie. You slept with her the same day that you expressed interest in me,” she hissed. “So, are you the pot or the kettle in this scenario?”

Mark lowered his head. “You’re right. He and I have a lot in common when it comes to women. But is he willing to be exclusive with you? I am. I want you. I know that you are not just a one-night stand.”

Kate was looking up into Mark’s blazing green eyes. He looked sincere, but she believed that Neil was sincere, too. She had already made her choice. She had given her heart to Neil.

“Neil wants to be exclusive with me as well. This is my fifth date with him. He doesn’t view me as a one-night stand. I have feelings for him. I’m sorry if this hurts you.”

Before he could say anything, a key slipped into the lock and the door opened. There was the restaurant manager and Neil was right behind him. Neil pushed forward and grabbed Mark by the collar, pulling him out of the bathroom. He slammed Mark up against the hallway wall.

“What the fuck do you think you are doing with my girl?” he snarled at Mark.

“I was warning her about you. I told her how you bring a different woman here every week,” Mark hissed back at him.

“You have no right to do that. She’s not just any other woman to me.”

The manager checked on Kate. “Are you okay, miss?” he asked with great concern.

“Yes, I’m fine. Thank you. No harm has been done,” she said.

“I am so sorry about this. I can assure you that this won’t happen again,” he said looking toward Mark. “You’re fired!”

Neil still had Mark pressed up against the wall.

“Please don’t fire him. This is just a big misunderstanding. I don’t want him to lose his job because of me,” Kate said to the manager.

“It’s not because of you. He deserves to be fired for terrorizing you in the bathroom like this,” Neil said firmly, releasing Mark.

She turned to Neil. “Neil, please. I can’t have Mark hurt because of me. It’s just too much. Please!”

Neil stood there, staring at her with disbelief in his eyes.

“Okay,” he relented. “It’s not necessary to fire him,” he told the manager.

The hostess walked up and handed Neil a bag with their dinner wrapped up.

“Dinner is on us, Mr. Statton. With our apologies,” the manager said with his hand outstretched to shake Neil’s. Neil shook the man’s hand and began leading Kate to the exit. He had the bag of food in one hand and the other on the small of her back, guiding her out. Mark stood back, watching her leave with Neil, a look of helplessness on his face.

***

They walked into Neil’s condo. The drive over had been in silence. She knew that Neil was pissed at the whole situation. He had communicated how much he wanted and needed her to then find her with another man’s hand on her. She knew by the look on his face that he was pissed about her insistence that Mark keep his job. But she felt that Mark was already hurt enough and didn’t need to lose his job on top of losing her. She realized that a heated discussion was imminent.

He put the food down and moved toward her like a predator. Her eyes widened as he approached.

He scooped her up and threw her over his shoulder.

“Neil, what are you doing?” she squealed.

“I’m taking you to bed,” he said harshly, swatting her firm ass. Desire pooled deep down in her sex, all of her muscles tightening. She could feel her pulse throbbing down there. Anticipation coursed through her veins. She wanted him badly. His jealously over Mark was such a turn-on. He was so hot and sexy like this. His carnal desire set her a blaze. He opened the door to his bedroom and threw her on the bed. He took her breath away as she looked up at him. She could see the lust on his face. He bent down and pulled her shoes off.

“Lift your hips up,” he commanded. She did as she was told. He slid his hands up her thighs and hooked his fingers under her pantyhose. Then he pulled them off along with her thong. Then he took off his shoes, socks, shirt, and pants. Now, all that stood between them were his boxers. The boxers fell to the floor. There he was, gloriously naked in front of her. He had a magnificent physique. He moved like a panther to his nightstand table and took a condom out of the drawer. As he tore the package open, he told her to take her blouse and skirt off. She did as she was told, anticipation growing deep within her. He rolled the condom down over his hard ridge. She shuttered with excitement. He crawled on the bed and spread her legs apart.

“I’ll make love to you later, baby. Right now, I just need to fuck you.” His words excited her more. This was so hot. He sunk himself into her hot core. “Oh, you are so wet for me,” he said, thrusting in and out of her.

“You make me that way,” she said, looking into his blazing eyes. The eyes that had stayed locked on hers the night before in this very spot. She was lost in the feeling of him, the smell of him, the way he looked. He took her middle finger and put it in his mouth, sucking on it, making it wet.

“Touch yourself, baby,” he commanded, his eyes burning. Kate did as she was told. She began rubbing her finger over her clit. All of her nerve endings lit up like fireworks in the night sky. She moaned and he crushed his mouth on hers, kissing her almost violently. This was different than last night, more carnal and lustful. Neil seemed wild with desire. He was moving faster and faster. The feeling of him slamming into her was so intense. She was on the verge of collapse. All of these sensations became too much for her and she arched her head back. Neil swirled his tongue around her nipple and pulled on it with soft bites. Her nipple became erect. Then he moved to her other breast, repeating the swirling of his tongue over her nipple. She could feel herself quickening from the extreme pleasure and her whole body tensed as she screamed out his name. Her tightening around him as she orgasmed, sent him over the edge. He too found his release as he cried out, “Oh, baby. I love being inside of you.”

For a few moments, he laid on top of her, trailing kisses from one shoulder to the other. Then, he eased out of her slowly and went to the bathroom to discard his condom. Upon returning, he climbed in bed next to her, propping himself up on one elbow. He glided his fingers gently down the side of her body, then rested his hand on her stomach.

“Okay, I’ve calmed down. Now we can talk about what just happened tonight with that waiter,” he said.

“Like I said at the restaurant, Mark is a classmate. I was stunned when he followed me into the bathroom to warn me about you.”

“So, you haven’t gone out with him or anything?”

“No. Nothing has happened between us. He expressed interest in me on Thursday and walked me to my car after class. He tried to kiss me, but I turned my head and he kissed my cheek. I gave him my phone number, but he didn’t call. Every free moment that I have had since I met you on Wednesday, I have spent with you.”

Neil exhaled a sigh. In a quiet voice he asked, “Do you want to go out with him? You gave him your phone number, so you must have been interested in him. He’s not exactly hard on the eyes.”

“When I gave him my number, I had just met you the day before. I couldn’t anticipate what would happen between us. I’m not interested in going out with him. But, now it’s my turn to ask a question. Why would Mark tell me that you are a womanizer? He said that he never sees you with the same woman twice.”

She looked at him with fear in her eyes, expecting the worst. This could be over as quickly as it started.

“Okay, please tell me that you will listen to everything that I have to say, and promise you won’t run away from me tonight.”

“Neil, I’m here naked in your bed. I’m not going anywhere. I want to hear what you have to say.”

“Mark is right about me. I am with a different woman every week. I usually don’t see anyone more than once, twice tops. That is until I met you. I’m unequivocally drawn to you like a moth to a flame. Somehow, I find myself needing you desperately. Meeting you has changed me, made me want more. Made me need more. I love your innocence and that you have only been with one other man.”

“Have you ever had a real relationship with anyone before?”

Neil sat up and leaned against the headboard. He was quiet for a moment, introspective. “Yes, I was married six years ago to my college sweetheart, Elizabeth. She was my world.” He took a deep breath. He hadn’t told any other woman about Elizabeth. “It has taken a long time to get over her.”

“What happened, if you don’t mind me asking?” Kate sat up to face Neil. She wanted to look into his eyes.

“I took Elizabeth to Italy to propose to her after we passed the bar exam. She thought Italy was the most romantic place on earth. We went on a gondola ride in Venice and I proposed halfway through our ride while the gondolier sang to us in Italian. She said “Yes” and I slipped the ring on her finger. It was a perfect afternoon. We were so in love and happy. I couldn’t imagine a more romantic way to propose.” Kate took Neil’s hand.

“That sounds incredibly romantic.”

“It was, but a couple of days later she became sick. She kept coughing and coughing. It was out of control. Nothing we bought at the drugstore helped. She finally began coughing up blood and she found blood in her stool. That’s when I insisted on taking her to the doctor. The doctor told us to go home immediately. He didn’t diagnose her, but I knew it was bad. We flew home on the first flight we could get. As soon as we got back, I took her to the hospital. They ran some tests and told us that she had lung cancer. They ran further tests and found that it had spread to her liver. There was nothing that they could do. They gave her two to three months tops,” he said with tears welling up in his eyes. Kate’s fingers were gently stroking his arm. She didn’t say anything, urging him to go on.

“Her diagnosis devastated everyone in our families. Her parents and my parents had been friends since we were children. We all considered each other family. Everyone expected us to get married and grow old together. I expected her to be my wife and the mother of my children. I knew there was nothing that I could do to save her. We decided to get married anyway. I wanted to make her dreams come true even if it was only for a brief moment in time. I needed to make her my wife before she died.”

Neil stopped for a moment to gather his thoughts. Kate waited patiently for him to continue.

“Our mothers worked frantically to put our wedding together. My mom hired the best wedding planner and they worked miracles in a very short time. Three weeks later, we were married. It was a small ceremony with just family and close friends. Elizabeth was so happy that day. The day that I could call her my wife. Six weeks later, she was gone. I buried my bride and nothing has been the same ever since.”

Kate moved closer to Neil, laying her head on his chest and draping her arm and leg over his body. She wanted desperately to make his hurt go away. She understood how he felt. “I’m so sorry,” she said, kissing his neck. “That must have been so agonizing for you.”

Neil pulled her as close as he could, holding her tight. “I haven’t let anyone in since she died. I just used sex to soothe myself, never considering the possibility of a relationship with anyone until you. When Mac emailed your picture, I felt instantly drawn to you. I really didn’t have intentions of anything more than a couple of dates. But when you refused on the phone to accept a date with me it made me want you more. When I met you on Wednesday, I couldn’t believe how drawn I was to you. You were a challenge. I had to work to get you to have a cup of coffee with me. Elizabeth was the same way. She always challenged me. It made me a better man. That’s when I knew I wanted more from you. That I needed more from you than a few dates. I can’t stand the thought of Mark putting his hands on you. I want you all to myself. I want you to be mine. When I saw him with his hands on you tonight, I saw red. I wanted to beat the shit out of him. I’m not happy that you see him every day. He’s going to try to wear you down because he wants you as much as I do. I could see it written all over his face. Tell me he doesn’t have a chance with you,” he said, looking down at her.

Kate leaned up and kissed him on the lips. “No, he doesn’t have a chance with me. All the chances that I have are for you. I want you. As you know, I haven’t been with anyone since David. Like you, I wouldn’t let anyone else in, but I steered clear of men altogether. I’ve been so afraid of getting hurt.”

“What happened between you two? What did he do to hurt you so badly?” he asked, stroking her arm with his hand.

“It’s not what he did; it’s what I did.” She paused for a moment to collect her thoughts. “We had been together for four years. He was the only boyfriend I ever had. He was sweet and kind and funny. My mom wanted me to date other people. She didn’t think that David was right for me. Since I was living at home, my mom felt that she had a say over my life. It became more and more uncomfortable to have David in my life. She tried to covertly have me meet other guys. We would be grocery shopping and all of a sudden run into a client of hers. She would wander away to leave me to talk to him. Then she would talk the guy up, saying that I was young and should go out with other people. She didn’t want me to make the same mistakes that she had made. But I couldn’t see her point. I was in love with David,” Kate took a deep breath, feeling emotionally spent.

“It’s okay. Take your time,” he said, nuzzling her hair.

She went on. “We started talking about getting a place together. David was old fashioned. He didn’t want to live together. He wanted us to be married. I agreed. I knew if we lived together that my mom wouldn’t take our relationship seriously. And I was serious about my feelings for him. We decided to elope. He was on his way to pick me up, when he died in a car crash.”

Tears began streaming down her face. Neil wiped them away.

“Baby, it was an accident. You didn’t do anything wrong,” he said, trying to comfort her.

“You’re wrong, Neil. I was impatient. He was running late and I wanted to know where he was. I texted him, asking him when he would be picking me up. In the middle of his response, he stopped texting. He wasn’t paying attention to the road because he was answering me. I’m the reason he’s dead.”

She buried her head in Neil’s chest. Sobs shook her trembling body. He held her closer. “Now I understand why you ran away and why you’re so guarded. Your heart has been broken just like mine. We’re two-of-a-kind.”

He lifted her head to his and started kissing her tenderly, gently this time. His kisses began to take her pain away and make everything in her life right. She felt protected by him. He moved on top of her and began kissing her neck, making his way to her breasts.

“Let me make love to you, baby. Let me make everything go away.”

“Yes,” she whispered.