There it went again, my breath taking off, this time, to Wyoming.
Mace’s body tensed.
Shitsofuckit!
I opened my mouth to speak but it was too late, Eric turned, opened the door and started to walk out.
He stopped and looked back at Mace. “Take better f**kin’ care of her this time.”
fuckin’ care of her this time.”
Then he slammed the door and was gone.
Chapter Seven
Blackbird
Stella
I stared at the door not sure how I felt about what just happened; only sure it was unhappy and unpleasant and maybe a little sad.
Mace held onto me.
“Get out,” I said quietly, stil staring at the door.
“Tel me you didn’t f**k him,” Mace replied.
I closed my eyes, hard, and swal owed. This was to obtain a measure of control in order not to scream at the top of my lungs.
Then, again quietly, I repeated, “Mace, get out.” Mace didn’t let go. Mace didn’t move. Mace didn’t speak.
We stood that way, his arm stil around me, me stil pressed back to his front, both of us staring at the door, both silent, for what seemed like a long time.
Then his head came to my shoulder and he moved my hair away with his chin.
At my ear, he said (now his voice was quiet), “First night I was with you, you came hard and you came fast. The night I got back from Hawaii, you did the same. This morning, the same. Every time in between, it took a little more effort to get you to purr for me, Kitten.”
I held my breath. His words shook me. Simply what he said but also how much he remembered. I didn’t even think guys remembered shit like that.
“You didn’t let him f**k you,” he finished softly and he sounded relieved.
“Keep going, Mace, this is great. Pretty soon, I might hate you.”
Entirely unaffected by my words, he kissed my neck, let me go and whistled between his teeth for Juno. I heard Juno trundle off the bed and her claws on the wood floors as she approached us.
I watched him take the leash from the workout bag.
“What are you doing?” I asked.
“Juno needs out. We’re goin’ for a walk. We’l be back.”
“No you won’t. I just kicked you out,” I reminded him.
Mace stopped a foot in front of me. Juno was there so he bent, clicked on Juno’s leash and straightened. He leaned into me, kissed my disbelieving mouth lightly then he and Juno were gone.
I found myself staring at the door again.
Then I found myself wanting to cry.