Chapter Twenty-Eight

Deep pulls of breath woke Kennedi. Trenton’s heartbeat drummed against her ear upon his chest. Stretched out fully on top of him, she lifted her head and looked at the low amber glow of the fire in the otherwise darkened room. Lightning danced across the wall of windows, but the storm had reduced to a faint drizzle. The time on the remote crawled close to two a.m. She’d fallen dead asleep from exhaustion.

Carefully, she tried to ease up. He stirred and tucked her in tighter with the weight of both arms draped across her back. Her lack of resistance was enough of an indicator that she was where she wanted to be: pinned to the heat of his body, his security, his comfort.

His cell phone lying facedown on the center table buzzed a text. Mere seconds later, it rang, and his eyes fluttered open. She fought the urge not to look when he gave a glance at the caller. With a grimace, he replaced it facedown without answering and simply stared back at her.

“We fell asleep,” she said quietly, not sure how to judge that now hard-set expression. “It’s nearly two in the morning.”

Cutting a frown with no reply, he sat up with her upon him and swung his legs off the couch. He sagged back, his stare intense, steady, studying.

She stroked her thumb over the hard angles of his night scruff at his cheek and felt a fierce shiver rush through him. “Babe, what is it?” They both blinked. Babe? The word spilled out as naturally as it felt to be practically naked beneath his T-shirt and straddling him upon his couch. Still—“I didn’t mean—”

“Woman, you make it so damn hard.”

His tone sounded almost angry, yet his large, strong hands cupped her face with an astoundingly gentle touch, as if she were as fragile as fine porcelain. He lowered his lips to hers, brutal in his kiss, fingers anchored onto the nape of her neck. An arm secured her waist, hoisted and pinned her breasts into the solid wall of his chest as his tongue greedily licked a warm path down the offering arch of her throat, then back up to reclaim her mouth. The swell of his swiftly thickening erection could be felt through his sweats nestled taut against her crotch.

She tore away from his mouth, their breathing hurried, their gazes viper-locked as she slowly brought his T-shirt up and over his head, then ran her hands along broad pecs and over his hard, rippled abdomen. She loved touching and exploring every inch of his beautifully muscled form. She loved him. Her breath seized tight.

I’m in love with him. The plain and simple truth slammed home.

More quickly, she removed her T-shirt and stripped off her panties, tossing them aside. Instantly he buried his face between the valley of her breasts, inhaling deep through a soft groan before drawing a budding nipple into his mouth. He sucked hard, switching off from one to the other like a man starved, giving both his equal service.

Still, she wanted even more and tugged at the waistband of his sweats and underwear. He assisted, yanking both down past his knees, kicking them free. Not wasting a second, she reached down between them and guided the hardness of him within the tightness of her in one mind-blanking surge.

A whooshing breath of her name left him as she clenched her inner muscles repeatedly around his throbbing shaft. With eyes closed, he reared his head back against the couch. “If only you knew what you do to me,” he moaned, then buried his face against her neck, nuzzled, nipped, and tasted.

She began to move on him in a slow, controlled rocking motion, savoring the hard, slick feel of his penis stroking deep. A swarm of fierce, hot friction slid along her wet inner walls to drive her near madness.

Gripping her buttocks tight, he pressed pelvis to pelvis, grinding against her clit while his cock worked up a nonstop thrusting. All she could concentrate on was the raw sensation building until the ferocious tide of her orgasm struck, so intense her knees locked at his sides and her sex clamped down tight. With one last wondrous spasm, she collapsed upon him, trembling and deliciously satiated beyond thought.

Stealing short clips of breath, she caught the side of his tense jaw in her palm and rested her head in the crook of his neck, her body caught in a state of exquisite euphoria. “I want you, Trent.”

The words fell out on an exhausted whisper. She felt more than heard his quick intake of breath, and his hands still gripping her buttocks squeezed, then caressed on up her back to her neck, holding her snug against his heated body.

“You can have me, Trent. Can I have you? All of you?”

“Stay the rest of the night with me, Kennedi,” he breathed, his heartbeat pounding against her breasts a slight bit steadier than her own.

With her face still tucked beneath his chin, she gave a nod.

As he carried her upstairs, two things were evident: he’d evaded her questions, and he hadn’t come.

Trenton couldn’t sleep.

You can have me. Can I have you? All of you? His mind reeled.

He had baggage, loads of fucking complicated and foul baggage that he didn’t want to get her weighed down in. All it would take? His ex-wife’s discovery of his interest in another woman, and she’d royally fuck him over even more than she had thus far. Miserable and alone was what she preferred for him if he didn’t agree to her terms.

Claudia’s texts and phone calls tonight practically demanded an explanation for his missed conference call with her and her attorney, ample proof of the hell she’d make him endure if she discovered Kennedi.

Damn, how he wanted to free his heart for this woman asleep in his bed, her warm nude body spooned within the shelter of his.

He placed a gentle kiss upon her bare shoulder before sharing her pillow, tucking his head in close to her.

“Trent,” she rasped and rolled over.

“I didn’t mean to wake you.”

The weakly moonlit sky peeking behind the sparse storm clouds bathed the bedroom in soft light and shadows. She stared at him with a quiet yet penetrating intensity.

“Kennedi, we… About earlier, I…”

“What I said tonight, forget I said it,” she rushed out and dropped her gaze from his. “I was tired. Exhausted, really. The wine didn’t help. No strings. I get it.”

Shit.

He captured her chin and turned her head to face him. So desperately he wanted to be straight with her—Though I’m divorced, my ex-wife has asked that we spend a month attending counseling sessions to try to reconcile our differences. Oh, she’s pregnant and I don’t know if the child is mine. He wanted to bare all of it to her. Instead, he offered up delicate kisses, wishing he could give so much more of himself to her.

The chill that stabbed through him when she slipped free of his embrace to move to the far side of the bed could be felt all the way down to his bones. Fuck.

He was tired, but sleep didn’t come easily. Short hours later, as the pale pink glimmer of dawn streamed through the bare windows, he roused with an incredible sense of disquiet and rolled over to steal the closeness of Kennedi. But met cool sheets.

She’s gone. A pained emptiness weighed down on his chest like a two-ton anvil. Telling himself it was inevitable, he dragged out of bed, went into his closet and slipped on a pair of black cotton boxer briefs and a plain white T-shirt. Hearing his alternate cell phone ringing on the nightstand, he quickly pulled on basketball jersey shorts and crossed the room to check the display. For Vincent to call before seven—Trenton didn’t expect to hear anything positive.

Scooping up the phone, he answered, “Vin, what’s up?”

“Hey. I wanted to catch you before your day started. I’ve rescheduled our meeting for this morning at eleven, and Trent—” He went silent for a moment. “Buddy, Claudia wants back on the table fifty percent of Shaw Enterprise. As you know, under the law, she’s entitled. Claudia’s threatening to appeal the bifurcation, says she was under duress when she signed. If she does appeal, it’ll reopen the entire process and likely keep you tangled in court for another year, if not longer.”

Trenton let out a sharp curse on his way into the bathroom. “What if we double the settlement?”

“I was on the phone last night and at the crack of dawn this morning with Baldwell trying to renegotiate a compromise. He said she’s pissed because you canceled the meeting.” A heavy sigh filled the line. “Trent, man, I don’t think any of this is about the money. It’s my suspicion that she feels you betrayed her in some way.”

“How the fuck so?” he gritted around his sonic toothbrush and rinsed his mouth. “She gets caught cheating, but I betrayed her? And still I’ve bent over backward trying to settle the assets in her favor. I’m damn certain it’s about the money. She won’t be happy until she takes the shirt off my back.”

“No, hear me out. Baldwell said she was raging about how you used her for her investment funds to save your company then discarded her. And then filed the bifurcation of divorce, ridding yourself of her in a flash. I think the one-month counseling is her making a statement.”

Trenton blinked, taken aback, but didn’t let on. “Last I checked, you’re my attorney. Fix this shit.”

“Trent, come on. You know I’ve been grinding at this for months. Look, bro—” Trenton recognized the cue that Vincent’s attorney hat had come off. “It’s one month so you two can co-parent without biting each other’s head off, should the kid turn out to be yours. It’s not like you’d have to sleep with her.”

Trenton cringed, repulsed at the thought. “That will never happen again. We are legally divorced. The fact that the financial aspect isn’t resolved yet doesn’t change that,” he emphasized. “We tried reconciling but she felt it was more important to stay chummy with her lover, so…”

“Okay, but you want to end this, don’t you?”

He thought of Kennedi and the freedom he’d have to pursue her.

“During our video conference, we can—” Vincent started.

“No video.”

“It’s a compromise. It was either that or face-to-face. I’m trying to limit that as much as I can. Now, as I was saying, let me present to Baldwell that you’ll agree to the counseling if she’ll agree to the final financial settlement. What do you think?”

Trenton grimaced. “Yeah.”

“We can dial in from my office. I’ll hang up before you change your mind.” Vincent disconnected.

Trenton left the room. At the top of the stairs, the sweet fragrance of something baking drew him up short. Kennedi’s laughter and the sound of his brother’s voice met him on the way into the kitchen. He glanced at their discarded clothes from the night before now neatly folded on the couch, reminded of limbs curled together in a comfortable sprawl and then her in control as she straddled him and slid his cock into the tightness of her, taking what he so willingly offered. He wanted more of that—them together on the couch, the intimacy and comfort that seemed to come so naturally between them when he let himself open to her.

But his ex and the impending one-month counseling situation filtered into the outer corners of his thoughts, cutting short the possibility of having something long-term with Kennedi any time soon.

Across the room, wearing one of his light blue dress shirts with the sleeves neatly folded up her forearms, Kennedi stood at the island raking fluffy scrambled eggs onto a plate piled high with bacon and hash browns. The mere sight of her twisted his chest into a tight twinge of yearning. She looked up and their gazes met. The sweet smile she’d had as she chatted with Dom washed away in an instant.

His brother swiveled on the barstool. “Trent, top of the morning to you.” Dom grinned while grabbing a pastry from a plate. He took a hearty bite. “Man, you have to try these cinnamon scones Kennedi made.” He closed his eyes and chewed on a moan. “They melt in your mouth.”

Looking at Kennedi as she set a well-prepared plate in front of Dom, Trenton padded over and took a seat next to him. “Good morning.”

“Morning. I borrowed your kitchen,” she returned quietly, hardly glancing his way, reminding him with icy clarity how he’d rejected her. She pivoted to shut off the beeping timer before pulling a tray from the oven. He liked seeing her move about, owning the space.

Giving a glance at Dom, the guy’s eyes sat transfixed on Kennedi’s ass in that shirt that showed off nicely toned, forever-long legs—much too much for Trenton’s liking. He scowled and shoved Dom hard in the shoulder, nearly knocking him off the barstool.

“What?” Dom murmured and stuck a full fork of eggs and potatoes into his mouth.

She turned and placed the warm batch of scones on the cooling rack. “You didn’t have to cook his ass breakfast.” Trenton cut his brother another slitted side-eye. “He can make it himself.”

“I was in the middle of making scones to take with me when he arrived, so I offered to prepare breakfast.”

“See, she offered.” Dom grinned. “And no way I could’ve whipped up anything this good.”

“He’s like a stray. Feed him once and you’ll find him at your heel looking for more,” Trenton said on a light chuckle.

“Dude, that’s cold.”

“I don’t mind. I like to cook.” She smiled at Dom. “I like even more that you enjoy it. I was actually surprised that most of what I needed was in the pantry.”

“You can thank his ‘pseudo housekeeper’ for that.” Dom made air quotes. “If it weren’t for her, there’d be nothing in there.”

Her head turned to Trenton, and again, the warmth in her expression washed away. “Would you like something to eat?”

“Coffee will do. I’ll get it.” He rose but stilled when she brought a hand up while grabbing the carafe and set a mug before him, glancing up as she filled it to the brim.

“Trent, man, I’m telling you, you have to try these. Kenni, I can’t wait for you to reopen your bakery. Uh, I mean, confectionary. I’ll be there every morning for these.”

Kenni? Trenton’s jaw hardened, looking between them, feeling a sudden strike of jealousy. “You two are buddies now?”

“Bro, the woman loves to cook. Hell yes!”

Her smile returned to Dom. “I’m partial to my mom’s blueberry recipe. The berries are soaked in a sherry wine before I add them to the dough. So good. These cinnamon ones aren’t my best. I had to substitute two percent milk and lemon juice for buttermilk, but I think they came out okay,” she commented while stacking the dishwasher and wiping down the counter.

“They’re more than okay. And these eggs are perfect,” Dom praised.

Trenton was sure he’d crack a molar from grinding down so hard. “Dom, we get it, you like her cooking. Why are you here anyway?”

Dom cut a glimpse Kennedi’s way. “I wanted to know how your meeting went with Vin and—” He gave her another glance.

Kennedi looked at Trenton, her expression bland. “I’ll go get dressed.” She started out of the kitchen. “I should make it to the office before noon.”

Trenton looked at the microwave clock—seven twenty-one a.m. “Elijah Davis accepted the managing director position. He’ll be in the office today around ten.”

Kennedi turned, eyes hard. “Today? You think that would’ve been something to share with me before now? I see you’re only good at sharing when it suits you.”

He didn’t push back, maintaining a level front while she sliced at him with those brutal words. “My apology. It slipped my mind. In any event, I can’t be there. I have a morning meeting and several this afternoon. I’ll send a message to Audrey to see that he gets set up in the vacant office.”

Without a reply, she left the kitchen.

When he heard the laundry room door close, he shoved Dom again and growled low, “What the hell is your problem, checking out her ass? And going overboard, praising and shit like you’ve never eaten a damn biscuit before.”

“I wasn’t checking out her ass.”

“You were.”

“Okay, I was.” He grinned and straightened his tie. “My bad. You know I’d never go there though. I like having my head on my shoulders. But the accolades about her cooking were no joke. Like I said, the woman can burn, bro.”

“Don’t you think I know that? Why the hell do you think I sliced off space in my hotel and casino for her store?”

“Damn, dude, why are you so uptight? I would’ve thought since she spent the night, you’d be in a better mood for one thing, if you know what I mean. What’s up with you two? I sensed tension afoot. She told me she accepted the lease of the space, so what’s the problem?”

Trenton raked fingers through his bed hair. “She wants us to—” He paused upon hearing the laundry room door open down the hall.

Seconds later, Kennedi entered the kitchen and placed a few of the scones into a container. “I’ll replace the food items I borrowed. I also started your shirt to wash.”

“It isn’t and wasn’t necessary.”

“Yes, well…” She looked between him and Dom and settled her gaze back on him, appearing as though wanting to dig deeper into that. But she refrained. “I’d better get going. I’ll return the container.” Heels hurriedly tapped the marble foyer on her way to the door.

“Kennedi?” Trenton went after her.

“Dom, have a good day,” she called, and the entry door opened then slammed shut.

“Shit.” Trenton stepped back into the kitchen and dropped down on the barstool. Dom stared at him. “What?”

“Dude, how’d you managed to fuck things up with her?”

“She wants…wanted to take things further between us.”

“But you’re not interested.”

“I’m not in a position right now to take that step.”

“Ah. Claudia.” Dom nodded. “Bro, you shouldn’t let your ex get in the way of you starting something with Kennedi if it’s what you want.”

“Claudia would make my life a living nightmare if she knew about Kennedi. She’s already threatening to do so if I don’t follow through on this counseling arrangement.”

“Isn’t that what she’s doing already, making your life hell? How was the conference call with her and her attorney?”

“I had to reschedule. Kennedi had a flat tire. Vincent and I have a call at eleven today. I’ve agreed to the one month she asked for in exchange that she finalizes our settlement.”

Dominic winced. “Bro, I feel for you.” He shook his head while finishing his breakfast. “Damn.”

“I guess she expects the counseling will make me have a change of heart about her. She sent another forever-long text last night that I deleted without reading and left a voice mail that I also deleted without listening to. I’m sure it’s the same old shit.”

“And Kennedi? Have you told her about any of this?”

“No.” Trenton cuffed the back of his neck and stroked the tension there. “I told you I don’t want to pull Kennedi into this mess. At least not while I’m still trying to settle things. I love her, Dom.” He held his brother’s stare. “Which only adds another damn layer to an already fucked-up situation.”

Dom took another scone from the plate and bit off half. “Then maybe you should tell her about the other woman. At the very least, let her know how you feel.” He chomped. “Especially after letting her leave here without so much as a kiss goodbye.”

Trenton cursed.