"No. Bullshit. It's not over. You need to tell me what the fuck I did wrong. " His words were clipped. Pissed. He started toward her again and she scooted around to the back of his desk.
He followed her around the desk. He reached for her and she turned away and he saw her face crumple. She gulped a few times, trying to get a hold of herself. It didn't work. She broke into tears. He froze. She stumbled over to the couch and fell onto it with her back still facing him. She started sobbing. Her shoulders were shaking and she put her arms over her face. He stood and watched the sobs continue.
"Jenny. Sweetheart. Don't cry. I'm sorry. Whatever I did, I'm sorry. " He broke off when a knock sounded on the door.
Sabrina's voice called out. "Jenny. Cab's here. "
Jenny stumbled to her feet. She wiped her eyes and straightened her skirt. She didn't look at him. As she walked past him, he reached out and grabbed her arm. "Stay here. " He gritted out.
She pulled on her arm. He didn't release her. "No. "
She kept pulling. "You're hurting me. "
He eased his hold but didn't let go. He put his other hand to her face and lifted it. "This isn't over. Not by a long shot, babe. " He took her mouth in a punishing kiss. She hung in his grasp as he devoured her with ruthless purpose. She hung there for several long moments as his tongue and teeth attacked her. She jerked back. He held her at arm's length. They stared at each other. She pulled from him and he released his grip.
She turned and fled.
Chapter Ten
Richard woke with a pounding headache. He hadn't consumed that much bourbon since his early twenties. Now he remembered why. Shit. His head was going to split open. Memories from the night before came to him.
The fight. The tears. The panic he felt after she left.
He crawled out of bed and swallowed four aspirin and stood under a hot shower. The needles of water attacked his skin as he tried to shake it off.
He wasn't completely stupid. He knew she was upset about Darlene. Or she was upset because of what he had said to the fucker trying to make it with her. Or she was mad about both.
He needed to see her. He wanted to talk to her. He wanted to hold her. What the hell was he going to say to her? That he wasn't through fucking her yet? That he would never, ever, in this lifetime have enough of fucking her? Jesus Christ.
He hung his head as the truth hit him.
Sunday evening, Jenny was no better off than she had been when she had climbed from the cab on Friday night. She went from bouts of crying, to eating ice cream, to watching old movies.
Richard tried to call her twice. She didn't pick up either call. He didn't leave a message.
She was scared it was over. She was scared it wasn't. Her distress was taking a toll on her. She wasn't sleeping. She wasn't eating properly.
She was sitting in the kitchen, staring out the window when her doorbell pealed. The sound petrified her. It pealed again. She got up and slowly walked to the front door.
"Who is it? " Her voice was weak.
"It's me, Jenny. " The sound of his voice made her knees start shaking. "Open the door, sweetheart. "
She turned the lock and opened the door a few inches.
"Can I come in? " Jenny was watching him from behind the door. She slowly opened it and he stepped through.
Richard closed the door and leaned against it. They watched each other in silence. He opened his arms for her. She took a step toward him and stopped. He reached out and pulled her to him. She collapsed against his chest. He wrapped his arms around her and hugged her.
"Angel. Please don't ever do that do me again. " His voice was filled with emotion. She sagged in his arms. He lifted her face and sipped at her lips. " You're so precious, so beautiful. I didn't mean to hurt you. Or piss you off. I don't ever want to hurt you. "
His soothing words flowed through her. His tenderness was like a balm to her heart. She took his hand and led him over to the couch. She made a move to sit next to him, but he pulled her onto his lap. She relaxed against him. She sighed. She had things that needed to be said.
"Richard. I feel like I give in this relationship. And you take. " That was it. Concise and to the point. She waited for his argument. His attack of dominion and power.
He played with her hair. "Yeah. That's the way it's been. Hasn't it? I've been a selfish bastard. "
His agreement startled her enough to question him. "Why do you do that? Friday night? Why do you think you can tell people that I belong to you, and then turn around and let some woman think that you might spend a different night with her? "