“I get out just fine, thank you,” he growled, reaching around her back to unclasp her bra.

Her breasts fell free, tingling under the admiration of his gaze. He descended upon her, taking her hardened nipple in his mouth, lavishing it with his tongue in an intricate pattern that tore a whimper from her lips.

“I need these off.” He yanked her panties down as he moved to the other breast, paying it the same attention.

She lifted her ass off the windowsill, one hand on the frame, the other clutching his neck while he tugged the last item of clothing down her legs to fall to the floor.

“Spread your thighs,” he demanded. “One foot up on the sill.”

Her core clenched at his command. “I’m not as flexible as I used to be.”

“Sure you are. You just need the temptation of an orgasm to test yourself.”

There he was, the man who pushed her boundaries. The one who didn’t take no for an answer when it came to pleasure. She tilted her hips and lifted one foot to let it rest on the windowsill, baring herself completely.

He stepped back, taking in the sight of her, his chest rising and falling with fevered breaths. “Jesus fucking Christ.”

He sank to his knees, tearing a gasp from her throat as he roughly wove his arms around her legs and lowered his head between her thighs. He wasn’t timid. He wasn’t kind. He devoured her, his tongue lapping her sex and parting her pussy lips to taste her arousal.

She squeezed her eyes shut, focusing on the sweep of his mouth, the rough graze of stubble against her skin. His grip tightened, the dominant grasp of his hands on her thighs adding to the ease in which she submitted to him.

She was at his mercy. A mere leaf up against the harshest northern wind.

“T.J.” She reached out a hand, searching for stability and grasping nothing but air. Her pussy was throbbing. Deep down inside her, every nerve was pulsing, poised, waiting for that next brief swipe of his tongue over her clit.

Then he stopped, leaving her panting, her lungs threatening to explode as he stood and shucked his jeans. The remains of his clothes fell to the floor at his feet. He was glorious. His chest heaving, his eyes feral. He appraised her again, taking his time while his cock pulsed against the slight patch of hair leading to his naval.

“Having second thoughts?” She cocked a brow and swallowed over the dryness in her throat.

“Actually.” He cleared his throat. “I’m devoid of thought. Your beauty makes it hard to think.”

She smiled and leaned forward, swinging her arm around his neck to pull him against her body. There was the briefest moment as he lowered to kiss her, mere seconds when their passion-filled gazes collided, that their connection flung her into the past.

This was perfection.

Bliss on every level, emotional and physical.

She kissed him, hard, and moaned at the taste of her pleasure on his lips. The sun beat down on her back, but it was his chest, the skin radiating with heat that warmed her from the inside out.

She needed more of him. She needed everything.

“I have to have you.” Her ass was poised on the edge of the windowsill, his erection rubbing against her pussy.

He slid his hand between them, positioning his cock at her entrance. The briefest glide of his length over her sex made her whimper. The memories of what he could do to her already had her poised on the brink of orgasm.

He paused, no doubt trying to build anticipation she was already too aroused to appreciate, before he thrust into her, his shaft stretching muscles that hadn’t been used in a long time.

“Jesus.” His voice was guttural. “There’ll never be anyone else for me. Nobody can compare—”

“Shh.” She placed a finger on his mouth and savored the way he closed his eyes at her touch. With the tip of her finger, she rubbed his lower lip and sucked in a breath when he sank his teeth into her nail.

“Nobody.” He blinked down at her, the rhythmic movement of his hips now demanding.

She nodded, becoming breathless as one of his large hands cradled her head, the other gripping her hip. He leaned his forehead against hers, holding her gaze as he continued to make love to her. With a rhythm perfected over time, he undulated inside her. Forward, back, forward, back, each thrust grinding harder.

Her pleasure spun out of control, building with intensity she couldn’t deny. She clung to him, gripping his broad shoulder, clutching at his hair. A cry escaped her lungs as her orgasm hit—one of pleasure and despair. She was soaring, at the high of all highs, but on the other side was grief. She could already feel it seeping in—the anguish, the loneliness.

His thrusts became harsh, his guttural groan announcing his release. She would never forget the way he looked, his eyes riveted on hers, every flicker of his thoughts seeping through the emotion in his features.

Goodbye, T.J.

She placed a palm against his stubbled cheek and rocked her pelvis harder, enjoying the last diluted pulse of euphoria before it was gone forever. Slowly, he stilled, his hips no longer moving, his length buried deep inside her.

She savored his sent, his beauty, and was thankful for this one last moment together. All that was left was to move forward.

“Thank you.” She wasn’t referring to the pleasure. Her appreciation was for how they would end this—with love instead of hate.

He nodded and slid his arms around her waist to hold her close.

She wanted to remain like this forever. To continue to fight for what they had.

If only she could. He’d never give her the option.

Unfortunately, she knew his mind was made up. There was no going back. She placed her forehead against his, rubbing the pad of her thumb over masculine skin she would never lose the need to touch.

“T.J…” She cleared her throat and straightened her shoulders. “I think it’s time for you to leave.”

Chapter Sixteen

One week later.

Cassie was back to packing boxes. She’d found more of T.J.’s belongings in the cupboards of the spare bedroom. Then more in the home office. She hadn’t thought to clean out his business files or disconnect his emails from the computer until now…when her mind was finally accepting her fate.

T.J. had already changed his email password. The software would no longer download new mail. But it didn’t make the old messages disappear. There were still business emails in the inbox, a sent box full of his mail, along with messages in the deleted folder.

They needed to go. Everything needed to go.

With a glass of wine in hand, she delved through his past, making sure she wasn’t deleting anything important before permanently removing them all one by one. She tried to pretend his name wasn’t comforting. That the professional and gentlemanly way he responded to clients didn’t make her heart ache. She pretended until her head was buzzing with alcohol and her stomach grumbled for food.

Business email—delete. Business email—delete. Spam—delete. Business email—delete. Sports subscription—delete. Private message… She clicked on the latter, the subject—Private and Confidential— piquing her interest.

Thank you for your email, Scott.

I’m sorry it’s taken hours to reply. I’ll be entirely honest and say I feel responsible for the young woman’s situation.

I’d like to thank you for the files you prepared and the links you sent. I agree there is no longer a need for your services now that the man is in custody, however, before you send me the final invoice for the work completed, I’d like you to investigate whether or not I could financially compensate this woman without a trail leading back to me.

I would be grateful for any information on this matter, and as usual, your discretion is appreciated.