Who’s the Boss?

Slowly, he lowered his body to hers, grace and power blending into one. He took her to new heights by just touching her with his magic fingers. He tore off his sweats so they were skin to skin. He was sensual and uninhibited, and he encouraged the same from her, caressing and kissing every inch of her until she was panting his name.

When he slid down between her thighs, replacing his fingers with his lips, she arched up and begged. It wasn’t necessary; his open mouth unerringly found her. One stroke from his nimble tongue and she exploded. Instantly. Without control.

Chest heaving, body slick with perspiration, hair sticking to her face, she looked up at the ceiling and blinked in stunned surprise. Her body rippled with aftershocks. “Wow.”

“Again,” he demanded, cupping her, stroking her back into a frenzy, back to the point of no return, until bright lights blinded her, until her body went taut as a bow, then shuddered again and again.

“Wow,” she repeated when she could finally manage as she lay limp and replete on the floor.

Joseph’s skin was also slick when he levered himself above her and bridged her body with his arms. “Such a profound statement.”

She ran her hands through his hair. “Then how about more?”

“Caitlin-”

“Don’t make me beg again.”

He entered her, then, watching her flushed face carefully. She sighed with pleasure. He pushed deeper. Her breath quickened and so did his, and eyes locked with hers, he pushed deeper still. When he was fully seated within her, they both moaned.

He pressed his forehead against hers. “Tell me you’re okay.”

“I’m…so much more than okay.”

He began to move and she raised her hips to meet his hungry thrusts. Though each one threatened to toss him over the edge, he held back, waiting for her.

When she climaxed, she dug her fingers into his skin and cried out his name, shuddering long and hard. It was more than he could take. Burying his face in her neck, he allowed himself to follow her into oblivion.

“OKAY, YOU CAN SEDUCE ME,” he gasped, and she laughed.

They stared at each other, and their smiles faded slowly.

“Please, let me do this for you,” he whispered. They were lying entwined on the soft carpeting, looking at the high ceiling, listening to the rain pound the roof. “Please let me give you this place.”

“You know, I think I’ve figured something out.” She sat up and slipped his shirt back on with a smile. She loved wearing his clothes. “I don’t think my father meant to forget me. He just wanted to show me something.”

Guilt stabbed at him, and he wished with all his might Edmund hadn’t asked for his silence. She looked so beautiful sitting there covered only by his shirt, still flowing from their lovemaking.

Beautiful and brave.

But all he could think about was the secret he was keeping from her. The secret his mentor-her father-had asked him to keep.

She was right. Edmund hadn’t forgotten her; he’d tried to protect her, the only way he knew. Through Joe.

And Joe had let them both down.

His heart hurt just looking at her. That unwanted panic surged again when he realized what was happening to him. That despite his promises to himself, he just kept falling for her deeper and deeper.

He loved her.

“I think my father just wanted me to learn to support myself, you know? I always resented him saying that, and because of that resentment, I never bothered to learn when he was alive. But he was right. I can see how selfishly I’d been living. This has helped me grow up, and at twenty-four, it’s about time.”

He stared at her. “How can you be so generous? So understanding?”

“It’s just facts.” She reached out and hugged him. His heart broke.

Sorry, Edmund, he pleaded silently. Forgive me, but I have to do this.

He had to tell the truth. “Caitlin.” His voice was hoarse, and for the life of him he could’t force himself to return her sweet smile. “I have to show you something.”

He drew her to her feet, using the excuse to hold her close one more time, for he held no illusions.

This would be the last time.

“It’s upstairs,” he said. “Will you come with me?”

“Anywhere,” she said simply, and his chest tightened all the more.

In his room, he went to his jeans, which were still lying on the floor. Slipping them on, he pulled out Edmund’s letter from the pocket.

Caitlin recognized her father’s writing. “What’s this?” she asked, looking at him.

“Read it.”

“Oh, my God,” she breathed, sinking onto the bed as she did just that. “He ran out of money… He asked you to take care of me.” She closed her eyes on the mortification. “And I thought I was doing it on my own.” She let out a choked laugh. “Not only did he make you give me a job-he had such a low opinion of me that he thought you would have to help teach me to support myself!”

“No, no Caitlin, it’s not like that-”

She leaped off the bed, and though he thought he’d been prepared for her to walk out of his life, he’d been wrong.

He couldn’t let her go.

He caught her at the door, barely. “Wait. Caitlin-”

“No.” She ripped free, his shirt flying up above her luscious thighs. Her wild hair swung in a curtain when she whipped around to face him. “You knew all along his money was gone. You called me princess, you made fun of me, and you knew!”

“No, no, I didn’t. I saw the note for the first time yesterday. I know how this all sounds to you, but you’ve got to listen.” He grabbed her shoulders and jerked her close, as if he could shake the belief right back into her. “Before you came into my life, all I thought about was work. I ate, slept and drank work.”

“You still do,” she said bitterly, shrugging him off and backing to the door. “What a fool I’ve been. I thought you were starting to come around, starting to care for me.”

“I was. Am!”

“Right.”

“Caitlin,” he said in a grating voice, coming after her, letting pride go because he had no choice. No choice at all. “You have no idea how difficult this is for me to say, but it’s the truth. I care for you. More than I ever have for anyone.”

“I don’t think so. I think this is guilt. It’s just you fulfilling a stupid promise you made to my father.” Her lovely eyes filled. “And because he meant so much to you, you’ll do anything to see the vow through.”

“He did mean a lot to me. But you’ve got the promise thing all wrong-”

He was talking to air.

When he caught her on the stairs, she spun on him. “Did you guys get a good laugh at my expense?” Her eyes were stark with pain. “Tim and Andy. And Vince. Was it all a joke? Their help? Their friendship?”

“No. No, Caitlin. God. They worship you. You’ve got to know that.”

“I know nothing anymore,” she said sadly, backing from him. “Except that apparently I’ve been such a burden to you that you couldn’t even explain the truth to me.”

“You read the letter. He asked me not to tell you. Whether it was pride or love-”

She let out a hard laugh. “Don’t fool yourself. He loved you, Joe.”

She made it to the bottom of the stairs before he caught up with her and hauled her back against him. “It was far more than just a promise,” he grated into her ear as she struggled valiantly against him. “And you’re not going anywhere. Not even if you did manage to put some pants on.”

“Yes, I am.”

“You don’t have a car.”

“I’m a pro at public transportation, believe me.”