Chapter Sixteen
Kat sat in one of the patio chairs near the pool, sliding her sunglasses on to hide behind them like a shield. She didn’t know how she couldn’t see it before, but Rick had been so charming.
“Is that what you think of me?” Rick’s face was expressionless. “You think I’m a player.”
“Well, you probably have a revolving door with sex partners, and it’s not like you’ve been available. I have no idea what’s going on with you,” Kat shot back.
“Really? You seemed to be into me, and I thought the feeling was mutual. You’ve changed. Tell me, Kat, what is it with these new friends?” Rick dodged her question.
“I don’t owe you any explanations about them.” Kat waved toward the patio doors. “They have nothing to do with us. Why did you blow me off for weeks?”
Rick was quiet for a moment. “Can I be honest with you?”
Kat wasn’t sure she wanted to hear what he would say, but she nodded anyway.
“I do like you, but it’s not like I want to get married and have kids. I’m not looking for someone to spend the rest of my life with, and I want someone to have fun with when I’m in town. Then you said you saw us five years from now buying a house.” Rick ran a hand through his hair.
Kat glanced away, trying to hold back her tears. She wanted to put her hands over her ears and shut her eyes, but that would be childish. “So, you ignored my calls instead of talking to me.”
“I wasn’t ignoring you. I didn’t know what to say. I wasn’t in the right place in my life to be that kind of boyfriend.”
She shook her head. “You should have told me.”
Rick sighed. “I’m sorry. I’m not looking for a long-term commitment right now. I’m not ready for it. I admit that. I made many mistakes with women in the past because I tried to give them things that I’m not capable of giving them. I don’t want to get married, and I don’t want to settle down. But I wasn’t sure how to tell you that. I like you, Kat. And I made time for you.”
Kat had known all along. She dated enough guys like him to spot it, but she made the same mistake every time. She’d known from the beginning but was drawn to him because he had been so charming and attentive. They had chemistry, but that wasn’t enough, was it? Even though she’d known better, he’d pushed all the right buttons.
She sighed. “It was an off-handed comment about where we might be in five years from now and maybe getting a place together, but I wasn’t fucking proposing.”
“Kat, I’m sorry. I think we’re good together. I think we could even be great together.” Rick sat in the chair across from her. He reached for her hand and stroked his thumb across the back of her hand. “I think we’re good at a lot of things.”
The way that his voice dropped wasn’t exactly subtle, and it wasn’t like they didn’t have intense sexual chemistry. That’d never been an issue between them.
“I don’t want to be with you anymore. You didn’t even have the decency to tell me how you felt and decided to avoid me. You’ve been away on business trips all this time, and I’m sure you weren’t alone.” Kat stared past him and focused on the serene pool water. “It doesn’t even matter. It’s not like we were exclusive or you promised me anything.”
Rick smiled. He had that same boyish grin she’d fallen for in the beginning. “I haven’t been alone. You know I have needs, but I haven’t been with anyone else since we started dating either.”
“Really?” Kat was trying to be strong, but she wanted to give in when he looked at her that way.
Rick put his hand under her chin and lifted her face so she’d look at him. “I haven’t been with anyone. I want to be with you.”
Kat felt herself soften. Rick was good in bed, and he’d always taken time for her until he’d shut her out. Even though she wasn’t sure if Rick was entirely faithful and didn’t know if she could believe what he was telling her now, Kat wanted to feel the weight of his body on top of hers.
“I want to be with you, too.” Her voice was quiet.
“So, it’s settled then?”
Kat searched his eyes, not sure what he was asking. “What do you mean?”
“I love sex. It’d be a mistake for me to get into a serious relationship. I can’t deal with the drama that comes with relationships. I think we’re hot together, and I’ve never wanted a woman like I wanted you.” Rick dipped close to her neck. His breath brushed against her ear. “God, I want you so bad, Kat. I’ve missed you so much.”
Rick reached for her leg. His hand was on her thigh, and he pushed her legs apart. He slid his hand up her dress, pressing against her clit through her underwear. Kat couldn’t help spreading her legs wider, pushing against his hand. He’d always had this effect on her. Then he leaned forward, bringing his lips close to her mouth.
Kat shivered as he kissed along her jawline. “I missed you, too.”
Rick leaned in close, his head tilted before brushing his lips against hers. Desire spiked in her belly. Kat missed his hands on her body and the feel of his lips against hers. She missed how they looked together, how he’d smile and make her feel like she was the only woman in the room. Kat finally pulled back, ending the kiss. She held her breath, torn between wanting to be with him and the voice warning her against it. Kat should walk away before she ended up getting hurt.
“I don’t want to lose you.” Rick’s eyes filled with confusion.
Even though she wanted him and missed the sex, she needed to know where this was going. Kat sighed. “This is the part where you tell me what you really want. What you’re saying is that you want an open relationship?”
“I’m still young, and so are you. I’ve been with a lot of women, Kat. I don’t want to go through the process of marrying someone and trying to give them a ring and my eternal love and all that bullshit. I don’t want a fake relationship. I want to be honest with you.” Rick paused. His hand was still up her dress, and he pressed his thumb against her clit in small circles that made her breath catch in her throat. “I want you to keep an open mind too.”
Kat stared at him, unsure of how to feel. She didn’t want to be with someone who made her feel so conflicted. She hated that he’d left her hanging for weeks, but there was no denying she’d been craving him. The sexual chemistry was still there. A small part of her wanted to forget how much he’d hurt her and give in to his touch. He slipped his fingers inside her panties, drawing a moan from her lips.
“What did you have in mind?” Kat breathed.
Rick grinned, sliding two fingers inside of her. He slowly and deliciously slid them in and out, eliciting another moan. “There’s a party tomorrow, and I want to take you. There’s someone I want you to meet.”
“Who?” Kat’s mouth was suddenly dry.
“Her name is Naomi.” His thumb circled her clit while his fingers moved inside her.
“Another party where you’ll be with another woman,” Kat tried not to get mad even though there was an edge to her voice.
Rick laughed. “Yes, but you’ll be there too. And if you don’t like something, bring it up, and we’ll work it out. I want you to come to the party.”
“How would that work exactly?” It was hard to concentrate with his fingers stroking her pussy.
“What if we have threesomes with other women occasionally?” His fingers thrust faster.
Kat swallowed hard. The idea made her wet. She hadn’t expected him to ask her anything like this when he’d come over, and she’d never seen him so honest about what he wanted. It was confusing but also incredibly hot.
“Or other men...” He kissed the side of her neck.
“What about other men?” It was hard for her to think about anything other than how much she wanted him.
“Imagine my cock in your mouth while someone else is fucking you.”
Rick grabbed her hand and placed it on his cock. Kat shook her head, unable to form a coherent thought. She could feel his erection through his pants. She pulled away, her cheeks burning, but his other hand was still under her dress and toying with her. When it felt this good, Kat couldn’t bring herself to push his hand away from her. He kept moving his thumb over her clit.
Rick moved his fingers faster. “I’m giving you a choice. I’m not going to chase you. You have to make up your mind. I can’t commit, but I can give you so much more. I want you to come to the party with me.”
“I don’t know.” Kat wasn’t sure if it was a lie. Her heart drummed in her ears, and her breath caught in her throat.
“I’ll admit, I’m looking forward to the party. I’m looking forward to having you there with me. We could have a lot of fun together, Kat. Just give it a shot. Please.” Rick brushed his lips against hers softly.
Her body was starting to get hotter, and she could feel herself getting closer to orgasm.
“You’re so wet, Kat,” Rick groaned.
Kat couldn’t respond. She was in a haze of pleasure, her mind reeling. She wanted him, and she wanted him in her mouth and her pussy, filling her up and taking her. Kat wanted him to fuck her hard and make her scream.
“I can’t.” Kat panted.
He stroked the sensitive spot inside her, his lips pressed against her neck. “We don’t have to do anything, only as long as you’re okay with it.”
Rick’s fingers were moving so fast she was getting close to orgasm. He would make her come. Kat wanted to give him what he wanted, but she didn’t know if she could.
His fingers moved inside of her faster. His thumb pressed against her clit in tighter circles. It wouldn’t take long, not when she was already on edge.
“I’m going to come,” Kat moaned, breathless. Her rational mind was all but gone, and she needed release. “I don’t know if I can do this.”
“Yes, you can. I can give you more pleasure than anyone else can. You know I’m telling the truth.”
Kat bit back a moan as he pressed his thumb against her clit in a tight circle and moved his fingers faster, thrusting them in and out of her pussy. She could feel an orgasm coiling in the pit of her stomach.
“Have you had a threesome?” Rick’s voice was husky.
“No.”
“Would you like to have a threesome with me?” Rick whispered in her ear, sending a shiver down her spine. He moved his hand faster, and she felt the orgasm build inside her. He nipped her ear, still moving his fingers inside of her. Her hips bucked involuntarily against his hand.
“I’ll be there to help you through it.” His fingers pressed against her clit. “You’ll love it, I promise. You’re going to love it so much, Kat.”
“I want you.” Kat was so close she could barely speak.
He nipped her ear again, but his fingers never stopped moving. “I want you to come for me, Kat.” His hand was still moving between her legs. “Do you want to come on my fingers?”
She was so close, and he was so demanding. It was hard to say no to him. “Yes,” Kat hissed, her body trembling.
“I want you to come all over my fingers, Kat.” He pushed her over the edge, making her come hard. Each thrust of his fingers made her orgasm go on longer than she would have thought possible. Her legs were shaking from the pleasure, and her head was spinning. He pulled his hand out from under her dress and sucked his fingers clean. “Please say you’ll think about what I said. It would just be sex...”
The words were like a trigger, sending a familiar chill down her spine. She wanted to be with Rick, but she needed him to understand it wouldn’t be an open relationship or a threesome.
Kat pulled her hands away. “Just sex? Is that all this is to you?”
“I didn’t mean it like that.” Rick put his hands up, and Kat knew how smoothly he could talk his way out of anything. “This could be a new experience for us.”
She wouldn’t fall for it this time. “No.”
Rick’s face fell, and there was disappointment in his eyes. “Are you sure?”
“Yes.” Kat pulled her dress back down. She crossed her arms over her chest, still feeling the tingles from her orgasm. Kat wanted to give in and be with him more than anything else, but she couldn’t.
“I need you to leave.” Her voice shook. “Please go.”
“I understand. I’ll call you tomorrow.” He leaned down and kissed her on the cheek before leaving.
She could see the disappointment in his eyes. Once Rick was gone, she walked through the kitchen, ignoring everyone as they were making brunch. Kat ran up the stairs to her room, closed the door, and threw herself on the bed. She thought she heard someone call her name, but Kat was in no mood to talk to anyone.