Chapter 11
Chapter Eleven
Hot damn! The man’s kisses were as potent as she remembered, and Cree was defenseless to push him away. She wanted this. She wanted him more than she wanted anything else in this moment, and for a change, she had no intention of pulling away.
This wasn’t her surrendering to Tristan.
No, this was her acting like a woman who hadn’t been kissed this thoroughly in like forever.
It had been months since she’d been with a man, and she yearned for the attention.
Not just any attention, but attention from the only man she had ever loved—Tristan.
Some rational part of her mind was telling her to stop and move away from temptation. Yet, all her girlie parts were cheering her on, encouraging her to keep going and take all she wanted.
Cree slowly ran her hands up Tristan’s torso, marveling at the way his sinewy muscles contracted beneath her touch. Once her arms were around his neck, he backed her against a wall without breaking contact and deepened their connection.
As he loved on her mouth, his hardness pressed against her, and memories of them together like this flooded Cree’s mind. Tristan had always been a great kisser and a generous lover, and he was currently reminding her of what she’d been missing. Him. This. The bond they once shared. All of it.
She lifted her leg, wrapping it around his hip and forcing him closer. He held her leg in place and rubbed his body against her. Desire pulsed through her as so many sensations swirled inside of her at the way Tristan was kissing her, touching her, and turning her on.
His other hand slid under the split of her wrap dress, and the second his calloused fingers caressed her thigh, bolts of electricity charged through her body.
Cree wanted him in every way a woman could want a man, and that intensified when his hand moved to one of her butt cheeks.
She moaned against his lips as he squeezed, kneading her flesh while grinding against her.
“Damn, you know how much I love you in a thong. Your fine ass,” he murmured.
The feel of his thick erection against her stomach made it clear they wanted the same thing—to get naked and reacquaint themselves with each other’s body.
He eased his mouth from hers and brushed his lips over her jaw. The sweet kisses continued along her cheek, beneath her ear, and on down to her neck.
Cree whimpered, needing more. It had been way too long since she’d been touched like this, and her sex starved body couldn’t take much more of his teasing.
Tristan released a primal growl as he worked his way back up her body until he was staring into her eyes. His breath was coming in short spurts when he said, “I want you. I want you so damn bad. If that’s not what you—”
“Yes,” she said breathlessly and cupped his face between her hands before covering his mouth with hers. Yes, she wanted him, and she wanted him now.
He had just picked her up and turned with her in his arms when the door alarm chimed, interrupting the quietness in the apartment. They both froze. But when they heard the door close, Tristan set her down so quickly, Cree almost lost her balance.
They were both still breathing hard as he turned his back to her, standing in front of her as if shielding her from a threat.
When he reached back, his large hand resting on her hip, Cree wasn’t sure if he was trying to keep her in place or if he was touching her to ensure she was still with him.
His body was tense, like he was planning to lunge at the first sign of trouble.
“Tristan, are you…” A woman’s voice filled the space, and now Cree was the one tensing.
What the hell? Some woman had a key to his apartment? She was about to shove him away, but before she could, Tristan moved with the speed of light away from her.
“Dammit, Bethany! How the hell are you just walking into my place without knocking?” Tristan ground out, looking like he wanted to strangle her. “What the hell are you doing here, and how’d you even get in?”
“Hello to you too, Big Brother.”
Big brother?
Cree forgot he had a younger sister. She had never met her, but she’d heard about her.
When she and Tristan were dating, Cree had insisted on keeping their relationship private.
Meaning, most of their family didn’t know about them.
Which Tristan hated, but she’d been determined to build her sports agency without anyone questioning her integrity.
She hadn’t been willing to risk anyone finding out she’d been dating her client.
And after they got married… Well, their marriage didn’t last long enough for them to tell anyone what they’d done.
“I asked you a question,” Tristan growled, and Cree couldn’t ever remember seeing him this angry before. “How the hell did you get into my apartment?”
Bethany didn’t seem phased by his anger. Instead, her focus was on Cree, and the woman narrowed her eyes. “Who are you?” she asked.
“None of your damn business!” Tristan barked.
Making sure her dress was closed, Cree moved away from the wall. “I’m going to run to the bathroom and give you two a minute.”
She wasn’t sure where the bathroom was, but she headed down a hallway until she came to one. She stepped into it and closed the door before leaning against it.
Her heart was still beating a little fast, but her body temperature was slowly going back to normal after that intense make-out session.
She breathed in deeply and released the breath slowly.
Had she and Tristan not been interrupted, there was no doubt they would’ve done much more than just kiss.
Maybe she should be thanking Bethany for interrupting.
Then again, part of her wanted to go back out there and kick the twerp’s ass for stopping what would’ve led to an epic time between the sheets.
“It was probably for the best,” she mumbled and pushed away from the door.
When Cree reached the vanity, she glanced in the mirror at herself. Her hair was disheveled, her face was flushed, her dress was twisted, and most of her lipstick was gone. She looked like a woman who had been thoroughly kissed.
What the hell was she thinking kissing Tristan? Actually, she hadn’t been thinking. She’d only been feeling. He was not the type of man you could just kiss once and walk away from. He was an addiction, one that stood the chance of being impossible to break.
Cree shook her head. “I gotta get out of here.”
She wetted one of the paper hand towels and dabbed at her face and neck. Once she finished cooling down and righting her clothes, Cree left the bathroom.
“I gave you the key temporarily so you could let the cable person in. Not for you to walk into my place whenever the hell you want. Give me the key. Now!” he growled.
“Tristan, why are you tripping? It’s not like I haven’t seen you with one of your little groupies before.”
“Give me the damn key, and call her a groupie again, and I’ll disown your bratty ass.”
As Cree moved closer, Bethany’s gaze landed on her, and she didn’t look too happy. It took a lot to piss Tristan off. Cree figured there must be more at play here, but she had no intention of sticking around to find out.
“Sorry to interrupt,” she said, “but I’m gonna just grab my bag and head out.”
She eased around Tristan and went into the kitchen for her handbag that she had set on one of the barstools. When she strolled back to where they were standing, Tristan stopped her with a touch on her hip. Facing her, he blocked her view of his sister.
“Cree, you don’t have to leave. My sister—”
“Cree?” Bethany said, moving so Cree could see her. “So, you’re the one.”
Cree frowned. “The one what?”
“Bethany,” Tristan said in a warning tone.
Now Cree really wanted to know what she was about to say.
“Cree…” Bethany said, nodding to herself, and Cree could tell she was working something out in her mind.
“You’re the mystery woman. The one who broke my brother’s heart, aren’t you?
Years ago, he came home totally wasted one night and was mumbling something about not being able to live without Cree.
It was you. You’re the one who had him talking about giving up football. ”
Cree’s heart sank. Shocked by Bethany’s words, she looked at Tristan, and he was glaring at his sister.
“That’s enough, Bethany,” he said through gritted teeth.
“I always wondered who you were since he hadn’t brought you around the family.
So what, you’re back to break his heart again?
” Bethany asked before turning her attention to her brother.
“Is she the reason you’re kicking the family out of the house now?
If she is the one who was stupid enough to leave you before, why would you think she wouldn’t—”
“Enough!” Tristan stomped past Cree and gently grabbed his sister by the arm, tugging her toward the door. “It’s time for you to go.”
Cree didn’t miss the wicked smirk on the woman’s face, which only pissed Tristan off more.
“Wait,” Cree said and pulled on the back of his shirt. “Don’t. I was just leaving. I’ll, um, I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
“Cree, baby, you don’t have to leave,” Tristan pleaded and grasped her hand.
She swallowed hard, feeling like crap about what had happened years ago. If what his sister said was true, it would’ve killed Cree if Tristan had given up football. She might’ve been angry with him at the time, but she would have never wanted him to forgo his dream because of her.
She squeezed his hand and gave him a small smile. She wanted to stay, but it would be a bad idea. It was good they were interrupted. Their professional relationship was already on shaky ground. If they had added sex to the mix, she wasn’t sure what would’ve happened afterwards.
Cree pulled her hand from his grasp. “We’ll talk soon. Have a good night.”
As she hurried down the hallway, she heard Bethany ask, “Who exactly is she?”
Cree doubted Tristan would tell her anything, but what if he did? What if he told her she was his ex-wife? He had always hated keeping their relationship a secret. Would he tell everyone about their past?