That was when he said, "I'm afraid I have to be leaving tomorrow, too."
Taren's heart fell onto the floor beneath her chair and lay there with all the dust bunnies.
"My leading lady finished her project up earlier than expected, and everyone's gathering tomorrow in Texas to do a read through of the script, so I'll be saying goodbye around the same time you will, I'm afraid."
He sounded genuinely sorry to be going.
Taren didn't think she'd survive it, but somehow she'd have to, she guessed.
This time, when everyone found their way to their beds, it was Bruce that stayed with her rather than Audra, who'd had a bit too much to drink so Greg had guided her off to bed.
Taren fervently wished he would go the hell to bed himself. She'd had too much to drink, too, in that she could feel that her inhibitions – which she needed all of that she could get when she was around him – had pretty much deserted her, and she was even more vulnerable to him than she had always been.
"You really don't need to stay here with me – I'm just going to do the basics and get the rest tomorrow."
He had his arms loaded with stuff he'd brought in from the den – chip bags, empties, glasses – all of which he neatly put away without being asked. And once he'd done it, he turned to her, putting his hand out.
She was again struck by the sheer size of it as she hesitantly put hers in his, knowing she shouldn't the entire time she was doing it, but doing it anyway because she'd missed him so much.
He brought her outside – not to what everyone had come to think of as 'his place' but just out onto the deck to sit on the wicker rocker loveseat with him. "I've had a great time here, Taren. You and Sam have something special, and I think you'll do really well expanding the way you're both thinking you should."
It sounded stilted, even to his own ears, but it wanted saying, so he'd said it. He'd said something quite similar to her brother earlier today, and it hadn't gone any easier.
"I'm glad you've had a good experience." That sounded even worse to her, but what else could she say?
He cleared his throat. "I didn't come here expecting to find the love of my life, but that's what happened. I know you don't want to hear that. But it's the God's honest truth. And I didn't ask Audra here in hopes that you might change your mind and decide you're worthy of me or whatever, well, not much anyway. I brought her here because you've made my life exponentially better – even though you're not coming with me – just by dint of your presence in it. And I wanted to do something equally profound and meaningful for you. I would have offered plastic surgery, but I thought you'd figure that that was entirely too expensive a gift, and you'd be more likely to refuse it, stubborn cuss that you are."
Taren was sobbing. She kept her mouth shut in order that he wouldn't know, or she was at least less likely to give herself away
"She's going to order you a set of what it is that you need of that special makeup, and I want you to accept it as my gift to you for letting me stay here."
Taren opened her mouth to remind him that he had already paid for that distinct privilege, but he put his hand up.
"No. I insist. It's entirely up to you whether you ever use it again. I hope you know in your heart that I've loved you since I met you, and the scars don't mean anything to me except to remind me, and everyone around you, of what an exceptional person you are. You're gorgeous to me, with or without Maybelline or Revlon or whoever."
He leaned forward, resting his forearms on his legs. "So. I believe I'll say goodbye now, and head on into Albuquerque early tomorrow morning, before anyone gets up. I have a car scheduled to take me to the airport."
Bruce stood and turned to face her. "May I have a hug, lass?"
In answer, Taren stood on the loveseat. He moved a bit closer so that she could hold onto his shoulders while she steadied herself, but her hands never left them.
"You may have a hug and a kiss, if you like," she smiled shyly at him.
He couldn't stop the grin. "You, Miss Cavanaugh, are the very definition of tipsy."
She pressed herself full against him, looping her arms around his neck. "And you, Mr. McCullough, are sexy as fuck."
That got a full-throated laugh out of him. It was interesting to him to have to look up at her for a change. There was about four or five inches difference in their heights – to her favor – with this unusual arrangement.
"I am?" he asked innocently.
She gave him a raised eyebrow look, using her finger to tip his chin up for a change. "Don't go fishing for compliments. You're fucking beautiful, and you know it."
His hands glided confidently up the backs of her thighs. "As are you. And you should know it, but you don't."
Taren framed his face in her hands. "I know I love you."
His face hardened, somehow. "Don't say that. If you really meant it…" He stopped himself before he said something he shouldn't.
"What?"
"Nothing."
She poked a finger in his chest. "No, don't do that. That's extremely annoying. Finish your fucking sentence or don't start it at all."
"If you really meant that you loved me, there's no way you'd let me go off without you tomorrow."
Taren suddenly found the floor beneath them to be of great interest. "You're right."
"Yeah, I know, but in this case I'd just as soon be wrong."
He turned away from her, as if to leave, and she bent down to whisper, "So, what time did you say we leave in the morning?"
The loveseat was old and rickety, and when she leaned forward, she ended up so off balance that she nearly fell. Luckily he was there – with his quick reflexes – and she landed right in his arms.
"You're not just saying that?" he asked, because he felt he had to.
Taren shook her head solemnly. "No. Do I seem like the kind of person who would do that?"
"No, but with your history of getting yourself into trouble that results in you sporting a very sore bottom…"
"Shh! Everyone'll hear you!"
He began walking towards the cottage with her in his arms. "Do you really think they don't know? Exactly how soundproof do you think a tiny house built in the twenties is?"
She hadn't thought of that – and didn't want to think of it again – ever.
"Just for the record, I really don't give a damn about whether or not you ever wear that stuff again."
"I know."
"Just for the record, I intend to fuck your brains out."
"That, too," he agreed, shutting the door behind them.
THE END
Carolyn Faulkner
The words “spanking” and “discipline” have always sent a shiver up Carolyn Faulkner's spine. She knows she's not alone.
Writing started as a way to explore her feelings. Soon short stories flowed from her pen featuring reluctant heroes taking the leading lady in hand, but always for her own good.
Today Carolyn is the author of dozens of books. She writes from her home in Maine, where she lives with her husband and leading man.
You can read an interview with Carolyn here:
http://www.blushingbooks.com/blog/?p=175
You may check out her website while it’s under construction here:
http://www.carolynfaulkner.com
Don’t miss these exciting titles by Carolyn Faulkner and Blushing Books!
Series books:
Adored series:
Adored
Tessa’s Wedding
Thornton Brothers trilogy
AJ’s Hope
Thornton’s Desire
Thornton’s Wish
Single Titles:
Beauty’s Beast
Packed: The Enforcer
The Alpha’s Woman
Submissive Love
A Heart Full of Heaven
Daddy’s Girl
To Love a Man
Spoils of War
Sinful
Etta’s Surrender
Her Secret Submission
Make Me
Let Me In
A Christmas Holiday to Remember
A New Year's Eve to Remember
The Pleasure of Their Souls
'Til Death Do Us Part
Strictland Academy: The Darkness Series, Book One
Emma’s Corner: The Darkness Series, Book Two
Promises Kept
Rod of Correction
The Obedient Wife
Old enough to Know Better
To Trust Her Heart
Naughty Girls: Brynn and Kim
Taken By Force
Against Her Will
Dangerous Love
After Hours: A Medical BDSM fantasy
Droit de Seigneur
Skye’s Submission
The Sister and the Sinner
Dutch and the Cowboy
Under the Lash
The Rogue and the Rose
Submissive Bride
A Good Man
The Unrequited Dom
Griff’s Christmas Angel
Three’s Company
Generation Stables
All Hallow’s Eve
The MacNaughton Bride
Vlad’s Story
Two True Loves
Tria
The Reluctant Bride
Tears of a Vampire
Soulmates
Sheik’s Desire
Reject Ranch
Nola
More Than a Man
Man of Her Dreams
Love Will Find a Way
Jake Ryan’s Woman
His
Her Guardian Don
Fools Rush In
Everything Gained
Embraced
Depths of Desire
Body and Soul
Blood From a Stone
Angel of Sudden Hill
All of Her
A Piece of Heaven
Attentions Throbbing
Talus: A Demon’s Story
Sold!
The Centurion
Little Miss
Submissive Desires
Kept
A Hard Man is Good to Find
The Spoils of War
Gilded Cage
Second Chances
Prima
Patriot Bride
’Til Death Do Us Part
The Boss of Her
Forever and Always
Tribute
Caged
The Substitute Wife
Captured by Time (w/ Alta Hensley)
A New Forever (w/ Alta Hensley)
Boxed Sets:
Remembering the Holidays, Two Book Set
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