Stella opened for him, threading her fingers through his hair, and taking everything he gave. Part of her knew this was wrong, but the devil on her shoulder thought it was a great idea. There was nothing wrong with taking charge and allowing pleasure. There was nothing wrong with going into this moment with her eyes wide-open and her heart shut tight.
When Dane gripped her waist and lifted her, Stella’s thoughts vanished. All she knew was passion as she wrapped her legs around his waist and sank onto him. Clutching his shoulders, she closed her eyes and pressed her back against the solid door frame. Dane’s lips trailed over the column of her neck, over her sensitive breasts. He palmed her backside as he pumped his hips and Stella just let the euphoric sensations wash over her.
Dane muttered something as he traveled back up to the erogenous area just below her ear.
That was all it took for her body to respond and spiral out of control. All of her emotions balled up together and she gave herself over to the climax. This was why she’d decided to surprise him. She’d needed to be with him, needed to feel him.
Stella’s entire body shook and all thoughts vanished. She kept her eyes shut, needing to keep her emotions locked inside and not look too closely at him. She just wanted to feel.
Dane murmured something in her ear, she only made out the word “need” but she ignored it as he jerked his hips harder. His body tightened, his fingertips dug into her backside, and Stella dropped her head to his shoulder as he took his own pleasure.
His heated body stuck to hers, and Stella didn’t want to lift her head. She didn’t want to face reality.
But she knew this was it. She and Dane were done...if they’d ever really started. They’d had a fling, that was all. Though she’d thought there was more, there couldn’t be. He’d deceived her, slept with her under false pretenses and then left without a word. At any time he could’ve given her the truth, but he’d chosen to keep his true self hidden away.
The same way she’d have to hide away the fact she’d fallen in love with the man she thought he was.
Pulling together all of her strength and resolve, Stella extracted herself from the warmth and strength she’d only experienced from Dane. She hated him for making her hate him. That sounded so messed up in her own thoughts, but he’d damaged something inside her. Something she didn’t know if she’d recover from.
He didn’t say a word as he stepped from the room. Stella dressed in a hurry, not caring if her buttons were straight or her hair was in knots. She had to go. Staying here, waiting on him to state another defense, would only make her thoughts, her heart, even more muddled.
Just as she zipped up her boot and came to her feet, Dane stepped back into the room.
“You want to talk about this?” he asked.
“Nothing to discuss.” Did that even sound convincing? “You used me, I used you.”
“Is that what this was?” he asked, crossing his arms over his chest and leaning against the very spot he’d just taken her. “You wanted to retaliate? Doesn’t seem like you.”
Stella swallowed and tipped her chin. “Seems we didn’t know each other as well as we thought.”
She crossed to the doorway, easily moving past him in the large opening.
“Where are you going?”
Tossing a look over her shoulder, she replied, “The storm has passed.”
“What about us?”
Gripping the doorknob, Stella turned away and whispered, “That’s passed, too.”
Eighteen
Mirage wasn’t near as inviting as it had been.
For the past month, he’d been back and forth between the resort and the ranch. More at the resort, though, since he needed to acclimate the staff to his management style and get up-to-date with the various systems.
Ethan had told Dane to hold off on coming because something had held Robert up and it looked like he wasn’t going to be coming for a bit. Dane certainly had things he could be doing here to bide his time.
His first order had been to fire the asshole who’d disrespected Stella. Apparently he’d also been the spy, hence the cockiness since he worked directly with Ruiz.
Dane’s second order had been to get his attorney and accountant on-site to see what the hell he could do to get Stella back here—where she belonged.
That had been over three weeks ago and he’d still not heard a word from her. He’d known full well she’d received the employment offer and he didn’t know what was taking her so damn long to respond. Though her silence was nothing less than he deserved.
Damn it. Nobody just flat-out ignored him. Never. Not even when he had it coming. He might be a recluse, he might shy away from getting too involved with crowds of people, but that didn’t mean he was soft or ready to just give up.
Dane knew he had to give Stella time. Her entire world had been shattered and he’d precipitated it all. Now he was trying to piece all those shards back together and without seeing her, he had no idea if his tactics were even working.