All She Ever Wanted - Barbara Freethy [88]
"Don't talk to me about Emily," he said harshly. "You could never be as good as her."
"I never wanted to be," she replied. "But you didn't treat Emily like this. She wasn't a real woman to you. She was a saint. That's why you've set up a shrine to her in your closet. You never had her beneath you like this."
"Shut up."
"Did she love you?" Madison asked, unable to stop herself from talking, even though her brain was telling her to be quiet.
Dylan didn't say anything for a long moment; then he got up and ran a hand through his hair. "Get the hell out of here, Madison."
She sat up slowly. "You loved her, but she didn't love you, did she?"
"Do you have a death wish or something?"
"That's not an answer."
Dylan strode from the apartment. It took Madison a moment to realize he'd actually left in the middle of their conversation, if that's what you could call it. She got up and ran to the door and down the stairs to the street. Dylan was getting on a motorcycle.
"Wait," she shouted. "You have to talk to me about her."
He shook his head and put on his helmet.
"Dylan, you need to talk to someone, and who else are you going to talk to? You can't go to Cole. You probably can't even go to your own brother."
He hesitated, then reached over and pulled out a second helmet from a storage compartment. "Get on."
"On this? I was thinking we could go into your club and get a drink." She paused, realizing she had only one choice. "Okay, I'm getting on. Give me the helmet."
She put it on and swung her leg over the bike. She'd done a lot of reckless things in her life, but this was probably the worst. Wrapping her arms around Dylan's waist, she held on for dear life as the engine roared, and they sped down the street.
* * *
Cole caught up to Natalie at the farthest end of the beach where a rocky cliff had cut off any hope of escape. The sky was a deep, dark purple now, the sun having passed over the horizon, the moon coming up slowly behind them. The waves crashed on the rocks beside her with a foamy white fury that matched her churning emotions. It was the only sound on earth. There were no homes nearby, no city noise, just the ocean and her pounding heart.
Natalie glanced back the way she had come, realizing they were now the only two people left on the beach. There was no one to save her from Cole or from herself, and at the moment she was in the most danger from her own damned heart. Why couldn't she let go of him?
"Natalie." He came up behind her, his deep, husky voice sending another shiver down her spine.
She wanted to hear him say her name again—in passion, while he slid into her body, while he made her feel whole again. She bit down on her lip to stop herself from inviting him to do just that.
"Why did you run?" he asked.
"I wanted to be the one to leave first this time. You weren't supposed to come after me."
"Yes, I was." His hands moved to her waist, as he turned her to face him. She could barely see him in the dark shadows. Maybe it was better that way. "You never gave me a chance to answer your question," he said.
"I gave you a chance. your silence told me the truth."
"The truth is I don't know what I want from you. I just know that I can't let you go."
"Not yet maybe, but you will." She felt that conviction deep in her aching heart. "I'd be a fool to think otherwise. And I do not want to be a fool around you again."
"Don't put words in my mouth, Natalie. I can speak for myself."
"This is pointless. We're going around in circles. Let me go."
"I told you—I can't." And he hauled her up against his chest, crushing her mouth beneath his.
She wanted to fight him, to fight herself, but she was overwhelmed by the pleasure of his tongue sweeping through her mouth, his hands sliding up her sides to cup her breasts. This was what she wanted, what she needed. She wrapped her arms around his neck and gave herself up to the kiss. They didn't have a past or a future anymore, just this moment, this one perfect moment.
"Natalie," he groaned against her mouth. "I want to make love to you. Let me take you home."