“I’m sorry I hurt you, Katie,” he began abruptly.

“I know.” She added nothing more, but waited.

Cain shook his head. “I didn’t think you’d make it easy.” His mouth quirked up in a half-grin as he teased her.

“Why should I?”

Cain sobered immediately. “You shouldn’t.” Getting up from the table, Cain began to pace, hands clasped behind his back, as if to keep himself from reaching out and pulling her into his arms.

Katie turned in her seat so she could watch him. He moved like a large jungle cat on the prowl, all sinewy muscle and grace. Darkness emanated from him that, she’d now come to understand, was simply part of his personality. He was like some dark, pagan god come to earth. He would never be an easy man to love, but if he would open himself up to her, she knew his love would be steadfast and forever.

Emotion rolled off him and again the sheer force of his presence struck her. He had no idea just how charismatic and powerful a man he was. Her eyes softened as she watched him gather his thoughts. As if feeling her stare, he stopped pacing and pinned her with his glare.

“I know I can be a hard man to live with.”

Laughter fell from Katie’s lips. Cain looked so disgruntled at her action that she laughed even harder. He scowled at her for a moment before smiling self-consciously. A moment later, he chuckled. “I guess you already know that.”

“I guess I do.” Katie managed to contain her laughter, but she couldn’t hide her smile. He was trying so hard to explain himself and that had to mean he cared about her. Even as Katie’s brain urged her to caution, hope was growing in her heart.

Cain stalked back to the table and went down on one knee in front of her. He cupped her face in his hands and slowly bent his face to hers, brushing his lips softly against hers. Drawing back, he released her face and took both her hands in his.

“I may not know what love is, but I need you like I need air to breathe. You are the light in the darkness of my life and when I drove you away I was in the dark by myself again. I didn’t like it. I want to talk to you, hear your laughter, and have you tease me, yell at me, and challenge me. I’ve never met anyone as genuine and real as you are. Everything about you fascinates me. I need you, Katie. Don’t let me go back into the darkness.”

Cain sat there at her feet, waiting for her to decide his fate. Never, she thought, had a man loved a woman as much as he loved her. For some reason he didn’t know that what he was feeling was love. But she knew and that was enough for her. She took a deep breath to reply and could feel the salt on her lips from the tears that slipped from her eyes. This man in front of her, making himself vulnerable to her, was her man, for better or for worse.

Mistaking her silence for rejection, Cain desperately tried again. “I’ll give you the building as a present. Just stay.”

Katie tugged her hand away from him and placed it over his mouth stopping him from saying more. She didn’t want him humbled and she didn’t want him to think he had to buy her love.

“No, Cain.”

“Please, Katie,” he pleaded.

“I don’t want your building or your money.” She hurried on before he could speak. “All I want is you.” He sat back with a stunned look on his face. Leaning forward, she placed a soft kiss on his ravaged cheek.

He shuddered and buried his face in her lap. His arms banded around her waist, holding her tight. Katie ran her fingers through his hair, silently trying to comfort him. Cain suddenly pulled her from her chair and into his lap. His embrace was so tight that she could barely breathe. Rather than pull away, she wrapped her arms around him and held him close. She could sense the desperation in his actions.

“I knew you’d give me another chance when I saw the paintings,” Cain muttered as he began to cover her face in frantic kisses. “I’ll make you happy. I promise you.”

Katie cupped his face in her hands, forcing him to look at her. “You’ll make me happy and sad. Just as I’ll do the same to you.” He stilled, all his attention focused on her, as he listened to her. “Cain, I don’t want you to promise me the impossible. That’s too much pressure for any relationship. It’s not your responsibility to make me happy. All you have to do is be yourself and share your life with me.”

“That’s all.” She could feel the muscles in his shoulders relaxing, his whole body practically sighing in relief.

“Yes.” She kissed him playfully on the nose. “That’s all.”

Reaching up, he brushed at the tears on her face. “I’m not really crying,” she reassured him.

“I know, honey.” He continued to run his thumbs over her cheeks and suddenly a smile lit his face. “But I’d have given you anything. You should have at least asked for a car or a house.”

“I already have everything I want,” Katie assured him. She wanted him to understand that her love was unconditional and did not depend on gifts given or offered.

“I don’t know what I did to deserve you, but I’ve got you now and I’m keeping you.” Cain shifted her so that one arm was under her knees and the other around her shoulders. In an amazing feat of strength, he rose from the floor with her clutched tight in his arms. For a moment, he just stood there in the peace and quiet of the garden, giving her plenty of time to object to his actions.

Katie snuggled into his embrace and wrapped her arms around his neck. Every muscle in Cain’s body tensed, and then he swore and spun around. Quickly, he strode from the garden and towards his bedroom, with her clasped safely in his arms. Using his booted heel, he kicked the door shut and moved towards the bed.

He hesitated for a moment before lowering her legs to the floor. When she was steady, he stepped away and turned on a light. It was low, but she could see him perfectly. Eagerly, she stepped towards him.

“Love me, Cain.” Her soft plea moved him to action.

Taking his time, he pulled her cotton top over her head and dropped it to the floor. Reaching behind her, he unhooked her bra and slid the straps down her arms. The bra landed on the floor next to her top. His breathing was labored but he made no move to touch her. Instead, he moved on to her jeans. The button was opened and the zipper tugged down and a second later he tugged both her jeans and underwear down to her knees.

Guiding her, he sat her on the side of the bed. One at a time, he pulled off her boots. Leaning forward, he rained kisses down her thighs and calves as he removed her jeans and panties. His breath was hot and moist on her already heated skin and she could feel her whole body clench in response. He noticed her reaction and nuzzled the pubic hair between her legs before sitting back on his haunches to look his fill.

“You are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.” His voice was filled with an honest appreciation for her that made her blush from head to toe. Katie squirmed on the bed, and Cain, sensing her discomfort, pulled back the sheets and urged her under the covers.

Katie got comfortable and settled herself against the softness of the pillows. A quiet contentment filled her as she waited for Cain to join her.

Chapter Fourteen

Cain wanted to pinch himself to make sure he wasn’t dreaming. But then, no dream could capture the sheer beauty of Katie as she watched him from the bed. She looked absolutely delectable tucked cozily under the covers. From the moment she’d entered the rooftop garden, he’d been as hard as a rock. Katie turned him on faster than any other woman ever had. Her every look, every smile, was an erotic promise. Hell, the woman only had to breathe and he wanted her.

Bending over, he tugged off his boots and socks. Straightening, he began the slow torturous process of unbuttoning his shirt. He wanted to share himself with her, but a part of him still wanted to hide the ugliness of his scars.

“It’s all right, you know.” Katie’s voice was a soft invitation from the bed. “I’ve already seen your scars. What you don’t seem to understand is that I’m hot for your body.” Her hot gaze scorched his already inflamed skin.

A sudden bark of laughter escaped him and he realized just how foolish he was being. Grabbing his shirt, he tugged it over his head and dropped it to the floor. He shucked his jeans and underwear and stood there totally naked and exposed in the soft light.

“Come to bed.” The erotic purr was more than he could withstand and he crawled into bed next to her.

Cain really looked into Katie’s eyes. She truly wanted him. There was no way she could fake the hungry look in her eyes and the quickening of her breath. Cain took a deep breath. He could smell Katie’s arousal, the alluring scent of her skin and the slight sweet smell of vanilla, and he hadn’t even touched her yet. That was the reassurance he needed.

Propping himself on one arm, he leaned over her. “You really want me, don’t you?” He could hear the surprise in his own voice.

Rather than answer him with words, Katie reached up and wrapped her hand around the back of his neck and tugged him down so she could kiss him. Cain eased down slowly and allowed her to kiss him at her leisure. For once there was no hurry, no dawn deadline. There was all the time in the world to explore.

Katie’s lips met his in a soft seeking of pleasure that soon was not enough for either of them. Her tongue moved boldly into his mouth and he answered in kind, sucking on her tongue, licking at her lips. He drank in her sweetness and then went back for more. Her taste, her texture was like drinking the finest wine and eating the richest food. The sensation was incredible. He could feel his testicles tighten at the sheer pleasure of kissing her.