Cain found her coat and plucked it from the damp ground. He shook it hard and then held it for her as she slipped into it. She was grateful for its warmth as her body was now racked with shivers, equal parts cold and nerves.
Cain cursed in the darkness as he buttoned her coat and tucked her under his arm. “I’m sorry you’re cold.” He rubbed his hands briskly over her arms and back until the shivers gradually subsided. Tucked in his arms, she could feel the heat returning to her body. Leaning down, he kissed the top of her head before releasing her.
Her eyes were glued to the leather leash as she watched him roll it up and return it to his pocket. She shivered, and this time it wasn’t with the cold. What could he have done with her?
Neither of them spoke as he guided her back onto the path. The warmth of his hand at her back seemed to burn through the layers of her coat and shirt. Cain gave a sharp whistle and Gabriel came running from the other end of the park, rope toy dangling from his mouth.
Katie was well aware that Cain was still fiercely aroused as he walked her towards home. The rather large bulge in the front of his jeans was a dead giveaway, and the arm wrapped around her shoulder was as solid and hard as a piece of steel. His jaw was clenched tight, and his stride was stiff.
Now that the moment was over, she was appalled at her own recklessness. She was no tease, but neither was she ready to sleep with Cain. She’d already given him more of herself than she had to any other man, and that included Kent.
“Cain, I don’t do things like that,” she began, only to stop when he gave a hoarse laugh.
“I didn’t think you did.” His voice was edgy and tight.
She stared at him in the darkness, unable to make out his mood. “I didn’t mean to be a tease…” she trailed off uncertainly.
Cain was instantly alert beside her. He stopped and turned so his right side faced her. “You’re not a tease. You gave me a gift this evening.” He paused to gather his thoughts. “I want more. I want to spend time with you. I want you in my life. In my bed.”
His raw statements were almost as frightening as they were arousing. She’d never been the focus of this much male attention before in her life. “Who are you?” Her life was spinning out of control and she didn’t like the feeling.
“I’m just a man. Nothing more.”
Katie glanced away, seeking relief from the intensity of Cain’s gaze. Relief washed over her as she noted her familiar surroundings. She’d been so wrapped up in her inner turmoil that she’d paid absolutely no attention to where they were walking. Subconsciously, she had trusted Cain to take her home. Still, her pace quickened as they rounded the corner and her building came into view. Cain said nothing, but adjusted his pace to hers.
She wanted to be home where she felt safe. This stranger had knocked down all her defenses, and she felt vulnerable. He had touched her artistic soul when he bought her painting, and he had touched her physically and emotionally with his lovemaking. She knew nothing about him. Nothing at all.
Katie ducked from under Cain’s arm, raced across the street, and up the lighted steps of her apartment building. She needed to get away from him. To get her equilibrium back. Her thoughts were scattered and her emotions were raw. She could feel him watching her desperate escape from the shadows.
“Good night,” she called, pulling her keys from her pocket as she mounted the stairs.
“Katie, don’t be afraid.” His voice carried clearly on the night air. She didn’t want to look. Told herself she wouldn’t look. But when he called her name again, she was unable to resist the lure of his voice. “Just spend some time with me. We’ll wait until you’re sure, because there’s no going back.” She could feel the heat of his stare even from this distance.
Katie didn’t even try to formulate an answer. Jamming her key into the lock, she turned it and charged through the door, slamming it shut behind her. She fled up the stairs, not stopping until she gained the safety of her apartment. He’d made no move to follow her, but still she felt compelled to run. Her breathing was ragged, and tears stung her eyes.
Whether she was running from him or from herself, she wasn’t quite sure. All she knew was that her life had changed. She was not the same woman who left this apartment this morning. Cain had tapped into a wanton side of her that she hadn’t known existed. The lure of sexual pleasure was great, and for the first time in her life she wasn’t sure she could resist its call.
Chapter Five
Katie scrubbed the bathroom with a vengeance. The white porcelain of the bathtub gleamed and the chrome taps sparkled in the morning sun. She’d tossed and turned all night long, unable to get Cain out of her mind. The sun was just rising when she dragged herself out of bed, determined to put him out of her mind and get some work done. It was now just before noon and the small apartment had been swept, scrubbed, and dusted from top to bottom.
Katie sat back on her heels and surveyed the bathroom. She peeled off her rubber gloves and swiped her hand over the sweat on her forehead. Images from the night before flashed through her mind. She still found it hard to reconcile the woman from the night before with the woman she normally was. She’d been reckless and somewhat stupid in venturing off with an unknown man. And what she had done with him! Just thinking about it made her feel hot and tight all over, as if her skin no longer fit her properly.
Rising from the floor, she picked up her bucket of dirty water and dumped it down the toilet. Giving the handle a quick downward push, she watched as the dirty water swirled around for a few seconds and then disappeared, leaving cleaner, fresher water in its place. She wished her own thoughts could be discarded as easily. Sighing deeply, she picked up her rubber gloves and sponge and dragged it all to the kitchen closet where she stored her cleaning supplies. The fresh smell of lemon cleaner and the bright glow of winter sunlight filled the air. Her apartment was clean and tidy, but she was a mess.
Katie stared out her small living room window. For once, she was not noticing the sights and sounds of the neighborhood that usually enchanted her. Street vendors enticing people to their carts with the savory smell of food, children playing on the sidewalk, the colorful display of the newsstand on the corner, and the varied groups of people rushing down the street. This was usually a source of unending inspiration for her painting. She was only vaguely aware of it, as a sort of hazy vision off in the distance, but she couldn’t seem to focus her attention on any of it today.
More often than not, she found the mundane housekeeping tasks almost restful. There was something soothing about the repetitive chores of sweeping and cleaning that allowed her mind to drift into a state of almost artistic meditation. Unfortunately, this morning it hadn’t worked.
Katie felt restless. She was startled to realize that she was waiting, but wasn’t sure what for. Cain had left her uncertain last night. Would he contact her? She didn’t know how to reach him even if she wanted to. The real question was did she want him to? Closing her eyes, she tilted her head back and allowed the fatigue to wash over her. She didn’t know what she wanted, but she had an unsettled feeling in the pit of her stomach that she had to find out where this thing with Cain was leading. If she didn’t explore it, she’d regret it for the rest of her life.
She rolled her head from side to side to loosen the tension in her neck. One thing was for sure, she was finished moping. It was a beautiful winter day, crisp and clear, and she had things to do. First, she would take a shower and then she’d take herself to lunch at Gino’s Italian Deli before she went grocery shopping. Thoughts of spicy Italian food started her mouth watering and her stomach growling.