Page 55 of Saving Stella

He didn’t want to just have sex with her, to use her body for his pleasure, knowing there couldn’t be more than that between them.

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t.” Oh Lord, she felt even worse when he said that.

“I’ll ask the office if they can send someone else to watch over you.”

Biting her lip, she could only nod. “I should head inside.”

She didn’t bother to wait for him to protest—not that he did—and got out of the truck. Her heart and footsteps were like lead as she trudged up the path to her front door. She didn’t even notice the heavy rain until she entered her house and started dripping on the carpet. With a deep sigh, she made a beeline for her bathroom and stripped off her clothes, then stepped into the shower.

The hot spray of water felt good on her chilled skin—but nothing like the pleasure she felt from that orgasm Cliff had given her. Even now, her pussy throbbed at the memory, wanting more.

But he was right. There couldn’t be anything between them. She couldn’t force him to move here, and she didn’t know if she could move away and leave her entire life behind for a man.

Grabbing her soap, she scrubbed herself down, trying to remove the traces of his scent. Of course, the soap couldn’t wash away the fingerprint-shaped bruises on her arm where he’d held her. Oddly, it didn’t scare her. But it did serve as a reminder for what had happened. And that she wanted more …

Lord, what a mess.

Cliff wanted her, and she wanted him, but they couldn’t act on what they felt.

Think, Stella.

At least one of them was acting like a mature adult. In a way, she was touched by Cliff’s sentiment about not wanting to sleep with her if nothing could come of it. That he thought so highly of her showed what a good man he was.

On the other hand, her damned hormones just wanted him to use her body. To pick her up, put her over his shoulder, and then take her away to his cave and ravish her. It was almost better if they were total strangers and had a one-night stand. She would never have to see him again afterward.

She stayed under the hot spray for a few more minutes, then finished her shower. After toweling herself dry, she put on her pajamas and plopped onto her bed face-first and groaned.

Hopefully, they would send someone else to replace Cliff, and she wouldn’t have to see him again, except for important family events involving her future niece or nephew. Even the thought of seeing him again after what they had shared had her cringing in embarrassment.

Somehow, she had to get through this. Forget about what happened in the truck and the way his magic fingers made her explode like a rocket. How his scent?—

With a groan, she rolled over onto her back and covered her face with a pillow.

Chapter 10

Cliff knew that it would be wrong to kiss Stella.

But he did it anyway.

And now, he regretted it. Because after a taste of her lips and feeling that sweet, tight pussy of hers gripping his fingers, he would now have the memory engraved into his mind.

No other woman would come close to the few short moments he’d had with her.

Fuck.

He banged his head on the steering wheel for what seemed like the hundredth time after she left.

Stupid idiot.

He’d been so consumed with jealousy over that fucking pretty boy gym teacher, he couldn’t see straight. He could barely control himself, watching them together today. When she said she was going to sleep with that fucker, he had lost his Goddamned mind.

His wolf, on the other hand, howled with delight for some reason. It had been riding him hard, driving him crazy, telling him to go after her and also tear apart the rival that dared to sniff around Stella.

If he was smart, he wouldn’t have let his wolf—and cock—do the thinking. And he didn’t even have anything to show for it, except the scent and feel of her being permanently stored in his brain.

Devon would kill him if he knew what he had done. That was all the more reason to stay away from her. Besides, he meant every word he said to her tonight. He respected her too much. He couldn’t offer her anything more than sex, because once he was done with this job, he was outta here.