He grinned. “Are you jealous?”
Lexie huffed. “I know I don’t have the right—”
“Shush,” he said, interrupting her with a kiss. “You have every right.”
He felt her smile.
“And you have no reason to get jealous,” he murmured against her lips. “It’s you I want. Badly. It’s not too soon, is it?”
Lexie pushed at his chest. “I think you should get up.”
He stifled a groan but did as she asked. He understood. While they’d flirted a lot in the past, it was only tonight that he’d been open about his feelings. He didn’t mind waiting until Lexie was ready—
“Let’s go to the bedroom,” she said with a sultry smile.
His heart skipped. He pulled her to him and kissed her with hunger as he tugged at the hem of her top to lift it off her. He’d wanted her for so long. Denied himself—and her—for so long. Not anymore. He had no willpower left for that.
They continued to kiss, their mouths refusing to part as they stripped away each other’s clothing. Soon, only their underpants remained.
With a swift move, he lifted her in his arms. “Which one’s your bedroom?”
Lexie giggled and pointed the way. “My feet aren’t distressed today.”
“No?” He kicked her door open then went to her bed and dropped her there. Then he lay on top of her.
He stared into her eyes as he caressed her face, not quite believing he was here with her, almost naked.
“You’re so damned beautiful,” he whispered. “I want to kiss you all over.” He cupped her breasts before thumbing her already hard nipple.
Lexie gasped, her eyes hooding.
“I want to know what you like,” he murmured.
“I like that,” she said breathlessly.
He grinned, and leaned down to kiss her lips as he continued to gently tweak her peaks.
A thrill ran through him when Lexie raked his hair and arched her back.
He kissed her neck, then leaned further down to take a nipple in his mouth.
“Mmph,” Lexie panted softly, her hands getting more restless on his body and heating him up further.
Unable to wait, he ran his free hand up her thigh, lightly caressing, until he reached her panties. He touched her crotch, groaning as he felt its dampness. “Baby, you’re already wet for me.”
“Yes,” she said, reaching between his legs to cup his groin. “And you’re already hard for me.”
He hissed, as heated blood raced in his veins, making him suck and lave her rosy bud more enthusiastically. He stuck his hand in her undies and wet the tips of his fingers with her juices. Then he rubbed her nub.
Lexie moaned lustily, clutching him tighter.
Ahh, this was how he’d dreamed of her. Hot and horny for him. But he wanted to do more.
He hooked her panties and pulled them down, Lexie helping by lifting her pelvis. Then he parted her legs and positioned himself in between.
He kissed his way up her inner thigh until he reached the apex. He moaned, getting harder at the sight of Lexie wide open to him.
“Do you like this, sweetheart?” he asked, poking his tongue out and licking her sensitised nub.
“Yes,” Lexie gasped. “Oh, Rick...”
Tenderness overcame him as she called his name. Using his mouth, he set out to give her as much pleasure as he could.
Soon, Lexie was restless, moaning louder.
“Rick.”
“Hmm?” he asked while he lightly sucked on her clit.
“So good, honey,” she gasped. “I’m so close.”
He groaned. His Lexie was going to come. He was going to make her come for the first time. He inserted a finger inside her, wanting to heighten her pleasure.
“Ahh!” Lexie cried, her hips undulating as she sought more pressure from his mouth.
He gave her what she wordlessly asked for, adding another digit in her wetness and stroking her inner walls while his tongue flicked tirelessly.
Lexie’s legs started to tense, followed by her whole body. He moaned with her as she cried out her release.
God, that was so hot. And so... sublime.
He chuckled at his choice of words, his heart expanded as he climbed back on top of her.
“Wow,” Lexie said.
He grinned. Happy that he’d pleased her.
“Time to get rid of these,” Lexie said, as she pushed down his boxer shorts.
He eagerly took them off, then an important thought hit to him. “Do you have a condom, baby? Please say yes.”
“Oh. I’m not sure. I may have some old ones. Let me check.”
He watched as Lexie went to her bedside drawer, fiddling with the contents. His body sagged as she closed it, empty-handed.
“Uh, there might be some in the bathroom,” she said, sounding uncertain.
He groaned silently as Lexie went to look. He flopped onto his back and closed his eyes, cursing himself for coming here without protection. He just didn’t expect this incredible surprise.
He used to be prepared even when the chances of getting laid were slim. But ever since he’d realised he was attracted to Lexie, fantasising about her at nights had been more satisfying than engaging in casual sex with someone else, so he hadn’t been carrying protection around with him.
Now, here he was, lying on Lexie’s bed with a raging hard-on. And Lexie was somewhere else, naked, and looking for a damned condom.
Argh.
CHAPTER SIX
“There you are,” Lexie murmured, finding a box of condoms that Erin had put in the bathroom drawer. She felt a pang of sympathy for her friend, knowing that Erin had wanted to chuck everything that had reminded her of her ex after they’d broken up. She was glad though that Erin hadn’t seen fit to throw unused protection away.
She trotted back to her bedroom and found Rick lying on the bed with his arm across his eyes. If it weren’t for his erection and a heavy sigh, she’d think he’d fallen asleep.
Quietly, she approached the bed and dropped the condom beside him. Then she straddled his legs.
Rick jerked. “Did you find one?” he asked hopefully.
“No,” she said, putting on an apologetic face. Hey, he’d teased her enough in the past with his friends-only act. It was her turn to make him suffer for a while.
“Oh,” he said, clearly disappointed.
“Anyway, we don’t have to stop yet,” she said silkily, grasping his hard-on and caressing it with soft fingers. It grew bigger in her hand.
“Lexie...” he whispered, his jaw slackening.
She gave him a sultry smile and started tugging, cupping his balls with her other hand.
“Lexie...” he repeated, more breathless.
Hmm. Even she couldn’t wait. She rearranged herself and bent down, taking his manhood in her mouth.
“Fuck... Lexie.” His hips started to buck gently.
Mmm. Good to know he wasn’t the only one who could make the other go crazy around here. She pleasured him with her hands and mouth for a while, knowing exactly how far she wanted to take him.
“Babe,” Rick groaned, his legs starting to tense.
She gave him a few more sucks, tugging the base with her hand before stopping abruptly and getting off him.
“Where are you going?” he asked with a trace of panic, his eyes dark with need.
“Well...” she said, patting the bed to find the condom she’d dropped earlier. “Here it is!” She held it up triumphantly, grinning.
Rick narrowed his eyes. “You tease,” he said.
She giggled, giving him a caressing stroke.
In one swift move, he had her on her back and he was on top of her. “And there I was, sorely disappointed that we didn’t have one.”
“And there I was thinking you were enjoying yourself with my BJ,” she said with a mock pout.
Rick groaned from remembered delight. “That was fantastic, sweetheart. I want more of it. But Erin will be home soon so I t
hink we need to use this now.” He took the condom from her hands, ripped the packet and put it on. Then he leaned back down to kiss her lips.
She sighed with bliss, curving her arms around his neck. She was ready for him again. Not surprising, she supposed. Rick had always had the power to arouse her with just his proximity.
She gasped as she felt his hand between her legs. He fondled her, his fingers working to drive her arousal back to fever pitch as they kissed passionately. Soon, she needed more.
As if reading her mind, Rick positioned himself on top of her and nudged her legs further apart. He stroked her clit with his erection, teasing her further, before pushing into her.
“Oh, God,” she gasped, feeling him stretch her deliciously.
“Lex,” he breathed, looking into her eyes as he pulled out a little, then drove in again, going deeper and deeper as he moved inside her.
She let herself be swept away by the sensations. Not that she had a choice. With each thrust Rick was taking her closer to the edge, and she was getting delirious with pleasure.
She clutched his butt, bending her legs further, urging him faster still and deeper still.
“Lexie... fuck... you drive me crazy,” Rick grunted, bracing himself to push into her more powerfully.
She couldn’t do anything else but pant and moan, lost in the ecstasy of making love with Rick. She held him tighter with her arms and legs, kissing his neck as they neared climax.
Oh, she so wanted to prolong this, but Rick was hitting that sweet spot inside of her and—
“Ahh!” Her whole body shook with the force of her orgasm, her body contracting hard around his thrusting hardness. To her delight Rick joined her, crying out her name as he erupted inside her.
When she came down from the clouds, she found the strength to stroke his head and back.
“Honey, that was awesome,” Rick mumbled.
“Uh-huh,” she said with a languid smile, wholeheartedly agreeing.
“If we keep quiet, maybe I can stay here tonight and Erin won’t have to know.”
Her heart danced. “Okay.”
Rick sighed deeply, pulling out of her and getting up. “Except that you have a shared bathroom that’s out in the hallway. I’ll be back.”
She watched as he walked out of her bedroom, preparing to take off the condom. “Rick, wait!”
He looked at her.
“You can’t throw it in the bathroom bin. Erin might see.”
He rolled his eyes. “Of course. Duh, me!”
“Put it in that small bin over there. I’m the only one who empties that.”
Rick got himself organised and went back to bed with her. “I think it was a bad idea for me to suggest staying over tonight,” he said, drawing her in his arms.
She sighed. “I think you’re right. Can’t we tell Erin, at least?”
Rick kissed her forehead. “It’s not that I don’t trust our friends. I know they won’t say a word to anyone else. But when someone knows something, their actions and reactions are not the same as not knowing. You know what I mean?”
“Yes,” she answered, understanding why he was concerned. If she were in Rick’s shoes, she’d also be as careful as he was being. She knew how much Rick loved Shelley and what a bitch Betty was.
She’d just have to be patient. Not being able to do simple things such as hold hands in public or even tell their best friends about them was going to feel very restrictive. But she wouldn’t be able to live with herself if she were to be the cause of Rick losing to Betty.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Rick stared blankly at his computer screen, waiting for his visitor to arrive. He had no idea how Betty would react to him today. He was sure she’d been shocked by his invitation.
He hoped to soften her up for a new deal that he’d been thinking about for days. Considering the state of their current relationship, it would take weeks, if not months, for Betty to agree to anything he’d propose. Today was the first small step towards his goal of making her see sense and accept something fairer.
His phone rang. It was his PA announcing the arrival of Shelley’s mother. He walked to the window while he waited for Betty, bracing himself for some aggravating few minutes ahead.
“Hello, Rick,” came Betty’s voice from the threshold.
He turned around and smiled at his stepmother. As usual, she looked immaculately groomed. Even at forty-five, she could still pass for a woman in her late thirties. Maintaining her appearance was something Betty put a high value on.
“Hello, Betty. How are you?” he asked.
“I’m well, thank you. And you?”
“Fine, thanks. Please have a seat,” he said, indicating to the sofa near the window.
“Thank you,” Betty murmured, gazing at him warily.
He sat opposite her and smiled. “I’m sure you’re wondering why I invited you to talk about the current state of Shelley’s accounts.”
“You and I know you’re up to something, Rick. Or I wouldn’t be sitting here,” she said with a laugh.
He chuckled dryly. “Yes. I am up to something. The thing is, Betty, I want you to see how Shelley’s investments are performing. Shelley agrees with me that it’s important for you to understand why I’ve chosen to fight with you over this. And to be clear, this is not about the past, or who was right and who was wrong. It’s about accepting that we’ve both made mistakes in how we’ve handled our differences, and for us to acknowledge that the way Shelley’s assets are being handled right now is the best for her.”
Betty gave him a ghost of a smile. “Okay,” she said softly.
He lifted an eyebrow, then quickly got up to get some documents from his desk. He wasn’t expecting her to be so... pliant about this. At the very least, he’d anticipated some caustic remarks.
In the next fifteen minutes, he went through Shelley’s accounts and investment returns with Betty. She listened quietly, although it was evident from her expression that she was quite impressed. When he finished, he placed the papers on the coffee table and asked if she had any questions.
“You and your investment advisors are doing a wonderful job for Shelley, Rick. Thank you,” Betty said, smiling at him brightly. “I have to say I’m glad that you’ve taken over being trustee of her assets.”
“Why, thank you, Betty. I appreciate that.”
Wow. This meeting was going much better than he’d thought. But surely Betty couldn’t have suddenly turned amenable?
“Thank you, too, Rick. I’m glad you’ve decided to share this with me. It makes me relieved to know that Shelley’s assets are safe and well looked after. Um, if that’s all, I better go. I’m meeting a friend for lunch.”
“Sure,” he said, taken aback that she hadn’t argued with him about anything he’d said. But he wasn’t biting. He’d stick to the plan. Today was not the time to bring up anything about a new deal. He had to work up to that. Betty might seem open and friendly today, but for all he knew, she was just acting. She was a master manipulator, after all.
“Thank you for coming, Betty,” he said. “Perhaps we should make this a regular meeting. Shelley would love it.”
“Good idea. Just give me a call.”
“One last thing,” he said before she exited his office. “Shelley mentioned before that you’ve suggested she put in more towards the cost of living and house upkeep. As you know, I’m directly responsible for paying real-estate-related bills. Did you mean anything else by that?”
Betty’s eyes widened a tad before she shook her head. “Sometimes Shelley invites some of her friends to come over for dinner and they do a lot of cooking in the house. Sometimes my grocery bills go over budget because of that. That’s all. Shelley understands and is more mindful these days.”
He nodded. He’d let that pass for now. Betty’s change in demeanour was bugging him.
“By the way, Rick, Todd, my new partner, and I are going to Tasmania over the Christmas period. You won’t mind if Shelley stays with you
for a couple of weeks while we’re away, would you?”
“Of course not,” he said with a smile, glad that he’d get to spend Christmas Day with his sister. Shelley had gone with Betty last year to New York for a white Christmas.
“Also,” Betty said, clearing her throat, “Todd has really been wanting to meet you. Unfortunately, with the two of you being so busy, I keep telling him that your schedules often conflict. Anyway, on the sixteenth of January, which is a Saturday, he’ll be hosting a pottery exhibit by local artists at his property in the Blue Mountains. It’s a yearly event that usually gets held in his backyard. He wants us to have a belated Christmas and New Year’s party on that same day since we won’t be around during the holiday period. He asked me to give you advance notice so you can save the date and join us. Do you think you can come?”
He raised an eyebrow, hearing the hope in Betty’s last sentence. “I’ll have to check. I’ll let you know.”
“Okay,” Betty said, then left.
Rick rubbed his jaw. That was surreal. And it made him nervous.
*****
“Cheers, bro,” Rick said to Lucas, clinking beer bottles with him. “The way it’s going, you and Jade would have had several engagement parties before you even have an official one.”
“I know,” Lucas said with a chuckle. “Jade actually said she wouldn’t mind not having an official one. We’ll just save the big party for our wedding reception.”
“Well, here come the other guys.”
They both stood up to greet three of their buddies who’d entered the private room of a popular Sydney club that Marilyn, one of their friends, had booked for the night.
“What took you guys so long?” Rick asked Tristan, Marilyn’s cousin.
Tristan chuckled. “Derek and I got here at the same time. Then we saw Simon outside, happily surrounded by four hot women. So we stopped and introduced ourselves.”
“Did you invite them to join us?” he asked, craning his neck to see.
“We decided to just get the girls’ numbers because Marilyn started waving to us,” Tristan said dryly. “You know how excited she gets when she sees Simon with a girl.”
They laughed.
The Unyielding Bachelor Page 6
