Second Chance Girl--A Modern Fairy Tale Romance

by Susan Mallery

  “Thank you for coming with me tonight. I felt so much better knowing you were here with me.”

  You’re welcome was the expected response. Mathias told himself to say it, get in the car and go home. But he couldn’t seem to say the words. Or leave. Instead he leaned close and kissed her.

  She responded immediately, kissing him back. As their tongues tangled, she made a noise in the back of her throat that had him hard and ready in two seconds. What was it about this woman that got to him? What combination of features and personality and just her-ness made him unable to stop dreaming about her?

  He broke the kiss and leaned his forehead against hers. “I want you,” he breathed. “Not because of what happened before or for any other reason than I desperately, hopelessly want to be with you.” He straightened and looked into her eyes. “But it’s completely your call.”

  * * *

  LIFE WAS ALL about choices, Carol told herself. Little ones and big ones. Which way to turn, what college to go to, whether or not to go out with someone, study for a test or not. And sometimes there really wasn’t a choice. Perhaps a week ago, she could have been rational, could have told herself all the reasons why making love with Mathias was a bad idea. Why she might get hurt or find herself dealing with more than she could handle. Now there was no choice. She loved him and making love with him wasn’t anything she could refuse. Her body might respond to him but her heart needed him.

  She took his hand in hers and led him to her bedroom. They didn’t speak until after she’d turned on the lamp by her bed and slipped off her shoes.

  “You’re so beautiful,” he whispered, reaching for her.

  “I’m not.”

  “You are. I’ve always thought so. Sometimes in the morning I see you walking with Millie. What do you think inspired my giraffe piece? It wasn’t just Millie. It was you.”

  She’d never considered herself an inspiration. Not for anything. Oh, she worked hard, was a good friend, a lovely sister and daughter, but an inspiration? That was left for people far more special than her.

  “You doubt me,” he murmured as he pressed his lips to her cheeks, her nose, her forehead. “Never doubt me.”

  Words designed to shatter the last of her defenses. She gave herself over to him, accepting that whatever was going to happen, she would be stronger in the end for having allowed herself to truly love him.

  He returned his mouth to hers. They kissed slowly, deeply, tongues stroking, dancing. His hands roamed her body, moving up and down her back before settling on her butt and squeezing. She arched into him and her belly brushed against his erection. Desire flared, hotter, brighter, sending shivers rippling through every part of her.

  She pushed at his suit jacket. He shrugged out of it and it fell to the floor. His tie followed, then his shirt. She put her hands on his bare chest and felt the warmth of his skin. She wanted to touch him everywhere, do all the things she hadn’t been able to do before, when they’d been together last time. She’d been too caught off guard, too not ready. And he’d been too drunk.

  She looked into his eyes and saw clarity there tonight. Awareness of what they were doing and how it would be. He watched her touch him, passion sharpening his features. She wondered how far she could go before he would react.

  She moved her hands lower, sliding down to his belt. She unfastened it and then undid his zipper.

  “While there’s nothing I would like more than you to touch me like that,” he said with a slight smile, “we’re both going to be disappointed by the outcome. And the speed of that outcome.”

  She laughed. “I would have thought you would be more legendary.”

  “Not when I’m with you.”

  Her belly clenched. How she wanted those words to be true. How she wanted him to love her back. But the odds were slim. Still, she would take tonight and deal with the consequences later when the realization of her love wasn’t so new.

  She stepped back and opened her nightstand drawer. Inside was a box of condoms. She pulled them out, then turned back to him. “I think it’s time to get serious. Just to be clear, intercourse first.”

  He groaned. “You’re never going to let me live that down, are you? It wasn’t my fault.”

  “Regardless of fault, I’m saying what I want. Don’t get me wrong—last time was great. I just missed not having the full show.”

  Emotions raced across his face. Before she could reassure him, he pulled her close and kissed her. At the same time, he reached behind her and unzipped her dress. The fabric pooled at her waist. Carol shoved it down, then stepped out of it. Mathias drew her against him as if he couldn’t have her far away, then wrapped his arms around her. She buried her face in his shoulder.

  They stood like that for the longest time—their bodies pressing together, her breasts flat against his chest, his arms holding her tight. She ached for him but also didn’t want to let go. Being held like this—having their breathing synchronized, their heartbeats in unison, was the most intimate moment of her life. She pressed her hands flat against his back and let the warmth of him flow through her.

  After a few minutes he began to kiss her again. Slowly. Deeply. As his tongue slipped inside her mouth, his hands reached for her bra. He unfastened it, then tossed it away. He moved his hands against her breasts, causing her breath to catch as he rubbed her tight, sensitive nipples.

  Need grew. Not just for her release, but also for him to be inside of her. She wanted to know what that felt like—his body over hers, his arousal filling her. She wanted the heat, the friction, the growing hunger. She wanted to be able to have that memory forever.

  She stepped back and pushed her panties to the floor, then pulled back the covers to her bed. By the time she’d turned back to him, he had his shoes and socks off and was pushing his pants to the floor. His briefs went with them.

  She gave herself a second to enjoy the show of a very naked, extremely aroused Mathias, then slid into bed. He pulled a condom out of the box and joined her.

  He tossed the condom on the bed, then reached for her. Even as he kissed her, he moved his hands up and down her body. He lingered on her breasts before slipping his fingers between her legs and finding the very core of her.

  “You’re wet,” he whispered.

  “Funny how it works that way.”

  He smiled. “It’s nice.”

  He slipped a finger inside of her. At the same time he rubbed his thumb against her clit. Tension flared and her breath caught. He quickly found a rhythm that nearly robbed her of conscious thought. Nearly.

  “Stop,” she gasped. “I want you inside of me. I mean it. We can do all this other stuff later.”

  “Other stuff?” He shook his head. “It’s the best part.”

  “Not always.” Not when it hadn’t happened before. “Be inside of me.”

  There was no way she could explain why it was so important to her. Not without admitting her feelings. Because she loved him, she needed them to bond in that way. She needed to feel him taking her. Yes, it was old-fashioned or traditional or any other number of words, but it was also important.

  He studied her for a second, then nodded. He rubbed her one last time before reaching for the condom and slipping it on. After shifting so that he knelt between her thighs, he braced his hands on the bed.

  She reached between them and guided him inside. He was so hard and thick, she felt herself stretching to accommodate him. He moved slowly, giving her time. Nerve endings whimpered in anticipation as every part of her focused on the thrilling pressure.

  He pushed all the way in, then withdrew just as slowly. Fire shot through her. Fire and need and pleasure and relief that it was finally happening. She gave herself over to what he was doing, trying desperately to remember everything. She wanted to be able to relive this moment again and again. The only flaw in he
r plan was the fact that each stroke aroused her just a little more. She couldn’t seem to stay in her head—not when her body was reacting so strongly. She wrapped her legs around his hips and hung on.

  There was something about the way he filled her. Or maybe it was the heat, or how his body felt as she ran her hands up and down his back. Maybe it was the intense gaze of him watching her watch him. Maybe it was just dumb luck. Regardless, she found herself getting closer and closer. Her body swelled and he went in deeper. He added a kind of grinding push at the very end, bringing him up against her swollen center, taking her that much closer to her release.

  She gathered all her strength, all her focus and told herself to hold back. She could come later—she was sure of it. Only then he started moving faster and pushing harder and it was all too good, too perfect, too exactly what she needed to—

  Her orgasm claimed her with an explosion that had her calling out his name. She moved her hips as he filled her again and again, drawing out her pleasure until there was nothing left. Only then did he let go, filling her one last time and exhaling her name.

  They clung to each other, letting their breathing return to normal. She memorized the scent of him, the way his body covered hers, the sound of his voice as he whispered her name. Then she promised herself that whatever happened, this moment would surely be enough.

  * * *

  FRIDAY MORNING CAME far too quickly for Violet. She and Ulrich had spent the previous night making love with a tender urgency that had nearly brought her to tears. Even as she found pleasure in his arms, she’d been aware of the ticking clock that brought his departure closer and closer.

  She was going to visit him in England—that was for sure. She didn’t know when, exactly, but she wanted to go and see him. And his grandmother, although she had to admit that her attention was more firmly on the duke than the dowager duchess.

  She sat up slowly, not wanting to wake him. He had a long trip in front of him—first the drive to Los Angeles, followed by the flight back to London. He would be traveling nearly twenty-four hours. Hopefully by the time he called her from Battenberg Park she would be done crying, or at least able to fake a happy voice.

  Sunlight spilled into the room. She studied his high cheekbones, the shape of his mouth. What had she been thinking, falling for him? He was going to leave and she was going to be destroyed. Okay, maybe not destroyed but certainly hurt and lonely and sad.

  He opened his eyes and smiled at her.

  “Good morning.”

  “Good morning, yourself.” She did her best to sound cheerful. “You should try to sleep longer. You’re going to be exhausted.”

  “I don’t want to waste any of my time with you. I can sleep on the plane.” He reached up and touched her face. “Darling Violet, how much you’ve come to mean to me.”

  “I feel the same way.” She faked a smile. “And to think this started with you accusing me of stealing.”

  He winced. “That was a mistake.”

  “Oh, I don’t know. It was memorable, if nothing else.”

  He rolled on his side to face her. “Have you forgiven me?”

  “Of course, although I do plan to tease you about your mistake for a long time.”

  “As you should.” He nodded at the dresser. “I have something for you.”

  She held in a sigh. “A goodbye gift? You’re just so thoughtful. Oh, thank you again for the carving you donated last night. Millie is going to have quite the trust fund.”

  “I’m sure she’ll handle it well. Despite her propensity to cause car accidents, she seems like a sensible young woman.” He raised an eyebrow. “Aren’t you going to see what it is?”

  No. If she got up and opened the drawer, she would have to deal with the gift. The goodbye gift. If she ignored it, maybe he wouldn’t leave.

  Recognizing the flaw in her logic, she gave in to the inevitable and stood, then crossed to the dresser. She pulled open the top drawer and saw a long, slim black velvet box.

  So not a ring, she thought, giving in to disappointment for a nanosecond before telling herself not to be a fool. She hadn’t known Ulrich long enough for him to propose. While she knew he cared about her, she wasn’t sure how far that caring went. He was a duke. He would be looking for someone special.

  She picked up the box. “Is this it?”

  He nodded. “Yes. I used to carry all my possessions in velvet boxes, but it grew tiresome.”

  She grinned. “You think you’re so funny.”

  “I am so funny.”

  She returned to the bed and sat next to him. Her wispy nightgown didn’t offer much in the way of coverage, but that was all right. Ulrich had seen every inch of her. She no longer had anything to hide.

  She opened the box and gasped when she saw six sparkling buttons. They were in the shape of flowers and looked amazingly like...

  “Cut glass?” she asked, her voice shaking.

  “No.”

  “I didn’t think so.” She looked at him. “Ulrich, you can’t. These are diamond buttons. They’re a part of your heritage. They belong at Battenberg Park. I really appreciate the gesture, but there’s no way I can accept.”

  He rolled onto his back and stared at the ceiling. “I have a great-aunt who married one of Queen Victoria’s sons.” He glanced at her. “Maybe it was a great-great-aunt, or maybe she married a cousin. Regardless, those buttons are from the Victorian era. From all I’ve been told, they’re very her.”

  She tried to hand him the box. “Thank you. They’re lovely, but I couldn’t possibly accept.”

  “Of course you can.” He sat up and leaned toward her. “Violet, you’d never sell them. I want you to have them. I want you to have a piece of my world with you and this was the best way I could think of to make that happen.”

  Once again she was fighting tears. She kissed him, doing all she could to memorize the feel of his mouth against hers.

  “You are a wonderful man.”

  “I’m glad you think so. Promise you’ll keep the buttons.”

  “I promise.”

  She drew back and looked at them. The diamonds winked back at her. They were lovely. One was a little larger than the others, perhaps to be worn at the neck. Before she could remove it from the box and study it more closely, Ulrich took the box from her and set it between them.

  “You know I have responsibilities back home,” he said quietly.

  “The estate, your tenants, the village, the tourists and guests, not to mention your grandmother. Yes, you might have mentioned one or two responsibilities.”

  He smiled. “This is sass, isn’t it?”

  “It might be.” She drew in a breath. This was the moment to do and say the right thing. She wasn’t going to be selfish—she was going to say what he needed to hear. “Ulrich, I understand. You’re more than a man.”

  One corner of his mouth turned up. “Especially in bed.”

  She smiled, kissed him, then straightened. “This time together has been wonderful. I wish it would never end. But the truth is you can’t stay. You do have responsibilities. You have a heritage and people who depend on you. It’s a big deal. Whatever happens, know that I’ve had a wonderful time. I’ve fallen for the amazing man who danced with me all those years ago. Whatever happens, I’ll have that forever.”

  His eyes darkened. “About that dance, it pains me that I can’t remember.”

  “I’ll remember for both of us.”

  “You know I won’t forget you now.”

  “Yes. And I’ll come visit and maybe you can come back here.”

  His mouth straightened. “I don’t think so.”

  She blinked. “I don’t understand.”

  “I’m not going to visit you here, Violet, and I hope you won’t be visiting me in England.” He shook
his head. “Damn, I’m saying this all wrong. What I mean is I have a legacy and I want you to be a part of that. I won’t want to visit you because I want you to come with me to England. I love you, Violet. Please say you love me back and that you’re willing to marry me.”

  She stared at him and her brain desperately struggled to understand what he’d just said. Had he... Was that...

  “Did you just—”

  “Ask you to marry me? Yes.”

  She flung herself at him and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Yes,” she whispered as he hugged her back. “Yes. I love you and I want to marry you and just yes.”

  He kissed her, his mouth claiming hers.

  “Thank God,” he whispered. “I didn’t know how I was going to convince you if you said no.”

  “Were you genuinely worried?”

  “A little. My grandmother said you were very sensible and unlikely to fall for the likes of me.”

  “She did not.”

  He smiled. “She did not. She wished me luck and hoped you would say yes.” He reached for the velvet box. “Now there’s a bit of a surprise in here.”

  “With the buttons?”

  He opened the box and took out the largest of the five buttons. As he pulled it free of the satin lining, she realized it wasn’t a button at all, but a ring.

  “The bit about Queen Victoria was the truth,” he told her as he slid the ring on her finger. “And I do know which aunt it was and who she married. In fact it’s rather an interesting tale, if you’d like to hear it.”

  She stared at the ring on her finger, then at the man who had placed it there. She slid down onto her back and pulled him with her. “Maybe later,” she murmured.

  “My thoughts exactly.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  CAROL WATCHED MATHIAS hoist Millie’s breakfast up the pole. The leaf-covered branches looked especially green and tasty this morning, but maybe that was the result of the previous night.

  He hadn’t left. She’d thought that he might, but Mathias had stayed the night. Sometime around dawn, he’d gone home for a shower and a change of clothes, but he’d returned in time to go with her to work. When she’d asked about him heading to the studio, he’d told her work could wait.