He’d been out of town for two days, and after intense negotiations, he’d reached a settlement with a small gaming company that created games for phones and tablets. He didn’t want to dismantle the company, or move it. His main motivation was to own the company with potential, but with it hemorrhaging money, the prospects for the company being around in a year was slim. Of course, the executives were hesitant to sell, and with much discussion, had come around to saving their business, even if it meant having Thomas Cole own seventy percent of the company.
Relief washed over him when he landed at JFK, and settled in the back of a cab, on his way to her apartment. For years, he had concentrated on work and developing his company into something that would challenge him on a daily basis, but it wasn’t until Ellie that he realized what he was missing. He enjoyed being near her, a sense of knowing that he was right where he was supposed to be.
He knew that she wasn’t expecting him until the next day, but he had found that he missed her more than he thought he could. He’d heard mumbling when he arrived at her door, but what he’d found when he opened the door had caused rage to course through his body. She was struggling to escape Ben’s arms, and without thought, he acted as the building anger clouded his vision. Ben hadn’t hid the fact that he wanted Ellie, but he didn’t think the man would pressure her into anything. The reason he didn’t attack the man after he pulled him off was Ellie’s request for him not to, and he would never do anything to hurt her. But hours later as he stood in her studio, he was still fuming.
He’d come so close to claiming her tonight, to stripping her down and carrying her to bed, and kissing every inch of her sweet body, before sliding inside and bringing them both to release. Their encounter on the counter of her kitchen grew out of control because it was the first time that she had touched him with intent. It had taken most of his control to pull away when he did, and his body screamed to take what they both had wanted. But he couldn’t, not when she was so tired and exasperated by her friend.
When he had spotted another man kissing her, his brain screamed one word.
Mine.
She was his, and he was the one who would touch her, make love to her, and satisfy her. He knew that she trusted him, and he would’ve never touched her with intent until she knew the truth about him. But with that obstacle out of the way, he could think of nothing more than to bind her to him in every way. She was his; he had no doubt about it.
“How long have you been up?”
He shivered at her raspy, sleepy voice, and turned to see her rub the sleep out of her eyes. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, trying to get his body under control. Slowly, he opened his eyes to catch her sleepy gaze, and grew concerned with her fatigue. He strode toward her and scooped her up in his arms.
“I didn’t mean to wake you.”
“I rolled over, and the bed was empty,” she said.
“I had some things to work through, and I saw the light on in this room. You have a real talent.”
“Thanks. Do you want to talk about it?” She yawned again and snuggled closer to his warmth.
“I had a feeling that Ben might start something after the dinner we had together. I’m angry with myself for not being here.”
She shook her head. “It’s not your fault. Ben’s not a timid man. I’ve seen the women he dates, and they are nothing like me. Trust me, if he had any interest in me, he would’ve told me before now. He thinks our friendship is threatened, because he’s seen how happy I am with you. And I didn’t feel anything when he kissed me.”
He relaxed a fraction when she confirmed what he suspected, that she had no romantic feelings for her friend.
“And what do you feel when I kiss you?” he asked.
“Everything. I ache, but I feel as though I can’t get close enough to you. I forget about everything but your mouth on mine.”
He groaned as he dropped his forehead to hers. “I forget how innocent you are. You’re mine, love, and when you catch up on your sleep, I’ll show you just how much I want you.”
Her cheeks bloomed in a soft pink tinge, and he smiled as he tucked her closer to his chest and carried her back to the bedroom. They both had to work in the morning, and with the added pressure of their engagement, along with her friend’s confession, the stress was starting to get to her. She had mentioned that she hadn’t slept well since he’d been out of town, confirmed by the dark circles under her eyes. He had kept busy and fallen into an exhausted sleep while he was away, and he still dreamed of her, missing her each day.
As he neared the bedroom, her breathing deepened, and he could tell that she was already asleep. He slid in bed with her still in his arms and pulled the covers over both of them, and then settled her next to him. She murmured something in her sleep and cuddled against his chest, and he tightened his arm around her.
Tonight, he had planned to give her the ring he ordered online the day he’d come up with the engagement, but Ben’s impromptu arrival had spoiled the moment. He wanted to claim her in front of her friends and everyone else, announcing to the world that they belonged with each other, but he would wait until this weekend to give it to her.
His mind wandered back to her collection of paintings in the next room, and he knew that she would be successful if she showed her work. He thought about bringing up the subject of a show that he could fund, but he didn’t want to add to her already full schedule. There would be time to mention a showing of her work. He would have to bring it up when he had a chance. She was exceptionally talented, and it evoked such emotion that he knew that she would be successful.
A low moan brought him out of his thoughts. He tucked the comforter up to her chin and brought her closer against him, and she settled back into a peaceful sleep. As he closed his eyes and was about to fall asleep, a surge of wonder filled his chest as he thought about how lucky he was to have met her. He pulled her closer. After two days and nights without her, he was right where he wanted to be.
Chapter Twelve
Ellie sensed Lucian a split second before his lips brushed against hers, and without opening her eyes, she slid her arms around his shoulders and pulled him closer. Feeling brave, her tongue darted out and licked his bottom lip, drawing a groan from deep in his chest. When he used his lips to open hers, she took him by surprise and darted her tongue inside to taste him. She tilted her head to deepen the kiss.
When he draped his body on top of hers, he caught her loud moan in his mouth. His fingers speared through her hair as he plundered her mouth, and she loved the small tug on her hair as he dominated her, body and soul.
His mouth trailed down her neck and burrowed just below her ear, taking a deep breath before he pressed a kiss to one of her sensitive spots.
“Breakfast,” he said. He tried to lift her into his arms, but she pressed back onto the bed.
She shook her head. “I want you first.”
Her eyes opened to his shocked face, but she could see his green eyes flared with desire. She smiled at him and took advantage of the momentary distraction, pushing him onto his back, before she crawled up to sit on his stomach.
Two nights ago, she had allowed the stress of the week to overwhelm her. When she made love with him, she wanted to be aware of every caress. She wanted to feel him deep inside her, as they both found pleasure that they’d been dancing around for weeks, and this Saturday was the perfect time. She had no clue how to please him, but she figured she would try anything, and see what he liked and what he didn’t.
She followed his gaze when they wandered to her skimpy tank that showed several inches of her stomach; his eyes wandered lower. She shivered at his heated look, still not quite used to him seeing her as desirable.
He closed his eyes, and she took advantage of his momentary distraction and slipped her hand underneath his tee. As she slid forward, she lifted the shirt higher with her movements, revealing a hard chest and stomach and a smattering of hair that led to the button of his jeans and below. He l
ifted his arms and bent closer, so she could slip the shirt over his head, leaving him bare-chested.
Her breath caught in her throat and her mouth went dry, as she stared at him. “You’re so sexy,” she whispered.
Her eyes zeroed in on the taut skin of his stomach, and without a thought or any experience to lead her, she bent her mouth down and placed a kiss near his belly button. As his groan shivered along her body, she grew bolder as she kissed her way up to his chest, taking her time to savor the taste of his skin as a light sheen of moisture developed from her innocent touches. As she buried her face in his neck, she inhaled the fresh smell of soap and his masculine scent, a faint smell of wood and citrus, and shivered with need.
“Ellie, love.”
She met his eyes as she rose to sit up, holding most of her weight on her legs. Without breaking eye contact, she removed her tank and threw it somewhere behind her, forgotten the moment she released it. She raised her hands to her hair and loosened the bun, letting her hair flutter down past her shoulders, loving his reaction when his fists clenched at his sides and his face became pinched in concentration.
A sudden growl that erupted from deep in his chest sent a spark throughout her body and straight to her core. Absently, she pressed her core against his hardness, drawing moans from both of them. She dropped down onto his chest and pressed her lips to his, striving to feel his hard chest pressed against her naked one. The silence was shattered by her gasp as she clutched him closer. Her eyes closed as she savored their first contact without any barriers.
Without a sound, he flipped her onto her back, and she wound her arms around his neck, afraid that he would stop at the moment when her body craved his the most. Instead, his right hand skimmed her breast, down her side, until he reached the top of her boy shorts. His fingers lingered there for several agonizing seconds. Without a thought, a small sound of frustration pushed past her lips.
“That first morning when I knocked on your door and you were wearing your small tank and these shorts, it took all of my control not to strip you and take you on the floor of your living room. You are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met.”
Her movements stopped at his confession, but as she opened her mouth to reply, his fingers brushed against her core and all thoughts and sounds scattered. The outside world ceased to exist with his first touch. As he explored her, she wanted nothing but this man and his touch.
“Please.” She had no idea what she was begging for, but she needed him to touch her, to end this aching need that built with each faltered breath.
She arched toward his fingers, and sucked in a startled breath when he sat back, out of her reach. He removed the rest of her clothing with one solid tug and dropped them next to the bed, but it was when his eyes roamed over her nude body that the fire blazed out of control.
“I need to taste you.”
“I’ve never… had anyone—”
“That’s what makes it so sweet.”
His voice had deepened so much that the shiver that ran through her body became a constant quake, waiting for his touch to end the ache that threatened to drag her under. Her moan exploded out of her throat as he dragged his hands up her calves, her thighs. When his thumb brushed against her clit, her hips surged to meet his touch. One brush, and then another, sent her reeling. At the same time, she sought more of his touch and the astonishing responses he drew from her.
When his tongue touched her core, she couldn’t form words to describe the sensations that crashed against her. His hands anchored her to the bed, wrapping around her thighs and holding her hips down when she tried to move away from his talented tongue and mouth. As his movements centered on her core and her release, his groans added to the ecstasy that threatened to pull her under. Her hands clenched by her side as she moaned his name, over and over for the next feverish minutes, unable to absorb all the pleasure, but at the same time, wanting more, wanting everything he could give her.
“Lucian,” she cried out as her first orgasm swept through her. Her body arched against his mouth, the small movements of his tongue extending the bliss that he’d created. Her body shook with the aftermath. When his face moved into view, she buried her face in his neck, unable to express her tremulous emotions stirring deep inside.
“Are you okay?”
The words lodged in her throat, and she was unable to tell him how much it meant for her to have her first experience with him.
She leaned back to catch his eye, and what she saw stalled her breathing.
His bright-green eyes sparked brighter than she’d ever seen them, but it was the way he looked at her. His eyes were concentrated on her and intense, as if he had discovered his sole reason for existing.
She pulled him in for a kiss and moaned as she tasted herself on his lips, enjoying when he delved deeper, tasting every inch of her mouth, in a desperate need to get closer to her. What she wanted was to give him pleasure, and feeling his erection pressed against the inside of her thigh gave her the courage to explore him.
As the kiss intensified, she nudged him onto his back while letting her hands roam over his chest and arms. When she broke the kiss, he reached for her, but she danced out of reach.
“My turn.”
He dropped back, using his forearm to cover his eyes, and groaned aloud. She took this as permission, and her mouth soon followed her hands as she traveled down his impressive torso. His entire body tensed as she drew closer to his erection, and she rubbed her hands against his arms and chest in an effort to get him to relax. Instead, his breathing increased and his hips arched up, brushing his hardness against her stomach. She settled between his legs, taking the time for her gaze to travel over this gorgeous man, primed and ready. She held her breath as her fingers reached for the waistband of his boxers, before lowering them down his legs, inch by excruciating inch. Each gasp and moan that she drew from him encouraged her to continue.
He moved his free hand, effectively trapping both of hers against his hot skin. “I’m not going to be able to last with your mouth on me,” he groaned.
She leaned toward the patch of hair that trailed from his chest down to his manhood, and licked several inches. She rubbed her cheek against his hardness, loving his choppy breaths and the groans he couldn’t contain.
“Lift up.”
He paused for a moment, debating whether her shaky voice was hesitation or need, before his hips rose. She shimmied down the bed, taking his jeans with her, revealing what she had long suspected each time he had touched her. When his impressive erection sprung free, she couldn’t hold in the gasp of surprise at the sheer size of it. She paused, his boxer briefs trapped in the middle of his thighs, as she looked her fill. Her hand reached for him, and when she encountered silky skin, she moaned, feeling for the first time the power that it held. Her hand flexed, and his groan of delight told her that she gave him a fraction of pleasure he’d granted her.
She gazed in wonder as a small drop of liquid formed on the tip of his erection, and she wondered how he would taste. After a quick flick of her tongue, she moaned at her first taste of him. That little taste wasn’t enough to satisfy her curiosity. Acting on instinct, she leaned in closer and licked the length of him, starting with the base and stopping at the tip. Her head snapped up and she met his eyes as he uttered her name as if he were in pain.
“Am I doing this wrong?”
Their eyes met, and he shook his head. “I’m trying not to lose control, love.”
His statement brought a smile to her lips. But she hadn’t forgotten about his pleasure, and squeezed the base of his erection at the same time her tongue darted out and brushed a lick over the tip. His answering groan gave her courage to continue, knowing this time it was pleasure, not pain. She pursed her lips and started a light suction, and groaned against his hot skin as she took more of him inside her mouth, concentrating each time she made him gasp or groan in satisfaction.
He was bigger than she expected, despite the minutes she stared
at him as though he were a display in a museum. Her hand wrapped around the base of his erection and parroted the movements of her mouth, to compensate for his size. With each movement of her mouth, her hand would follow as she set a rhythm that made his breathing stutter and his groans grow louder. The rhythm, along with the taste of his salty skin, made her strive for more of his essence. She increased the suction of her mouth, and soon, she could hear a plea in his voice as he spoke to her.
“Move your mouth,” he breathed as her rhythm increased.
She had no intention of moving anywhere. Lucian was her first touch of sex, of love, and she wanted to experience every moment, every sound that came from deep in his chest, how he moaned her name as he enjoyed the pleasure she was giving him. Once more, she increased the pressure and sped up her movements, until his hoarse shout reverberated around the room.
She was reluctant to pull away, savoring his taste and touch, when he reached for her and settled her close to his side. She closed her eyes and savored his essence, as they both caught their breaths. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her closer, laying her head on his chest. A smile bloomed as she thought about starting her day, every day, being able to touch him. His kisses were potent, but the gratification he gave her was addicting.
Her body started to relax, but her eyes popped open as he groaned her name and pressed her against the bed. She watched as he inched his way up her body, savoring each graze of his skin. Her eyes widened as she felt his impressive erection pressed to her stomach. Her gaze raked over his naked body as she ran her hands over his tight stomach, and lower, to his straining thighs, before heading up to caress his chest. She was becoming addicted to the feel of his body against hers, and under her hands.
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