by Cox, Carrie;
“Demanding, aren’t you?” He teased as he swiftly dispatched the rest of his clothing.
As I felt his lips graze one of my erect nipples, another moan escaped my lips. It felt incredibly erotic to see him playing with my body.
He saw me watching him, and his eyes darkened with desire as he took my other nipple in his mouth, swirling his tongue against my tight puckered flesh.
He raised his head and said, “Christ, you are so beautiful, Kristina. I’m crazy about you.”
My heart pounded in my chest. It was so loud I was sure he would be able to hear it. I wanted to reply and tell him that I was crazy about him too. But before I could, he had turned his attention to my lace panties.
As he tugged them over my hips, he paused. “Well, this is new…”
My cheeks flamed with embarrassment. I’d forgotten about the Brazilian. I hoped my skin wasn’t still pink. I fought the desire to cover myself with my hands.
“Yes. Today at the spa…” My voice trailed away. “It seemed like a good idea at the time.”
“I like it,” Jack said. His voice was deep and husky.
He ran the pad of his thumb along the line of wetness between my thighs and my hips jerked in response. “I really like it.”
I wasn’t really sure what to say. If I was truthful, I didn’t want to say anything. My brain seemed unable to process any thoughts other than my need for Jack. I just wanted to feel his body against mine.
I could feel his hot breath against my bare skin, and the anticipation was killing me. I closed my eyes and concentrated on trying to slow my frantic breathing.
I felt him shift position as he pushed open my legs. And even though I’d been expecting it, a gasp escaped my lips. The sensation was so intense as his tongue teased my sensitive flesh.
My back arched and my fingers tangled in his hair as his tongue circled the sweet spot.
Oh. My. God.
My stomach muscles clenched, and I felt the heat build inside me.
I was so close, but his tongue slowed, prolonging the delicious anticipation.
“Please, Jack… I need…”
“What do you need?” His tongue flickered over my clit, making me moan.
“I need you,” I whispered as I felt the familiar ripples building deep within me.
He slid a finger inside me, moving it in and out. I felt my internal walls tighten as he added another finger, and a sensation of pure pleasure rushed through me. I gasped as my climax hit me fully, sending wave after wave of deep pleasure through my entire body.
I lay back on the bed, smiling drowsily. “That was good.”
“Good, huh? Well, I haven’t finished with you yet. Come here.”
Jack’s hands found my waist, and he helped me up.
I stared at his beautiful body, lying on the bed. Everything about him was so perfect.
Shyly, I lowered my head. Pressing my lips to his abs, I felt his body jerk in response, and I smiled, pleased that I could affect him like that.
My tongue flickered out between my lips, tasting his skin as I moved my head closer to his rock hard erection.
He groaned as I licked the very tip of him, before trailing my tongue along his shaft.
His hands fisted in the sheets as I took him into my mouth, gently sucking as his hardness filled my throat. I used my tongue to tease him as he had me. My fingers stroked him as I used my mouth, enjoying the taste of him.
After less than a minute, he groaned. “No more. I won’t hold out much longer.”
He reached for me, pulling me onto his lap, and then he leaned back flat on the bed.
I knew what he wanted.
I wrapped my fingers around him and squeezed, then angled myself above him. I slid down onto his hard cock inch by inch.
I couldn’t stop the little whimper of pleasure that escaped me when he started to move.
His hands worked their way up my body until they reached my breasts. He teased my nipples into hard peaks, and I threw my head back as he thrust into me.
He pushed himself up and covered my breasts with kisses, before focusing in on my sensitive nipples. His hands clutched my ass as he slid deep into me.
I was so close. I could feel my belly tightening with each thrust.
But without warning, he held me firmly against him and then flipped me onto my back. I let out a gasp of surprise.
“I want to look into your eyes when you come for me, baby.”
He moved slowly, embedding himself deep inside me before pulling out so only his tip was inside me.
My hands grabbed his hips, and he thrust inside me again. I tightened around him as he thrust again and again, all the time staring into my eyes.
My breathing was crazy and erratic. I felt the pressure building deep within me as I looped my legs around his waist. His thrusts grew faster and faster, and my fingers clawed at his back as I came hard.
His eyes didn’t leave my face as I came in his arms.
He thrust again and buried his face against my neck, breathing heavily as he climaxed.
***
Afterwards, I lay in his arms enjoying the sweet afterglow. Jack ran his hand along my naked back.
“I’m so glad you’re coming with me for the race season,” he said.
“Mmm.” My head was resting in the crook of Jack’s arm, and I was so comfortable and satisfied, I was in serious danger of drifting off to sleep.
“Well, yes. I’d definitely miss this if I wasn’t coming with you.”
He chuckled and stroked my hair.
“I’d miss it too.”
After a beat, he said, “I love you.”
He spoke so softly I wasn’t sure I’d heard him correctly.
My head lifted off his chest as I spun around to stare at him. “What?”
He seemed surprised at my reaction. “Too fast?”
“Say it again.”
“I love you?”
I nodded as a grin spread over my face.
He leaned down to kiss my smiling face. “I love you, Kristina.”
“Are you sure?”
He gave a puzzled frown. “Yes. Did you really think I’d come to the US with you for a vacation? Did you think I’d be here, crashing at your future brother-in-laws house, if I didn’t?”
“We’re very different, Jack. Totally opposite backgrounds. We’re not really well-suited.”
He raised an eyebrow. “You sound like you are trying to talk me out of it!”
“No, it’s not that. It’s just…” My eyes dropped down to study the crumpled sheets. “You’ve been through a lot, and maybe you’ve just formed an attachment to me because… I’m available.”
I shrugged, and when I dared to look up, his eyes were blazing.
“I know how I feel, Kristina, and it isn’t just because you’re available.” His words were cold, and I flinched.
He shifted on the mattress and put his hand beneath my chin, tilting my head and forcing me to look into his eyes.
“It’s been a difficult year for me, but the way I see it is that it all led me here to this. Me and you. If I hadn’t crashed, I would never have met you. If I hadn’t been such a difficult bastard and in such a dark place, my brother would never have hired you.
“My life sucked, but then I met you and things started to turn around. I’m not trying to pretend it is going to be all hearts and roses. I have a long road ahead of me if I want to get back on top. But I want to do it. I want to do it with you.
“If you don’t feel the same, then that’s okay. Admit it. But don’t try to tell me that what I feel for you isn’t real. Don’t tell me it isn’t love. I have never felt like this before. I’m crazy about you, Kristina.”
I suddenly realized I had been holding my breath while he spoke. I let out a shaky breath while I tried to gather my thoughts.
He loved me? My brain just couldn’t process the information. I still couldn’t get rid of that annoying internal voice screaming at me, warning me I was g
oing to get hurt.
I knew he was waiting for me to reply, his eyes scanned my face for some kind of clue. After a few seconds, his face clouded with a hurt expression.
“Okay, I guess I read this wrong. You’re not ready.” He nodded and took a deep breath. “That’s okay. I can wait. We can take things slow.”
“I…”
Goddamn it. Why couldn’t I just tell him how I felt?
I flipped onto my back, staring at the ceiling. “I’m scared of getting hurt, Jack.”
“I’ll never hurt you.”
“But you can’t promise that. No one can.”
“So, I’m not worth the risk? You’re holding back because you might get hurt?”
I turned back to face him. “I didn’t say that. Of course you are. I do love you. I—”
“You do?” His face lit up with a grin.
He looked so gorgeous and so vulnerable. My heart just melted.
I wasn’t getting anywhere, trying to explain my screwed up thoughts. It didn’t matter anyway. All that mattered was that I loved him and he loved me.
Jack Harding loved me.
I reached a hand up to stroke his strong jaw and pressed my mouth to his.
Then Jack’s cell phone rang, ruining the moment.
“That will probably be Brian. Wondering why I disappeared on him.” He winked at me.
I sat straight up and then started scrambling for my clothes. “Oh, my God. Kate’s waiting for me to help her with the seating plan. I was just supposed to be making tea!” I groaned. “She’ll know what we’ve been up to!”
I flushed at the thought that Kate would know exactly what I had been doing for the past hour.
Jack chuckled. “She probably will, but it was worth it, wasn’t it?”
I bit down on my lower lip and smiled at him shyly. Oh, hell yeah, it was worth it. Jack Harding had told me he loved me, and I was so happy right now I thought my heart might burst.
35
The day of Kate and Benjamin’s wedding finally arrived. The morning had passed in a blur. I’d helped Kate into her full-length, silk gown and zipped her up. I put my hands on Kate’s shoulders and turned her around so she could see her reflection in the mirror and know how amazing she looked.
“You look beautiful.”
We looked at each other in the mirror and started crying at exactly the same time. She looked so gorgeous, a perfect bride. I was so glad I had managed to turn my life around and become part of my sister’s life again.
“I miss her so much,” Kate said. “I wish…”
I didn’t have to ask Kate what she wished for. I knew exactly what she meant.
“I know, honey.” I pulled her in for a hug.
Our mother had passed away years ago, but on days like today, I missed her more than ever.
Despite the absence of our mother, Kate was obviously deliriously happy with Benjamin, and today would be the icing on the cake.
“Mom wouldn’t want you to be sad on your wedding day.”
Kate swallowed hard and wiped away her tears. Nodding, she said, “You’re right.”
After we had had a telling off from Martha – the exclusive makeup artist that Kate had arranged to do our makeup – we managed to keep our tears under control until the wedding.
Now, as I walked down the aisle behind Kate, I felt tears well up in my eyes, threatening to ruin my makeup again. I blinked them away furiously. The wedding photographs wouldn’t look great if the bridesmaid had mascara smeared down her cheeks.
I wore a bias-cut dress in dove-grey satin, and I was holding baby Elizabeth in my arms. She had on the cutest pink, frilly dress and looked unbelievably sweet.
She was still asleep at the moment, and I hoped she would stay that way for the service. Otherwise, I would have to make a hasty retreat with a crying baby in my arms. I caught some disapproving looks from some of the guests when they spotted Elizabeth in my arms. But I didn’t care. It was important to Kate that Elizabeth was part of her wedding day.
My eyes were still blurry from tears as I scanned the guests sitting on either side of the aisle. I didn’t know most of them, and I was pretty sure Kate didn’t either. I did see one of Kate’s friends from high school, and I smiled as I caught her gaze.
We approached the front of the aisle where Benjamin was standing, looking tall and devastatingly handsome in his morning suit. I turned, my eyes searching for Jack among the guests. When I caught sight of him, my heart fluttered in my chest. For a moment I forgot to breathe.
He physically made my heart ache. I couldn’t believe that this gorgeous man was actually in love with me. I must have been very good in a past life to deserve all the good things in my life, because I sure as hell hadn’t been good enough in this one.
Elizabeth’s stirred in her sleep, and I shifted her in my arms, trying to keep her comfortable. Her chubby fingers grasped at my hair, and I winced as I tried to free the strands from her fingers. Not to be outdone, she turned her attention to the pearl necklace Kate had given me this morning. It had been made by Alexander’s company. Benjamin had arranged for me to have the pearls as a wedding gift, and he’d had a diamond necklace designed especially for Kate.
Even from my position behind Kate – where all I could see was her back – she looked stunning. Her wedding gown was simple and sleek, hugging her curves, and her hair was curled and cascaded over her shoulders. The front of her hair was pinned into place with individual hairpins, topped with tiny pearls.
Kate turned, looking back at me, and I could see the anxiety on her face.
I smiled at her, trying to look reassuring. I knew she wasn’t worrying about marrying Benjamin. She was just stressing over doing it in front of all of these people. Kate never liked to be the center of attention.
But when she took Benjamin’s hand, I saw her shoulders relax as the tension melted away.
Benjamin looked at her with eyes so full of love and pride that I felt tears prick at my eyes again.
I reached the end of the aisle just behind Kate, and I winked at Lauren, who was sitting beside Alexander. Lauren grinned at me.
Elizabeth gurgled happily in my arms as I made my way to my position to watch the ceremony. I smiled down at her and swallowed the lump in my throat.
Benjamin and Kate exchanged their vows as I looked on proudly.
I didn’t think I had ever felt happier in my life.
The day was just perfect.
Everything that I had been through over the past few years had led to this. Kate had found happiness with Benjamin, and I had found Jack.
I knew that the fact our mother couldn’t be with her on her wedding day hurt Kate. I would give anything to change that.
Our father had walked out on us when we were small, and for years it had been Mom, Kate and me together against the world.
When she died, everything went wrong.
It was times like this when the absence of a loved one could make you hurt physically. It felt like there was a hole in my chest, like something vital was missing. But that sad, dark cloud looming over me wasn’t going to ruin the day. As Benjamin leaned in to kiss Kate, I imagined my mother smiling down on us, and I smiled too.
36
Benjamin and Kate left for their honeymoon in Bermuda shortly after they had cut the cake. I had offered to take care of Elizabeth for them, but Kate didn’t want to be separated for that long, even on her honeymoon, so they had decided to take the baby with them, along with a new nanny.
After the bride and groom had left, most of the guests followed suit, and now, an hour later, the caterers were left clearing up after the wedding party.
The lights were dimmed, and the sound of music had been replaced by the sound of clattering plates and cutlery as the staff cleared the tables.
The day had gone as planned. There had been no upsets and no arguments between Lady Donnington and Rachel Stevenson, despite Kate’s earlier worries during the planning stages of the wedding. Everything had b
een perfect. Including Jack.
He had taken me in his arms when the orchestra played a slow, romantic number, and I had never felt so happy and so loved as I did in that moment.
I had my family, and I had the most gorgeous boyfriend in the world. It was such a turnaround from last year. I could barely believe it.
I stood in the corner of the ballroom, lost in my daydreams. I jumped when Jack put a hand on my shoulder. I spun around, and the room continued to spin even after I had stopped. I had definitely had a little too much champagne.
“Want to dance again?” Jack asked with a sexy grin on his face.
“There’s no music, silly,” I said.
“Let’s take a walk instead then.”
I wasn’t sure if it was my imagination, but he seemed a little tense. His usual relaxed expression seemed to be clouded with tension, but I didn’t give it much thought. I put it down to the fact I’d had too much champagne.
He took my hand in his and led me out of the ballroom where the reception had taken place. We walked along the corridor before entering the library, so we could slip out of the French doors unnoticed.
As we walked across the terrace, Jack suddenly stopped, turning his head sharply.
I hadn’t heard anything, but I followed his gaze and saw Alexander and Lauren at the far end of the terrace in the shadows.
Alexander towered over her. They were talking earnestly, and although they weren’t touching, there was something about their body language that implied intimacy.
Jack had noticed too. He frowned, watching them. But he obviously decided not to interrupt, because after a moment, he turned back to me and smiled. “Come on.”
I followed him across the lawns, trying to keep up with his long strides.
I giggled. “Are you trying to get me alone so you can have your wicked way with me, Jack Harding?”
The champagne had left me a little light-headed, but it wasn’t just the alcohol that was affecting me. I was drunk on Jack Harding too.
The champagne coursing its way through my blood made me forward, and I tugged against his hand, making him stop. When he stopped, I pressed my body to his.
