Wick, Nita - Designs on Haley (BookStrand Publishing Romance)
Page 18
He chuckled. “I’m sorry, baby.” He lowered his head.
She stopped his kiss with a finger over his lips. “You’re sorry for what?”
He nibbled her finger before answering. “I need another hint.”
“Michael!” His teasing nips were distracting her. She pulled her finger away. “You had no right to make a decision like that for me. Even my father wouldn’t have gone that far!”
A serious but loving look replaced the playful smile. “You’re right. I apologize. But you have to forgive me. I only want you to be happy. I thought it was what you needed.” He brushed the back of his hand across her cheek. Unusually rough fingers grazed her skin.
She pulled his hand down and examined it. Fresh scabs covered his knuckles. “What happened?”
“I scraped them at the gym.”
“How?” she questioned, trying to imagine what piece of equipment might have injured him.
He sighed. “I got in a fight with the punching bag.”
Haley groaned. “Aren’t you supposed to use gloves?”
“Yeah, well, I didn’t think about it.” He opened and closed his fist, flexing his hand. “I threw a punch, and the bag moved just enough that my hand slid down the canvas. Took off a little skin. No big deal.”
She shook her head. “Didn’t you have a spotter holding the bag?”
He grinned. “Knocked Jack down.”
“Men,” she muttered.
“So am I forgiven?” He lowered his head as if to kiss her.
Haley poked him in the chest again. “Don’t let it happen again.”
His gaze searched her eyes. “Yes, ma’am.”
She smiled. “Wanna kiss and make up now?”
Michael pulled her into his arms. “Thought you’d never ask.” His lips took hers, hungry, heated, demanding.
Allowing herself the pleasure for just a moment, she kissed him back. Her tongue tangled with his, and she slid her hands to his shoulders. With a little shove, she broke the kiss and sucked in a breath to calm the need to let him have his way. She would do this her way. “We need to discuss a few things. Set some rules if we’re going to move forward with this relationship.”
A groan rumbled through his chest. “Haley, I can’t do the one-day-at-a-time thing anymore. I need—”
“Rule number one,” she said as she loosened his tie to pull it off. “We make all big decisions together.” The tie slid from her fingers, and she pushed his jacket from his shoulders.
He shrugged and let his suit coat fall to the floor. “Big decisions?”
“Like where we’re going to live. That sort of thing.” She began working on his shirt buttons.
“I can live with that.” He helped flick the buttons at his cuffs and slid out of the shirt.
Haley smiled and ran her palms down his chest, over the ridges of his abs, and grasped his belt buckle. “Rule number two…” She paused to pull the belt loose and undo the button of his pants. “I want fidelity.”
Michael grasped her hands. He didn’t speak until she met his gaze. “Do you doubt it?”
“No, but I want it made clear. I’m an only child. I never learned to share, and I’m not about to start now. If we’re going to be together, you are mine. Got it?”
He nodded. “Agreed.” He reached for her. “Can you promise me the same?”
She laughed and pulled his zipper down. “Do you doubt it?”
His pants slid to the floor, and he kicked off his shoes. “I want to hear you say it.”
Haley reached beneath her skirt, slipped her panties down her legs, and stepped out them. She held them up for him to view before letting them join the pile of clothes at their feet. “I’m yours, Michael.”
His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed. His erection strained against his underwear. Haley brushed her hand across it before relieving him of the impeding garment. With slow, deliberate movements, she bent to push the briefs down his legs. By the time they reached his feet, she was kneeling before him. Her gaze met his as she removed his socks.
He stood before her now, completely nude, his desire and need for her displayed without reserve. She kissed his inner thigh and rose to her knees and caressed the solid length of him. With just the tip of her tongue, she traced the side of his erection from base to tip.
His fingers threaded through her hair. “Haley,” he croaked, her name a plea, a prayer.
Though her position suggested obedience and submission, she knew beyond doubt that, at this moment, she was the one in control. She sucked the tip into her mouth just far enough to encircle the crown, teasing him. With one hand, she fondled his testicles. The sac tightened at her touch.
A sound, half-growl, half-groan, rumbled through him. His hands tightened around her head, but he made no move to force her to take more of him.
She made him wait a moment more then rewarded him for his patience. Her mouth slid down over him until the tip touched the back of her throat. Sucking and licking, she pleasured him. Her right hand slipped around to squeeze his tight buttock, the left still occupied with his family jewels.
One moment, she was master, commanding his response. In less than a heartbeat, she found herself pressed across the padded corner of the sofa. Her bare butt rested on the wide arm. The back of the couch supported her head and right shoulder. Michael’s hands gripped her waist, held her still, and kept her from sliding off. He stood between her legs next to the couch, his erection nudging her opening.
She shifted and wedged her knee between them. “Rule number three,” she gasped.
His passion-filled gaze bore into her, and his nostrils flared, but he remained silent.
“I want forever,” she whispered.
Michael’s eyes reflected a flicker of surprise, and the corner of his mouth lifted in a half smile. He said nothing. He simply pushed her knee aside and plunged himself into her.
Haley’s breath caught, and before she could recover, Michael’s mouth claimed hers in searing, soul-stealing kiss. He moved inside her, and his tongue matched the rhythm he set with his hips. Her head swam with the sensations. His arm encircled her waist and held her in place while he pumped hard and steady. His free hand tweaked her hardened nipple through her blouse and bra.
He lifted his head to watch her. Haley struggled to catch her breath and hold her climax at bay. “I mean it,” she panted. “I want it all—kids, grandkids, matching rocking chairs on the front porch. I want the whole nine yards.”
Michael thrust forward and buried himself deep inside her, filling her, completing her. He ground his pelvis against her clit and sent a wave of pleasure through her. His unwavering gaze observed her, gauging her reaction. He flicked the tip of her nipple then pinched.
Haley ground her teeth together, the torture too much to bear. He would soon push her over the edge. Still she held back, waiting for his reply.
He leaned down, brushed his lips over hers, and continued the slow and steady sensual assault. “I love you, Haley.”
She smiled. “I know.”
He stopped, surprise and maybe a hint of disappointment reflected in his eyes. He’d obviously hoped she would repeat the words and tell him she loved him, too. Her golden god stood motionless for a moment before he smiled and kissed her. His rhythm began anew without breaking the sweet, tender kiss.
Haley tore her lips away. “I’m still trying to figure out…” Her breath hitched as the tiny muscles inside her tightened. “Figure out exactly when I fell in love with you.”
Michael’s laugh filled her with joy. “You’re going to tease me like that for the rest of my life, aren’t you?”
Haley nodded and promptly screamed. Her climax claimed her with a sudden intensity that shook her through and through. Stars burst behind her eyelids.
He thrust forward one last time and surrendered to his own release.
Several moments passed before either could speak.
“Tell me,” he coaxed. “I need to hear you say it.”
THE END
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Nita Wick is a wife, mother, and full-time analyst. When she’s not busy at the day job, you’ll likely find her reading or writing. She prefers romance novels because there absolutely, positively must be a happily-ever-after ending.
www.BookStrand.com