Sweet Deception

by Angel Nicholas

  “Afraid? I wasn’t afraid.” The appalled expression on his face would’ve been priceless if it weren’t for her muddled emotions. “Look, I love you. I want to marry you. I want to have babies with you. What more do you want?”

  “I don’t know.” Confusion warred inside her. What did she want? “All those weeks I worked so hard to put you out of my mind. I laid down my pride for you, even when I knew you’d probably throw my love right back in my face. And you did. Maybe I’m just afraid you’ll freak out and change your mind.”

  Right there on the roller coaster, flying through fog and darkness, Greg kissed her. Not a polite, we’re-in-public sort of kiss. A curl-your-hair, haze-your-mind, dampen-your-panties kiss. And she kissed him back.

  “Baby, I love you. I’ll tell you I love you every hour, on the hour, if you need me to. I don’t care. I need you. I’d be lucky to have a woman like you. Please. Marry me.”

  Lucky to have her—exactly. Sniffing, she pulled away and crossed her arms. The ride screeched to a stop, freeing her to climb out and stomp away from the big jerk.

  “Ally, wait.”

  She didn’t want to wait. Or stop either.

  “Ally!”

  The people around her stared. A woman giggled and pointed behind her. Curiosity got the better of Ally. She turned and her jaw dropped.

  In the middle of the amusement-park concourse, surrounded by hundreds of people, Greg kneeled on the blacktop. The crowd had helpfully left a path open between the two of them. She couldn’t believe it. Proud Greg was down on both knees, hands spread, staring at her.

  “Please, Ally. I screwed up big time. I know that, but I’m willing to spend the rest of my life making it up to you. Please, sweetheart. I love you. Marry me.”

  Crossing her arms, she bit her lip. Everything she’d ever wanted was hers for the taking. And he was essentially groveling in public for her affection. Maybe, just maybe…

  She strolled toward him. The people lining the path whispered and a few laughed.

  “I don’t know, Greg.” She tapped her foot on the blacktop and arched her brow. “Where’s my ring?”

  Choking on a laugh, he surged to his feet and picked her up. His muscles flexed beneath her fingers as he swung her around. Her heart soared higher than any measly roller coaster and she laughed. The crowd cheered. He set her down and fumbled in his pants pocket. Cool metal slid onto her finger, but she was too busy kissing him senseless to care. How fast could they get out of there?

  They tumbled backward through the door of her condo. Ally tugged at Greg’s clothes and slammed the door shut with her heel. Two seconds later, they landed on the hardwood. Greg pulled his shirt over his head in that cool, one-handed guy-move. Straddling him, she sat up to admire the sight.

  Even her best fantasies hadn’t been this good. Muscles she’d enjoyed six months, two weeks and four days ago were harder and bigger. She ran her fingers across his pecs and down the sexiest trail of hair to his fly. Touching wasn’t enough, so she leaned down to taste. Maybe all those months apart had changed his flavor.

  Uhm…no. Greg groaned and reached for her, but she slapped his hands away. She wasn’t finished making him pay for all her months of loneliness. Watching his face, the way his eyes glittered at her—she hoped those babies he’d mentioned had his eyes. She undid his pants, stood and pulled them off. Oh, my. He’d gone commando. Very nice. His six-pack bunched as he lifted off the floor.

  “Uh-uh.” She wagged her finger back and forth.

  His head made a dull thud on the floor when he dropped back and she winced sympathetically. Didn’t mean she was letting him up. Well…she eyed his impressive erection…he was definitely already up. Her fingers played with the ends of her sash. Once she had his attention, she slowly pulled it loose.

  The wrap dress fell open, revealing a thin strip of bare skin from her collarbone to her thighs. Watching him, she trailed her fingers along her skin. His erection jumped. A little shimmy slid the dress down to her elbows as her fingers moved lower. Never in her wildest dreams had she imagined touching herself in front of someone. But this wasn’t a dream. It was better. And this wasn’t someone, it was Greg.

  Gently, softly, how she liked to be touched at the beginning, she coasted her fingers over the smooth, soft skin of her pelvis. In her very personal attempt to gain control over her memories of what Victor had done to her, she kept herself waxed. From the fire in Greg’s eyes, he liked it. Touching her clitoris, she circled the rapidly hardening little nub. Greg’s gaze didn’t waver. She moaned.

  “Ally…”

  He was getting there. Dipping her finger lower, she found the pool of arousal at her entrance and spread the moisture higher. Where she needed it most. A little more pressure, circling, skirting around, teasing herself. She licked her lips. His erection jerked harder. Bringing her other hand up, she fondled her breast. Rubbed back and forth across her nipple.

  Greg’s gaze darted back and forth. From her fingers between her legs to her breast. The poor man didn’t know where he wanted to look. Perhaps she could help…more pressure built the fire of desire burning so hot inside. Making sure he could see, she slid her finger down, inserting the tip inside. She pressed her palm over her clit and rubbed. Her moan was louder this time.

  “Ally, for the love of…please,” he groaned.

  “What, Greg?” she whispered. So hot for him her legs trembled, she worked her finger in and out.

  “Let me touch you. I need you.”

  “Well, since you put it like that—”

  He lunged up from the floor in one fluid movement. Gentle hands glided up the back of her legs. She moaned, pleased to discover she was very sensitive at the back of her knees.

  “You’re so beautiful, Ally. I’m the luckiest man in the world. I get to spend the rest of my life with you.” His hands moved higher, discovering more sensitive skin. “I get to make love with you every night, wake up with you every morning, watch your belly swell with our child…” his fingers skimmed over her belly, which turned to molten lava at his touch “…see you nurse our child at your breast…” those too-clever fingers grazed the underside of her breasts and she struggled to stay focused “…and watch you grow old by my side.” Back down his hands went, parting her folds to his gaze. Blue-green flashed up and held her gaze. “I love you so much, sweetheart. I’m sorry I hurt you. I’m sorry it took so long to pull my head out of my ass.”

  He set his mouth to her, circled her clit with his tongue, the same way she had with her finger. Sensation shot through her, weakening her knees. She clutched the wall for support. He sucked, ever so gently. An orgasm she hadn’t known was building crashed through her.

  As the last waves rippled through her, Greg pulled her down, thrust inside her and filled the empty ache deep inside that existed just for him. Hands on his chest, Ally opened her eyes and held his gaze as she rode him. Unbelievably, the tension of another climax built. Greg pulled her head down and kissed her, captured her cries when she came again and gave her his as he pumped his seed into her body.

  Sometime later, she held up her hand to admire her engagement ring. The big diamond caught the late-afternoon sunshine from the window and cast sparkles through her room. They had made it to her bed at some point, although she couldn’t quite remember how or when.

  “Did I ever tell you I dreamt about you a few years ago?” She rolled over and rested her chin on Greg’s bare chest.

  “You did?”

  “Yep. Only in the dream, you were kinda pudgy and balding. And short. Danny DeVito short.”

  He flipped her onto her back and tickled her until she begged for mercy. Breathless, he kissed her until she begged for something else entirely. Slow and sweet, he made love to her as the sun set, gilding the room in soft pinks and purples.

  Epilogue

  “Stop,” she screamed. Desperation made her voice higher than she’d thought humanly possible. Silence reigned for all of three seconds before pandemonium resumed. Sh
e struggled to catch her breath.

  “Uncle. Uncle!”

  Gasping, she collapsed against the rug.

  “Mamma, you gave up too soon.” Lizzie planted her little fists on her hips and stuck out her little lip.

  “Yeah, Mamma.”

  Ally rolled over and glared at Greg. “It’s your fault.”

  “Oh, yeah?” He cocked a brow.

  Uh-oh. She knew that look. She scrambled to escape, but he grabbed her and tickled her until tears of laughter ran down her cheeks.

  Time to play dirty. She grabbed Greg’s hair and pulled his head down. Locking his lips to hers, she swept her tongue into his mouth. His arms wrapped around her and he took over. With a sigh, she relaxed in his arms and lost herself in his kiss.

  “Ewww!”

  Greg pulled away, laughing, and tugged on Lizzie’s blonde pigtails. “Don’t knock it, munchkin. Kissing your mamma is the next best thing to breathing for Daddy.”

  Lizzie cocked her head, looking from Greg to her. Ally pushed off the floor and gathered her into her lap. “Don’t pay any attention to your silly daddy, sweet pea.”

  “Okay.”

  Ally snorted on a laugh at her easy agreement and winked at Greg. “Aunt Celia and Uncle Lucas will be here soon.”

  Greg scooped up Lizzie and carried her to the kitchen. Ally rolled to her feet, following them. Lizzie looked at him with very solemn dark-green eyes, the picture of her own. “Are they bringing Henry and Alice?”

  “Yep.”

  “Good.”

  Greg bounced her in his arms. Watching them together always brought an ache of happiness to Ally’s heart. Life couldn’t get any better. Well, except for the little surprise she had for Greg.

  “And Suzy?” Greg asked.

  Lizzie made a face, scrunching up her adorable little nose. “Suzy’s a baby. She’s no fun to play with.”

  “She’s not a baby anymore. She’ll be four soon. You have to be nice to her too. You’re the hostess and it’s your job to make sure everyone has a good time—even the guests who are a few years younger than you.”

  “Yes, Daddy.”

  “Good girl.” Greg gave her a smacking kiss on her round little cheek and Lizzie giggled.

  He set her down and she skipped down the hallway toward her bedroom. Greg circled the counter and wrapped Ally in his arms. She sank into him. Ten years of marriage hadn’t lessened her response to him in the least. He still turned her on like nobody’s business. Hard to believe they had a six-year-old little girl. Not to mention…oh, she hadn’t mentioned.

  She leaned back in his arms and smiled.

  Greg eyed her suspiciously. The man knew her too well.

  “Have I mentioned how much I love you today?”

  He grinned. “Nope.”

  She resisted when he tried to pull her close. “Have I mentioned how much I love our daughter?”

  Eyebrows drawn together and a quizzical look in his beautiful eyes, Greg nodded.

  “Have I mentioned how much I love our life together?”

  “Ally, what—”

  “Have I mentioned we’re going to have another baby?”

  A big grin creased his cheeks. Greg picked her up and spun her around, laughing and kissing her until she was positive smoke was pouring from her ears. And other very important body parts.

  Ally’s legs wobbled when he released her. Oh yeah, they still had it.

  Grinning, he steadied her. “I love you so much, sweetheart.”

  She ran her fingers over his cheeks and along his jaw, staring into his eyes. “I love you, too. So much.”

  “Do you know when? How far along? Any of that?”

  “I’m two months. The baby is due December fourteenth.”

  He frowned.

  She wouldn’t have thought it possible to frown and grin at the same time, but he managed.

  “You went to the doctor? Without me?” He sounded so offended. He was so adorable.

  “Yes. I wanted to be sure before I told you.”

  The doorbell rang.

  “I guess I’ll have to forgive you.”

  She laughed and spun out of his arms but didn’t escape fast enough to avoid his broad palm smacking her playfully across her bottom.

  She skipped down the hallway, meeting Lizzie part way. Heart overflowing, she and Lizzie greeted their guests hand in hand.

  THE END

  If you like Angel Nicholas you’ll love Dani-Lyn Alexander …

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  Angel Nicholas

  The only girl in the midst of four brothers, I spent my childhood hiding behind romance novels. Now the mother of four overly-energetic children, a Whimsy kitty and slobber-flinging Great Dane, fiction is still my refuge. Excessive caffeine fuels my typing, stiletto heels maintain my sass, and the splendors of Idaho alongside its gregarious people inspire my muse.

  You can follow me on Twitter @_AngelNicholas.

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