Hands came between them, pulling at the shirts in the way and dropping them both without a second thought to where. Lili groaned softly when the lace top was pulled over her head, his palms each cupping a breast and sending lightening shooting through her body.
“So perfect,” he whispered against her throat, biting over her shoulder and taking one nipple between his teeth when she arched her back, gasping for air. He suckled and tweaked both nipples, feeling them harden and pressing between his fingers and against the roof of his mouth, his tongue out and swirling over the sensitive tip until the nails on his shoulders took on a painful grip. “A little fuller…nicely rounded and perfect,” he whispered against her mouth, his eyes suddenly wide when her hands framed his face, her mouth against his hard and demanding before she spoke.
“Please…please tell me you bought condoms,” she groaned breathlessly, eyes half open when she saw the look on his face, his head thrust back against the cushion of the sofa. Lili was up and off his lap in a second, chest heaving. “You forgot!? Oliver!”
“Lili…” he raised his head, holding his laughter inside and lifted his palms but she had turned from him and disappeared into the hall. The next thing he knew a pillow struck the back of his head and a blanket followed. “What the…”
“You’re sleeping out here. I can’t trust myself in bed with you, you’re too damn sexy for my sanity,” she informed him hotly, turning and disappearing into the bedroom, leaving him gaping after her.
Oliver fought the urge to burst out laughing and stood up with a decided groan and wince at the snug factor in his jeans. He’d forgotten how the woman could make clothing a veritable torture trap for certain parts of him. He ignored the shirts lying around and went to the bedroom, one hand in his pocket. He stood in the dim opening to the bedroom, the sight of her long legs now peeking out from the bottom of a well-worn oversized tee shirt as she threw blankets on the bed, another pillow thrown against the headboard with a lot of pent of frustration.
“Get out of here,” she stepped around the bed and glared at him, her voice a low hiss.
“This what you’re looking for, Mrs. Kensington?” Oliver pulled his hand from his pocket, half a dozen foil packets tossed to the nightstand. He laughed at the expression on her face that bounced from surprise back to narrowed feminine wrath.
“You…you…” Lili backed up a step when he took one forward. “Oh, no, mister. That was cruel. That was…”
“Hmm…I’m thinking you’re not amused,” he teased with a wink, a quick glance at the silent crib before he took another step around the bottom of the bed. He was grinning like a kid, watching her carefully. This was part of the fun they’d both thrived on and gulped it whole. Each watched the other as she made her move, making a wild attempt to run over the bed with a high pitched squeal when he grabbed her around the middle and both of them tumbled to the bed.
“Shhhhh!” Oliver laughed through his warning, his body over hers. Dark tousled hair and wild eyes filled with fury and passion. A delightful, delicious mix, he thought, and his wife. His knees tightened when she wiggled between them, her arms pinned to her sides. He flexed his feet closer, glad he’d kicked his shoes off and held her legs trapped to keep her from moving.
“I’ve lost interest.”
“Liar,” he whispered and leaned down to kiss her, laughing softly when she jerked her head to the side, lips taut and pursed. “You’re not angry with me…know how I can tell?” He peeked to the side, watching the tell-tale twitching of her lips.
“I’m not interested,” she informed him loftily. “I’m just pretending.”
“That’s very generous of you, Lili,” he slid to the side and pushed the tee shirt up, pulling it off and tossing it to the floor. “I can see interest in your eyes. They fill with heat when I kiss you…and when I do this…” his palm slid over the soft flat of her stomach to touch the lace panties, already damp at the center when he drew his fingers along the swollen middle. “And I can smell sugar and chocolate and you,” he opened his jeans and shoved them out of the way, kicking them free and pulling her to lay over him.
His palms held her hips, stroked over her behind and pulled hard, groaning at the sensation. She moved her hips, rotating and shifting, pressing and stroking the fires. Both swallowing the soft moans when she gave herself over in their kiss.
“I’m only doing this as a favor,” Lili whispered, hooking her foot in his and using it for leverage. “Oh god it feels so good, Oliver…”
“I appreciate the favor, believe me,” he watched her straighten up, his palms stroking along her sides and onto her hips, helping her rotate.
“It’s the least I can do since it is my fault,” she breathed thickly, reaching behind her for one of the packets and sliding to the side. “You are so incredibly sexy, Oliver Kensington,” Lili settled her mouth over his, letting him take the packet.
“You just like me naked,” he teased through his teeth, growling against the mounting heat. He grabbed her hips, stopping her from fitting them together. “Lili…we haven’t been together in a while…”
“I know…believe me, I know,” she whispered hotly, whimpering when she felt his body pressing for entry. Needing entry as much as she needed him to be part of her again. She remembered their first few times, how he’d teased her along until they fit so perfectly together. Passions matched and soared and tonight it was her turn to tempt and arouse.
“Lili…” Her name was pulled out low and as necessary as the air he was trying to sup in when she rotated and stroked that tight, hot channel along his body. He saw the heat flowing between them, felt the passion mounting as her knees slowly, teasingly part and take him.
He’d always prided himself on being able to focus on several things as once. Until he met up with Lili and discovered what it was like to experience passion with a woman who held his heart and soul in her tiny hands. His hands spanned her hips, gripping her behind and stopping her from sinking too quickly. She folded forward, long, slow kisses wiping out most higher thoughts when she continued rotating and stroking him toward the edge. When he felt the constrictions beginning, Lili pulled her mouth from his and buried her face in his shoulder, her outer body freezing while the inner muscles shattered his control.
Dark eyes shone happily awhile later, the heat of their passion filling the room around them. Both lying on their backs, fingers clasp between them and breathing ragged. Lili felt the bed move and blankets cover her as she drifted in and out of sleep. It was familiar and warm, she felt herself sigh and snuggled against him.
Oliver held her close. Inhaled her scent and felt her heart beat. He woke several times during the night.
Just to make sure. Just to inhale her nearness. His palm stroked over her shoulder, through the thick dark hair and pulling her against him with a shudder.
She was real. It wasn’t a dream. When she woke him just before dawn, his body reacted to the touch of his wife with a hungry demand that had them both panting, touching and arousing one another. Proving to each other that their dream was real.
Chapter Eighteen
Lili wasn’t sure where the energy came from. She was up early, staring lovingly at the man lying on his stomach, short cropped blond hair tousled and his breathing steady as she stepped beneath the hot shower spray. Wincing and making a note to not mention the new twinges to Oliver. Her body would adjust to him and their love making. She shrugged on the long sleeved silk shirt he’d left lying on the chair, buttoning it as she walked into the kitchen and poured juice.
It was almost eight before she heard Hailey stirring. She had her changed and cleaned off, selecting a pair of pink coveralls and a flowery little shirt. Lili was laughing when the little arms started pumping when she saw Oliver come out of the bathroom.
“A little daddy’s girl already,” she murmured, leaving them to play while she fixed a bowl of cereal, apple juice and a small bottle. She had finished stirring the cereal when the sharp rap came on the front door. S
he looked down at the over-sized shirt and winced but went to the door. People would only come to her door if there was a problem in the kitchen that needed her and others weren’t available.
It made her smile to hear him talking to Hailey, little gurgles of laughter now and then accented by a deep voice that had a way of weaving its way into her heart. She opened the door and froze, barely breathing.
“Mr. Kensington…” Dark eyes shot to the tall woman beside him. “Mrs. Kensington…I…this is a surprise,” Lili fought to keep her voice steady. She was prepared for this, wasn’t she? She knew they would come to her apartment. “How did you get through the gates? I…you should have rung the apartment,” she looked from one to the other, an all too familiar tilt to their heads that said she wasn’t worth an answer.
“You were to have papers signed for me,” Oliver Kensington Sr. let his gaze sweep the small apartment. “That’s all we want from you.”
“I said I would look at them. I never said I would sign them,” Lili answered softly, dark lashes closing when the deep voice came from the back of the apartment. “I’m afraid I haven’t had the time, though.”
“Do you honestly believe you can play games with me?” He glared at her derisively. “I’ll have my attorney have you declared an unfit parent with a touch of a button.”
“Sign the papers, Liliana,” Gillian Kensington shook her head. “I told you that you can’t hope to win against me.”
“Lili! What’d you do with my shirt?” Oliver came down the short hall. His jeans rode low on his hips, the button open and one arm holding a bouncing blond haired, blue eyed girl securely. His chest was bare and Lili had never seen him looking more sexy, she thought with a sigh that sent shivers through her. His gaze swept the long legs and familiar shirt with a crooked grin until he saw her face. “Lili? What’s wrong?”
“Your parents are here, Oliver,” Lili swallowed and moved to the small table beside the sofa, using the back of the high sofa for support. Her knees were shaking and her stomach bouncing worse than Hailey. The baby was enjoying the slapping sound of her little palm against Oliver’s chest, repeating the word ‘da’ over and over in her sing-song voice. “Your father actually came to see me on Thursday at the office,” she watched the instant denial spring to both the elder faces. “He told me you’d sent him to speak to me because you wanted nothing to do with me.”
“I’m not sure what’s she talking about, Oliver,” he looked at his son. “I had no idea you were here.”
“That much is true,” Lili said with a slight nod. “He brought an attorney with him, Marianne Simpson…and he gave me these,” she handed the papers to Oliver. “He said you were in Florida and that you’d asked him to handle our divorce for you.”
“I don’t know what she’s talking about, Oliver. Why would I involve myself…”
“Then why are you here?” Oliver asked with a curiously amused look from one to the other, carrying Hailey to her highchair and buckling her in place, dropping some of the small oat circles to the tray. He lifted the sheath of papers, flipping and reading quickly before meeting the blue eyes of the older man and promptly tearing the papers into several pieces. He dropped them into the trash behind him and moved to stand next to Lili. He looked from his mother to his father. “You know, I wasn’t surprised at your behavior. I hoped I was wrong. A couple friends told me how stupid I was to underestimate you and it almost cost me my family.”
“Oliver, it’s quite obvious the woman is…well, honestly, confused is probably putting it mildly,” Gillian reached out to touch her son, her palm dropping when he shook his head.
“Don’t criticize Lili, mother. Never to me – again. You’ve made the choice not to know her.”
“There’s obviously a mistake, son,” the older man worked to keep his sincere expression intact.
“One of the safety precautions the resort has in place,” Lili said softly, checking on Hailey before pressing the play button on the remote she’d picked up from the table. “Is security cameras in all offices and halls and public places. I’m not confused and I’m very capable and I am very, very tired of you lying about me.”
Oliver saw the look of surprise that shifted to anger he was accustomed to viewing, especially in his father. He watched the large TV burst to life, familiar voices breaking the silence. A large part of him angered considerably when he heard the inferred threat about taking Hailey from her mother.
“I don’t want you in my life,” Oliver said when the video ended, his gaze hard and voice cold. “I don’t want you around my daughter or my wife. I will take legal action to make that effective, if that’s what it takes. Have I used clear enough language for you both?”
“Oliver, darling, I’m sure this can all be straightened out,” Gillian reached out for her son once more, her palm resting on his arm.
“You know…” He stepped back and paced, his head shaking. “I believed that’s all the whole thing was, one big misunderstanding. I bought into your lies that maybe Lili wasn’t accustomed to how our family operated, the words perhaps confused her. And she definitely was not accustomed to a couple of people she should have felt safe and comfortable with, who betrayed her trust without blinking. But it never stopped,” he looked from one to the other as if he were seeing them for the first time. “I heard your voice, saw your face on the security copy. How the hell can you claim it was something Lili misunderstood? She possesses above average comprehension skills. And over and over, you both found ways to convince me she misunderstood something that happened between you.”
“Really, son, you’re going to take her word over ours? The woman doesn’t even know who her father is,” Oliver Kensington Sr. sneered down his nose at the woman who paled under his words.
“At least she knows her mother,” Oliver looked sadly from one to the other. “I don’t think I ever knew either of you. I love her. I’m proud of her and she makes me happy. I love my daughter. I want my family intact and together. I want to be happy,” he scoffed and ran two hands over his head. “Why can’t you both see that I’m happy with Lili?” He heard the slapping of little palms and knew what it meant, striding to the highchair and dropping a few oat circles to the tray before sitting down and beginning to feed Hailey.
“Oliver, perhaps if we met and had lunch,” Gillian didn’t like the heightened color on her husband’s face. And neither of them liked losing to a bastard woman who broke up their family. “We could talk this through. You’ve left some very confused friends when you just up and…and followed this woman.”
“This woman is my wife. This is where I belong. No, it’s where I want to be,” he corrected honestly.
“You’d throw away your heritage, your birthright…”
“No, I don’t think so,” Oliver looked from one to the other, his head shaking. “We’re creating our own family, our birthright. We have plans for the weekend, Mother. And quite frankly, I don’t think there’s anything to talk about. I’ll make certain you’re kept apprised of the business and I plan to make us all a great deal of money,” Oliver grinned and barely missed the rampant little hands reaching for her juice. “Not quite fast enough, peanut,” he laughed softly, glancing casually toward the couple standing near the door. Lili had gone into the bedroom, leaving him to deal with his parents. It’s what should have happened when he first found her.
“Oliver, I insist you return to New York. It’s obvious we’ve made some mistakes. But the influence this woman is exerting…and the board…”
“I’ve resigned the board, Dad. I’m back doing what I enjoyed and it’s all I need. I let myself lose track of that and have spent a few months kicking myself for allowing it to happen. You have all the people you used to undermine my marriage. It’ll be interesting to see how well they function in your business. I was in the process of weeding them out when I decided it just wasn’t worth my time. You bought and paid for them, they’re yours now. My office is being set up here…ah-ah-ah…” He laughed and offere
d a few more oat circles and a spoonful of cereal. “Anyway…I’d say it was nice seeing you both, but I’d be lying and I think our family has had enough lies for one year. The door’s behind you,” he said flatly, nodding and staring at them both. “Good bye. And please, from now on, call before you come to our home.”
For a long silent minute the two men stared at one another. It was in that instant that he realized there weren’t parental roles between them any longer. He’d spent too long pretending that the behaviors he’d grown up with were necessary not only as part of life, but as part of them. He wasn’t sure where he’d lost his own goals, his own pleasures, but he knew the instant they flooded back to him and they all revolved around Lili.
Lili came out of the bedroom only after she heard the door click. Dark eyes filled with concern went from the man gently wiping down fingers and cherub face before unbuckling his daughter and sitting her in the middle of her toys. Instantly bells and clangs and music filled the small apartment. Those sounds were punctuated with tiny gurgles and chattering that was probably important to something, Oliver just wasn’t sent the memo on what. He dropped the plate, spoon and wash cloth in the sink before walking to where she stood.
“You left the room,” he said quietly, taking her hand and tugging her to sit with him on the sofa. She automatically turned to face him, one knee bent and her palms resting there when she shrugged slightly.
“I was going to get dressed,” was the casual reply.
Oliver lifted the tail of his shirt. “Forgot your clothes.” He put a palm beneath her chin, fingers brushing over the dark hair that hadn’t quite settled into its normal places. “You didn’t have to leave, Lili. There isn’t personal or private between them and us anymore.”
WindSwept Narrows: #20 Fleur & Liliana Page 13
