I glance at her. Her big cat eyes are wandering around the posh lobby. It’s the standard millionaire’s building. High ceilings with marbled floors. Chrome elevators with a large wall of water next to our private one. I nod at the doorman and concierge who are engrossed with their phones. Both straighten as we pass.
“Why the penthouse?” She turns to me.
“What do you mean?” I touch her hair for a moment, pushing it off her shoulder.
“I don’t know, sometimes I wonder what it would be like to be a regular person.” Her sapphire eyes connect with mine. Our elevator opens silently to the apartment.
“What’s going on?” I ask, pulling her into my arms.
She shrugs. “I’m sick of being controlled by money. I spent three years without you because I was scared of my dad disinheriting me. Sometimes, I wonder if I might not be happier without it.”
I cup her cheeks. “You amaze me.” Rubbing my nose on hers, I ask, “Do you want me to donate all my millions to charity?” I lean over to kiss her puffy lips.
She sighs dramatically. “No, because you would just get more. It’s your curse to be rich, Reed Saddington. But, no doubt, you should donate to some to new charities.”
I swoop her up in my arms. “What are you doing?” she squeals.
“I’m carrying you over the threshold. What else would I be doing?” I plant kisses on her nose.
“I’m pretty sure you only do that if you’re married.” Her laughter makes me feel like I’ve won the lottery.
Setting her down, I say, “Not me. I do it when the woman I’m going to spend the rest of my life with is seeing her first home.”
Tess twirls around. “You’re crazy, you know that, right?”
“Only for you.” I slap her ass and she shrieks, a big, stupid smile on my face.
She runs one finger across the white walls as she looks around.
The ceilings are tall. Windows stretch from one side of the apartment to the other. It’s what first attracted me to it. All the lights and city being seen yet not heard. Tess hates to be alone. Living in this penthouse, we’ll be surrounded with light and life.
“Come here”—I take her hand—“I need to show you something.”
Pulling her behind me, I approach the ornate staircase, taking the stairs two at a time.
“Why are we hurrying?” She puffs.
“I’m excited.” After I open our bedroom door, she steps inside and her eyes take in the giant suite.
“This isn’t what I wanted to show you. Although I like it too.”
Smirking, I pull her into the master bath. She gasps, covering her mouth as she looks around.
“Oh my God… This is spectacular.” She jumps into my arms. Chuckling, I hold her as she clings to me, planting small kisses all over my face.
“When the realtor brought me in here, I saw this tub overlooking Manhattan. All I could see was you in it. I bought the place that second. I don’t think I even saw the rest of the apartment.”
“This is… I mean, come on, this tub and…” She slides out of my arms to peek inside the shower.
“Well, it’s got enough buttons. And we can fit six of us in here.”
“As long as you and I fit, that’s all I care about.” Crossing my arms, I watch her.
She spins around, her hands behind her back. “I’m putting a couch and a chair over there.”
“You do whatever your heart desires. This is all for you. I want you so spoiled no one but me can stand you.”
She tilts her head and laughs. “Careful what you wish for.”
Caging her in with my body, I reach for her neck and stroke it with my thumb. “I don’t have to be careful. I already have my heart’s desire.”
“Reed… the windows.” She frowns.
“The glass is tinted. I’m not into anyone seeing what’s mine.” I rub my nose along her cheek. “Are you sore?”
She bites her bottom lip lightly. “A little, but it kind of feels good.”
I lift her up, and she wraps her legs around me as I walk us over to the elaborate toilet seat. Sitting on it, I let her stand, so I can reach up and pull her panties down.
In one swift move, I grab her leg and throw it over my shoulder, bringing her honey straight to my mouth.
“Wait. Here?” She looks around.
“Here.” I grin then pull her onto my mouth. Sucking her clit causes her to fall forward and she grasps the gold towel rack. She’s wet and I drink and suck her hard. She pants, saying my name. One hand holds the rack; the other holds my hair. “Mmm, you’re lucky you taste so good. I can’t decide if I want you to come on my dick or in my mouth.” Torturing her, I add a finger and push up to rub that velvet spot and watch her face.
“Reed…” Her fingers tighten on my hair as I pump my finger into her. Her pussy clenches onto it. One more rub.
“Let go, Kitten.” And she does. I hold her tight as her whole body spasms. I can’t help myself. My greedy mouth latches on to her clit as she pulses in my mouth. With one hand, I unbutton my pants and tug them down. My swollen cock juts out. Her eyes are huge as she swallows.
“I want to suck…” I stop her as I grab her waist and guide her pussy to my waiting cock.
“Not right now. I need this,” I say, lowering her wet sex onto me.
“Jesus.” My head falls back as she moans against my neck. The tightness of her pussy is almost a religious experience.
“Fuck me, Kitten. You’re in charge.” Lifting her up, I thrust her down on me, then grab her neck and crush her lips on mine. My tongue needs hers like I need water. Her hands find the towel rack again. Her hot pussy tightly clenches my cock with every thrust, and the pleasure is intense.
“I need your tits in my mouth.” Her dress comes off with a quick tug and I unsnap her bra. As I suck her tight nipple into my mouth, a growl escapes me. Or maybe it’s her.
“That’s it, Tess.” My eyes remain fixated on her as she rides me. Have I ever loved her more? My stomach muscles tighten as she grinds herself on me.
“Rub your clit on me.” I jerk her up and down on my cock. “Christ, I’m ready to come. You’re too tight.”
She’s on her tip toes. I maneuver myself so deep I can sense her start to tremble and clench.
“Come on, Tess.” Snarling, I bite her nipple. “I want to hear you scream.”
She does. Her body responds to me. Her pussy is pulsing and clenching like a vise around my thick cock, almost like she’s milking the come out of me. She lets go of the towel rack and reaches for my neck as she attacks my tongue with hers.
“Reed… Reed, I’m… Fuck, I’m coming.” Her body jerks and convulses on my cock, setting me off. I pull her twitching pussy tight as I shoot my release inside her.
When I pull her hair back, she looks down at me.
“I had no idea. I love this… I mean, it feels good, doesn’t it?” Her beautiful eyes try to focus on me.
Looking at her as we both catch our breaths, I cup her cheeks. “I have never felt this ever.” Tears spill from her eyes and I gently rub them away.
“I love you,” she whispers. “I love you so much.”
Grabbing her neck, I kiss her hard. We break apart only to catch our breaths. Then slowly I lift her off my semihard cock, steadying her as she stands.
Her legs are shaking. “Maybe I need to let you rest.” I grab some toilet paper. “Let’s get you cleaned up.” My eyes scan her body as I gently wipe her down. When I arrive at her waxed pussy, my thumb dips into her wetness to rub her clit.
“Why are you waxed?”
She looks dazed as a moan escapes from her. “What?” she whimpers.
I pull my thumb away. Her eyes narrow and I feel her nails bite into my shoulders as she pulls away. Standing up, I run my hand through my hair. Unwanted jealousy creeps into me.
“Seriously, Tess, why?”
She grabs her panties from the floor, stepping into them gracefully, her tall thin body glistening. I shoul
d shut up. I sound like a lunatic.
“Um, because I like it.”
“What does that mean? It’s not like you were having sex. So, who were you waxing for?”
Not even looking at me, she pulls her pink dress on, straightens it over her hips, then walks right up to me.
“Reed, you asked me to let the past go. So, your behavior right now is sending mixed messages. You want me to shut up and forget about the last couple of years. Well, then I deserve the same.”
She’s right, but visions of guys being anywhere near her pussy make me sick. The irony is not lost on me. She stands in front of me, head held high, hands on hips. Like a queen. I don’t deserve her, but that never stops me.
She sighs. “Stop thinking! I can see your mind whirling. How can you feel threatened when you know you were my first?”
Closing my eyes, I unclench my hands.
“Reed! I started getting waxed years ago with Mom. And I’ve kept it up. It’s like shaving my legs. I just do it.”
Rubbing my hands across my face, I smell her on them. What am I doing?
“I’m sorry. I know you started waxing before you left. I guess I thought…” I shake my head. “Clearly, I’m not rational when it comes to you. I’ll work on it,” I say, kissing her eyes and nose.
She looks up at me. “I think you need sleep if these black circles are any indication.” She lightly traces my eyes.
I nod. “Let’s go check in. You can see the rest tomorrow.”
TESS
I wake with Reed’s body draped over half of me and the windows dripping with rain outside. Snuggling in tighter, I’ve forgotten this sense of security. I turn my head, bury my nose in his strong neck, and inhale his fresh Reed scent and my own. We checked into a suite at the Saint Regis and collapsed into bed. I woke to Reed’s head in between my legs at around 4:00 a.m. He wasn’t joking when he said he can go all night. I don’t remember when we ultimately drifted back to sleep, but if I can walk today, it will be a miracle.
“You okay? You look far away. What are you thinking about?” His rough morning voice makes my eyes connect with his. I smile up at him.
“Us. Last night.” I bury my head in his warm chest.
He chuckles “I keep telling myself to let you rest. You’re sore, aren’t you?” His full lips kiss my head.
“I’ll be lucky if I can walk! I can feel a pulse down there.”
He rolls on top of me laughing. “Your body will get used to it. I’ll let you rest today. I have plans anyway. Get up and let’s shower. We’re going out.”
I look out the window. The rain seems to have let up, but it’s wet and likely muggy.
“Maybe we should stay in and order room service and watch a movie today.” With a yawn, I snuggle back into his warm spot.
He slaps my ass. “Up! We’re roughing it today.” He chuckles, his dimples teasing me.
“What does that mean?” I say, sitting up. Pushing my hair out of my eyes, I take in the full beauty that is Reed.
“Well, we’re on a budget. That is, after we get a bed.” He stretches, and I can’t help but blush at his thick hard cock. He grabs my face for a kiss.
“I love your blushing. You were never shy with me. What’s changed?”
I want to say everything’s changed. That I’m all in. That if he leaves me, I might shrivel up and die. Instead I pull my knees up.
“I guess I’m not used to being happy.” Not a lie—I’ve been sleepwalking for three years.
He pulls me up as though I weigh nothing. “I know that feeling well. I meant what I said yesterday. This is us, our new life. I’m not going anywhere.” With his full lips, he tries to kiss me, but I turn my head away. “I haven’t brushed my teeth.”
He smiles. “You’re too beautiful to have bad breath. Now kiss me.”
I laugh. “Now I really can’t. That’s way too much pressure.”
Reed kicks open the door to the lavish bathroom and lets me slide down his hard body. He turns on the water for the shower. Completely uncomfortable, I look around. Should I get in with him, or wait?
“Tess? What’s wrong?” There’s amusement in his turquoise eyes.
Glancing at my reflection, my blond hair’s a tangled, wild mess. My blue eyes look so big. Absently I think I look like a Disney princess. You know, the ones whose eyes take up too much of their face.
“Talk to me. What’s going on in that stunning head of yours?”
Sighing I straighten my shoulders, causing his eyes to drop to my chest.
“I… I never thought it would be like this.”
His hand cups my cheek as steam starts to fill up the large bathroom.
“I mean, I have always loved you, but now… it’s… there’s this closeness that I never knew existed.” I cover my face with my hands. “I’m being silly. It’s hard to explain.”
He gently removes my hands and tilts my head up. “It’s not silly. I feel it too.” His thumb traces my lips.
“Yes, but you’ve had sex, so you’re used to this sensation.” His hand tightens on my chin.
“What does sex have to do with the way we feel?” He says, his voice low and gravelly.
“I… I don’t know. I only assumed…”
“Don’t assume. It has nothing to do with it! I could have fucked a thousand women and never felt the way I do when I’m inside you.”
My heart thuds, and I look away. His words are too powerful, giving me hope when I still need to be cautious.
“Look at me.” He grabs my chin. “Those women meant nothing.” He laughs bitterly. “I don’t think I even kissed them. I used to have to fantasize it was you. I tried so hard not to, but you always haunted me.” He drops his hands. We stare at each other until he finally shakes his head and enters the shower, leaving me to digest his confession.
What the hell? Pulling open the shower door, I find his magnificent body so distracting, I almost forget how to talk.
“Are you trying to tell me that you thought about me when you fucked other women?” I’m whispering, which is stupid—it’s only us and the shower.
He opens his eyes, and I watch transfixed as he washes himself. Feeling myself get wet and that pulse between my legs, my core starts to throb.
“Yes. Does that make you happy? I couldn’t come without calling your name.” He reaches for me, dragging me into the hot shower.
“I’m done, Tess. I don’t want to fight. You’re feeling vulnerable. Fine, that’s expected. It’s hard to trust me after what we’ve been through. But come on, you have to know that what we have is powerful.” I blink back the water drops.
“We need to be careful, Kitten. Otherwise these emotions could hurt us. Do you understand?” He brings his wet lips close to mine. “I love you and you love me. Always have. Call it destiny, soul mates, whatever you want. It controls us both.” I stare at him, his face serious, the shower pitter-pattering around us.
Then he turns and steps out of the shower. “Do you want me to order room service before we start roughing it?”
Slightly dazed, I shake my head.
“Just let us be us, and I swear you will be happy.” Wrapping the towel around his waist, he leaves me. I let the hot water beat down on me for a moment, trying to get a handle on my spinning emotions. Reaching for the shower gel, I squeeze some on my palm, watching as the gel bubbles and foams to life. As I wash myself, the sweet lavender smell calms me, and I suddenly get it. Or maybe I accept it. Reed is right. We are destined to love each other, and it’s okay to feel vulnerable. I mean what I feel for him is not rational or even controllable. It’s pure and right and I want him more than I have wanted anything. When did he get so wise? Or maybe he truly is done playing games. If that’s the case, I need to do the same.
Turning off the shower, I reach for a towel. As I stare down at my feet, I inhale deeply and take one step forward.
We spend the rest of the day walking the streets. The crowded sidewalks seem unnecessary as we hold hands talki
ng, laughing, being together. It’s as though I’m almost high or reborn. As though I’ve shed my old skin—the anxiety that’s been my life—in the shower and watched it flow down the drain.
“Do you want anything else on this?” the guy holding up my hot dog asks.
“Nope, I think that will do it.” I laugh as Reed rolls his eyes, trying to hand me the oozing chili cheese dog.
“Sixteen dollars.” He pulls a twenty out of his pocket, paying the guy.
“Keep the change.” Reed wraps his arm around my shoulders as we walk and eat our hot dogs. It’s slightly raining again, but I don’t even feel it. Seriously, someone could shoot me, and I wouldn’t know it. I’m walking on a cloud.
“So, that was our last twenty dollars. Since we’re broke, what should we do?” Reed stops us to sit on an empty bench.
This has been our ongoing joke today. Since I wanted to know if we would be happier without money, he left his wallet in the safe at the hotel. We have wandered the streets with only fifty dollars.
“We could go to a museum.” I play along.
“Nope, too expensive.” He puts the last of his hot dog in his mouth and throws the aluminum foil in the trash can across from us.
“Isn’t this fun? I mean who knew how much fun you can have in Manhattan without money.”
Pulling me close, he gifts me a smile so beautiful, my heart skips a beat.
“God, I love you.” He kisses my nose.
I finish chewing and try to swallow the hot dog that is stuck in my throat. Reed takes what’s left of it out of my hand, then pulls me onto his lap. The drizzle has started to pick up and I raise my flushed face to the dark skies. Wetness cools my cheeks and I blink at him as our lips touch. I taste the chili and mustard on his lips and lean into him, allowing him to deepen the kiss. His strong tongue twists with mine. The drops are getting fat and the splatter of wetness makes me moan and seek his warm tongue even more. This moment is perfect.
I feel like Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany’s. I know this man will either be my savior or my destruction. No matter what, my future is sealed.
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