by Nana Malone
He nodded. “I understand the need to be free.” Lex took a sip of his drink and slid his hand across the table to take mine. “Abbie. There’s something I wanted to talk to you about.”
Lex’s eyes were so serious, and his voice was grave. I tried to focus on his voice, but the scratchy feeling at the back of my throat distracted me. “What is it?”
“I don’t know how to say this, so I’ll just—” He paused. Studying me, he frowned. “Abbie, are you okay?”
“Uhm, fine. It’s just a little hot in here. My throat’s a bit scratchy, but it’s nothing. What do you want to say?”
He narrowed his gaze and studied me closely. “Hell. I’m so sorry.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I think you’re having an allergic reaction.”
“Don’t be crazy. I’m fine. It’s just a little hot in here.”
His brows shot up. “Really, then why are your lips swelling?”
Chapter Seventeen
Abbie
Two hours after the dinner debacle, Alexi held me close and watched me sleep. After using my EpiPen, I’d refused to go home. I’d also been livid that he insisted on paramedics coming to check me out.
But they’d told him the same thing I had. All I needed was rest. So, he took me home. To his bed. I was half asleep when we’d come in, so he hadn’t even had a chance to show me his place properly since all the repairs had been done. I changed into a T-shirt and climbed into his arms as if I’d been doing so for years.
Alexi held me tighter even as he cursed himself for being all kinds of an idiot. He’d called ahead and made sure none of the food had mushrooms in it, but he’d completely forgotten about the condiments and sauces. “Stupid, stupid,” he muttered softly.
I stirred in his arms. “You’re holding on pretty tight there.”
He only loosened his grip marginally. “Sorry. I was really worried about you.”
I turned in his arms. “And I told you that you didn’t need to be.” I gestured to my face. “See, I’m already back to normal. I’m fine. It happens.”
“But it happened on my watch. And I told you I’d called ahead, so you were less careful about what you were eating. I feel like an arse. I was trying to impress you.”
“Hey,” I reached up to cup his face, “All I wanted was you tonight. I didn’t need impressing.”
I kissed him gently. Despite everything, his body went on instant alert. Ready to rock as if he’d been plugged into an electrical socket. “Abbie, you should be getting some rest.”
I met his gaze with a direct one of my own. “I’d rather make love to you, if you don’t mind. I’ve missed you.”
He dragged in a ragged breath. With shaking hands, he caressed my cheek. “I've been dreaming of having you here in my house, in my bed, since I rescued you from that Mini Cooper.”
I ducked my head. “Of course you would remember that. So embarrassing. Must happen to every single green Yank who shows up on your shores.”
Alexi put his finger under my chin and tilted my head, forcing me to look at him. “Don’t be embarrassed. I fell for that girl who wanted to save her camera and yanked me down with her to save its life.”
“Well, that camera is my everything. A girl's gotta eat.” Quietly, I added, “When you pulled me into your lap, I thought you Brit boys took chivalry to a whole new level.”
Alexi gently drew me to his body.
I drew in a shuddering breath as I came into contact with his erection. “Alexi, I—”
He pulled back and kissed my temple, then whispered, “Shh, it's okay. We don’t have to do anything.”
I shook my head. “I was going to say that I feel safe with you.”
Wait, I trusted him? After everything he’d put me through? Again, he kissed me, his tongue sliding over mine, exploring my mouth. I sucked on his tongue, and he shivered. I laced my hands through his hair and lightly scored my nails into his scalp. A shudder racked his body. His erection throbbed against my belly, and I smiled against his lips.
“Jesus, Abbie.”
I sat up in bed. With one hand, I reached between us and started unbuttoning his shirt. One by one, the tiny silver buttons slipped from their loops, revealing tanned skin and muscles beneath. I'd seen him without his shirt on often enough to know just how hard those muscles were and where tattoos lay hidden. I loved the Sanskrit etching on his ribs, but my favorite was the expansive eagle wings on his back. I loved how his muscles would ripple when I ran my fingertips over them.
Drawing back from our kiss, I tucked both hands into his shirt and pushed it off his shoulders. It fell to the ground without making a sound.
He reached for me and tugged his T-shirt off of me, leaving me bare.
I went for his trousers next, my trembling hands working on the buckle of his belt. All the while, his gaze burned on me intensely, scorching my exposed flesh.
His hands lightly caressed my face then traced a path down to my breasts. The backs of his fingertips just barely grazed my flesh. When they reached my nipples, he let the pad of his thumbs trace over the puckered tips. When he circled the sensitive tips again, a moan tore from my throat as a stab of pleasure hit me deep in my center.
“You’re so responsive, Abbie. Just one touch, and you're melting already.”
His pants followed his discarded shirt, and he wiggled out of them. All that stood between us were his boxer briefs and the slip of my barely there satin panties. I curled into his embrace once more and kissed his chest. His muscles bunched, and his chest vibrated with a low rumble when I flicked my tongue over his nipple.
“A-Abbie…” His breath was ragged and raw.
Tentatively, as I kissed my way across his chest, I slid a hand down his body, over each rippled ab, down to his straining erection. Lightly, my fingertips explored the rigid length through his shorts. His hands froze in my hair, but he didn’t stop me.
More emboldened, I slipped my hand into the waistband of his shorts then wrapped my fingers around his girth and lightly tested the weight of him. With the contact of flesh on flesh, he shuddered then hissed, and his grip on my braids tightened. I stroked him, slowly running my thumb over the tip of his erection, and his hips bucked. I smiled up at him and stroked him again.
His jaw clenched, and a vivid curse tore out through gnashed teeth. I immediately stilled, and a whimper escaped his lips.
“God, Abbie. You feel so goooood.” His voice was hoarse, raw.
I wrapped my hand around him once more, and he hissed again. This time I brought my free hand to his chest and explored the smooth skin of his nipple with my thumb, just as he'd done to me.
His eyes drifted closed, and he moaned deep and low as I explored. His nipple puckered just like mine did when he touched me. Alexi dropped his forehead to mine and whispered, “You feel so good. But I need you to stop.”
I stilled immediately. “I thought you liked—”
He chuckled harshly. “God, yes. I like it. I'm just trying to slow us down before I lose total control here.”
“I think I’d like to see that.” I pumped again twice and smiled as his whole body shook. But when his gaze met mine, I knew he’d lost the battle for control.
Lex
Gently, I slid my tongue over her lower lip, and she parted her lips for me. For several minutes the only sound that pierced the silence in the room was our moans and muffled whispers.
I shifted our position so that she lay propped against the pillows on the bed. “I've been missing you.”
A shy smile stole across her lips. “I missed you too.”
“I never meant to hurt you.”
She nodded. “I know.”
When I kissed her again, my tongue was possessive, staking a claim on her as my hands moved over her naked flesh. My thumbs traced each of her ribs before my hands travelled up and I traced over her nipples.
Abbie writhed beneath me, and with each wiggle of her hips, the blood rushed louder in my head. A
nd the whispers grew to a thunder. Take her. She’s yours. Don’t let go.
She blinked up at me, eyes wide. “Alexi, I know what I want. And it's you. It's always been you.”
I rolled off of her for a split second and snagged a condom from my bedside table. In less than a minute, I had it on and pulled her to me, kissing her softly. “Abbie, you are incredible.”
As I slid into her warm depths, the words I love you lingered on the edge of my consciousness like an ethereal dream I couldn’t catch. I rocked into her over and over again, and she scored her nails on my back, calling my name on breathy little sighs. Even if I couldn’t grab hold of the words, I knew I couldn’t ever walk away from her.
I knew the moment she skyrocketed into orgasm because her body clamped onto me like a vice. Unable to withstand the pleasure that chased up my spine, I followed her into oblivion.
Holding her tightly to me afterward, I kissed her temple. “I’ve wanted you here from the moment you danced with me that first night.”
Abbie giggled. “God, I was so nervous.”
“Why?”
“Have you seen you? And you could dance.” She lifted the sheet to look down my body. “I mean, what’s a girl to do?”
“I can think of a few things.” I laughed.
“You’re incorrigible.”
“Who me?” I kissed her softly, ignoring the prick of guilt. She was so happy, so relaxed. What would happen when I told her?
Casually dropped it into conversation about Silas, what he’d done to us. What I’d had to do to protect my brother.
As if that was going to work out in my favor.
You have to tell her.
Soon. I’d tell her soon. But not quite yet. I needed to live in this blissful existence for just a little bit longer.
You’re a liar.
I shoved aside the internal thoughts and prickling guilt. “So, what are you doing Sunday?”
She winced. “Ugh, I’m headed to campus. Xander’s helping me with some of my portrait work. I have a few things I want to show him before class on Monday. And I’d rather get his opinion before I print them all out. Why? What’s happening?”
“I want to take you to meet my mother.”
She sat up, dislodging the sheet covering her breasts. “What? Your mother?”
I did try to focus on her face, but her breasts were right there. I licked one nipple, and Abbie immediately melted, laying back on the bed.
“Yes, my mother. I want to show you off,” I whispered.
“Okay. I’ll come. But I have nothing to wear.”
“You can go like this, for all I care. As long as you’re by my side.”
“As if.” She chewed her lip. “What if she doesn’t like me? Approve or whatever.”
“She’ll l—” I clamped my mouth shut. I’d nearly said my mother would love her almost as much as I did. I did love her, but before I told her that, I needed to tell her the truth. I’d wanted to do it tonight. But then she’d gotten sick. And now, I wanted to hold onto her for one more night before I might lose her for good. “She’ll think you’re perfect.”
Chapter Eighteen
Abbie
I leaned into Alexi as he kissed me hard and long at my back door. He lingered over my lips and sighed. For once, the gray that blanketed London the majority of the time had parted to reveal some sunshine, and it backlit his beautiful face.
“I need to go before one of your neighbors sees me and calls the paparazzi.”
I moaned. “You could come inside.” Through the sweats I wore and his jeans, I could feel the ridge of his arousal.
He dropped his forehead to mine. “Woman, you are insatiable. You’d think after last night, and this morning, and then the shower, I’d have tired you out by now.”
I grinned. I was exhausted, but it didn’t stop me from wanting him again. “What can I say? I can’t get enough.”
“Jesus, Abbie.” He kissed my nose. “I want to. Which is why I probably shouldn’t. You have work to do and a roommate to deconstruct with, and I have some work to do with Nick. But I will see you tomorrow, okay?”
I sighed. “Right. We can't just avoid our lives entirely. I need to start putting out my resume too. The photography gigs are good. But I think I also need another job.”
His jaw tightened. “I'm trying really hard to respect your wishes, but it's getting harder. I'm the reason you're in this mess.”
I kissed him softly. “It's not a mess. It's me getting to live my life how I see fit. So, no. No rushing in and doing the prince charming bit. No pun intended.”
He grinned and kissed me once more before heading to his car.
Still a little lust drunk, I tripped up the stairs and let myself in to my flat. Faith looked up expectantly with a wide smile on her face. Sophie was also home for once, but she didn’t seem nearly as enthused.
I slid my shoes off in the hall before skipping into the living room.
“Someone's in a good mood,” Sophie said quietly.
I couldn’t help grinning again.
“Wouldn’t you be in a good mood if you'd spent the night having one of London's most eligible bachelors catering to your every sexual whim?” Faith gave me a pointed look. “You, go shower, change, then come out and tell us all the sordid details. I want to know skill level, size, and dexterity, all of it. Don't you dare leave anything out.”
I giggled. “But I'm so tired. Can’t I just sit here and rest for a minute?” I'd had a shower at Alexi’s this morning, but I could use the change of clothes. Though his sweats were so worn in and soft, they felt like heaven.
“Yes, yes you may. And have a crumpet while you tease us with all your delicious sex-having.”
Sophie passed over the tray of crumpets, and I took one gratefully. When I took a bite, the sinful delight of warm jam melting on my tongue made me moan. I hadn’t realized just how hungry I was. I'd had some fruit at Alexi’s, but I'd been so nervous and keyed up and on a lust high that I hadn’t eaten much.
I glanced at Faith. “So, where do you want me to start?”
Faith rolled her eyes. “Start from the minute you left this flat.”
As I gave them a rundown of the night, Faith sat forward in her seat while Sophie sat back picking at her nail polish. I understood Sophie was concerned for me, but she didn’t need to ruin my fun. “So yeah, then he brought me home just now.”
“When are you seeing him again?” Faith asked
“Well, he's got some work to do today. He also wants to be around for Jasper’s photo shoot. He wasn’t too enthused to hear we'd slept together.”
Finally, Sophie leaned forward. “Does he believe there's something between you and Jasper? Is there something between you and Jasper?”
I shook my head and rolled my eyes. “No. Not really, and no, not at all. In that order. Jasper’s just been a great friend.”
Sophie frowned then slouched back again. “If you say so.”
I ignored her. “And Alexi wants me to meet his mother tomorrow.”
Faith’s jaw dropped. “Are you serious? That’s huge. This is insane.”
Sophie frowned. “What are you going to wear?”
“No idea. But I can’t think about that right now. It’ll just make me too nervous.” I changed the subject. “So, Faith, you promised me spillage of your innermost when I got back. I'm back now. You want to tell us what happened with Liam?”
Faith groaned and covered her face with the pillow. “I'd rather talk about you and Sexy Lexi and lovely things. I don’t want to talk about how awful Dublin was.”
I handed her a crumpet from the tray. “Here, eat for fortification. Then spill.”
Faith took a tentative bite before she finally said. “Dublin was awful. Horrible actually.”
“Honey, why didn’t you say anything?” I asked.
“What happened?” Asked Sophie, back in friend mode.
Faith shrugged. “It's not something I can put my finger on really. It wasn’t
that different from any other trip I've had up there.” She tucked her blond hair behind her ear. “Okay, look, when he's down here, Liam is charming, freer. Fun. We go out, we talk. But when I went up there to see him, it was stilted. Awkward. He won't even hold my hand in public. It’s pretty hard to talk about how we end the long-distance thing when I can barely get him to say two words to me.”
Sophie frowned. “That's bizarre. You guys are always so touchy feely. Most of the time it's really embarrassing for other people.”
“I know, right?” Faith exclaimed.
“What do you think it could be?” I asked as I tucked my feet underneath me. “Do you think he didn’t want you there?”
“Well, I think he's got some secret girlfriend or something up there, and I told him such.”
Sophie snorted. “Oh, Faith, you did not?”
“Oh, yes I did. I went full-on crazy girlfriend on him and accused him of having a whole other life.”
I chewed my lip. “And how did that go?”
“He laughed me off and made me think I was losing my mind.”
I patted her knee. “Oh, honey, I'm sure it's not like that.”
“Well, it's like something. The rest of the weekend was filled with this awkward silence.”
“I'm sorry,” I muttered.
“Yeah, anyway, so I came back, and then everything pretty much went tits up with you and Lex, and honestly I didn’t want to talk about it. I was hoping it would all blow over when Liam came here, but then I got to thinking that I didn’t want a boyfriend who treated me like I was a crazy person. I wanted a boyfriend who wanted to fix the root of the problem.”
I frowned. “So, what happened in that bathroom, Faith?”
“Honestly, I don't know what happened with Angel. I mean, there I was, staring at his bare ass, and I couldn’t take my eyes off of him.”
I shook my head. “I didn’t even know you were that into him.”
Faith shook her head. “I think it was less about him than it was about me needing something else. I haven't been that happy with Liam for a while. Then when Angel turned around and asked if I saw something I liked, I could barely move.”
