“Dinner is served, sir.”
I smile and nod. “Thank you, Ester.” I look at El, who’s now trying to straighten her shimmery black dress. “Please, join me.” I motion back toward her chair.
She doesn’t look pleased, but she sits down and scoots her chair back up to the table.
Ester serves both our plates, then refills our wine glasses before leaving us alone.
“I don’t like your table,” she states flatly.
I laugh. “Why not?”
“You’re so far away. I feel like I have to yell just to talk to you.”
I stand, pick up my plate and glass of wine, and move down the table to sit beside her. “Better?”
She smiles, clearly happy she got her way. “Much,” she says with a nod of her head.
We both resume eating, and I can’t help but watch her. She’s different than the women I’ve been with in the past. Those women, Candice included, were prim and proper. They wanted everyone to think they had it all. They flaunted their money and nice things. They looked down on people who had less than them. But El, she’s different, and not because she doesn’t come from money. She’s kind and thoughtful. She’s young and still excited about her future. She hasn’t yet been jaded by the world. The saying “youth is wasted on the young” does not apply to her. I’ve only been around her a couple weeks, but already I can tell she makes the most out of every moment. She’s not worried about what others think, and she doesn’t try to look like she’s something she’s not.
Being with her will make me a better man—a man who learns to let go, have fun, and realize he can’t control everything. She’ll bring out all of my best qualities—even ones I don’t know I have. I can see it already. Question is, am I ready to let go of the man I am now? I don’t even have to think about it. Yes, I’m ready to let go of the things that have burned and scarred me in the past. I’m ready to be free—to experience everything as if it’s the first time—through her eyes.
“Tell me something about you that nobody else knows,” I request as I pick up my glass and take a sip.
She wipes her mouth with her cloth napkin. “Like what?”
I shrug. “Something deep. Something you think about when you’re alone. What your dreams and aspirations are. Where you see yourself ten, twenty, hell, even thirty years from now.”
She smiles and sets down her fork as she turns her whole body to face me. “I hope to get into grad school and then get a job in a big publishing house. I want to surround myself with stories and get lost in other worlds. I want to fix errors and make things better.”
I nod. “Those are your career goals, but what about your life goals? Marriage? Kids? Where you’ll live? What kind of man will be by your side?”
Her smiles widens as her eyes glaze over. “I never put any serious thought into it, but I’ve always dreamed of having a big two-story white house with blue shutters, a white picket fence, and a big yard. I can see myself, my husband, our three kids, and our dog rolling around in the grass, playing tag. In the backyard, there’s a treehouse where we camp out, a fire pit where we can roast marshmallows, and a pool for the summer months.” Her eyes drift closed as she goes deeper into the dream.
“My husband will be sweet and kind, but not a pushover—someone who knows when to be patient, but also knows when it’s time to take the gloves off. He’ll spend every weekend at home, going to the farmer’s market with me, barbecuing in the backyard, and tucking in his children every night. Then, when the house is quiet, he’ll sneak into the kitchen where I’m cleaning up dinner, and fuck me senseless on the white tiled island.” Her eyes open and her cheeks glow red.
She giggles. “But that’s just a silly dream.”
It’s only now that I realize I’m completely lost in her fantasy. I pull myself from her dream. “Who says it can’t be real?” I ask, leaning in.
She snorts. “Would you really give up this big, fancy house to go live in the suburbs with me? Are you going to give up your chef to eat the burnt dinners I cook, or trade in your fancy cars for a minivan?” Her eyebrow arches.
I nod. “I’d give up everything for love—true love—the kind that won’t allow you to walk away.”
Something on her face changes. Her eyes, which were already filled with passion, now burn with desire. Her arched eyebrow drops out of surprise, and her lips part.
She stands. “You’d give up all of this for me?” she asks, sitting on my lap.
“I’d give up everything for true love, El. Not a hookup or a week-long whirlwind romance, but real love.”
She leans forward, closing the distance between our mouths. Her lips part and her tongue demands entrance. I lean forward, deepening the kiss as I place my hands on her hips and stand, holding her against me as I walk us up the back stairwell to the second level. Her arms are wrapped around my neck, and her thighs hug my hips. She’s clinging to me for dear life—all the while, giving me every ounce of love and passion she holds within her.
I open my bedroom door and kick it closed behind us as I lay her down on the bed and climb up her body, between her parted knees. Already, her hands are rushing my body, pushing and pulling clothing away. She’s breathing heavily and softly whimpering as my hands caress and squeeze every inch of her. I want every inch, every curve, burned into my memory.
I get myself to my knees and look down on her. She’s so fucking beautiful—just breathtaking. Her blonde curls are splayed out across my black pillows. Her green eyes are lit up and glowing. Her plump red lips are parted and welcoming. Her cream-colored skin teases me with every inch she reveals, beckoning me to reach out and touch her, to get lost in her.
I work my pants down my hips without taking my eyes off of her glorious body that’s hard in all the right places. With our clothing stripped away and tossed onto the floor, I pick up her knee and press a kiss to the inside, slowly moving up her leg. She’s shaking and pleading with me, begging me to take her. And I will. But first, I want to take my time with her. I want her writhing in my hands. I want her to want me as badly as I need her. I want to taste every inch of her. I want to memorize her every curve. I want there to be no piece of her that’s gone untouched by me. I want to claim her—to make her mine and only mine.
Chapter 13
Janelle
He’s toying with me—teasing me deliciously and slowly. It ignites a fire in my lower belly that blazes out of control, gradually stealing every inch of my consciousness. I’m no longer capable of making decisions. Now, everything I do is an automatic response to him and the things he’s causing me to feel.
I feel like I’ve fallen down a rabbit hole, and I’m spinning uncontrollably. I can’t stop myself from falling. Every time I see something I can grab on to—to hold myself back—the speed of my falling only accelerates, causing me to blow right past it.
I thought I knew what I wanted out of life, but admitting my lifetime aspirations to him made me realize that I don’t have the slightest fucking clue. All I know is I want to be loved and happy, regardless of grad school and my dream job. As long as I have love, I’ll be happy with any job I have. As long as I have someone by my side, helping me fight through every problem life throws at me, I’ll be complete.
When he slides into me, I let out a gasp of relief. Finally, we’re together, where we’re supposed to be. My hands fist the sheets as his mouth presses against mine. His hands hold me firmly against him: my thighs, hips, waist. He cups my cheeks to deepen the kiss while his hips never stop moving. With each thrust, he’s pushing me closer and closer to my release, but he’s also pushing me closer to something else: a new dream. Suddenly, I can see him as my husband in my vision of the future. I can see him tucking in our children every night. I can him making love to me on that white tiled island in the kitchen—surrounded by toys and sippy cups.
The thought of my life turning out like that causes my heart to skip a beat. It sings from inside my chest like it’s celebrating the fact that I’ve finally
realized my deepest wish. It feels like my mind, body, and soul have finally become one. Before, it was like I was divided. My head told me to go to college and grad school, then get a respectable job to become a productive member of society. My heart was always busy trying to find the next guy who could be the one. And my soul was always fighting, telling me to keep going, to keep trying, that the one was out there. Now, they’re all together, perfectly in sync. And as much as that scares me, it also makes me happy. Finally, I know what I’m supposed to do. I can have it all. Griffin was right, and I realized all of this thanks to him.
“You’re so beautiful,” he whispers softly in my ear as he slowly moves in and out of me. His hands find mine, and he pins them above my head, our fingers locking together. He rolls his hips, and my release breaks free, washing over me like a strong wave that steals the air from my lungs. My toes tingle, my lungs burn, and my heart nearly freezes in my chest. I can do nothing but revel in the pleasure and pain that’s now coursing through my body at lightning speed.
Finally, my release ends, and he removes himself from me unexpectedly. My eyes find his, but he doesn’t answer my silent question. Instead, he just smirks as he flips me over and enters me from behind. With this position, he feels even bigger, like he’s stretching me around him. And even though there’s pain, there’s relief because he’s back where I need him.
His hands hold my hips firmly as he thrusts deeply. I can do nothing but take every inch. As my body cries out in pain, my heart cries out in pleasure. I should’ve known that this couldn’t just be a fling for us. There was an intense attraction I couldn’t deny the moment I saw him. Something deep inside of me knew that he was it, my other half—that only he could deliver the future I didn’t even know I wanted. Even if I didn’t want to admit it to myself back then.
As the room fills with the sounds of our gasps, I feel my heart tangling around him, like a vine that slowly creeps toward the sun. When his hand reaches around me to gently stroke my clit, every muscle in my body hardens to prepare for another release.
My body is so in tune with every movement he makes. Every part of me is stimulated. With his every thrust, my nipples brush against the mattress beneath us, his fingers rub another circle around my sensitive nub, and every inch of my body begs for its release.
Finally, I shatter around him, calling his name, panting out every labored breath, and quaking with every wave of my orgasm. His dick twitches inside me, and he lets out a deep moan that makes my toes curl. His movements are no longer rhythmic—now they’re wild as he grinds his hips into my ass. I feel his release flood into me, a warm liquid that conditions my inner walls. He presses a soft kiss to my back as his heavy breathing begins to slow.
He gently removes himself from me and falls to his side on the mattress, pulling me down so he can wrap his strong arms around me. I can feel his heart pounding in his chest, and his hot breath blows against my cheek. Right here, I feel safe and warm. Like no one can touch me. Like everything I want in life is within reach.
Warm lips press to the back of my shoulder and stir me out of the most perfect sleep I’ve ever had. My eyes flutter open to see a dark room softly lit by dozens of candles. It brings a smile to face as I roll to my back and find him leaning over me. He raises his hand and gently pushes a strand of hair behind my ear. His blue eyes lock on mine, and a hint of a smile plays on his lips.
“How long have I been out?” I ask.
“About an hour,” he replies, leaning in and pressing a soft kiss to my lips.
Embarrassment washes over me as I stretch.
He runs his finger along my cheek. “Why are you blushing?”
His question only makes the heat escaping my face intensify. “I fell asleep. It’s like you fucked me into a coma!” I laugh out as I roll to face him directly.
He lets out a deep chuckle before laying his head down next to mine. “Don’t worry. I took it as a compliment.”
“This isn’t how I thought it’d be,” I admit, placing my hand on his cheek.
He quickly rolls over and then back with two glasses of wine. “How’d you think it’d be?” he asks, handing one over to me.
I take the glass and have a small sip that makes me realize how parched I was. “To be honest, I thought you were some rich hotshot guy who always randomly hooked up with women. I thought you’d bring me here, have a quick fuck, then send me on my way.”
“That’s never been me, El,” he whispers, moving to lie on his back, one arm behind his head. “I mean, I guess I had my share of random flings back in my younger days, but when I met Candice, everything changed for me. It made me realize how much I’d been missing out on. Sure, I had sex, but nothing else. I didn’t have someone to share my secrets with. I didn’t have someone who would stand by my side when things got tough. I didn’t have love. I had all of those things with her…at least, I thought I did. Turns out, I didn’t, but it made me realize what I really wanted in life.” He rolls back to his side to face me now. “However, I thought I’d never get it. Then, as time went on, I was scared of it because getting it meant taking that risk all over again. I locked away that part of myself. I told myself I was better off—that I’d be happier alone, because then no one could hurt me. Candice and I broke up years ago, and I never thought about a relationship again, until I saw you.”
I place my hand on his cheek, moving my thumb across his skin absentmindedly. “Are you saying that you could see yourself having a future with me?”
He shrugs. “I’m just saying I saw something in you that I haven’t seen in a long time, El. I’m really putting myself out there by telling you this, but I don’t want you to think that this is just casual for me. I want you to know that when we’re not together, I’m not out with another woman.”
I place my glass on the table, then turn back to him. I cuddle into his chest and he wraps his strong arms around me. I look up into his blue eyes and get lost. They’re as blue as the ocean, and they sparkle like the sun beating down on the water, like a million diamonds in the sunlight. Placing my hand on his jaw, I move in to press my lips against his.
When I wake a second time, sunlight is streaming in through the windows, lighting up the room. I stretch and roll over to find the bed empty. I glance around the room, finding it empty, too, but also finding all the remnants of our lovemaking: clothes on the floor, burned-out candles, a ruffled bed. It all brings a smile to my face. Remembering the conversation we had last night makes my heart pound with excitement. It makes me happier than I can even understand.
I push the blankets down my naked body and walk across the floor to the bathroom. The black marble is warm beneath my feet. Why am I not surprised he has heated bathroom floors? I walk across the room and step into the shower. Turning it on causes water to shoot at me from all angles. The glass door fogs up, making me feel like I’m lost in my own little world.
I pick up a bottle of shampoo and bring it to my nose. His scent washes over me. It doesn’t smell strong and manly like most shampoos I’d find in a man’s shower. It smells perfectly balanced: clean, fresh, and gentle—like there’s a hint of lavender and lemongrass. I pour a small amount into my hand and work it into a lather. Closing my eyes makes me feel like I’m showering out in the middle of the rainforest—like I’m standing on a rock beneath a waterfall.
When I rinse the shampoo from my hair, I wash my body quickly and step out, wrapping a towel around myself. I head back into the bedroom for my clothes and find him on the bed. He’s only wearing a pair of black boxer briefs, and there’s a breakfast tray beside him, in the center of the bed.
I smile and pass by my clothes, taking my spot next to him.
“Did you enjoy the shower?” he asks with a smile.
“I did. I don’t know how you make it to work on time. I almost didn’t want to get out.”
He chuckles. “I think I’ve become accustomed to it.” He hands me a cup of coffee, then removes the lid from the platter on the tray. There’s fr
esh fruit: pineapple, strawberries, and blueberries. There are warm muffins and bagels, plus a fancy crepe filled with whipped cream and red filling.
“This looks amazing!” I gush, picking up a blueberry and popping it into my mouth.
“I wasn’t sure what your breakfast normally consists of, so I had a little of everything prepared.”
I laugh. “My usual breakfast is a cup of coffee and a Pop-Tart.” I dip my finger into the cream and suck it off. “A girl could get used to this,” I say around a smile.
“Good.” He grins. “That’s my evil plan: to get you addicted to the finer things so you’ll never want to leave my bed,” he says, moving in to press his lips to mine.
I giggle when he pulls away, nipping my bottom lip.
“Now, eat up so I can have my way with you one last time before you have to run off.”
“Run off?”
He nods. “We have work to get to and you probably shouldn’t show up in the same clothes you wore yesterday.”
My eyes grow wide as a smile takes over. “How is it I completely forgot about work?” I sip my coffee. “It feels like I’m on vacation. Not that I’ve ever been on vacation before.”
He pokes at a piece of pineapple with a fork. “Where would you go if you could take a vacation anywhere in the world?”
I shrug. “Never really thought about it, but someplace warm—a place with sandy beaches where I could stay in my bikini all day, soaking up the sun, relaxing, and drinking cocktail after cocktail.”
His eyebrows pinch together like he’s thinking something over. “What are you doing this weekend?”
Chapter 14
Griffin
We finish breakfast and have one last romp before we have to part ways. I have my driver take her home, and instruct him to wait for her to change so he can deliver her to work. I dress and climb behind the wheel of my car to drive myself.
Claimed By Him: (Contemporary Romance Box Set) Page 66
