by Jayci Lee
“Natalie.” Her name left his lips in a rush of breath. He scanned her T-shirt-clad body before he jerked his gaze to her face. A muscle jumped in his jaw, but he rubbed the back of his neck and gave her a strained smile. “You slept through the day. Why don’t you go back to bed till the morning? Or are you hungry? Do you want to eat something?”
But his grin faltered as he walked up to her. He cupped her damp cheek with his hand and tilted her face toward the light.
“What’s wrong?”
Without answering his question, Natalie turned her head to brush a kiss on his palm and smiled at him.
“Natalie, you’re not...” She silenced him with a finger on his lips.
“Oh, Garrett, but I am.” He thought she was too vulnerable so soon after the accident, but Natalie had never been more certain of anything in her entire life.
When she tugged him into her room, he followed with hesitant steps. She reached behind him and clicked the door shut. His Adam’s apple jumped in his throat and he watched her with something akin to panic in his eyes.
“We don’t have to do this tonight.” His voice was strangled and his eyes greedily roamed her body.
Arching an eyebrow, she drew her T-shirt over her head. Garrett’s breath left him in a whoosh and she smiled in triumph. She did that to him.
Right now. In this room. There is no one but him and me. A man and a woman. Husband and wife. I’ll make him mine.
She didn’t know who took the first step and didn’t care. Somehow, they were on each other like a whirlwind, mouths and hands moving frantically. Natalie tugged impatiently on Garrett’s clothes, desperate to feel his skin pressed against hers, his hard contours against her soft curves without any barriers. He made quick work of tearing off his clothes, then pressed her against his naked body.
God, he feels so good.
But she pushed back from him, wanting to touch him. She spread her palms flat on his chest and caressed his smooth heat, relishing the wall of muscle beneath her hands. Curious to see if she could do what he’d done to her, she ran her thumbs over the small peaks of his chest and he tilted back his head with a guttural moan. She snatched her hands away, worried she’d done something wrong.
“Don’t stop,” he said, putting her hands back on his chest. “Touch me.”
She swallowed but did as he demanded. Slowly, she ran her fingers down to the ridges of his stomach, and his body jerked in response. He was clearly holding himself in check; she could feel his body humming with suppressed desire. But when she pressed her breasts against him and ran her hands down his broad back, his control snapped.
* * *
Garrett wanted to take things slowly so they could enjoy each other, but the longing he’d been holding back swept in like storm waters breaching a dam. Natalie seemed to be overtaken by the same storm, and she was fierce and demanding in his arms.
He explored her mouth with burning thoroughness, entangling his tongue with hers. Drinking deeply from her, he lifted her up and carried her to the bed. Her fingers dug into his shoulders as he eased her onto the mattress. Her magnificent breasts rising and falling fast, she beckoned him with the crook of her finger, a seductive smile curving her swollen lips.
Garrett reached for her, his hands roaming up the sides of her thighs and around to her back. With one swift motion, he positioned himself over her, and her softness cushioned the hard planes of his body. The contact made him catch fire. He kissed the side of her neck and ran his tongue along her heated skin, enjoying the way his name escaped her parted lips in a breathless rush.
“Garrett...please,” she whispered.
He grabbed a condom from the nightstand and sheathed himself with shaky hands.
“Look at me,” he commanded, positioning himself at her entry. Her eyes widened as he touched his hardness against her. She was so lovely in her passion that his heart throbbed and he ached with the need to claim her.
She held his gaze. “I want you, Garrett.”
Unable to hold back any longer, he crushed his lips against hers and swept his tongue inside her sweet mouth.
“I fought this so hard,” he said, pulling his mouth from hers. “And waited much too long. I want you so much it hurts.”
“Then take me.”
With a moan torn from deep within, he buried his face in her neck and plunged into her in one swift thrust. Garrett froze when a sharp gasp escaped from her. He glanced down and saw Natalie had her eyes closed tight, her bottom lip between her teeth. What the hell?
“Sorry. I’m okay,” she gasped. “It’s been a long time.”
Her moist, tight warmth drove him mad but he didn’t move a single muscle as he bore his weight on his forearms. When he continued to hold still, her eyebrows drew together and she shyly swerved her hips.
God. He groaned, searching for his precious control. “Do. Not. Move. Give me a second. I want to go slow for you.”
“But I don’t want you to go slow.”
“Damn it, Natalie.” He’d plowed into her like a beast when he should’ve coaxed her body into accepting him with more ease. “I hurt you...”
“Not hurt. Just startled.” She cupped his cheek in her palm and stared up at him. “Please.”
His blood thundered so hard in his veins that Garrett could hardly hear her. His mind battled with his body as he searched her face.
“Please,” she said again, then rocked her hips against him.
Garrett shuddered in her arms, and began to move slowly, looking intently into her face. Gripping his shoulders, Natalie moved with him and set a faster rhythm until he broke. With a groan, he planted his hands by her head, rising onto his arms, and drove into her to the hilt.
He thrust faster and she matched him stroke for stroke. It was almost too much. She was close but he didn’t know if he could hold back. Then, Natalie cried out his name and arched her pelvis off the bed. Seconds later, he collapsed on top of her with a hoarse cry.
As their panting eased, Garrett rolled onto his back, taking her with him. He held her head against his chest and ran his hand down her hair.
“Natalie?”
“Mmm?”
“Are you all right?”
“Mmm-hmm.”
“Good.”
He tilted her chin up with his finger and studied her face, struck by her beauty inside and out. The delicate skin underneath her eyes was pale and bruised. She was still exhausted from yesterday’s ordeal, and he held her tighter, the need to protect her surging in his blood. With a sigh, she molded her body against his and her breaths grew long and steady.
He absently drew circles on her naked back. It was surreal how right all of it felt. Mine. Nothing in his no-strings-attached sexual philosophy explained his possessiveness. The mere thought of her having another lover scraped him raw. At least for now, she was his and his alone.
But this hunger... He had to believe it would pass. Natalie had no place in the life he meant to lead. He’d been content to pour himself into Hansol, and to find satisfaction in his professional accomplishments within the confines of his duties. Garrett had never wanted a real marriage. He couldn’t change who he was. He couldn’t offer Natalie anything more than what they had. She understands that. Doesn’t she?
And yet, the future he’d accepted as written in stone now seemed like a flimsy note on the back of a cocktail napkin—crumbled and blowing across the sidewalk.
Fourteen
The last few times Adelaide had seen her brother and sister-in-law, Garrett couldn’t stop touching Natalie—tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, entwining his fingers through hers, pulling her close to his side with an arm wrapped around her shoulders. Since their mom died, he’d held himself cold and aloof, becoming unreachable. Untouchable.
With Natalie by his side, her brother had finally shed his iron armor, and exuded warmth from
his pores. And he became a puddle of goo when Sophie was around. The little girl had recovered from the fall scare faster than the grown-ups and was back to her energetic, rascally self.
Adelaide’s heart burst with joy to see him so happy, but a small, lonely part of her shivered with fear. Garrett was her constant. His love unconditional. No matter how much she screwed up, he would have her back. Have I lost him? Adelaide cringed with shame. She wasn’t the spoiled princess people made her out to be. She should stop acting like one.
She hadn’t lost a brother—she’d gained a sister. A wide smile spread across her face—Natalie was the best big sister imaginable.
Humming under her breath, she stepped out of the elevator at Hansol headquarters and strode past the reception desk.
“Hi, Cindy,” she said, waving goodbye at the same time.
“Hello, Ms. Song,” said the receptionist with a grin. “Bye, Ms. Song.”
Natalie was a sushi fiend. It was a surprise visit but she’d never turn down sushi no matter how busy she was.
“Adelaide.” When she entered Natalie’s office, her sister-in-law jumped up from her chair and rushed over for a hug. “What a wonderful surprise.”
“Are you talking about me or the nigiri plate I brought you?” She lifted the bag holding three paper boxes from a hole-in-the-wall restaurant in Little Tokyo.
Natalie’s eyes glazed over. “I love you.”
Adelaide laughed shyly, pleased by her warm reception. “I got some for Garrett, too.”
“Oh, no. He’s in a meeting for the next few hours.”
“That’s fine. He’s always in a meeting.” She sat at a small, round table by the window and waved over Natalie. “Eat up. We have to finish his portion, too.”
“Not a problem.” Natalie sighed happily, her chopsticks poised over the box.
Full and happy, they sipped green tea in comfortable silence until Adelaide saw her sister-in-law frown. “What is it?”
“Garrett has been looking tense and haggard lately,” Natalie said, her hands wrapping around her mug. “Do you know if he’s worried about something? Is anything wrong at work?”
“You don’t know?” Adelaide stared at her, shocked by her question. Her brother hadn’t told his own wife about the whole mess. Keeping his baby sister in the dark was one thing, but his wife? That idiot. Why did he insist on bearing all the responsibilities alone?
“What don’t I know?” Natalie sat up in her chair. “Garrett hasn’t said anything to me.”
“He’s my brother but he’s so stubborn sometimes.” Adelaide threw up her hands. “He didn’t tell me anything, either. I doubt he even told our dad. He thinks he’s ‘protecting’ us.”
“Adelaide, just tell me.”
“I did some digging around. Everyone thinks I’m a spoiled little princess with an unimpressive IQ, so it’s easy for me to go under the radar and gather intel.” Everyone underestimated her, including her own family. Michael was the only one... She shut down the thought, annoyed she’d let him slip in again. He had nothing to do with this. Nothing to do with her. “It’s Vivotex. They’re considering a partnership with Yami Corporation, a small-time fashion manufacturing company. They don’t have the brand recognition or the manufacturing capacity for any kind of partnership with Vivotex. Yami must have a powerful backer to catch Vivotex’s attention, but we don’t know who that is. My gut tells me this mystery powerhouse is using Yami as a pawn for its own plans.”
“What if Garrett can’t close the deal?” Natalie paled, her brow knitting with concern. “Will your grandmother really block his CEO appointment?”
“I hope not.” When she was a kid, Adelaide used to fight her grandmother like a hellcat over everything—big and small. But somewhere along the way, they reached an unspoken truce. They were too much alike—strong willed, opinionated...and breakable. Anything that doesn’t bend inevitably breaks. “I can’t tell what she’s thinking sometimes, but she has never let me down.”
“Do you think it’ll help if I beg her?” Her sister-in-law grinned but she wasn’t entirely joking.
Tenderness flooded Adelaide’s heart at how dearly Natalie loved her brother. It was no wonder Garrett followed her around like a puppy with hearts in his eyes. They were so perfect together. Adelaide could only hope she too would someday find that kind of love. Before she could turn wistful, she smiled brightly to reassure her big sis.
“My big brother is meant to be the next CEO.” She squeezed Natalie’s hand. “Try not to worry.”
* * *
Natalie worried until Garrett came home that night.
“Hello, Mrs. Song.” He walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. “What are you up to?”
“Making dinner.”
She gave the cherry tomatoes one last rinse and reached out to turn off the faucet. Garrett had been nuzzling the sensitive spot behind her ear, but went still at her answer.
“Dinner?” He sounded more than a little alarmed. “Are you sure? Remember last week...”
Her face flamed. She remembered all too well. Filled with a sudden urge to test her domestic talents, Natalie had tried making lasagna and nearly set the kitchen on fire. Oddly enough, the lasagna had come out unscathed from the fire—as in completely raw.
His apprehension was warranted, but that didn’t mean she’d let him get away with it. Natalie elbowed Garrett in his side. He grunted under his breath and she turned around to face him. He was gingerly rubbing his stomach, but his eyes were sparkling with laughter.
Her elbow had met rock-hard obliques. She doubted he’d even felt the jab. Still, contrite for her violence, she kissed the side of his neck then buried her face against him. He smelled so yummy, musk warmed against male skin.
“I’m only tossing a bag of salad.” She straightened to finish the job. “I ordered pizza for the main course, so you can stop worrying.”
Garrett pulled her back into his arms and kissed her. She hadn’t seen him all day and she’d missed him. She parted her lips and pressed herself to him, making him groan and slide his hands up the back of her shirt. Familiar heat spread through her and she had a second before losing all rational thought.
“Um, Garrett?”
He grunted and lifted her up onto the counter.
“Garrett.” Natalie laughed and squirmed in his arms. They needed to talk about the Yami Corporation situation. It was ridiculous for him to carry all that weight by himself. “We need to talk. I want...”
He didn’t seem to hear her and continued trailing kisses down the side of her neck. By the time he reached her collarbone, she couldn’t remember what she’d wanted to talk about. She wrapped her legs around him and whispered the only words she could form. “I want you.”
“Good.” His voice rang with arrogant satisfaction. He cupped her breast with a possessive hand and something fierce burned in his eyes before he kissed her with heat and desperation. When he filled her, she cried out, marveling at how whole she felt, and never wanted to let go.
After the storm passed, Garrett lifted her down from the counter. He was bare chested and she wore nothing under her oversize T-shirt. She plucked her panties off the floor, not bothering with her jeans. When her husband reached down for his shirt, she kicked it away with her foot. “You’re fine. It’s casual Friday at the Song penthouse.”
“Is that so?” A wolfish grin spread across his handsome face as he folded his arms across his naked chest.
Her eyes glazed over as she ogled his bulging biceps. Gah. Natalie hurried to the opposite side of the kitchen counter so she wouldn’t jump him. Her stomach growled loudly, reminding her she’d been putting together dinner. Yes, a woman cannot live by sex alone. She needed pizza.
Garrett chuckled under his breath as though he knew her inner struggle of pizza versus sex. “Have a seat. I’ll finish the salad.”
She sat on the counter stool and made herself comfortable. Natalie decided there was nothing better than watching her shirtless husband cook for her. They chatted comfortably, warm laughter punctuating their conversation.
This was happiness. Unshed tears pricked her eyes and her lips curved into a tremulous smile. So this is what it feels like to be whole. Love swelled to the brim and lapped perilously at the edge of her heart. Unable to hold back any longer, she opened the dam and let it spill over.
“I love you.”
* * *
“Could you pass the salad?” Natalie asked in a small voice.
“Sure.” Garrett passed her the salad bowl, careful not to let their fingers touch.
“Thank you.”
The conversation at the dinner table was scintillating. It might’ve had something to do with him all but ignoring her declaration of love. Her words had brought something fierce and hungry to life inside him, but he’d smothered it ruthlessly. What else can I do? He could never give her what she wanted. What she deserved. He shut his eyes and mind against the torrent of emotions threatening to breach the walls of his heart.
“Garrett.” His eyes flew open at Natalie’s whisper. “You don’t need to worry. I haven’t forgotten our agreement. I’m not asking anything of you.”
“Hush.” Garrett shut out what her words implied. She deserved more but he was going to hold on to her—letting her go would wreck him. He brought her hand to his mouth, kissing each knuckle before placing a lingering kiss on her palm. Her lashes fluttered and her lips parted in response. Without warning, he scooped his wife off her chair and headed upstairs, taking two steps at a time.
“What are you—”
“Hush.” Blood pounded in his ears. His panic fueled his desperation. Mine. He laid her down on the bed, then ripped his pants off with rough impatience. She watched him with sad, wide eyes, and his heart slammed against his ribs. “Your turn.”
