“To love and be loved,” she said in one long breath.
With one yank, the button came free. “Anything else?” He unzipped her jeans and ran one finger along the edge of her panties, then gripped both thighs, squeezing as he followed them from her knees to the curve near her sex.
“No. I just…” She unbuttoned his pants. “I just want you, Pierce. I don’t care what we have or where we go. I want you. With me. Inside me. By my side. I want you in every way.”
He took her in a hard kiss, swiping her mouth as if he were tasting her for the first time—claiming her and marking her. She clawed at his shoulders, meeting each swipe of his tongue with a fierce stroke of her own.
“Rebecca.” Her name came fast as he kissed her jaw, her collarbone, her shoulders, every bit of flesh he could reach. He took her breasts in his mouth again, loving them, sucking them, as she ground her ass into his lap. He lifted her from his lap, holding her steady as he ripped every stitch of clothing from her body and then tore off his own.
She cupped his balls, and as the shock of pleasure shot through him, she took him in her mouth—deep. Sucking and stroking, loving him until he thought he might explode. In one swift move, he lifted her into his arms, and she slid down, taking the tip of his arousal into her wet center with a moan as she settled her teeth over his neck and sucked—sending a bolt of lightning to his loins. Holy Christ, she felt amazing. They were both lost in a frenzy of need and want. She dug her fingernails into his arms, sparking his brain to function and take a step back. He wanted her to have everything she ever wanted—including peace of mind. It took all of his willpower to lift her higher, off of his thick length before he lost all control and pushed deeper inside her.
“Condom,” he grunted.
“Mm-hm.” She continued sucking the life out of his neck as he carried her into the bedroom. Her legs straddled his waist and her bare breasts pressed against his chest; her heart pounded frantically against his.
“Hold on tight,” he commanded.
She tightened her arms around his neck, her legs around his middle as he adeptly slid on the protective sheath. He clutched her waist and eased her down onto his throbbing heat. She squeezed her thighs around him as he thrust into her over and over again. He backed her up against the wall so he could penetrate deeper; then, buried to the hilt, his balls wet with her juices, he stilled, chest to chest, eye to eye.
“I love you, Rebecca, but I’ve got to fuck you.” There was a time in every man’s life when he had to say those words, and he knew Rebecca was feeling the same consuming obsession of their love.
Her eyes narrowed. “What took you so long?”
With one arm, he swiped everything from the dresser, sending his colognes and other paraphernalia to the floor, and set her down on the top of the dresser, gripped her below the knees, spreading her legs wider, lifting them higher, opening her to him so she felt every deep thrust. She clutched his biceps for balance.
“Deeper,” she urged.
“Holy fuck, Bec.” He drove harder, deeper, then lifted her with one strong arm and spun them around to the bed. She pushed away and turned onto her hands and knees, then cast a hungry stare over her shoulder, sending her hair seductively over one eye. Her glorious ass was there for the taking. No fucking way was he going there right now. He might want to fuck her, but fuck as in love her hard, not break new boundaries.
“I read in Cosmo that you can go deeper like this.”
Jesus, she was too hot. Cosmo?
She arched her back and lowered her shoulders as he entered her again. The first thrust was sheer heaven, pulling a groan from his lungs. He reached beneath her and caressed her breasts, lifting her so they were as close as two bodies could be.
She gasped a breath and he stilled.
“Are you okay?”
“You just feel so good.” She moved up and down, driving him out of his mind.
He squeezed one nipple and slid his other hand lower, teasing her sensitive bundles of nerves. She breathed fast, halted breaths, tightening her thighs, squeezing him inside her as she climbed to the peak and arched against him. Her hand flew up, and she grabbed hold of his hair—exquisite pain heightened his pleasure. She cried out his name as the orgasm sent her hips bucking, her body pulsing around him. He sank his teeth into the back of her neck, wanting to share the mix of pain and pleasure.
“Oh God…Oh God…I’m gonna…” She cried out as she came again.
Need gripped every nerve in Pierce’s body as he worked her over the final wave of her orgasm. Then he flipped her onto her back, lifting her knees to his sides. When their eyes connected, all that urgency came to a screeching halt. He was overcome with the love he felt for her. He kissed her tenderly, a whisper of his lips against hers.
All their talk from earlier in the afternoon came rushing back to him. Their honesty, their fears, their love. He felt like the breath was being sucked from his lungs with the intensity of it all. He lowered his forehead to hers, panting. “I didn’t know it was possible to love as wholly as I love you.”
She shook her head and stroked his cheek. Pierce closed his eyes and pressed his hand to hers, savoring the feel of her palm on his face.
“You asked me what I wanted.” Her voice was thick with emotion.
When he opened his eyes, she smiled.
“You, Pierce. Holding your hand, sitting beside you, talking to you. Making love to you. I want you, Pierce. Just you.”
He settled his lips over hers, kissing her tenderly. He touched her gently, savoring the feel of her beneath him, and brought her right up to the edge again. Holding her there, drawing out her pleasure as much as his own, and then finally—blissfully—they gave into the passion and spiraled over the edge together.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
THE REST OF the week passed in a blur with one shining night. They’d celebrated Pierce’s ratification of the deal on the Grand with a romantic candlelit dinner and a walk in the park. He credited the deal to Rebecca’s suggestion of proposing an earn out, and when she’d tried to dispute it, he’d stuck to his guns and forced her to accept the accolade. She was still trying to get used to compliments and recognition for her efforts, but she had to admit that it felt damn good to have come up with a winning solution for something so meaningful in Pierce’s life after how much he continued to do for her.
Pierce reached across the console of the rental car as they drove from the Denver airport toward his mother’s house in Trusty. He squeezed her hand.
“I’m glad you came with me.”
“Me too. I’m kind of getting used to doing everything with you.” They’d been driving into work together, and when Rebecca worked an evening shift last night and Pierce had a late meeting, he made arrangements for a security guard to walk her to her car. She didn’t complain, and it had been a big step for both of them. He worried about her in ways she sometimes felt were unwarranted, but then again, who was she to judge what gave him peace of mind? She’d struggled with gaining her own peace of mind, and he’d been supportive. They were working on that aspect of their relationship—the art of compromising, which was difficult for two people who liked to control, but Rebecca knew that they’d come out on top of that, too.
He pressed her hand to his lips. “Good, because I’m already used to it.”
SHE STAYED AT Pierce’s house each night, and there was no better feeling than waking up beside the man she loved, except maybe falling asleep in his arms.
“Thank you for not wearing the skintight minidress.” Pierce flashed a teasing smile. When they’d woken up this morning, he’d grabbed the calendar by the bed and reviewed the things he’d written the night before. Then he’d handed the calendar to Rebecca with a coy smile. She read his notes—Turn on phone. Remind Rebecca to wear something homely so my snake brothers don’t hit on her. Fly home—and she’d baited him by saying she’d wear a skintight minidress and four-inch heels.
“I figured I should check out your brothers in person before I go flashing all my hotness around like that.” She knew that he wasn’t worried, and she loved that they could tease each other without worrying about offending each other. There wasn’t a man alive who could take her away from Pierce, but his heart was in the right place.
He rolled his eyes.
Now, as they drove up the long tree-lined driveway toward his mother’s house, her stomach knotted. She smoothed the skirt of her summer dress. It was one of her favorites, and the fact that it was a gift from her mother before she’d gotten sick made it all the more special. She hadn’t had many occasions to wear it. They’d moved most of her clothes to Pierce’s house, and when she’d seen it in his closet, she’d known this was the perfect occasion. The dress was easy to wear, with an empire waist and an A-line skirt. The intricate designs in browns, grays, and beige made it the perfect mix of dressy and casual for an afternoon engagement party. Her favorite part of the dress was the elegant detailing, with contrasting striped piping all over, rose-button placket, and straight neckline. She felt pretty and feminine in the sleeveless dress. Pierce was holding her hand across the console of the rental car, and as always, he read her body like a blind man reads braille.