30. James
30
JAMES
I tried not to stare at my phone as the night ticked by.
I knew the package had been delivered and that she’d signed for it. I assumed she’d read the letter by now.
Still no response.
Yeah, my gift to her was an odd one, but I knew Natalie well enough to understand that there was a chance it would help me reach her.
If it didn’t? Well, I wasn’t sure how I was going to move forward without her in my life, but I’d find a way. Whatever her choice was, I’d respect it—no matter how much it hurt.
I poured myself a drink but wound up swirling the ice in the glass instead of sipping it. Alcohol wasn’t going to do me any favors, given my state of mind.
Then, finally , the sweetest sound. Banging on my front door, as loud as a SWAT team. My entire body shifted into readiness, tense with anticipation and ready to find out if Natalie was back for good. I flung open the door.
And there she was, looking like she’d thrown on sneakers and a coat without even bothering to brush her hair.
Flawless, as always.
“You…” she said in a strained voice, red-faced and splotchy but never more beautiful. “This.”
She held up the letter.
I nodded, my heart pounding. “Did you…did you like it? The suitcase?”
Natalie didn’t answer. She launched herself into my arm and buried her face in my neck. “It was wonderful and terrible at the same time.”
I eased my grip around her waist. “Hold on. How was it terrible?”
She slid down my body and gazed up at me. “Can I at least come in to talk about it?”
I moved out of the way, feeling awkward and nervous as fuck. The letter was supposed to fix everything. What had I done wrong?
“Yes, yes, of course,” I said, hiding my concern.
Natalie moved past me, and it took all of my self-control to not pull her into my arms again. She was here . That was a start.
We sat down in chairs opposite one another and for the first time I cursed all the space in the room. But it was probably better that she wasn’t near me. I didn’t want to accidentally catch a hint of her scent. That would make it so much harder to keep my hands to myself.
“Thank you for the gift,” Natalie began. “It was unexpected.”
“An odd choice, I know.”
“No.” She shook her head. “I loved it. It was perfect.”
We shifted to silence as I waited for her to continue.
“But James…you can’t leave Branson Designs,” she finally blurted out. “You can’t. You might think you’re just some obscure leadership… concept …that anyone can slot into, but that’s not true. You are Branson. If you step down, well, who knows what’s going to happen? But my gut tells me it would be a disaster, right when the company has started to get back on track again.”
I moved to the edge of my chair in an attempt to get closer to her. “But I want you to know how serious I am about putting you first. And you don’t think it’s possible if I’m still the CEO.”
Her expression turned stormy. “I never said that. Don’t you dare pin that on me, James. I said that you’ve always put the company first.”
“And by stepping down that’ll no longer happen,” I offered, feeling confused.
She heaved a sigh. “Haven’t you ever heard of moderation? You can lead the company but find ways to divide your time so that work doesn’t fill up ninety percent of it. You can start by hiring a replacement for Clint that you actually trust.”
“Well, from what I’ve heard, you’re doing an incredible job.”
She shook her head again. “No. It’s been a struggle for me, because it’s not what makes me happy. And I know that you stepping down wouldn’t make you happy either, despite what you’re saying.”
I scrubbed my hands over my face, because she was right. As much as I wanted Natalie, I still felt an almost gravitational pull leading the company that was a part of my bloodline. I hadn’t really let myself consider what it would feel like to leave and watch someone else run our family business.
“James, what I’m saying is…you can have both.”
I felt a flicker of hope. “But…”
She held her hand up to silence me, a move I wouldn’t tolerate from anyone else. “Things would have to change. Not just with Clint’s position. You’d need to be better about delegating. Stop taking work home with you and answering emails at two in the morning.”
I bit back a grin. “Only if you give me something better to do in the middle of the night.”
“Stop,” she commanded, scowling at me. “I’m being serious.”
“Sorry, I’m sorry,” I responded quickly, amazed at how this spitfire of a woman could shut me down. “You’re right. Please continue.”
“All I’m saying is I think it’s possible to find a balance, but only if you really want it. And well, if you want… me .”
She said it quietly, like she didn’t fully believe that it was even an option, despite the many ways I’d already told her.
I couldn’t resist it any longer, so I reached over to take her hand in mine. “Natalie, I want you more than anything. If scaling back at Branson is the way to get you back, then I’ll do it. All I need is a second chance. Let me show you how much you mean to me.”
Her serious expression crumbled and her pretty mouth trembled. “Do you mean it?”
I finally pulled her to me and into my lap, and she snuggled against me. “I do. More than you know. I’ve missed you so much.” I smoothed her hair back and kissed her forehead gently.
Natalie sniffled against my chest. “I’ve missed you too. I didn’t even dream that we’d make it here.”
“I had to find a way to get through to you, to show you that you’re my everything.”
She leaned back and looked up at me, her eyes shining with tears. “I love you, James. So much.”
I’d always known in my heart that she felt it too, but to hear her finally say it sparked my entire body back to life. Relief, warm and sweet, spread through me.
“I love you, I love you, I love you,” I murmured as I dropped my mouth to hers.
How was it possible that each kiss with her was better than the last? It had been way too long since I kissed my beautiful girl, and the twin urges to consume her and savor her started warring inside of me.
“I want you,” she whispered as our lips connected.
“Say no more.” I smiled as I stood up.
I gathered her in my arms and carried her to my room, never once breaking apart from her. Her hand snaked up the back of my neck to play with my hair, and I felt myself growing even harder. I placed her on the bed, and she looked up at me, her eyes wide.
“Can we just…kiss for a little bit?” she breathed. “I want to enjoy every second of being with you again.”
I chuckled. “We have all night.”
She frowned for an instant.
“I mean…we have forever .”
With that she placed her hand on the back of my neck and pulled me down to her, kissing me hungrily. I climbed onto the bed and straddled her, gently so I didn’t crush her with my weight.
“I’ve missed this,” she moaned, arching against me as we kissed. “I’ve missed you.”
Our lips and tongues played gently, then with more insistence as the pressure between my legs started to build. I couldn’t help grinding against her.
Natalie giggled and bucked her hips against me. “I’ve missed that too.”
I pulled back slightly, cocking an eyebrow at her. “You said you wanted to kiss…”
“Why should I have to pick? What kind of multitasker are you?” she teased with a grin. She locked her legs behind my back. “It’s time for you to fuck me, James Branson.”
“I’d prefer it if we made love.”
“Again, how about both?” she asked.
It was as if she’d fired a starter pistol. Every bit of calm I’d been pretending to have fell away as I curled her hair around my fist and tugged, then dropped my mouth to her neck.
“Hello, vampire,” she said and giggled.
“You don’t even know how badly I want to devour you,” I growled, pulling away so that my hands could trace over her curves.
Natalie fell back against the bed and gave me a come hither look that nearly drove me wild, biting her lip and watching me through lowered lids. “Strip for me. Make it sexy.”
“Absolutely not,” I shot back. “I’m getting you naked first, you saucy little minx.”
Her eyes went wide. “You have been reading Erin Woodley!”
I didn’t answer her. I knelt next to the bed and pulled off her sneakers and socks, then worked my way up to the waistband of her leggings.
“I’m not wearing underwear,” she squeaked as I peeled them off.
“I see that,” I said, using my foot to finish getting them off of her as I knelt on the ground and dove between her legs.
“James.” She sighed as my tongue explored her soft folds. “You don’t always have to…”
Her words faded to a whisper as I pushed my tongue against her clit.
“I love the way you taste,” I murmured, sliding a finger inside her. “I’ve missed this pussy.”
Natalie squirmed as I worshiped her with my mouth. I could tell that she was torn between trying to get me to stop and being unable to resist what I was doing to her. My tongue worked her sensitive nub as my finger slid in and out, and I knew by her breathing and fluttery contractions on my finger that she was getting close.
My cock was straining against my jeans as I tongued her. If I could live between her legs I would. Natalie was perfect, and more importantly, she was mine .
I increased the pressure of the little circles I was making against her. Then I heard it…the catch in her breathing that let me know she was at the edge of the precipice, about to give in to me. I flattened my tongue against her and lapped harder, and within seconds she unraveled, her cries filling the room. I kept at it as she rode wave after wave of pleasure, and didn’t stop until she shifted slightly away.
I rested my head on her thigh as her panting evened out, my hand gently stroking her breast. “Are you ready for me?”
“Always,” she sighed. Natalie propped herself up on her elbow. “Fuck me. Now.”
I rarely took orders from anyone, but this was one I was more than willing to follow.
Natalie was still in her T-shirt and sports bra, so she pulled them off while I practically ripped my clothing off and slid on a condom. I crawled across the bed to her as she playfully backed away.
“Come and get me.” She smiled as she spread her legs wider apart.
I was damn close to bursting . The taste of her still on my tongue and the sight of her perfect pussy so close nearly sent me over the edge without even touching her. I grabbed her ankle, then found my position between her legs.
“Now?” I asked, lowering myself so that I could tease her with the tip of my cock.
“You’re killing me,” she moaned, arching her back and pushing against me to try to feel my full length. “ Please !”
I moved a few inches away. “Oh, I like it when you beg. More of that, young lady.”
She gave me a wicked grin. “I’m dying for your cock, Mr. Branson, sir. Please give it to me, now.”
I touched my tip to her wet seam. “Like this?”
Natalie shook her head. “No, I need more.”
I frowned at her. “More what ?”
“More…cock?”
I stifled a laugh. “I thought you were begging me,” I hinted.
“More please ,” she said triumphantly. “Fuck me now. I’m officially begging you.”
I barely gave her a chance to finish what she was saying before thrusting deep inside of her. The mood in the room shifted from playful to intense as we both gave in to the sensations of being united again. The way her velvet gripped me nearly made me come instantly.
I moved closer to her ear. “I’ve…I’ve never felt this way with anyone before,” I said softly. “It’s never been like this.”
“I know,” she whispered. “We just fit .”
As much as I wanted to savor the way it felt being buried inside of her, I’d been waiting far too long. I started rolling my hips, pulling in and out of her slowly at first. Natalie’s hands gripped my ass, pulling me even closer with each thrust.
Her moans made me insane with hunger. There was something about the sound…a mix of pure ecstasy and helplessness, like she couldn’t control herself even though she was trying really fucking hard.
I felt the tension building inside of me with each thrust. As much as I wanted to make it last, I knew I was a goner. Her sweet pussy was a temptation I was powerless to resist, so I picked up the pace, ramming against her a little harder each time. I looked down at her beautiful face and saw that her eyes were shut tight, and she was biting her lip.
I managed to find my voice. “Are you okay?” I asked as I slowed my pace.
Her eyes flew open and she looked downright furious at me. “Don’t stop. Don’t you dare stop fucking me, James Branson. I’m so close…”
Again with the orders. I smiled and did exactly as she wanted, grabbing onto her hip with one hand so I could plunge even deeper inside of her. I touched my thumb to her nub, and it was like I hit a live wire.
“Oh my god ,” she shrieked, arching her back as the orgasm ripped through her.
I’d never heard anything like it, which made it almost impossible for me to hold off. I thrust into her a few more times and came hard, my own groan of pleasure louder than I expected. I leaned backwards, riding out the sensations, then collapsed onto her.
The only sound in the room for a good long time was our panting. Finally, I heard a soft giggle.
I propped myself up, still on top of her. “What?”
“I’m just so damn happy.”
Natalie’s face was glowing.
“You just had two orgasms, of course you are.”
She smacked me. “It’s more than that. I mean, yeah, the way you fuck me is incredible?—”
I interrupted her. “I’ll have you know that was making love.”
Her expression shifted. “That’s exactly what I mean. I’m so happy that we’re here. I never thought I’d be this lucky, that you would love me too. It feels like a fairy tale, but it’s real .”
I cupped her cheek. “How could I not love you, Natalie?”
Her eyes filled with tears. “I love you too.”
She circled her arms around me and pulled me down on top of her, as we both seemed to realize that this was the beginning of our forever.