Chapter 9 #2
He fought to take off his clothes, ripping the sweater over his head and struggling with the zipper of his pants. By the time he finished and climbed in next to her, she was completely naked.
"We really shouldn't--" His hands moved over her protruding ribcage slowly, gently. "You were just in the clinic for a week. I feel like an animal, wanting you like this. We should wait."
"It's too late for that." She turned into him, trapping both his thighs with hers. "I love you."
He felt the electric shock flowing through his body and making him rigid. He wondered if he would ever tire of hearing it from her.
"Leanne." He groaned. "My sweet."
"I need you. Please don't deny me."
"I couldn't. I can't."
He cupped her face between his palms, eyes burning with passion.
"The idea that you could even entertain the thought that I had changed my mind is so ludicrous, it's not even worth addressing.
" His fingers trembled. "It's not my mind.
" He traced the full outline of her bottom lip and watched as they parted for him.
"It's my heart and I have no say in the matter. You're inside me, so deeply entrenched that I could never remove you, no matter what. I love you so much. Christ Almighty, I love you more than my own life." He trailed kisses from the corners of her eye down to her cheek.
"I love you. I need you." His breathing turned harsh, his chest expanding from it. "I cannot live without you." He kissed the seams of her lips before moving to the throat she had arched to give him access.
His tongue laved the hollow, bathing it with moisture before nibbling and sending sharp jolts of desire pouring through her body.
He moved down to the swell of her breasts, kissing the top, shaping and reshaping the flesh. When he passed his thumbs lightly over the rigid nipple, she jerked in immediate awareness. His eyes flew to her face.
"Does it hurt?" He asked huskily.
"No." She shook her head wildly, fingers digging into his broad shoulders. "It's incredibly sensitive." She was panting. "I need your mouth--" She stiffened, her head rolling on the pillows as he bent his head and started to roll his tongue over the flesh.
"I can't." She gasped.
"You can." He took the nipple between his teeth and started to suckle gently. White hot flames exploded inside her. When her body started to vibrate, he increased the pressure, one hand sliding between her thighs to touch that intimate part of her.
His fingers slid through the springy hairs there, moving over the sensitive flesh. The combination of his mouth and fingers were more than she could bear.
She erupted like a geyser, her body surging upwards, his name a scream on her lips. The climax slammed into her like a sledgehammer, making her delirious.
"Christos. Oh God!"
He went mad! Releasing her nipple, he crouched behind her and used unsteady fingers to slide into her moisture. His arms came around to press on the bulge of her belly, his own body trembling. Emotions stormed through him like a tornado, forcing him to take a minute.
He held her against him, his heart thrumming, his body coated with sweat.
Twisting her head around, she sought and found his lips. His mouth met hers, tongue thrusting hungrily. He started moving then. Slowly at first, fingers splayed over her belly, gently caressing the mound that housed his children.
Then he increased the tempo, his body driving into hers, his mouth ravishing hers.
She came again, her body pushing back against his.
Pulling her knees up, she inadvertently gave him access to go deeper.
His release was so intensely powerful, it left him breathless.
Tearing his mouth from hers, he buried his head between her neck and shoulders as he poured everything into her, body shaking uncontrollably.
He held her, still intimately joined, fingers soothing over the stiffness of her belly. Brushing the damp tendrils of hair clinging to her neck, he bent his head to press his lips there.
"Hungry?" He whispered after a few minutes.
"Hmm. A little."
"I could go down and bring the food up."
"No. I'm not ready. Let's just stay like this for a little bit."
She turned her head to look at him.
"It's yes."
"What is?" He asked tenderly.
"To marrying you."
His eyes darkened.
"We could get a special license and do it tomorrow."
She laughed, amazed that she no longer felt the panic bubbling up inside her.
"And cheat your family out of the planning? I don't think so. Your mother would never forgive me."
He trailed his fingers down her cheek. "I'm afraid you're right. How does three weeks from now sound?"
"Like you expect miracles to happen."
"With my mother and sisters, that's precisely what will happen. They're known to move mountains. You wouldn't have to lift a finger."
"I have no intention of staying out of the planning. It's my wedding and I'm going to be involved."
"I want to say something."
"Go ahead."
"I know you want to purchase your dress--"
"I do." He smiled at her choice of words. "And I'm not going to insult you by suggesting that I pay for everything. But I want to darling. No, just hear me out before you blast me to kingdom come. Obviously, I'm very well off. And I want the opportunity to spoil you."
"I want to give you everything you ever lacked." He shook his head and tried again. "I spoke to your mother as you know, and I felt this rage bubbling up inside me at what they put you through."
"That's not on you."
"I know." He withdrew reluctantly because he wanted to be facing her when he said his piece.
"You asked why I seemed so distant and I was.
I had no idea what to do with the information I had.
I wanted to find your mother and confront her.
" His hands framed her face, his expression raw and vulnerable, sending her heart thudding.
"She hurt you, they both did and I wanted them to pay. I want her to pay for what she put you through." He drew in a painful breath. "No one is allowed to hurt you, not even me. I won't have it. I won't."
The lump that had lodged in her throat was too thick and it took several attempts to get rid of it.
Lifting a hand, she cupped his strong jaw, rubbing her thumb against the stubble.
"I never believed I was worthy of love. No.
" She shook her head when he opened his mouth.
"Let me speak, please. You grew up in a loving environment.
I was brought up out of a sense of obligation.
I was never hugged." Her eyes became shadowed with pain, and he wanted to tell her to stop.
"I had food and clothing and the basic necessities.
I wasn't beaten, but there are worse things than physical abuse.
I was sent to bed without a meal if I did something they deemed to be wrong.
A slip in my grades, a curse word escaping my lips.
My white socks getting dirty. Little things.
I learned to be careful and to try and avoid being punished. "
"I also tried to make them love me." She gripped his hand and moved in as if seeking the warmth of his body.
He drew her against him as if he could wipe away the horrors and was careful to keep his expression neutral.
"I never thought I was worthy of love until you.
" She lifted eyes drenched in tears to his.
"I thought it was too good to be true, that it was just something that would fade.
I never believed in any of it. Until you.
" She smiled through her tears. "You love me.
I tried to do everything I could to chase you away, but you stayed.
Oh God!" She closed her eyes and felt the tears drifting down her cheeks.
"You stayed."
"I stayed." His voice was thick with emotions.
"I always will. I'm going to show you how loved you are.
" He promised. Bending, he pressed his lips over her closed lids, tasting her tears.
"You will never have to question whether or not you are.
You will always know that I love you more than my own life. "
"Look at me darling." He urged shakily. When her eyelids flickered open, he wiped the tears with his thumbs.
"I'm here, naked and open before you. There will always be transparency between us.
I see only you. As long as I live, you're the only woman for me.
No one else. As long as I have breath in my body. Do you believe me, my love?"
"Yes." She whispered. "Yes."
"Good." He gathered her close, as the tears soaked his chest. After, he made love to her, gentle whisper soft, intensely powerful love that left them both shaken to the core.
*****
The idea came to him while he was talking to her as they were exploring their feelings. He had told her he wanted to take care of her and he did. He was going to do everything in his power to make sure she had an excellent life. Money was no problem.
He intended to shower her with all of it.
And he knew just where to start. Feeling her stir against him, he dipped his head to stare at her features in the light from the moon filtering through the shades. His heart swelled so much, it felt as if it was about to burst from his chest.
He would get his sisters on board and find out exactly what type of wedding she wanted. No expenses spared.