Chapter 31
Skye
I was jumpy the entire evening. Me and my big mouth.
Why did I let it slip that I was pregnant?
And then why did I go and make a mess of things?
I’d meant it, I didn’t want him to feel pressured.
But I couldn’t shake off the sensation that I’d hurt him.
What if he didn’t want to move in together just because of the baby? We hadn’t even hinted at that before.
I knew family was important to him. I’d seen how much anguish Anne and Lindsay’s situation caused him. The last thing I wanted was for him to jump into this out of a sense of duty only to be unhappy later. That was a recipe for disaster.
“I see you’re not making any progress,” my sister teased. I’d declared that I wasn’t in the mood to face customers today, so I’d relegated myself to back-office tasks. We always had a million of those piling up, so I had enough to keep me occupied for the whole day.
“I’m a bit slow today,” I admitted.
Tess leaned against the wall, crossing her arms over her chest. “I think that what you need is to call it a night. We’ve just closed, anyway.”
“You can’t boss me into going home,” I said.
My sister smiled slyly. “True… but I know someone who can, and he’s right in the front of the store.”
“Ooooh, Rob’s here?” I looked past Tess’s shoulder, as if I could somehow see through walls. My entire body reacted to the news.
Straightening up, I ran a hand through my hair. I was sweaty and wearing old jeans and a washed-out boy-band T-shirt. It was my back-office attire. The air in here was stuffy, and the lack of natural light made me feel claustrophobic.
“I don’t have anything to change into,” I whispered.
“I don’t think Rob cares,” Tess whispered back.
“I look terrible.”
Smiling, Tess headed back toward the front.
“She’s all yours. Somehow even more stubborn than usual. Good luck,” I heard her say. The corners of my mouth twitched.
“Hey, you’re supposed to have my back,” I said loudly.
“I do, sister. I do.”
My pulse went into overdrive even before Rob stepped inside the room. Breathe in, breathe out… breathe in… breathe out .
It was no use. As soon as Rob appeared before me, captivating me as usual with one single glance, I hyperventilated. My entire body was craving his nearness. I wanted to jump right into his arms and run a hand through his thick hair, plant a smooch right on his lips.
He strode toward me, his face stern. I tugged at my T-shirt, as if that could make it less outdated.
“Skye, I’m here. Let’s talk. Face-to-face, like you said.”
Right, I’d said that. So why was I now completely tongue-twisted?
“I don’t know where to begin.”
Rob searched my face, silent for a few beats. “Let’s talk about moving in. Why did you say you don’t want us to rush?”
“I don’t want you to feel pressured into anything.” I’d said that, right? Searching his expression, I didn’t detect surprise, so I must have.
“I’m not.”
“But we’ve never talked about taking that step,” I insisted.
Rob came closer, raising one hand to cup my cheek.
“And now we are. If there’s another reason, if you don’t want this?—”
I shook my head frantically. He cupped my other cheek too. “I just don’t want you to do anything you might regret later… change your mind about….”
“Wanting you?”
“Yes.”
“Skye….”
In a fraction of a second, he lowered one hand down my back, pressing me against him. Damn, this man had skills.
“I love you, and I love our kid, and there is nothing that could ever make me not love you, not want you. Nothing.”
It was a good thing he was holding me so tightly, because my legs were a little wobbly. So was my smile.
“Rob—”
“I mean it, every word of it. I want it all with you. Sharing a house, our lives, waking up next to you every morning. Bickering about the best time of the day to work out. Telling you that I’ve read some stuff online that supports my viewpoint…
you shoving every study there is under my nose to prove your point.
Hear our kids laugh at our conversations. ”
“Kids?”
“Yeah, I was thinking more than one.”
“Our first one’s not even here.”
“Yeah, but I always thought it must be lonely… being an only child.”
I wiggled my eyebrows, suddenly feeling a little brave. “Don’t tell me that. I come from a family of four. Five if you include Hunter too, which I do.”
Rob paled a little. I laughed, throwing my head back. Clearly he hadn’t meant five when he’d said more than one.
“We can negotiate that later on.” I patted his shoulder, laughing harder when he became even paler.
“How long are you in town?” I asked.
“Haven’t made any immediate plans to go back to LA.”
“That means I have you all to myself?” I batted my eyelashes.
He smiled wolfishly. “No, I will have you all to myself.”
And just like that, my entire body sizzled. He skimmed his gaze up and down my body. Heavens, how could he have such an effect on me? How could my body respond to a look or mere words?
“Oh yeah? How do you plan to do that?”
“First step, getting you out of here. Right now.” He traced his thumb down my jaw and neck, resting it on my shoulder. I burned everywhere he touched.
I shook my head teasingly. The truth was, I was dying to be alone with Rob. Buuut a little persuasion from him wouldn’t hurt. “No can do.”
“What’s that I hear about needing to boss you into calling it a night?”
I grinned, shimmying my hips a little. “Like you ever need a reason to boss me around.”
“Now I actually do.” He brought a hand to my belly. It was the first time he touched it, and I could swear something stirred deep inside me. It was irrational, of course, but somehow I thought it felt Rob was here with us.
“Baby, if you’re just as stubborn as your mom, God help me.”
I was in real danger of swooning here. I had no idea how I was planning to go on with my charade, but I loved seeing Rob in persuasion mode. The man was always hot, but when he was trying to half convince, half seduce me? Make that hot times a million.
Pulling back a little, he frowned at my T-shirt, as if he was just now seeing it properly.
“I’m on back-office duty today,” I explained. “That’s why I’m wearing these godawful clothes. So I can’t be tempted to go in the front.”
“I can’t wait to take them off you.”
“Of course your mind went right there.”
“You don’t like the clothes, and I love you naked best. It’s a win-win.”
“Rob….”
“I can get you naked here too, if you insist.”
“I don’t,” I said quickly.
His eyes darkened instantly. He skimmed his hands down the sides of my body, gripping my hips. His fingers pressed into my ass possessively. I couldn’t resist and gave in just a little, pushing my pelvis into him. He groaned, gripping me even tighter, bringing his mouth closer to my cheek.
“I want to sink so deep inside you.” His words were almost a growl. My whole body ignited.
Just then, I heard footsteps approaching. I instantly moved away.
Tess poked her head in. “Sorry to disturb, but I need to find some merchandise for the display before I leave.”
“Um, sure. Can I help?” My cheeks were on fire.
“Nah, I’m good.”
It took Tess all of two seconds to find a dark green bra, but then she still hovered.
“Tess?”
She held up a finger. “Just trying to get a feel for how this is going.”
“Did you really need merchandise?” I asked, laughing.
“Yes, the display is missing a bra. And I just couldn’t take the suspense anymore.” She looked from me to Rob, then back to me.
Rob pulled me into him, kissing the side of my head. “I’m negotiating getting her out of here.”
“Excellent. Can’t wait to tell the family.”
“Wait, what?” I asked, perplexed.
Tess grimaced. “Um, well… Ryker and Cole were here in the morning before you came in. I didn’t know if you could make it, so I called for help. Anyway, I accidentally brought them up to date.”
“How can you do that accidentally?” Rob asked. I bit my lip to keep from laughing.
“I blame that on the no-secrets policy. Just makes me instantly share news with everyone in the family. I’ll leave you two now. I’m leaving as soon as I put this bra on the mannequin.”
She was grinning from ear to ear as she left.
“I like how you switched from bossing to negotiating,” I said.
“Sounds smoother. Now, let’s go.” His gaze smoldered. “Skye….”
“I’m gone,” Tess called from the front. The sound of the door closing followed.
Rob strode closer until he was right in front of me, eyes hot and determined. His whole body language was just smoking hot. Shoulders slightly hunched forward, his biceps flexed as he bent his arms at the elbow, touching my waist.
Rob
I barely kept my hands off her. Now that I knew we were alone, I couldn’t stop touching her. This woman was just everything I needed. I’d always thought I was happy with my life the way it used to be, that it was enough. Meeting her changed that. Falling for her changed me .
I led her to the couch between changing rooms.
“Here?” Skye whispered.
“Here. That way you’ll think about me every time you see it.”
That, and I couldn’t wait another minute, let alone the time it took to get her home.
I touched her mouth with my fingers. She parted her lips, biting one finger gently.
It drove me crazy. Pulling her closer, I captured her mouth, then kissed down her neck.
I got rid of her clothes in a few moves, then skimmed my lips from one shoulder to the other before descending to her breasts.
They almost spilled out of her half-cup bra.
I licked and nipped right along the line where fabric met skin, smiling when she pushed her hips forward into me.
Kissing her again, I lowered one hand between us, slowing down as I reached the hem of her panties.
Her breath was shaky. I splayed her thighs wider with my knee, lowering my hand even more over her panties, running one finger over the center right between her thighs.
She moaned against my mouth. Pulling back, I turned her around, pressing her ass against my cock. I wanted her to feel how hard I was.
“Grip the backrest,” I said.
Goose bumps instantly broke out on her skin.
I barely kept from bending her over right this instant, tugging her panties to one side, and driving inside her.
She did just as I said while I pushed down my pants and boxers, then pulled my shirt over my head.
I was desperate for her: to touch, claim, own every part of her.
I undid the clasp of her bra before palming one breast. I slipped the other hand into her panties, circling her clit.
I needed to get her wet and ready because I couldn’t be gentle tonight.
I wanted her on a primal level, more than ever before.
With one hand, I pulled at each bow holding her panties together at her hips.
They fell to the floor, and we were both completely naked now.
Still standing right behind her, I strummed my fingers over her pussy.
Moaning, she leaned back against me, trapping my cock between my front and her left ass cheek.
I could feel the tension build inside her.
Every sharp intake of breath, every moan of hers reverberated through me.
“Rob,” she gasped as her whole body curved forward.
I leaned with her, kissing her back, letting my hand drop, giving her a brief reprieve.
Gripping at the base of my erection, I positioned myself between her thighs, drawing the tip of my cock from her clit all the way down to her entrance, then teased her again.
“Rob, oh…,” she whispered. Her legs were shaking slightly.
I wanted to make her come once just like this, but I barely kept from bursting myself.
Tension pumped through me. When she was close to the edge, I straightened up, holding her with one arm against me, teasing her clit with my fingers.
She climaxed beautifully, arching her back, resting her head on my shoulder as she cried out.
I whirled her around, capturing her mouth before she’d even finished coming.
I explored her mouth ferociously, moving us both around the armrest. I lowered myself on the couch, pulling her on top of me.
She straddled me, her knees at my sides.
“Now you’re at my mercy,” she teased.
“That’s what I let you think.”
I gripped her hips, lowering her onto me slowly, watching her face transform with pleasure.
When I was all the way in, I let go of her hips, pushing myself up on an elbow.
She undulated her hips in a fast rhythm while I explored her upper body with my hand and mouth.
Her skin was so smooth, her scent maddening.
The sound of our bodies moving filled the space.
I felt more connected to her than ever. There was no feeling more perfect than being entwined like this with her.
She belonged to me, and I was going to remind her of that every day.
I was going to make her mine every day, bring her pleasure and happiness.
When she threw her head back, crying out my name, I nearly came.
She was pulsing tight around me. Lifting her hips a few inches, I pressed one thumb just above her clit, driving inside her from below.
I wanted to own every drop of pleasure, and I did.
When my sensitive woman came yet again, I succumbed to my own climax too, calling out her name and pushing so deep inside her that my vision blurred.
My breath stuttered as every muscle cramped and burned.
She leaned forward until her forehead touched my chest. “You bad, bad man,” she chastised.
“Bad?”
“How am I supposed to concentrate on customers when every time I look at this couch, I’ll remember this?”
“That’s the point, Skye. I want to be on your mind all the time.”
Laughing, she kissed my neck, stretching over me. “Mission more than accomplished.”