Chapter 29
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
T he contract shoved in his back pocket, his jacket over his shoulder and his hat in his hand, Adam took the stairs two at a time. He hadn’t slept much as Luis’s words had echoed in his head.
As dawn broke, he’d come to a decision. Luis was right. He and Tracy were in love with each other, body and soul. His instincts when she’d kissed him on New Year’s Eve had been correct.
In that moment, he hadn’t worried that she was on the rebound. He hadn’t dug into his past to find evidence that he’d wanted her all along. He’d been ready to accept that they were right for each other.
But the lack of a condom had taken the wind out of his sails. He’d left, giving himself time to think, to doubt, to reject his gut reaction to Tracy’s all-in kiss.
Ever since then, except for rare moments when he was making love to her, he’d let his head be in control. He’d played it cozy, played it safe, managed to convince himself this wasn’t what he’d thought on New Year’s Eve.
But it was. They belonged together. Always had. He was through fooling around. He’d love her so thoroughly she’d have no choice but to believe what he had to say.
Charging into the apartment, he paused to drop his jacket and hat on her sofa, toe off his boots and pull off his socks. He shoved them into the boots. Just because he was in a hurry didn’t mean he had to be a slob.
Something was different, though. He glanced toward the open bedroom door. Where was the sunlight? She must have closed the blinds. Why do that? It wasn’t like anyone could see in.
Unbuttoning his cuffs, he started on the buttons of his shirt as he headed in to see what she was up to. His breath caught. ”Whoa, Trace.”
“Like it?”
The red glow surrounding the bed triggered a visceral reaction. “I feel like I shouldn’t, but… yeah, I do.” He stripped off his shirt and threw it in the direction of the rocker. “What… what are you wearing?”
“A little something I got today.”
“Where?”
“That’s my secret. You’re not supposed to take them off.”
“But—”
“You’re supposed to rip them off.”
“Hot damn.” Pulling out a condom, he shoved down his jeans and briefs and kicked them away. She wanted him to rip off her underwear. To hell with neatness.
Heart pounding, he approached the bed, tearing open the condom on the way, dropping the wrapper on the floor. No rules. Snapping on the condom, he put a knee on the bed, his breathing ragged. “I want you.” He barely recognized his own voice. He sounded desperate.
“Come get me.”
A noise rose from his throat, one he’d never made before.
Her low, sensual laugh sent a jolt to his cock. “What’s so funny, pretty lady?” He climbed in, intent on the black lace separating him from what he craved, black lace he was about to destroy.
“You just growled.”
“Did not.”
“Did so.”
“Your imagination.” He claimed her sassy mouth, hooked two fingers through the middle section of the skimpy bra and yanked. The sound of ripping fabric sent another jolt to his cock.
Abandoning her mouth, he took possession of her breasts, irresistible as they lay exposed now that the bra was in tatters. He was ravenous for her and she responded. Wow, did she respond, writhing beneath him, clutching his head, begging for more.
Even as he feasted, he reached for the flimsy triangle covering his second destination. Gripping it in his fist, he tugged hard. Another satisfying rip nearly made him come.
Sliding lower on the mattress, he parted the frayed material and uncovered his next treasure. So sweet, so delicious. He got her to come, then come again, until she filled the air with her cries.
Only then did he move between her thighs, slide both hands under her firm tush, and bury his cock in her quivering warmth. Once again that low noise rose from his throat.
Her chuckle was softer this time, breathier, but just as sexy. “You did it again.”
“What?”
“Growled.”
“Did not.” Panting, he took what he needed, stroking fast, crazed by the ruby light on her breasts, still moist from his kisses, jiggling in response to his rapid thrusts.
She was gonna come again. He could feel it. He wouldn’t have to slow down, either, she was on fire. For him. For him.
He pumped faster and the climax hit them both in the same instant. They yelled at the top of their lungs and he didn’t give a damn if someone heard.
She was still breathing hard, and so was he, but he couldn’t wait to tell her. “I love you, Trace.” He gulped for air. “I love you and I want to marry you and have babies with you.”
Her eyes widened. “What?”
“You heard me. We belong together. We always have. I knew it on New Year’s Eve, but then I let stupid thoughts get in the way. I love you and you love me. Let’s admit it and be done with all this other crap.”
“Are you insane?”
“Yes! Insanely in love with you.”
“No, you’re not! It’s the red light! It’s the undies! I was trying to make you growl, and you did, but you weren’t supposed to propose! This is all my fault. Again!”
“What are you talking about?”
“Someone… gave me those undies and said we should get wild and crazy, so I?—”
“Who gave them to you?”
“I’m not telling.”
“You don’t have to. It was Auntie Kat. I don’t care. Great idea. I loved it.”
“You overreacted! I had no idea some red light and ripping off my undies would hijack your brain into thinking you’re in love with me. You just think you are. It’s just sex. We’ve talked about this. Whether it’s the forbidden fruit thing or the rebound thing, we can’t trust it!”
He took her by the shoulders and looked into her eyes, which had kind of a red glow. Demonic but arousing. “Yes, we can . Don’t let your head decide. It’ll come up with all kinds of doubts and fears. I know. It happened to me. Listen to your gut. Listen to your heart.”
“Adam, you don’t know what you’re saying. You’re under the influence of all this. I created this atmosphere because we’re having a fling and this is the kind of sex you’re supposed to have during a fling. At least I think it is. This is the only one I’ve ever had, so I?—”
“You’re not listening. I spent most of the night going over… everything. What we’re feeling is the real deal. It only seemed to come out of nowhere because we’ve been denying this feeling ever since we hit puberty. Sure, the sex is epic. It should be when two people are so in tune.”
She swallowed. “I want to believe you.”
“Then believe me.”
“I can’t. If you’re wrong, and we discover six months down the road that you were wrong, my whole world will burn to the ground.”