Chapter 16
NOT LOSE HER HEART
If Nelson hadn’t brought up the possibility of her moving in with him just now, she wasn’t going to.
The last thing she needed was him to think she was clinging on for his wealth or status. Even his connections.
The fact he was being so reasonable about it helped tremendously.
The biggest obstacle was going to be fitting in.
Nope. That wasn’t the biggest.
It was going to be not losing her heart.
The way he made her feel. The warmth in his voice during their late-night talks. The easy, genuine laugh that spilled out and lit something up inside of her when one of them said something silly. Together, it was the perfect recipe for a lifetime of happiness.
The problem was… she’d never known happiness like this. And the thought of it being torn from her grasp was a risk she wasn’t sure her heart could survive.
But you can’t get that reward if you don’t take the risk.
Her parents would be sad but content that she was trying everything to make it work.
She had to swallow her pride for this.
For someone who said enough times she was responsible for herself and her decisions, she was relying on support from someone who was still a stranger.
But to get ahead or out of this with her dignity intact, she had to try. She needed help to secure her future.
That she could see it through to make the right decision and still help her parents as they age. Her father wasn’t going to work the farm forever and her mother’s income wasn’t enough for them. They had no retirement plan other than Social Security either.
She didn’t want regrets and she didn’t want to lose the thin relationship she still had with her family.
“There is so much to do,” she said. Now that she agreed, her mind was racing with facts that she didn’t have space for when she had to focus on her exams.
He pulled her up, put his hands on her cheeks and said, “Yes, there is, but not for you. I’ll take care of it all.”
She laughed. “Like what? Come back here to pack for me? This is horrible, but I’m not sure my car is going to even make the trip.”
“You don’t need to bring your car,” he said. “Sell it. It won’t make it. I saw it. And there is no reason to drive that far. How much stuff do you even have? I haven’t seen your apartment.”
“Not much. Nothing worth bringing other than my clothes and some personal items.”
“Pack two suitcases to bring on the plane, then we’ll ship the rest. I can get someone to take care of that in my office. All you need to do is pack it and bring it where I say to drop off.”
This was too much. Happening too fast.
“No,” she said. “I’ll deal with it.”
“Kenzie. Focus on your exams. I wouldn’t have brought this up now if I thought it’d distract you, but I didn’t want to have the conversation over the phone.”
Her head went back and forth. “I’ll try.”
Taking help from anyone wasn’t going to be easy.
“Good.”
“Does your family even know about me? Other than your three brothers?”
“No,” he said. “I’ll let them know before you move. I’m sure you’re going to want me to meet your parents?”
“That’s a must. Otherwise I don’t think I can do it.”
“I’ll be here for your graduation next weekend. I can meet them then. We’ll go out to dinner after.”
“You’re coming to my graduation?”
He picked her up, his mouth landing on hers, her legs going around his waist. “I wouldn’t miss my wife’s law school graduation.”
This guy just seemed too perfect.
Was there anything wrong with him?
Was she being played and setting herself up for some controlling rich dude who wouldn’t let her make any decisions?
It was the last thing she wanted to consider. Especially since he’d had this all planned out before he came.
That risk again—that was what she told herself.
He said she could leave anytime and she’d have to believe him.
“Tell me your flaws,” she said. “Because from what I see, there isn’t much and everyone has them.”
“Oh, I’ve got a lot of flaws. My mother, she’ll fill you in. Even my siblings. I’m trying not to turn you off, which is why I’m showing you the other side of me.”
The charming smile he was sending her way didn’t lessen his words. “I’d like to know what I’m getting myself into.”
“Okay. I’m kind of a slob. That is why I’ve got a housekeeper. None of my siblings like me staying with them because they say I don’t pick up. I do. Just when I want to and not on their timeline.”
“I can live with that,” she said. “I’m pretty neat, but not spotless. You don’t need the housekeeper. I can take care of those things.”
“Not happening. You’re not moving there to be my maid.”
“Nelson. I’m going to go nuts. I have to do something. I won’t have a car. You’re making it more of a control thing now.”
“You don’t need a car where I live or if you go into the city, but you can use my vehicle. Or I can get a second one.”
“No,” she said. “I don’t need to be beholden to you anymore.”
It’s not like she could even offer to help with anything.
“You’re not going to be.”
“Nelson. I’ll have to get a job. Even a part-time one. I’ve got bills. Credit card debt on top of student loans. As much as it’d be nice to not work, I’ve got to. No way I’m letting you pay my bills. I hope you aren’t thinking that.”
She could tell by the look in his eyes that he was.
“We’ll figure it out. I promise. I mean it. You can make those decisions. I won’t do it for you.”
She had no choice but to believe him.
Well, she had a choice. She could say no to it all, but every emotion in her was screaming to jump in headfirst and see where she landed, hoping she didn’t break her neck.
They were still standing in the middle of the hotel room with her legs around his hips, his arms easily holding her up.
Her head landed on his shoulder while she tried to gather her courage.
“I think we should have sex before I move there.”
“I’m not going to argue with you,” he said, laughing. “But I have to admit I’m a little shocked you’re just dropping it like that.”
“I’m positive we are going to vibe just fine.”
His mouth found her neck, his lips brushing a heated trail, his tongue flicking in a teasing lick. “We’ll be more than fine,” he murmured against her skin, “but if it’s what you want, I won’t fight you on it.”
She pinched his arm. “I didn’t think you would.”
“Well then, I say we start right now,” he said, moving toward the bed and leaning over to place her on it.
Her legs unwound from behind his back, his hands going for her T-shirt and lifting it over her head.
She’d planned and put on her nicest bra. Nothing sexy, but at least it wasn’t a sports bra strapping her down.
His eyes roamed over her chest, his appreciation evident.
His thumbs moved in unhurried circles, brushing over the tight peaks beneath the fabric, the thin barrier doing little to dampen the heat of his touch.
Each delicate pass sent ripples of pleasure blooming through her, gathering low and deep until it was all she could do to breathe.
The pull in her belly grew stronger, coaxing her hips to lift toward him with her body answering him without a single conscious thought.
He saw what she was doing. Her reaction to his gaze and his touch.
There was no hesitation in his movements, his fingers moving toward the button of her shorts, undoing them, and gliding them down her legs with her underwear.
She’d prepared and shaved, nice and trim, but not bare. It wasn’t her and never would be. Maybe he was used to that, but she couldn’t be someone she wasn’t.
The silence built her nerves to a breaking point, making her want to sit up and grab her clothes and rush out of the room.
All he did was drop to his knees, spread her wide and put that talented mouth of his to work.
She lifted to her elbows and watched his brown head tasting the most intimate part of her body.
Five seconds in, she was on her back, the sensations so strong she didn’t have the strength to hold herself up.
“Nelson,” she said. “I’m really close.”
His tongue traced the full length of her, savoring every inch, tasting her like he couldn’t get enough. When he reached the swollen peak of her pleasure, he closed his lips around it and drew her in, the deep pull sending a rush of molten heat spiraling through her.
A moan escaped her lips in a rush of noise.
There was pressure as he inserted a finger, sliding it in and out, building her up and ready to send her spinning out of control.
Her hips were rising and lowering, mimicking the movements of what she was hoping would come.
“That’s it,” he said. “Let it out. Let it go. Come for me. I want to taste it all.”
His tongue was tapping and lapping her up, his finger moving rapidly, her body cresting, and exploding in wave after wave of sensual twitches that had her breathlessly screaming out his name.
When her hips hit the mattress, exhausted and depleted, he stood up and stripped.
His body—what a sight it was.
A toned chest that had been visiting her dreams since she’d seen it waking up that first morning wondering who this stranger was in her room.
His abs were tight and defined. There were muscles angling toward his groin and the minute his jeans were lowered, her breath caught.
He was hard, firm, long, and in fast movements he had a condom in place.
She inched up the bed, giving him space.
He wrapped her in his arms, held her tight, his mouth crushing hers, the unfamiliar taste of herself on his tongue not unpleasant in the least.
In a single fluid motion he sank deep inside her. Her body curved and stretched to welcome the pressure, the fullness, the exquisite flood of sensation that pulsed through her.
Their hips were meeting and retreating together.
The urge to get to the end was greater now than it’d been when he was feasting on her.
Their tongues were shoving in and out of each other’s mouths the same as he was ramming into her.
This wasn’t smooth and seductive. Not like what he’d done minutes ago to her.
Nope, this was scorching. Erotic. Raw and almost deliciously dirty.
Her nails were scoring his back, and his hands moved under her hips, holding her butt, lifting her high and keeping her in place as he slammed into her again and again.
“Just like that,” she screeched. “Don’t stop.”
He grunted and kept it up as if he had to concentrate to get them both there.
Her back arched, the pleasure so high that she couldn’t control the release even if she wanted to.
She pulsed and throbbed beneath him, moaning his name like a whispered prayer for him to not stop. To never let her go.
It was as if he heard every word that was in her head and gave her exactly what she wanted, what he needed.
A few more grunts later, he collapsed on her chest, the sweat on his back transferring to her fingers.
He rolled her quickly so she was lying across him.
“There was no way we had sex that first night,” he said. “Because I’d never forget it any more than I will this.”
She smiled and tenderly kissed his shoulder. “I think we got the answer to one of our questions.”