Chapter Thirty Three
JAKE
I told Cal to drop me off a block away from the ice cream shop.
After all, I didn't want Natalie to know I was showing up too.
It was raining, but that meant there was absolutely no one in line.
I stood a few feet away with an umbrella, waiting for her to get out of the Uber.
She opened her umbrella as she approached the counter. I cut her off.
"Great minds think alike," I said.
She startled, tilting the umbrella backward and looking up at me.
"Jake, what are you doing here?"
"I was in the mood for the best ice cream in town."
"Wait, how did you know I was here?"
“From Maddox. Told him I needed you here.”
"Oh my God, wait a second. If Maddox orchestrated this with you…" She swallowed hard. "Does it mean you two are okay?"
"Yes. Babe, come on, let's move out of this rain. We're going to get sick. It's coming from all directions."
We went around the corner in the covered outdoor area. It was empty. We closed the umbrellas, putting them on the table nearest to us. I looked her up and down. Her hair was a bit wet at the edges.
"Are you cold? Do you need my suit jacket?"
She smiled sheepishly. "Always a gentleman, aren't you?"
"Always," I confirmed.
"I'm not feeling cold, but thanks. Tell me more about you and Maddox."
"I didn't come here to talk about him and me. Just know we’re fine. I want to talk about you and me."
Her cheeks turned red. She looked at her feet, then crossed her arms over her chest and glanced back up.
"When did your eyes go from serious to smoldering hot?"
"I’m gonna need everything I’ve got."
"For what?" she murmured.
I put both my hands on her shoulders. "To convince you that we belong together."
"Jake, wait.”
“Before you go on, I made a big decision today."
"Okay."
She licked her lips. I wanted to lean in and kiss her senseless, but that had to wait or I would get carried away.
"I decided to move to Boston. I'm going to run Whitley Advertising myself."
She gasped. "What's going to happen to your company in New York?"
"I'll promote my vice president of operations to CEO, and I'll just consult and fly in from time to time." Ben had done well while I’d been in Boston. I was confident he could do the job as long as I advised him on crucial decisions.
"Oh my God, Jake, this is great news."
"You're the first one who knows. Well, you would be the first one if Cade hadn't surprised me with a visit first."
"Jake, your grandparents are going to be so happy," she gushed. "And all your brothers too."
"I love that you think about them first thing, babe."
I leaned forward, kissing a corner of her mouth. I just couldn't help myself; I needed the contact. "You’re my life, Natalie. You have my love, my heart, my dreams, and my future. I wanted to bring you here to your favorite place in the city to tell you that."
She grinned, staring into my eyes. "You really are something, Jake Whitley. I’m stunned. I'm not even sure what to say."
I frowned, cupping the side of her face, pressing my forehead to hers. "Tell me you feel the same. Tell me you want the same."
"I do. God, I do." She tugged at the collar of my shirt with one hand, sighing. "I didn't realize I had to say that aloud."
"Yes, you did because I needed to hear it." I pulled back, putting two fingers under her chin. "I also never want to hear anything about you getting between me and my family, okay?"
She closed her eyes, drawing in a deep breath before opening them.
"The fight between me and Maddox is fixed, I promise. But even if it wasn't, even if my brothers and I never talked to each other again, that wouldn't change what I feel for you, how much I love you, how much I need you."
Then I couldn't help myself any longer. I kissed her so hard that I was struggling for breath, and so was she. I wanted to consume her, and I wanted to do it for the rest of the day. I stopped only when I heard her moan, and then she pulled back.
"Oh God, Jake." Her mouth was red. She was shaking slightly. My cock twitched at the sight.
"Let's go to the hotel," I said.
"But they're expecting me back at the office," she murmured.
"It was just a ruse to get you here. No one's going to expect you to go back.”
Her blush intensified. "But what will everyone say? Won't they get mad at me?"
I winked at her. "I know the boss. I'm sure something could be arranged. I want to spend the rest of the day with you."
"Oh, I want the same," she said. Then she grinned and pointed at the ice cream shop. "But I'm not leaving here without something delicious."
"You've read my mind." I wanted to buy her ice cream, but not for the reason she thought. I had plans for it. "Let's go to the counter and take a box to go."
She chose a lot of flavors. I couldn't wait to taste them on her and explore her body.
I'd let Cal go because I didn't know how long this would take, so we just took a cab to the hotel. The rain had stopped somewhat, so we didn't open our umbrellas as we raced to the lobby, then headed straight to the elevator. She was shivering when we reached our floor.
"Oh, now I feel the cold," she said. "But I have a feeling it'll take no time for you to warm me up."
"What gave me away?" I said as I slid the card through the door, pushing it open.
The second we entered, I took the ice cream from her hands, putting it on the small stand in the entrance.
Then I kissed her. This wasn't like back at the ice cream shop—I really kissed her with everything I had, taking all I needed from her.
She responded in kind, tugging at my shirt.
She wanted me naked, and I obliged, taking off my pants.
I made no show of it, just quick, practical.
I wanted to be naked, needing the skin-on-skin contact.
It was easier to take off her clothes. She only had a dress and that damn lingerie that was surely going to kill me one day.
It was lace too, of course, and it contrasted with her skin in the most delicious way.
The bra was almost see-through, which I appreciated, with a larger piece of lace covering her nipples. The sight drove me insane.
"You shouldn't go out of the house looking this sexy," I growled, pressing her against a wall.
"Really? You're going to fuss about that?"
"About everything," I said. "All this belongs to me. Only I can see you like this."
"Of course, only you." She sounded shy.
I palmed her breast over the lace.
"Mine," I whispered. I felt her nipple turn hard through the fabric. I felt a feral claim over her, and I wanted her to know it.
She looked at me with darkened eyes. Fuck yes. She knew it, and she liked it. This was my woman. She knew what I needed and had no qualms about giving me exactly that.
I moved one hand farther down, splaying my fingers wide on her stomach, pressing gently on her pubic bone and then pressing even harder as I slid it to her pussy, cupping her over the fabric.
"Yours," she said before I could say anything and then smiled.
I kissed her again and then took off the rest of my clothes, including my boxers. Stepping back, I grabbed the box of ice cream, leading us deeper inside the suite. I put the box on the desk, opening it. She swallowed so hard that I heard her.
"That's why you wanted a box to go," she said.
"Oh yeah, babe."
She turned her back to me. The scrap of silk between her ass cheeks was insanely sensual and sexy. She peeked at me over her shoulder as she unhooked her bra and then turned back around, showing me her breasts.
"Sit on the bed," I said.
She did as I said.
"Part your thighs now. Very wide."
She did that too. Her breath caught.
"Touch yourself. I want to see you."
"Over the panties? Or do you want me to slide my hand in?"
My cock twitched. It was fully erect now. She licked her lips, looking at it.
"Start on the outside."
She did exactly as I asked, rubbing her fingers up and down over the fabric.
I walked straight to her, dipping two fingers in the ice cream and smearing it around her nipple. I waited for a few seconds so the cold would seep into her, and then I put my mouth on the same spot.
"Oh, Jake."
I felt her press her thighs together, and then she immediately slid her hand inside her panties. I was gloriously proud. I turned her on so fast that she couldn't bear not touching herself.
"Move it slowly." I spoke against her skin while smearing ice cream on her other nipple. Then I repeated the same scenario, waiting for the cold to take effect before applying heat.
"I need to move faster," she begged. Her voice was my undoing.
"No, babe. Now I'm taking over. Lift your gorgeous ass."
As soon as it was up in the air, I slid her panties down.
"Lie down," I ordered, and she did. The next second, I put a fine trail of ice cream from her navel right down to her pubic bone.
"Please, please, please," she panted.
I didn't touch her pussy first. I licked the ice cream, letting it melt on my tongue so it was cold but not uncomfortable on her sensitive flesh. Then I pressed the flat of my tongue against her clit. She jackknifed, nearly kneeing me in the ear.
"Oh my God, Jake."
I didn't give her any reprieve. She was so turned on already, I knew she would only need a few minutes to go over the edge. There was nothing I liked better than seeing her come. Scratch that. There was one thing that was better—feeling her give in to the pleasure.
I kept her thighs wide apart, so she wouldn't have the chance to knee me in the head again, and feasted on her pussy.
I could still taste her underneath the ice cream.
It was intoxicating. I kneaded her clit, alternating between that and pushing my tongue inside her until I heard her muffled scream.
She'd covered her face with a pillow, yet I could still hear her.
She was so sexy, and she was going to be mine forever.
When she let the pillow drop, I moved up on the bed, watching her. Her face was completely red. Her whole body was still shaking. She closed her eyes as if she wanted to internalize the last drops of bliss. I cupped her ass cheek, pulling her farther up the bed, and she blinked her eyes open.
"Jake, we’ll need to buy ice cream more often and bring it home with us."
"Oh, we will," I assured her.
Then I turned her onto one side as well, facing me. She wiggled her toes, rotating her hips. She wanted me closer.
I kissed her slowly, savoring how relaxed she was after her orgasm but still on edge—waiting for the next one.
I liked bringing her pure satisfaction. I pushed my cock in while I still kissed her.
She moaned softly against my mouth. This feeling of utter and complete perfection would never cease to amaze me.
It felt like home, where I'd belonged all along.
I thrusted in and out, touching her everywhere.
Her breasts were sensitive, even more so than usual, an aftereffect of the hot-and-cold game.
I touched each, watching her beautiful face change as she gave in to more and more pleasure.
And when she pressed her eyes closed, exhaling sharply, I knew it was time to heighten everything and bring her closer to the edge.
She was there before me, reaching for her clit as I looked between us.
I was beside myself. Her fingers touched her flesh, but they also touched my cock on every thrust, and I was done for.
But I wanted my hands to touch and explore her, so I shifted us.
She gasped, opening her eyes wide. I pulled her on top of me.
She gave me a wicked grin, and then she started riding my cock in earnest, moving up and down.
She still had one hand on her clit. She was fucking gorgeous.
I pushed myself into a sitting position, kissing her torso as she rode me.
I started going over the edge faster than I thought.
Ecstasy pulled at every cell in my body, rolling through me.
I lay down on the bed, giving in to this overwhelming sensation.
She fell forward, bracing her arms on my chest, and rode me until she drew out every drop of our orgasms. Then I pulled her up to me so she was lying on my chest, her hot breath landing on my skin.
"I love you."
"Hmm." She moved her cheek against my skin.
"I take that to mean you love me too?" I asked.
“Presumptuous as always," she murmured, a smile tugging at her lips. "But you're right. I do love you. So damn much. I can't believe you're staying in Boston."
"That's where I belong," I said without any hesitation.
She blinked her eyes open, pushing herself up a bit. "I also made a big decision."
“Let’s hear it." My heart was thumping fast.
"I'm going to follow my heart and stay in event planning and search for a job in that area.
I'm sure I'll find something in Boston. I'll also keep my own company on the side, and hopefully, over time, I'll build a brand strong enough that I can do it full-time.
Although, honestly, I don't mind a job either. "
"Babe, I'm putting this out there, but you don't even have to work if you don't want to."
She glowered at me.
"Okay. I take it back."
"Yes, please do. I like having a job."
"I just love taking care of you."
"And you can totally do that," she said with a sly smile. "As long as you don't let the ice cream reserves get too low and you do one of those massages, I'm blissfully happy."
"Consider it done."