Chapter 11 #2
He stamped his mouth over hers in a testosterone temper.
His tongue thrust between her lips in punishment, threatening to pull her over into the raw sexual energy that thrummed between them.
Her core dampened and pulsed in readiness.
Her breasts tingled for his fingers and mouth and teeth, but she fought back the drugging feeling and pushed him away.
“No, damnit, no sex until we settle this. Why are you so angry at me? What do you really want?”
“This.”
He thrust his hand under her yoga pants, under her panties, and sunk in to her wet heat.
A moan escaped as his fingers dove deep, immediately bringing her to the edge.
She pushed against his shoulders but he was like a rock, holding her against the door while he punished her, half in excitement, half in anger.
“Grant, no.”
“Grant, yes.”
His mouth took hers again and she fell under his spell, reaching for his erection, wanting to feel him inside of her, completing her. She bit his lower lip in rebellion, and he caught her tongue and pulled her in, his musky scent of lemon and soap and male hunger swamping her senses.
He ripped down his pants and allowed her one moment to breathe. She clung to the moment with the fierceness of survival and pushed him back hard.
Grant stumbled. His brows lowered in a warning frown. “Don’t fight this.”
“I’m not playing your games anymore.”
“What’s going on here? This is what you want, right? I’m willing to take the hit with my students because of my feelings for you. I don’t want to hide, I don’t want to make excuses anymore, and I want to be with you. Why are we stopping?”
“You’re angry with me.”
He muttered something under his breath. “No, I’m frustrated and I want you. Come here.”
“No, you’re angry with me, Grant. For God’s sake, why are you angry with me?”
“Because you’re leaving!”
Silence descended.
His breath came out slightly ragged. His announcement rang with finality between them.
Her eyes widened as she watched the truth suddenly evident in his face.
He loved her. He may not have said the words, but he wanted her to stay.
The road forked before her. She knew what path to take.
The only path available. Move to Chicago and one day she’d find someone else.
Someone who was a forgery for the man who’d complete her soul.
This was the last step in her master plan for her future.
She must take the promotion. If she turned away this career opportunity, she turned her back on everything she always wanted and believed in.
Everything that defined her and everything she fought so hard to have, even at her parents’ expense.
The conversation with Tim flashed in her mind.
She opened her mouth and said the words.
“Ask me to stay.”
Shock gleamed in dark eyes as he stared at her.
Ariel suddenly knew her own truth. She wanted to stay.
She wanted to take a chance with him and build a life together.
All she needed was a sign. A sign he would try.
Ariel realized in that moment she was not making a sacrifice for Grant Madison.
She would never wonder what could be, because this was her moment, and her decision.
She wanted to make a choice for herself.
“Ariel.” Her name was a broken whisper in the quiet of the room.
She closed the distance between them and reached for him.
Dragged his head downward, her mouth on his, giving herself in sweet abandon without any apology.
She let him take it all, the open vulnerability and the evident feelings she had.
She was in love with Grant Madison.
His lips molded to hers, his musky taste swept through her in a familiar welcome she didn’t want to live without. She drank deeply from his mouth, then slowly broke away. His forehead rested against hers, his large hands cupping her cheeks as they both caught their breath.
She gave the rest to him freely.
“I love you. I don’t want to move to Chicago and take this promotion. I want to stay and give us a shot. But I don’t know how you feel.” She paused and lifted her chin, meeting his gaze dead on. Her voice dropped. “Ask me to stay, Grant.”
* * *
Grant looked at the woman before him and felt the rest of his heart shatter.
With the gutsy determination that was part of her soul, Ariel Devlin wanted to give him a chance.
Her presence literally humbled him and forced him to his knees.
She would give up an opportunity of a lifetime, for everything she had worked for, because she loved him.
And she did it with the clarity of a woman who knew exactly what she wanted and went after it with no apology.
God, he loved her.
He knew he’d never find another woman to be his soul mate.
She was the one. He saw a flash of their future: working in the studio, buying a house, having babies.
She’d get new accounts because she was an energy force that G silently. It wasn’t a sacrifice at all.
It was a cop-out.
He was scared shitless. He was hiding it behind his words and cited yoga practices, but he was just like any normal man who was afraid to try again.
Ariel stood and paced the room, wineglass in hand, while she thought. What if he did love her as much as she did him? What if he wanted a life with her, but couldn’t get past his defense barriers and allow her to make a choice to love him?
What if she didn’t give any more choices?
The plan formed. She drank her wine and went over the details. Her move to Chicago was going to happen. The deal was complete and her team in place. She couldn’t turn back now. But before she closed the door, she needed to show Grant Madison an important lesson about tantra he’d never forget.
Ariel set the wineglass down and went back into the bedroom to dress.