Page 20 of Shattered

“Do you mind if I throw some clothes on?”I pivoted around on my heel and locked him in my gaze once more.

“I’ve licked and sucked every inch of you.I’ve been buried so deep in you I thought I would never resurface.Why all of a sudden are you being modest around me?”

Where the hell is this coming from?We’d been taking it slow recently, yet he was acting as if we’d just had sex over and over again.

When I didn’t say anything, he simply replied, “I’ll wait out in the living room.”He was halfway out into the hallway when he turned around quickly, blocking me from shutting my bedroom door all the way.“Oh, and I want to talk about the voicemail you left.”Then he sauntered toward the living room.

Crap!I should have known better than to think he would listen to his phone, not give it a second thought, and continue on to the event without me.

I took off my towel and threw on a robe.Leaving my room, I slowly made my way toward Alek.As I approached, he was casually sitting on the couch, his left arm slung over the back of it.

I’d been mentally preparing my argument in my head, but him looking so scrumptious threw me off.

I didn’t waste any time, diving right into our inevitable conversation.“Alek, I don’t think it’s wise for me to accompany you tonight.I’ve read about these charitable events, and for God’s sake, there’s a red carpet and paparazzi.It’s just not a world I fit into.Not now.Not ever.I would embarrass myself and you in the process.I’m sorry, really I am.”I looked away, staring at my feet.“I’ll return the dress and everything else as soon as I can.”

“Are you finished, Sara?”

“Yes, I suppose I am.”Wow, he seemed to be taking what I’d said pretty well.Not as much resistance as I would have thought.

“Now, let me tell you something.”Okay, so I spoke too soon.“Youdobelong there because you belong with me. You have absolutely nothing to be embarrassed about.Most of the people who are going are uptight and boring.Ineedyou there with me, to help me through it.”

“But I’m not used to rubbing elbows with those types of people, Alek.”

“Do you feel uncomfortable around me?Because I run in the same circles as many of those people.”He rose from the couch and walked toward me.

“I don’t feel uncomfortable with you because I know you.Plus, I doubt there is anyone else like you.”A smile found its way to my lips, even though I fought to remain as serious as possible.

“That is true, but still…you’ll be fine.Just trust me.”He pulled me into his warm embrace without another word.Whenever I was in his arms, I couldn’t think straight.I would agree to almost anything.

Itwouldbe nice to get all dressed up and spend more time with him.But I still wasn’t convinced, not all the way.Before I could let my uneasiness completely take over, he leaned down and kissed me.Since he was allowing me to take the lead with our fresh-start relationship, his lips simply rested on top of mine.I turned it into something more, snaking my hands around the back of his neck and pulling him closer.An all-too-consuming passion took hold, and I let loose.

Moaning into his mouth made him tense up before relaxing and unleashing his own desire.

“Alek,” I groaned, breaking our kiss for a moment.“How about we stay here tonight,” I teased, leaning back in and capturing his mouth.“We could really enjoy one another.”Lightly nipping his bottom lip, I gripped his arms and tried my best to entice him.

I would allow him to ravage me because I was tired of waiting.But I also wanted to finagle my way out of going to the charity event.

I think he was on to my devious plan, though, because he backed away, spun me around and smacked my ass.

Hard.

“Ow!” I yelled.“What the hell was that for?”Backing up, my feet shuffled across the floor as my hand rubbed my poor, affected cheek.

“That was for trying to trick me, sweetheart.Now, go get dressed before we’re late.”

The last thing I saw was a huge smile on his face as I disappeared around the corner.

~9~

Sara

It took me longer to slip into my floor-length emerald green gown than it did to do my hair and makeup.Wearing an updo with only a few cascading tendrils made the bare neckline pop, elongating my neck and making me look sexy.

The back of my outfit dipped lower than what I was used to, dangerously on the verge of being indecent, but not quite. The material hugged my body like a second skin, all while remaining classy.The bodice was fitted, pushing my breasts up into a view which simply worked with the ensemble.

Once I slipped on my heels and grabbed my clutch, I made my way out to the living room where Alek was patiently waiting for me.

As soon as I entered the room, his eyes instantly found mine.The air between us was stifled, sexual tension and desire floating all around us.

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