Page 61 of Enough

Chapter Eighteen

The rise of the early morning sun pulled Jaden out of his slumber. Bare smooth shoulders rested against his lips and warmth curled within his abdomen from Claudia’s heated skin. He was naked and so was she, lying cocooned in his arms. The covers were draped across their waist as the rest of them lay on full display. Soft snores rang out like saccharine tones and a plush bottom arched into Jaden’s pelvis causing his manhood to leap. Jaden moved his lips slightly down Claudia’s shoulders to the back of her neck. A soft moan escaped her before her snores returned.

Last night, their lovemaking had gone particularly unusual. For Jaden, sex had always been the means to a sweet release, and he’d reciprocated that to his lover. But what he’d experienced last night with Claudia was something more. He’d told her she was his and those words he meant, but he almost didn’t know how to go about making that a fact.

It had never been in his interest to claim anyone. That woman would come before anything or anyone in his life; much like his father did his mother. Looking down at Claudia now, a solid tug pulled at his heartstrings. She was the humblest person he knew. It still shocked him that she felt unworthy. Of what, he was still trying to figure out. Jaden intended to show her otherwise every moment they were together.

The many late nights of telephone conversations had revealed that Claudia’s relationships with men were rocky in the past. And she never spoke of her father. Jaden was determined to get down to the bottom of her lowly thoughts, and if Adeline or Desiree had anything to do with it, he would set them straight. Especially, if they would become future family. Jaden’s head jerked back, that last thought dinging like an alarm inside his head. Family? He pondered on the idea for a moment when Claudia shifted and turned to face him with her eyes still closed.

Love, adoration, a sense of peace fell over him. Damn, he thought. He loved her. His mind whirled at the heaviness of what that meant. Not only did he love her, he wanted her, forever. But could he do it? Take the actual plunge into marriage? He almost wanted to shake off the heavy-laden thoughts. But then Claudia opened her eyes and a world of images of what could be, snapped through Jaden’s mind before he could reject the idea. Her lips curved into a beautiful smile as the afterglow of love settled on her face.

“You’re still here…”

“Where would you rather me be, chérie?”

Claudia loved the sound of his deep voice.

“The last time, you were gone.”

Jaden offered her a lazy grin. “The last time, I was trying to keep my hands to myself.”

Claudia’s fingers playing with his chin. “And now?”

“Good luck with getting me to keep away from you.”

Claudia giggled and kissed the side of his jaw.

“Would you like to shower with me, I can call up room service, and we’ll have breakfast within the hour,” he offered.

“I would love that.”

Jaden’s lips touched her forehead, the bridge of her nose, and finally her mouth. Warm tingles sparked when they touched, making it difficult for either of them to pull away.

“What would you like to do today?”

If left up to Claudia they would spend the entire next few days in this bed. She wanted to be totally spent by the time they went back to Chicago.

“Nothing would please me more than to spend more time in bed with you.”

A debonair smile cruised across his lips. “Mmmm, I was thinking the same thing.” Claudia giggled, stuffing her head in the nape of his neck.

Jaden’s hands fiddled up and down her bare back, leaving trails of tingles, sparks, and flames to ravish her completely.

“You know if we shower, it may take us a minute to get out.”

“Are you saying you would seduce me in the shower, Claudia?”

More giggles left her. “Hey, this is what happens when I’m happy and with a man that I adore.”

Jaden pulled back to gaze at her. “You adore me, Claudia?”

Lord, she loved when he spoke her name like that. Claudia paused half emboldened and half afraid to tell him how she really felt.

“Yes.”

Her voice was just below a whisper. “I’m sorry, I didn’t catch that,” he said.

Claudia let out a resigned sigh, “Yes, Jaden. I adore you.” She watched him carefully trying to gauge his visual response. His gaze exposed nothing and then, another glorious smile curved up his sexy masculine lips.

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