Page 41 of Wine & Whiskey
She wraps her arms around herself, her shoulders hunching against her slender neck. Regret hums over her body, weakening his determination to keep from pulling her to him, finding a way to bring her back to him. “I guess your update wasn’t good news.”
“No, it wasn’t.”
“Well, I hope you have a good trip.” Her voice cracks as she turns away.
He can’t take it any longer. These forced exchanges are not the conversation he wants to have. “Shae, please don’t do this. Please don’t push me away.”
She shakes her head, a deep frown darkening her beautiful face. “I’m not. Last night…”
Barely hanging on, he takes a deep breath, trying not to give into the panic racing through his already straining nerves. “What? What about it?”
“I didn’t want you to leave.”
The clamp on his heart releases at those six words. Only three others he would rather hear more, but these erase the worry that has been destroying him since walking out of her house last night. “I didn’t want to go.” Oxygen fills his lungs again before he reaches out and caresses her cheek, a storm of desire brewing at the feel of her soft skin under his fingers. “I was just trying to give you some space.”
“We needed to talk about what happened. I didn’t want space. I wanted you.” She leans into his hand, her eyes boring into his with doubt he needs to erase.
No more words need to be spoken. He has to be alone with her. Grabbing her hand, he leads her through the gym and out into the sunlight. Jacks leans against the limo. His eyes widen as if surprised to see both of them, and he quickly opens the door.
Shae smiles at him. “Thank you, Jacks.”
He returns her happy expression. “My pleasure.”
Even his chauffeur is charmed by her sweetness. As soon as he slides in next to her, she lays her head on his shoulder and loops her arm through his. But it’s not enough. She has to be closer. He pulls her onto his lap facing him, her legs straddling his. She lies against his chest, her head tucked into his neck. He caresses her hair and takes a deep breath, letting her flowery scent intoxicate him. “I thought I was losing you.”
Her hair tickles his chin as she shakes her head. He rubs her back as they drive to his house, enjoying her closeness and the lack of tension between them. After a few minutes, she lifts her eyes, their blue depths twinkling with mischief. “What time is your flight?
“We’re wheels up at eleven-thirty.”
Lifting up his forearm, she pushes back his sleeve to reveal his watch. “Well, then we’ve only got a few hours.”
His pulse quickens at what she implies. He can barely get the words out. “For what?”
Her beautiful smile lights up her face and his groin. “To make sure you don’t forget about me while you’re gone.”
Fucking hell. She has no idea what she does to him when she says shit like that. He resists every impulse to rip off her dress and panties and take her right there in the limo, knowing it would undermine everything he’s trying to build between them.
As they drive through the gates of his property, she climbs off his lap and smooths down her dress. Her pink cheeks and shy smile remind him to be the gentleman she deserves and not let his desire overwhelm her. With his hand on her back, he leads her into the house and up to his bedroom.
He walks over to the wet bar and opens the mini-fridge. “Would you like a drink?”
She laughs, his second favorite sound she makes. “It’s too early for wine.”
He holds up two bottles of water and hands one to her. As she sips, he kisses across her bare shoulders, his teeth grazing along the tender skin of her clavicle, and pushes down the straps of her dress, making it fall to the floor. Tossing the bottle she hands him onto the side table, he skims over her fingers as they move to the rhinestone between her breasts, releasing them from the dark pink bra before they slide down her hips to the silky panties. Too impatient for her leisurely pace, he curls his fingers around the strings, her laughter following them down her legs.
Lying naked in the middle of his bed, she watches him strip down, a small smile on her face. Pink cheeks, shallow breaths, erect nipples. One hand on her stomach. The other on her thigh. Her delicate beauty takes his breath away.
Holding out her hand to him, she rolls onto her side. “What do you want, Nick?”
Her tone turns philosophical. The playful smile gone, replaced with a quiet introspection. Unsure of what causes the shift, he lies down next to her. “Why do we always have our deepest conversations in bed?”
“Because it’s just you and me. Only the two of us exist right now.”
He nods at her wisdom, hesitating before he answers, fearful the wrong words could end the harmony they enjoy. He takes a deep breath. “I want you to say you love me and mean it. I want you to trust in my love for you. I wish my mom was alive and my father was rotting in hell where he belongs.”
Her eyes widen, but she doesn’t speak.
“Your turn. What do you want, sweetness?”
