Page 39 of Peak of Love
“I thought you had to wake up early.”
“What if I don’t?” He wiggled his brows playfully while pulling her over his lap. Celina’s giggle surprised even her. Dane nuzzled into her neck while he spoke. “I’ll text my project manager in the morning. He’ll get me up to date. When are you expected to pick up the boys?”
“Around noon.”
“I’ll leave at the same time.”
Celina wasn’t privy to the details of his business, although she’d always appreciated his dedication to work. Dane benefitted from a stable, middle-class upbringing, yet he was, undeniably, a self-made millionaire. Right after college, he’d leveraged his father’s outdated real estate business as collateral for the startup of a patented alternative to traditional concrete.
With a handful of investors in green technology, Dane changed the process of foundation and assembly in his building projects. After a dozen years of developing environmentally friendly materials, the results were less exposure to toxins, reduced on-site construction waste, and a rehauling of renovation methods in the Northwest. Helivedfor work.
“Dane, when was the last time you weren’t the first person on a construction site?”she teased lightly while nibbling on a pretzel.
He was absentmindedly staring at her lips when he mumbled, “First time for everything.”
She had licked the salt from the pretzel and suddenly felt very self-conscious about her mouth. Or, rather, about Dane looking at her mouth.
“You don’t have to stay the night—”
He kissed her suddenly, seeking and sucking her tongue before giving her lower lip a nibble. “What were you saying?” he asked when they caught their breath.
“Don’t mess up your work schedule for… for whatever this is.” Celina made a vague tilt of her head to show the messy nest of pillows and blankets around them.
“I want to.”
“Dane.” She failed to convey the sternness she thought she should feel. Who was she kidding? She was freaking thrilled at the thought of him staying.
“Yeah, sexy girl?”
Would she ever be immune to the weird allure of that nickname? Not any time soon. At the moment, she was too busy enjoying his palms rubbing up and down her back. When Dane’s hands settled under her buttocks for a firm squeeze, she wiggled to ask for more. His chuckle was golden.
“I forgot what I was going to say. Stop distracting me,” she griped. “Wait. Right. You have to go to Vancouver. I know how much these projects mean to you.”
“Celina, all I ever do is work. After the company took off, the usual rewards haven’t been as… as fulfilling.” He shrugged and looked thoughtful.
She moved her body to face him more directly. “I didn’t know that, Dane. I didn’t realize you were having those thoughts about work. That couldn’t have been easy.”
“Don’t look so sad for me, baby. All I’m saying is that I started to question why I was doing what I was doing.” He squeezed her ass again.
She narrowed her eyes. “What do you mean?”
He matched her focused attention. “I’ve had goals. My team and I have met those goals. It’s become increasingly clear that reaching goals isn’t the same as having reasons.”
With each word, Dane kneaded her hips and moved their bodies closer. His touch was firm and reassuring. He grazed his nose against her jaw and ran his lips over her ear as if about to offer secrets that were only for her.
“Whatare those reasons?” she ventured.
Something was stirring in Celina. Physical desire, sure, as well as a tangible need for something…intangible. Some part of him he’d never shared with anyone else. That, most of all, she craved.
Instead of answering with words, he pulled her into his sculpted chest. It was useless to resist the cocoon of heat and affection he offered.
He kissed her everywhere, gently at first and then increasingly ravenous. Squeezing her breasts together, he nestled his lips in their valley and sighed into her skin. So close to her heart, it was a sigh that broke through barriers of doubt. Her body responded to him, yet their connection was so much more than physical.
They made love again. Slower and sweeter this time. Her hands roamed his hair, his face, his shoulders in response to Dane’s urgent whispers. “Touch me and look at me, Celina.”
Then, as he churned his hips in deep, prodding circles, he demanded more. “Look at me when you come. Just like that.” Deeper still, he swirled to carry her pleasure to impossible heights. “My sweet, sexy girl knows what I need. Celina, you take me so good. That’s right, eyes on me, baby.”
His intense focus and cooing words meant shecouldn’tlook away. When they climaxed together, she swam in the depths of his dark, bottomless eyes.
