Page 66 of Until You (Forgive Me)

“This is not how I wanted our first time in my apartment to be. I had a whole romantic night planned,” Christian said, struggling to catch his breath.

Isabella pressed forward, her lips touching his, the movement rubbing him against her G-spot.

“Oh,” she said, her head falling back as Christian latched his lips onto her throat, raining kisses on the sensitive spot beneath her ear. His hands snaked under her skirt and to her bottom. Lifting her into his hands, he began moving them. Isabella clutched onto his shoulders, enjoying the sensations flooding her system. Christian’s pace sped up, the sound of their bodies coming together filling the air.

He lifted her off the side as if she weighed nothing. Still joined, Isabella clutched his shoulders as he moved to the sofa. Sitting down with her straddling his thighs, he continued to move, his thumb snaking under her skirt, finding her sensitive nub and skyrocketing her into the orgasm that had been building from the moment he’d kissed her. Christian swallowed her scream as her body clenched around his. His movements became more frantic until he too froze, his body releasing his desire deep inside her. Isabella dropped her head forward, her forehead resting on his shoulder, as his hands rubbed soothing patterns on top of her shirt.

“Wow,” Isabella said, trying to catch her breath. Her core still contracted around him.

She felt him smile against her cheek. He pressed a kiss to her head before she let out a squeak as he swept her up in his arms and made his way down the corridor. Kicking open the door to the gym, he walked inside, lowering her to the mat.

“I’ve been fantasising about this since watching you this morning. I could think of nothing more than taking you from behind as you bent over.”

Isabella’s core quivered at the thought. Others had commented on her yoga flexibility before, but hearing it from Christian turned her insides to jelly. Her body reacted instantly, craving his attention.

“First things first. I want you out of those clothes.”

Isabella’s heart rate quickened at Christian’s tone. Oh boy. Isabella stripped in record time, stepping back into his arms as he showed her precisely what he’d been fantasising about all day.

Chapter Thirty

Christian

Christian struggled to drag himself out of bed, especially with Isabella curled into his side. Looking down at her sleeping form, he had to admit he could get used to having her next to him every night. The more time they spent together, the more unquenchable his desire for her. It had moved beyond mere physical attraction. He could let his guard down and feel at ease when she was around.

Christian’s mind went back to the day before when he’d heard Isabella talking to Star. Hearing her talk about the fact her life wasn’t here and never would be was like a punch in the gut. His head told him he needed to enjoy their time together for however long it lasted, but his heart... First, he needed to help her sort out her life. It had only been two weeks since the office opening and they’d parted company. So much had changed. Neither of them had foreseen what was to come. Christian was not sorry. The gossip in the press was vicious, and the last thing he wanted was for her to suffer. But having her there in his space felt right and he didn’t regret it. He knew it was selfish of him, but every moment with her drew him out of the darkness and into the light. Christian dropped a kiss on her head, watching a small smile grace her sleeping lips. He knew at that moment he would do everything he could to help her, and then he would see what their future held.

Christian headed into the office, leaving Isabella a note to let her know he would be back later and to expect his housekeeper, Mrs Lewis. Sebastian was waiting for him in his office when he arrived.

“Good weekend?” Seb asked.

“Great,” Christian said, not looking at his friend, his attention focused on the letters Lucy had handed him as he came in.

“Oh, come on... spill,” Seb said, leaning forward in his chair.

Christian hid his smirk. One thing Seb hated more than anything was not being in the loop, and Christian had to admit he loved torturing his childhood friend.

“Why are you waiting in my office?” Christian asked, dropping the letters on his desk and looking at his friend.

Seb lent back and crossed his arms over his chest.

“The press officer called me this morning about a television appearance by Isabella. Is there anything you want to tell me?”

Christian brought Seb on board when he’d taken over the company, knowing he could trust his best friend implicitly, and he’d proven himself invaluable. For all his clowning around, Sebastian was an astute businessman with an incredibly high IQ. Seb was his right-hand man and The Dupree Group’s CFO. They’d been best friends since the age of four when Seb had shared his cars with a sad-looking Christian on his first day of school, and that was not the only time Seb had rescued him.

Christian dropped into his chair and stared across the desk at his best friend. They’d spent many hours in these very same positions, managing crisis after crisis over the past eight years as Christian fought to rebuild the company from the ground up.

“Isabella has decided to give an interview on breakfast television. She doesn’t want to rely on a journalist not to put their own sensationalist spin on it.”

Seb shook his head, his face serious. “A bold move. How do we know they will not tear her apart? Rehash the old stories? It will not help you or the company if they rehash her drug and sexual history.”

Christian felt his blood boil at his friend’s words. As if sensing Christian’s shift in mood, he held up his hands. “Look, don’t shoot the messenger. The board will not like you being linked to her. I’m already hearing mutterings.”

“Then it’s even more important Isabella gets her story out,” Christian said, glaring at his friend and daring him to say anything else. “We can refute the drugs claim. Her doctor has said there was no trace of drugs in her system when she was admitted to rehab. That was within twenty-four hours of the photos being released. If she’d taken any drugs, they would have shown up in her urine or blood. As for the board… if they’re unhappy, then they can come and speak to me.”

“I’m with you,” Seb said, sitting back. “I remember Isabella. She was a good girl. Her dad died suddenly, leaving her an orphan. Who wouldn’t go off the rails? Especially with a fiancé like hers and a stripper for a stepmother?” Christian stared at Sebastian, his eyes widening as he continued. “Danielle never gave me mother vibes, more take me to bed vibes. Even if she did try to make out she was the world’s best stepmother... Rumour had it she was sleeping with his business partner before Dominic was even cold. If you want my honest opinion, I think she sent Isabella to rehab for her own benefit. She wanted a heartbroken twenty-year-old out of her hair.”

Christian stared at his friend. “Back up... I hadn’t heard that.”

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