by Jenika Snow
When he turned around, he didn’t have a movie in his hand. Instead, he came over and sat beside her. They stared at each other for several seconds, and then she smiled.
“What?”
He didn’t smile in return, just reached out and brushed a lock of her hair away from her cheek. “Nothing. I just like looking at you. You’re beautiful.”
She felt her cheeks heat at his compliment. “Sometimes, I feel like this isn’t real.” She hadn’t realized she said those words out loud, but when she did, her face got scorching hot.
“Why?”
She shrugged, but then cleared her throat, not about to hide how she felt. She wanted to be open and honest with him. “Because you seem too good to be true.” She chuckled after she spoke, and he did the same.
“I’m not perfect. Far from it.” He sobered. “But you know why this feels so good, right?”
She didn’t need him to tell her why. She knew.
“Because you and I are meant to be here, right now, with each other. We’re meant to be together.”
Those were strong words, especially after only a few weeks’ time, but she couldn’t deny the truth.
“Tell me you feel that, too.”
She nodded, not hesitating. “I feel it, too. I felt it as soon as I saw you at the store, Elijah, and it’s only grown since then.”
He smiled and was silent for a couple of seconds. She could see him thinking because of his expression. “Come with me to a business fundraiser next weekend, and then after that, come with me to my cabin for the weekend.”
She was stunned to be asked to go to a business event, let alone spend the weekend with him at a cabin.
“If you have the time off, that is.”
She had next weekend off, but spending the entire weekend with him would be hard. Not because she’d be with him, but because she knew she wouldn’t be able to control herself around him. She already wanted to have sex—to just get naked and let him touch every part of her. Even now just thinking about it made her delirious with lust, but she schooled herself and focused on what he was asking her.
But even if she’d known Elijah for a long time, it seemed like she was rushing it after only a few weeks. But still, they were adults, and wasn’t sex the next logical step when she cared about someone? It certainly seemed to make sense.
Placing a hand on his chest, she leaned in and kissed him. “I think I’d love to go with you to the gala and the cabin,” she whispered against his lips.
He cupped the back of her head, held her mouth to his, and for a second, they breathed the same air.
Sex was definitely on her mind, and of course she was old enough and they’d known each other long enough that it shouldn’t feel like they were rushing it, but still, she’d wait and see how everything went, then go from there. To Freya, Elijah might be the one, might be the man who she spent the rest of her life with. She certainly could see that, hoped for it even, but only time would tell how everything went.
She didn’t care about what others thought because this was about them and not anyone else. It had taken her all these years to realize she wasn’t alone, even if she felt like that. It took her four long years of being on her own to realize she deserved to be happy. She deserved to stop putting herself down.
And she was going to start letting herself live with Elijah.
12
“You really don’t have to do this, Elijah,” Freya said for what felt like the hundredth time. She was currently an expensive boutique in the city because Elijah insisted she let him buy her a gown for the fundraiser tonight.
Of course she had dresses and could even buy her own, but a part of her, a very feminine part, was excited Elijah wanted to buy her things. She never thought she’d want a man to take care of her, but she didn’t care and wasn’t ashamed to admit that right now she loved it.
“Freya, sweetheart, for the tenth time.” He chuckled softly. “I want to do this for you. I want to be able to spoil you.”
That was definitely a sigh moment right there, and she smiled.
Freya looked at herself in the mirror of the department store, and that smile changed to a cringe. She couldn’t deny that it felt weird being in this expensive part of the city, allowing Elijah to buy her a dress that cost as much as some people’s mortgage. She lifted the price tag on the side of the dress, and her throat clenched. Yeah, definitely mortgage-sized prices.
The dress she had on was the third one she’d tried on, and the first she actually liked on her. She wasn’t overly large but had gained weight and curves over the past four years. Looking at herself in these harsh florescent lights made her feel unattractive. Still, this dress was by far the best. It was an emerald color with crystal and lace detailing under the bust and around the hem of the dress. She had to admit her breasts looked incredible in it.
The knock on the dressing room door had her heart racing, and she cleared her throat. “Yes?” She was nervous, and right now, she felt especially unattractive, especially since she knew Elijah would want to see her in this dress.
“Are you going to let me see?” he said with a teasing tone. Freya found herself closing her eyes and saying a little prayer that he’d like it because the feminine part of her wanted to please him.
Glancing at her reflection once more, she ran her eyes over her body and told herself she looked good. With a deep breath, she turned around and opened the door. Elijah stood on the other side, his hands in the front pocket of his slacks, and his gaze raking up and down her body.
“What do you think?” she asked, her voice shaking a little. She’d never dressed like this in general and certainly not for a man. She’d never wanted to impress someone, but with Elijah, she found herself wanting his approval, his desire for her and what she wore. Maybe it was not something a strong, independent woman should want, but fuck it, because Freya wanted that right now.
He didn’t answer for several moments, and then cleared his throat and looked her in the eyes. “How do you like it?”
She looked down at her body, saw the impressive cleavage she sported with the rise and fall of her breasts, and felt herself shrug. “I feel a bit exposed.” Although the dress was floor-length, it was fitted, showing off her tucked in waist and too wide hips. He didn’t respond, and when she lifted her head, running her gaze over his pants, she could see the front of his slacks was tented. Swallowing her arousal, she continued moving her eyes up over his defined chest and looked into his eyes.
“Aside from the exposed part…” He looked down at her breasts, cleared his throat, and lifted his gaze back to hers. “How do you like it?”
“I like it, but is it too much for where we’re going today?”
He looked at her body again. “No, it’s definitely not too much.”
She couldn’t help but smile at the fact it was clear he most definitely liked the dress. “It doesn’t show off too much? It doesn’t show a little too much of the unattractive parts?”
“Unattractive parts?” he said with a bit of astonishment in his voice, shaking his head as if stunned by her comment. He turned and looked behind him, then looked back at Freya. He moved closer, forcing her to step back until her back hit the mirror. Elijah closed the dressing room door, sealing them in. The scent of him was intoxicating, and she took a stuttering breath.
“Elijah,” she whispered. “What are you doing?” She was heating up in all the right places.
“For the record,” he said in a soft voice as well, “I happen to think there are no unattractive parts on you.” He placed his hands on either side of her head and leaned his face in close to hers. Elijah spoke in a deep, but whispered voice again. “In fact, I’d like to take this dress off you, press your naked, very attractive body to mine, and make you come.”
She had never heard Elijah speak so erotically, but she liked it. Dammit, she liked it. Freya was having a hard time breathing, especially with the scent of everything that made up Elijah surrounding her. He glanced down
at her lips and licked his own.
“I want you so much right now, Freya.”
Her heartbeat whooshed in her ears, and she grew dizzy from his words, the scent of him, and her own arousal.
“I want to slip my hand under this dress and touch you.” He leaned in closer. “I bet you’re wet.” He closed his eyes and rested his forehead against hers. “God, just thinking about how wet you could be between your thighs has me so hard.”
Her mouth went dry, and she parted her lips, trying to breathe or maybe trying to respond.
“Stop thinking you’re so unattractive because you are the most beautiful woman in the world to me.”
She swore her heart stopped beating.
He grabbed her wrist in a firm but gentle hold and put her open palm right over his big, hard erection. He leaned toward her again, then pushed her hair aside, placed his mouth right by her ear, and said, “If I didn’t find you so damn attractive, I wouldn’t get this hard just looking at you.”
She turned her head slightly to look at him.
“I don’t mean to be so crude around you, but I can’t help myself with you, Freya.”
“I kind of like the crudeness, Elijah,” she whispered.
“God, sweetheart,” he said and closed his eyes, breathing harshly. He took a step back. “I feel like tearing away your clothes and just devouring you.” His voice was a harsh growl, like an animal barely able to control himself.
She braced herself by placing her hands on the cool mirror behind her. She had to stabilize herself because if not, she would have fallen to her knees.
This man was going to be the death of her, but what a way to go.
13
The next weekend
Elijah stared at Freya, knowing that he needed to get his libido in control. But seeing her in that emerald green gown with the plunging neckline and the way she was so fucking gorgeous had all control slipping away. His pulse beat in his dick as he watched the way her breasts rose and fell from her breathing.
She was looking out the window in the back of the limo. He could have driven them to the gala, but he wanted to have an unobstructed view of her in the dress. That, and the fact everyone attending the gala would be chauffeured to the event.
He felt perspiration start to line his temple and the length of his spine. God, she was so damn curvy, so sexy and gorgeous in a way she didn’t even realize or understand.
“You are so beautiful,” he said, not able to stop himself. She turned to face him, her cheeks turning red as she blushed.
“Thank you, and you look incredible in that tux.”
He smiled at her sweetness.
It wasn’t just about wanting to have her in his bed in every possible way. It was about just having her by his side. Whatever it was about Freya set his blood on fire and made him want a relationship, a marriage … a family.
Reaching out, Elijah took her hand in his. He wanted to show her how much he desired her and cared about her. Elijah brought her hand to his mouth and kissed her fingers while gazing into her eyes.
“I care about you, Freya.”
She smiled and looked down, as if embarrassed. “I care about you, too.”
He pulled her forward until she sat on the seat beside him, facing him fully. Oh, he wasn’t lost to the way her body responded to him—how her chest rose and fell, the way her pupils dilated, and the fact her lips were redder from the blood flow under the surface of her skin. She was aroused, that was clear, but then again, so was he.
Her lips were parted, and her breath came out in fast little pants. He imagined taking hold of the little zipper on the side of her dress and slowly bringing it down, exposing her creamy flesh. He could have her naked faster than either of them could even realize, but he’d never force anything on her, never force her to go faster than she was ready to.
Elijah wanted to savor every inch of her and memorize every part of her gorgeous body. He wanted her like a man possessed and needed to claim what was his. And she was his, every part of her. She’d soon realize that.
Elijah couldn’t help the erotic, lewd thoughts bombarding his mind and flooding his body. He envisioned himself taking her hardened nipples between his lips and sucking on the peaks until she writhed beneath him.
God, he was burning alive for her, needing her like he needed to breathe. Without realizing what he was doing, he found himself lowering his head, his gaze riveted to her mouth, his lips parted, ready to claim her.
She smelled sweet, like vanilla and lemons, a soft aroma that had his dick harder than fucking steel. He knew she wouldn’t resist him by the way she looked at him right now. When his face was close to hers, he smelled the sweet scent of her minty breath, and he had to clench his hands into fists so he didn’t yank her on top of him.
“Freya.” He whispered her name harshly, and her eyes fluttered closed. She leaned forward that last bit of space that separated them and sealed her mouth with his. At the first touch, he groaned and cupped the back of her head, holding her to him.
Oh, fuck. She tastes so damn good, feels so fucking good.
Working his mouth on hers, the male in him demanded he take her against the seat and show her how much he wanted her, how much he craved her. But they were close to the event and getting worked up probably wasn’t the best idea. But he didn’t fucking care.
Elijah found himself clenching his fingers around her tucked in waist because he couldn’t control himself. And then he dragged her across his lap. She felt so damn good on top of him, her thighs on either side of him, and her dress now hiked up to her thighs.
And when he saw the lacy tops of her pantyhose and the garters she wore, his dick jerked behind his tux pants. There was no doubt in his mind she could feel his erection pressing between her thighs. It was obvious how hard he was for her.
She didn’t stop kissing him. In fact, she opened her mouth wider to take more of his tongue inside. He groaned, loving that she was so willing for him. The heat from between her legs scorched him. He’d never thought about being so bold with a woman. He’d fucked them, yes, but he’d never felt this need to be with them in some way so badly that he had to take them in a limo.
“I want you so much, Freya.”
Her answer was a groan, a response that was just this breathy little sound because she was just as lost in this as he was.
“We should stop, but I can’t. I don’t want to.” Elijah cupped either side of her face, needing her with a desperation that bordered on insanity.
“I want this. I want you.”
He kissed her harder. “I want you to feel like you can tell me anything. Always be yourself.”
“I don’t want to lose this feeling.”
“Neither do I, baby.”
The kiss was deep and long, and he broke away after a few seconds to drag his lips down to her throat and suck at her pulse point for a moment. “I’ll do whatever you want, make you feel so good inside and out.”
She breathed out roughly and clenched her hands on his biceps, digging her nails into him.
The feel of her pussy heat on top of him nearly burning straight through his slacks and right to his dick had him reining in his desire by the skin of his teeth.
Gripping her hips tighter, he forced her pussy down on him at the same time he lifted his hips slightly. He didn’t want to take her in the back of the limo, not for their first time at least, but the way things were going, he didn’t know if he’d be able to control himself.
Dragging his mouth up her neck and latching it back onto hers, he deepened the kiss until he was fucking her mouth, sliding his tongue in and out of her, just like he wanted to do with his dick to her pussy.
Moving his hand lower, he gripped her ass, curling his fingers around the fleshy mounds, and groaned. He squeezed the flesh again, bringing her as close to his body as he could. A growl of approval left him when she rubbed herself on him, moving her hips back and forth.
Damn, he wanted to grab his dick, pull her pa
nties aside, and run his erection along her cleft. He moved his tongue out and teased her bottom lip, and a little cry left her.
“This is so intense,” she breathed against him, her voice a soft whisper. “I never felt this kind of arousal before.”
“Neither have I, Freya baby,” he said as soon as she finished speaking. He kissed her again, then pulled back slightly to stare into her eyes. “I don’t want to stop, but we can if you want to.” God, he didn’t want to. When she didn’t tell him she wanted to stop, he lifted his hips up again, grinding himself on her pussy. She moved her hands to the back of his head to grip his hair, pulling at the strands.
And then she started moving against him, back and forth, rocking herself on his lap, on his cock, causing this torturous pleasure to fill him. He used his hold on her to help her movements, pushing her back and then bringing her forward, over and over again.
He heard the change in her breathing and knew she could get off from this alone. God, that made him so fucking hard, harder than he was to begin with, and that was saying something. Her mouth opened, a gasp left her, and he swallowed the sound, wanting her to come undone for him alone.
Her movements slowed, and he wanted to growl in disapproval. Elijah wanted her to come on him. He slid one of his hands to the nape of her neck.
“Look at me, Freya.” He gentled his voice but made sure it still held a commanding tone. He wanted her to have no doubts about what he wanted … her in all ways. “I want you to just let go and get off, baby. Let me make you feel good.” He leaned in and resumed kissing her, showing her with the sweep of his tongue and the nip of his teeth that he wanted that from her desperately.
The feel of her breasts pressed against his chest was a temptation. Elijah moved his other hand to the side of her gown, pulled the zipper down, and slipped his palm between the material and her flesh. He moved it forward until he cupped one of her breasts.