The ride to my studio was short, but it still felt too long when all I really wanted was to rip that silky blue dress from Helena’s curvy body and claim what was mine with no pretense, no games, nothing fake.
I wanted there to be no doubt in her mind anymore that I wanted her, and that she was mine.
28
Helena
The town car dropped us off in front of a building that looked more like a warehouse than an apartment building, and when Gio let me inside, I realized why.
When he said we were going to his studio, he meant his art studio.
All around the room were paintings, some that looked finished, like they were waiting to be displayed on gallery walls, and others that were barely more than an outline.
But every single one seemed to be a portrait of me.
“Gio…”
“These were the paintings I couldn’t let Carissa show tonight.” He wrapped his arms around me from behind, his hands pressed against my soft belly, as he said, “I tried to paint you out of my head, Helena. But I couldn’t paint you out of my heart.”
I turned in his arms and rose up on my toes to press a kiss to his lips. “Tell me you have a bed here somewhere.”
He chuckled and scooped me up into his arms. I tensed for just a moment, afraid he’d drop me, or that I’d hurt him.
But Gio just carried me through the studio to a curtained off area, stopping at the foot of a full-sized bed that looked soft enough that I could just melt into it. “I learned a long time ago that it was better if I didn’t sleep too far from my art. You never know when the muse might bite.”
“I haven’t bitten you. Much.” I winked at him as I slipped from his arms and found the zipper on my dress. “But if that’s what you’re into…”
Gio let out a groan as I tugged the zipper down and let the gown slither down my body to the floor. “I’m into you. In every way.” He licked his lips as he knelt in front of me and hooked his fingers under the sides of my panties. “And right now, I’m going to sink my tongue into this tempting cunt that has been the source of my sweetest dreams.”
I let him slide my underwear down my thighs, and then I sat on the foot of the bed, spreading my legs for him. I was sure he could tell how wet I was just by looking.
But as his fingers brushed over my folds, I let out a soft moan, my toes curling as my head lulled back. He lifted one leg over his shoulder, then the other, spreading me open, making it impossible for me to close my thighs.
Not that I wanted to.
My fingers gripped the comforter as he licked my core, tasting me in one long, slow drag of his tongue.
God, I’d missed this. I’d missed him.
How did I ever think I could just give him up?
His hands pushed my bra up over my breasts, cupping both as he kneaded them in time to the motions of his tongue, teasing me hungrily with every stroke until I was rocking my hips, practically humping his face, desperate for release. He knew just how to push me, just how to tease, to drive me mad with need.
His tongue swirled over my clit again and again, dipping down to slip inside before going right back to my clit.
Warm heat pooled low in my core as he hungrily ate me out, his mouth masterful in each taste. The sounds coming from my mouth barely sounded like myself, moans and whimpers. My hips seemed to have a mind of their own as they gyrated against his mouth.
And then the blinding white of climax burst through me, making me scream as I threw my head back and my thighs quivered and tensed around his face, squeezing his cheeks as he drank in my orgasm.
His tongue slowed, each flick keeping me aroused even as I melted down from my release, and then he stood, locking eyes with me as he undressed.
I popped the clasp on my bra and threw the strapless garment across the room, not really caring where it ended up. I needed to be naked with him. I needed to feel all of him against me.
Never before had watching a man undress made me as hot and wet as Gio did. He was perfect, sculpted, tan. And mine.
“Scoot up on the bed. I’ll just grab a condom.” He leaned down and kissed me, the taste of my arousal still on his tongue.
The husky sound of my voice was almost unrecognizable as I said, “Don’t.”
He paused as his face scrunched in confusion. “What?”
“I don’t want to use a condom. I want to feel all of you.” I slid higher onto the bed, until I was leaning against the pillows. “I’m on birth control.” I didn’t want anything at all between us. Even if I wasn’t on the pill, I would’ve wanted to feel him inside me.
Now that I knew he really wanted me, that he wasn’t just pretending, that he was actually mine, I wanted it all.
Gio groaned and practically launched himself at me, kissing me with hungry need as he pressed against me from lips to pelvis, pulling my thighs wide around him to grind against my needy pussy as his tongue filled my mouth and his hands gripped my hips so tight I was almost sure he was going to leave bruises.
Slipping my hand between us, I reached down and wrapped my fingers around his length, positioning him at my core. I was so wet, so hot for him, it felt like my body was trying to pull him inside, to get him as deep into my pussy as I could.
Gio thrust in with one deep, hard stroke, groaning into my mouth as he bottomed out and filled me completely.
Gripping his hair, I broke the kiss, needing to see him, needing the lust, the desire, the love burning in his eyes as he claimed me.
“I love you.” The words tumbled out of my mouth like the only holding them back had been his tongue. Saying them with him inside me felt so much more intimate, so much more real.
“God, Helena, you have no idea how much I’ve wanted to hear those words, over and over.” He kissed me again, one quick brush of his lips over mine, before he added, “I love you so fucking much, it hurts. I love you.” He pulled back, just to drive deep again as he repeated, “I love you.”
He claimed me slow and rough, each stroke of his cock deep inside me like he was trying to brand every inch of my pussy with his cock, with his proclamations of love. All the while, he held my gaze.
If I had any doubt before that he wanted me, being here with him, like this, chased all of that away. It seemed to chase everything away, except for his body pressed against mine, filling mine, claiming mine.
As my climax rolled over me, coming in like waves on a shore, each crashing higher and harder, I wrapped my legs around Gio’s waist, keeping him deep inside. My pussy clamped down on his thick cock, rippling around his length, squeezing tighter. I wanted to feel him lose it inside me, to feel his release fill me.
When he finally let go, he roared out my name.
I didn’t know if it was the feel of his climax, or the power of how he claimed me, but as he let go, another wave of orgasm pulled me under, stronger and deeper than any I’d had before. I couldn’t tell how long it went on, but it seemed like forever. Like I could’ve gotten lost in him forever.
Gio stayed deep inside me until I let my legs slide off his waist. He pulled out slowly, as if he were as reluctant to slip out of me as I was to have him pull away. “That was…”
“Incredible?” I chuckled huskily and curled into his side as he rolled over. “Earth shattering?”
“Perfection.” He kissed my nose and smiled. “You’re perfection.”
I grinned as his arms wrapped around me and his hands slid down to my ass again. “I might be your perfection. And that’s good enough for me.” I laid my head on his chest, listening to the thrum of his pulse slow. “So, how are we going to make this work? I mean… you live here, I live in Austin…?”
“There’s a great art scene in Austin. And besides, there are planes. I can still bring my art to New York.” He shifted so that I had to lift my head, and then he claimed my lips with his own. “I want to be where you are. Whatever that means.”
The tears that pricked my eyes surprised me, but as soon as they started falling, I didn’t
think I could stop them.
“Hey… why are you crying?”
Swallowing down the emotion, I gulped out, “I’m just stupid happy.”
He kissed my forehead and smiled softly. “Then cry, if you must, my Helena. But only happy tears. I don’t ever want to make you cry out of sadness.”
Something told me I would probably cry a lot from happiness because of him. And it didn’t sound like such a bad use of tears.
Two weeks later…
Gio’s flight was late.
Staring at the web browser on my phone didn’t make the information any different, but I couldn’t seem to stop checking it.
My weekend trip with Rose had been way too short, and every minute since I’d left New York, I spent thinking about Gio. Or talking to Gio. Having late night sexy video calls with Gio.
Now that he was coming here, to Austin, to me, it was like the universe insisted on conspiring to keep us apart just a few minutes longer.
The text that came through, interrupting my staring at the website, made all of it melt away.
Gio: Plane just landed. See you soon.
He didn’t know that I was waiting for him.
Helena: Took you long enough.
The minutes between his plane landing and him getting through the airport stretched like an eternity, each second feeling like a millennium.
But when I saw him, I practically sprinted into his arms.
“What are you doing here? I thought you were working through the afternoon?”
I grinned as he kissed me, lifting me off my feet with his hug. “I couldn’t wait.”
“Are you all mine for the night then?” He grinned.
I nodded and took his hand as we walked toward the baggage claim. “I was thinking we could go back to my place. You owe me something, and I intend to collect.”
“I do? What?” He tilted his head at me.
I smirked and signed, “A photo shoot. In my underwear.”
Gio’s Adam’s apple bobbed up and down in his throat as he swallowed hard. “I don’t know how professional I’m going to be. There’s something about you in your underwear that leaves me unable to think about anything but getting you naked.” He looked me up and down, his eyes lingering on my breasts, before adding, “But it would be a shame to let all those silky, lacy things go to waste.”
Once we had his bag and were on our way home, his hand found my thigh, sliding up high, under the edge of my skirt, until his fingers were just shy of my panties. “I missed you. I think, while I’m here, we should look for some studio space.”
“Really?” I glanced over at him. “You just got here.”
“I wasn’t kidding when I said I wanted to be where you are. This is where your business is. I can paint anywhere. And it turns out, I do it a lot better with my muse close by.” He leaned over and kissed along my neck as his hand slid toward my inner thigh. “I need more than just a weekend every couple of weeks.”
Shaking my head, I smirked. “You just want me for sex, don’t you?”
“It is one of the perks.” He winked at me and pointed at the windshield. “Light’s green.”
I didn’t want to drive. I wanted his hand to move higher, to get me off. But we were almost to my apartment now, and I wanted to tease him some before we both got off together. Pulling his hand out from under my skirt seemed like the wrong idea, but I needed to keep some of my wits about me if we were going to get any photos taken at all.
And I really wanted to know how gorgeous he could make me feel in a boudoir shoot.
Nerves filled my belly as I took him into my apartment. It was cozy, but the eclectic furniture and bright colored artwork on the walls made it feel like home. And the portrait he’d drawn hung in a place of pride in the foyer, a reminder every day as I left that someone loved me and thought I was beautiful.
Gio didn’t want the five-cent tour, though. He just scooped me up and carried me through the small space until he hit the bedroom. “I need a long, hungry kiss if I’m going to spend the next hour or two watching you change in and out of lingerie.”
I chuckled as he set me on my feet. “I haven’t done this before, but I’m pretty sure that’s not how it works.” I winked at him. “Keep it professional, Mr. Wright.”
He pulled me against him, and his lips found mine, kissing me with so much passion I almost wanted to throw out the whole photo shoot idea and just let him strip me naked.
“Go change then. I need to move some of the lighting around to best highlight your assets.” He swatted me on the ass as he pulled away, going back down the hall, leaving me alone.
I gathered all the Italian lingerie Gio had bought me, trying to decide where to start. I picked out my favorite three, figuring I probably wouldn’t be able to get more than about three changes in before we lost all professionalism and ended up rolling around the sheets.
By the time I’d changed into a red bra and panties set with black bows and a matching red silk robe and came back into the bedroom, it was like he’d completely transformed my room into a studio set. He’d pulled lamps in from the living room, giving everything a warm yellow glow, and he’d shifted pillows around on the bed.
But all of that paled next to the sight of him, down on one knee.
“If we’re going to do this, I think there’s one more thing you should be wearing.” He held out the velvet box and popped it open. “I can get you another one if you want. But when I think about you as my fiancée, as my wife, this is the ring I picture on your hand. When I saw it on your dresser, it felt like fate.”
I gasped, bringing my hand up to my mouth. I’d stared at that ring a hundred times in the last few weeks, but I hadn’t been able to put it back on again. “Gio…”
“Helena, I wasn’t joking when I said I only ever wanted to bring home one woman to meet my family, that I only ever wanted to introduce them to the woman I wanted to marry. I know we started off non-traditionally, but I love you, and I can’t imagine anyone who would be more perfect for me than you. I want to make you my bride. I want to wake up with you by my side every day for the rest of our lives. And I want you to be my family. I want to make your thighs shake in orgasms, and I want to hold you when you need comfort. I want you to be my muse, my butterfly, maybe the mother of my children. Please, be my wife.”
I dropped to my knees and kissed him hard and fast. “Yes. Yes, to all of that.” As I slid the ring back on, where it belonged, where it had belonged since Aspen, I smiled. “On one condition.”
He tilted his head. “Anything.”
“When we’re looking for studio space here in Austin, we should look for somewhere bigger to live. Because with you, I want it all.”
Chuckling, he hugged me tight against him. “I’ll give you the world. Anything you want. I’m yours, Helena Stratton.”
As we took dozens of photos, dozens of poses of me in lingerie, the look of need in his eyes grew, and the bulge in his shorts was obvious.
But throughout the shoot, he stayed professional, serious even, until I came out in the last outfit I’d picked out.
The scraps of lace barely covered anything—strategically placed white patterns hid my nipples, and the thong left nothing to the imagination. And the furry handcuffs dangling from my right wrist caught his eye.
“Should I cuff in front, or behind?” Biting my lip, I held out my wrists.
Gio groaned softly and pointed to the bed. “On your knees. I’ll cuff them behind.”
I got into position, and as his hands skimmed over my wrists, a tingle of need flooded my panties, soaking the barely-there lace until I was sure they were almost invisible.
He kissed my neck, his hands shifting my body ever so slightly, making my back arch a little more, my breasts stick out further. Nudging my knees apart. Dropping one strap on my bra down my arm, until he’d tugged the cup lower on my breast. He grabbed the belt from the silk robe and blindfolded me with it.
The bed shifted as he stepped back. I did
n’t hear much except the click-click of his camera snapping photos, until I heard his zipper slide down.
“Gio?” I turned, looking over my shoulder even though I couldn’t see anything.
The bed shifted, and I felt his hands slide over my ass. “Do you trust me?”
I nodded, soaking wet at the idea of being at his mercy.
His hands shifted me again, pulling a couple pillows under my hips as he lowered me down, my cheek on the bed. His cock slipped against my pussy from behind, and he shifted the thong over to push just the tip inside.
One hand gripped the chain between the cuffs, tugging my shoulders back, as the other slid under me, toying with my clit as he filled me deep.
He took me slowly, his fingers toying with my pussy doing most of the work, as if he needed his cock to be inside me as much as possible.
The click-click of his camera shocked me, and I wanted to say something, to look up at him, to get some clarity, but he just kept up his sweet, slow torture. The orgasm building low in my belly didn’t care if he was taking photos. I didn’t care. I trusted Gio, and I trusted his ring on my finger. I was his.
He pulled me up as he sat back on his knees, his hands on my breasts through the thin bra. He thrust up into me from below, and I rocked against him in time with his thrusts.
Still, the click-click of his camera kept sounding.
As his fingers skimmed over my clit again, he growled in my ear, “Come for me, Helena.”
The command pushed me over the edge, and I arched against him, moaning his name as I milked him for his climax, lost in my own.
I felt him come inside me, his cock buried deep, his hands holding me down on his thighs.
Before he slipped from me, he untied the blindfold from my eyes. His camera was set up on a tripod in front of us, and he kissed my neck as his hand slid up to my breast again. “I love you, Helena.”
The Fiancé Agreement Page 23