With Me in Seattle Bundle One

by Kristen Proby

  Luke reaches over and holds my hand, rubbing his thumb over my knuckles as we finish our wine and wait for the next course.

  “Are you having fun?”

  “Much more than fun. This is…a fairy tale.” I feel my cheeks heat, but it’s the truth.

  “This is a beautiful vineyard. We’ll have to come again during the day so you can see the grounds.”

  “I’d love that.”

  “May I present your first course?” Our waiter is back and removes our empty plates and wine glasses. “This is our mojito-marinated halibut with mango, avocado and black bean salsa, served with the 2009 Midsummer’s White. Enjoy.” He backs away, leaving us with the delicious meal.

  We’re served two more courses of pork tenderloin and New York steak with Yukon gold potatoes and, of course, the perfect wines to accompany them.

  I’m feeling very full and just a little lightheaded from all the wine when it’s time for dessert to be served.

  “Oh my God, Luke, I don’t know if there is any room left in this dress for dessert.” I sit back and rub my belly, and Luke laughs, his eyes alight with happiness. He’s having a really good time and has been lighthearted and complimentary throughout our meal. He’s so good at this.

  He motions to the waiter, who immediately steps to the tableside. “Yes, sir.”

  “I think that Ms. Conner and I will share the dessert, please.”

  “Very good, sir.”

  “Good plan. Besides, we’re going to work all these calories off at yoga tomorrow morning.”

  “Ah yes, yoga. You’re going to make me go, huh?”

  “No, I’m not making you.”

  “We could skip it and stay in bed all day.” He winks at me over his wine glass.

  “I can’t skip it. I’m the instructor.”

  “I had no idea.” He furrows his brow in confusion.

  “I only teach three classes a week.” I shrug. “Besides, I’m very flexible. You should enjoy the show.” I smile smugly into my glass and watch his eyes glass over.

  “I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

  The waiter reappears with our dessert of strawberry crème brûlée tart, on one plate, and two glasses of the Eroica Ice Wine.

  He also sets a baby-blue Tiffany necklace-size box in the center of the table, bows to both of us, and walks away.

  Oh. My. God.

  Chapter Nineteen

  I stare numbly at the perfect blue box tied with a white bow. What’s this?

  “It’s for you,” he murmurs and grips my hand. My eyes find his, and I just don’t know what to say.

  “You shouldn’t have done this.” My voice is a whisper.

  “You haven’t opened it yet,” he responds drily, but his eyes are guarded.

  I’m sure this is not the response he was expecting. I don’t want to hurt his feelings.

  He picks up the box and passes it to me. “Open it, baby.”

  I pull the ribbon off the box, and nestled beneath it on top of the box is a note.

  These remind me of you. Simply beautiful.

  —Luke

  Oh my.

  I smile up at him, and I see his shoulders relax a bit with his grin. He’s sitting forward, leaning on the table, waiting in anticipation for me to open the box.

  I pull the lid off the box and gasp.

  Nestled in Tiffany blue satin is a string of exquisite pearls. They have a platinum clasp, and the pearls are milky white, with an almost iridescent glow that reflects the soft twinkling lights around us. I lift them out of the box, and they are smooth and cool to the touch.

  “Luke, they’re fabulous.”

  “Here.” He gracefully unfolds his lean body from his chair and comes to stand behind me, taking the strand of beautiful pearls from my hands and unclasping them. He drapes them around my neck, and my fingers immediately touch them as he fastens them. They lay just at my collarbone. He leans down and kisses me gently on the cheek and offers his hand to me as Norah Jones begins crooning about coming away with her.

  “Dance with me.” His blue eyes are shining with happiness, and I’m so caught up in the romance, so caught up in him, I just can’t resist him.

  “It would be my pleasure.”

  He pulls me into his arms and begins whisking me around the patio.

  “Thank you for the beautiful pearls,” I whisper up to him.

  “You are welcome, beautiful. They look perfect on you.” As he sways me back and forth in time to the music, he leans down and places his lips gently on mine.

  “You’re good at this.”

  He smiles down at me. “The studio made me take lessons.”

  “I approve.”

  “I’m happy to hear it.” As the song ends, he pulls me closer against his chest and wraps his arms around me, planting his lips gently on my forehead. “Come home with me tonight.”

  “You’d rather go to your place tonight?”

  “Yes. I want you in my bed.”

  I smile and run my fingers through his soft blond hair, soaking in his beautiful face. His eyes are so blue, his freshly shaven jaw chiseled. I’ve never loved anyone so much.

  “Okay. I’m going to need a few things from my house.”

  His fingers trace my skin just under the pearls, and a shiver dances down my spine. “Jules already took care of it.”

  I raise an eyebrow. “Pretty sure of yourself.”

  “Just hopeful, baby.” He kisses my forehead again and cups my face in his hands. His lips find my nose, my cheeks and then settle softly on my lips. It’s one of his special, gentle kisses, and I sigh as the muscles deep in my stomach begin to tighten.

  “Take me home,” I whisper against his lips, and his eyes blink open, burning with desire.

  He leads me back to the table, and I see that our things have been gathered up and most likely taken to the car. The waiter appears with my wrap and handbag, and Luke tucks my hand in the crook of his elbow and escorts me back to the car, sliding across the leather seat behind me.

  Inside, there is a fresh bottle of champagne and another fresh red rose.

  “What is it with you and red roses?”

  “You don’t like them?” His voice is worried, and he furrows his brow.

  “No, I love them. You’re just spoiling me.” I bury my nose in the blossom and peek up at him through my lashes.

  “You look very beautiful right now, in those pearls and black dress and a red rose pressed to your face.” He runs his finger down my cheek, and I sigh.

  “Thank you.”

  “Come here.” He lifts me effortlessly onto his lap, and I curl into him, burying my face in his neck.

  “Tonight was the most magical night of my life, Luke.”

  I feel his smile as he kisses my forehead. “Mine, too.”

  ***

  “Wake up, baby, we’re home.” Luke is kissing my forehead and brushing my cheek with his fingers.

  “I’m sorry I fell asleep.” I sit up and realize I’m still clutching the rose.

  “I love holding you while you sleep, baby. Come on, let’s go in.”

  The driver opens Luke’s door, and Luke lifts me onto the seat next to him, ushering me out ahead of him. He thanks the driver and escorts me into the house.

  My feet are starting to feel the effects of these fantastically beautiful shoes, but I don’t want to take them off yet. Luke removes my wrap from my shoulders, skimming his fingers across my skin, and just like that my libido wakes up.

  “Are your feet hurting?” He’s always so aware of how I might be feeling, and it makes me smile.

  “A little, but I’m okay.”

  He leans down and scoops me into his arms and begins the journey up to his bedroom.

  “You do enjoy carrying me,” I murmur and kiss his cheek.

  “It’s for purely selfish reasons.”

  “Oh? And what are those reasons?” I kiss his cheek again. I love the way his skin feels against my face.

  “Well, one,
I enjoy having you in my arms. And, two, I don’t want you to take those shoes off yet.”

  He carries me into his bedroom and sets me down on my feet in the middle of the room. He flips a switch on the wall, and the light on the end table illuminates, throwing soft shadows across the room.

  “Let me help you out of that dress.”

  I turn, and he kisses my shoulder as he lowers the zipper down the back and slips the straps down my arms. The dress falls and pools at my feet. He holds my hand, and I step out of it and turn back toward him.

  He gasps and steps back from me, not touching me, and I’ve never felt more beautiful. His eyes are shining with adoration and desire, skimming over my hair and pearls, down to my breasts held firmly in place by a black lace strapless bra. He lowers his gaze over my belly piercing, black lace barely there panties that match the bra, garter belt, stockings and down to my killer red shoes.

  Yes, I know I look amazing right now, and it’s the most powerful, sexy feeling in the world.

  I don’t move toward him. I stand where I am, letting him drink me in with his eyes. I slowly reach up and unpin my hair, one thick curl at a time, and let it fall around my shoulders, dropping the pins to the floor.

  “You are every fantasy I’ve ever had come true, Natalie.” He swallows hard and flexes his hands in and out of fists, and I know he’s dying to touch me.

  I smile softly, not wanting to break this spell, and reach behind me to unclasp my bra and let it join the dress and pins on the floor, releasing my breasts. My nipples pucker under his hungry gaze.

  “What would you like me to do now?” I whisper.

  His eyes focus on mine, just a bit glassy like he’s intoxicated, but I know it’s not from the wine we’ve consumed all evening. He closes his eyes briefly, and then starts shedding his clothes, letting them fall unheeded to the floor around him.

  Suddenly, he’s standing before me, naked. “I’m almost afraid to touch you,” he whispers.

  “Why?” I cock my head, confused. Touch me! Please, for the love of all that’s holy, touch me!

  “I’m afraid you’re not real.”

  And just like that I see the vulnerability in his eyes, and I walk to him, raising my hands up his chest, over his shoulders and into his hair. His blue gaze is on mine, and I smile tenderly.

  “I’m real, and I’m yours.” I push up on my toes and run my lips across his, and he shudders, exhaling deeply.

  He reaches down and cups my bottom in his hands and lifts me, wrapping my legs around his waist, and walks us back to the bed. But he doesn’t drop me. He wraps his impossibly strong arms around me and lowers me gently, without lifting his lips from mine.

  He kisses me madly, voraciously, cupping my face in his hands while he lies over me, bracing himself on his elbows. My hands drift down his back to his butt and back up to his shoulders, over and over. His erection presses against my now wet panties, and he rocks his hips back and forth, sending zings of electricity through me.

  “God, I’ve been fantasizing about this since the day I met you,” he mutters as he moves his mouth from mine to my neck.

  “About what?”

  “You, in pearls and these shoes, wrapped around me.”

  “How’s it working out for you?” I gasp as he rocks against me again, and I tighten my legs around his hips.

  He smiles against my neck. “Better than I ever dreamed possible.” He rubs his nose along my pearls. “You look so magnificent in these.”

  “I love them. Thank you.”

  He leans up on his elbows and pins me with those shining blue eyes, gazing intently into mine. He brushes his thumbs down my cheeks, and I run my fingers through his hair.

  “What is it?” I ask, reveling in the intense way he’s looking down at me.

  “I love you.”

  The words are strong, firm, with no hesitation. His intense gaze never falters, and I know, undoubtedly, that he means it. My heart stops, tears fall from the corners of my eyes, and I clasp his precious face in my hands as I gaze up at my incredible man.

  “I love you, too.”

  He brushes my tears away with his fingertips, and then leans down and kisses my eyelids.

  “Don’t cry, baby.” His lips graze my cheek and settle back on my lips again, and I’m completely bewildered and lost to him.

  “Make love to me, please.” I want him more than anything. I want to feel him move through me. I want to see the passion on his face as he erupts inside me.

  He smiles tenderly, sits back and hitches my panties in his thumbs. I raise my hips so he can slide them down my legs. He moves back on top of me and smoothes one hand up my leg, over the stockings, and lightly rubs his fingertips over the skin just above where the stockings end.

  It’s delicious.

  That talented hand moves between my legs, and he slips two fingers inside me, his thumb wreaking havoc on my clitoris, and I bow up off the bed.

  Oh God, it’s just so good.

  “Feel it, baby.”

  Oh, I do. My hips circle, and his fingers push in and out of me in a sensual rhythm. He leans down and kisses me, his tongue invading my mouth with the same rhythm of his fingers. Just as I feel my body quicken and the shudders start, he pulls them out of me.

  “No!”

  He grins down at me and swiftly fills me, burying himself inside me.

  “Oh yes.”

  “Better?” His eyes burn down into mine, and he starts to move, and I’m overcome with sensation. My body is on fire. My heart is so full of love for this beautiful man. I can’t find my voice, so I simply nod and hold on to him, gripping his tight rear, pulling him to me.

  “Oh, baby, you’re so tight.” He clenches his jaw, and I grip him with my most intimate muscles, knowing that he’s so close to his own violent explosion, and that I’m going with him.

  “Come with me, my love.” His eyes fly open and then shut again as he shudders inside me, and my body follows, clenching around him, pulsing with need.

  “Oh, Natalie, yes!”

  ***

  Luke is in his favorite spot, his head resting between my breasts, arms hugging my hips, and our breathing is starting to slow.

  I can’t believe that I had to wait twenty-five years for a man to truly make sweet, tender love to me.

  Well, almost twenty-six years as of Saturday.

  I also can’t believe that we just let the L-word slip. I hope it wasn’t just because it was in the heat of the moment, because of this impossibly romantic night. But as I think back on the look in his eyes as he said those three words, I know that he meant it. Even though we’ve only known each other for such a short time, and there’s still so much to learn.

  I also know that my heart has never been so full, and I have never met a man as kind, intelligent and as sweet as he is. I feel safe with him, and I feel beautiful and cherished.

  Yes, he has a jealous streak, but don’t we all?

  “Don’t overthink this, baby.”

  I look down and frown.

  “Overthink what?”

  “I hear the wheels turning in that gorgeous head of yours.” He kisses my sternum, rolls off of me and lies next to me, facing me, bracing his head on his elbow.

  “I’m not thinking.”

  “You’re not a good liar.” He leans over and kisses my nose and brushes a lock of hair off my cheek.

  “I need to take my pearls off.” I sit up and turn my back to him and feel him unhinge the clasp.

  “Why?” He lays them on the nightstand, and I lie back down.

  “I don’t want them to snag on something and break in the night.” I sigh and glide my hand down his side to his hip.

  “I meant it, you know.”

  I smile and stretch lazily. “I know.”

  “What time are we getting up in the morning?”

  I’m relieved that he’s changing the subject. I have a lot to think about. “Class is at nine.”

  “Then we’d better get some sleep.”<
br />
  “I’m not sleeping in these shoes.”

  He laughs and sits up, sliding each shoe off my feet and placing them gently on the floor. He then unhooks the stockings from the garter and peels them down my legs.

  “You have beautiful legs, baby.” He kisses them and pulls the garter off me as well, tossing it on the floor.

  He crawls up next to me and covers us in the duvet, scooping me into his arms. I rest my head on his chest and sigh, feeling his lips on my forehead.

  “Go to sleep, beautiful.”

  “Good night,” I mumble and drift into an exhausted sleep.

  ***

  I wake suddenly and reach for Luke, but he’s not there. The bed is cold and empty.

  Where did he go?

  I pull on the white dress shirt he was wearing earlier tonight and leave the bedroom. He’s not in the loft, so I go downstairs.

  It’s dark. I don’t see him in the living room or kitchen, and I’m about to get really scared when I see movement on the deck.

  I walk through the darkness to the open door, unnoticed. He’s standing at the railing, bathed in moonlight. He’s wearing a dark pair of pajama pants that hang on his sexy hips, and he’s topless. He’s leaning his elbows on the railing and is looking out on the midnight-blue water that is reflecting the moon.

  I wish with all my might that I had my camera.

  I walk up behind him and kiss his back, wrapping my arms around his middle. I love holding him like this.

  “Did I wake you?” he whispers.

  “No, I woke up because you were gone.” I kiss him again. “Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine, just couldn’t sleep.” He turns around to face me and leans his hips on the railing, wrapping me in his arms. His face is bathed in moonlight, his eyes gazing intently down at me. “How are you?”

  “Lonely. Come back to bed.”

  “Okay,” he whispers and kisses my forehead. “I see you’ve borrowed my shirt again.”

  “It’s a nasty habit of mine.”

  “That’s okay. You can return it to me upstairs.” He scoops me into his arms, and I laugh as he carries me back to the bedroom.

  Chapter Twenty

  I’m surprised to wake before Luke. We have to be at yoga in an hour, but I can’t resist lying here and watching him sleep.