The man in his fifties with wild gray hair might not look like much. Olivia knew different. This man was New York City’s top street photographer. “It is such a pleasure to meet you, Olivia.” He offered his hand.
“Oh, wow!” Olivia said, her heart beating a mile a minute. “Harry Stem. It’s definitely my pleasure.”
Noah smiled and inclined his head. “I’ll let you two get acquainted.” Then he turned away.
Olivia watched him fade into the crowd, apparently letting her have this moment. Tears spilled down her cheek. “You’ll have to excuse me,” she said to Harry, wiping at her cheeks. “I’m apparently emotional.”
“Your first show always is,” said Harry, glancing around, examining her photographs. “When Noah invited me tonight I thought he might be exaggerating your talent.” He approached the photograph of the elderly couple on the street. “But clearly, he wasn’t.” Harry turned to her then, eyes curious. “Might I ask why you haven’t had a show before?”
“It’s…” She inhaled and exhaled deeply, trying to control her out-of-control emotions so she didn’t sound like a blubbering idiot. “I…” I wasn’t brave enough to go after my dreams. I didn’t think of me enough. The answers to that question were endless. But then suddenly, the answer became clear. “It wasn’t the right time.”
“But now is?”
She nodded. “Now is.”
Harry turned back to the photograph and rubbed his chin. “You’ve got real talent at capturing emotion. It’s really quite beautiful and definitely not something that can be taught.”
“Thank you.” Dear God…Harry Stem was complimenting her work.
Before she could faint, Harry faced her again. “Is your goal to freelance?”
She gave a soft laugh. “To be perfectly honest with you, Mr. Stem, I’m a little winded here. I had no idea that Noah had arranged this show for me. I have no plans at all for the future. All I know is I love taking pictures, and if I could make a career out of it, I’d be ecstatic.”
“Please call me Harry,” he said softly then lifted his eyebrows. “And isn’t it so like a senator to be so sneaky?”
She smiled and nodded. “I’m actually still trying to accept the fact that I’m standing here talking to you about my photographs than to even truly think about what I want to do next.”
Harry reached in his back pocket, took out his wallet, and handed her his business card. “When you finally have a moment to breathe and think, why don’t you give me a call?” He glanced around at the photographs again before he nodded and smiled. “Perhaps I can get you in contact with some people who would appreciate your work.” He offered his hand and lifted his brows. “Does that sound good to you?”
She nearly hugged him but stopped herself. Instead, she shook his hand. “That sounds perfect. Thank you for coming tonight.”
His smile was warm and tender, and all the things she’d thought it would be if she ever met him. “Thank you for finally sharing your talent with us,” he said, then he winked. “Though I suppose I should be thanking Noah for that, shouldn’t I?”
She lifted her gaze, finding Noah watching her across the way. “Yes, I suppose so, and you’re not the only one.”
* * *
—
The show began to clear out a couple of hours after Olivia had arrived at the cocktail bar. Noah stood in the back room in front of the loading dock after placing the final photograph that Olivia had been willing to sell in the trunk of a man’s SUV. Three of the twelve photographs she had kept. The close-up of Noah’s face. The one of him in bed. And the photograph of the elderly couple on the street that Noah had originally noticed. He liked the meaning of why she had kept those, even if she did not tell him yet. All those photographs meant something to her. Christ, they meant something to him too. She meant something to him.
“Noah.”
He smiled at the warmth filling him at the sound of Olivia’s voice before he turned to find her standing a few feet away. He hit the garage door button and the rattling of chains echoed around him while he approached her. “Is everyone gone?”
She nodded. Her twinkling eyes focused on him.
When he stopped in front of her, he tucked her hair behind her ear. “I guess you’re wondering why I did all this.”
She gave a soft snort. “Wondering might not be a strong enough word.”
Emotion tightened his throat as he dragged his knuckles across her soft cheek. “I promised you that I would be gentle with your heart. This is my way of being gentle.” He paused to collect his thoughts, knowing he had to get this right and how important this was for them. “These past days without you have been some of my darkest. But I’m equally aware of what stands between us being together. Some obstacles I can take away. Some I can’t. This is one obstacle that I could remove.” Her brows furrowed in confusion, so he hastily added, “I know you think I fear commitment but that’s not true.” He reached down and twined his fingers with hers, finally letting go of the tension in his chest. “Commitment is something I’m cautious with. I saw my mother live a life where she missed her husband greatly because he wasn’t there. I never wanted to do that to anyone. To cause that type of pain.” With his free hand, he trailed his knuckles over her soft cheek again, mesmerized by how she always leaned into him. “But a photography career, especially street photography, is something you can do on the road.”
She blinked, surprise glistening in her eyes. “Wait. You arranged this show for me so that I will have a job where I can travel?”
He nodded. “Now you can travel with me, and I won’t worry that I’m leaving you behind and hurting you.” When she looked even more surprised, he chuckled. “I like to think that I killed two birds with one stone. Your dream happened to mold very nicely with one of the obstacles in our way.” He closed the distance between them, sliding his hand possessively across the small of her back. “You have the talent. I had the connections that you needed to be discovered.”
She began to frown. “Is Henry only interested in me—”
Noah placed a finger over her lips. “I believe in your talent, Olivia. I never asked anyone to come tonight as a favor to me. I told Henry he would want to see your work, and as far as I was concerned, you gave him a run for his money.”
Her brows rose. “You said that?”
“I said that.” He nodded.
Her chin quivered, tears welling in her eyes. “I’ve never had anyone do anything this nice for me, Noah. Not ever. How am I going to repay you?”
“You only need to see that you already have.” His hands came to her face and he held her tightly, as close as he could get. “I have the career. My dreams have already been fulfilled. But you…” His voice naturally deepened with emotion, “…you have shown me in—a matter of days—all that I was missing. True affection. I can never repay that either.”
She placed her hands over his, a tear running down her cheek. “I was scared. I ran from you.”
“And rightly so.” He drew in a long deep breath before addressing her again. “As your dominant, it was my duty to you to ensure when you were with me you were safe. Protected, even. And that by the end of our time together, you left with all that you needed from me and more. But in that duty, all I saw was you.” Her tears spilled over his fingers, making him get even closer. “From day one, you made things less about my duty to you as your dominant and more about my wanting you as a man. In six days, you managed to obliterate the world I thought I couldn’t live without.”
She blinked, causing more tears to roll down her cheeks. “I shouldn’t have been afraid. I should have stayed put, not run. I should have followed my heart and not my head.”
He kissed one cheek, wiping away the tears, then kissed the other. “I should have chased after you.”
“You did now.”
He gathered her in his arm
s, staring down into those captivating eyes. “I did now.” She molded against him and he locked his arms around her, holding her tight. “I’m committed to only you, Olivia Watts. I want this. I want us.” He leaned down and inhaled Olivia’s scent. Sweet and pure and perfect. “From the day I met you, I broke every single rule I had put in place. But now, you need to break your rules.”
She stood on her tiptoes, getting closer to his mouth. “What rules?”
He brushed his lips across hers. “You need to risk your heart. No matter how you weigh it, being with me is a risk for you. It’s not a perfect situation. I’m not a perfect man. I have a terrible track record with relationships. I may disappoint you. I may fail to live up to what I’m promising. And let’s not forget, you only got to know me for a week. Logic tells us this shouldn’t work. It’s too fast. It’s too serious.” Again, he slid his lips across hers. “Knowing all of that, will you take the risk and be mine?”
Her breath hitched and then suddenly she was in his arms kissing him madly. He caught up in a moment and took control of her mouth, until she was moaning and melting beneath him.
Many minutes later, he broke away, as breathless as her. “I take it that’s a yes,” he said.
“It’s a yes,” she replied, with hot emotion in her eyes. “It’s a hell-yes.” With frantic shaky hands she opened his belt. “I need you, Noah.” She shoved his pants to his knees.
Not that he was against the idea, hot and hard and ready to claim her, but…“You do realize anyone could walk back here at any moment?”
Her smile was pure sex. “Let them walk in. It’ll be the grand finale to the most amazing show.”
He grinned. Maybe this would be where they began—in a final risky situation to show the universe they would live on their terms. Not on his rules. Not on her rules. But on their rules.
Her breath grew raspy when he slid his hand up her skirt until he found her hot slit. “Is this where you want me, Olivia?”
“Yes.” She pushed her panties down and then wrapped her arms around his neck, practically climbing him. “God, Noah, I need you. Please.”
He grabbed her bottom to steady them, and in that second, she wiggled until the tip of his cock entered her. He froze and groaned deep, his eyes shutting at the perfect sensation. Heaven had nothing on her. “Olivia.” He moaned.
When he forced his eyes open, she held his gaze, the question there in their depths. They had both been tested and given clear results, plus she was on birth control. He answered her by relaxing and letting her devour him. Her moan echoed his, and his control faltered.
He might claim her now, but she owned him all the same.
With a ragged moan from deep within his chest, his muscles quivered and flexed. Her back hit the wall a second later. This wasn’t about playtime and pushing limits. What they had was about primal raw need.
Unable to hold back all the emotion engulfing him, he kept her ass cheeks tight in his hands and he rode her with punishing thrusts that released all his strain from the days he had endured without her. He inhaled her scent, savoring the aroma that belonged only, and always, to her. A scent he would never forget. One that equated happiness.
She stared right at him. He refused to look away too. She panted her pleasure, and he grunted his. Because together, they were better, and that was the only truth between them now.
Lost in each other and connected deeply, a ragged groan spilled from his lips when her inner walls tightened like a vise around him. She grew wetter and he grew harder, causing his thrusts to naturally increase. He pumped his hips hard and fast until she began shuddering, her eyes widening with the rising pleasure. He growled an inhuman sound; his muscles strained to hold her and get them both where they needed to go.
But then her breath hitched and a flush rushed across her face and down her chest.
Then she cried out.
He could not look away while she lost herself in this spot in time that belonged only to them. And with that beauty now his, he gave a final hard thrust forward and he surrendered all of himself to her.
Knowing they could get caught at any moment, and to avoid tempting fate, he lowered her feet back to the floor and reached for his pants. She blew out a long slow breath, her sated eyes watching him closely. “Each time I think you can’t get better at sex, you go and prove me wrong.”
Once he fastened his belt, he pressed her against the wall, liking her there. Close. He slid his hand over her warm face, and before this moment ended and they welcomed the world back into awareness, he winked. “It is my job to please the people, you know.”
“Only sometimes.” She laughed.
He arched a slow deliberate eyebrow. “Is that so?”
She grinned and nodded. “I get you the rest of the time.”
“No, angel.” He pressed her firmly against the wall with his body and threaded his fingers into her hair, holding tight. “I get you.”
“Yes, sir.”
Epilogue
A year and eleven months later, in midtown Manhattan, Olivia raised her camera to her eye and snapped a photograph of the kid skateboarding down the street. When she lowered the camera to examine the shot, she smiled. Perfection.
Photography had gotten easier over the past few months. Maybe she trusted her instincts more now. Or believed in herself more. Perhaps that also came from the year of mentorship with Harry before he demanded that she go out on her own. For the last six months she had been freelancing for top worldwide newspapers and magazines. And even more shocking, her art shows were always sold out.
“Mama.”
She spun around, and her heart filled with joy at the sight of Noah walking down the street with Minnie, their golden Labrador retriever, next to him. Everything had changed since her first art show. Most of all her. Breaking every rule she’d had in place to protect her heart, she married Noah three months after the photography show. They spent most of their time in New York City, but when he traveled, she always went with him. But the greatest surprise of all had been conceived that night they’d made their relationship official at her first art show, and that was the sweet girl in Noah’s arms, whose light blue eyes and soft brown curls always melted Olivia’s heart. Amie, their one-year-old daughter.
“Hi,” she said, accepting a kiss from Noah that still weakened her knees.
Amie all but jumped into her arms when she leaned away. Noah laughed. “She missed you.”
“I see that.” Olivia kissed both of Amie’s cheeks and her neck until young laughter filled the air. She lifted her head and smiled at those sparkling blue eyes. “I missed you too, sweet pea.” She glanced back at Noah, looking for any signs of stress. “How did the news conference go?” Today was the day that he said goodbye to the public and the media as a senator of New York.
“It went exceedingly well.” Noah smiled.
She searched his eyes again, trying to find any hint that he regretted not running for senator again. Instead, he’d taken a job at Hartland and Associates, a lobbying firm whose clients included some Fortune 500 companies. He looked as steady now as he had when he’d told her his decision. But still…“You’re happy with your choice?”
He glanced at Amie in her arms and then smiled affectionately at Olivia. “I have no regrets. I have everything I need right here.” He held her close then pressed his lips against hers again. “And you need to stop asking me if I’m okay. It’s a good change. I’m happy with it. I want to be home more, not traveling.”
Olivia smiled and stared up at such an incredible man. Her man. Their life together had been more than she ever could have dreamed up. “You know what?”
“What?”
She held Amie tight, staring into his eyes. “You know what the best photograph of all would be?” She looked from Amie to him. “This right here. You made all my dreams come true. I love you.”
&
nbsp; His smile warmed her soul like it did every morning when she first opened her eyes. He slid his strong fingers against her cheek. “And you made my life complete and gave me more than I ever thought I deserved. I love you too, angel.”
He leaned in to kiss her when Amie said, “Luo wuo ou.”
Noah laughed freely. “Baby girl, and we love you.” He scooped her out of Olivia’s arms and she squealed in laughter as he spun her around.
That’s when Olivia realized she had been wrong about what would make the best picture. She lifted her camera to her eye and snapped the shot.
Their life…there was no better moment in time than that.
As always, for my readers
Acknowledgments
Much love to my family; my readers; my editor, Sue; my publisher, Gina; my agent, Jessica; the kickass authors in my sprint group; and the entire Loveswept team. This book couldn’t have happened without all of you.
BY STACEY KENNEDY
Standalones
Bought by the Boss
Perfectly Inappropriate
Dirty Little Secrets
Bound Beneath His Pain
Tied to His Betrayal
Restrained Under His Duty
Cuffed by His Charm
Club Sin
Claimed
Bared
Desired
Freed
Tamed
Commanded
Mine
PHOTO CREDIT: HILARY GAULD-CAMILLERI
STACEY KENNEDY is an outdoorsy, wine-drinking, nap-loving, animal-cuddling, USA Today–bestselling romance author with a chocolate problem. She writes sexy contemporary romance with a dash of suspense and a sprinkle of heart and humor, including titles in her wildly hot Kinky Spurs, Club Sin, and Dirty Little Secrets series. She lives in southwestern Ontario with her family and does most of her writing surrounded by lazy dogs.
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