“I’m not going to tell you it’s going to be okay, because that’s not what you need to hear,” she whispered, tracing her nails along my back, leaving goose bumps even through the fabric of my jacket. “Just know that I’m here.”
I pulled back and met those gorgeous hazel eyes. They weren’t filled with sadness or pity. I wanted to get lost in them to forget whatever the hell else was going on.
I’d been holding back for so long, but I needed this distraction.
No.
I needed more than that.
I needed her.
Without hesitation, I crushed my lips to hers, relishing in her moan as she opened her mouth to mine. Our tongues met through a breathy tangle. Her hands gripped onto my back as I pulled her as close as we could be with our clothes still on.
This time I wasn’t going put a stop on things. This time I needed more.
With a free hand, I shrugged out of my jacket, tossing it somewhere beside us. Her hands roamed down my back, featherlight little touches that had me wanting even more.
Gripping onto her waist, I pulled her onto my lap, her heated core pressed against me.
She gasped, tilting her head back so my teeth gripped onto her bottom lip.
Fuck, she tasted like vanilla and jasmine and heaven.
I moved my mouth down her neck and to the swell of her breasts, her body shivering against mine in response.
All I wanted to do was to be with her and lose myself, blocking out the rest of the world.
Slowly, I ran my fingers down the zipper on the back of her dress, waiting to let it drop to her waist before I lifted my head.
The fire in her eyes matched mine as she moved her fingers down the front of my shirt, unbuttoning each button as fast as she could.
God, did I want to taste her.
To keep getting lost.
But I also wasn’t going to be the bastard who fucked her and left her. I would just get her off with my tongue if we both needed the release.
Sliding down from the settee, I turned her so she was sitting, and I knelt in front of her.
With my eyes locked with hers, I inched her dress down, leaving her only in her bra and that pair of Hello Kitty underoos from the first day we met.
I shook my head, not able to hold back the laugh. “The cat knickers?”
She squirmed, a flush creeping along her thighs. “They were clean…”
Running my tongue along her thigh, I watched her suck in a breath. “I thought you’d say you wore them just for me.”
“Well, I wasn’t, um, expecting any of this.”
I stilled. My hands on her thighs. My mouth merely a breath away from her heated center. “I can still stop. We can go back to the party. This is just a fake date, isn’t it?”
Even as I said the words, the sting hit me deep.
This was more than that.
Why the hell had I even said that?
“Is it?” she whispered.
I shook my head. “No. No, it’s way fucking more.”
Before she could answer, I pushed aside the fabric of her panties and pressed a light kiss against her sensitive skin.
She let out a breathy sigh. “I want more.”
“How much more?” I whispered into her mound as she shivered around my face.
“I…” Her back arched, pushing her scent closer. Her thighs enclosed my head.
Shite, she smelled amazing.
So warm.
So close.
“Do you want me to taste you, Madison?” Slowly, I ran my tongue along her slit, eliciting a small whimper.
“Yes.”
That was all I needed to grasp her thighs and press my mouth to her, relishing in the feel of her warm body and the little moans that quaked her legs. With each swipe of my tongue, she pushed herself closer to me, her thighs shaking through her hushed whimpers.
Fucking hell, I’d never had a woman react with this much vigor. The more she moaned, the more I wanted to make her come. To forget everything else and just have her.
“Jacob…I’m…I’m going to, if you need to stop.”
Stop?
I didn’t even slow down my pace as I lapped her up, her entire body trembling as she cried out, bucking her hips over and over to meet my face.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered, pushing her hand against her flesh and moving my face aside.
What the shite?
I sat up, but she wouldn’t meet my gaze, her eyes looking up to the ceiling.
“What the hell are you sorry for?”
“I, um…I did that in your mouth.”
I laughed, my chin shaking against her stomach as I pressed my face against her.
“Damsel, that was the best fucking thing I’ve ever tasted.”
“You…liked that?” she asked, moving her head back to meet my gaze.
“I fucking loved that, damsel. I could feel you come against me all night.”
Her face and body heated up against me.
What the hell kind of man had she been with who hadn’t liked that?
I stood up gently, my cock digging into my trousers.
I wasn’t going to do anything she didn’t want me to do, but even if I left, she deserved to be seriously shagged.
“Come on.” I held my hand out.
“Come what?”
I rolled my eyes then took her hands in mine, pulling her up to face me. Cupping her cheeks, I pulled her to me, the wetness from her still on my lips as she opened her mouth to mine. Her salty taste mixing with her warm breath had my already aching cock begging me for more.
I pulled back, even though every part of me screamed I needed to stay pressed to her. I didn’t say a word as I led her back to the bedroom, the four-post bed shining to us like a beacon.
I could have done her hard and fast. Or just tasted her all night until the sun came up and taken care of myself later.
But no.
There was a look in her eyes.
The look that had my heart swelling.
This woman deserved to be worshiped.
And I was going to show her that I wasn’t only here for the family.
I was here for her, too.
And no matter what happened, she would be taken care of.
I stripped off my clothes before approaching her, my hands on her back as I undid her bra, letting it fall between us.
Neither of us said a word. We didn’t need to.
Our mouths met again as I cradled her head, and we slid into the bed together. The thin fabric of her panties was still between us, but as much as my dick protested, I wasn’t in a rush. I wanted to memorize the small curves of her body. How fucking good she felt beneath me.
I kissed her with everything I had. Like I couldn’t get enough of her. And I fucking couldn’t. Through all of this, she had been my bright light, so much more than I needed.
“You’re so fucking beautiful, Madison,” I whispered into her neck as I trailed my fingers down to her panties, the wet fabric gliding against my fingers.
She responded back with a shuddering moan, rocking her hips against my hand.
“No need to rush, beautiful.” She whimpered as I moved my hand to her thigh, running my tongue against her jaw.
“Why are you teasing me?”
I laughed, blowing air against skin. “I’m trying to enjoy all of you. Especially if I only get to have you a few more days before yer sister’s wedding.”
She swallowed hard.
I wanted her to tell me that we could be more. If she did move to London, she wouldn’t be far. But if I really did inherit Webley…then what?
Fuck, I couldn’t think about that anymore. I needed to do what she wanted. For us both to reach ecstasy. If we only had a few more days together, then it woul
d be the best fucking few days of our lives.
I leaned back and grabbed my trousers from the floor, procuring a condom I had found in my wallet and rolling it over me. Sitting between her legs, I pulled her feet to my shoulders, my hands grasping the fabric of her panties. “Still want me to tease?”
She blinked slowly, shaking her head as her fingers went to mine, helping me remove the offending garment that was separating us.
I kept my gaze to hers as I rocked our bodies together.
Shite, she felt even better against my cock than I could have ever dreamed of.
Her legs wrapped around my waist like we were in our own little world, sheltered together. With each thrust, her little moans threatened to send me over the edge, but I wanted to last. Needed to last.
If this was really going to be the end for us soon, I didn’t want to forget those beautiful noises she made when she came undone.
And as we both came to a beautiful crescendo, the way she still held onto me, clinging like she never wanted to let go.
I didn’t, either.
I needed to find a way to make this work for us.
For everyone.
If only I knew fucking how.
Chapter Fifteen
Madison
Oh. My. Hell.
I’d had sex plenty of times.
But with Jacob…it was like a spiritual experience, completely overtaking my body, which still shuddered after multiple orgasms.
I should have probably gone back to the party for my sister, but I couldn’t move. My legs were like gelatin. My heart was beating so rapidly, I swore it was going to burst out of my chest.
We’d lain side by side, catching our breaths. Then after a few minutes, or hell, could have even been hours, Jacob had parted my legs again.
Twice in one night?
Nope.
We made it to three before I collapsed, unable to move.
This was what I had been missing with Chris.
All that time I’d spent crying over him, and I could have been with a handsome Scottish man that wanted me to orgasm?
But as my eyes fluttered open from the morning light and I caught a glimpse of him passed out next to me, something else ached in my chest.
We only had a few more days before my sister’s wedding. Soon he’d go back to Scotland, and I’d have to figure out what to tell my mom. But an aching part of me didn’t want this just to be a one-week thing.
If I did move to London…how far was that from Scotland?
Maybe if I revealed what happened with school, I could start over. Finish my degree there. I could still be saved.
Trying not to wake him, I inched to the side of the bed, looking for my phone in our tangle of clothes. It was premature to look it up or to even think he’d want to try…but there could also be an art school in Edinburgh.
Fumbling for my phone, all thoughts left me when I picked up his pants and his phone tumbled out.
Shit.
I looked behind me to see he hadn’t even moved.
I grabbed the device, hoping just to shove it back in his pockets and look for mine, but the barrage of messages that lit up on screen stopped me. Normally I wasn’t one to snoop, but the glaring words had me doing a double take.
Blair: So, I had a lovely call with that Rodrick guy. He just sent me a bunch of stuff.
Blair: Holy hell, I’m trying to read all this legal mumbo job. Manorial law? So basically, if our ancestors didn’t have a pre-nup, we’re entitled to half of everything on the Webley side?
Blair: You need to call me to talk about this, because if I’m understanding it right, once that Gavin guy is married, she could get everything and we’d have to fight her, too?
Blair: Quit shagging the redhead. She’s done her due. Now get our money!
I froze as the edge of the bed shifted.
My mouth went dry, my hands shaking as I tried to process what I was reading.
“Morning, damsel,” Jacob’s groggy voice carried over the bed.
I couldn’t move. All I could do was stare at the screen, trying to make sense of the words. The words now blurred by my clouded vision.
There had to be an explanation.
“Something must be awfully good on that phone of yours if you’re unable to move.” His rough hands went to my shoulders, his lips pressing featherlight kisses against my skin. But then his breath sucked in against my ear, his fingers tensing against me.
“What are you reading?”
“I was grabbing my phone and accidentally got yours,” I managed to croak.
I shifted so I was facing him, but he didn’t look at me.
His eyes locked on the messages.
“Rodrick and legal mumbo jumbo? Is that what you were really upset about last night, or was it more about the redhead who has done her due?” I spat each word as my eyes burned.
He winced as he licked his lips. “Madison…”
“What? What is all of this? Did you seek me out in the train? Think I was an easy target so you could make a plan to take the Webley estate?” With each syllable, my voice rose. My breath was shaking as everything rained through me.
Maybe I was making a bigger deal and misreading the text messages.
But that thought was shot as soon as I saw the slight shake of his head, his eyes still on the bed instead of me.
“Madison…I meant to tell you…”
“So it’s true?” I didn’t want to believe it. My hands balled up into fists as I pulled the covers close to my chest, sitting up, as if the sheet would block me. Like this was all some bad dream.
He raked his fingers through his hair as he pulled back to the edge of the bed.
Last night I couldn’t believe this sexy man wanted me. That he’d made me come undone with a few swipes of his tongue and had kept going. How much he’d cared about my feelings before we even began in the bedroom.
But had it all been just a farce?
Was this all about getting a pay day from the Webley family?
“I can explain, but no matter what I say, it’s going to come out wrong. Because it is true. I came here to try and save my family’s legacy, and then Rodrick told me last night about some suspicions I had actually being true and I just…”
Every hair on my body stood on end, and I gripped the blanket tighter as I pulled it to me. Words escaped me. All I wanted to do was forget that moment and go back in time to when I was clueless on all of this.
“But I didn’t count on meeting you, damsel. I don’t want you to get hurt in all of this, and I’m going to find a way to make sure that you don’t.”
He reached his hand toward mine, and I recoiled, standing up and bringing the blanket with me. “Don’t you dare touch me.”
“Madison…” His words might have been pleading, but the man still couldn’t even look at me.
Fucking coward.
“You wanted to find a way I wouldn’t get hurt, but you had plans to ruin my sister’s wedding by coming in and claiming half of everything of the Webleys’? Talking to a guy named Rodrick to make sure the claim was legit? I don’t know what any of your plan is, but honestly I don’t give a flipping flying flippity flip.”
Bending down, I scooped up my underwear and bra, trying to get them on the best I could under the blanket.
He scooted closer to the edge of the bed, putting his hand out again, but I stumbled back, pressing against the wall.
He finally met my gaze.
Was he feeling sorry for me?
Well. Fuck. That.
“You need to leave. Now.”
“Madison, can’t we just talk? I can explain everything.”
I shook my head and yanked one of the fluffy robes out of the open dresser, wrapping it around myself quickly. “No. I think you’ve done enough. My sist
er’s wedding is in two days, and you’d better not be here for it.”
He rose to his feet, the blanket pooling at the floor below.
If I was going to keep my wits about me, I couldn’t let my eyes trail down his neck and the wicked V of his stomach and treasure trail.
No.
No matter how sexy this man was, what he’d done was worse than what anyone had ever done to me.
He’d lied to me.
He’d used me.
And he was about to screw over the people I loved most in the world.
Well, someone had to make sure that didn’t happen.
“I’m going to my sister’s room, and I’m sure someone will be by to escort you out,” I said, gripping the door handle.
He shook his head. “It doesn’t have to be like this. Please. Let’s just…”
He kept talking, but I stopped listening. I stomped through the room, still hearing his footsteps behind me, but I wasn’t going to turn around, and surely his naked ass wouldn’t follow me down the hall.
Throwing the door open, I broke out into a full sprint as fast as my bare feet could carry me. My eyes burned, but I was done crying over men. This time I needed to do what I had put off for too long.
Dodging statues and maids with passing trays, I made my way to my sister’s bedroom, banging on the door.
My heart beating wildly as I waited to hear her.
Slowly the door opened with my sister’s sleepy eyes, her robe pulled tight around her.
“Madison? Is everything okay?”
I shook my head, holding back a sniffle. “No. It definitely isn’t.”
She put her arm out and motioned me inside. “What can I do to help?”
…
Everything poured out of me like ice melting on a hot North Carolina day.
But this time the tears didn’t come like I expected.
My head stayed down as I huddled close to my sister on the couch in her sitting room. She just listened, not saying a word as I told her all about what I found out about Jacob. And then it was finally time I admitted the rest. If I was going to get upset at a man for keeping secrets, I couldn’t hold my own anymore.
“You’ve done so much for me, and I ruined it all. First dropping out of school then bringing this guy here…” Before she could respond, I met her wide-eyed stare. “I’ve been meaning to tell you and Mom, but I didn’t have the guts to do it. Chris didn’t come with me because we broke up months ago, after I dropped out of school to follow his gamer dreams. Then I was too distraught to go back and enroll. All you worked for and I ruined it. Left school and instead of just coming here and owning up to all of it, I brought a thief into the house.”
Heirly Ever After Page 18