“Oh, there’s a difference, all right. Normally you’re the one who’s putting up the walls or requesting time apart, or breaking things off. For as long as I can remember, you’ve never been on the receiving end of ‘taking some time apart’ and I, for one, am shocked by how you’re handling it.”
Nash wanted to wipe the smug look off his friend’s face. He didn’t have to ask what Nigel meant. He knew. Nash had never lacked the company of a female; if anything there were times when he longed to not be the object of one’s desire.
“I’ve seen what you’re like after moving on from a woman. How many times did you break up with a woman and before the day was over you were going out with someone else? Or what about those times when you showed up at the club and drinks were on the house for all the men?”
“That happened one time.” That was after he broke up with Eve or, at least, after the first time he told Eve they were done. He was so glad to be rid of her that buying drinks for all the guys at the club that night seemed to be the right thing to do. He had no doubt that most of them had either had an Eve in their life or were still recovering from having a woman like her.
“You normally celebrate when you find yourself free again. So why is this different? Why are you acting like you just lost your best friend?”
Nash studied his friend for a moment, knowing that Nigel knew good and well the answer to his own questions. Spending time with Iris had become Nash’s favorite pastime. Her intelligence, humor and selfless heart were everything he didn’t realize he wanted in a woman. He thought about their active sex life. She was as passionate in the bedroom as she was in the courtroom. He shook his head at the thought and stepped back into the apartment. Nigel followed behind him.
Nash placed his empty bottle on the granite countertop and strolled to the living room, which was decorated in silver and black. He dropped down on the long leather sofa and propped his feet up on the marble end table. The past few days had been hell. He didn’t know when it happened, but he knew he had fallen madly and passionately in love with Iris. At first, he had just wanted to get to know her better while he got through his legal issues, but then the sexual attraction between them couldn’t be ignored. Now he found himself wanting to spend every waking hour with her.
“You might as well admit that you’re in love with her,” Nigel said from the pristine kitchen that overlooked the living room. From the built-in refrigerator, he pulled out the makings of a sandwich. Whenever Nash knew he would be in town, he’d have the housekeeper stock the refrigerator. “Don’t worry. It happens to the best of us.”
Years ago, Nash had promised himself that he would never allow another woman access to his heart, but somehow Iris had penetrated the wall he had built around it. Even traveling across the country didn’t decrease his need to be near her. If anything, it made it worse.
“Let me give you a piece of advice,” Nigel continued, as if Nash’s lack of response meant he should keep talking. “When you find the one, you do whatever you have to do to hold on to her. If you’ve screwed up, you swallow your pride and say, ‘I’m sorry’ and that you can’t live without her. Whatever it takes to get her back.”
When silence filled the space, Nash glanced at Nigel, who was piling turkey, ham, tomatoes, cheese, lettuce and pickles onto a long thin loaf of French bread, reminding Nash that he hadn’t eaten all day.
“I’ve seen the way you look at Iris and how you are with her.” Nigel cut his sandwich and didn’t look up. “I’ll be the first to admit I thought it was a bad idea when you first showed an interest in her. We both know your track record with women, but you’ve changed,” he said and finally cast his gaze at Nash. “She changed you.”
Nash placed his feet on the floor and sighed. He hated to admit it, but Nigel was right. Nash had to do whatever it took to get Iris back. There was no way he was going to live the rest of his life without her.
He stood and walked across the room, his gaze zoned in on the long sandwich stuffed with meat and vegetables. It reminded him of their childhood, when they’d go to one of their houses after school and build a mile-high sandwich with whatever they could find in the refrigerator.
Nash grabbed a plate from the cabinet near the sink, his mouth watering at how good he knew the sandwich would taste. “Can I get part of that?”
“Hell, no. Make your own.”
* * *
Iris stared off into space.
It was late Friday evening and she was still at work when most everyone else had left for the day. She propped her elbows on her desk and rubbed her tired eyes, disappointed that she didn’t have anything to look forward to this weekend except for work. Even Tania had plans to spend the next couple of days with Macy and her goddaughter. Candace and Tania were the same age and, despite only knowing each other for a couple of months, got along like sisters.
“All right, Iris, I’m heading out,” Melissa said, walking over to Iris’s desk carrying a FedEx package. “This came while you were on the conference call.”
“Oh, good, thanks. I was worried I wouldn’t get it today.” Iris began opening the large envelope.
“Is there anything else you need before I leave?”
Iris pulled a folder and several stapled documents from the envelope. “Nope, but thanks. Go on home and enjoy your weekend. I appreciate your staying this late.”
“No problem.” Melissa headed toward the door, then stopped and turned. “Oh, before I forget, Noelle said that she hopes to have some good news for you soon. She stopped by on her way out, but you were still on your call.”
“Oh, okay, thanks.”
Iris knew it was probably regarding Tania’s hearing in less than two weeks. The date seemed to come up quick, and the thought of their living situation changing was bittersweet. She was happy Tania and Nash had fulfilled the court’s requirements, and that it looked as though Nash would get Tania back soon. On the other hand, she didn’t know what she would do without Tania in the house. It was bad enough that she and Nash were no longer together, but not seeing Tania either was almost too much to think about.
Iris shook off the sudden melancholy and stood. She wouldn’t think about that day until she had to. With several files in her hand, she walked across her office, her bare feet sinking into the plush carpet. She had slipped off her shoes over an hour ago, unable to stand the four-inch heels any longer.
“Are you planning to work all weekend?”
Iris startled at the deep, velvety voice. Her racing heart beat double time, knowing who she would find standing behind her. She turned slowly from the file cabinet to find Nash’s large frame leaning against the doorjamb. Tall, immaculately dressed and looking sexier than any man had a right to, he locked his penetrating gaze on her.
She held his gaze. “No, not all weekend, but maybe a big chunk of it.” She wondered if her voice sounded as shaky as she felt. It seemed as if she hadn’t seen him in months, but it had only been ten days. God, she had missed him. Tears stung the back of her eyes, but there was no way she was going to cry. It was her decision to put some space between them and she had lived with that...until now.
Her gaze lingered on his sexy lips, which had brought her more pleasure than she had ever experienced in her life. There wasn’t a day that had gone by that she hadn’t thought about him, wondered where he was or what he was doing. How many times had erotic flashbacks of their lovemaking sprung to mind, making her wish she were in his arms? A few days ago, Noelle had tried setting her up on a blind date, but Iris couldn’t imagine herself with another man. If she couldn’t have Nash, she would rather live the rest of her life alone.
“I’ve missed you,” he said. He pushed away from the doorframe and closed the door. He moved toward her, his long graceful strides reminding her of a cheetah, easing up on his prey. The intensity in his eyes held her captive. No man had ever looked at he
r the way he looked at her now, adoration mixed with longing and need, only making her want to jump into his arms and never let go.
She glanced down at his hand, noticing it was still bandaged, but without the splint that he’d had on it when she’d seen him last.
“Before you throw me out, or have me thrown out, there’s something I have to say.”
She licked her lips nervously. “I would never have you thrown out. I might ask you to leave, but never thrown out.”
Nash flashed that sexy grin that always made her body throb for his touch. “Good to know.”
Iris swallowed hard and fiddled with the buttons on her silk blouse, suddenly finding the garment excruciatingly warm. Nash standing so close didn’t seem real. He had called her the day before he was heading to L.A. and once while he was there, but their conversation had centered on Tania.
“So what did you want to say?” She pushed a wayward curl from her face, discreetly brushing away the perspiration that beaded on her forehead.
“Something I should have said weeks ago.” He stepped closer and pulled her into his arms, his hands resting just above her hip bones, his tempting lips only inches from hers. She had missed him so much. There was no way she would pull away. “I love you,” he said huskily. “I love you so damn much I physically ache. I can’t stand being away from you.”
She searched his eyes, hoping to determine that he was telling the truth, that he meant what he was saying. For weeks she had waited, hoping to hear him say those words to her again. Needing to hear them and believe what she had hoped was true. That he loved her as much as she loved him.
Tears sprung to her eyes. “I love you, too, and I have missed you more than I ever thought possible. I’m sorry for everything. I’m sorry for pushing you...”
Her words lodged in her throat when his mouth swooped down and covered hers. No one had ever kissed her with as much passion, with as much love as Nash. He made her feel like she was the most important person in his world. He grabbed her butt and crushed her to him. Aroused by the mere feel of the bulge between his thighs pressing against her pelvis, Iris wrapped her arms around his neck and deepened the kiss. When they had first made love months ago, he unleashed a sexual hunger that she didn’t know existed, but that she definitely wanted him to feed.
“Nash,” she whimpered against his lips, wanting more, needing more.
“I know, sweetheart.”
* * *
With nimble fingers, Nash made quick work of her blouse, unbuttoning it and yanking it off, leaving her in a pink satin-and-lace bra. He hungrily devoured her lips, his tongue tangling with hers as his fingers teased her taut nipples through the thin material of her bra, sending a rush of heat to his groin. He needed her like a thirsty man needed water. How could he have walked away from her, knowing how much he loved her?
He licked, nipped and sucked her tongue until she moaned into his mouth. One taste of her sweet lips and he’d known he wouldn’t be able to stop.
She looped an arm around his waist and rubbed her curvy body against his. She had clearly gotten bolder over the past couple of months. He sucked in a breath when her hand made contact with his swollen erection and he ground against her palm, knowing that if he kept it up, their little reunion would be over before it got started.
He pulled back and undid her bra, letting it tumble to the floor, one breast falling into his hands. He stroked and teased her nipple between his thumb and forefinger before his tongue went to work, swirling around the dark peak.
“Nash.” She sucked in a breath when he squeezed and caressed her other breast. “Enough!” She grabbed hold of the front of his shirt and her nipple slipped from his mouth. “I don’t need foreplay, so stop screwing around.”
He grinned when she backed him up against a nearby wall. His pulse picked up when his gaze zoned in on her breasts, turning him on even more. He unfastened her pants while her hands worked feverishly to pull his shirt away from his body. Buttons flew across the room, but he didn’t care. All he wanted was what she wanted, to have their bodies come together as one.
They clawed at each other’s clothes, removing everything until they were panting and standing in only their birthday suits. Nash bent down and snatched his wallet from his pants pocket, quickly removing a condom and slipping it on.
He spun Iris around, her back against the wall. “I can’t wait to get inside you.”
He stood between her legs and nudged them farther apart seconds before he lunged upward into her moist opening. Heaven. That’s what it felt like when her muscles contracted tightly around him. He loved that she was only a couple inches shorter than him, allowing their bodies to line up perfectly in all the right areas.
Her eyes grew round and she chirped in surprise when he lifted her off the floor, his fingers gripping the soft flesh of her derriere. His hand hadn’t completely healed, but the sweet taste of her lips and her body grinding against his made the pain worth it. She wrapped her long legs around him and he used the wall to help support her as he plunged upward, in and out, going deeper and deeper, loving the feel of her in his arms.
It had been torture not seeing her, holding her and being inside her. His heart hammered against his rib cage as she squeezed her thighs and he felt himself grow thicker within her.
He cursed under his breath at the intense pleasure. “Iris...” he ground through clenched teeth, knowing his control was slipping as he slid in and out of her.
Her breathing became labored and her eyes were tightly closed as her nails dug deeper into his shoulder. He knew she was teetering on the edge.
“Sweetheart, look at me.” He didn’t let up as he continued to move, but he wanted to see those beautiful eyes of hers.
“Nash,” she sobbed, her eyes still slammed shut. “I can’t hold...”
“Look at...” he said raggedly as his own control began to slip. “I want you looking at me when we come.”
“Nash!” Her eyes flew open and she bucked against him wildly. In the moment, he saw that it was almost over for her, so he lowered his mouth over hers, swallowing the yell he knew would erupt.
She came violently, screaming into his mouth, clawing at his back and shoulders, her body overpowered by her intense orgasm. He ripped his mouth from hers and he growled roughly when he started coming, gripping her tightly when his body convulsed with its own powerful release.
“Oh my God, oh my God,” Iris chanted as her body continued to shake violently. “Nash!” she whimpered and collapsed against him.
On wobbly legs, he lowered her feet to the floor, his knees so weak that he could no longer hold either of them up. They slid to the plush carpet in a tangled heap.
He chuckled, still trying to catch his breath. “That...was amazing.” He found her lips and kissed her slowly.
“What is it with you and always wanting to take me up against a wall?” she asked, breathless, her words coming out in spurts.
“Beds are highly overrated.” He nipped her ear with his teeth and started a path of kisses along her neckline. “I’m thinking that maybe we should finish this on your desk.”
She moaned and draped her arms around his neck. “Lead the way, my love. Lead the way.”
Chapter 17
“Well, someone’s in a good mood,” Noelle said when she sauntered into Iris’s office. “You’re humming to yourself, got your hair piled on top of your head all sexily―” Noelle flicked her hand toward Iris “―and you’re smiling. As a matter of fact, you’ve been smiling hard all week. I would ask why, but I have a feeling I already know.”
Iris lowered her head to hide the grin that was slowly spreading across her face, as she recalled how she and Nash had christened her office a week ago. In less than three months, she had had more firsts with Nash Dupree than she had in all of her life. There was something about the m
an that made her want to live for the moment and deal later with any consequences. Which is what she’d done when the cleaning lady had walked in on them last Friday night. Thank goodness they had slipped back into their clothes before Iris heard the keys rattling in the door.
“Well, I have some news that will add to your happiness.” Noelle sat in one of the upholstered chairs in front of Iris’s desk. “We just found out that the drugs were definitely planted on Tania and we know who did it.”
“Who?”
“One of Tania’s friends.”
“What?”
“Yeah. It sounds like her friend Tiffany—and I use the term ‘friend’ lightly—stashed the package in Tania’s bag before leaving school. Tiffany’s brother attends the same school and has been arrested twice for drug possession. A third arrest meant he would serve time.”
“But I’m sure Tiffany didn’t know they would be pulled over. Why would she plant the package in Tania’s bag while at school?”
Noelle shrugged. “Why do teenagers do half the things they do? Tiffany found the weed in her brother’s bedroom that morning. Not wanting him to get caught with it, she took it to school.”
Iris stood and shook her head, pacing behind her desk. “That’s crazy. She could have tossed it instead of putting it in Tania’s bag.” Iris tried keeping a grip on her anger, but felt it slipping out of her grasp the more she thought about the situation. She had caught Tiffany smoking in her downstairs bathroom one night when Tania had her friends over. “Ugh, this makes me so angry. How can she call herself Tania’s friend if she’s setting her up like that?”
“Hey, don’t get mad at me. I’m just the messenger,” Noelle blurted out. “Tania said she and the girl had a disagreement a few weeks ago. Tania called her brother a pothead and all hell broke loose.”
“So what made Tiffany come forward?”
“She didn’t, her parents did. They said Tiffany had been suffering from nightmares and finally told them everything.”
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