Stopping in the entryway into the gallery, he immediately saw Belle addressing the crowd, extending thanks to her friends and neighbors who’d helped her get ready for the night.
The sight of her hit him like a punch to the gut. A stunning vision in green satin, her gorgeous hair loose and curling on her shoulders.
When she flashed a smile at the audience, his cock responded by hardening almost painfully fast.
She looked confident, poised, and he wanted to throw her on her bed and ruffle all that calm.
He forced back the lust. He refused to embarrass her or make her uncomfortable.
When she locked her gaze with his, her smile remained, though he thought he saw some darker emotion cross her expression. Would she forgive him? Maybe he’d be learning how to grovel after all. Should’ve asked his dad for a few lessons.
“I have one more person I’d like to thank. Without him, I don’t think I’d be in this position. Ladies and gentlemen, Jared Golden was the catalyst for tonight’s event. He provided me with the final piece to my father’s Passion series. Thank you, Jared, and thank you all for coming tonight.”
Annabelle turned and Jared realized Kate had been standing behind her the whole time. The women exchanged a few words, both of their gazes darting toward Jared before Kate’s veered off to Tyler, standing behind him.
He swore he felt his brother tense.
“See, we’re not that late at all.” Beatrice slipped her hand through Jared’s arm. “Why don’t we go over and say hello, boys?”
Jared couldn’t agree more.
Belle was speaking to another woman when they reached her but as soon as she ended the conversation, she turned to greet them with a warm smile.
“Mrs. Golden, I’m so glad you could come.”
“I wouldn’t have missed it for the world, Annabelle. Your shop is beautiful and the gallery is amazing.”
“I have your grandson to thank for some of that. The design was mostly his.” When she turned to him, her smile was a little warmer, though he still couldn’t read her expression. “Jared, I don’t honestly know how to thank you for the painting. I’d like to keep it for few months for display but I have to insist on returning it.”
She didn’t give him time to answer as she turned back to his grandmother and slipped something from the pocket of her dress. “And I must insist you accept this.”
“I already told you, dear. The pin is yours.”
Kate stepped up beside Belle and held out her hand, palm up. “But the set shouldn’t be parted.”
Beatrice gasped and her expression broke into a wreath of smile. “Oh, Annabelle, you found the ring!”
“Actually, Kate did. Amazingly, she picked it up at one of the stands at Renninger’s Market. If you hadn’t shown up tonight, I would have contacted you tomorrow.”
Beatrice’s smile couldn’t be contained. “Well, now, I’m absolutely stunned.” She turned to Kate with a smile Jared had learned to be wary of. “Kate, dear, why don’t you give that to Tyler? He’ll hold on to it for me, won’t you?”
“Of course, Nana.”
The hot look that flashed between Kate and Tyler as he reached for the ring didn’t escape Jared’s notice. But then Belle held out the pin to him.
He covered her hand with his, the pin trapped between them. “I want more than just the pin, Belle. You know that, don’t you?”
She didn’t say anything right away but she didn’t pull her hand from his either. “I’m not really sure what to think, Jared.”
Not an outright rejection. He could work with that. “Then let me convince you.”
Her chin tilted up. “How?”
Good question. How did he convince this woman that he wanted more than a casual relationship?
“What do you want me to say? What do you need me to do? Whatever it is, I’ll do it.”
Disappointment flashed across her expression before she blinked and it disappeared. “I’m afraid I need more than you’re willing to give.”
A cold ache gripped his chest. He was going to lose her. He felt her drawing away emotionally, her gaze becoming more distant. The weight of strangers’ stares, something that’d never bothered him before, now made him feel self-conscious. Exposed.
“I’ll give you anything you want, Belle. Just tell me. The paintings—”
“No.” She shook her head. “No, that’s not what I meant. That’s not…”
She grimaced, as if unable to put into words what she wanted.
Damn it, this wasn’t how this was supposed to go. What did she want? What could he say?
He felt her tug on her hand, wanting to draw away from him. No way. “I love you.”
She blinked and her expression began to thaw. But she didn’t melt. “I’m looking for more than just a passing relationship. I want a partner for life, not just in bed.”
“Then I’m your man, because that’s exactly what I want. I promise no more secrets. I don’t want to lose you. No matter what, you’ll always be the most important person in my life. I love you, Belle. I can’t imagine living without you.”
Her smile made his heart pound and his mouth dry. “I love you, too, Jared.”
He bent to kiss her, trying not to let his libido overcome propriety. His grandmother was standing only a few feet away from him.
But later…
He reluctantly drew back before he took things too far.
And was rewarded with one of Belle’s amazing smiles.
“Later,” she said.
“That’s a promise.”
“How mad will Kate be if I just rip this dress off you?”
With Jared’s lips on her nape and his hands working to divest her of the dress, Annabelle let herself drown in sensation.
She’d locked the door to the shop barely five minutes ago. As soon as she’d set the alarm, Jared had swung her into his arms and took the stairs two at a time.
He hadn’t bothered with lights and moonlight bathed her bedroom in cool gray shadows.
Finally, the top of her dress loosened. They both groaned as it fell to her waist and his hands cupped her breasts.
Still dressed, she felt the smooth surface of his suit against her bare back, sending a shiver through her.
His fingers tweaked her already hard nipples, his erection nestled against her ass, and she hoped her knees continued to hold her.
But she knew if they didn’t, Jared would catch her before she fell.
Then she hoped he’d throw her on the bed and fuck her until she passed out.
Burning lust bubbled low in her gut, spreading like lava into her pussy.
“Jared, hurry.”
His hands tightened on her breasts, squeezing and molding. “We’ve got all night.”
“Then we can do it more than once. I need you in me now. Please, Jared.”
His answer was string of words she rarely heard come out his mouth and made her that much more insane for him.
With a cry, she twisted in his arms, her mouth lifting for his kiss as her fingers dealt with the buttons of his shirt and the zipper of his pants.
Taking a short, sharp bite of his lower lip, she pulled out of his arms, their gazes locking.
“Strip,” she commanded. “And then fuck me.”
His expression sharpened to one of pure male excitement, and he had his torso bared in seconds while she fumbled with the rest of her dress.
How could she be expected to make her fingers work when he was naked and beautiful only inches away?
Finally, she released the button that held the skirt at her waist and the green satin fell to her feet.
She reached for the garters holding up her stockings but Jared’s growled “Leave them” made her fingers falter.
Before she could respond, Jared grabbed her hips and then tossed her onto the bed behind her.
She had time to bounce once before he was on her, his mouth plastered to hers and his knees spreading her thighs.
He nudged her wi
th the head of his cock, testing her readiness, then plunged home.
Annabelle wrapped her arms and legs around him as he started to thrust with little of his usual finesse.
It was wild and passionate and she knew it couldn’t last.
But it did.
Jared rode her hard, hips pistoning as he drove her closer to her peak.
Their joining wasn’t only physical. The emotions between them elevated the act to a work of art.
And as she came apart in his arms, she knew her life had become complete.
By Private Invitation Page 27