‘You’re killing me here, Angel,’ he muttered, before grasping her chin and lifting it, bringing their lips colliding together. Desire went from a small smoulder to a fully-fledged five-alarm fire in seconds. She pushed down his trousers before wrapping her arms around his strong shoulders, pulling him closer to her. She felt his legs lift as he got rid of his trousers. Her stomach tingled in anticipation of having Jeff’s strength fill her.
Greta wrenched her lips away from his. ‘Bed.’
His laughter rumbled through his chest, vibrating against her, as he scooped her up in his arms and carried her through the small living room to the bedroom. He laid her gently on the bed. She expected him to join her but he moved away and headed back out into the living room. Curious about what he was doing, she sat up on her knees to see if she could see him. The doorway was set off from the room so it blocked her view of Jeff and his actions.
God, I hope he’s not leaving.
The thought took root before she could stop. Such an irrational one. There was no way Jeff was going to walk out and leave her hanging. She was surprised he could walk at all. His erection had been large and hard against her belly. Before she could think any more about it, Jeff walked back into the room, his eyes locking onto hers. A slow smile broke out over his face, like he knew what she’d been thinking. He then placed a couple of foil packets on the bedside table.
She liked a man who was prepared.
Greta licked her lips as Jeff removed his boxer briefs and she saw what she had felt resting against her belly. From the middle of the bed she moved a little and reached out to touch his cock. She ran a finger up its length, circling the smooth head. His erection throbbed under her touch. She gave into the urge to sample his flesh and enclosed her lips around him, swirling her tongue around the top of his penis. She felt and heard his moan of pleasure, wincing slightly as his fingers tangled through her hair. Before she could take more of him in her mouth, Jeff gently pulled her away from him while nudging her back, until she was flat on the bed with him looming over her.
‘Later,’ he whispered, before fusing their mouths together. A bliss she’d never felt before overwhelmed her completely, engulfing her with its hot burn. Should have her running for the door. Instead she let herself embrace it and hope that tomorrow she could go on with her life as before. Unfortunately, she wasn’t convinced she could.
Chapter 5
Jeffery ran his hands down Greta’s body, feeling her flesh tighten beneath his fingers. Earlier his mind had been on having her hard and fast against the door. His desire flared hot and bright. Then, with a few careless words, the atmosphere had changed. Now he was going to take his time. Learn what made her moan and plead for more.
Brushing his tongue against her lace-covered breasts, he flicked her nipple. Smiling at the sound of her breath catching, determined to hear that sound over and over, he pulled her from her reclining position so that he could get around and release the catch of her bra.
In seconds he was flinging the lace confection across the room and cupping her full breasts. Learning their shape. His lips found their way back to her mouth. Their mouths challenged each other, her fingers sinking into his hair to keep him close to her. Jeffery wasn’t going to complain. His hands massaged her breasts, rubbing her nipple between his fingers.
‘Jeff,’ she panted and pulled her lips away from his. ‘Oh, God, I need you.’
‘Where?’ he asked, swirling his tongue around the shell of her ear, tugging on her ear lobe.
‘Inside me. Over me. Everywhere.’
If possible, his cock swelled more at her request. His hand swept down her body and removed her panties, tossing them away. Then his fingers found the centre of her, stroking her slick folds.
‘Oh yes, there.’
While he dipped his fingers inside of her, his lips closed over one of her breasts, sucking on it with the same rhythmic movement of his finger moving in and out of her. Her body writhed beneath his as he massaged her ball of nerves. The tension inside her radiated out toward him, intensifying the need to sink deep into her.
Pulling his fingers out, he fumbled around until he connected with one of the condoms he’d tossed on the bedside table. Grasping it, he attempted to open it one-handed so he didn’t collapse on top of her.
A delicate hand covered his. ‘Let me.’ Her voice was a low, sexy whisper, and he gritted his teeth to stop himself from forgetting all about the condom and diving deep into her luscious body.
He heard the packet being ripped open and then her fingers were on him and he counted the many ways to cut a diamond, worried that if he didn’t keep his mind busy he’d shoot his load all over her.
Finally her fingers left his cock and cupped his face.
‘Look at me,’ she demanded, in a voice stronger than anything she’d used on him.
He met her eyes, noting they were more golden than he had seen before. Would they sparkle even more during the throes of her orgasm? He didn’t say anything as he positioned himself at her entrance.
‘Take me, now.’
He didn’t need to be told twice. He angled his hips and entered her in one smooth movement. Her muscles clenched around him, tighter than he’d ever felt before. Keeping still for a moment, he imprinted this moment of joining their bodies into his memory. He didn’t want to forget.
Her fingers, still gripping his face, dug in a little, telling him to get moving. He was happy to oblige. He began to move, pulling out and pushing in, appreciating the sensations their bodies were giving to each other.
Jeff captured her lips as his body took over; taking them on a journey he wasn’t sure he was ever going to forget. Her hands moved to grip his hips and he increased the pace; her muscles pulsed and her legs curled even tighter around him. The spiky heels of Greta’s shoes dug into his thighs. It fuelled him on. If he could take those shoes he would. Keep them as a memory of their time together.
He wrenched his mouth away from hers as his lower back tingled in anticipation of his own release. Her cry of completion filled the room, her body shuddering around his.
‘Angel,’ he groaned out loud as his own orgasm hit him hard. His body twitched inside of hers as he came down from the high of having her. He gathered her close, not wanting to let her go.
Greta struggled to catch her breath after losing herself so completely within Jeff’s arms. She uncurled her legs from around his waist, wincing as her muscles protested the movement.
Jeff’s body unexpectedly flinched above hers. His body full of tension when it should have been as relaxed as hers after their intense lovemaking session. A groan of pain filled the room and his hand clutched his thigh as he abruptly rolled off her.
‘Son of a bitch,’ he muttered.
She sat up immediately, shocked at the pain clearly written all over his face. ‘Jeff, what is it?’
‘Nothing.’ The word ground out of him.
Greta tracked her vision to where his hands were clutching his leg. She couldn’t stop the gasp of shock from coming from her. Scars crisscrossed his leg, from the top of his thigh to below the knee. How she hadn’t noticed or felt them when her legs had been wrapped around his she had no idea.
Her hand, of its own accord, reached out to touch them. Traced the pattern they created over his leg. The shock of seeing them disappeared as sympathy as to what he must have endured swept over her.
‘What happened?’ she whispered out as her fingers connected with one scar. Jeff pulled his leg away, grimacing at the sharp movement. She wanted to massage the muscle that was clearly twisting and causing him pain.
‘I don’t want to talk about it.’
Greta watched in disbelief as Jeff dragged his leg over the side of the bed so that he could stand. Every instinct urged her to try and help, but she also knew if she did he would reject her attempts.
‘I’ve got to go,’ he said, as he gave his leg a couple of quick rubs before he limped into the bathroom.
She fell back aga
inst the bed. Aware she was naked except for her shoes, humiliation swept over her. She looked like a high-class hooker. That wasn’t who she was. Determined to be dressed when Jeff came out of the bathroom, she reached down, all but wrenching the straps on her shoes to get them undone. Not caring if she damaged the soft leather. It didn’t matter if she did. She was never going to wear this pair of shoes again.
Quickly she grabbed some clothes from the dresser. She’d just pulled down her sweater when Jeff walked out of the bathroom. He’d wrapped a bright white towel around his waist. His hair stood up like he’d been running his fingers through it repeatedly.
An unwelcome awkwardness flowed through her. A feeling she’d never had after sleeping with a man. Heck, everything about their time together had been different to her other liaisons.
‘Umm,’ she started and stopped. What did you say in a situation like this?
Wow, the weather’s lovely today, isn’t it.
Greta shook her head. Trying to decide what to do next. She’d just shared amazing sex with Jeff. Instead of standing on either side of the bed, like they were about to battle, they should’ve been in the bed heading toward round two.
‘I’m sorry, Angel.’ Jeff scrubbed a hand down his face.
‘I’m not your Angel, so stop calling me that. And what exactly are you sorry for? Sorry for sleeping with me? Sorry for being a jerk?’ She rounded the bed until she stood in front of him. Even though her body was wanting him to have her again, she wasn’t going to degrade herself by succumbing to her baser needs. ‘Just leave. Forget we ever met and slept together. That’s what I’m planning to do.’
She turned away from him and strode out of the bedroom, heading for the balcony. Opening the French doors, she stepped out into the bright sunshine.
Why the hell couldn’t it be storming and raining. That would suit me better.
Greta gripped the railing. How the hell had the day got so far removed from what she had envisaged when she’d arrived? Her goal had been to check out the jewellery designs. Work up an amazing presentation that blew everyone out of the water, at the same time crushing Graham and his presentation into the ground.
How could her father think Graham was more suited for the vice president’s role? She’d been working alongside her father for years. Graham had been with the company for six months. She was beginning to wonder if her father hadn’t brought Graham on board solely for the VP position. It would be just like her father to do that. After everything she’d done. How she’d changed herself to be like one of the boys. To him she was still the little girl dancing in her one and only ballet recital. A little girl who was best suited to stay at home and look pretty. After all, according to her father, girls had no place in the cutthroat world of business. They’re too soft.
The sound of the door opening had her tensing; waiting to see what Jeff was going to do, and more importantly what he was going to say.
‘Greta?’
‘Yes.’ At least he didn’t call her Angel. She’d never been with anyone long enough to be called anything other than her name. She’d known Jeff less that three hours and he used an endearment when addressing her.
Hands landed on her shoulders, turning her in the circle of his arms. Greta held herself still. The urge to melt against him that had gripped her in the bedroom still held her in its wicked clutches. She refused to look up at him.
His warm hand cupped her chin and lifted her head until she had no choice but to meet his eyes. What she saw in them had her wishing he wore his wretched sunglasses. She didn’t want to see the remorse and regret shining out of him. How could she being feeling this intense sensation of her heart being torn apart? It was ridiculous. She wasn’t in love with him. She’d just met the man, for goodness sake.
‘Just go,’ she whispered. ‘Leave, Jeff. Don’t do whatever it is you want to do.’
A sigh rippled through him. ‘Angel,’ he breathed out before he placed his lips on hers, the urgency to devour each other gone. In its place was sweetness and sorrow mixed together.
Then her lips were free and he was striding away from her, back into the dark depths of the room. All but disappearing from her view. Greta wondered if that was symbolic of his life. When things got too difficult to face, the shadows of life were easier for him to live in.
Chapter 6
Jeffrey touched the shoes sitting on his worktable. Unsuccessfully trying to forget the woman who owned them. It had been a month since he’d spent those few hours with Greta. Yet he hadn’t been able to put the memories of their short time together from his mind.
He moved to pick up the elegant ankle cuff he’d designed once he’d returned home from the resort. He turned the cuff to the right. The diamonds in the centre of the filigree flowers glittered in the light. It was even more stunning than he’d imagined it would be. Like the rest of his collection. Luc was going to be very happy when he saw the pieces. If only he didn’t have to travel down to Perth to sit through the presentations from four advertising agencies. Not when new requests for custom pieces were coming in on a daily basis. He didn’t have the time.
Jeffrey had told Luc he could pick the agency himself. Luc’s threat to come up to Broome and drag his sorry arse to Perth didn’t persuade him to venture to the city. He’d argued with his friend. But Luc had been adamant—Jeff’s input on the final decision was not a request but a requirement. Agreeing had been the only way he could get Luc off the phone.
Jeffrey placed the cuff into the velvet-lined case and added it to the two other boxes sitting on the table. He was taking the three pieces to show Luc. The rest of the collection was securely locked away in the hidden safe in his studio.
He reached out to touch the shoes one last time. He should’ve felt guilty for taking them. Why she’d left them in her villa he didn’t know. He never imagined, when he’d returned to the resort to apologise, that housekeeping would greet him. He’d walked through the villa, needing confirmation for himself that she had checked out.
He’d seen the shoes and picked them up. They’d fast become a talisman. The inspiration for his collection.
As he’d designed each piece, he’d imagined it adorning Greta’s body. The delicate cuff wrapped around her slim ankle. The diamond star, hanging from a thin chain, nestled between her breasts. The diamond and sapphire bracelet encircling her wrist. He wouldn’t think about the ring he’d designed. No one was going to see that drawing, even if it was one of the best things he’d designed.
The iconic sound of Queen and David Bowie’s tune ‘Under Pressure’ blared out. He’d assigned the song as Luc’s ringtone. The title fitting for the pressure Luc had put him under. But he didn’t hold that against his friend. If it wasn’t for Luc demanding a meeting, he’d never have met Greta and his best collection would never have been born.
‘Hey Luc.’
‘Hi Jeff. I wanted to confirm Heather emailed your flight details to you.’
Jeffrey couldn’t help but smile at Luc’s straight-to-the-point attitude. He had no time for platitudes, but Jeffrey had also seen another side of Luc. A gentler side. He guessed Luc usually only showed that side of himself with his wife, Jasmine.
‘I’m fine, Luc, thanks for asking and yes I received the details. Heather also phoned and confirmed where I’m staying and what time all the appointments are.’
‘Good. Jasmine wants to let you know she expects you to come to dinner while you’re down. She told me to tell you she won’t take no for an answer.’
Jeffrey laughed. ‘You say it often to her do you, Luc?’
An answering chuckle sounded down the line. ‘I value my life. Plus I love my wife, I can’t say no to her. I keep my “no’s” for the business world.’
‘Don’t I know it,’ he muttered. He’d heard a few of Luc’s no’s over the last few weeks. ‘Dinner with you and Jasmine sounds good. I need to see this house of yours. Let me know the day and time and I’ll be there.’
‘Good. I need to get to a m
eeting, so I’ll see you tomorrow.’
‘Okay, see you then.’ Jeffrey pulled the phone away from his ear to disconnect the call when he heard the faint sound of his name. He put the phone back to his ear. ‘Sorry, I missed that. What did you say?’
‘I wanted to say thanks for doing this, Jeff, I know it was a big ask of me. But it’s time, you know.’
Jeffrey didn’t need to know what Luc was referring to. He’d told his friend the bare bones about his skiing accident. But Luc didn’t know of the life ripped from his fingertips on the mountain. Nor how close Jeffrey had come to spending his life in a wheelchair. His only salvation had been his jewellery designing and the solitude of his house in Broome.
‘Yeah, I know,’ Jeffrey responded quietly. ‘I need to say thanks to you too, Luc.’
‘Really?’
‘Yes, and you’ll understand when you see the pieces I bring. Later.’
This time Jeffrey quickly disconnected the call and placed his phone back on his worktable. He scrubbed his hand down his face. It was going to be a tough few days but he’d get through it. He’d fought his way to being able to walk again. Spending a few days in the city, sitting through meetings with stuffy old boring advertising executives, couldn’t be hard. It wouldn’t be like he’d be spending every waking moment hoping to run into Greta again. He knew he’d used up his fate quota the day they’d met.
A part of him couldn’t help but hope for one last fate intervention. One last kiss. One last moment in time where he could touch her.
He disregarded the thought; their time together had passed. He was too used to being alone to ever consider a relationship again. In his darkest hours, though, he yearned for the arms of one particular woman to surround him. To take him from the darkness and welcome him into the light.
Greta rushed around her apartment, collecting the materials for her presentation. She couldn’t believe she’d overslept on the most important day of her career. She wouldn’t be late. Her presentation at the Morelli Corporation was at eleven. It was only eight o’clock. She had plenty of time.
Bound by Their Love Page 3