“Won’t the elevator’s alarm go off?” she asked.
“Everything okay in there?” A voice piped in from a speaker above. “I see the elevator stopped.”
Joel grabbed the handset to speak with the attendant. Then he restarted the elevator.
Joel managed to keep his hands to himself until they reached the penthouse. Once they were alone, he lowered his head and sucked her bottom lip into his mouth and nipped gently. Her head spun and she arched into him.
When he finally knelt in front of her and pushed up her skirt, she moaned. God, he knew how to make a woman lose it.
In one gaspy breath, he had her panties removed, then he focused in on her center. Her gelatin knees wouldn’t hold her—if she weren’t leaning against the wall, she’d have collapsed in a bubbling puddle.
He found the tender insides of her thighs and explored the silken skin. He parted her, then laved her clitoris with his knowing tongue until she flew toward orgasm. She gasped and begged and thrashed her head as tension strained her muscles.
“I’m…ready…Inside me…Now.”
“No. You’re coming first.” He breathed against her then continued his hot, tingly torture.
It didn’t take many more strokes of his skilled tongue, before she quivered. “Joel!” she cried as she shattered, and orgasm took its hold. Then pleasure and release sank into every cell. If she’d thought her body was weak and weighted before, she was wrong.
But she didn’t have long to recover. With her heart still jabbing, and her breath still ragged, he slid off his pants and underwear.
He wasted no time removing his shirt, instead he thrust into her, sending her toward the edge again.
He took her hard and fast, as if he’d been starving for her all night. As if she were the only one who could satisfy his punishing hunger.
While he thrust into her, he clasped her bottom, controlling the depth and angle of his love making. The result shattered her. She had no say in her pleasure, she had to trust him to give what she needed. And he did. He gave better, stronger, harder than any man. She knew that deep in her bones.
She clamped onto his shoulders, calling his name in desperation as he sank into her body, pushing her toward another climax. When her release finally came, it was incredible. A melting of both body and soul.
A moment after her orgasm, a tide of pleasure sent him in the direction of his release. With one final surge and her name on his lips, he powered into her.
Then he collapsed, crushing her against his solid chest, on the floor of the foyer. One of his hands still clutching her bottom, while the other cradled the back of her head. His lungs heaved, his breath warm and harsh against her neck.
She nuzzled the side of his face, loving the way his whiskers rasped over her soft skin. This man belonged to her. He made her feel like he craved her. Like she alone could satisfy his hunger.
At the charity ball, with her heart beating for him as they danced as one, she’d never have guessed this level of surrender and pleasure existed.
But now she knew. And she’d discovered something else about herself too.
She was in love with Joel Stanfield.
That meant he had power over her. He could hurt her. This was what she’d been trying to avoid. Why she’d been reluctant to marry him. Because she’d known if she gave her heart, that would be it and maybe he’d never give his.
Would his heart always belong to another? The thought cut deep into her.
Is this how he felt about Elizabeth, the way Ava felt about him? Wanting, needing, longing for someone she couldn’t have. Her heart squeezed until she couldn’t breathe. No wonder he’d never gotten over his wife.
The love Ava felt gave her a greater understanding of Joel. Her bone deep desire was not something she’d get over in time. And she couldn’t imagine feeling it for anyone else.
Which meant she had two choices. She could run like hell, and if she did there was no chance he’d ever love her.
Or she could stay and keep doing what she was doing, waiting to see if he would someday fall in love with her.
If she stayed, she could hide her feelings until she was sure his were the same. She owed it to her baby to try. If she could win his heart, she and her child would have everything.
If Joel learned to drop his armor, he’d be the kind of man she wanted. An honest man who’d never cheat. Well, at least he’d never physically. Mentally, who knew? It was possible Joel would spend his life dreaming of Elizabeth. Pretending when he was in Ava’s arms that he held his wife.
Which made her wonder, when he’d ravished her in the elevator, did he wish he sank into Elizabeth’s willing body?
The back of her eyes stung, and she blinked hard. She didn’t want him to see her fall apart. She calmed herself by taking long deep breaths.
While she dressed, he said, “You look…” He frowned, wrinkling his brow. “Did I hurt you?”
“No.”
“I was too hard. I don’t know what possessed me. I had to have you.”
She smiled, and her eyes dried. Thank God. “You wanted me? Just me?”
“Of course. I sure as hell didn’t want Claudia.”
“You weren’t thinking of anyone else?”
“No. Just you.”
Now she could breathe. She could satisfy him sexually. At least she had that.
After their clothing had been righted, Joel combed fingers through his hair; then he took extra time with hers, weaving his gentle hands though its wild knots until she shivered. His short nails scratching over her scalp, making her bite back a moan.
Would she ever get enough of Joel?
No, the better question was how long would she satisfy him? Or would her newness eventually wear off? The minute that happened, her heart would splinter, and her blood would dry.
As they recovered, she laid her head against his steel shoulder and savored being near him.
That night Joel moved her things into his room. She had become his in every sense of the word.
After he helped her unpack, he led her to the shower where he soaped every inch of her body, and she returned the favor. Then they made love under the hot spray, against the tile.
Afterwards he tucked her into bed where she slept with her leg over his thigh, her arm draped over his rippled abdomen.
She’d never slept snuggled against a man, in his bed before. At Joel’s private island, after they’d made love, he’d turn away and they’d sleep back to back, not touching.
This was different, but it didn’t feel strange. With Joel, the closeness felt right.
She fell into a deep, dreamless sleep and woke to more glorious love making.
Chapter Sixteen
Ava strode into the foyer, arms full of BabiesRUs bags. She dropped her packages down next to Joel’s briefcase in the closet, and grinned.
He was home. Yeah! Even though it was only lunchtime, Joel was home.
Joel never came home early, because he loved the challenge of his suicidal business deals. Well, suicidal in any other man’s hands, but Joel had a keen mind for business, a mind only a handful of New York power-dealers possessed. Joel also had the drive, the gut instinct, the sheer talent, and the insane bravery.
And he was gorgeous. Ava hoped her child got his looks from his father’s gene pool. His looks, his bravery, his intellect, his generosity, his everything. Joel was a gene pool winner.
Over the last four weeks, Joel had shown her how magical life would be as his wife. Every evening they would share a drink on the terrace, while Claire prepared their meal. While they ate in the dining room, they talked about the baby and decorating the nursery. They talked about her day at home and his at the office. They talked about anything and everything, until just being together was too much of an aphrodisiac, then they’d make love.
They made love everywhere: in his limo on the way to a charity event, in his sunken tub, in the foyer, in each closet. You name it, they christened it.
Ava kicked her shoes off
and raced through the vast open floor plan. Usually Claire would take her bags, but today the woman was nowhere in sight. The only hint she’d been there was the scent of Ava’s favorite Italian dish.
Ava padded through the French doors that framed the terrace and the million dollar Central Park view. Even if she lived to be a hundred, she’d never take that view for granted. There was nothing in this priceless masterpiece of a penthouse she didn’t appreciate. Everything was the best of the best.
Including the man facing a blaring, afternoon sun and Central Park. At the sound of her footsteps, he spun. Just like the day she’d moved in, his eyes met hers, and the apartment’s grandeur faded into the background.
“Ava,” he said her name like a prayer. “I’ve been waiting for you.”
Had he said those exact same words the day she’d moved in? It seemed like a lifetime ago. This time instead of forcing her gaze from his, she let his dark eyes hold hers, liking the way her skin tingled and how her knees went weak.
“Sit down. I don’t want your ankles swelling. Let me pour you a drink,” he said.
She smiled. “My ankles aren’t swelling yet, I’m barely showing.”
“I like how you’re showing. I like knowing that the reason your breasts are fuller and your stomach is rounded is because you carry my baby.”
Her tummy did a summersault. She swallowed as she watched him pour her a glass of sparkling grape juice. The muscles of his broad back rippled underneath his navy T-shirt, and she sighed. Soon she’d be moving her fingers over every single glorious muscled inch of him. This was the life.
He turned and handed her a flute and held one of his own
Her heart pounded into her throat and kept thudding.
Was he going to propose again?
All the signs were there; the champagne flutes, the chocolate strawberries, the romantic harp trilling in the background.
This time she wanted him to ask. Because she loved him to distraction. Even if he couldn’t love her, she’d seen how he cherished her. She’d had a taste of their future lives together, and she’d be giving him his first child. Even if their passion fizzled out, at least she had something to give him that mattered.
He was thrilled she was pregnant. Beyond thrilled.
“Ava, I’ve never wanted a woman the way I want you. What we have is special. I’ve shown you how good it can be between us. This time just say yes.”
“Yes.”
“I am going to throw the biggest and best engagement party of the season.”
****
“Bring me a bottle of Dom,” Joel told the waiter. He was bursting to tell Lance his news but would wait until they had champagne in front of them.
They sat in the same spot, in the same bar they always went to. The one only a few blocks from Lance’s penthouse. This was the place they came after Joel had left Ava behind after the island trip. So much had happened since then. Joel didn’t even feel like the same man.
They watched the bald waiter pour their drinks then leave the bottle in front of Joel.
“What’s up, big spender?” Lance asked.
“Joel!” chirped Claudia from behind them.
Joel spun on his chair. The bar was nowhere near Claudia’s townhouse or her office. “Mind if I join you?” She slid into the bar stool on the other side of Joel.
“As a matter of fact…” Joel said.
“Claudia, you’re wasting your time,” Lance said.
“What are you talking about? I just stopped by for a quick drink and saw you two here.”
“You know this is the bar we hang out in. You were hunting for Joel. But he isn’t interested anymore,” Lance said. “Run along.”
“Joel can speak for himself,” Claudia said.
“What I don’t get is how you just happened to show up here, at just the right time. Did you bribe the bartender?” Lance asked.
Her face colored. She opened her mouth then closed it.
“Lance, can you excuse us for a moment?” Joel asked.
“I have a friend at the police station, if you want to file stalker charges.” Then Lance slid down to the end of the bar taking his champagne with him.
Joel didn’t want to have this conversation again. All he wanted to do was tell his friend he was getting married. That he’d finally convinced Ava to be his wife.
Maybe this time he’d find the right words to show Claudia that it was over.
“Claudia, I’m flattered. But I’m engaged now,” Joel said.
“You shouldn’t be marrying her just because she’s pregnant. You’re going to ruin your life.”
“No, I’m not. And I’m not just marrying her because she’s pregnant.”
“Then you’re in love with her?”
“I care about her,” he said. No, he wasn’t in love, but now that Ava was in his life he couldn’t imagine living without her. In the morning, as soon as he opened his eyes, he looked for her. He was excited about their future and raising their child together.
“You just care about her. That’s all.”
“It’s a deep caring, and it’s not going away, no matter how many times you happen to show up where I am.”
She put her hand over her chest as if his words pierced her. “I don’t believe you. I know you never told me you loved me, but I also know I’m a better fit for you than she is. I don’t think your relationship is going to last, and when it falls apart, I’m going to be there.”
“Claudia. Stop. I mean it,” Joel said.
She didn’t answer, just rose with the dignity of a queen and clicked out of the bar with her head held high.
Lance sauntered back to his spot at the bar and poured more champagne into his flute. “Tell me she’s gone for good.”
“I told her it’s over. Ava and I are in it for the long haul.”
“Speaking of Ava, does the Dom mean she’s finally said yes?”
Joel nodded. “Will you be my best man?”
“Absolutely. And I’m happy for you, man. Ava’s good for you. She’s a girl you can actually fall in love with.”
Chapter Seventeen
Water had been pouring from the skies all morning, blurring the limo’s tinted windows. Its constant drenching blocked out the view of the gray city.
Periodic bolts of lightning split the sky, blinding Ava and Joel with jagged flashes. Loud, angry, thunder roared above, telling them the storm was hungry. The streets were slick and dangerous if you could get the car moving fast enough.
Ava and Joel had been in the limo for over an hour. Luckily they didn’t have far to go now. The five-star hotel hosting their engagement party was just a few street lights away.
“Are you sure we shouldn’t find out the sex of the baby? It’d be great to know for decorating and buying clothes.” It was the third time Joel had commented on the baby’s sex.
She wasn’t sure why Joel wanted to know, she knew it wasn’t for decorating. She had a feeling he wanted another ultrasound to reassure himself his child was growing and progressing the way the baby should be.
She, on the other hand, wasn’t worried and didn’t see the point of another ultrasound, especially if the doctor didn’t see a need. The baby was fine in spite of the bleeding Ava had experienced early in the pregnancy. Still, she’d be glad when they passed the dreaded, first trimester mark.
“So what if the baby wears a lot of yellow? I want to be surprised. We’re going to be surprised.” She forced a smiled.
“Okay, but I’m still calling Dr. Olivia and ordering another 3D ultrasound, so we can get a second video tape.” Joel smiled and brought her hand to his lips for a kiss. Then he grazed his teeth over her knuckles, and a hot shiver shot through her. If he nibbled her hand, she was going to jump into his lap and beg him to take her.
What was wrong with her? Even after four weeks of constant love making, even after Joel’s masterful shower sex before they’d slid into the limo, she still was on fire for him. Would it always be like that?
She had a feeling it would be, at least for her. She hoped it would stay that way for him. Prayed he’d never lose interest.
Ava pulled her hand free and gave him the cool-it look. “I want my dress unwrinkled for my one and only engagement party.”
He sighed. “Fine, but I’m having you in the limo on the way home. Consider yourself dessert.”
She licked her lips as he leaned forward to taste her. Then she sighed and surrendered to him until she clung to his broad shoulders. The limo halted at the hotel curb, right as his hand slid under her dress, his hot fingers creeping into her panties.
“Stop, you beast,” she whispered.
They fought to catch their breath, then he helped her fix her black designer dress. “I can’t wait for dessert.”
His wicked smile made her heart go crazy. It would take forever to settle it down.
That evening at the Plaza Hotel, they dined on succulent prime rib and lobster, mingled with her favorite people, and danced. It was on the dance floor that she noticed the one guest who arrived late. Someone Ava had never expected to see at her engagement party.
Joel must have felt her stiffen because he followed her gaze. “I didn’t invite her. My mother did. Or rather my mother invited her family since my family and the LeMures—”
“Have been friends since birth. I know.” She finished his sentence.
He nodded. “I honestly didn’t expect Claudia to come.”
“Why is she here? She’s shooting eye-daggers at me. She obviously didn’t come to enjoy herself.”
“Maybe it’s good she’s here.”
Her mouth dropped, her brows lifted. “Why?”
“I didn’t want to worry you, so I haven’t said anything, but Claudia still calls me everyday. She shows up to whatever business lunch I’m attending. Even though I’m pushing her away, she still can’t accept the fact I’ve taken you as her replacement.”
Ava cringed at his choice of words. She couldn’t help but wish he’d said something like, “She still can’t accept that I’ve fallen in love with you.”
But Joel was as honest as he was strong. He didn’t love her.
She sighed a long pained sigh. “And you think if Claudia sees us together, she’ll stop pursuing you.”
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