by Opal Carew
“Fuck, baby, I want to see you.”
His cock dragged along her opening, then slipped away completely. She felt herself twirled around to face him, then her ass leaned against the tabletop. His mouth found hers and he consumed her, his tongue claiming her mouth with passionate strokes. Her blood pounded through her in pulsing need and she sucked hard, drawing his tongue deeper into her mouth.
Finally, he drew back and cupped her ass, squeezing, which tightened her around his thick cock. She sucked in a breath at the feel of it inside her.
He started to unbutton her blouse, but it was too slow for her, so she grabbed the sides and tugged it wide, sending buttons scattering. They made small clicking sounds as they bounced off the table and floor.
He ran his hands along her thighs, lifting her legs and urging them around his waist. She tilted backward with the movement, resting her hands on the table to keep herself stable.
She wrapped her legs tight around his body, opening herself wider to him. Feeling him push in a little deeper. Taking her breath away.
They stared at each other, both of them breathing deeply.
He pushed the blouse from her shoulders down to her wrists. One at a time, she freed her hands from the sleeves. He swept the garment to the floor.
Needing to bare herself to him … to feel his hands all over her … she used one hand to pull up her bra, exposing her naked breasts.
His blazing blue eyes darkened to the color of midnight. He used one hand to flick open the hooks of her bra, then peeled it from her body.
Then he just stared at her, his gaze gliding over her body, setting every nerve ending ablaze. She arched to him, wanting him to touch her. Wanting to feel his mouth caressing her breasts, suckling her nipples deep inside his warmth.
In a sharp spasm, her vagina clamped around his big cock.
He cupped one breast in his big hand, squeezing gently, then he stroked it. Still propping herself on her hands, she allowed her head to drop back as she enjoyed his attentions.
When his hand slid away and she realized he was starting to take off his suit jacket, she grasped his hand around the fabric, stopping him.
“No. Leave it on.”
He smiled and tipped his head. “Why?”
She tightened her hand around his. “Because,” she murmured, heat pulsing through her, “you’re the dominating, all-powerful businessman and I’m totally helpless to your whims.”
She sucked in a breath at the heat in his eyes. The fact that it was true made it all the more compelling. To both of them.
He rocked his hips, pulsing inside her.
He pulled her hand to his shoulder and rested it there, then lifted her other hand to his other shoulder. Now she clung to him, her only support.
“And that doesn’t worry you?”
She shook her head. “No. I trust you completely.”
He smiled, then drove deep into her, his hand on her lower back, holding her tight to him. The feel of his cock even deeper inside her made her ache with longing for him to start moving.
To fuck her.
No matter the consequences of what had happened these past few days, or where she would wind up after today … she wanted this. To be claimed by him. Fully and completely.
She wrapped her arms around him, wanting to be closer to him. Wanting to join with him so completely she’d never forget this moment.
He rocked his hips, his cock shifting inside her in short strokes, sending heat thrumming through her. He pressed his mouth to the pulse at the base of her neck, his tongue teasing her. Tingles danced across her skin.
Oh, God, she wanted this man.
Then his lips brushed her ear.
“I love you,” he murmured.
She sucked in a breath, her gaze locking on his. His eyes glowed with warmth, the golden stardust in them glittering with the truth of his statement.
“I …” Tears welled from her eyes. “I love you, too.”
His lips captured hers and she lost herself in the kiss, her whole being embracing this joyful moment.
Then he moved and the thick shaft inside her reminded her of a much more primal need.
She squeezed him, and he groaned, then drew back and glided deep into her again. She wrapped her legs tighter around his waist as he thrust into her body, filling her deep and hard.
“Oh, yes. Oh, please.”
His arms tightened around her. “Oh, fuck, baby. I love you so much.”
She whimpered as he filled her again and again. Joy danced through her, augmenting the intense pleasure. She clung to him as he thrust, driving her to the edge of ecstasy.
“Oh, yes, oh, God … I’m so …” She gasped. “So close.”
“Come for me, my sweet.” His words grated with need as he pounded into her body.
“Yes, ohhhh …” Bliss pummeled her, blazing through her body in a rising current of white-hot pleasure. Then she burst into flames, her mind and body dissipating into ecstatic abandon.
He kissed her neck as she moaned, the orgasm blasting through every part of her.
It wasn’t until it started to fade that he groaned and jerked forward. The heat of his release triggered another rise in pleasure, sending her back to a state of blissful abandon.
She moaned and clung to him as he continued to drive her pleasure on and on.
Finally, she floated back to earth and slumped against his body. He held her close, his big arms around her, her head resting against his chest. She listened to the staccato beat of his heart as they both panted for air.
After a few moments, he kissed the crown of her head, then drew back. His smile and the glow in his eyes sent joy swelling through her again.
“Now I want to talk about that proposal.”
“Really?” She kissed his chin, then nipped the raspy skin. “Right now?”
“Yes. Right now.”
He drew back, his cock slipping from her body, and she realized he was still in his full suit.
He drew her from the table and guided her to a chair and sat her down. She felt odd sitting here totally nude with this sexy billionaire fully clothed in front of her.
But before she could suggest she put on some clothes before they started a conversation, he settled on his knee in front of her.
Her eyes widened.
He took her hand and kissed it.
“Rebecca, I know we’ve only known each other for a short time, and we’ve had a lot of ups and downs in that period. But I hope that you finally understand how much I care for you.” He squeezed her hand. “How much I love you.”
He pulled something from his pocket. “I know this is fast, but that first night we spent together, I knew I wanted you in my life forever.”
He opened a velvet ring box, revealing a beautiful, sparkling solitaire lavender diamond ring.
“Will you marry me?”
“I … oh …” She covered her mouth with her hand, barely able to contain her tears. All she could manage to do was nod.
His face broke out in a huge smile, and he pulled the ring from its cushion and slipped it on her finger.
“I love you, Rebecca. And I always will. I want to start a family with you and spend the rest of my life with you.”
She nodded, the tears flowing now. “I want that, too.”
She threw her arms around him and held him tight. “I love you so much.”
She didn’t know what would happen to her family here at the hotel, but she trusted that Rex would do the best for them.
And they would be okay without her. Because she knew it was time to leave here. To start a family of her own. To start a life with Rex.
Because he loved her and cared about her above all others. As she did him.
And that’s all she’d ever wanted.
Excerpt: Nailed
Read on for an excerpt from Opal Carew’s next book, Nailed, available in August from St. Martin’s Griffin.
Chapter 1
“Oh my God, I can’t beli
eve someone is willing to pay five thousand dollars to have dinner with me.” River stared at the Kickstarter page on her cell.
“Really?” her friend Tia said. “Let me see.”
Tia pushed her long, red hair behind her ear as she peered over River’s shoulder. They were standing in the break room of Giselle’s, the cosmetics and accessories store where they worked. River was just checking her e-mails before she stashed her phone and other belongings in her locker and started her shift.
“Hey, your campaign looks like it’s fully funded,” Tia observed. “That was fast. Didn’t you just start it up?”
River nodded. “Two days ago.” She was shocked as she stared at the numbers. Tia was right.
“So have you figured out where you’re going to take this person? It better be a pretty nice place if they’re paying that much.”
River’s stomach clenched as she shook her head, opening the next e-mail. She’d never thought anyone would actually pay that much. She knew most campaigns had some extravagant options people could buy in order to get online donors to contribute to a business initiative. She’d thought of having the person’s initial tattooed on her thigh, but then discovered that someone else had done something similar. Then Tia suggested the dinner thing.
River had her own nail polish blog and had built up a bit of a following, but she never thought anyone would be enough of a fangirl to pay that much to meet her. In fact, the thought made her a bit nervous.
“Look,” Tia said, still reading the next e-mail over her shoulder. “She wants to do it on Saturday. And she’s even picked the place.” Tia glanced at River. “Can you afford diner at the Carousel?”
“When she’s paying five grand I can.”
River turned off her phone and pushed her purse into the locker next to Tia’s then closed the door.
* * *
“Hello there. River, isn’t it?”
River glanced up from straightening the display of lipsticks and nail polishes into the face of the handsome customer. She recognized him from yesterday when he’d come in with his wife or girlfriend. He’d bought a lot of items for her, mostly high-end nail polishes and a few pieces of the boutique’s designer costume jewelry.
“Yes, sir.” River smiled. “Are you back for that onyx necklace for your friend?”
He smiled, his gaze gliding over her in a way that made her uncomfortable. “No, actually. I was hoping that maybe you’d join me for a drink when you finish work.”
Good God, he had to be kidding. She knew he had a girlfriend. He knew she knew he had a girlfriend.
“I’m sorry, sir, but I’m seeing someone.”
He shrugged. “So?”
Her skin quivered in revulsion.
“I spent a lot of money here. I assume you made quite a bit in commission.”
Anger surged to the surface and the polite comeback she’d fought to utter slipped away. “Does that approach actually ever get you anywhere? Because—”
But suddenly Tia grabbed her arm, startling her. “River, time for your break. I’ll take over here.”
Tia hustled River to the side and then went back and started talking with the man. His indignant expression faded as Tia turned on the charm, tossing her long red hair over her shoulder and turning on that beaming smile of hers.
River walked away, realizing her friend had just saved her from another reprimand from their boss.
You have to learn to deal with customers who come on to you in a polite manner, her manager would always say. Simply say no, and if that doesn’t work, excuse yourself and find another staff member or manager to step in.
River knew the drill, but any guy who betrayed his girlfriend, or tried to bully a woman into doing something she didn’t want to do, like go out with him, made her see red.
She walked to the break room door, watching while Tia chatted to the man.
“You had a little trouble, I see.” Her manager, Louise, stepped up beside her.
“Tia took over,” River said, a bit resentful that Louise had been watching her so closely. Waiting for her to make a mistake.
“I’m glad. I’d hate to write you up for being rude to a customer again.” Louise glanced at River’s hands. “I don’t recognize the shade of nail polish you’re wearing. It’s not one of ours, is it?”
River curled her fingers. “No,” she admitted.
“River, you know that everyone who works in the store is supposed to wear our nail polishes. Especially the new spring line.”
River cringed inside. Normally, she loved the products the boutique carried, and often gave rave reviews on her blog—that’s one of the reasons she’d wanted to work here in the first place—but the spring line was too ordinary for her. Soft pastels in a plain cream finish.
River liked some pizzazz on her nails. Bright colors or deep rich tones with multichrome flakies were her favorites. Maybe some flashy design in strong metallic tones. Or a leather finish with studs.
Cream pastels just didn’t do it for her. So she’d worn one of her own creations, a duochrome that shifted from turquoise to a rich blue depending on how the light hit it.
“Make sure when you come in on Saturday that you’re wearing one of the spring shades”—Louise raised her eyebrow—“or consider looking for a new job. Understand?”
“But I’m not supposed to be working on Saturday.” River had already sent the e-mail confirming she would meet the person who’d paid so much to have dinner with her. She didn’t want to jeopardize getting the investment. Starting her own nail polish company was her dream and if she didn’t honor the dinner, she could lose that investment and the whole Kickstarter campaign would drop below the minimum and she wouldn’t get anything.
“I changed the schedule. It’s posted in the break room.”
“Please, Louise, I have something else to do on Saturday. It’s really important.”
“Cancel it. I need you here.” Then Louise turned and walked away.
* * *
“Tia, please. I’ll take any shift you want. Just cover for me on Saturday.”
“Sorry, Riv. I told you I’m going to my cousin’s wedding. I mean really, I’d love to get out of it, but if I don’t go, my mom’ll kill me.”
River sighed. “I get it. Sorry to be a bug.”
“You’ve already asked everyone else?”
River nodded. She’d phoned everyone in the store over the past two days, but no one wanted to give up a Saturday off.
“Okay, look, move the dinner back to eight,” Tia suggested. “Louise always takes off midafternoon and Wendy’s closing that night. If you’re lucky, it won’t be too busy, so just ask Wendy if you can take off a little early. If you offer to work for her on a Sunday sometime, I’m sure she’ll say okay.”
* * *
She wasn’t lucky. River glanced at her watch and it was already seven o’clock and she was still waiting for her customer to decide between Pink Fizz and Seafoam. River was almost ready to tell her to take both, one as a gift, and River would pay for it out of her own pocket, but finally the woman chose the Pink Fizz, the one she’d clearly favored all along, and took her purchases to the register.
Wendy hurried over as soon as she finished with her own customer. “Go ahead and take off. Sue and I can close up.”
“Thanks, Wendy.”
River headed to the break room and grabbed her purse. On the way through the store, the same customer stopped her.
“Excuse me, can you help me pick out one of these nail polish gift sets for my sister’s birthday?” It seems she’d left her purchases at the counter and was talking another look around.
Oh, God, River was already late.
“I can help you with that,” Sue said, appearing from nowhere.
“Oh,” the customer said. “Okay, thank you.” She picked up two of the attractive boxes and showed them to Sue, who smiled and nodded.
River mouthed a thank you, then hurried out of the store.
* * *
/> As River approached the glass door of the restaurant, a woman in black pants, a crisp white shirt, tie, and red brocade vest opened the door from the inside and held it for her.
“Good evening,” the woman said. “Welcome to the Carousel.”
“Thank you.” River was a little intimidated by the posh décor as she stepped inside. “I’m a little late for a reservation. It’s in my name. River Cassidy.”
“Of course, Ms. Cassidy. I’ll take you to your table.”
River followed the tall, elegant woman into the dimly lit restaurant, candles illuminating the intimate booths. They walked down a hallway, River presumed to another section, but the woman stopped in front of a door and knocked, then opened the door.
River followed her inside and realized it was a private dining room with a chandelier of candles over the table, a lovely floral arrangement on the table and …
Her heart stopped as she saw the man rising to his feet from one of two upholstered armchairs arranged by a corner fireplace.
“River. How nice to see you again.”
Her chest clenched as she took in his chiseled jaw, full lips, perfectly proportioned nose, and mesmerizing indigo eyes.
She had hoped she’d never see Kane Winters again.
The sight of him triggered an array of painful memories. She remembered how sweet it had been to feel his arms around her, his lips brushing hers. His muscular body over hers. His cock driving into her and taking her to heaven.
And she remembered how he’d betrayed her … and humiliated her.
“You’re nailpolishlover209?”
He smiled and walked toward her as the hostess exited, closing the door behind her.
“Yes, that’s me.”
“I’m not staying.” She turned and reached for the door handle.
“You owe me dinner.”
She frowned. “Order what you want. I’ll leave my credit card number with the hostess.”
“I don’t care about that. What I want is to spend time with you.” He smiled. “I would think I’d get more than sixty seconds for my five thousand dollars.”
She turned around, fuming. “I don’t want to spend time with you.”
“But you will.” He pulled out a chair, waiting for her to take a seat. “Because you always honor your word.”