Turbulent Waters (Billionaire Aviators Book 3)

by Melody Anne

  “I honestly don’t know what you’re expecting me to do,” Chloe told him.

  “You took a job. Are you going to see it through?” he asked.

  Yes. He’d gone mad for sure. “The job is finished, Nick, and we both know it,” she told him.

  “Then walk away.”

  He backed up, leaving her enough room to scoot around him, but not enough space to think properly. He wasn’t telling her to leave, but he was giving her the opening she’d thought she wanted.

  Chloe told her legs to move, but she stayed glued against the wall. This was her chance to run, to try to gain a bit of freedom. The problem was that she didn’t have anywhere worth running to. She hated the man standing before her, and yet she was also drawn to him in a way that didn’t allow her to walk away.

  “I didn’t think you were going anywhere,” he said. Victory was radiating from him as he stepped forward again, this time his body brushing hers, his lips an inch from her own. This time it was with purpose and desire.

  Chloe now knew it was possible to hate and care for a person at the same time. Nick had brought something to life inside her, and she feared she wasn’t going to be the one to walk away from it, even if she’d had every intention of doing so. They both knew she wasn’t going anywhere.

  No matter how much she despised what he was doing to her―to the fragile relationship they’d started―she still desired him, still craved him. She wanted to pull away but she wouldn’t.

  When his finger softly rubbed her cheek, Chloe realized a tear had escaped. She hadn’t even known it was falling. His thumb wiped away the evidence of her weakness before tracing her lip. Something softened in his eyes, but he quickly pushed it away, the hardness she’d been witnessing the past few hours back in place. That was the last tear she would shed in front of him, she vowed.

  He left his thumb on her lip, and she opened her mouth. It slipped inside, and she bit down on it with enough pressure to make him feel it. Instead of the gesture angering him, she watched passion flare in his eyes.

  Of course. There was no other way for their night to end. Without sex, they were nothing. And sadly enough, she cared about him enough to want him to touch her, to want to feel that closeness she’d never felt with another.

  “You have proven repeatedly that I want you, that you can have my body whenever you command. But that’s all you’ll get of me,” she told him, needing to at least make it appear she was using him as much as he was using her.

  He smiled, not at all offended by her words. The look on his face called her a liar. She held her chin up in defiance.

  “You foolish, foolish woman. You just can’t stop lying, can you?” he said, sounding almost amused. “It’s not just sex between us. We both know it. Something is burning inside me I’ve never felt before. And I see the same thing in your face. You can lie to yourself all you want, but don’t think I will believe it,” he told her.

  Chloe was melting. She knew it was the closest she’d ever get to hearing him confess to having real feelings for her. It felt like it was enough. Soon, she vowed, she’d be strong enough to not accept anything less than everything from a man. But she wasn’t there yet.

  “We shouldn’t do this right now. Too much has been said―been done.” It was a weak attempt, but she had to say it.

  He moved in even closer. “No, we shouldn’t,” he admitted. But then his lips brushed across hers, just a whispering of skin against skin. It was perfect, and yet it wasn’t even remotely enough. Chloe shook as he pulled her into his arms, his strength and passion overwhelming her. He pressed his arousal against her, sending heat straight to her center.

  She saw the moment he decided he was done talking. And she felt relief. He leaned in and took her mouth, this time without hesitation. Anger, passion, and emotions flowed through his lips, poured through her veins.

  Chloe reached up and grabbed him. She was through fighting.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

  Control had come and gone. Nick was lost the moment his lips connected with Chloe’s. Though he was sure she had deceived him, was in fact still deceiving him, he couldn’t stop himself from wanting the connection with her, wanting to accept the lie.

  There was something so vulnerable in the way she looked at him, in the words she so carefully uttered—especially in the things she didn’t say. He’d noticed how she’d flinched at the mention of her father, saw the pain in her eyes at remembered memories.

  He tried to push past that, tried to tell himself it was an act, that she was still playing a game. But Nick wasn’t normally a hard man, and he tended to trust people. This time that trust had the potential to royally screw him, but right now he wasn’t so sure.

  As Chloe responded to him, wrapped her arms around him and held on tight, he became lost in her embrace, in the smell of her, in the soft sighs escaping her throat. He should pull back, should be the stronger of them both and walk away. But just because he should didn’t mean he was going to.

  Nick had been reckless his entire life. It’s why he didn’t fear hovering over a turbulent sea while winds threatened to pull him down. It was why he was the first to rush in as everyone else was running away. And now, he chose to stay because at least for this night he was all in. He wasn’t going anywhere, unless it was to a bedroom.

  For a brief moment he’d had the misguided notion he maintain control over himself, but as that tear had fallen down her cheek, as she’d shuddered with helplessness, he’d been lost. She didn’t realize how strong a hold she had over him. He would rather keep it that way.

  Nick had no doubt she wanted him as urgently as he desired her. It was that desperation that had sent him over the edge of any reasoning. But there was a freedom in the desire. As he allowed his body to take over, his anger faded, his sense of betrayal diminished. There was one soul focus, and that was her―pleasing her, making her cry out, loving her, finding pleasure within each other. He would get lost in her and the anxiety would fade away. And eventually he would be able to let her go.

  As Nick delved within her mouth, capturing her―taming her―making her his, his wild thoughts ceased spinning. She whimpered as his hand moved down her back, clutched her butt, and pulled her into his thickness, making sure she was aware of where this was headed. His body was pulsing with an unquenchable desire.

  Nick’s desperation increased as his fingers wound into her hair. He tugged hard, making her head fall back as he tasted his way down the smoothness of her neck. He couldn’t get enough of her smell, her heat, her flavor. He was holding on desperately, too afraid to even think about her pulling away.

  She gripped the back of his neck as her body melted against his, fully entrusting herself to him. Euphoria filled him at the trust, the desire, the need she had for him. She opened herself up, inviting him to do with her as she pleased. He became almost frantic as his hands and mouth made a trail across her skin.

  Never had Nick lost control like he losing it at this moment. But he had to bury himself in her, had to complete the connection. His body pulsed with the need to take her, to make them one, to make them inseparable. She was going to destroy him. He had no doubt about it.

  Nick’s heart thundered as he began tearing at her clothes. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he knew he should slow this down, he knew he should think about what he was doing. But that was the whole point. He didn’t want to think anymore. He wanted only to feel.

  Even if Nick did attempt to regain control, her desperation matched his own as her fingernails dug into his neck, her teeth bit his jaw, and her cries grew louder. For this moment, at least, they weren’t enemies. They were desperate to take their pain away in the only way they knew how.

  Their voices echoed through the living room as he gripped her blouse, his lips resting at the luscious V between her breasts. His tongue laved her skin. He pulled at her blouse and the material shredded, revealing her black satin bra. Pushing her arms against the wall, he leaned forward and licked the material, her nip
ples hard pebbles through the thin material.

  She tugged on her arms, but he held them tightly as his teeth scraped the satin. When he bit down, her moan vibrated through him, and he added pressure, making her writhe before him.

  Nick wanted the material out of the way, but he loved holding her in place. With his teeth, he tugged on the satin, moving it only a tiny bit. That wouldn’t do. With a growl, he gripped the small piece of satin connecting the bra’s cups and ripped the strap, releasing her beautiful, lush breasts.

  Her entire body pushed toward him as he pulled her naked nipple into his mouth and sucked it before swirling his tongue in circles around the orb of her breast. He kissed his way across the deep valley before finding her other tasty bud and sucking it deep within his mouth.

  “Nick, please . . . please let me touch you,” she cried out, her voice unrecognizable.

  In response, he sucked harder, ran his teeth across the swollen flesh, and swept his tongue in circles. She whimpered as she pulled to release her hands. Finally, he kissed his way back up her neck, pressing himself fully against her. He sucked her neck for a moment before trying to calm himself with a deep breath.

  The air was scented by her floral fragrance, and it made him light-headed instead of calm. If he didn’t have her soon, he would be on his knees begging her for release.

  “Do you want me to finish this―to bury myself inside you?” he asked. He hated himself a little for the question.

  There was no hesitation on her part. “Now.”

  He wasn’t going to ask twice. With the same urgency he’d been feeling since he saw her sitting down on his dock, her feet dangling in the water, he gripped her pants and tore the button. In seconds, she was leaning against the wall, her skin completely bare to him.

  She was vulnerable, needy, her skin flushed and hot. He’d done this to her―only him. As much as she affected him, he affected her just as much. Together they made magic happen―the same magic he’d mocked her for when she’d talked about wanting to ride unicorns. Nick couldn’t even begin to think about that. Her words remained a mystery.

  Lifting her into his arms, he quickly moved across the room and set her gloriously naked body on the cool leather of his couch. She didn’t even flinch as she lifted her arms out to him, her mouth open, her eyes bright, her hands pulling him against her.

  In awe of the beautiful display she made, he ran his hand down her perfect body. She was so silky, so firm, yet soft and lush in the right places. He could be happy doing nothing more than trailing his fingers against her skin night and day. When he reached her spread thighs, his fingers trailed down her wet heat.

  Her back arched off the coach as she moaned, reaching for his fingers as he pulled away to hover over her without touching. She whimpered her disapproval as she reached for him.

  How had he thought he could walk away without touching her again? He really wanted to believe he was doing it because he’d been deceived and he was owed this―owed her devotion to him. But he was the one worshiping her and he couldn’t even feel badly about it.

  Dropping to the floor, he leaned his head against her stomach and kissed the quivering skin. Her fingers wound into his hair as she trembled at the heat of his tongue and lips. Blazing a path of soft kisses, he reached the tight skin at the top of her heat and licked her, making her cry out as she tugged on his hair.

  He’d been molten for the past hour, but as he lazily trailed his tongue down her slick folds, his urgency dimmed. He pushed her thighs apart, gazing down at her perfection. She squirmed before him, and he gripped her hips to hold her still before leaning forward and planting kisses up her center. He sucked her swollen mass into his mouth and swept his tongue over it again and again.

  She cried out as he intimately kissed her heat before letting his tongue play in circles. He couldn’t get enough of her taste, her smell, her moans of pleasure. He felt her trembling growing, and he thrust his fingers inside her, relishing her quivering flesh as she squeezed him.

  “Let go, Chloe,” he demanded before sucking her into his mouth.

  With a scream, her body tensed before it began shaking. He sucked her flesh all throughout her orgasm, drawing it out as he drank her in. When her tremors settled, he laid his head against her stomach and closed his eyes. He wanted to give her pleasure beyond anything she could feel with another. He wanted it to just be the two of them.

  That terrified him because he knew it could never be.

  Before Nick was able to think too much more, he rose and quickly discarded his clothing. Chloe’s eyes were half lidded, and she wore a pleasured little smile on her lips. He should walk away right now.

  She held up an arm, inviting him to her, and he knew leaving had been a foolish thought. There was no way he was walking away―not right then.

  With a gentleness he hadn’t known he was capable of feeling during sex, Nick climbed on top of her, settling himself between her thighs. He pressed himself against her, pushing his hips against hers.

  As the tip of him pushed inside her, her eyes shot open, and he found himself getting lost in her gaze. Her expression was glazed and happy, and desire was still sparking there.

  With a slow, burning thrust, he buried himself within her. She gasped as her back arched up, her arms coming around him to pull him closer. Their lips connected, and he felt complete.

  Time stopped having any meaning as he pulled back and slipped inside her body. Their gazed remained locked together as he slowly built their passion, their skin flushed, their bodies tightening. He didn’t want it to end, feared what would happen when it was over.

  But as he moved within her, there was no stopping the climax. She squeezed him and her moan was lost on his tongue. He let it all go, filling her with his seed, collapsing against her as he gave her everything he had.

  Nick was spent. The chaotic, emotional roller-coaster ride he’d been on the entire day had ended in a way he hadn’t expected. Shifting to his side, he pulled her into his arms while grabbing the blanket off the back of the couch.

  He closed his eyes with her head tucked beneath his chin. All of their problems would be there when they woke. For this moment, he wanted to think only of the pleasure they’d given one another. Tomorrow would come soon enough.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

  Nick and Chloe didn’t say a single thing after they woke up. He was almost scared of what her opinion of the events would be, and he figured it might be the same for her. Normally Nick wasn’t a man to fear anything. But when it came to Chloe, he had to admit he was afraid of losing what they’d created.

  Sitting in the kitchen, he looked up when she came into the room, moving slowly to the coffeepot and pouring herself a cup. Her shoulders tensed before she turned to face him. They gazed at one another, questions silently blazing across the space between them with no words uttered.

  Nick wasn’t sure how to break the moment. Damn, he hated feeling this way. When the phone rang, Chloe jumped. Nick just barely managed to keep himself from doing the same.

  “Nick,” he said as he picked it up.

  “It’s Paul, we have a meeting with the judge in three hours,” Paul said without bothering with hellos.

  “About?” Nick asked. His eyes never strayed from Chloe’s. He couldn’t read whatever it was in her eyes.

  “It seems your uncle Sherman has managed to schedule it.”

  “You aren’t inspiring confidence, Paul. Do you have a little more information?” Nick snapped.

  “Just be at the courthouse in two hours so we can meet beforehand,” Paul told him.

  “Got it.” Nick hung up. Chloe hadn’t moved.

  “I should get going, Nick,” she said, her tone void of emotion.

  “Maybe,” he said. The single word made her flinch, and he found himself feeling a bit guilty about it, though he didn’t understand why. There was no reason for that. “I have an appointment at the courthouse. I’d like you to come with me.”

  Nick was almost as s
tunned as she obviously was when those words came out of his mouth. Why was he taking her down there? Especially with an almost certain knowledge she was working with her father. Maybe it was because a part of him wanted it to not be true.

  “I don’t think that’s a good idea, Nick,” she said softly.

  “Is there a reason you shouldn’t go with me?” he prodded.

  She looked down, and he wanted to demand she look him in the eyes, but he forced himself to stay where he sat. She took in a few deep breaths before looking up again, but this time she didn’t quite meet his gaze.

  “No reason,” she said, her cheeks turning a bit red as she chewed on her bottom lip.

  “Good, then it’s settled. I’m going to shower.” He got up and walked away before he said something he might regret later.

  Nick avoided Chloe until it was time to go. He was a little surprised when he found her at the front door, clutching her purse in front of her as she shifted from foot to foot. This time she didn’t argue when he walked to his old reliable truck and held open the passenger door. Instead, she slipped inside, practically pressing her body to the door when he came around to the driver’s side.

  Though the ride there was uneventful, Nick’s muscles were tense as they parked and made their way inside the marble building. Chloe walked beside him, silent and chewing on her lip. Maybe he’d insisted on her joining him because he feared she wouldn’t be there when he got back. It was inevitable that was going to happen anyway, but for some reason he wasn’t yet ready to let it happen.

  “Nick.” The familiar voice of his uncle calling out to him pulled him from his thoughts.

  Sherman, Cooper, and Mav were walking toward him. He met them in the middle, and they exchanged hellos, the atmosphere full of tension.

  “What’s going on, Uncle Sherman?” Nick asked.

  “Let’s have a chat in private,” Sherman said.

  “I’ll go and get coffee,” Chloe told him.

  Nick didn’t try to stop her as he moved in the other direction with his uncle and brothers. They found a waiting room, and Mav shut the door once they were all inside.