by Piper Rayne
“Thank you.” She handed me the now empty glass. “Can we go?” She glanced around, and froze. I watched as her face transformed into a mask of defiance when she saw something over my shoulder.
Slowly, I turned to see Janine Lister and Bitsy Neville emerge from the hallway and the ladies’ room, where Abigail had just returned from. And it all made sense.
“How does that song go?” I grinned. An idea that would achieve more than one thing formed in my head.
She turned toward me and tilted her head in question so her hair cascaded over her bare shoulder enticingly.
“Let’s give them something to talk about.”
Before she could reply, I took her hand and with the other pressed against her back, I led her to the dance floor, where I pulled her scandalously close. For the next few songs, I spun, dipped, and moved my gorgeous date all around the dance floor, until I was certain every person in the place was watching us. Not that I knew for sure, because I never once took my eyes off hers.
When the band started to play a slow song, I pulled Abigail even closer, and slid my hand lower down her back until it rested just over the swell of her ass. “Feel better?”
She smiled, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “A little.”
“Do I have more work to do?” I teased. “I could spin you—”
“Why are we here, Phillip?”
Her question caught me off guard and I stumbled. But only a little.
I had a choice. I could give her the glib response. The easy answer. The one that suggested she was here because she owed me. But we both knew that wasn’t true.
We both knew it last night in my office when my lips were on hers, my hands all over her, my need for her almost completely out of control. There was no more pretending.
No more hiding.
“Why do you think you’re here?”
Abigail pulled away a little, but didn’t hesitate with her answer. “Honestly? I don’t know anymore.” For the first time that I could remember, Abigail looked vulnerable and unsure. It took the breath from my lungs. “I thought I knew, but…I’m so confused, Phillip.” Her feet stopped moving and we stood, unmoving on the dance floor. “I thought maybe…but last night, you—”
“Deserved so much more.”
“That doesn’t make sense.”
“It makes perfect sense, Abigail,” I murmured in her ear as I pulled her close to me again. With my other hand, I tilted her chin up to look at me. “You deserve so much more than a quick fuck on top of my desk.” She startled in my arms at my brash language. Good. I liked to keep her guessing. “So much. You deserve to be loved and cherished and…” I swallowed hard and made sure she was listening carefully, because I could only say it once. “You deserve the truth, Abigail.”
“The truth?”
I nodded slightly, but didn’t hesitate or stumble over the words I’d been waiting far too long to say. “The truth is, I love you, Abigail. I always have.” And then I kissed her. Because it was the only thing I could think to do.
He loved me.
Always had.
And he was kissing me. Right there in the middle of the ballroom, with everyone watching. Right out in the open. Like it didn’t matter.
Like they didn’t matter.
Like I was the only one who mattered. Because he loved me.
He. Loved. Me.
Hearing the words filled empty spaces in me I didn’t even know existed. It took me a few seconds to catch up to what was happening, but when I did, my entire body responded to him. I pressed closer to him, and let his mouth consume mine. His hand left my chin and twisted through my hair, holding my head in place—as if I would go anywhere.
Never again.
I pulled away from the kiss, but just a little. “Why?” It was an incomplete question. I swallowed hard, and tried again. “All those years ago,” I started and saw the realization flash in his eyes, “why did you walk away?”
He squeezed his eyes shut for a second, but he was still listening.
“Why didn’t you fight for me?”
I don’t think I realized how much I needed the answer. But when Phillip opened his eyes and looked at me, I knew how badly I needed to hear his explanation.
His arms remained wrapped tight around me. “It was the biggest mistake of my life, Abigail. I’ve regretted it every single day since.”
“That’s not an answer.”
“I don’t have an answer that is worthy of you.” His head dipped. “Because I wasn’t worthy of you.” His words caused a stab of physical pain, but I forced myself to hear him out. “Daniel always got what he wanted. Ever since we were boys. And he wanted you.” He shook his head a little. “So, I just assumed he’d get you, too. Once he set his sights on you, I knew it was only a matter of time, so I backed off. By the time I realized how much I loved you, and that I should have fought for you, I wanted more than anything to race to the ends of the earth to win you back, but I couldn’t.”
I could see the pain in his eyes, but it didn’t make any sense. “But why not?”
“Like I said, I wasn’t worthy of you.” He offered me a small smile. “You didn’t deserve a man who only realized his feelings after the fact. You deserved a man who was strong enough to know his heart from the outset. So I let you go.”
Damn.
But Phillip wasn’t done. “I’ve spent the last fifteen years working to be the man worthy of you, Abigail. I would slay dragons for you, and that includes anyone in this room.” He smirked, and I burst out laughing at the idea of Janine and Bitsy as dragons. It wasn’t far off. “I just hope like hell you feel the same way about me, and…”
“And what?” I tipped my head and bit my bottom lip a little, causing him to emit a low groan only I could hear.
“Judging by the way you kissed me, I’m going to go out on a limb and say that you feel exactly the same way.”
Damn, he was cocky.
But he was right.
I leaned in until my breasts were pressed up against his chest, and I whispered in his ear. “Take me home, Phillip.”
Chapter Seven
The moment the door closed behind us, I had her pressed up against the solid oak and my mouth on hers.
She moaned as I slipped my hand up her side and cupped her breast through the silky dress. It was thin fabric, but it was too much between us. My hands found the zipper on her back and tugged, but it wouldn’t move.
“Here, I’ll…” Abigail shimmied and offered to help, but I was far too impatient.
I gripped the edge of the dress and pulled. The silky fabric tore away easily and she gasped.
“Phillip, the—”
“It’s just a dress.” I was finally able to take a good look at her free of the garment and groaned. “I’ll buy you another one. Hell, I’ll buy you a hundred—” The words died on my lips.
I was completely speechless at her beauty.
Literally nothing in the world compared to the pure beauty of the woman I was desperately in love with, standing before me, her skin flushed with passion, her breasts heaving with every breath, her lips parted just a little, yearning for another kiss…fuck.
I licked my lips and took in a deep breath, trying to give myself just one more moment to look at her. Drink in the sight of her. Every. Single. Inch.
“Phillip?”
I didn’t answer. Instead, I let my gaze travel slowly up the length of her. She still wore her heels, the dress in shreds in a pool of blue silk at her feet. Her legs were lean and long, leading to curvy hips that begged to be held. But her sinful curves didn’t end there. Hell, they were only just beginning. Her breasts, round and full, were the perfect size. My fingers flexed with the need to caress her. Finally, my eyes met Abigail’s.
Her pupils were dilated with desire. She leaned back against the wall seductively, crooked a finger, and beckoned me to her.
Before I went to her, I shed my jacket and tie, and stepped toward her. I was done waiting. I pull
ed her toward me and kissed her deeply. Her knees buckled a little, but I held her fast. She wasn’t getting away from me. Never again.
“I want to take my time with you, Abigail.” My words were rough against her neck as my kisses traveled lower. I needed to taste all of her. I needed every part of her.
She groaned as my fingers tore at her bra, leaving it, too, in tatters so I could finally have access to her breasts. I cupped and kneaded her soft flesh. I needed this woman as badly as I needed air to breathe.
“No,” Abigail moaned into my ear.
My hand froze right as my fingers slipped under the elastic of her panties.
I shifted so I could look in her eyes. “You want me to stop?”
Her face transformed immediately. Her mouth opened and her eyes widened. “No! I mean, no. Don’t stop. And for the love of God, do not take your time with me, Phillip.” She grabbed my collar and pulled me to her, hard.
Clarity restored, there was no slowing down. Everything sped up.
Abigail’s hands clawed at my clothes, until I was naked, my hard erection pressed up against her soft belly. Our hands grabbed and slid all over the other, as if we needed to relearn each other’s bodies, which we did. And at the same time, learn them for the very first time. In the very best way.
“I’m not going to make it to the bedroom, Abigail.” With my hand wrapped in her hair, I tipped her head back and bit and sucked at her throat until she squirmed beneath my attentions. With my free hand, I slipped it between her legs, and she cried out.
She wasn’t going to make it either.
Abigail lifted her head and when our eyes met, I knew it was true. We needed this now.
Without another second of hesitation, I scooped her up easily, cupping her ass in my hands, and she wrapped her legs around my waist as I pressed her up against the wall.
“Yes, Phillip. Yes.” She moaned and arched her back as I lifted her and poised my hard length, ready to finally have what we’d both been wanting and needing for far too long. But I couldn’t.
Not yet. I needed more.
She sensed my hesitation and her eyes opened in question.
“Abigail. I can’t do this.”
What?
I wanted to scream. I wanted to cry. And it wasn’t just about sexual frustration. It was so much more.
“Phillip, I—”
“I love you, Abigail.”
I froze. He’d said that earlier at the club.
“And I want this,” he continued. “I want you.”
Confusion flooded through me. We were doing this. What was the problem?
“I want you, too, Phillip.” I tried again, to wiggle in his grip. “I think that much is clear.”
His lips twitched up into a grin. “That’s not enough, Abigail. That will never be enough.”
“Phillip?”
“I want all of you, Abigail. Or nothing at all.”
This man was going to be the very death of me. I reached out and grabbed his chin in my hand so he was looking me directly in the eye. It was my turn to hold him firm. “Phillip.” I kept my voice level despite the flood of feelings crashing through me, never mind the intense waves of desire that were only barely being held at bay. “I’m only going to say this once, so please listen carefully.” I took a quick breath. “You do have all of me. I know now that you always have.”
I felt every word deep in my heart. The last few days, being with Phillip—no matter how it came to be—had been the greatest gift I could have ever had. And if it meant going through everything all over again, I’d do it. Every. Single. Time.
Phillip’s grip on me shifted. But still…he wasn’t giving us both what we wanted. What we needed.
“It’s not enough, Abigail.”
I wanted to scream. My body ached for him. I needed him like I’d never needed anything or anyone in my whole life. Hot tears built in my eyes. I was going to cry. Oh God, no. I couldn’t cry. Not now.
“Phillip.” I leaned my face as close as I could to his until our lips almost touched. “I need you. I’ve always needed you. It’s always been you, Phillip. It always will be you.” I swallowed hard. “I love you, Phillip.”
A combination of a groan and a sob sounded between us. I couldn’t be sure who made the sound, or whether it was a mixture of the two of us. Not that it mattered, because a second later, the only thing that mattered was that Phillip had shifted our bodies and just like that, he was inside me. His hard length filled me completely and perfectly. Like a puzzle that had finally, after far too long, found its final, missing piece.
I gasped out of relief and need and…love for this man.
I released my grip on his chin so I could hold him closer to me, my palms pressed flat on his smooth back as he thrust inside me.
“I love you, Phillip.” Every time the words slipped from my lips, they felt better than the time before.
He groaned and increased his pace, kissing me hard. There would be time for exploring each other later, for making love and keeping it slow and tender.
For now, the only thing that mattered was this union that had been far too long in the making.
“Say it again.” His voice was gruff as he pulled his lips from mine.
“I love you.”
He groaned and his hands tightened their grip on my bottom.
“Again.”
“I love you.” My climax was building within me. Fast. My thighs trembled around him.
“I love you, Abigail.” He caught my mouth in another kiss and pressed my back harder against the wall.
I tightened my legs around him and matched him thrust for thrust.
“One more time,” he demanded.
“I love you, Phillip.” The words had barely slipped from my lips when my orgasm crashed through me. I tipped my head back and cried out as Phillip took his own release with a long, low growl.
Chapter Eight
Somehow we’d managed to move from the foyer and into the master bedroom, where this time I took my time with Abigail—kissing her, touching her, and exploring every inch of her beautiful body, even more luscious now than when I’d first met her.
She’d fallen asleep at some point after we’d made love again, but she stirred now in her sleep. I rolled over on one elbow and watched as her eyelids fluttered open. The moment she registered me there, watching her, a small smile traveled over her lips.
“So, I wasn’t dreaming it?”
I traced a finger up her belly, between her breasts, and bent over to press a tender kiss to her lips. “Wide awake, sweetheart.”
“Good.” She stretched her arms up over her head and groaned a little. “I’m sore all over.” My smile dipped but then she flipped over to her side and grinned. “And I love it.”
“You know what I love?”
Her eyes twinkled. “Me?”
“I was going to say breakfast in bed,” I teased. “But yes, you.” I moved quickly so she was once again flat on her back and I was overtop her, caging her in with my arms. “I do love you very much.” Our slow kiss stirred me to life again. I didn’t think I would ever tire of her now that I had her. I nudged her legs apart with my knee, and Abigail arched her back up to meet me.
We were the perfect match.
She groaned low and long as I entered her exquisitely slowly.
We made love lazily, taking our time until I could feel both of us reaching yet another climax. I kissed her deep, twisting my tongue with hers as we both moaned our release and finally rolled apart.
“Mmm, and I do love doing that.” I tucked my hand under the pillow. If I dared touch her again, we’d never leave this bed. Not that there’d be anything wrong with that, but Abigail might want breakfast sooner or later, and she would need to keep her strength up.
Right on cue, her stomach growled. Loud.
She laughed. “What was it that you were saying about breakfast?”
Reluctantly, I rolled from bed to text Mrs. Mclean our breakfast order.
“What?” I spun on my heel and stared at her, the breakfast order forgotten. “What did you say?”
“I need to get going home.” She smiled, a little unsure. “I mean, you did just say the weekend, and I have things I need to take care of. I work in the—”
“No.” In two quick strides, I was across the room and sitting on the bed in front of her. “Abigail, no.”
“No?” Her voice shook. “What do you mean?”
“Did you mean what you said last night?” I was so sure of the answer. I felt it in my bones. But now, with the bright light of the morning, I needed to be sure she’d meant it when she’d said those words. That she hadn’t just said them in the moment. I needed to know without any uncertainty at all that Abigail Blakely loved me. “Tell me the truth. Did you mean it?”
“Did I mean it when I told you I loved you?”
I nodded.
“Phillip! How can you even ask me that?”
“I need to know, Abigail. Did you—”
“Of course I meant it.” She shook her head as if she couldn’t make sense of me or what I was saying, which was probably fairly accurate. “I love you, Phillip.”
“And I love you. So don’t leave.”
She laughed a little. “Just because I love you doesn’t mean I don’t have a life and a—”
“That’s what I’m saying.” I had to speak quickly while it made sense in my head. “We’ve wasted so much time already. I know how I feel, and if you know how you feel, then let’s do this.”
“This?”
“You and me.” I grabbed her hands. “The way it always should have been.”
“Are you asking me to marry you?” There was a teasing tone in her voice, but I didn’t laugh.
“I will,” I told her confidently. “But for now, move in with me. Be with me. The way we always should have been together.”