Hale Series Boxed Set

by Marie James

  I smile up at him and I feel the car slow down. Outside the windows of the limo are hordes of people, waiting rather impatiently to see who’s going to exit the car. You’d think this is the Academy Awards or something rather than a charity gala, but I guess the more prestige, the higher the donations. Rich people sure do love to outdo one another.

  The driver has exited the car and has made his way around to open our door. Ian steps out first and holds his hand down to me. Well here goes nothing!

  I clasp his hand and step out of the car begging myself to not stumble in my heels, if only to leave them unscuffed. These red soled bad boys were borrowed from Alexa and as much as she loves me I believe her when she said she’d kill me if they were returned in any form of diminished capacity from which they left the apartment.

  The walk down the red carpet, yes there’s an actual red carpet, goes by in a hail of flashes and shouts. My head is spinning and I’m anxious to get out of the line of fire, desperately begging for some celebrity to pull up next and take the attention from us. We stand for pictures before the press line and all I can hear are shouts about who we each are wearing and demands for my name and who I am to Ian. It’s all rather embarrassing.

  One extremely loud reported yells “Who are you with tonight, Ian?” He’s almost too loud to ignore, but I turn towards Ian ready to move on. He pulls me closer to him, smiling down at him and addresses the overly eager man.

  “This is Lorali Bennett, my girlfriend.” A collective gasp from the crowd. They know the significance of this declaration. They know it’s one never spoken from his lips in public before.

  My entire world stops. Holy shit. Did he just say my name and girlfriend in the same sentence?

  Chapter 39

  Ian

  The change in Lorali is immediate after making my declaration to the press. What amazes me is not only her confusion on what we are and where we’re headed, but also my drive to make people understand that she’s mine. I don’t know if it was more for my benefit and letting people know she’s off limits or to help her understand that she’s important to me and not some dirty little secret that I plan to keep stashed away.

  I’ve never seen her smile so completely and from the looks of it nothing will make it go away any time soon. My focus is on her one hundred percent tonight. I want nothing more than to dance with her, show her a good time, and take her home and show her with more than words what she’s beginning to mean to me.

  We check our coats, each grab a flute of champagne, and begin to make our way around the room. I hate the fact that we have to mingle before we can start our evening of dancing. Lorali blends in perfectly, making small talk and answering questions about work. She’s practically beaming and I pray that her warm welcome eases some of her fears about being a part of the world I’ve come to embrace.

  Actually, my hand on her bare back makes me want to ditch the entire event all together and get her under me, but this is something she needs. She needs to know I want her by my side in public, and she’s drinking it all in.

  Finally we get the chance to be alone after a little over an hour of working the room. I can’t be bitter, I’m grateful for this group of people; many of them are the same ones that donated weeks ago to Safe House.

  “Are you having a good time?” I look down at her as we sway gently to the music.

  “I am. Thank you for inviting me. It sure beats standing on the sidelines and watching everyone else. I feel like less of an interloper this way.” She lays her head against my chest.

  “I want you with me all the time, Lorali. There’s no one else I’d rather be with here tonight.” She keeps her head on my chest but her arms grip me a little tighter around my waist.

  We sway to the music a bit longer before she lifts her head. I can tell she has something she wants to say but I can also see her battling with herself over whether or not she should say what’s on her mind. She looks in my eyes, but instead of speaking she lays her head back on my chest.

  “What is it?” I can feel her shake her head softly against my body as if she’s saying “nothing.”

  “I know there’s something you want to say, Lorali.” I reach down and gently hold her chin up, forcing her to look at me. “Please never feel like you can’t say things to me when you need to.”

  She swallows. “Girlfriend, huh?”

  “Yeah, I mean…I hope so….” Why am I nervous? Maybe because I’ve never declared someone as a girlfriend. I’ve never met a woman who I would’ve even wanted others to make that conclusion on their own, much less voice the correlation myself. With her, I want to shout it from the top of the Wells Fargo Building! “So?”

  “Are you asking now, after you blasted it around the world?” She’s grinning at me and I know I have her.

  I chuckle. “It’s looking that way. Makes it harder for you to deny me.”

  “Well I wouldn’t want to do that!” She reaches up and places a chaste kiss on my lips.

  “So, yeah?” She still hasn’t answered me.

  “Yeah!” I kiss her full blown with no regard for our current location or company.

  Chapter 40

  Lorali

  Girlfriend? Girlfriend! I feel guilty for even questioning his intentions. I’m on cloud nine with his announcement. The evening has gone perfectly. The people here have been welcoming, speaking to me as if I belong, as if I’m one of them. I no longer feel nervous or out of place.

  We’ve danced to practically every song that the band has played. I use the term danced lightly, Ian has dragged me around the room. He continues to reassure me that I’m doing fine and loves holding me in his arms, but I feel clumsy and inelegant next to his mastered skills.

  I’ve had a wonderful time, but I’m ready to get down to the things that would be highly frowned upon should they happen in the middle of this dance floor.

  I look up at him seductively, my lower lip clamped lightly between my teeth. “How much longer do we need to stay?” I ask in my most breathy voice.

  “You getting tired?” He looks down at me.

  I shake my head no and smile.

  A grin moves across his face, those dimples only increasing my desire for him. “What do you have in mind if we leave?”

  I know this is not the time or the place to tell him in detail what I plan on doing to him, what I hope he does to me when we leave; not unless I want to be taken against a wall somewhere in the dark. I’m afraid we set precedence with the tango at the club and we both know our inability to walk away once we get past a certain point.

  “The list is too long to discuss in mixed company.” He pulls me tighter to him and I can feel him lengthen against my stomach. Apparently he can guess!

  “Is that so?” I nod my head and lick my lips.

  “Well then, let’s take this someplace quiet so we can discuss the details of our impending evening.” He winks at me, shoots a text to his driver, and leads me across the room to grab our coats.

  By the time we make it outside, the crowd has cleared and our driver is waiting by the car; he opens the door when we approach. No words are exchanged between Ian and the driver, so arrangements must have been made prior to me being picked up earlier this evening.

  No sooner is the back door closed; Ian is all over me, my coat being stripped off and he throws it haphazardly to the floor of the car. He has me laid out on the seat and his body is over mine. His actions are hurried, but once he has me where he wants me they slow to a snail’s pace.

  He looks down at me lovingly. His lips lightly rub across mine over and over. He’s taking calming breaths, like he’s just realized where we are and he knows after the declaration he made this evening, this is not how things should go. In this moment he has my entire heart, his ability to control the needs of his flesh, the demands of his body, in order to secure our bond on more than an animalistic level, has me falling for him all over again.

  My mouth is covered in passionate kisses. He’s on his elbows above me
and his hands cup my face, his warm thumbs softly rubbing circles on my cheeks. His hips slowly rotating, his intentions and plans for later are caressing the apex of my thighs and I moan, my head begging for the driver to hurry to his destination, where ever that may be.

  His mouth is so talented and so thorough I’m certain that, combined with the relentless grind of his erection against my throbbing clit, he’ll bring me to climax before we even reach a bed. I’m breathless and panting all at the same time once he pulls away from my mouth. My body is quivering under him and I struggle to regain focus once I realize the car has stopped and the way he’s looking at me says that he should just dismiss the driver and this car will be our bed for the next day or so. I just want to nod and agree but the sheen of sweat covering my body, brought on by the onslaught of the ardent make out session has me sticking to the leather of the seat.

  “You may have to carry me inside.” I grin up at him trying to take the edge off enough so we can at least get inside before we start again. “Where are we?”

  “My house. I can carry you in, not like I didn’t have to the last time you rode home with me.” He winks at me.

  “Well, if it’s an issue I can go to sleep and leave you waiting again.” I smirk up at him, thankful for the banter. I sincerely think he’s using this time to calm his raging erection, which seems to have no desire to go anywhere.

  “Lorali.” He rumbles, all playfulness gone. “You’ll not leave me waiting again. You can try to go to sleep, but there’ll be no way you can stay asleep with what I plan to do to your body.”

  “Oh!” His eyes are gleaming and the promises of pleasure and the unknown leave me a shaking mess. I can’t get out of the car fast enough.

  ***

  Once inside I excuse myself to the restroom. Why do I feel anxious? I’m sure it has to do with his acknowledgement to the public and myself that we were in fact a couple and not just two people enjoying each other sexually. I’m ecstatic and giddy and I just want to dance around the bathroom in celebration.

  Could he possibly have the same feelings for me that I do for him? Is it possible that he loves me too? I’m not even going to push the issue. I’m not naive enough to think that just because he’s declared himself my boyfriend and effectively warned all other men away from me that it means he loves me. But maybe in time.

  Having calmed my nerves as best as I can I step out of the restroom and go in search of Ian. He isn’t in the kitchen or living room. I head for his bedroom since this is the only other place in this huge house I’ve been.

  Crossing the threshold into his room I see candles lit all around the room. Not so many that it’d be a fire hazard but enough to set the romantic ambiance that’s perfect for this evening. It is Valentine’s Day after all.

  Ian turns towards me after lighting the last candle.

  “Hi.” I breathe all shyness returning. We’ve had sex so many times but it’s never felt like this. We’ve made love, slowly and passionately, but this feels like it has a level of expectancy that I’m unsure how to interpret.

  “Hey.” He drawls walking towards me with full confidence in his stride. Well he seems to know what’s going on so I’ll let him take the lead.

  He caresses my shoulder, his finger trailing down from my ear, down my neck, across my shoulder and down my arm. He walks behind me and my body trembles, his slow inspection causing my nerves to skyrocket. Standing behind me he traces his finger from the shoulder strap of my dress all the way down my back to the top of my buttocks where the fire engine red fabric ends, his delicate touch stimulating every hair follicle on my body.

  “This dress has had my cock at attention since the moment I saw you in your apartment,” he whispers in my ear and feathers light kisses on my neck. “Do you know how hard it is to smile and make small talk when you’re trying to hide an erection?”

  I smile, loving that my body has that effect on him. “Probably as hard as walking around with my thighs sliding against each other because looking at you has left me drenched.”

  I hear him chuckle behind me. “Seems we’re both in a sad state.”

  He’s pushed my hair over my right shoulder and is gently licking and kissing my neck and shoulder. His hands slowly reach up and pull my dress straps down my arms. The gown falls from my body and pools around my feet.

  A low growl leaves Ian’s throat the moment he realizes I’ve had nothing on all night but the dress and the heels.

  “Jesus, Lorali.” His breathing is more ragged. His touch has more of an edge to it. His control is obviously teetering on the edge.

  “Yes?” I turn around to face him, looking up at him with a wicked grin. His response is delayed so I reach up and begin to unbutton his shirt. Kissing his chest each time a button is relieved of its duty. It feels like it’s taking forever to get through the million buttons on his shirt and my patience is limited. I grab each side of the shirt and rip it open, praying he doesn’t have some sort of special connection to it. I look up at him as the remaining buttons scatter across the floor. He’s just looking down at me with a grin on his face.

  “In a hurry, baby?” I nod at him and press my hot tongue against his flat nipple while my hands work on the buttons and zipper of his pants.

  His pants and his briefs simultaneously hit the floor and he lifts me up, my legs instinctively wrapping around his waist.

  “How do you want me, Lorali? Rough or soft?” He’s sucking on my ear and walking us to the bed, his hands under my ass and dangerously close to my center.

  “Yes, please!” He chuckles then throws me on the bed. I lean back on the mass of pillows and watch as he stalks up my body like a lion sneaking up on its prey.

  “Both? Feeling greedy tonight?” He kisses my calf, his eyes never leaving mine.

  Ah! How does a light nibble on my leg feel so erotic? “Yes and generous. I expect you to take what you need.” My head is thrown back once his tongue hits that hot spot behind my knee. I’m unable to hold in the moans his touch is eliciting.

  I’m a panting mess once his mouth is hovering over my pussy but I can’t take my eyes off of him. He’s definitely savoring this as much as I am; his pleasure stemming from the pleasure he’s giving me.

  “How about we start slow?” His tongue swipes my folds, his mouth landing on my clit, giving it a quick suck before he pulls his head away and continues speaking. “Then I fuck you into oblivion?”

  My thighs are against his shoulders and my calves pull up of their own volition as if saying Enough talk, more action. NOW!

  I feel him grin against my heat. “Slow down, baby. We have the next two days. We have to pace ourselves if you don’t want to go to work Tuesday in a wheelchair.”

  His mouth is moving torturously slow over my cleft. Purposefully avoiding contact with my throbbing clit, his tongue explores my body inside and out. Even though he’s yet to pay the much desired attention to my clit, I can still feel the climax slowly creeping up. I try without success to move my hips, attempting to force his mouth where I need him most. Just as my insides start to quicken his mouth is gone.

  My eyes shoot open and I glare at him. “What the fuck, Ian?” The words leave my mouth before I even realize what I’m saying.

  His eyes are wide open in shock. I know he’s trying to torture me with anticipation, but he had no idea I’d react this way. I can see it in his eyes.

  “Such language, Ms. Bennett!” His full on smile helps my frustration fade away.

  “Why? Why are you doing this to me?” My voice is shaking and my center is throbbing, empty, begging to be filled and satisfied.

  “You don’t want to be teased?” He blows a stream of cold air over my pussy.

  I shudder. “No! I want to come!”

  He grins at me, “Yes, ma’am!”

  No sooner are the words out and his mouth is on me licking, sucking, and his fingers are in me, curved to the front, stroking that oh so sweet spot. Seconds is all it takes for my body to convulse and I�
�m exploding around him. My eyes lose focus as wave after wave of release takes over my body. His fingers continue to stroke me inside and his mouth continues to lap at me as my orgasm slowly subsides.

  Ian leaves a trail of hot, wet kisses up my body until his body is aligned with mine, paying extra attention to my budded nipples. I felt sated until his hot mouth and flicking tongue began their assault on my breasts.

  Ian leans in and takes my mouth with his, our tongues massaging each other’s. He bites my bottom lip and drags it through his teeth. Looking down at me he releases a heavy sigh causing me to open my eyes.

  “Baby.” He looks somewhat distraught. “We have to stop.”

  I stare up at him like he’s lost his mind. “That’s not funny, Ian.” I swivel my hips grinding my dripping pussy against his eager cock.

  He hisses suddenly and rolls off of me, his forearm covering his eyes. “Do you remember why we didn’t have sex right before I left your apartment last Monday?”

  “Yeah, we had used all of the…you didn’t buy condoms!?” I’m glaring at him.

  He doesn’t even take his arm away from his face but I can see the slight shake of his head. “I’ve been so busy this week. Fuck! I can’t believe this!”

  We sit in silence for several long minutes before he speaks again. “Are you on something?”

  “Like birth control?” He’s looking at me expectantly and he nods. “Yes. I have been for years.”

  He gets a huge grin on his face. “I’m clean. I mean I haven’t been with anyone but you since my last check-up.”

  “You’re suggesting that we…” I know he can see the look of pure surprise on my face.

  “Go bareback? Yes. I mean if you’re clean and on the pill.” His large hand is squeezing and releasing my thigh.

  “You sure?” He tilts his head to the side trying to gauge which direction I’m leaning, and then nods his head.

  “Yes.” He whispers. He sits back up and crawls over me, forcing me to lay back, my legs open to him to accommodate the width of his thighs. “And it’s Valentine’s Day, so I’m not going to stop fucking you until your entire body is shaking.”