She placed her hand on his thigh, and he held his breath. Jesus, she felt like heaven.
He was going to have to go for honesty here because if he lied and blamed it on the weather she might do something dangerous and rub his thigh. His cock perked up at that. Bastard. “I’m fine,” he croaked out. “The roads aren’t that bad. I just need to get my mind off of doing really dirty things to you and I’ll be fine.”
“Oh,” she said on a breath, and then from the corner of his eye, he saw her look down at her hand and pull it away quickly. “Sorry.”
“Don’t be. I love you touching me, but unless you want me to pull over right now, let’s wait the next two minutes of driving to get home, okay?”
“Okay.”
They pulled up to his home, and he turned off the car, his body not relaxing in the slightest. Jesus, what were they doing? Were they going to jump on each other the moment they walked in? Was that what she wanted? Damn, they were going to have to talk.
Rina opened her door and shuffled to the house, and he followed right behind her. He watched as her short dress hugged her ass, and he barely held back the urge to grip it in his hands and bend her over the porch railing. It was a bit too cold for that, and he didn’t think his dick would like the outdoors in this weather. Plus, they needed to talk. Yeah, that.
They got into the house, took off their coats, and stood awkwardly in the foyer.
“So,” Rina said as she bit her lip.
Damn, he wanted to be the one to bite her lip. No, he had to get his priorities straight.
“I think we should talk,” he blurted out. Oh, yeah, smooth, Romeo.
“Oh, okay.” Her voice sounded so dejected that he wanted to kick himself.
He made it to her in two strides and framed her face in his hands. “I want you, Rina. So bad it hurts.” She pulled back a bit and looked down at his cock straining his pants, and he let out a hollow laugh. “Yes, that hurts, too, but I was talking about the fact that it hurts here.” He released her face and pressed her hand to his chest above his heart. Her eyes widened, and he let out a deep breath.
“Why would you hurt there?” she whispered.
“Because every time I look at you, I see more. I don’t understand it, Rina. I hardly know you, and we’re both working at a new thing in our lives, and it’s crazy. But, I want you, Rina. I like the thought of you in my home, under my roof. Last night, when you were in the guest room, so close to me that it would only take a few short steps to have you in my arms, I couldn’t sleep. I don’t just want you so I can make love to you. I want you for more than that, but I don’t know what.”
He’d never been so open and honest with anyone in his life, and he was freaking himself out. Why did he want this woman? Yes, she was beautiful and kind, but he’d never wanted to think about a home with another woman. What was it about Rina, and why was it moving so fast?
She pulled back from him, and he grew cold.
Fuck.
He’d opened himself up, and she was going to reject him. He fisted his hands and tried to seal off his heart again.
“Justin…”
“No, it’s okay. I’m sorry I said anything. I’m going to make hot chocolate before dinner. You want anything?” He turned from her, unable to look at the woman who was about to take his heart and not want it or worse, tear it into shreds.
“Justin, wait. Let me talk.” She placed her hand on his elbow, and he stopped and turned toward her, unable to move any farther. What was it about this woman that made him crazy?
“What is it, Rina?”
“I like you, Justin. I really do.”
“I’m sorry I made you uncomfortable.”
“Oh, shut up! Let me talk.”
He widened his eyes and smiled. He loved when she got feisty. “Okay.”
“That’s not shutting up.”
He closed his mouth and tried not to smile again. He failed.
“I like you, Justin,” she repeated. “I like you too much I think. No, don’t speak yet,” she added when he opened his mouth. “I know everything is crazy with Jack and your new job, but we can figure that out. What we can’t figure out is what I’m going to do, Justin. I may not be your assistant forever. Don’t you understand that? I’ll have to move to back to the North Pole. I don’t want to start anything that could break us. I’m not strong enough for that.”
The thought of her leaving sent ice through his veins. No, she couldn’t leave. Not when he’d just found her. She’d settled too deep within him for him to be able to let go. It might have been just the residual of the magic running through their veins, but if so, that was just the beginning. He loved the way she laughed, the way she took charge, the way he could picture her in his—no, their—future. He wanted her. Needed her.
He took the last step toward her and rubbed his hands down her arms. “I don’t want you to go.”
She sighed and leaned to rest her head against his chest. “I don’t want to go either.”
“Then don’t.”
“I may not have a choice, Justin.”
“Then we’ll make it a choice. If you can’t be my assistant, we’ll find you something here.”
She looked up at him, her big blue eyes pleading. “Then I would be hiding who I am.”
God, he didn’t want her to do that. It would kill her just as much as it would kill him to see her go. “But, if you go back, you’d be back in a place you hated, at least if you go back to the job in the basement. Could you do that?”
“No, I couldn’t, but I don’t know what to do, Justin. Everything is up in the air, and it’s scaring me. I hate not knowing.”
He leaned down and kissed her softly. “Then let’s work on what we can fix. We can make sure you’re the best damn assistant out there so you can stay. Then we can make sure we’re happy. I want you, Rina, and I don’t want to watch you go. I want you in my bed, and I want you in my life.”
She shuddered and hugged him tighter. “One step at a time?”
“One step at a time.”
“Then what’s our first step?”
He ran his hand down her back and cupped her ass. Her eyes widened, and her breath caught.
“I can think of a few things.”
She blushed and kissed his jaw. “Oh, yeah, like what?”
“Hmm.” He kissed the tip of her ear as he kneaded her ass, rocking into her as he did so. His cock was hard against her belly, and he groaned. “I’ve been wanting to taste you since I first saw you. I want to run my tongue along every inch of your skin until you groan and plead for more. Then I want to fill you slowly until you’re clawing at me to move. Then I want to wrap your legs around my waist and pound into you until you call my name.”
Her breath had gone ragged, and her eyes had dilated as he’d spoken his wants. She gripped him tighter and nodded.
“I want all of that, and then we can do more.”
He grinned and kissed her temple. “Hell, yeah.”
“And all of our troubles will be still be there when we’re done.”
He kissed her other temple and led her to his bedroom. “Yes, but we’ll figure them out. I won’t let you go without a fight.”
“Why do we want each other so quickly, Justin? It doesn’t make any sense. I thought people were supposed to slowly burn, not ignite as quickly as a match.”
He turned toward her and unzipped the back of her dress as he gazed into her eyes. He let her stand there without disrobing her further as he tried to come up with the words that needed to be said.
“I don’t know, Rina. All I know is that I want you for more than a night. I was attracted to you from the start, even when I wanted to get you out of Jackson’s home. I don’t understand it. I always thought things like this were supposed to take time.”
He didn’t tell her he loved her because he wasn’t sure he did. He didn’t know what that feeling felt like, as he’d only felt it for his family, not a woman. He knew he might well be heading toward there
, though he didn’t tell her that. He’d already scared the both of them enough for the night. Now, he wanted to get her naked so he could taste her. Yes, that sounded like a plan.
“One step at a time, right?”
“Right.” He lowered his lips to hers and drank her in. She tasted of sugar and sweetness, everything he wanted. He slowly stripped her out of her dress and pulled back to look his fill.
Fuck.
She stood in only a forest-green lacy bra and matching panties with green stockings that ended in lace at the top of her thighs. Her breasts were high and full, and he knew they would overflow his hands perfectly. Her hips flared out and begged for his grip. She wasn’t a toothpick; no, she was perfect. A woman. His woman.
His gaze trailed up and down her body until he reached her face. She blinked, looking uncertain. Damn, he wasn’t doing his job if she didn’t feel like he wanted to bend her over and fuck her right now.
“You’re beautiful.”
She blushed, and he kissed her neck, trailing his lips down her collarbone.
“I want you.”
“Good, then have me.”
He groaned and knelt in front of her, kissing her body along the way. “I want to taste you.”
Her whole body blushed, and she ran her hand through his hair. “You don’t have to do that.”
He looked up to her and grinned. “Oh, yes, I do.” Slowly, he took off her panties, keeping her stockings on. He froze as he bared her pussy to his gaze.
“Damn.”
She squirmed, and he slowly turned her so she could sit on the bed. “I’ve never done this before.”
“Good. Then I’ll be your first.” Your only. “Lie down. Let me love you.” Neither commented on the use of the L-word, but it was just as well. He wanted—no, needed—to taste her, now. She did as he asked, and he spread her thighs with his hands. He felt her tense beneath his palms, and he squeezed. “Relax, baby.”
“I trust you.”
He warmed at her words. God, he wanted her. He licked his lips as he gazed at her core, wet and pink. His. Oh, yes, his. He traced the outer lips with his finger, and she wiggled.
“Stop moving, baby.”
“But, I want you. Let me touch you.”
“You’ll get me.” He circled her clit then touched her core, loving the way she responded and tightened for him. He lowered his head, flicking his tongue against her warmth as she groaned his name. Good.
He licked her again, this time savoring her sweetness. Fuck, he could dine on her for days. He sucked and licked her as she pressed herself against his face, seeking more. Greedy wench, he loved it. He continued to taste her until he felt that telltale tightening, and she came, screaming his name and causing him to almost come in his pants.
Fuck, she was beautiful.
His.
Who knew he could be so alpha? As she came down from her high, he quickly took off his clothes and sheathed himself in a condom. He wanted to taste those breasts of hers and knew he wouldn’t be coherent enough to take care of protection later.
“Justin,” she breathed, her eyes wide, dark with lust.
“I’m here, baby. You’re so fucking beautiful.”
“Let me touch you,” she repeated.
He shook his head then rolled down her stockings. As much as we wanted to go slow and sexy with those, he couldn’t wait any longer.
“If you touch me, I’ll explode.”
“Oh,” she said as she smiled.
“Minx, you know what you do to me.”
“I do now, and I like it.”
“Good, I like it, too.” He leaned over her and kissed her soundly, loving the way her tastes mingled. He unclasped the front of her bra and quickly got her out of it. Her breasts fell heavy against her, and he rubbed both nipples in his hands. They were stiff, rosy points on full breasts that begged for his mouth. He licked and sucked them as she thrashed against him. The bud tightened in his mouth as he bit harder. She rolled her body flush against him and he nibbled again.
“Justin, please.”
“Oh, yes. I can’t wait any longer.” He gripped her hips and pressed the head of his cock against her opening. He met her gaze and fell that much more in love with her. This was the woman he wanted, needed. He held back a jerk as the thought settled in.
He loved her. Holy shit. He blinked but didn’t say anything, not wanting to let the word take anything from him, from them.
Slowly, oh so slowly, he pushed into her, her inner walls clinging to him. She was so tight. Fuck. He kept going until he was fully seated within her, their breaths syncing, their eyes never straying from each other.
Then, he moved.
He thrust in and out of her, increasing his speed with each movement. She gripped his arms, and he moved so he could lean down over her, his forearms resting by her head. She trailed her hands up and down his sweat-slicked back, and he kissed her, his hips moving, feeling her tight around him.
“Justin…” Her eyes widened, and then he watched as she came, her pussy fluttering around his cock. The pressure pushed him over the edge, his seed filling the condom, and he yelled her name.
He laid above her, his cock still deep within her, and watched as she came down from her high. They didn’t speak, merely looked at each other as if they both knew their lovemaking had been different. Yes, lovemaking, not just sex.
Special.
Perfect.
Theirs.
Now, Justin had to figure out what they were going to do about it.
Chapter 8
Rina snuggled into the warm body pressed to her back and sighed in contentment. Even after a week of sleeping in Justin’s arms, Rina couldn’t believe it had happened. She loved the feel of him behind her, holding her close. In his sleep, he ran a hand up and down her stomach until he finally rested and cupped her breast. Her nipple pebbled in his hand, and she bit her lip, so she wouldn’t wake him.
As much as she wanted to lean into his touch then ride him like a pony, she couldn’t. He hadn’t been sleeping well. No, not because he’d been up all night making love to her—okay, maybe that was partially it, but not all of it. He'd been so stressed at work that he was working long hours and the tension bled into his dreams. With Christmas coming up so quickly, Justin now practically had two full-time jobs.
The school was in a state of ordered chaos. In a matter of days, the semester would end and Justin would finally be able to take a break. He'd been busy dealing with last-minute lesson plans and budget issues, as well as the day-to-day issues of being a principal in a town where he was the authority figure for most children. Every time there was a scuffle, an argument, or a child who just wouldn't listen, Justin would deal with it in stride. She'd stopped by some days to pick him up for their training, where she’d help him funnel his magic safely, and she'd watch the way, even though he was being stern, he still knelt down on the level with the kids and talked to them calmly. He never yelled, never threatened. He genuinely liked kids.
He would make a great father.
Rina stiffened and tried to control her erratic heartbeat. Where had that thought come from? No, she couldn't think like that. She didn't know whether this was going to be temporary or not. Even though Justin had professed his feelings, at least some of them, she still didn’t know where they were in terms of their relationship.
She wanted to be with him so much. To be his assistant, to be his partner, to be his everything. With such far-fetched goals, she tried not to even think about it by living one day at a time. Something the list maker in her hated.
“Rina?” a sleepy voice asked behind her as Justin kneaded her breast.
“I would hope it was me considering what you're doing right now with your hand.” She gasped as he pinched her nipple and rolled his rock-hard erection into her ass.
“True. But I was mostly wondering what you are thinking about and what has you so stressed and stiff.”
She sighed and arched her back, grinding into him. “
Speaking of stiff.”
“You're insatiable, you know that?”
“Only with you.”
“Good.”
He lifted her leg and slowly entered her from behind, his cock filling her completely. They both lay still when he was fully seated, her body growing accustomed to him. Leisurely, he thrust in and out of her, playing with her nipples and trailing kisses down her neck. Her hips met him thrust for thrust, her body growing warm and tingly. He slowly trailed a hand down to where they joined and ran circles over her clit. She threw her head back and screamed his name as her body came in a lightning-quick spark of energy and need.
Justin followed soon after then held her hips close to his so she could feel his cock twitch within her.
“I could wake up like that every morning,” Justin whispered then bit her ear lobe.
The feeling of contentment filled her again as she thought of forever. Ignoring the little seeds of doubt that weren’t so little anymore, she turned her head and captured his lips in a soft kiss. “Me, too.”
“Good.”
“Wait? What about a condom?” she asked, fear and a little excitement flowing through her.
“Shit.”
“It’s okay, I’m on birth control and I can’t get human diseases.”
Justin relaxed and kissed her neck. “Thank God. I can’t wait to be bare in you again.”
She smiled, loving the feeling of just him within her.
They lay there for a few more minutes until she finally had to deal with nature. She quickly squirmed out of the bed, Justin’s now-soft cock leaving her. When she came back, she found Justin sitting up on the bed, his back resting against the headboard.
“So, what do we have planned for today?” Justin asked as she purposefully sat at the other end of the bed so she wouldn't snuggle near him. They had things to do today, and if she touched him, they weren't going to be getting out of bed anytime soon.
“I know it's your day off from school, but not so much from your other job.”
Justin closed his eyes and leaned his head against the headboard. “This seven-days-a-week work thing is going to kill me.”
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