Our bodies were inseparable as I stroked his hair, trying to come down from my orgasm by distracting myself. He craned his cane so that he could look at me. Our faces were so close that I felt his slowly calming breath on my clammy skin. I wondered whether I appeared to be as content as he did when he grinned with satisfaction. "Are you alright?" I blinked. "Yes." Before giving me another kiss, he traced my lips. "Thank you for giving me the pleasure of being with you." That's right, I gave this man my virginity. I had no regrets. "I appreciate you making it good. I've heard a lot of terrifying tales regarding people's first times." He smiled and looked down at me with mirth dancing in his eyes. "Practice makes perfect, sweetie. So, it will only get better." He kissed me, showing me just what he was promising. Sooner than I wanted, he got off me to settle down by my side. We simmered in the afterglow for an unknown amount of time. He occasionally gave me a kiss or brushed a str
He stroked the back of my hand with his thumb, trying to comfort me. And it worked. "No, I wouldn't like to call it quits because your best buddy was aware of the truth. I assume you know why I prefer to keep it between the two of us. It's to keep you safe." No doubt. I'd be regarded as a whore if people found out. No one wanted to be married to a so-called whore. I nodded and said, "I get it." I inhaled deeply before dialing Lory's number. She responded right away. "Where in the world are you? Why haven't you given me a call? What is happening? Thanks to the hours of stress you gave me, I fear I am balding." I had to move the phone away from my ear to let her scream to her heart's content. "Are you done?" I eventually questioned. "I'm hoping for an explanation," she told me. I crossed my fingers as I started. "Lory, he's wonderful and amazing. The experience has truly been fantastical. Both he and I love each other. We're currently eloping. We're tying the knot." She started
I spotted a piece of paper on the bed as I grabbed for his pillow to inhale his now-familiar scent—a blend of soap, sandalwood, and warmth. [Good morning, sweetie. I'm sorry to leave you in bed alone this morning, but know that I will be daydreaming about you throughout the day. Please keep in mind that at noon, your personal shopper will arrive. Try to have a good time and spend a lot of money today! My family dinner will be held at eight o'clock, so I'll be home by six-thirty. If you need something or if you miss me, call me. Yours,Nicholas.] At his note, I sighed. When we arrived back and my items were moved to his closet, he had been horrified by my wardrobe—or lack thereof. His closet was easily bigger than my whole house at Atkins. The sight of my meager belongings hanging beside his extensive collection made me feel sour. He assisted me in sorting through the boxes that had been shipped from Atkins while we were away, and the entire night, he berated me for owning only b
Up until I ran into the wall. He edged closer, placing his hands on the wall on either side of my head, and my heart hammered against my ribcage. I'd never say it out loud, but I enjoyed the pursuit. "There is nowhere to go, Willow. I have you now." He leaned closer but avoided touching me. "Go change," I said. My statement didn't sound particularly convincing. When his lips touched my neck, I fought back my groan. "You shouldn't be this attractive. When we go out for dinner, I'm going to struggle all night to figure out how to get you out of this outfit," he spoke softly in my ear. I yearned to reach out and check as to whether Cocky Junior was as eager to play as Nicholas claimed. But I was aware that we'd never leave if I did. "You better get dressed for the night if you wish to see what's under this dress." He backed away and grinned. "Only if you are certain." I smiled. I wanted to get the family gathering over with, even though it could have been more enjoyable to stay
Clara sighed, shook her head, and then leaned in my direction. "Please pardon my sons and spouse for their actions. The drawback of being surrounded by men is just that." She grinned pleasantly, and I started to relax right away. "I also married Jefferson when I was young, which is what Geoffrey was so rudely referring to," she informed. Geoffrey said "cradle snatcher" while making a false cough. As Jefferson's cheeks started to slightly flush, Clara shot her son a stern look. Nicholas whispered in my ear as he leaned in close. "Dad was 35, Mom was 18, and I was the tiny delight that hurried their wedding along." I made an effort to hide my surprise, but I struggled. Clara grinned, Jefferson scowled, and Geoffrey just carried on laughing. "I think that sounds lovely and romantic, though. I'm glad to see my baby smiling." Even though we were deceiving them about our real connection, I had to grin when I saw the affection with which Clara gazed at Nicholas. She again turned to face m
He took a moment to calm down. His nose brushed against mine as he leaned in. When he stopped and gazed down at me once more, I grinned up at him and exhaled contentedly at the gentleness of his movements.He smiled and added, "That was a hell of a wake-up call." I mumbled. "I strive to satisfy." He blew a raspberry on my neck to protest. I giggled and made an effort to shoo him away. "You're not getting away from me so easily." I was quite aware of that tone, and if I didn't stop this, he would soon be primed for round two. I shook my head, knowing I had to get him up for the meeting. I pushed against his chest. I jokingly shook my head. "You need to take a shower so you can get to your meeting. You're going to be so late." He groaned and sighed in resignation before getting out of bed. As he made his way to the restroom, I grinned and took in the sight of his bare ass. I closed my eyes and tucked myself back under the covers that still smelled of him. I kept picturing the sce
Virgil's phone rang as the lift reached our floor. After leaving, we stopped to wait for him to conclude his conversation. "I'm sorry, ladies. I have a task that needs completing. His office is straight ahead. He asked you to walk in without concern." He appeared regretful, so I dismissed his worry. "No issue. Virgil, it was good to see you again." "You as well, Miss Ta...er... Mrs. Rowe." At his error, I flushed. He gave a wink before getting back on the elevator. Courtney nudged my arm and giggled. "Mrs. Rowe, get moving. Let's meet your man now." We had just begun to walk together and were appreciating how Nicholas' office was decorated when we were abruptly stopped. "Excuse me. You can't just walk in here. This is not a shopping mall." A tall, platinum-blonde woman was staring at the two of us like we were insects. I turned around, surprised by the smug female voice. I couldn't figure out why she was acting so upset as she stalked over with her fists on her hips. I answer
"Sounds good. It will take a lot of time to see everything. I've lived here all my life, but I still haven't seen everything." I smiled back at him. "We are interested in seeing everything. The people, museums, and stunning structures." I held back because I knew what I was going to say next would enrage Nicholas. "We'll probably need to take some cabs and subways to experience Quentin in its truest form." Nicholas stopped me. "The hell you will." "I certainly will do as I please." I didn't give a damn if I sounded childish. I placed my napkin on the table and stood up to attract Courtney's attention. "If you're ready to leave, I'll use the restroom, and then we can go our way." I tried not to feel awful about pulling her away from Geoffrey. I hurried into the bathroom, leaving my bag on the counter, and pouting in front of the mirror. I couldn't figure out what had made Nicholas' mood so terrible. When we were upstairs, he appeared pleased to see me. I let out a sigh and splashed