I didn't want to make him wait. I didn't want to makemewait either.
So I rolled the condom onto his length, and smiled with anticipation when he climbed onto the bed and positioned himself above me.
Beyond eager, I reached between us and guided his hardness to my opening. He lowered his hips just a fraction, giving me only a promise of what I wanted. I wantedallof him, every single inch. In a desperate bid to be closer, I lifted my hips, and sighed with pure bliss when I felt more of him slide into me.
He lowered his head until our lips met in a ragged kiss that he timed perfectly by giving me exactly what I wanted – his whole length, massive and hard, filling me completely, almost too completely at first.
But I loved it – the sweet ache of utter fullness. And then, he started moving – his lips, his hips, his hands. And I was moving, too. I reached up under his shirt and ran my hands along his back, feeling his muscles shift and move in time with our motions.
Desperate to feel his skin on mine, I yanked his shirt upward as far as it would go and pressed tighter against him. Next time, I silently vowed, I'd make sure that both of us were naked, completely naked, because even this, as wonderful as it was, felt like it wasn't quite enough.
I almost wanted to smile.Next time.There would definitelybea next time, as sure as the sun would rise and the tide would go in and out.
When I reached my next climax, he was right there with me, filling me, kissing me, claiming me, until I was utterly lost to everything but him.
We spent the next few hours in utter bliss, with more sex, a bubble bath for two, and finally, the sweet serenity of sleeping in Joel's arms, more content than I'd ever been in my whole adult life.
And I had him to thank – not just then, but early the next morning, when trouble, once again, arrived on my doorstep.
Chapter 52
I was standing in the front doorway, squinting in the morning sun. In front of me, Derek looked fresh and professional in a dark business suit with a classic red tie.
I didn't care how professional he looked. I still wasn't happy to see him, especially considering that Joel was still upstairs, after reluctantly –veryreluctantly – agreeing to let me handle this on my own.
I gave Derek a cold look. "What are you doing here?"
Derek looked toward Joel's car, parked just a few paces away. He turned back to give me a smirk. "I see you have company."
In spite of my best intentions, I felt color rise to my face. Obviously, Derek knew exactly what I'd been doing last night, and who I'd been doing it with.
Butso what?I was an adult. This was my house, at least for now. And I had nothing to be ashamed of. I lifted my chin. "That's none of your business."
Derek made a scoffing sound. "Right."
"It's not," I insisted. "And while we're on the topic, I didn't appreciate your note."
"Yeah? WellIdidn't appreciate the thing with your car."
Now, it wasmyturn to scoff. "You're one to talk."
"Meaning?"
"Meaning, why'd you lie to me?"
"About what?"
"About the car needing a new engine."
"I didn't lie," he said. "It was a mistake. Beatrice confused the message."
Beatrice was the law firm's receptionist. She also acted as the receptionist for interviews related to the endowment. I liked her. And I highly doubted that she had anything to do with this.
"Oh, sure," I said, "blameher." My tone grew sarcastic. "That'sever-sonice of you."
"You wanna hear what's nice?" Derek said. "Getting a call from Biff, telling me your car was stolen. Yeah. That was fun."
"Yes. It was." I smiled. "For Biff. Because hedidn'tconsider it stolen."
