Her lips curved up at the corners.
“So we should celebrate,” he suggested, nuzzling the side of her neck.
“We already are.”
“But this is your gift to me. I want to give you something you want. So tell me. How can we celebrate your amazing news? Name it and it’s yours.”
She didn’t even hesitate. “Before or after dinner?” The way she rubbed her sweet backside against him was a pretty good indication of which she’d prefer.
He grew hard in an instant. “
Before
.” Wow, he sounded almost primitive just then.
“Okay.” She pushed him down into one of the dining chairs. “We’ll do my celebration first and then we can have yours.” Tugging on his button fly, she teased, “I hope you’re not too hungry…because what I want isn’t going to be all that quick.”
That’s what she thinks.
With her curious hands all over him, he was ready to go off like a rocket ship at T-minus counting.
But then she moved those hands off his jeans, and placed it on top of his. At his questioning look, she smiled. “Keep your hands on the sides of the chair.”
She couldn’t be serious.
“I’m serious.”
Damn.
“No touching.” She slid up his shirt and trailed tiny tortuous kisses across his chest…down his stomach…
Jesus.
Eyes half-lidded with lust, she murmured softly, “What I want for my celebration is to have full reign on your body…starting
here
.”
Holy hell. Her hot little mouth was going to have him ‘celebrating’ in about thirty seconds if he didn’t get some control, fast. He steeled himself, gripped the edges of the cushion until his knuckles were strained white, almost painful. Any progress he’d made by that move was undone, however, when she kneaded her hands up his thighs and then along the base of his shaft, gripping him tight as she slid him deep into her mouth.
His hips lifted sharply off the chair. Just once. He couldn’t help it. She was driving him crazy. Crazier still when she purred in pleasure at the hard, quick thrust.
He let out a tortured groan, a wordless warning to her that he’d come soon if she didn’t slow down or—heaven forbid—stop. Another thrust, another purr and she was locking her eyes on his, holding his gaze as she took him all the way to the back of her throat.
Fireworks exploded behind his eyelids.
He forgot all about her rule then and reached out to spear his hands through her hair, gently pulling her to her feet, so he could pick her up, push her up against the wall. His mouth crashed onto hers as he yanked a condom out of the pocket of his jeans and got it on in record time. Pulling aside her panties, he poised himself at her entrance.
“Open your eyes, sweetheart. Let me see you.”
When she did, he plunged into her heat.
Nothing, absolutely nothing had ever felt so good, so perfect. So his.
For eighteen more days.
“
W
HY DON’T YOU STAY
? The construction guys are still going to be coming in and out of your cottage finishing up. It’ll be hell on your concentration.” Connor held onto her last suitcase, and she almost gave in.
But she didn’t. Because the truth of it was that she wouldn’t be able to bear it when he carried her bags into the guest room instead of his own.
He didn’t give up so easily. “You have way more room here to spread out your research, not to mention a very efficient dishwasher that’ll work for kisses and heavy petting.”
Abby chuckled and pasted an overbright smile on her face. “Tempting, but it’ll be better for me to be back home.” The word ‘home’ tasted weird and chalky in her mouth, probably because she and Connor wouldn’t be using the word to refer to the same place anymore. Maybe she’d stick to using the word ‘house’ from now on… She hugged him tightly. “I had such a great time, Connor. Thank you so much for letting me stay here.”
Why did that feel like goodbye?
He held onto her hand. “Have dinner with me tonight?”
She couldn’t. She couldn’t keep playing house with him. Couldn’t keep finding new and better reasons to fall for him, to lose her heart to him. She had to be strong. Protect herself.
“Can we do it tomorrow night instead?”
Oh yeah, real strong, Abby.
His hand tightened around hers for a bit, and then let go. “Of course. Tomorrow night it is.”
Remember, you can’t keep him. You have to give him up in two weeks.
At least that reminder had the desired effect. “Did you want to go out for a change?” she asked, willing the tears not to show.
He stared at her silently for a moment before nodding. “Why don’t we go to T. Cook’s?”
One of the most expensive restaurants in the area.
Her heart couldn’t take much more. “Sounds great. I’ll call you so we can plan a time.” She quickly took her last suitcase from him then and shoved it in her ‘SUV’—even she was using the quotation marks now. She slammed the door. “I’ll see you tomorrow then?”
“Tomorrow.”
Abby felt her breathing go haywire when she heard the doorbell ring.
Aside from the one brief phone call they’d had to confirm what time he’d be picking her up tonight, they hadn’t spoken at all. She’d spent the day at the library reading, writing, arranging her books by cover color instead of topic—anything in her power not to think about Connor.
Now here he was, and she knew all the work she’d put into building that wall around her heart was soon going to be tested.
“Hi, Connor.”
Talk about failing with flying colors.
She was right back where she started a few days ago, losing herself in his intense blue gaze.
“You look gorgeous, Abby.”
“Thanks. So do you.” It occurred to her that in all their time together, they hadn’t once gone out on a date.
Now she saw why.
They stood there awkwardly for a moment. Before he reached out and dragged her into his arms. “God, I’ve missed you.”
Her wall came crumbling down. “I’m sorry I moved our dinner to tonight,” she blurted out.
He leaned back and brushed a thumb against her cheekbone. “Feeling bad about that are we?”
“Yes.”
“Good.” His lips came crashing down on hers. The kiss was frantic, hungry, just this side of angry. She was dizzy by the time he pulled back. “Don’t ever shut me out like that again, Abby. Not unless you mean it.”
No. She wouldn’t push him away anymore. Couldn’t. “Do you want to cancel our dinner reservations and eat here instead?”
He slid his hand through her hair. “Actually, I’m kind of looking forward to having a night out with you. To prove to you that we can do this.”
How was it that he knew exactly what she was worried about? “You sound so sure.”
“I am.” He put his arm around her and led her to his car.
The Charger.
She smiled. “Is your Lexus in the shop?”
He grinned back. “Nope. I told you, I’m going to prove to you that we can do this. You and I can be together and be ourselves out there in the world.”
“So you’re going to a fancy establishment where you’ll likely run into clients and colleagues?”
With me.
“In an old muscle car.
Just
to prove a point?”
“Abby, I’d pull up riding on the handlebars of Skylar’s pink bicycle, hell, I’d let them see me drive up in
your car
to prove this particular point.”
She burst out laughing.
“You don’t believe me?” He reached for her purse. “Hand over the keys.”
“No!” She giggled and ran over to his car. “We can’t go to a five-star restaurant in my car!”
Connor pinned her against the car, capturing her lips in a deep, soul-searing kiss.
It wasn’t until about five seconds after the kiss ended that she realized he’d big digging in her purse the entire time for her keys.
A half hour later, Abby was still whacking him on the arm. “That valet kid thought we were punking him.” Another whack. “I swear, he kept looking around like a bunch of TV cameras were going to come rushing out.”
“I know.” He chuckled. “Did you see his expression when I slipped him a twenty and told him to make sure to park it somewhere safe?”
“Stop.”
Whack.
“Making fun of.”
Whack.
“My car!”
“Yes,
this
is far less embarrassing. Quick, sucker punch me in the gut. I think I see a lawyer from a competing law firm.”
She instantly dropped her hands back to her sides. “This isn’t over,” she hissed.
“Oh, I know. And I’m counting the minutes till we get home to see what you’ll do next.”
Home.
She had no idea whose home he was referring to, but at least they’d be there together…
Holding out his arm, he asked, “Shall we?”
Okay, so this was kind of nice. The restaurant really was very romantic. And since it wasn’t crowded at all, they were seated immediately at a table by the window. Gazing out at the stunning view for a moment, she looked quietly over at Connor. “Thank you.”
Connor smiled back. “I think I’d much prefer a ‘you were right.’”
She flicked open her menu. “I’ll keep that in mind if one day you ever are.”
His soft, tickled laughter was cut off by a slick as silk voice from the next table over. “
Why look Lynn, it’s Connor.”
They both turned to watch a tall, distinguished looking man stand up and came over with his date—Abby would’ve guessed daughter at first but seeing his hand on the woman/girl’s ass quickly dispelled that theory.
“Connor, did you get that paperwork I left on your desk today?”
So, a colleague, then. One that, from the looks of it, Connor didn’t like very much.
“Yes, I did. I’ll look over it in the morning.”
The man didn’t leave. “Well? Aren’t you going to introduce me to your beautiful date?”
Abby watched a muscle tick in Connor’s cheek as his entire posture turned rigid with anger. Alarmed, and thoroughly lost, she stuck her hand out to the man to try and diffuse the situation. “I’m Abby. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“I’m delighted to meet you, Abby. I’m Marcus, and this is Lynn my personal assistant.”
Riiight.
“So, are you two here on a date?” inquired Marcus.
Abby could see why Connor didn’t like him.
Connor’s glare went from angry to furious.
“What? Can’t I be just a little curious about my son’s love life?”
Son
. The rude man was Connor’s father.
“Lynn,” Connor shot a withering glance at the woman fidgeting beside Marcus, “I hope you remembered to order my mother’s anniversary flowers already. You know how hard it is to get those lilies that she loves so much.”
Lynn blanched and mumbled, “No, I forgot.”
Marcus raised an eyebrow in a silent touché, before conceding, “Fine, keep your secrets, Connor. I guess I’ll just have to get to know Abby better on my own.” He turned to face her. “Perhaps this weekend at the charity ball?”
Abby froze, and did her best to keep her smile plastered to her face.
“That’s enough!” barked Connor.
“People are starting to stare, Marcus,” whispered Lynn.
Marcus gave Connor a triumphant look and then took a step back. “Well, I see the two lovebirds just want to be alone. Have a good evening. Sorry to have interrupted your
date
.”
Abby kept her eyes glued to the menu until he was gone. Really? Did he have to put such a scornful emphasis on the word ‘date?’
“I’m sorry you got sucked into that.” Connor’s voice was literally vibrating with rage.
She dropped her menu. Connor shouldn’t be apologizing for his socially corrupt father. “You have absolutely nothing to be sorry for.”
He covered her hands with his. “That charity ball he mentioned—”
Oh. Well, there was that. “You don’t need to explain.”
“It’s just an annual gala we all go to because the firm is one of the main sponsors. I forgot about it completely. Usually, I just take Victoria to these sort of things but if you want to go, I’d love to take you.” He turned a shade uncomfortable. “It’s a black tie affair… I, uh, could take you shopping for a gown. And I’d buy it for you, of course, since you’re doing me the honor of accompanying me.”
A little part of her died on the inside…then rose from the dead out of sheer annoyance when she saw Marcus watching them with that same aggravating smile.
This was a vicious, vicious world Connor lived in. Surviving here took a whole skillset she lacked entirely.
“What night is this ball?”
“Saturday.”
“I actually have plans for that night,” she lied, giving him a wan smile. “So I guess I won’t get to have my
Pretty Woman
shopping moment with you.”