“Are you sure?” she said, her voice sounding so damn sweet, I wanted to taste it. “We don’t have to.”
But I wasn’t sure. Not entirely, but my body convinced me otherwise. “As sure as I’ll ever be. You?”
“I was just waiting on you.”
“So sweet.”
Without another word, I swept her up into my arms and walked us to my bedroom, my lips pressed against hers the whole time. The truth was, I was nervous. It had been a long time since my dick had seen any action, and even longer since my brain had wanted it to. My dick always wanted to get laid, but the smarter parts of me tended to win out. Thank God.
After laying her gently on top of my bed, I knelt on the bed and took a deep breath. Knowing what she was about to give me excited me in every way possible. Why would I ever deny myself this kind of connection with her?
Her hands found their way to the hem of my shirt, then she pulled it over my head and sighed a little as she stared at me.
Leaning back on my calves, I reached for her top with both hands and gently tugged while she shimmied out of it. Seeing her like this made my pulse race. I’d already seen her in a bikini, but a man knows the difference between a bathing suit and a bra. Seeing one usually means you’re getting lucky, and the other just means “Look, but don’t touch.”
“You are so beautiful, Paige.” I leaned down to kiss her neck, then skimmed my lips down her chest to drop another kiss in that sweet space between her breasts.
“So are you,” she said with another sigh, and I laughed.
“Really? Beautiful?”
“Hot, sexy, beautiful. Whatever.”
When she smiled up at me, I melted in her gaze. She trusted me; I could see it in her eyes. What we were about to do required trust on both our parts, and she was giving hers to me. Completely. I could see it as clearly as I could see her breathing beneath me.
I took my time exploring her body, removing the rest of our clothing bit by bit before I made love to her. Tasting every inch of her exposed skin, I found a new piece of heaven, right here with Paige. When I entered her, she cried out, and I almost lost it right then and there at the passion in her voice.
Slowly I moved in and out of her, not wanting it to end too soon, and that took almost all my self-control. Out of practice in this arena, I refused to let her down, but it took everything I had to hold myself back. Her body molded to mine as if she’d been made for me, her softness fitting perfectly with my firmness, and the closeness and warmth of her took my breath away.
“I’m not gonna last much longer, babe,” I whispered against her neck as our bodies moved in sync.
She said nothing, but dug her fingers into my back and pulled my hips toward her. I brushed my fingertips along the side of her face, stroking gently until she opened her eyes. Emotions overwhelmed me as she kept her eyes open to watch me move within her. She lifted her head and her lips met mine as our connected bodies moved together in an easy rhythm.
Her breaths came in little pants, and a moment later her back arched as her eyes widened with surprise. I thrilled at the knowledge she was coming and watched, mesmerized, as her eyes opened and closed while she absorbed the wave that moved through her until it was no more. I lost myself to it as well, my body rocking with spasms until they subsided, and then I rested my forehead on hers as my heart galloped within me.
Rolling onto my back, I pulled her with me and kissed the top of her head. “That was amazing,” I huffed out, my breathing still ragged.
“That was incredible. I’ve never felt anything like that before.”
Her admission made relief filter through me. Making love to Paige had felt better than I ever remembered it being before, and I wasn’t sure if it was just me or not.
“Stay with me tonight,” I whispered as I tightened my arm around her.
“For a little while,” she said in a sleepy voice. “I don’t want to be disrespectful to your mom.”
I fell asleep with her in my arms, but when I woke up, I was alone.
It’s Time
Paige
A hard knock at the door startled me from sleep. The knocking continued, harder and harder until I heard voices coming from outside the house, the sounds drifting clearly to me through the open window. Mrs. Montgomery shouted at whoever it was, sounding like she was trying to calm them down, but it was no use. The male voices grew more agitated as she pulled the door open.
“Where is she? Paige! I know she’s in here. Paige, I see your car out front!”
Pulling the sheet up to my nose, I recognized the voice immediately as my insides shriveled up and died on the spot. Jayson was here, but how? Buster wouldn’t stop barking and growling, yapping madly as I eavesdropped from the safety of my bed.
“Excuse me, young man, but you can’t just barge into my house and start screaming like you own the place.” Mrs. Montgomery’s voice was strong and, if I wasn’t mistaken, very pissed off. “You get out of my house, and we can address whatever it is you want like adults.”
“I don’t think so, ma’am. You have something I need.”
I cringed, knowing that I was the “something” he referred to. Jayson would never let me stay. And I wasn’t ready to leave.
“Didn’t your mama teach you any manners?” Mrs. Montgomery sounded as though she was seething, and I wanted to run out there and hug her.
The sound of the screen door slamming made me jump. “What’s going on in here? Who the hell are you, and what are you doing in my mama’s house?”
Tatum.
His voice alone caused my breathing to even out, even though my heart wouldn’t stop pounding out beats like crazy. Tatum would protect me. He would keep me safe.
“Oh, this is just priceless.” Jayson’s laugh sounded sinister. “Come out, Paige. I know you’re here, and I can see now why you didn’t want to come home.”
Half-surprised that Jayson hadn’t tried to sign Tatum to his agency already—since he never missed the opportunity to represent a pretty face—I crept out of bed and quickly pulled on a sweatshirt and jeans. My hand on the bedroom doorknob, I took a deep breath to steady myself and then stepped out into the living room.
“Calm down, Jayson. I’m right here.”
Tatum rushed to my side, blocking my view of Jayson with his body before pinning me with worried eyes. “Tell me what to do. What do you want me to do?”
He sounded confused and desperate, and I wanted to take him in my arms and forget about the world. Although, that was what I’d been doing for the past three weeks. I was surprised I’d been able to stay away that long.
“There’s nothing you can do,” I said sadly.
The second Jayson arrived, my escape was all over. Everything I’d built in my time here was swept away in an instant. Out with the brave new-and-improved Paige, and in with the old scared-to-let-anyone-down Paige.
It was like being in an abusive relationship where freedom only came from being away from your abuser. Separated by a few states seemed like a good start. My soul had soared when I’d cut off ties with everyone who controlled me in LA, but it crashed to the ground in spectacular fashion as soon as Jayson’s voice broke the sanctity of the peaceful space I’d found for myself.
“I brought you a present, Paige.” Jayson eyed me. “Although I have to admit that I didn’t realize you wouldn’t need it.”
Confused, I frowned at him. Whatever Jayson referred to was completely lost on me until I heard the knock on the screen door. My cheating rat bastard of an ex-boyfriend stood outside, his face forlorn and his hair mussed in what I was sure was a calculated way.
Tatum tensed beside me, and I gave his hand a reassuring squeeze. He squeezed back, but didn’t release the pressure. I couldn’t believe that Jayson had brought Colin all the way out here. It was one thing for my agent to come and play hardball, but it was downright dirty to bring Colin with him.