Big Shot(54)
“Nope, don’t mind at all,” Richard replied and moved back to let him in. “She’s all yours. Literally,” he added with a knowing wink that helped Wes to gauge Natalie’s frame of mind—and where she stood emotionally.
After giving the other man a grateful nod, Wes walked into the condo a few steps, then glanced back at Richard, only to find him blatantly staring at his ass. Really?
“Eyes up here, dude,” Wes said, pointing to his face, though he wasn’t at all offended but, rather, amused. “And you need to stop staring at my ass. It’s not polite.”
Richard laughed. “Damn, it’s a really nice one. You two kids play nice,” he said, then he was gone, closing the door behind him.
Wes looked back at Natalie, seeing the hope in her eyes that hit him square in the chest and made him realize what he’d almost lost for good. And it was that thought that prompted him to walk across the living room to her, and when he reached where she stood and she looked up at him with those big, gorgeous blue eyes, he didn’t even hesitate to frame her jaw in his hands and tip her mouth up to his for a kiss.
The moment his lips touched hers, she moaned softly, her body swaying toward his, telling him everything he needed to know. She wanted him, just as much as he wanted and needed her. And Jesus, the knowledge almost brought him to his knees.
He had so much to tell her. So much to say, and even though it was one of the most difficult things he had to do, he ended the kiss. But he didn’t let her go. He held on to her face, gently, tenderly. The vulnerable gleam in her eyes matched the one in his heart. A heart he’d never given to anyone before, and he was suddenly glad about that, because it only belonged to one person. This incredible woman who held it in the palm of her hand. Every part of it.
“Tell me, Minx,” he said in a soft command as his thumbs stroked her cheeks. “Tell me what I want to hear. What I desperately need to know.”
“Wes . . .” Her voice quivered with uncertainties.
He understood, and he sought to reassure her. “Trust me, baby. Take the leap. I’m here to catch you. I’ll always be here to catch you. Trust me.”
He knew he was asking for a lot, and as he stared into her eyes, he saw the greatest gift he knew he’d ever receive from this woman. It was confidence and exhilaration and a tenderness he wasn’t quite sure he deserved but he’d do everything in his power to earn.
“I love you,” she whispered, and Jesus, his heart f*cking soared. “I love you so much, Wes Sinclair.”
He didn’t make her wait for his own leap of faith. “I love you, Natalie Prescott. More than I ever believed was possible.”
She shook her head. “But you didn’t say anything last night . . . ”
He didn’t mention that she’d withheld her feelings as well, because really, at this point, who cared? “You never gave me the chance. And once you told me about Atlanta, I thought you’d made up your mind and that I would be the last person you’d stay in Chicago for.”
“You would be wrong,” she said, placing her hands on his chest and leaning closer into him. “Very wrong.”
“I’ve never been happier to be wrong,” he teased as he pressed his forehead to hers, a happy smile curving his mouth. “And just so you know, being wrong doesn’t happen often.”
She laughed. “No, I imagine it doesn’t.”
He kissed her again, reveling in the open way she responded and the fact that he had endless days with her to enjoy more kisses. Daily kisses. Morning kisses and evening kisses. And even some in between, at work . . . Oh, yeah, work.
He lifted his head so he could look into her eyes, so she could see how serious he was. “You’re staying right here in Chicago with me. And you’re going to work at Premier Realty as a broker. I talked to all the guys earlier today, and we all agree that we want you there. It’s stupid not having you work there, and I’ll admit it was because of my personal insecurities. Which I swear we’ll work through.” That’s why he hadn’t come sooner. He’d had a meeting with the guys to ensure they were all on the same page. Or rather, for Wes to prove to friends that he’d finally pulled his head out of his ass and was making the right choice for the firm and not just himself.
Her eyes went wide, and she shook her head. “I don’t need that,” she insisted. “I only need you.”
“You have me. Exclusively. And the deal is nonnegotiable.”
Her smile was huge and intoxicating. “As long as you’re part of the package, I accept.”
“Oh, baby, I am.” He swept her up into his arms and took her into the bedroom, where he pulled off that cable-knit sweater so he had access to all the creamy skin beneath.
He stripped off her bra and panties but made her leave those hot-as-f*ck knee-high socks on her legs. Once he was completely naked, he joined her on the mattress, moving over her and settling right where he wanted to spend every single night for the rest of his days. In her bed. In her arms. Between her soft, welcoming thighs.
He braced his arms next to her head and looked into her eyes, already dark and needy with desire. All for him. They had so many more things to talk about. Details and plans for the future and figuring out how to make everything between them work. He knew it wouldn’t always be easy and there would undoubtedly be obstacles for them to overcome. He expected there to be bumps in the road while the two of them navigated this relationship thing that was so new to him.