Beauty from Pain (Beauty, #1)(24)

“It’s where wine is stored.” I reach for her hand and help her from the ATV. “Come on. I can tell that you’re going to appreciate this.”

I open one of the doors to the cave and lead her inside to see the products of my livelihood. She’s mesmerized as her eyes study everything from the stonework dome over our heads to the rows of wine barrels lining each room. “This is … incredible. How was it built?”

“It’s dug out of the ground like a basement and a frame is constructed to keep it from caving in from the weight of the ground around it.”

She notices the ceiling. “The stone arches are gorgeous.”

The arches aren’t the only beautiful thing in this room. The dim glow of the lanterns dances across her face as she studies her surroundings, and I have no doubt that the next three months are going to be spectacular. But first, she has to tell me yes.

She is going to say yes. I’m going to see to it.

I follow her into the next room where the special events are held and she explores like a curious child. She sees the tables and is about to ask for an explanation, but I don’t want to talk anymore. I want to feel her against me again. I’m eager to finish what I started two nights ago.

She’s surveying the long dining hall table when I creep up behind her. “Why is there a … oh.”

I slide one of my arms around her waist and pull her back against me. With my free arm, I push her hair over one shoulder. I press my lips to the exposed skin on her neck and trail kisses toward her ear. “I can’t stand it any longer. I need to touch you.”

She leans against me and laces her fingers through my hand on her waist. This is her way of showing me that she’ll welcome more of what I’m doing. I sneak my hand under the hem of her shirt and glide it upward until my palm finds her lace-clad breast. I feel her nipple grow hard through the lace as I slowly stroke it. I push my hand inside the cup of her bra from the top so I can free it from its entrapment.

She moans softly and grinds herself against my groin as I gently knead her breasts. “I think I have a promise to made good on, don’t I?”

She doesn’t answer but nods in agreement.

I slide my hand down her flat stomach and feel a piercing in her navel. I make a mental note to investigate that later, but I have other plans in mind for right now.

I tug on the button at her waist to unfasten her shorts. It opens after a light jerk and I slowly slide the zipper down. I put my hand flat against her stomach and rub it in a circular motion, each rotation bringing my fingers closer to the spot she so desperately wants me to touch.

I slip my hand inside the top of her lacy panties. I smile against her neck when I feel the smooth skin beneath. “You have no idea how much I like that.”

She tilts her head up and back against me. Her breathing is deep and fast. I have her right where I want her, so I slide my finger down through her slickness and back up once in a slow, torturous stroke. She likes it and wants more because she’s pushing her hips hard against my hand. “Paige, you haven’t given me an answer yet.”

I hear a sweet, delicate whimper from her mouth. “Huh?”

“You still haven’t accepted my proposal.” I slide my finger downward again and then slowly back up until I feel the little swollen button where I rub in a circular motion. “I want you to tell me yes.”

“Ohh … what? I can’t think straight right now.”

I stop the circular pleasure I’m giving her and my fingers retreat because I’m determined to hear her say it. I don’t want to wait any longer. “Tell me you’ll be mine while you’re here.”

She reaches for my wrist and pushes my hand further inside her panties. “Don’t stop.”

I give her a few more soft strokes before I come to a standstill again. “Give me the answer I want to hear and I’ll keep going.”

She rocks against my hand, riding it hard. “That feels so good. Don’t stop.”

She’s desperate for my touch, so I use her need to get my answer a little earlier than she intended on giving it to me. She’s trembling under my touch and I give her a few more strokes. “Tell me, Paige. Tell me you’ll be mine.”

“Yes.”

“Yes to what?”

She’s squeezing my forearm. Hard. “Yes, I’ll be yours while I’m in Australia.”

I smile against her neck again. “That’s all I needed to hear.”

I want to show her how happy she’s made me. I pull my hand from her shorts and she whimpers at the loss of my touch, but it’s only temporary.

I turn her around to face me. She watches my eyes as I place my hands on her hips and push her shorts and panties down to her feet. I lift her onto the table. “Lie back.”

She knows what’s coming and she welcomes it.

I put my lips against her inner thigh and place a kiss against her scalding skin. “Tell me again. I like hearing you say it.”

I trail kisses up her inner thighs, waiting to hear her say it again so I can show her what being mine means.

“I’m yours,” she moans and I reward her for her acceptance. I place my tongue flat against her center and give her one slow upward swipe before I find her small, engorged bump and begin circling it. She tastes so good, even better than I’d imagined.