Come Away with Me (With Me in Seattle, #1)(58)

“Are your feet hurting?” He’s always so aware of how I might be feeling, and it makes me smile.

“A little, but I’m okay.”

He leans down and scoops me into his arms and begins the journey up to his bedroom.

“You do enjoy carrying me,” I murmur and kiss his cheek.

“It’s for purely selfish reasons.”

“Oh? And what are those reasons?” I kiss his cheek again. I love the way his skin feels against my face.

“Well, one, I enjoy having you in my arms. And two, I don’t want you to take those shoes off yet.”

He carries me into his bedroom and sets me down on my feet in the middle of the room. He flips a switch on the wall and the light on the end table illuminates, throwing soft shadows across the room.

“Let me help you out of that dress.”

I turn around and he kisses my shoulder as he lowers the zipper down the back and slips the straps down my arms. The dress falls and pools at my feet. He holds my hand and I step out of it and turn back toward him.

He gasps and steps back from me, not touching me, and I’ve never felt more beautiful. His eyes are shining with adoration and desire, skimming over my hair and pearls, down to my breasts held firmly in place by a black lace strapless bra. He lowers his gaze over my belly piercing, black lace barely-there panties that match the bra, garter belt, stockings and down to my killer red shoes.

Yes, I know I look amazing right now, and it’s the most powerful, sexy feeling in the world.

I don’t move toward him, I stand where I am, letting him drink me in with his eyes. I slowly reach up and unpin my hair, one thick curl at a time, and let it fall around my shoulders, dropping the pins to the floor.

“You are every fantasy I’ve ever had come true, Natalie.” He swallows hard and flexes his hands in and out of fists, and I know he’s dying to touch me.

I smile softly, not wanting to break this spell, and reach behind me to unclasp my bra and let it join the dress and pins on the floor, releasing my breasts. My nipples pucker under his hungry gaze.

“What would you like me to do now?”

I whisper.

His eyes focus on mine, just a bit glassy like he’s intoxicated, but I know it’s not from the wine we’ve consumed all evening. He closes his eyes briefly, and then starts shedding his clothes, letting them fall unheeded to the floor around him.

Suddenly, he’s standing before me naked. “I’m almost afraid to touch you,”

he whispers.

“Why?” I cock my head to the side, confused. Touch me! Please, for the love of all that’s holy, touch me!

“I’m afraid you’re not real.” And just like that I see the vulnerability in his eyes and I walk to him, raising my hands up his chest, over his shoulders and into his hair. His blue gaze is on mine and I smile tenderly.

“I’m real, and I’m yours.” I push up on my toes and run my lips across his and he shudders, exhaling deeply.

He reaches down and cups my bottom in his hands and lifts me, wrapping my legs around his waist, and walks us back to the bed. But he doesn’t drop me; he wraps his impossibly strong arms around me and lowers me gently, without lifting his lips from mine.

He kisses me madly, voraciously, cupping my face in his hands while he lays over me, bracing himself on his elbows. My hands drift down his back to his butt and back up to his shoulders, over and over. His erection presses against my now wet panties and he rocks his hips back and forth, sending zings of electricity through me.

“God, I’ve been fantasizing about this since the day I met you,” He mutters as he moves his mouth from mine to my neck.

“About what?”

“You, in pearls and these shoes, wrapped around me.”

“How’s it working out for you?” I gasp as he rocks against me again and I tighten my legs around his hips.

He smiles against my neck. “Better than I ever dreamed possible.”

He rubs his nose along my pearls.

“You look so magnificent in these.”

“I love them. Thank you.”

He leans up on his elbows and pins me with those shining blue eyes, gazing intently into mine. He brushes his thumbs down my cheeks and I run my fingers through his hair.

“What is it?” I ask, reveling in the intense way he’s looking down at me.

“I love you.”

The words are strong, firm, with no hesitation, his intense gaze never falters, and I know, undoubtedly, that he means it. My heart stops, tears fall from the corners of my eyes and I clasp his precious face in my hands as I gaze up at my incredible man.

“I love you too.” He brushes my tears away with his fingertips, and then leans down and kisses my eyelids.

“Don’t cry, baby.” His lips graze my cheek and settle back on my lips again, and I’m completely bewildered and lost to him.

“Make love to me, please.” I want him more than anything. I want to feel him move through me, I want to see the passion on his face as he erupts inside me.

He smiles tenderly, sits back and hitches my panties in his thumbs. I raise my hips so he can slide them down my legs. He moves back on top of me and smoothes one hand up my leg, over the stockings, and lightly rubs his fingertips over the skin just above where the stockings end.

It’s delicious.