Royal Heir (Westerly Billionaire #3)(27)

“Nothing.”

She hugged her arms to her stomach. “Now that’s an answer I no longer accept. It never mattered how bad things got in my family, they always said things were fine. They weren’t, though. If there’s a problem, just say it. I’d rather dig in and try to fix something than pretend it’s not there.”

Okay. “I like you.”

“That’s the problem?”

His shoulders tensed. He wasn’t one who opened up to people easily. “I enjoy your company more than I thought I would.”

“You say that like it’s a bad thing.”

“It is for me. If I have any intention beyond bedding you, I’m doing this wrong. You’re currently a joke in the media. If it gets out that I’ve also made you my lover, it’ll be another hit to your reputation, even though substantial damage has been done already.”

“Wow, okay, remember when I asked for honesty? Feel free to deliver it in a way that’s less of a kick to the groin.”

Her turn of phrase amused, but the situation did not. “I care about your public image.”

“Because?”

He frowned again. I should have just kept kissing her. What am I doing here? “Because I don’t want to see you hurt by your affiliation with me.”

She smiled then. “You’re concerned about me. Despite all that tough talk, you’re a worrier, just like me.”

“We could not be less alike.”

She lowered her lashes, then gazed up at him from beneath them. “You’re a big softie, aren’t you?”

“No.”

“You don’t have to be embarrassed about it. It’s actually really sexy.”

“Really?” That piqued his interest.

“Definitely. I’ll admit that when I first met you, I thought you were attractive. I mean, all the ‘I will have you’ stuff was sexy, but I would never have slept with that man.”

“No?”

“No, all he cared about was himself. Then you told me about Finn, and I saw how hard you fought to help my brother, and I thought, Now there’s a real man.” She went up on her tiptoes and brushed her lips across his.

Nothing had prepared him for the tailspin Rachelle could send him in with one brief kiss that was both sweet and bold—just like she was. He groaned and gave himself over to the pleasure of her touch, of the way his body burned for hers.

What started gentle became more frenzied as the kiss deepened. She arched against him and moved back and forth against his bulging cock in an intimate, full-body caress. He slid one hand up beneath the back of her shirt, across her bare back, then down to cup her delicious ass. They ground against each other, and Magnus wanted nothing more than to free his cock right there in the garden and bury it deep inside her.

Not since his teenage years had he felt close to coming from foreplay alone. He needed to know that she was just as ready. He kissed his way down her neck and shifted her sideways just enough so he could slide a hand down the front of her shorts. With ease that came from experience, he slid beneath her panties as well and settled his thumb on her clit while his middle finger thrust into her wet sex. She gasped and gripped his shoulders tighter. He withdrew his finger, then thrust it in again, deeper. Withdrew it and went deeper still. “Oh yes,” she whispered. “God, yes.”

He took her mouth with his again, claiming her there as well. She met his passion with a hunger of her own that fanned the wildness in him. When her hands rubbed over his cock, he fought not to explode. He increased the rhythm of his thumb across her clit until she was writhing and moaning against him. She was so wet, so ready for his taking, but he held himself back.

Soon.

This time he wanted her to be the one out of control. He pushed her shirt up and unclipped her bra, freeing those pert breasts for his mouth. When he circled one of her nipples with his tongue, she jutted against his fingers. Some women could orgasm from nipple play alone. He loved the idea that soon he would know all her pleasure points and how to use each to drive her wild.

He used his teeth to gently tug on her nipple while thrusting a second finger into her. She clenched around his fingers and cried out. When she shuddered and sagged in his arms, he withdrew his hand and brought it to his mouth. While she watched, he tasted her juices.

She watched and licked her bottom lip. He held her with one arm while using his other hand to unbutton his trousers. She took his lead and eagerly freed him, wrapping one hand around his cock while cupping his balls with her other hand.

He waited, and groaned with pleasure when she dropped to her knees and took him deeply in her mouth. God, her mouth was perfection. He dug his hands into her hair and watched her lave him with her tongue before taking him deeply again.

He was a man who enjoyed sex, but this was the first time he’d felt consumed by it. The things she did with her fingers and her tongue erased all ability to think from him. He wasn’t used to feeling out of control, but had they stopped then, he surely would have died.

Too soon, an orgasm surged. He warned her gently, and she used her hands to finish him. As he slowly came back to earth, he knew he’d never forget the sight of her still on her knees before him. He shook himself off, adjusted his clothing, then helped her to her feet and pulled her into his arms.

For some time they simply stood there, holding each other. He hadn’t meant to take it as far as it had gone, but it had confirmed what he’d already suspected—the more he had of her, the more he wanted her, and that meant that his plan required some adjusting. “Tomorrow, after we visit the hospital, I’ll check you in to a hotel.”