She didn’t want to wake up. Quinn knew that waking up would be bad, but something…it felt good.
Hands against her back. Soft kisses on her shoulder. She sighed as happiness surrounded her.
“Quinn,” a deep, rough voice called to her. That voice…something jogged her memory and she smiled. “Bryce,” she replied, thinking that she was safe, that this wasn’t a problem since she was sound asleep.
The man was obnoxious, but boy, could he make love to a woman.
He laughed again, the deep sound hitting her low in her belly. And hard.
Suddenly, she was rolled over and a hot, demanding mouth covered her nipple. Gone were the pleasant thoughts and happy contemplation of her dreams. She screamed, not sure why her throat hurt as she did. Fingers dove into dark, soft hair and she arched into Bryce’s mouth.
“That’s more like it,” he grumbled as he moved to the other breast.
Quinn was shocked but couldn’t stop her legs from shifting, making room for him. Her mind might not like the fact that she’d given in to this crazy chemistry between them, but her body was completely onboard!
“I need to get to work,” she told him, but her hips pressed against his groin, still ignoring her mind.
“It’s Saturday, Quinn. No working today.”
She almost laughed at that command. Saturdays were just as busy as weekdays in her office. She might not have clients coming in, but it was a quiet day for her to get all the cases looked at and updated, briefings typed up, and motions ready to be filed first thing Monday morning. The idea of taking a Saturday off had never occurred to her. She loved her job.
But what he was doing to her now, that hard part of him filling her body, making her feel…right…that was pretty amazing too. Yes, for the first time since graduating from law school, there was something she wanted to do more than practice law. She wanted to be right here, doing this with Bryce. She didn’t want to think about divorces or worker’s compensation issues, labor disputes or union problems. All she wanted was to enjoy the blissful pleasure that this man’s hands and body could give her.
When he was fully inside of her, she sighed as her arms wrapped around his broad shoulders, her body lifting up against his. “Yes!” she sighed, arching so that her body could take his erection deeper, more fully inside her body.
When he started moving, shifting in and out of her, she couldn’t seem to stop her body from moving right along with his. Every pulse inside of her caused her hips to rise up, to meet each of his thrusts. And with every thrust, she felt that tingle, that friction against that sensitive nub that made her body reach a little higher, a little closer to that nirvana.
“Please don’t stop,” she whispered, unaware of her nails biting into the skin on his shoulders.
Bryce watched Quinn as he moved against her, trying to find the perfect angle. Her eyes were closed as he thrust into her wet heat, but he could feel her body responding to him. Every movement, every touch, seemed to light her body on fire. He realized that he wanted to wake up with her like this, in his arms, every day of his life.
Hopefully, some of his lust would diminish over time. But until then, he was going to relish her passion that nearly matched his.
Rolling over, he lifted her until they’d changed positions. When she looked down at him from above, her doe-like eyes confused, he almost laughed. She wasn’t a virgin, but damn, she was so adorably inexperienced. “Just move, Quinn. However feels good, just do it,” he explained. His hands moved to her soft hips and showed her by lifting her up, then letting her body slide back down his shaft. He groaned as he felt her body tighten around him, felt her inner muscles contract around his erection. She felt so damn hot! So good!
Then she took control and Bryce almost had to roll back over. The way she was moving, the sexy thrust of her tongue as it wetted her lips…all of it combined to blow his mind!
“I like this,” she whispered, moving against him, pressing her body in ways he would have sworn were illegal. He didn’t give a damn. All he knew was that this woman was the hottest, most beautiful creature he’d ever held in his arms.
Then she did that thing, shifting to the left and upwards and he almost lost it. “Quinn!” he groaned, louder than he’d anticipated but…hell, the woman was trying to make him crazy!
“Don’t move,” she told him, laying one of her soft hands against his chest.
He tried! Hell, he tried very hard not to move, to give her the freedom to shift against him. But looking up at her, watching her body shiver when she hit a particularly good angle…he couldn’t stop.
Rolling back over, he pulled out of her and shifted their positions.
“What…?” she demanded, trying to understand why he’d stopped her. “I was...”
He laughed, but the sound was harsh. “I know what you were doing, honey. But next time you can have control. Right now,” he moved over her, his hand lifting her leg so that it was over his shoulder as he eased back into her heat. With one hand, he stroked that nub while he balanced both of them with his other hand. Just a few strokes and she was shaking her head, trying to pull his hand away, and he knew that she was close. He could feel her body’s reaction in the way her inner muscles were tightening as well as the way her hips were rising up to meet each thrust. Just one more, two, three and…she screamed out, her body arching as her climax took over her body. Bryce watched for as long as he could but the image of her finding her release was just too beautiful, too incredibly hot. The feeling and the image took him over the edge and he followed her, finding his own release only a few thrusts later.
Falling on top of her, he tried to roll to the side, but her arms were too tight around his neck. Besides, he didn’t want to move anyway. He’d be perfectly happy to stay like this for the rest of his life.
Unfortunately, he was bigger than Quinn so he rolled to his side but pulled her against him, still intimately connected. He didn’t want to lose that connection just yet and, from the way she was shifting against him, she didn’t want to either.
They stayed like that for a long time, both of them trying to get their breathing under control. And both of them trying to grasp what was happening to them.
Bryce had to figure her out. She was such a feisty woman, so stubborn. And she thought they were from different worlds. How was he to convince her to be with him, to stay with him forever, when she didn’t think she should even spend the day with him?
Quinn stared at the ceiling, trying to understand why she was so drawn to Bryce. How could she have stayed with him overnight when she should have been running home, locking the door, and deleting all of his contact information from her phone and computer?
Bryce Steele was the enemy. He represented everything she fought against.
No, that wasn’t true. When it came down to the wire, he’d met her and her clients halfway. The generous settlement he’d made with each of the remaining clients had been amazing.
She couldn’t stop the smile when he shifted, his nose nuzzling her neck. “That tickles,” she laughed.
“Are you hungry?”
She thought about that for a long moment, not sure. Was she hungry? Yes. But not for food. She wanted him again. She wanted to move on top of him and just push the rest of the world away. She wanted to ignore all of her responsibilities and all of her beliefs so that she could stay with this man.
But he didn’t want that from her. He wanted to just have fun before he moved on to the next woman.
Realizing that, she pulled out of his arms, cringing when she felt her muscles strain from their nighttime activities. “Can I use your shower?” she asked, pulling the sheet up to cover her nakedness as she looked over her shoulder at him.
“I’ll join you,” he told her.
Quinn didn’t want that. She felt like she was going to burst into tears at any moment. Shaking her head, she started to lift her hand up to stop him. But he was already lifting her up into his arms, carrying her to the bathroom.
“I’m perfectly capable of walking, Bryce,” she told him, gritting her teeth against the wonderful feeling of his arms on her skin once more.
“I know you can. But I like holding you.”
He set her down when they were in his huge bathroom and she looked around, stunned by all the space. “This is where you shower every morning?” she asked as he turned on the water. Since they were standing underneath the nozzle, she braced herself for the cold water but it was already warm. Huh! How did that work?!
“What did you imagine?” he asked as he picked up the soap and slid it against her skin.
But that only caused her to jump backwards. If he wasn’t so fast with his reflexes and grabbed her carefully, she might have slipped on the marble floor.
The way he gently held her in his arms was the last straw. Her emotions had been on edge ever since that last moment but now, she couldn’t hold back any longer. She simply burst out in tears, pressing her face against his chest as the sadness overwhelmed her.
She felt his strong arms pull her closer and she couldn’t resist the temptation to feel secure, to feel him like this. She knew it was wrong, but Quinn just needed a few more minutes before she toughened up.
“Honey, what’s wrong?”
Shaking her head, Quinn tightened her arms around Bryce’s waist, embarrassed by her outburst. “Nothing!” she sobbed, pressing her cheek harder against his chest.
He laughed softly and she wanted to purr when his hands dove into her hair, his strong fingers massaging her scalp. “Something is definitely wrong,” he argued.
His gentle tone only made her cry harder. Yes, she was acting like a lunatic. No, she couldn’t seem to find that tough, lawyerly exterior.
Instead of asking her again, he continued to press his fingers against her head with one hand while holding her close with his other arm. Patiently, he waited for the storm to be over. When she finally lifted her head, he would have laughed at the mess her makeup had made over her cheeks, but he suspected that his amusement would only cause her to start crying again.
“Want to talk about it?” he asked gently.
Quinn pressed her lips firmly together, shaking her head. “No. I’m just an idiot.” She grabbed the soap and lathered her hands. When she had enough bubbles to wash a horse, she pressed her hands against her face, rubbing away the evidence of her outburst. Or trying to, at least.
She felt his hands on her waist, but tried to ignore the warmth of his touch, the desire to lean back against his chest. She had to be strong. She had to get out of here. And she had to do both before she broke down in tears again.
Last night, when she’d made the decision to stay with him, to accept her one night with him, she hadn’t known how beautiful it would be. She hadn’t known the amazing magic of being in his arms and experiencing his lovemaking.
Now she knew, and she had to figure out a way to move on in her life without this man, without ever knowing that magic again.
“Hey,” he said, leaning down so that his lips were close to her ear. “Talk to me, Quinn. Tell me what just happened.”
She shook her head, furious with herself for allowing yet another revealing quiver of her lips. “I’m fine.”
He laughed and nipped at her earlobe. “You’re not fine. Tell me what is going through your head.”
She closed her eyes for a moment, but knew that he wouldn’t allow her out of his place until she revealed all. He might think she was nuts, she thought.
Spinning around, she stared at his Adam’s apple, not wanting to look at his lips or his chest. Or his eyes. Or his shoulders. They were all too…tempting. His Adam’s apple…that seemed safe enough.
“Fine. You want to know what’s bothering me? I am! I’m a stupid, silly female.”
“You’re not stupid and you’re definitely not silly, Quinn. Just the opposite, in my experience. You’re tough, assertive, and a brilliant lawyer who had my entire legal team chasing their own tails trying to keep up with your legal machinations. Which is why I want you to come work for me.”
She laughed, warmed by his compliment. “I won’t work for you, but thank you for the compliment.”
“Anyway, you were going to explain why you burst into tears a moment ago.”
She almost laughed. Gone was the tender man of moments ago. Back was the arrogant, corporate tycoon who demanded everything. She realized that she admired both men.
With a sigh, she took the bar of soap and lathered herself up, intending to admit her silliness and get away as quickly as she could. “I fell for you, okay? If you want to know the truth, I fell for you. Hard. I’m not one of those women who can have sex with a man and not feel something for him. I should have known that last night and stopped you from bringing me here.” She stepped into the water and rinsed off. When she stepped out of the water again, she wouldn’t look at him. “So now, I’m going to dry off, grab my clothes, and get out of here. I’m sorry for being so emotional but…”
She didn’t have a chance to finish that statement. His strong hands had her pinned against the shower wall and he bent down so that he could see into her eyes. “You fell for me? That’s all you’re going to say? You tell me that you’re in love with me and then walk away?”
“I didn’t say…”
“No!” he snapped, lifting her hands up and pinning her wrists above her head. “No way, Quinn. You’re not leaving me. Now that you’ve admitted that you’re in love with me, you’re mine!”
Quinn could feel all of those tingling sensations start to burst in her stomach as she looked up at him. Yes, he was trying to lean down to her level, but the man was too darn tall!
“I’m not…”
He shook his head. “Quinn, if you dare to try and tell me that you’re not mine, then I’m going to…” he shook his head, obviously unable to come up with a good enough threat. “You’re mine, honey. You gave yourself to me last night.” He pulled her against him and kissed her, his lips teasing her mouth until she opened for him. And when she did, he groaned, his hands tangling in her hair, tugging her head back so he could deepen the kiss.
She felt possessed. As he moved against her, kissing her, his body gentled and she shivered, feeling loved and cherished. When he lifted his head, he looked down at her. “You blindsided me, Quinn.”
She blinked, not sure what he meant. “I doubt anyone blindsides you, Bryce. You’re too strong.”
“You did, honey. You hit me like a sledgehammer and I never saw you coming. I was fully prepared to battle you, but then you walked into your boss’s office that day and I was lost. Completely lost in those beautiful lilac eyes of yours.”
She rolled her eyes, but the smile was slowly forming.
“You know what this means, right?”
She had no idea. Shrugging her shoulders, she looked up into his green gaze. “Um…you’re going to…”
“I’m taking you to a store and putting a ring on your dainty finger. No more arguments about me being the enemy or you needing to work today. You’re mine. We’re going to be together. Whatever issues come up, we’ll face them together.”
She shook her head. “I can’t marry a wealthy man in my job. And,” she stopped him before he could say a word, “I’m not coming to work for you. I love my job and I love my clients. I’m going to continue to help them.”
His grin widened with what she hadn’t said. “But you’re still going to marry me.”
She sighed. “I didn’t say that.”
“Yes you did,” he countered. He turned off the shower and grabbed two fluffy towels, wrapping one around her and tying the other around his waist. “While I cook you breakfast, I’m going to explain a few things to you.”
“You are?”
“Yep. You have me all wrong, honey.”
She didn’t think so, but she followed him out. Looking around his bedroom, she realized that she had no idea where her clothes were.
“I think they’re by the front entryway,” he told her, laughing when her cheeks turned that adorable shade of pink. “You’re going to have to stop doing that in the future. I have a housekeeper that comes through once a day to clean things up and make meals. You’re going to embarrass her if she’s always picking up your clothes from the floor!”
He laughed, a rich, vibrant sound that she loved, when he dodged the pillow she threw in his direction. “Here,” he said, tossing her a shirt. “You’ll look hot in this until I can get you home to pack up your clothes.”
She grabbed the shirt, but still clutched the towel around her nakedness. “Why am I packing up my clothes?” she asked, suspecting she knew the answer.
“Because you’re moving in here.” He walked over to her, stalking her like a rabbit but with a light to those green eyes that promised devilment. “Because you are going to be in my arms every single morning, for the rest of your life. Because you will look silly going to work in the same outfit every day. Because you want me just as much as I want you and if you try to deny it, I’ll just have to toss you right back into that bed and prove it to you.”
Quinn was backing up the whole time he said that. “You can’t do that.”
“Why not?” he asked, still moving toward her.
She thought fast. “Because I’m starving. I need food. You wore me out.”
Quinn almost laughed when he checked his forward momentum. She wasn’t sure if anything else could have stopped him but he was too sweet of a man to deny her when she needed food.
“Breakfast,” he agreed, then glanced at the clock on the side of the bed. “Lunch, actually. Then the jewelry store. Then your place for your clothes.”
“Food,” she agreed to. “Then my place.”
He shook his head. “No deal, Quinn. I’m not letting you out of here until you agree to marry me.”
She had to laugh. Not because he was funny, but because she was suddenly filled with joy. A joy so intense, she couldn’t keep it contained any longer. “Marriage. Are you sure you want to marry me?”
He swept her up into his arms, kissing her gently. “Yes. I love you Quinn.”
She sighed. “Why didn’t you say that first?” she asked, playfully hitting his broad shoulder.
He chuckled as he nipped at her ear. “If I had, would that have circumvented the rest of the conversation?”
She considered it for half a second. “Maybe.”
He rolled his eyes. “I’m marrying a lawyer. A woman trained to argue. What have I gotten myself into?” he asked as he stared up at the ceiling.
But then he put her down, whipped the towel away from her and draped the shirt over her shoulders. “Come on. The faster I feed you, the faster I can get you to a jewelry store so I can get my ring on your finger.” He took her hand, not bothering to button the shirt. He walked over to a drawer and pulled out a pair of boxers, then a pair of jeans, sliding both up his long, muscular legs.
Pulling her out of the bedroom, they padded barefoot to his massive kitchen. “Sit,” he commanded, pointing to one of the stools. “What do you like to eat for breakfast?”
She smiled, propping her head up on her fist. “I usually don’t eat breakfast.”
He looked at her with a look that said that her habits were going to change. “Scrambled eggs, it is,” he told her and pulled out eggs, cheese, onions, olives and some other items that she wasn’t sure what he was going to do with.
“We’re not getting married, Bryce,” she told him as he started chopping the vegetables.
“Yes, we are,” he said, not even pausing as he continued to cook.
“We don’t know each other.”
He added the chopped olives. “We’ll get to know each other over the years.”
Quinn laughed. “I’m not sure that’s exactly how things should work.”
He shrugged one of those shoulders. “I suspect that it would be safer to get my ring on your finger. The way things went last night and,” he looked over at her across the counter, his green eyes moving up and down her figure with a leer, “today, marriage is really the best idea.”
She laughed, thinking he was teasing her. “What do you have to do this weekend?”
He tossed more vegetables into the pan and some olive oil. “Besides buy a ring, set a date, and spend as much time in bed as possible with you?”
Another chuckle. “Yes. Besides all that.”
He shook his head. “Nothing. I’m going to dedicate myself to ensuring that you are moved in here with me and that I can overwhelm you with every possible pleasure.”
She really didn’t think he was serious, but he made a mean plate of scrambled eggs. When they finished brunch and had cleaned up, she discovered that he’d been completely serious. She found her clothes and pulled them back on and, she also discovered that the man could drive himself. In fact, he had several different vehicles in the basement parking lot of his building. He simply had to choose which he wanted for that day. She didn’t realize why he’d chosen a luxurious SUV to drive her back to her apartment until he stepped in and looked around.
“Where is your suitcase?” he asked, opening the only closet door in her studio apartment.
She peered at him over his shoulder. “I don’t need a suitcase. I’ll just grab some…”
He found her small bag on the top shelf of the closet and started searching through her dresser. “These are going to have to be thrown away,” he told her as he surveyed her white cotton underwear and inexpensive bras. “We’ll stop by a store and get you new stuff.”
And with that, he slammed the drawer shut, moving on to her sweaters and jeans, stuffing several of them into the bag. “That should be enough for this weekend,” he announced.
Quinn glared at him, trying to ignore her laughter because he really was being high handed about everything. “I’m not…”
He stopped her once again by taking her hands in his. “Quinn, just spend the weekend with me. You said this morning that we don’t know each other. Get to know me. The real me and not the image that everyone has of me. And even better, let me get to know you. I don’t really understand what is happening between us, but I know that it isn’t normal. What I’m feeling for you is special and I want to explore it.” He bent down lower, looking into her lilac eyes. “I suspect that you’d like to explore it as well.”
She did, but…
“I’m scared, Bryce.”
“Scared of what?”
She sighed, moving easily into his arms and she felt him pull her closer. “I’m scared of you. I’m afraid of letting these feelings grow. What if…”
“What if it works out?”
She stared at him, not sure what to say. “I want kids,” she announced.
He nodded. “Yes. I like kids.”
She smiled slightly. “Do you like your kids? Or do you like other people’s kids, especially when they go away?”
He laughed, agreeing partially. “Well, I think I would like to have children with you.” He backed up a step. “And I will definitely enjoy the process of producing the children with you,” he leered.
She smacked his shoulder lightly, but bowed her head. “I’m serious, Bryce. I want kids. I want the picket fence.”
“I do too,” he told her, pulling her back into his arms. “And I know that I want you. I want you by my side, growing old together, Quinn. I want the whole Norman Rockwell picture.”
She laughed, shaking her head. “There’s no such life. He painted fantasies.”
“He painted a dream.” He looked into her eyes. “Are you willing to shoot for the dream with me? We might miss. But it will be a lot of fun trying.”
She stared up at him, not sure what to say. But as happened whenever she was with him, the words just seemed to burst out of her mind and through her mouth. “Okay,” she finally replied.
His grin was almost boyish. Well, as boyish as anything could be on a man who was six feet, three inches tall with shoulders a football linebacker would love. But it was still endearing. And she loved him. Yes, she was going to take a crazy chance on love and life with this man.