Chapter 17

Greer

Lawson’s lips run lightly along the side of my neck, tickling the skin in their path. I nuzzle further into the pillow, fighting the pull to open my eyes.

“Still sleepy?”

“Yes,” I lie. The huskiness in his voice and the feel of his breath on my ear have awoken every one of my senses.

His hand on my stomach snakes up, cupping my breast and sending a shudder down my spine.

“How can I sleep while you’re doing that?” I barely whisper.

“Doing what?” His other hand now slips between my legs, and his fingers draw circles around the skin.

Instantly, my body lights from within. “You have to stop.”

“Why?”

“Because, if I open my eyes, it means it’s morning, which means we have to leave in a few hours and I don’t want this weekend to end.”

“Let’s stay a few more days. I told you I have the time off.” There’s a serious edge to his tone that strikes me as odd.

I twist into him, careful not to bump his head, and untangle my arm to cup his cheek. “This week is packed for me. I have a client that is going through final radiation treatments and needs me to help her with some outfits for the holidays. And Dad’s dinner is Thursday night.”

At the mention of the dinner, I can’t miss the flare in his eyes. It’s something I’ve noticed the few times I’ve mentioned the event. “Lawson, are you really okay with not coming on Thursday night? Because, if you’re not, I’ll tell my dad I changed my mind and you will be added to the guest list.”

“No, it’s not that. I stand by my decision to meet your dad in a less formal atmosphere. I just want a little more time with you here.”

“I want that, too, but can’t we come back?”

“Anytime you want.”

“So, let’s plan a long weekend when things calm down at work.”

He nods in agreement, but his face is still marred with disappointment. It’s evident he’s got something else on his mind, and I’m determined to make him tell me.

“Talk to me,” I urge gently. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing is wrong.” He gives me an unconvincing answer right as his fingertips swirl again, slipping between my thighs and grazing along my clit.

“Wait.” I clench my legs to stop him. The delicious flurry in the pit of my stomach lurches in protest. It’s not only his touch that awakens the fire inside; it’s the anticipation that builds beyond passion. I lose my mind, become unable to think coherently.

But, in this moment, I force myself to break through the haze.

“Why are you so adamant about extending our weekend?”

“Because I’m a selfish bastard.”

“You want to explain that?”

He locks eyes with me, and I am instantly aware of the storm brewing behind his gaze. “Here, in this cabin, you are mine. I don’t have to share you with the outside world or worry about circumstances that could rip you from me. Our connection is impenetrable, and I want you all to myself.”

Circumstances that could rip you from me? His words tumble in my head, and I fight to make sense of them. There’s only one thing that comes to mind.

“Are you concerned about meeting my dad, that it will change things?”

His face remains still, but the slight flinch in his eye tells me I’ve hit a nerve.

“Sweetie, my dad is easy. He’s a regular guy. You’re working yourself up over nothing. Once you meet him, you’ll understand.”

He closes his eyes, breaking our stare, and slides his hand to my waist. When he opens them, my heart sinks. “Greer, Kevin Palmer is anything but a regular guy. He’s a business tycoon, an industrialist, and a self-made billionaire. His pedigree is elite, affluent, and beyond anything I can ever measure up to.”

Vulnerability bleeds in his statement. “Why do you think you have to measure up to anything? Why the sudden invasion of self-doubt?”

“This is not self-doubt. What the hell is he going to think when he meets his only daughter’s boyfriend, a man about to chuck his only known career and go out on his own? The risks I’m taking are massive in measure. He’s going to question everything about me and scrutinize your sanity.”

“You’re making some heavy assumptions, Lawson. My dad is going to welcome you into the fold. He’s going to admire your ambition, praise your bravery, and offer his support for your success.”

“I somehow doubt it will be that pleasant.”

“You’re judging him harshly without meeting him. It’s not fair.”

“Look at this from my perspective. See it through my eyes. I want to protect and shield you from the ugliness.”

“How about we lay off the dramatics until after you two actually meet. Then I’ll look forward to you apologizing and admitting you overreacted.”

“I don’t admit I’m wrong often, Greer. I’m crazy about you, and after one look at me, he’s going to know my intentions are long-term. If we had a daughter, it wouldn’t go over too well with me. You’re not a man so you can’t understand what kind of reaction he’s going to have. As a species, we never show our weakness. You’re my weakness.”

He’s unreasonable, irrational, over the top, and sounds like a complete fool, yet my heart melts. There may be some truth to his words, but I’ll never divulge it.

There’s only one way to convince him that he’s worrying over nothing. It’s a leap I’ve been scared to take, but in this moment seems perfect. I curl around him, using my chest as leverage, and roll until he’s on his back and I’m straddling him, my upper body covering his. I brace on his shoulders and grip his cheeks so he’s forced to look at me.

“You’ve got me there, Lawson. I’m not a man, so how about this? He wants me happy, and he wants what’s best for me in my life. I have everything money can buy, which is a luxury. The one thing money can’t buy is love, and I love you. I love you so much it consumes me. You’re right about him; he’s an intelligent man. One look at me with you and he’ll know my heart is yours. He’s not going to do anything to hurt me or jeopardize that.”

The storm clouds clear from his eyes as a new burn builds in his expression. He grips my ass, bruising me with the force of his hold. My breath catches in my throat at the intensity growing around us.

“Say it again,” he semi-growls.

“I love you.”

“Again.” He tilts his hips, his firm erection sliding against my core, which starts to ache with the promise of him.

“I love you,” I finish on an airy breath as he teases my opening.

“You are everything to me.” His voice is husky.

“We’re going to be fine. Everything is going to be perfect.”

He huffs, still unconvinced.

“I promise we’ll come back here. Nothing will change. The rules remain the same. If you keep me a fire blazing in every room, we’ll do naked servitude.”

This seems to please him because his lips tip in a sexy grin. “You’ve got a deal.”

The mood in the room slowly changes, the intensity evaporating. I kiss along his jaw and neck and begin licking, sucking, and nipping down his chest. He’s forced to release his grip when I wiggle my butt and raise my eyes, making my intentions clear.

His knees fall to the side, making room for me as I take my time, covering every inch on his abdomen with my lips before tracing the tip of his cock with my tongue. I love the way his eyes flare with lust when I leisurely take him fully in my mouth.

“Greer, baby, get back up here.” His hands thread though my hair, pulling gently. “I need you.”

“You have me. Every piece of me belongs to you, but this morning, I’m taking control.”

My tongue twirls around the length of him, up and down, alternating between sucking and licking, watching as his eyes darken into a wild and frantic glower. He’s fighting an internal battle to take over. His muscles flex at my waist, and his chest visibly constricts.

I lose his stare when he squeezes his eyes shut and bows his head into the pillow. The vein in his throat ticks, and his fingers tug at my hair.

I take this as a sign of encouragement, scraping my fingernails lightly up his inner thigh until I reach to massage his balls. His dick pulses when the tip hits the back of my throat, and a savage grumble sounds as his hips buck.

“Mmmm,” I hum, gliding up and nipping at the tip with only my lips.

His breathing becomes louder as I tease and taunt him, never looking away. The vision is almost too much as my body begins to simmer with the familiar ache. He starts to chant my name, and a rush of adrenalin courses through my bloodstream.

I close my eyes, enjoying the velvety smoothness of his skin and the taste of him on my tongue. I’m so lost in the feeling of euphoria I miss the signs of him breaking control.

“AAAAAAHHHH” I cry as he knifes up, ripping himself from my mouth. In a master move, he has me straddling his hips as he impales me from below.

I scream again, the invasion tearing through my body in exquisite pleasure.

“As much as I love my cock in your mouth, you don’t get that this morning,” he grunts into the skin at my neck.

“Control freak,” I whimper breathlessly.

He stills, wrapping one arm around my back, and presses us chest to chest, the other hand angling my face to his.

“You have forever to get used to it.”

The tone of his voice, the firm and determined expression on his face, and the weight behind his words all sink in.

Forever…

It’s a promise.

A proclamation.

His own way of telling me he loves me.

My heart skips a beat, turning over in my chest and threatening to burst. Before I turn into a blubbering idiot, I flash him a grin. “Forever sounds good.”