Faltering Read online

  He puts his arms around me and squeezes me, almost too tightly, but I feel like I could just melt into him. My whole body has come alive again in his presence. My heart is beating fast and I feel flushed. I’m tingling deep inside, and waves of wanting are starting to pour out of me. Nobody has ever made me feel this way. Just being near him is enough to set me on fire.

  “God, Emma, I was so pissed to hear another man answer your phone. All I could think was, ‘You’re mine, don’t you know that?’” His voice is a little ragged, like maybe he didn’t get a lot of sleep last night.

  A thrill shoots through me. You’re mine. Wow, that is pretty hot for some reason. I didn’t know Alec was so possessive, but I like it.

  “Get in the car,” he commands, his tone allowing no room for debate. He opens the door and places his hand on the small of my back, quickly ushering me into the backseat. I get in and slide over the plush leather seats to make room for Alec. To my surprise, Ben, the same driver who’d been with us in Egypt, is behind the wheel.

  “Hey, Ben, it’s nice to see you again,” I say. He just nods and then, with a look from Alec, he gets out of the car and walks away.

  Alec slides in after me and then pulls me toward him. I wrap my arms around him and run my fingers in his thick, dark hair. We kiss, softly at first, then increasingly harder as our bodies take over. I straddle him, grinding myself against him. His hardness is pressing right between my legs and I rub myself up and down, wanting more, wanting all of him inside me. He moans, grabbing my hips and pulling me even tighter into him.

  “I’ve missed you. I want you so much,” he murmurs in my ear as his fingers slide up underneath my shorts and inside my panties. I am so wet with yearning, I’m on the verge of losing it right there in the car. I don’t care . . . I don’t want him to stop. His fingers slide in and out, his thumb pressing against me in slow circles. I am completely undone already, and he knows it. His lips pull away from my mouth and I whimper softly as he kisses down my jaw line and then nibbles on my ear, sending a little painful thrill through me.

  “Do you want me?” he whispers softly into my ear, stopping his oral assault for a second but never letting up with the motion of his hands.

  “You know I do” is all I can utter. I am so happy he’s here, with me, that I’d do anything he asked.

  Thankfully, the windows are tinted, so we are sheltered from the curious eyes of any passersby.

  He kisses me again, harder, pulling at my hair just a little. “You feel so good,” he whispers into my lips. I can taste his warm, minty breath.

  Then suddenly, he stops and pulls away. “But not here.”

  Wait, no, come back. I don’t want him to stop. I don’t care who sees.

  “I’m staying at a hotel for the weekend. I want to take you there, not in the back of this car.”

  He opens the door and motions for Ben, who has apparently been waiting on the sidewalk. I am still a little dazed and full of wanting. Alec takes my hand in his and brings it up to his lips. He kisses my wrist, gazing at my face with his dark eyes.

  I stare at the side of his gorgeous face as we drive through the morning traffic to his hotel. I can’t believe he’s here. He glances over at me and flashes me one of his devastating smiles. He’s so good-looking, it should be illegal.

  Somehow, I remember to text Leah and let her know everything’s okay, and I won’t be back for a while.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  Alec is staying at a luxury hotel downtown. We can’t get there fast enough.

  He has a suite on the top floor. As soon as we get there, Alec pulls me onto the huge bed and he’s on top of me. His hands are everywhere—in my hair, under my shirt, sliding across my stomach. It’s only been a couple of weeks, but I’ve been starving for him, and now that he’s here I want every part of him. In a flash, he has his shirt off and he grabs the bottom of mine and quickly pulls it over my head. Then he unclasps my bra and exposes my heavy breasts, my nipples already hard in anticipation.

  He licks his lips, his eyes heavy with desire. “Lie back on the bed and put your arms over your head,” he orders.

  I comply willingly, breathlessly waiting to see what he’ll do next. Slowly, never taking his eyes from me, he unbuttons my shorts and pulls them down past my knees and throws them to the floor. He leans down, grips my butt with his hands, and pulls me toward him a little, then leans over and starts kissing my inner thighs. I moan and bring my hands down to touch him, but he stops me.

  “I said to keep your hands above your head.” He looks darkly at me and I immediately do as I’m told. He grasps the sides of my panties and pulls them down, throwing them to the floor to lie beside my shorts. I’m now totally nude and exposed before him, my hands clasped over my head. He stands, still wearing his jeans, and looks down at me, his eyes burning.

  “Spread your legs wide for me. I want to see your beautiful pussy.” He exhales sharply when I do as he says.

  “God, I love looking at you,” he says as he slowly unbuttons his jeans and slides them off. My skin is on fire as I watch him look me up and down. I am filled with embarrassment, and also totally turned on by being so exposed.

  He stands before me, glorious, wearing only a pair of silky black boxers. The muscles on his stomach are hard and I am captivated by the v-shaped line of hair that disappears below his waistband.

  I lick my lips as I watch him slowly slide down his boxers. He is absolute perfection, and I don’t know how much longer I can wait to feel him all the way inside me.

  “Please,” I whimper, wanting so badly for him to touch me.

  He reaches down and grabs one ankle, bringing my red-painted toes up to his chest. He massages my foot and then slowly kisses the arch. I feel a thrill all the way up my leg and into my core. He continues to kiss slowly up my ankle, and then farther up my leg until his mouth is just inches from where I really want it to be. His breath is hot on my skin, and I might climax just from the anticipation.

  “I’ve been dreaming about doing this to you for weeks,” he says.

  God, so have I.

  I can’t stop myself from moaning as his mouth descends on me. His tongue expertly circles my clit. He spreads my legs wider with his hand, pinning me down against the bed. I’m powerless against his tongue and I can’t do anything except give in to the waves of pleasure that are now coursing through me.

  “Oh, God, Alec, yes, please,” I cry out as I’m pushed over the top, pulsing with pleasure.

  “I love to hear you come,” he murmurs as he lifts his head up from between my legs. He’s now kneeling between my legs and I reach out to touch him, sliding my hand up and down his long, hard length.

  He closes his eyes at my touch and the look of pleasure on his face sends a thrill through me.

  “Put your lips on me,” he whispers and I willingly comply. He’s deep in my throat and I suck hard, keeping my hand at his base. I feel him tensing, on the verge, when he pulls away and pushes me back on the bed. He’s above me now, his arms on either side of me, his legs between mine. I am wet and ready for him as he plunges into me in one long, slow thrust.

  “You feel so good,” he breathes into my ear.

  I grip his shoulders and bring my knees up as he moves in and out in perfect rhythm. I feel myself getting closer, reaching, and I can feel that he is, too.

  “Come on, baby, let’s come together,” Alec says, and the pleasure courses through me; he thrusts deeply inside me, filling me up. I can feel him coming at the same time.

  We both lie, spent, his body still draped over me. I just want to stay like this forever, burrowed beneath him, inhaling his warm, masculine scent.

  ****

  “So, I take it this means you’re not mad anymore,” I say, smiling.

  We are lying face-to-face, only inches apart.

  Alec grins. “You could say that.”

  “I didn’t know you were the jealous type.”

  “To be honest, I didn’t either. It’s ju
st the thought of some other guy touching you, being with you, well, it just made me a little crazy, I guess,” he says almost sheepishly.

  “Well, it was kind of good to know you cared.”

  “Look, Emma, my life is complicated. More than I can say at this moment. A relationship with someone wasn’t what I planned on right now. I really hesitated to call you, tell you I was back.”

  He runs a hand through his thick, dark hair, tousling it even more. He looks pained, conflicted even, and a nervous feeling comes over me. I don’t think I’m going to like where this conversation is headed. Alex sees the fearful expression on my face and touches my face, kisses me gently on the lips.

  “But I just couldn’t help it. I couldn’t get you out of my mind. I had to see you, no matter the cost.”

  Cost, what cost? I thought I was the one with the emotional baggage, but maybe Alec has a few secrets of his own?

  “Alec, I understand. We made no promises,” I tell him. “You don’t have to pretend this is something more than it is.” Despite my words, everything inside me is screaming that he could be the one for me. “I just want honesty. After my last relationship, I just don’t feel like I can take someone making false promises to me.”

  “That’s the problem,” Alec says, “for some reason, I want to be able to make promises to you. I want you to promise me everything. You’re the first person I really feel like I can be myself around. I mean, you don’t even really know who I am, where I come from, and you still want to be with me. Most women I meet only care about me for the status and what I can do for them.”

  “Status? What does that mean?” I furrow my brow, confused. “I’m not sure I know what you mean.”

  “What I mean is that I’m from a very rich and powerful family. My parents are influential people and a lot of people just want to get to know me because of that. I’ve always had a hard time trusting people. I don’t usually let anyone get close to me, especially women. That’s why meeting you was totally new for me. We were both strangers, you didn’t know my background, didn’t want anything from me. And yet, you still wanted me, just for me, not because you thought I could do something for you.” He lets out a sigh and stares at me with wonder in his eyes.

  My heart breaks a little. It’s awful that he doesn’t feel like he deserves love just for being who he is.

  I touch his face and pull myself closer to him.

  “Oh, Alec, you are such an amazing person. I had the best week of my life with you,” I tell him honestly. “I don’t care who your family is or how wealthy you are.”

  He wraps his arms around me and hugs me tight. His face is buried in my hair.

  “Look, let’s just forget all this right now and have some fun this weekend, okay? I’ve only got a few days before I have to be back in New York.”

  “Okay,” I say, but my heart is clenching again at the thought of him leaving so soon, when I’ve just gotten him back.

  ****

  The weekend flies by and we have a great time exploring the city together. I show him my apartment and around campus. He meets Leah, and we visit Jake at the bar. The guys hit it off and we spend a relaxing Sunday together just hanging out.

  But all too soon, it is time for him to leave.

  “This weekend has been amazing. I wish I didn’t have to be back in New York so soon,” Alec says as he pulls me in for one last hug.

  “Me too,” I whisper. I’m holding back tears, not wanting to have another emotional goodbye. This long-distance thing is so hard, and despite the fact that I’ve tried to guard my heart, it hasn’t worked.

  “I want you to come to New York next weekend and stay with me.” He reaches out and holds my chin up, looking deep into my eyes. “Please, say you will.”

  Oh my God, yes. Yes.

  “Well, let me see, I’ll have to check my calendar,” I joke.

  Alec grabs me and spins me around. “Oh, you’re coming, all right,” he says. “You’ll be coming, and coming, and coming,” he whispers into my ear and shivers run up and down my spine.

  “I’ll send you a plane ticket. I want you there Friday night . . . I’ve got somewhere special to take you.” I raise my eyebrows, but he just smiles mysteriously and doesn’t elaborate.

  “Oh, no, I can take a bus, or the train,” I start to object, but Alec hushes me.

  “No arguments, just do as I say. Be ready Friday afternoon. I’ll send someone to pick you up and take you to the airport. I’ll be waiting for you in New York. Wear something dressy.”

  “Okay, if you insist.” I smile. I’ll be seeing Alec again soon! He kisses me again, long and hard, then pulls away reluctantly.

  “Bye, babe, take care of yourself.” Then he gets into his car and drives away. I stand on the sidewalk, staring after him, until his car turns the corner and I can’t see it anymore.

  Alec has gotten under my skin. He’s addictive like a drug. And I’m opening up to him, trusting him like I never thought I would trust anyone again.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  Leah lounges on my bed, watching me pack for my weekend to New York.

  “I have absolutely nothing decent to wear,” I exclaim, throwing up my hands in frustration. “I mean, I don’t even know where we’re going to be going.”

  Even though I’ve spoken to Alec every day this week, he has so far refused to tell me just what we’ll be doing this weekend. So frustrating!

  “You know, I’ve never actually been to New York,” I continue as Leah busies herself with filing her nails. “I’m from a small town, and when I was a kid, going to ‘the city’ meant going to Boston.”

  “You’re going to love it. I’m so jealous. I wish I was going, there’s so much to do there. Although, with a hottie like Alec, you might not even make it out of his apartment.” She smirks knowingly at me. “Hey, wait, I’ve got the perfect thing for you to wear.” Leah jumps off my bed and heads across the hall into her room. She returns a minute later with a super-sexy yet elegant red dress and a pair of matching high-heeled sandals. “This will look smokin’ hot on you. I’ve only worn it once, but when I did, I got a ton of attention.”

  “I don’t know.” It isn’t really my style . . .

  “When Alec sees you wearing that, he’s going to die.”

  I take the dress from Leah, holding it up against myself while looking in the mirror. She’s right . . . Alec will love it.

  I finish packing and am all ready to go when a horn honks outside.

  “That’s my ride—gotta go. Thanks for the dress. Have fun with Jake this weekend.” I throw my bag over my shoulder, scoop up my phone from the dresser, and head toward the door.

  “Oh, I will.” Leah smiles mischievously. “I can’t wait to find out where your mystery outing is going to be.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  The plane ride from Boston to New York is over almost before it begins. I look out the window as we descend, excited to visit New York for the first time, but even more eager to see Alec.

  When I get off the plane, Alec is there, waiting with open arms. He must have just come from the office, because he’s dressed a lot more formally than I’ve seen him before, in a navy suit and polished black shoes. His normally wavy hair is slicked back, neat and professional, and I have to resist the urge to run my fingers through it and mess it up. He looks, smells, and feels amazing. I am so happy to be back in his arms again.

  He plops me back on the ground but doesn’t let me go, bending his head down close to mine. Grazing his lips against mine, he murmurs, “I’ve missed you so fucking much.” Then he presses his lips harder, his tongue flicking my top lip until my lips part. I have to suck in a breath as he grips the back of my hair and intensifies the kiss. I throw my arms around his neck and pull myself even closer, wanting every part of my body to be in contact with his. We stay like this for several minutes, not caring about the people around us. Finally he draws back; we’re both a little breathless. He gives me a wicked, sexy grin and says, “Com
e on, I can’t wait to get you back to my place.”

  We get in his car and head over to his apartment. Today, he’s driving us himself in a sleek black sports car—an Audi, I think. Alec is a good driver, expertly maneuvering through the traffic, and in no time, we are pulling into the underground garage of his high-rise apartment building.

  In the elevator, he pulls me into another embrace.

  “I’m so glad you came. I’ve been fantasizing about you all week,” he murmurs into my ear. Then he gives it a little nibble and a hot shiver shoots through me.

  “Oh yeah, what kind of fantasies?”

  “Don’t worry . . . you’ll be finding out soon enough.” His fingers trace a light, slow line from my wrist up to my shoulder, and my skin warms at his touch.

  The elevator comes to a stop and we exit directly into the foyer of his apartment. I am momentarily stunned at the opulence that surrounds me. Gleaming, dark hardwood floors stretch out before us, and huge floor-to-ceiling windows boast an amazing view of the city skyline. The decor is modern and somewhat sparse, but it has a few warmer touches, including an oversized brown leather sectional and some shaggy rugs in front of a huge stone fireplace. I love everything about this place and instantly feel at home.

  “What do you think?” Alec asks as I walk around in awe.

  “It’s amazing. If this was my place, I don’t think I’d ever leave.”

  “Wait till you see the best part.” He takes my hand and leads me down a short hallway. He opens a door and leads me into the master bedroom. It is masculine, with light gray walls and dark gray sheets on the bed. The bed is in the center of the room, king size with four high posts.

  On the nightstand, I see a couple of blue silk scarves. I turn and raise an eyebrow at Alec.

  He gives me a sexy, confident smile and then rubs his thumb back and forth against the inside of my wrist. “You’ll find out about those soon enough,” he purrs seductively.