Twelve
Christian saw Noelle’s hesitation and felt his heart tear.
“Victor convinced me to move to New York for the next six months so I can focus on the ready-to-wear line.”
“Victor convinced you?” Christian probed her expression. “Or did you have this in mind before you left Sherdana?”
“A little of both,” she admitted. “Thanks to you Marc loves it here, and I don’t know how I’m supposed to take care of all the manufacturing issues and marketing details if I’m in Europe.”
“You let me believe that I would have partial custody of Marc. Have you changed your mind?”
“No. We will figure something out about that.”
“But you and I won’t be together.”
She stared at her hands and shook her head. “Being Marc’s parents and having great sexual chemistry aren’t strong enough reasons to get married. I don’t want to get divorced in a few years because the only time we’re compatible is in bed.”
“I don’t plan to divorce.” Just the thought made his chest ache. “I intend to spend the rest of my life with you.”
Again she didn’t answer right away. If her goal was to convince him that she didn’t share his commitment, he refused to let her succeed. Pushed to fight for the woman he wanted, Christian stood and scooped Noelle into his arms. He silenced her protests with a fierce glare and marched toward her bedroom. Setting her on her feet near the bed, he shut the door and stripped off his shirt before turning to face her.
“Christian, this isn’t going to change my mind about staying in New York.” So she said, but her gaze roamed his bare torso in hungry desperation.
“I have no intention of talking you out of moving to New York.” He eliminated the distance between them with deliberate strides, letting passion incinerate his fear of losing her. “I only want what’s best for you.”
He hadn’t meant for his words to upset her, but suddenly she looked stricken. Moving with slow tenderness, he slipped the dress from her body and worshipped her soft skin with his fingers and lips. The catch on her strapless bra popped free, no match for his expertise, and she sucked in a sharp breath as he took one breast in his hand.
With his desire spiraling in ever tightening circles, Christian dropped to his knees before Noelle and hooked his fingers in her white, lacy panties, pulling them down her thighs. The vibration in her muscles increased, threatening her stability. To keep her upright, he framed her slender hips with his hands. Her flat stomach quivered as he trailed kisses across it.
He’d missed the chance to watch her belly grow round with his son. He set his forehead against her, overwhelmed by how much more he stood to lose if he couldn’t win her love. His sudden stillness prompted her to ride her palms across his bare shoulders and dragged her nails through his hair. He wrapped his arms around her and set his cheek against her abdomen.
“Christian?”
He’d never fully appreciated the power of her soothing touch. How her quiet voice and fervent embrace created a sanctuary that let his worries slip away.
“I wasn’t completely truthful when I said I only wanted what was best for you. What I really want is what’s best for me. And that’s you.”
“Make love to me.”
Not needing to be asked twice, Christian lifted her off her feet and set her on the mattress. Together they stripped the comforter away, exposing the cool sheets. Noelle knelt on the bed and snagged the waistband of his trousers, drawing him toward her. Moving with confidence, she unfastened his belt and slid down his zipper until she’d freed him.
He had the package open and the condom ready, but when she began to slide it down his erection, the heaven of her strong fingers closed around him ripped a groan from his lips. Rolling her fingers over his sensitive tip, she gave a half smile as his hips bucked forward. Shuddering, too aroused to withstand her ministrations for long, Christian sucked in a sharp breath and freed himself from her grasp.
“You drive me crazy,” he growled a second before claiming her lips in a hot, fiery kiss.
Tenderness vanished beneath the onslaught of her answering passion as she pushed her breasts against his chest and drove him crazy with the seductive sway of her hips. Filling his hands with her adorable butt, he shifted her off the mattress and coaxed her thighs around his waist. With his erection hardened to the point of pain, he laid her on the crisp sheets and moved between her thighs.
But he didn’t enter her as she’d expected. Instead, his lips grazed over her mound, causing her head to lift off the bed and her gaze to sharpen. Enjoying the play of emotion on her face, he dipped his tongue into her sizzling heat and tasted her arousal. With a groan, her head fell back and her hips strained forward. Christian grinned as he began again, finding the rhythm that she liked and coaxing her toward climax.
She came against his mouth, her back arching, his name on her lips. In the aftermath, she lay with her eyes closed, her chest rising and falling with each unsteady breath. Smiling, Christian kissed his way back up her body. He settled between her thighs and kissed her with all the longing that filled his heart. Then, at her urging, he eased into her tight heat. She burrowed her fingers in his hair and set the soles of her feet on the mattress, tipping her hips to meet his slow, deep thrust.
Now it was his turn to cry out. Burying his face in her neck, he began to move. Pleasure swept over him in a stormy rush. He set his teeth against the glorious friction, fighting against the orgasm that threatened to claim him. By slowing his movements, he was able to regain some control, but the provocative sweep of Noelle’s hands over his hot skin wasn’t making things any easier.
“Faster,” she murmured, her teeth catching at his earlobe. “I want you to come hard.” Her throaty voice and the flick of her tongue over the tender spot where she’d nipped him caused him to shudder and almost lose control.
“Damn it, stop that,” he growled, cupping one butt cheek and adjusting his angle just a bit to allow his pelvis to rub her just so.
With her eyes closed and her lips curled into a satisfied grin, she yielded to his pace. Content to watch her, Christian barely noticed the heat building in his groin until it threatened to engulf him.