Love Beyond the Curve (BookStrand Publishing Romance) (21 page)

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“Are you hungry?” Reed recalled her earlier remark about probably starving on the way home.

“Only for you, my darling, only for you.” Charlotte brought the hand she held to her lips and began to slowly suck the tip of each finger. She gazed at him while she sucked and swirled her tongue around each thick digit. His breath caught in his throat as he tried to drive and watch her, too.

“You’re going to be lucky if I even get you inside the house before I take you. Keep doing that, and I can’t be held responsible for lacking in finesse tonight.” Reed spoke in ragged tones as Charlotte turned his palm up and began to make tiny circles in its center with the tip of her tongue.

Charlotte gave him a wicked smile and adjusted her dress so that she could tuck one foot behind her knee, affording her a more relaxed position. “There. That’s better. Now where were we? Oh, yes.” Charlotte took his hand back into hers, only this time she placed it over her sex with her own hand covering his.

Reed’s eyes widened, and he looked over at her staring straight ahead, as if nothing unusual was happening. “Damn, girl. You just keep on shocking me.”

She pressed his hand fully against her and bent his fingers inward so that he cupped her mound. “Oh, you haven’t seen anything yet.”

She began to guide his hand in a stroking motion, pressing down on his middle finger, causing it to slide over her most intimate spot.

Even through the fabric of her dress, Reed could feel the heat radiating from her core. The fact that he was stroking her through the fabric of her dress was sexier than he would have imagined. He glanced over at Charlotte, who had closed her eyes and rested her head back against the seat. Her lips were parted, and she was breathing more deeply, causing her breasts to rise and fall in a steady rhythm.

“Mmm…that feels so good. Stroke me a little faster. Press into me, Reed. It’s only a dress. That’s it, baby.” Charlotte let go of his hand and held onto the door and console, spreading her knees even farther apart, to grant him better access to her.

“Is that the right way? Does that feel good to you? Hold on. It’s about to get even better.” Reed pulled at her dress until it bunched at her waist, exposing her shapely legs to him. She threw her leg across the gear shift to rest her foot against his thigh. He pushed aside the strip of fabric that was the last barrier to the pleasure he wanted to give her. He plunged his finger between her folds, finding her wet and ready. He began to set the rhythm he knew was capable of bringing her an orgasmic release.

He drove and worked his magic between her thighs, while Charlotte moaned softly, now gripping his bicep as her pleasure seemed to be building.

“Does that feel good, baby? You were ready for this. This is what you needed. Are you ready to let go?” Reed talked softly to her as he quickened his pace. Charlotte simply nodded as she held on even tighter.

“Tell me what you want, Charlotte.”

“Take me over the edge, Reed.” Charlotte answered him between tiny gasps.

“That’s all I wanted to hear.” Reed rubbed her swollen nub with the pad of his thumb as he plunged his middle finger inside her as far as it could go.

Charlotte cried out, arching her back and pushing harder against his hand as she pressed her knees together tightly.

“That’s it, Charlotte. Let it wash over you. You made it, baby. We’re home now.”

Chapter Forty-One

Reed led Charlotte to his bedroom where only the soft glow of a lamp burned on a roll-top desk. They stopped at the foot of his mammoth king-sized bed. He smiled and took her into his arms and kissed her tenderly on her lips. Charlotte leaned into him, relaxing in his embrace. She reveled in the feeling of his strength and power as he held her firmly against his body. His tall, muscular frame gave her a sense of security. She felt small in his arms, like she was protected there. This was a feeling that she hadn’t experienced with anyone else before. It was indescribable. It made her feel very feminine and womanly to have this man’s protection and devotion.

He was the one. Reed Jackson was the one she had been waiting for her whole life. She loved him with all her heart. She wasn’t afraid anymore to accept his gift of unconditional love and adoration. He had declared his feelings for her and never wavered, even when she was doubtful of his sincerity. He had proven to her he was in this relationship long-term. It was time to let him know he had won her heart.

“We’ve waited a long time for this night to come, and now it’s finally here. Are you sure this is still what you want?” Reed tunneled his fingers through her hair and held her face in his palms.

Charlotte covered his hands with her own before turning her head to kiss each palm. “Yes, it is what I want now more than ever, Reed.”

Reed tilted his head slightly sideways and asked her a surprising question. “Why do you want it more now than ever, Charlotte?”

“Because I love you, and I believe you when you say you love me. I don’t want to deny myself anymore. I want to let go and be head over heels, crazy in love with you. I’m letting go of any doubts or worries that might hinder us from having the most loving, solid relationship possible. I love you, and I’m yours.” Charlotte’s eyes glistened with unshed tears as she looked into Reed’s clear blue eyes that seemed to have brightened with her declaration of love for him.

“I waited so long to hear you say those words to me. I didn’t want to push you or lead you in any way. I wanted you to say it when you were ready, because I would know you really felt it in your heart. When you first said those words, I thought my heart would burst. I love you so much. I’ve been in love with you since the day you dumped that bucket of water over your own head. You are unlike anyone I’ve ever known, and I know we will always be happy.” Reed bent his head and began a gentle kiss that deepened as it went on. He lifted his head and wiped away a tear from her cheek with his fingertip. Turning, he walked over to open a small compartment in the desk and extracted a black velvet box. He walked back to where Charlotte had sat down on the edge of the bed. On bended knee, he lifted her trembling hand to his lips and pressed his lips against it.

“Charlotte, the months that I’ve known you have been the happiest of my life. I miss you when we aren’t together and look forward to the moment when I will see you again. I want to spend the rest of my days with you, building a life together. Will you make me the happiest of men, and do me the honor of sharing your life with me as my wife?” He opened the velvet box, his own hand shaking slightly, and presented her with a three-carat emerald-cut diamond set in a platinum vintage-styled setting.

Charlotte’s jaw dropped slightly as she gazed at the gorgeous engagement ring he was offering her. She began nodding her head and answered him by leaning over to kiss him softly. She opened her eyes and looked into his warm smiling eyes and replied, “Yes, I would love nothing more than to be your wife. I want to create a home with you, because that’s where I am with you, Reed…home.”

He took the ring from the box and slipped it onto her left ring finger. It was a perfect fit and sparkled brilliantly.

“It’s beautiful,” Charlotte whispered as she extended her hand to look at it from another angle.

“It’s nothing compared to you. You have an inner beauty that radiates from within, making you even more beautiful. I will never tire of looking across the room and seeing you, knowing you belong to me.”

“I love you, Reed, and we will have a happy life together. I promise.”

Reed stood and took her in his arms, his eyes now burning darkly with a desire to take possession of her. He kissed her again, but this time it was a fiery kiss that burned her lips and ignited the flames of passion within her soul.

He turned her in his arms and began to slowly unzip her evening gown. He kissed her neck and let his lips travel on down her back as more of it was exposed. The dress slid to the floor, leaving Charlotte clad only in a black lace bra and panties.

“You are so beautiful. Never doubt it for a second. There will never be anyone but you for me,” Reed whispered in her ear, holding her against him with his hand splayed over her lower belly.

Charlotte turned in his arms and began to unbutton his shirt. “You are all I’ll ever want or need. For a lifetime. Now, make me yours in every way.”

Reed nudged her hands aside and began the task of quickly undressing. He never took his eyes off of her as she reached back to unfasten the strapless bra and let it drop away from her full, rounded breasts. She hooked her thumbs in the waistband of her lacy panties and rolled them over her hips and down her legs. When she stepped out of them, she crawled on all fours to the top of the bed and lay back, naked except for the glittering diamonds she wore. She lifted her arms over her head in a pose of surrender to Reed, inviting him to come ravish her body.

Reed now stood naked at the foot of the bed, drinking in the sight of the woman he loved, ready to give her soft, yielding body to him. He was overwhelmed by the love he felt for her, and he sensed she felt for him, at this important moment in their lives. He stretched his long body out beside her and bent his head to kiss her breasts before beginning to graze his teeth over the hardened nipples. He allowed his hand to skim lightly over her waist and hip, squeezing her bottom as he pulled her closer to him.

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Charlotte trembled and tingled at his every touch, feeling more and more the need to be part of him. She wrapped her arms around his neck as he crushed his lips against hers. She arched her back so that her breasts pressed even deeper into his warm, calloused hands. She reveled in the sensations caused by the texture of his hands brushing against her sensitive nipples. She began to kiss the corded muscle down the side of his neck, nipping it with her teeth. She wanted him. Now. It was time for the waiting game to be over.

She lay back and parted her knees as his hand traveled down her stomach toward the heated core of her being.

“I love you, Charlotte. I need you. I want you.” Reed spoke his words of passion as he stroked her gently with his hand.

“Then take me, Reed.” Charlotte’s eyes burned with desire for the man that had broken through her walls of defense and saved her from herself. She parted her thighs as he covered her body, positioning himself to enter her. He clasped both of her hands with his own as he began to slowly ease himself into her warm channel. He was being gentle, seeming to not want to hurt her by entering her too fast. He continued to stroke her gently, pressing deeper into her with each thrust. Charlotte lifted her hips and wrapped her legs around his waist. She began to adjust to the rhythm he set for them and was soon meeting him thrust for thrust. She soon began to feel waves of exquisite sensations rushing to her center. When Reed leaned down to kiss her deeply, the dam broke, and Charlotte was flooded with wave upon wave of warm, shimmering tremors coursing through her body. Reed tensed and gave one final thrust, releasing the passion he had held inside for Charlotte since the beginning of time.

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Reed held Charlotte in his arms, snuggled under the warm covers. She fit perfectly against him, with her head resting under his chin. Her hair smelled fresh and fragrant, and he wanted to wake up like this every day for the rest of his life. Charlotte had loved him freely and given herself with complete abandon. He knew they would love each other hard and love each other often. He had waited for the right woman to come along. He knew her when he saw her. She was like no one he had ever imagined finding to spend his life with, but here she was. He ran his hand over her hip and down her full thighs, remembering how they had held him firmly between them as he had made love to her. He slid his hand back up to her soft belly, caressing it lovingly as he recalled the way her body had drawn him into it. They had truly become one unit, and he felt oddly alone when they had separated. He knew he could love her as he wished without her feeling crushed by him. He not only loved every curve of her body, but desired it as well. He had searched for the right woman so long, without really knowing what he was looking for. Everything became crystal clear the day he met Charlotte Hamilton. From that day until now, he had known in his heart, love was right around the curve. And would be forever.

THE END

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kate Patrick can’t recall a time in her life when she didn’t love to read. Her love of reading has continued into adulthood, but it is hot romance that she loves to write! While in high school, she began to write romantic stories with a happily ever after. Writing took a backseat to a teaching career, marriage, and motherhood, though books were constant companions. About three years ago, the idea of writing was rekindled. Now, you can find her late at night typing away by the blue glow of her laptop screen.

She and her husband live on the Gulf Coast with their son and three quirky Pomeranians. When not writing or reading, Kate loves to sing, dance, and watch romantic movies, side-splitting comedies, and crime dramas. Spending time connecting with family and friends is an important priority for her as well.