Merger (28 page)

“I knew it
. Damn it, Josh. That girl wants you and I’m not talking about a working relationship.”

“K.K., it was three years ago, I assure you there is nothing there
. I’ve been out with several women in the last three years and she’s never once acted as if there was anything between us. She is my assistant and that’s it. I promise you.”

I hated this kind of crap
; the kind where we have to talk about the relationships before ours. It sucked when you really liked someone, or in my case, loved someone and had to hear about past relationships. I’d assumed that Josh’s experience was on a much greater scale than mine, but didn’t like the idea of hearing about it.

“That must have been one hell of a kiss.” I looked into his eyes and I could tell he was looking at any way possible to avert this conversation further
.

“It was nothing
. You are all I want and all I need.” I knew this wouldn’t be the last of my dealings with Megan, but right now I would succumb to my beautiful man. I let him draw me closer, closing the gap I’d created and wrapped my arms around him.

“Look at me
, K.K.” He put both of his hands on my cheeks. I could feel their coolness against my wine flushed face. “It’s only you,” he repeated. I brushed my soft lips to his. He opened his mouth and lapped his warm tongue over mine. My pulse increased with every swipe and my sex grew heavy and eager between my legs. He still held my face and pulled back to meet my eyes. “I’m yours,” he said.

I thought my heart couldn’t get any fuller, but with those simple
words, I melted into him. “I’m yours too, Josh.”

Dinner came and went and I was grateful to spend time with Josh
. All thoughts of Megan were now a thing of the past. He talked to me about his relationship with his Dad and brother and how he’d fought going to work for his Dad in the beginning and now couldn’t imagine being anywhere else. We talked about Jake and Beth and I’d shared that he’d invited her to L.A. for the weekend. He’d shared that Jake and Beth had spent the last night in New York together despite the fact he wasn’t supposed to tell me and I knew then that we’d never have secrets. I loved hearing him talk about his life, and his passions, and came to understand what a rare and awesome man he was. I could see my future in his words and admired his ideals. Family was as important to him, as it was to me. We’d both suffered the loss of our mothers, but found strength in ourselves.

We finished up the last of our meal and made our way to the house
. The windows were down, Sade was playing No Ordinary Love on the radio, and the ocean breeze cooled my face. We pulled into the garage and I went to open my door.

“No
. Stay.” I looked over at Josh as opened his door, bolted around the car, and opened the passenger door. I smiled and threw my legs onto the garage floor, grabbing his hand to help myself from the car. He pulled me into his chest and I stood on my toes to gain access to his mouth.

“You know I’m a sure thing…right
? All this chivalry is great, but not necessary.” He bent his knees and scooped me into his arms, pulling me tightly against his hard chest.

“It’s absolutely necessary and you’re my sure thing lady.
” He kissed my forehead and I buried my cheek against his chest as he carried me into his house.

Josh kissed my head softly and set me down on my feet
. I kicked my shoes off and walked over to pet Daisy. Josh moved from the kitchen into the living room and suddenly the house filled with the sounds of Adele. My man knew his music. Eclectic and cool. I felt him pass behind me as he moved to the wine fridge and brought out a nice bottle of red. It was still early; the weather perfect. He grabbed the wine, two glasses, and ushered Daisy and me onto the wraparound deck that flanked his kitchen and hearth room. It was an exquisite night; balmy, but cool from the ocean below.

Josh sat on the lounge chair and pulled me between his legs
. He maneuvered around me to pour the wine.

“Nice
!” I exclaimed after savoring the tasty red liquid against my tongue.

“You like?
” He wrapped his arm across my chest, grazing my nipple, which instantly hardened to the touch and pulled me into his chest. I laid the back of my head against his shoulder and he rested his warm cheek against mine.

“Very much, tastes like Pinot Noir.
” He stroked my arm with his free hand still wrapped across my chest. Every stroke made me more and more aware of my overwhelming need. My nipples were tight beneath his arm and my pumping heart shuddering beneath my ribs. I let my eyes close as he spoke softly in my ear.

“Nicely done
. It’s Penner Ashe, one of my favorites. I’m glad you approve.”

I tilted my head back yearning to feel his mouth on mine and when his lips touched
mine, it was pure magic. I opened to the feel of his tongue against mine and the heat between us became palpable. I reached over to place my wine on the side table and spun around to face him. His eyes were now heavy with the same lust. He hardened against my stomach and I licked my lips. He put his wine glass down and I pulled my body up his to kiss his neck. He tilted his head back giving me better access to him. His body became more rigid beneath me as I moved up and down him.

“You are so fucking hot
,” he said then reached around and pulled me heard against his mouth. My body felt hot and shaky as I let him take my mouth roughly. I knew that need and wanted him to have me in any capacity he desired. I moved my legs to straddle him and sat up.

“I want you to take me out her on the patio
. I don’t want to wait another minute to have you inside me.” I removed my shirt and bra and watched as his mesmerized eyes roamed my bare breasts. He didn’t speak, nor did I. Nothing needed to be said. Our desire for every ounce of each other was like life support, neither able to sustain without it.

He leaned up and gripped my nipple tight between his fingers as he sucked and pulled the other into impossible hardness
. I gasped at the sting of his fingers and teeth as the ache became yearning. I slid my hand under his shirt wanting to feel his hot skin against mine. He pulled it over his head and I helped slide it over his arms and onto the patio floor beside me. I leaned into him and he wrapped his arms around my back cradling me into his tight warm chest. I moved my hand to his face and my mouth to his ear.

“You’re all I want and all I need
,” I said, stealing his words. I moved my head up to face him, knowing he’d want to see my eyes with his repeated profession from earlier. His blue eyes were exacting on mine. The heat of his breath was against my mouth. His thumb brushed against my lips and he pulled me into the deepest kiss. I could feel my eyes become watery, so I closed them to hide any signs that I was overwhelmed. His thumb ran across my lid and scooped up a tear that had fallen.

“Open your eyes and look at me baby.
” I wanted to hide, but it was no use. I loved him and the realization of just how much I felt for him was overpowering. I didn’t need to wait to hear the words from him. I was ready to tell him how I really felt. I may lose my heart to this devastating man, but knew without a doubt it was the realest thing I’d ever felt.

The world around me seemed lost as I opened my eyes to look at Josh
. I could feel my body shake with every one of his touches.

“This thing right now, right here, it’s real
. It’s as powerful as anything I’ve ever felt.” He grabbed my wrist and pulled my hand across his heart. “Do you feel that, K.K.?” I nodded, but didn’t speak. “That’s my heart about to beat right out of my chest.” He pulled my hand from his heart to his cheek. “I love you.”

I reached my other hand to his cheek and stared into his beautiful eyes
. “I love you too. I’ve known it for a while but I’ve been too scared to acknowledge it or say it.”

He pulled me closer and said it one more exquisite time
.

“I love you.
”

He sat
up, moved both of his legs to the patio floor, and flipped me onto my back. Everything had changed with that statement and there was no turning back. This was forever. My heart was swollen and full, my body still shaky beneath me.

“Please…I need you baby.
” With that confession, his hand moved inside my jeans and over my wet hot sex.

“This is mine baby
. I love it that you’re so wet for me.” He thrust his fingers deep inside me and I raised my hips to meet him.

“Yes…” I said heavily in his ear
.

His kiss came down on me and his tongue moved against mine as deeply as his fingers
. I pushed my pants down and kicked at them with each ankle working the legs down and off my feet. It felt good to widen my legs and the aching of my sex and core weighted with every thrust of his fingers driving in and out of me. I was riding the edge of my orgasm when Josh’s thumb circled my tight budded clit into sweet circles.

“Oh Joosshh…
” My words came out shaky and broken as my core pulsed around his fingers, slick and swollen.

“
So beautiful baby. Now I’m going to fuck that sweet pussy of mine. Are you ready baby?” I nodded, but couldn’t speak. I was breathless and ready to feel him inside me. I undid his jeans and struggled to get them down, his cock impossibly hard and seeking its release. “See what you do to me. Can you feel how hard I am for you?” I nodded again, and pulled my lip in between my teeth. I could feel the orgasm coming quick and he wasn’t even inside me yet. I arched my back and grabbed him hard in my hand.

I was flush with heat and heady with longing as my body shook beneath him
. “Oh my god baby. I’m going to come on you instead of in you. K.K., look at me.”

I wrapped my legs around his waist and pleaded for him, “Please.
” I looked into his eyes and the bell of his cock drove hard into my dripping heat.

“I love you.
” He whispered softly in my ear, as I melted into him. He plunged into me, driving deeper and deeper, and me wanting to draw him straight into my soul.

“Come
again for me baby.” It was all I could hear, between his moaning and mine, our panting palpable and the heat of our bodies stifling us into an oblivious climax.

“Joshua.” I said deeply into his neck
. “I love you,” the words so new to him and me that we couldn’t quit saying it out loud.

His wrapped his arms tightly and I couldn’t hold on any longer to the bubbling arousal inside me
. It spilled over and shook under his beautiful body and the weight of his erect length. Then with a labored push into my heat, he came with me.

My body was dense and limp beneath him
. His cock was buried deep within me and the sheen of sweat between us was smooth and hot. Josh moved to his knees with me still straddling him.

“Come
inside with me, baby. I’m going to clean you up and then let you sleep.” I was powerless to fight, my body sated and my sex tender around him.

He carried me into his bathroom setting me on the vanity
. He pulled out of me and I felt the immediate loss of him. I hated it and wanted to have him buried in me all night. He walked over and got a washcloth and soap, then proceeded to wash me, like a parent would a child. Me, not helping, but watching as he gently and methodically moved over my tired body and down to my swollen sex. I loved this man.

He rinsed out the washcloth and cleaned the sex off his semi-erect cock
. I couldn’t quit staring at the sheer length and size of him. He chuckled and grinned when he saw me staring.

“Incredible
. That’s all I can say about that.”

“So you’ve said
. I’m glad it pleases you, because that pussy of yours is lined in gold and all mine.” He moved between my legs and put his hand around my ass pulling me around his waist as he walked into the bedroom and laid me under the cool crisp covers of the bed. He kissed my head and pulled the covers over me. “I’ll be right back. I’m going to pick up outside.” I barely heard him leave after my head hit the pillow, totally tired and totally in love.

Chapter 24

Joshua

I woke early to find her nestled into my side
. Her breath was soft and sweet against my neck. Her long hair was lying down her back and shoulders. I was incredibly in love with her and had finally told her the truth about my feelings. I knew in that very moment, last night that I had to give her those words. I didn’t even know if she’d say it back, but I needed to tell her how I felt. When she repeated the words back and told me that she’d known for days, I thought I’d be the one to cry. I was a crumbling mess of a man with this woman and would make sure she had everything I could give her. I moved her over and moved down her body, hoping to wake her with the heat of my tongue.

She widened her legs as I moved my tongue over her sex and lapped at her clit
. I felt her arch into my mouth and her hands buried into my hair. I moved my tongue in and out of her and dipped my fingers into her wetness as I worked her clit in tight circles. She moaned and grasped my hair harder. I sucked her into a tight ball of nerves around my fingers and she released into a quivering mess around me, the taste of her flooding my tongue and mouth.

I moved up her body, kissing my way up her tight stomach and over each of her supple breast
s. My cock grew harder with every kiss. She pulled me to her mouth, and licked my lips, tasting herself on my tongue as it mingled adoringly with hers.

“Good morning
,” she said and smiled her beautiful smile.

“Good morning
, sweet baby,” I replied.

She reached down and caressed my balls with her delicate fingers, then grabbed at the base of my length stroking me to her wet opening
. The heat of her hand on the head of my cock had me straining under her hand. She lifted her hips to seek me out and I was weary with the need of her, wanting to possess her body and her heart. I was already rock hard and wouldn’t be able to go long before climaxing as she worked her hips to mine.

“God K.K.
, you feel good baby. I’m not going to be able to hold out long.” I could feel her body meet mine over and over as the pressure built within us. I sucked her nipple into a tight peak and pulled back to watch as my cock slid in and out of her. The sight of our bodies molding together nearly drove me over the edge.

“Oh fuck
,” I said into her warm neck. I brushed my thumb over her clit and as she yelled my name, I came hard inside her. I loved the idea of my sperm in her and marking her as mine. I grabbed her hands and pulled them over her head, clasped with mine. I kissed her deeply and looked into her beautiful eyes.

“How’s my girl?
” I asked.

“Never better
. What time is it? It’s still dark outside.”

“Yes it is
. We are going to go workout and then it’s off to the office, lady.” I felt her stretch her body beneath me and I pulled myself sadly from between her legs.

“Are we running?
” She questioned and I looked over and smirked.

“Not a chance
. Today we do CrossFit. I have a great group of coaches and an awesome Box. That’s what you call a CrossFit gym. You’ll love it, I promise.”

She looked at me reluctantly and I wanted to cave and roll back on top of her.

“It’s gonna be tough isn’t it?” she said with a smirk and I laughed.

“Yep
. But you’re in great shape and they will absolutely make sure your form and technique is ‘spot on’ before you do anything. I swear running keeps me lean, but CrossFit keeps me hard.” I winked for effect and she leaped from the bed to her feet.

“If it keeps you hard, I’m all for it
,” she said with a chuckle.

Two hours later and both of saturated with sweat, we made it back to the house
. I prepared scrambled eggs, turkey bacon, and whole-wheat toast. She loved her coffee, so I made her a latte, and I had juice.

I watched her from the sliding glass door, sprawled out on my deck as the sunrise glistened off the ocean ahead
. She was on the same lounge chair where we’d finally said we loved each other. I’d been so nervous to say it out loud, having never uttered those words to any other woman but my Mom. The outcome of that decision to fess up couldn’t have been any better. I knew she felt the same as I did, but saying it and laying your heart out there was scary as hell. She looked back at me as if she knew I was watching her and I knew in that moment I never wanted her to leave.