STAY THE NIGHT (The Phillips Family Book 1) (32 page)

             
“
He told me it's disrespectful to your parents if I don't return here tonight.  Are we really going to a movie?
”

             
“
We are if that's what you'd like to do.
”

             
“
I love Hollywood movies, but it's not my first choice tonight.
”

             
He grinned as he started the ignition in the car and circled the driveway. 
“
What is your first choice?
”

             
“
I want to get naked with you,
”
Darja said.

             
No guile.  He loved it. 
“
We'll be at my place in ten minutes.  Can you wait that long?
”

             
“
Can you?
”
she asked unbuttoning two buttons on her blouse to give him a better glimpse of her cleavage.

             
“
I'll have you back to my parents before the sun rises.
”

             
“
You must work tomorrow.
”

             
“
I've pulled all nighters before for a lot less reward.
”

             
Her hand reached across the sport's car console and stroked his thigh. 
“
I'd like to watch you in court tomorrow.  I bet you're virile and so commanding.
”

             
“
You don't need to flatter me, Darja.  I'm intrigued by you and have been since we talked for the first time on Christmas.  I'm glad we have this opportunity to get better acquainted in person.  My expectations are not cast in stone.  Ten days is not a long time to understand everything about the other, but it's a good start.
”

             
“
So you're suggesting we do take it slowly.
”

             
“
I'm suggesting we force nothing.  Let our relationship build at its own pace.  Not rush into a full-blown affair because of time constraints.
”

             
“
We'll see about that,
”
Darja said and Birch chuckled.

             
Cray and Angelica climbed in bed naked late that night.  His hands and lips explored her body, lingering at her breasts and on her mound.  He said,
“
When we get to Paris and check in our hotel, I may not let you out of bed for the first five days, but I promise we'll stay long enough to see the sights.
”

             
“
Make it a full week and you've got a deal.  Since my family arrived it's as though I had to kick my addiction to you cold turkey.
”

             
“
Once is never enough for us,
”
he said as his mouth lowered to her breast and suckled her hard while his hand caressed her clitoris and two fingers entered her.

             
She moaned and tugged at his hip. 
“
Cray, I need you in me now.
”

             
“
I won't last.
”

             
“
We'll start again, darling.  Please don't deny me.
”

             
“
I'm powerless to deny you anything, Angel,
”
he said plunging in her as her legs rose and wrapped around him, holding him close to her body so his strokes were short, but hard and fast.  Her climax built.  As she reached the peak she arched into him and his mouth claimed hers as they reached a simultaneous orgasm.

             
He stayed connected to her and pulled her on top of him as they still fought to regain control of their breathing. 
“
You take me so high,
”
she said,
“
and it's not just every now and then.  It's each time and that's why I crave that feeling you give me.
”

             
His fingers reached between them and stroked her swollen nub. 
“
I want to come again with you, but I need a little time to recoup.
”

             
“
You're not that soft,
”
she said, contacting her vaginal muscles and rubbing against his hand and pubic hair.

             
“
Keep doing that and I'll be hard again inside you.
”

             
She lifted her breast to his mouth and he laved and suckled her.  She said,
“
That feels so good.  Did I ever tell you I know when you're going to come in me?  It's not just your increased pace.  Your cock gets harder, thicker, longer.  You reach higher inside me.  You radiate a heat that makes me hotter.  You throb and pulsate.  Your seed is even warmer and when you release you drive as deep as I can hold you and that heightens my excitement.
”

             
“
Angelica,
”
he said, his voice tortured with need.

             
“
Take me, darling.  I want my legs on your shoulders.
”

             
He rolled her to her back as she raised her legs, using the tops of her feet to lock behind him as he pounded in her.  Before he shattered, she did. As they came down from their high, she said,
“
You probably woke the entire household.
”

             
“
I love you.  Everyone is aware of that.  I'll be glad when we're next door to strangers because I don't give a damn what they think.
”

             
“
I don't care what anyone thinks,
”
she said,
“
as long as you keep loving me and making love to me for the next half century.
”

             
He flopped down beside her and pulled her close for a passionate kiss. 
“
Eternity, babe.  That's what I'm shooting for with us.
”

             
He kissed her again, his tongue swirling in her mouth as his hand cupped her core and stroked.  She said,
“
What are you doing?
”

             
He released her mouth and before his tongue licked her nipple, she said,
“
Making you come again.
”

             
She opened her legs, giving him access while her hand cupped his balls and began to tease him to resurrect his erection.  Both sated, they kissed and stroked until after a long period their ministrations had the desired effect and for the third time that night they took each other to orgasm in a long sensuous journey that lacked the intensity of the first time, but spoke of their deep and abiding love for each other.  Then they slept.

Chapter 17

   Darja joined her family and the Phillips for breakfast the following morning.  They ate buffet style on the screened porch.  No one asked her what time she returned home and she didn't offer them an explanation. 

    The women decided they wanted to go shopping at some of the high-end stores that White Plains had to offer.  Alex said he'd take Dirk, Agust and Cray to the country club to play a few holes of golf, eat lunch there and play a few hands of Gin Rummy in the afternoon.  Lake, Ladd and Birch would join them at the house at six for cocktails and they'd go to the famous restaurant Morton's of Chicago for dinner that night.  Freddie and Bekka planned to join them at the house for cocktails and go to dinner with them.

    When they entered Neiman Marcus, Gwen said,
“
If we get separated, let's meet at the entrance at noon.
”
  They agreed.

   
“
Mamma,
”
Angelica said,
“
stay with me for a bit.
”

    Celena smiled and hooked her hand in Angelica's elbow.  Angelica led her mother to a display of Pashmina wraps.  She spoke her native language with her mother. 
“
I need your help in deciding what colors to buy for Mona, Gwen, Bekka, Darja and you.
”

    Celena's hand caressed the soft cashmere and silk blend. 
“
They are so soft and warm.  Are they expensive?
”

   
“
It's my gift to you and the girls for coming here and being in my wedding.  It's also my way of thanking Gwen and Mona for all they've done.
”

   
“
But they look expensive.  Can you afford this?
”

   
“
Yes, Mamma.  I earn a good salary from teaching and Cray insisted on giving me his credit card.  I won't use it, but he's very generous.
”

   
“
I've never seen such wealth as these people possess and yet, they don't flaunt it.  You're marrying well, Angelica.
”

   
“
I love him, Mamma, and he loves me.  His money doesn't influence me.
”

   
“
I understand.  He does love you.  It's in his eyes when he looks at you.  His family accepts you, too.
”

   
“
Yes, they're wonderful people.  Help me choose colors.
”
  She placed her hand on a tiger animal print shawl and said,
“
Darja will love this one.
”

   
“
Yes, she will.  It's wild like her.  She worries your pappa and me with her reckless ways and outspoken manner.  What will become of her?  She has no ambition to better herself.
”

   
“
She'll find herself, Mamma.  It takes some longer than others.
”

   
“
You decided at fifteen you'd come to America, get an education and become a professor.
”

   
“
Yes, but that's not common.  Most of my students have no idea what career path they want to follow.  I think the pale pink for Gwen with her silver hair and the purple for Mona.  Purple looks good on people with dark eyes.
”

   
“
I love the pale blue,
”
Celena said. 
“
This aquamarine is a close match to Bekka's eyes.
”

    Angelica laughed as she gathered the shawls and said,
“
See, I knew you'd be a huge help.  Thank you, Mamma.
”
  They looked for a sales clerk or cashier. 
“
Mamma, Cray and I will spend the last week or ten days of our honeymoon in Norway with you.  He's excited to see where I grew up and the area.
”

   
“
That's wonderful.  Do you suppose since he does have money that we can visit each other more often now?
”

   
“
Yes, Mamma, I do.  Either you can come here or during the summer we'll come to you.
”

   
“
Do you want children, Angelica?
”

   
“
I'll soon be thirty-six and Cray is going on thirty-seven.  We don't plan on having children.  Can you understand that?
”

   
“
Yes, I do understand.  I would love to be a grandmother some day.
”

   
“
Hopefully, the others will give you grandchildren.
”

    Angelica paid for and took her wrapped gifts.  She and her mother wandered to the handbag section where Celena found a purse she couldn't resist until Angel translated the dollar price to Krone, the Norwegian currency.  With reluctance, she put the purse back.

    Angelica said,
“
Your birthday is in two months.  Let me get this for you.
”
  Her mother protested, but in the end relented.  She exchanged the contents of her old purse to the new one.

    When the women met at the appointed time and went for lunch, Darja said,
“
Mamma, that purse is beautiful.  I'm so glad you treated yourself and I'm glad you didn't pick another black one.
”
  The rest of the group complimented Celena on her choice and she beamed.