Effortless (18 page)

With every step I took, I noticed more long stemmed red roses. They weren’t in vases. They were laying on a dining table and on chairs and pillows. There was so much to take in I became overwhelmed.

And then I walked out onto the balcony. The candles weren’t the only source of golden light that bathed this apartment. Twinkling so close that I could almost reach out and touch it was the Eiffel Tower.

“Paris,” I said as tears welled in my eyes. “He brought me to Paris.”

“Do you like it?”

I turned, bursting with love for the man standing in the doorway. “I love it.”

Tilting his head to the right, he motioned for me to look in that direction. Sitting on a table set for two was a bottle of champagne and a slice of birthday cake. I laughed.

“You brought me to Paris for a piece of cake?”

“Among other things.”

“I don’t know what to say. I’m…this is…” I blinked back the tears. “I don’t know what to say.”

Bowing his head, Alastair grinned. “Speechless, huh? That doesn’t happen very often with you.”

“Come here and kiss me before I go insane.”

More than happy to oblige, he approached in less than three strides and kissed me with more love and affection than I expected him to succumb to. A shudder streaked through his body, shaking me to the core.

“I love you,” I breathed, holding him tight. “Always.”

His smile was heartbreakingly gorgeous. For real.

“Don’t move.” He opened the champagne and poured it. Accepting the glass he offered, I stood next to him.

“A toast—” he raised his flute “—to the most amazing, enchanting, intelligent, beautiful woman I’ve ever known. Every day with you is a gift. I can’t wait to call you my wife and spend the rest of my days making that smile appear.”

“You’re one hell of a romantic for a guy who doesn’t do relationships,” I said as a tear made a slow trail down my cheek.

In a rare moment of pure unguarded candor he said, “It’s easy with you. Everything is easy with you. I don’t have to make any effort to love you and that’s why it can be so scary for me. It’s just there and for someone like me—” he caught himself, stopping. Clearing his throat, he regained his trademark cool-as-ice demeanor. “Happy birthday, Amelia Grace.”

I kissed the corner of his mouth before clinking my glass with him. “Charmer.”

“We’ll see how charming you think I am in a bit,” he said with a hint of danger. “Have a seat, kitten.”

“Why?”

His eyes widened. “Because I said so.”

“Hmm.” I smirked. “Bossy on my birthday? I don’t know about this.” I sat facing the Eiffel Tower. Unreal. We were so close to it. Seriously. It was across the street. Larger than life, the famous landmark was more beautiful than any photo I’d ever seen. And here I thought the most elaborate thing he’d do would be to rent out an entire restaurant and take me for a quiet dinner somewhere in Glasgow. Silly me.

“Don’t pretend you don’t like it when I’m bossy.” He was so close his lips brushed against my ear. “Your body betrays you.”

I exhaled, losing control of basic motor skills while he swiped his finger through the buttercream frosting. “Birthday girl gets the first bite.” He wagged his frosting coated finger in front of me. “Unless you’d like to defer.”

“Not a chance, Holden.” I grabbed his wrist and pulled him closer, taking my time as I sucked the sweet confection from his finger. “Not bad,” I said, rubbing my lips together. The dark stare he leveled at me made it difficult to concentrate. I reached forward, swiping my own finger through the frosting. Grinning, I looked up at him.

“I get the second bite, too.” Tracing his mouth with the frosting gave me a rush. His body stilled but his eyes sparked with lust. I licked the remaining frosting off my finger and leaned forward. “Mine,” I murmured, running my tongue over his lips, reveling in the sugary sweetness of the frosting and the delectable flavor that was one Alastair Holden.

A soft moan filled the space between us as he took control, his tongue darting past my lips. I felt him trying to curb his own restless desire as he kissed me. I wasn’t sure why he would do that. Breaking his mouth away, he stared at me beneath heavy lids and commanded softly, “Do that again.”

I took my time tracing his mouth with the frosting, spurred on by his raspy breaths. I could tell he was itching to take me and do as he pleased. I wanted that, too, but couldn’t deny how fun it was to have him at my mercy. To be honest, his ability to control his ravenous desire was impressive. I’d never known him to play the submissive. Even the times I thought I was running the show in the bedroom, he always had a way of letting me know he was still in charge.

I teased him, sucking on his bottom lip and then tracing over it with my tongue. A low moan vibrated in his throat.

“We’ll finish the cake later,” he growled, claiming my mouth in a deep, lusty kiss. The way he tasted and savored me with the long, slow strokes of his tongue dissolved my mind. I was only aware of two things; how he felt and how he sounded.

Holding both my hands, he led me into the bedroom and methodically undressed me as I stood under the amber glow of the tower’s lights. My skin tingled when he traced along the lace edge of my bra before unhooking it and letting it fall to the floor. Gathering my hair, he swept it over my left shoulder and kissed down my neck to the swell of my breasts. A heady rush consumed me, making me sway. Closing my eyes, I anticipated his next move.

“Look at me,” he ordered. My lids fluttered open and I was caught in his fervid gaze. I wanted him and that enticing stare. I wanted to possess him and claim him over and over.

An alluring grin pulled at his lips. “Do you know how beautiful you look right now? How perfect you are?” He slid his hand along my pelvis and between my legs, hooking his fingers under the edge of my panties. “Am I dominating your thoughts, love?”

Unable to speak, I nodded.

“Good. I want every inch of you tonight.” His lips brushed against my skin as he spoke. “Not just your body. I want you to feel me in your soul and breathe me into your lungs.”

I trembled, as he slid his fingers inside me.

“My Lia.” He curled them, sending a shudder through my body. “What you do to me.”

He kissed me almost savagely, sucking my tongue into his mouth and making my bones melt. My back hit the mattress with a quiet thud. His parted lips forged a path from my neck to the curves of my breasts and down my stomach slowly, slowly, slowly until he reached my inner thighs. Slinking my hands through his hair, I held him there as he worked my body with finesse until I was achy, breathless and clinging to him.

“Do you have any idea how good you are at this?” I groaned, surrendering to the rush of ecstasy.

Hovering over me, his mouth covered mine. Locked in his kiss, the taste of myself blended with him on my lips. I gasped at the surge of desire that streaked through me. Nudging my legs open wider with his knee, he flexed his hips into mine, teasing my needy skin to the point where it was almost torture. I was throbbing and raw and close to the breaking point.

“Alastair,” I moaned, writhing beneath him. “Please.”

Pressing my arms into the mattress over my head, he kissed me again and whispered something unintelligible on my neck.

Cocooning his body around me, he entered me swiftly and with conviction. I couldn’t feel or see anything but him. I didn’t want to. I was exactly where I was destined to be, losing myself in the only person who mattered. I was his. He was mine. We possessed one another over and over, proclaiming to the world that we belonged to each other for eternity.

* * *

Alastair pulled the dark red plush throw blanket around us tighter as I snuggled into him. We’d moved back out to the balcony and were cuddled up on one of the chaise lounges. The Eiffel Tower winked at me, seeming to know that another couple had fallen under its spell.

“Can we come back here someday and stay longer?” I asked.

“We can go anywhere in the world you want. You know that.”

I lifted my head so I could see his face. Looking at him always took my breath away, especially now. I’d never seen him so at peace. I loved spending this private time with him. I loved seeing him let go and relax. There weren’t any interruptions for the first time ever in our relationship. No phone calls, no texts, no ghosts from our pasts: just bliss.

“I can see the wheels turning in that pretty head of yours.” He smiled, dragging his fingers through my hair.

“Just thinking about you.”

“Good girl,” he teased, kissing my forehead.

“Muppet.”

That got a good laugh out of him. “Ah, Lia. I do love it when you try to sound all British in your cute little American way.”

I squeezed his waist, making him jump. “Who’s being cheeky now?”

Securing me in his arms, he dropped a sweet kiss on my nose. I sighed into his chest, content to listen to the beating of his heart and feel the softness of his skin. Our bodies fit so well together in this post-coital embrace.

His sigh gave me pause. I linked my fingers with his. “You okay, chief?”

“Never better.”

I smiled against his skin. “Wanna skip work tomorrow and fly somewhere far, far away?”

“Let me guess. Fiji?”

I snapped my head up and blinked. “You remember that?”

“I remember a lot of things, kitten. You were quite perplexed about my lack of adventure with flying to random places around the world for fun. Fiji is now on my list and you’re coming with me.”

“Hmm.” I raised my eyebrows. “I like the sound of that. You could use a long vacation. All these board meetings and flights back and forth to London are wearing on you.”

“Think so?”

“Alastair, you’re half asleep right now. It kills me to see you work so hard and be so stressed out. I worry.”

“I’m half asleep right now because I just had the most amazing sex with the most gorgeous woman in the world.”

“Lucky her.”

He hugged me tighter. “Lucky me. No more talk about work. I’m staring down another long day tomorrow and an even longer week starting Monday. All I want to do now is stay wrapped in your delicious body.”

Can’t really argue with that, can I? Our conversation drifted along several different topics. None of them were earth shattering. He teased me about being a cheerleader in high school and I refused to believe he’d never played a video game in his life. Every kid did, even me. When talk started to revolve around family, I felt his body stiffen slightly but he never retreated behind the safety of his wall. By this point, I think I he felt safe enough to trust me with matters involving his childhood and the accident. At least I hoped so.

“Can I ask you something?” I asked, running my fingers down his bare chest.

“You can ask me anything.”

“Do you ever go visit them? Your parents and sister?”

Air rushed out of his lungs so fast that I sat up straight. He paled, avoiding my gaze. “No.”

“Have you considered it?”

“No.”

I brushed back a few pieces of his thick, disheveled hair. “I’ll go with you when you’re ready. I mean, I’ll go if you want me to.”

Tightening his jaw, he looked at me. A myriad of emotions swirled behind those astute eyes. The silence stretched on for so long I was afraid he’d never say another word for the rest of the night. Talking about his mom, dad and sister was always a delicate dance.

“You would do that for me?” he finally said.

“Of course. I’d do anything for you. You know that.”

Unsure of himself, he opened his mouth to say something then reconsidered. I made sure to keep touching him, whether it was playing with his hair or resting a hand on his skin. I knew how much his touch soothed me and could only imagine mine having the same effect on him.

Bright emerald irises met mine. “You would really do that for me?”

“Yes.” I snuggled against his chest again, holding him close. “Say the word, chief, and we’ll go.”

“I’m not making any promises, Lia. I’ll think about it. That’s all I’ll do for now.”

“Fair enough.”

We remained quiet for a long while, only communicating through soft touches and sweet caresses. I kissed along his collarbone, whispering my thanks on his skin. Fisting his hand in my hair, he pulled, forcing my head back. Love and desire burned in his eyes.

“What’s on your mind, kitten?”

“What did you say to my dad when you called to tell him you were proposing?”

Both eyebrows lifted in amusement. “A good businessman never reveals his secrets in the art of negotiations.”

“Oh my God,” I snickered. “Well, you must have said something out of this world because my mom said he hasn’t stopped talking about how great you are.”

Folding his arms behind his head, Alastair grinned. “I am pretty great, aren’t I?”

Laughing, I jumped on his lap and tickled him. Not for long though. He had my hands pinned behind my back within seconds.

“Feisty little thing aren’t you?” His unfiltered joy not only lit up his words, it illuminated his eyes.

“You know you love it.”

“Fair point.” He placed his hands on my waist. “Fancy staying out here longer or would you rather go inside?”

I glanced over at the picture perfect view of Paris we’d been enjoying all evening. An idea hit me, making me smile.

“Let’s stay out here.” I leaned down to kiss him. “I’ll be right back.”

I slid off the chaise lounge and scurried to the bedroom. The box with my sparkly heels sat in a corner. I grabbed the ruby red ones and slipped them on, then put on a black silk baby doll nightie. After a quick glance in the mirror, I went back outside. Alastair leaned against the wrought iron railing with the blanket wrapped around his waist, covering up my favorite cotton pajama bottoms. I couldn’t see his expression but hoped it was still serene.

“Hey, English,” I said, unable to stop a huge, goofy grin from spreading.

Alastair turned, shaking his head. The smile curling his mouth left me giddy with joy. “Hey, Yankee.”

“Wow. A quick comeback. Impressive.”

His languid gaze traced every inch of my body before he responded. “I don’t know what to do first; kiss you or shag you.”

“Both options are acceptable and encouraged.”

“You chose the red ones.” He grinned, looking at my feet. The shoes glittered in the light.

“Well, I figured I’d keep with the theme.” I chewed on my lip for a second. “Where would you have taken me if I’d chosen the white rose?”

“I guess that’ll remain a mystery.”