Love All Out - The Complete Series (A Stepbrother Romance) (43 page)

“I have no idea,” I confessed with a grin. “But you’re right. This has been an amazing night. I’m proud of you, Matt, for finally being yourself around people.”

He blushed and put his arm around me. “I’m proud of you too, Willow,” he said as the elevator opened again. “Are you as happy as you seem?” he asked as we turned towards our suites. “I know there are a few things still up in the air… like Katelyn.”

I bristled at the sound of her name. “Did you have to bring her up tonight?” I slid my keycard into the door and pushed my way into the suite.

“I’m sorry,” Matt said, his voice genuine. “It’s just, you haven’t brought her up at all. And that’s worrying me. I know it has to be nagging at you. You don’t have to handle it alone.”

I collapsed onto the couch with a sigh. He sat down beside me as I tried to explain myself. “That’s just it, Matt. I don’t want to handle it at all, not right now. I’m happy. After months of feeling guilty, and terrified, and hopeless, I’m finally happy. I just want to enjoy that. If there’s one thing that I’m sure of, it’s that James and I will survive any struggles that come our way.”

Matt put an arm around me and kissed me on the forehead. “You’ve just reminded me once again that you’re stronger than I give you credit for. I’m sorry I brought it up.”

“It’s okay,” I assured him as I rose to my feet. “But I’m kicking you out now. I have a little surprise of my own that I’d like to slip into before James gets back.”

He gave me a sly grin as he stood and moved for the door. “Have a good time. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do,” he teased as he opened the door.

“Right back at ya,” I called as he stepped into the hall. The door swung shut and I raced to the bedroom. I grabbed my suitcase and rolled it into the en suite bath. I locked myself in and unzipped my bag.

Near the bottom, I found my red lace lingerie. I unzipped my gown and let it fall to the floor. I stepped out of it, kicking off my black stiletto heels. I sat on the edge of the tub and pulled on a pair of red nylon thigh highs before pulling the lace negligee over my head. I was already wearing the lace thong that had come with the set.

I studied myself in the mirror, adjusted my breasts in the see through top, and swiped on a coat of bright red lip stick. I slipped back into my stilettos and crept back to the bedroom.

James and I hadn’t made love since the night before Renee caught us together and I was hungry for his touch. I heard the key reader beep and the suite door open as I propped myself up against the headboard.

“Willow?”

“In here,” I called back to James.

His mouth fell open as he stepped into the room.

“What took you so long?” I asked, my mouth curving into a daring grin.

He closed his mouth and swallowed, holding out a white envelope. “This… though now I’m almost embarrassed. Your surprise definitely trumps mine.” He tossed the envelope to the foot of the mattress and crawled on top of me. His hands stroked my silky nylon covered legs as his lips teased mine.

“You look incredible,” he whispered, our mouths touching. I writhed beneath him as he moved one hand up my leg and teased my clit through my lace panties. “And this feels amazing,” he added, stroking the nylon thigh-high. “Does this?” He slipped his hand under the wet fabric and plunged two fingers inside me.

“Yes,” I gasped, grinding into his touch. He leaned forward and planted a soft kiss behind my ear.

“Lay down, baby,” he breathed into my ear. I slid down the headboard, resting my head on a pillow. James grabbed me by the hips and pulled me to the middle of the mattress. He knelt between my legs, stroking them with light, teasing touches, and then reached up and slipped off my thong.

“I’ve been waiting for this,” he said as he crawled on top of me. He showered my neck with light, teasing kisses before making his way to my lips. I kissed him gently and he pulled away again, moving back to my neck. “I’ve been waiting for the day I could make love to you without worrying that it might be the last time.”

“I’m sor…” I started to apologize but James pressed a finger to my lips.

“Don’t, Willow. Don’t say you’re sorry. It’s all in the past now. All I want to think about is the future.” He slid the straps of my negligee over my shoulders, freeing my breasts. He lowered his head to my nipples as his fingers once again danced over my sweet spot.

“Oh James,” I moaned as he slipped a single, teasing finger inside me. “Please, I need you.” I let out a gasp as he pushed two more fingers inside. “Please,” I moaned again.

James rolled off me abruptly and fumbled in his duffle bag. My body was charged with anticipation and desire as I watched him unwrap the condom and roll it down his shaft. I sat up and pulled him back on top of me as he crawled across the mattress. I wrapped my legs around his waist, my hips moving wildly and instinctively, my throbbing pussy aching to be filled. James reached between our bodies and guided his thick, pulsing cock into my eager entrance.

He pushed in slowly, sliding one hand up the back of my leg and pushing my knee to my shoulder. With my calf resting against his neck, he drove into me deeper with every thrust. His cock sent shockwaves of pleasure through my body as it pounded into the deepest part of me and I instinctively wanted to wrap my legs around him. The fact that I couldn’t just made the sensations all the more powerful. I reached between our bodies and fingered my clit, pushing myself closer to the edge.

“Oh my God, Willow,” James moaned. He rose to his knees and watched me play with myself as his cock rammed in and out of me. “That’s so fucking hot.”

I was too overcome with pleasure to respond with words. Instead, I pulled my hand to my face and licked my salty juices from my fingers.

“Oh, Willow,” James groaned. He shoved his hands under my ass, lifting my hips from the mattress as he pounded into me harder. His cock drove in at an odd angle, hitting a place inside me I’d never felt before.

“Right there, baby. Right there,” I moaned, fingering myself harder.

James repeated the motion, over and over again, faster and harder each time. I came hard and loud, flailing beneath him as he continued to impale me.

“Oh God, Willow,” James cried out, his thrusts short and instinctive. His body went rigid and I felt his cock tremble within me just before he slipped out and collapsed on the mattress.

“That was amazing,” he gasped, struggling for breath.

“Better than amazing,” I agreed, crawling towards him. I laid my head on his shoulder and curled my body around his. We’d somehow ended up with our heads near the foot of the bed and James reached for the forgotten white envelope.

“Like I said, this isn’t nearly as wonderful as your surprise, but I wanted to do something for you,” he said, passing it to me.

I propped myself up on my elbows and pulled two cards from the envelope. One was a gift certificate for the Elizabeth Arden Spa downstairs. The other was an appointment card for a massage, makeover, and styling. I looked from the cards to James with nothing but love in my eyes.

“I thought it would be nice if you had some pampering before the race,” he explained, looking at me expectantly.

“This is perfect,” I told him, rolling back into his arms. “You’re so thoughtful, baby.”

“I love you, Willow,” he said, kissing my bare collarbone.

“I love you too.”

James pulled away from me and turned down the bed. “And because I love you, I’m going to insist that you get some sleep. We have a big day tomorrow.”

We slid under the sheets and, content with the world, I quickly drifted off to sleep.

***

Early Saturday afternoon, I sat at the vanity in my suite and studied myself in the mirror. The women at the Elizabeth Arden Salon had worked their magic and I barely recognized myself. Somehow, my eyes looked bluer and my skin had a luminescent glow.

In keeping with tradition, I wore the same dress my mother wore when Aces High won the Triple Crown. The Belmont Stakes had always been the most casual of the three races, which was evident in the simple seersucker sundress that clung to my torso and flared out at my hips.

I paired the dress with a pair of nude pumps and a matching silk handbag. The salon stylist had pinned my hair into an intricate updo, so I decided to leave my wide brimmed khaki hat at the hotel. I’d found a seersucker parasol in the hotel gift shop that matched my dress perfectly and would protect my face from the sun. I swiped on a berry lip gloss and joined James in the living room. My pulse beat a little faster as I studied him in his khaki linen suit and sky blue shirt. The fabric clung to his broad, muscular shoulders in the best possible way. I crossed the room and he whistled as he wrapped me in his arms.

“You look beautiful, baby. Am I allowed to kiss you or will it mess up your makeup?” he asked, nuzzling my neck.

“Kiss away,” I mumbled, turning my face to his. His soft lips melted into mine and our tongues traced circles against each other. I felt a familiar wetness between my legs and knew I had to stop myself while I still had the willpower. I pulled away from James and started for the door.

“There will be plenty of time for that after the race. Lucas and Matt are probably downstairs already, we should get going.”

“You’re right,” James agreed, a sly smile spreading across his face. For a moment, I wondered if he knew something I didn’t.

He’s just confident that Mondo will win. He believes in me.

We made our way to the lobby where, as expected, Matt and Lucas were already waiting. They looked dashing and unbelievably adorable in matching grey suits. Matt wore a white shirt with coral pinstripes and a soft turquoise vest and handkerchief. Lucas wore the same, but with the colors reversed.

“You guys look awesome,” James told them as we approached.

“We all look fantastic,” Matt insisted. “I won’t be surprised if we end up in a magazine. Are you ready to get to the park? The hotel is running shuttles every fifteen minutes. The next one should be boarding soon.”

“Let’s go,” I agreed with a smile.

As we moved through the lobby, I realized there was a distinct difference in my mood compared to the Derby and Preakness race days. At the first two races, I’d been a ball of nerves and emotions. But on James’s arm, I felt nothing but overwhelming confidence. The odds had been stacked against us, but together we’d overcome them. The odds were stacked against Mondo too, and I felt with inexplicable certainty that he’d do the same.

We boarded the hotel shuttle with a dozen other passengers. The bus seemed electrified with excitement and I was surprised by how many people recognized me and wished me luck. The closer we got to Belmont Park, the more convinced I became that my life was about to change forever.

“We’ll be running the shuttles until two hours after post time,” the driver said as he slowed the bus to a stop. “Enjoy the race everyone,” he added as we filed into the parking lot. The hope of a Triple Crown winner had drawn enormous crowds to the park, making it difficult to navigate across the lawn. I took James’s arm as the four of us wove our way to the clubhouse ticketholders’ entrance.

“Good luck today, Ms. Rogers.” The security guard winked at me as he scanned my ticket.

“Thank you,” I replied, a smile nearly breaking my face as we stepped onto the VIP side of the lawn. Huge press tents dotted the landscape and a red carpet had been laid out in front of the building. There seemed to be more reporters and photographers on the lawn than racing enthusiasts.

“This is
nuts,
” I whispered under my breath.

“It’s fabulous,” Matt insisted. “Can you believe all of these signs?”

I shook my head as my eyes scanned the park. Every direction I looked, people held signs showing their support for my horse.

“This is pretty fantastic, isn’t it?”

I was momentarily startled by Link Jackson’s voice. I turned and saw him smiling behind us. He greeted me with a hug and a wide smile.

“You look fantastic, Willow,” he told me. “James, Matt, it’s nice to see you. I don’t believe we’ve met,” he added, turning to Lucas.

“Link, this is my boyfriend Lucas,” Matt jumped in. “Lucas, this is Link Jackson. He’s Mondo’s owner.”

If Link was phased by meeting Matt’s boyfriend, he didn’t show it. He shook Lucas’s hand and turned back to me.

“So what are you thinking? Do you wish you’d kept Mondo for yourself?” he teased.

“No,” I said, shaking my head. “I wasn’t equipped to get him here. I’m glad I sold him to you… ninety-five percent of him at least.”

“You’re one smart cookie, Willow,” Link laughed. “I’ve started retaining five percent of everything, just like you. But I hear you’re not selling anything in the near future. Starting your own program, huh?”

Before I could answer, we were approached by a group of reporters. Matt and Lucas backed out of camera range, but I held James in place beside me.

“Mr. Jackson, Ms. Rogers, would you care to answer a few pre-race questions?” a manicured reporter asked as her burly assistant shoved a microphone in our faces.

“We’d be happy to, right Willow?” Link asked, his voice jolly.

“Of course,” I agreed with a polite smile.