Love Is Louder (8 page)

I can’t form words. I just nod adamantly as his hot lips caress my skin.

Backing me up against the wall, he takes me by the wrists and places them over my head, trapping them with his one hand. He moves his other hand up my thigh, and then his palm is on my ass, teasing at the lace of my thong with his fingers, trailing them along the edge, knowing the path around my body. Inch by inch my skin comes alive, as his hands and mouth claim me. He dips his thumb under my thong and then edges closer to my molten core, his teasing making me more insane and desperate for him. He slips his hand between my legs, sliding a finger through my slick flesh. My eyes close as a wave of sparks shoot though my body like a firecracker. My focus pinpointed on his contact.

“Oh, shit. So fucking wet, Brie,” he whispers into my ear. He responds by pressing his taut body harder against mine, freeing my hands so they fall limply to my side. His eyes flare, dazzling now with his lust.

My whole body pulses for him, my blood thrumming through my veins. I grab the back of his neck, forcing our mouths harder together. Feeling my tongue, he opens his lips to allow me in, and we kiss earnestly. His mouth consumes me, taking my space, leaving behind nothing but desire.

He cups my ass, hoisting me up with his powerful arms. I wrap my legs around his waist. He brings up his hand and pinches one of my hard nipples through the lace, causing me to arch my back into him.

“God, your tits are beautiful.”

My nipples pebble and throb, heavier than they’ve ever been. His finger feathers over my breasts before he yanks down my bra, exposing my breasts to him. Taking my aching nipples into his mouth one at a time, he licks and sucks each one as I pull his hair. I cry out at the hot suction on my breast followed by his warm breath and the scrape of his teeth. My body is flushed, acutely sensitive and feverish.

“James, I need you inside me.”

He responds with a groan, his mouth wet and hot on my other breast, his tongue licking and flicking, his lips gliding over my scorching skin. His breath over the wet flesh of my nipples gives me gooseflesh, my skin electric from the way he tantalizes me. He stops kissing me, his lips swollen red, his eyes frantic with passion.

I hold myself by wrapping my arms around his neck while he unbuttons and pulls down his pants and boxers so that they pool at his feet.

“Damn, I need you, babe. Like now.”

With our gazes still locked, he grabs my ass and spreads my legs, pushing me down over his beautiful cock, plunging deliciously slow so I can feel every inch of him. He sucks in a loud breath, stretching me exquisitely. I hold my breath until he is rooted. My core ripples around him, welcoming him.

I need him. I need him now.

I’m wanted again by the man I married, the man I love.

“Fuck,” James growls, driving hard and rocking his hips. His body is granite against me, his muscles rippling beneath my fingers.

“More. Please, more.”I open wider, taking more of him.

“Yes…like that.” He finds a steady rhythm.

Our foreheads crash together as he sinks deeper and deeper. I take his mouth in a deep kiss, letting the rhythm of his thrusts set the pace. Everything accelerates and intensifies, as he grounds his hips, reminding me how intensely he can possess me in every way. I cry out as my walls clench around him with each thrust, clinging to him, urging him into me, the need to have him moving inside me almost more than I can bear.

He whispers the things he wants to do to me, how every minute inside me makes him feel.

“James, oh God...” There’s nothing but the sound of his voice and his cock plunging into me. My lips tremble as the tension mounts.

“Yes, baby. That’s it,” he moans as my core ripples around his cock.

He drives in hard so his cock hits the spot inside me that makes everything go blank, a white burst of light as heat mushrooms through my body, setting fire to my every nerve.

His name leaves my lips in a hoarse cry. Colors burst behind my eyes as my body seizes around his, the explosion rocketing through my core.

“Yes...baby…just like that.”

My toes curl as he rolls into the last few strokes that take us both over the edge. With every thrust, he grows, throbbing hotter, thicker, harder, driving toward the finish he needs. His face is etched with determination, and his eyes are wild. He’s losing control as he hurls himself over the edge. Gripping my hips roughly, he buries himself in me one last time with a loud moan.

Sated and breathing heavily with my arms still around his slick heated body and my legs wrapped around his waist, I look at him and his eyes burn into me, as if he’s branding me and all the fear and uncertainty I sensed dissipates.

“That’s what you and black lacy things do to me.” James’ face is relaxed, and his eyes are dark and serious. He strokes my face reverently, pushing strands of hair away.

“Thanks for the reminder.” I sigh softly, tugging at his hair.

James grips my hips and nuzzles his nose in my neck, pressing into me one last time before I untangle my legs from his waist. He sets me down, still holding me up since my legs feel like Jell-O. This was how it used to be when the sight of one another would make us so horny we would end up fucking until we were both sweaty and breathless. Sometimes it was gentle and sweet, never looking away from each other, and other times it was rough, where all we could hear were our moans and the slapping of our bodies. There was no in between. I still feel those same desires, but I can’t act on my impulses, since I’m unsure of how James feels.

Could we be turning the corner now?

“I think my wardrobe needs an overhaul,” I tease as I finger a white dress hanging in the closet. “More black.”

James scratches his head and laughs a deep, appeasing sound to my ears. His blue eyes soften as he traces his finger across my collarbone and lifts the hair off my neck. A rush of restless butterflies takes flight behind my navel when he leans down and brings his lips to the tingling skin on my neck.

“Let’s freshen up and celebrate four years together as man and wife,” he whispers, his voice low and husky.

I smile and stroke his slightly rough cheek, pulling back so that our eyes lock, wondering how my husband can go from being loving to being indifferent so quickly. I can’t explain it, and I don’t want to know the answer. The conflicting emotions overwhelm me, leaving me confused. The heart is stubborn. It holds onto love, even though common sense tells you it’s time to move on, but I just want James. I want us more than anything.

The valet opens my door as James agilely rounds the front of the car, taking my hand and helping me out. I feel like the belle of the ball, just like our wedding day.

“I’ve got my wife. You just take care of the car,” James demands.

I right myself, adjust my short dress, and loop my arm in his, pretending I don’t hear the sternness in his voice. Instead, I focus on his hand on the crest of my back and the warmth of his feral body mere inches from my own as he guides me into the building.

Pascal’s is my favorite high-end Italian restaurant in town, and tonight it is filled to capacity. It serves authentic Italian food, but it’s nothing like my grandmother’s cooking. The hostess greets us, letting us know our reservation will be ready in five minutes. James wraps his arm around my hip and guides us to the bar for a drink, where we mingle with local friends and business associates while we wait for our table.

Everyone knows James. He walks into a room, and someone always comes up to greet him, wanting to chat and to be seen with him. Top of his class at Harvard, we returned to his hometown a year ago for him to become the youngest district attorney in the city. James is clever, charismatic, and ambitious. And the women…he could have any woman he wants. Just like the female bartender who’s turned her attention to him, giving him a flirtatious smile.

I witnessed firsthand in college how the coeds admired him when I was taking photos of the Harvard campus. The girls flocked to him, even knowing I was his girlfriend. I remember the first time I laid eyes on him behind the lens of my Nikon D50 on that sweltering summer day. He was running through campus shirtless with only a pair of black athletic shorts covering his body. He was gorgeous.

I couldn’t help but take snapshots of him as he stretched and sipped his water, sweat glistening on his lean, muscular body. It was like a
Sports Illustrated
photo shoot. I was so caught up in his godliness I didn’t notice him checking me out as well in my flimsy cotton sundress that was blowing in the wind and exposing me to the world. He rescued me from embarrassment. His hand rested upon the small of my back, pulling down my white dress to cover my ass. I didn’t flinch at his touch. Instead, I toppled into it.

“This is a view to remember, but I’d rather not share it with the world.”
He chuckled as his blue eyes sparkled and danced over me, blessing me with his charming smile that was slightly crooked and his deep dimple. I was putty in his hands. From that day forward, we were inseparable. I still have those pictures. We met on June twelfth, and on the same day six years later, we were married.

“Babe.”

Pulled away from my thoughts, I turn to my husband’s curious look as he hands me a vodka and cranberry.

“Are you all right?” he asks, leaning in to kiss my cheek.

I take a deep breath, exhale, and smile at him before taking the drink from his hand.

“Yes.” I sip my drink as I peer across the crowded restaurant toward the front door, watching as couples walk inside.

I’m immediately drawn to the tall, familiar silhouette standing behind the hostess’ booth, staring across the dimly lit dining area. There he is, but with no tool belt, no T-shirt or jeans, but a nice pair of gray slacks and a black button-down shirt with a beautiful raven haired woman on his arm who is dressed in a strapless red dress. I float my eyes to his and notice he’s watching me. He doesn’t remove his lock on me. He merely smiles before the hostess diverts his attention away from me. I swallow and gaze up at James who happens to be looking in the same direction. He swiftly downs his drink and turns to the bar and quickly orders another.

He must have had a rough week. Working long hours at the office has happened more often than not lately. The photo studio has been very busy the past couple of months for me as well with engagements, graduations, and newborn photo shoots, so this evening out is long overdue.

“Well, we have to stop meeting like this, James.” I glance away from James to follow the smooth voice, knowing full well who owns it. I hold in my breath. Why? I don’t know. Nothing happened that afternoon in my house, only the corrupt thoughts in my head, and when my eyes connect with Mason’s, I sense that possibly he felt the same way.

Is that guilt, too?

The memory of our first encounter quivers in my belly.

“How are things?” James replies firmly as he sips his drink. He brings his gaze to Mason, and a look passes between them that I can’t quite describe. Could that be animosity? A challenge?

“Couldn’t be better.”

Mason flashes a smile when he looks over at me.

“Brie, so nice to see you again.”

He takes my hand and leans in to kiss it, causing the same intense rush of electricity I felt when we first met. “I hope the washer is working okay.” I inhale a delicious blend of spice and manly scent. His hair is styled as if he ran his fingers through it and gave up on it, giving it an unruly appearance. His defined jaw is covered in a few days’ stubble, but the pants and dress shirt do nothing to hide the body that I had the pleasure of admiring from his visit.

“Yes. Thank you for coming out and fixing it.” I slip my hand away from his and smile at him and his date.

“That’s what I do best. Fix broken things.” The tone of his voice is softer, and I notice the tiniest downturn to his smile as his eyes touch mine.

“Dana, this is James and Brie Fleming. James is the DA, and Brie is his
wife
.”

“I know Mason from high school. We graduated in the same class,” James adds impatiently.

So that explains the look.

“Yeah, we crossed paths at the Bull and Bear last week. It was great. Right, James?” He slaps him on the shoulder. “Like the good old days?”

James throws back his drink and glares at Mason.

Must be some old high school rivalry.

“Mr. Fleming, your table is ready.”

“Thank you,” he acknowledges the hostess as he sets his drink onto the bar. He clenches his one hand to his sides and slowly takes my hand in the other. “Nice seeing you again, Mason.” James stares at him with narrowed eyes.

“Oh, the pleasure is all mine.” Mason chuckles as he steps closer to the bar and wraps his arm around his date.

I peek over my shoulder and connect eyes with him, and there is no smile, just his eyes that emit no light but lock with mine with intensity. I’m desperate to look away, gather my wits, but his eyes penetrate right through me.

Is that sadness or frustration?

I blink and manage to turn away, gripping James’ hand tighter as we leave. The tension between Mason and James was combustible. Whatever went on between them hasn’t been resolved, and I don’t understand why. It must be about a girl.