Passion and Surrender (The Billionaire's Temptation Book 6) (17 page)

BOOK: Passion and Surrender (The Billionaire's Temptation Book 6)

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Chapter Twenty-Four

Harper still couldn’t believe she was letting Marshall take her home. Things were still tense between them, though that was probably her fault, since she’d clammed up during the car ride, not really trusting that her emotions wouldn’t get the better of her. She needed to keep a clear head if she had any hope of thinking about the situation logically. Because one thing was sure—it’d be far too easy to give in to what was between them and get her heart broken again.

Marshall pulled off the highway and, after a short drive down some back roads, pulled into a parking lot and shifted in his seat to face her, twining his fingers with hers. “Donuts—just as promised. Will Moose be okay if we leave him for a few minutes to grab a bite?”

It was sweet of him to think of her cat. “Yeah…he doesn’t mind the carrier as long as he has his blanket to sleep on, and the temperature is fine so that’s not an issue either.”

“Harper…I truly am sorry for hurting you.” He cupped her cheek, his eyes pleading with her as his touch made it impossible to pull away from him, her pulse racing as she fought the urge to lean in and kiss him.

As if they’d shared the same thought, he bent his head to hers and caught her mouth in a kiss, slow and sweet at first, but with a building intensity as she gave in to what was between them. Things might be far from perfect, but she’d been a wretched mess without him, and after what felt like a lifetime of misery, she couldn’t deal with any more of it. She wanted to be happy, damn it. And she had been happy with Marshall, even if it had been short-lived.

By the time she managed to pull away from him, her body was aching to have back what was once between them, and her head was spinning as tears stung her eyes. “Why does everything always have to be so difficult? Why couldn’t we just be happy? Between the thefts at Clio and your pregnant ex plotting against you every step of the way, I don’t know why I’m surprised that it all went to hell.”

“I can’t believe I forgot to tell you. Claire…she’s not pregnant. It was all just another lie to manipulate me.” Upon hearing his words, Harper let out a breath she didn’t even realize she’d been holding. “Keane and the security firm we hired are still gathering evidence for the thefts, but we’ll be able to press charges if we want to pursue it legally.”

“I can’t believe she’d go to such lengths.” No wonder Marshall had become so paranoid, especially when he’d trusted Claire enough to actually marry her—only to have her cheat on him, manipulate and lie to him,
steal from him
. After all Claire put him through, could Harper really blame Marshall for wanting proof that she hadn’t been involved, especially when there was evidence pointing in her direction?

“I should have known it was her all along, Harper.” With his brow furrowed, he shook his head, clearly angry with himself. “I should never have let anything come between us, let alone Claire—and I swear, I’ll do whatever it takes to make things right between us.”

She could see the pain and regret in his eyes, the worry in his face, and it killed her. They had been so happy—and they’d let outside forces tear them apart. They’d let
Claire
, of all people, manipulate them and come between them, and it suddenly felt like they were letting her win.

Harper couldn’t let that happen—not when she and Marshall had been so happy. And just like that, she felt all her hurt and anger melt away, replaced by the possibility of being happy once again.

With her pulse racing, she took a deep breath to try to steady her nerves. “Well, if you want to make things right between us, then I suppose you can start with that donut you promised me.”

“You drive a hard bargain, sweet girl, but I think I can manage it.”

***

When Marshall kissed her again, he tasted like chocolate and vanilla cream, and she swore he seemed determined to keep kissing her until there was nothing else between them but the love they had for each other. He’d gotten her home—with a few extra donuts for the road—and with Moose fed and on the loose, there was nothing else to focus on but each other.

“Tell me you forgive me, Harper.” His words danced over her skin as his hot mouth trailed down her neck, sending a shiver of need through her and straight to her core. And when he raked his teeth over her pulse, she couldn’t help but lean into him, his body hard against hers, as if reminding her of all he was capable of.

“I do…I forgive you. But don’t you ever do that to me again.” She’d never survive another heartbreak.

“
Never
. You have my word.” Hauling her off her feet, he kissed her as she wrapped her legs around his waist, his stiff cock pressing against her heat and making her clit throb in time to her heartbeat.

She knotted her fingers in his thick, dark hair, her tongue dancing over his, deepening their kiss as he carried her down the hall and to her room. Lowering her to the bed, he tore her top up over her head and then yanked off his own t-shirt, exposing ripped abs, a broad chest, and strong, muscular arms. Sitting up, she ran her hands over his sides to his back, pressing kisses along his stomach so his muscles tensed under her lips.

Clearly impatient, he flicked open the clasp on her bra and she tossed it aside, before making quick work of the button and zipper on his jeans, desperate to free his hard cock. Wrapping her hands around his girth, she stroked him and then ran her tongue along his length and flicked the head of his cock, licking at the salty gem of pre-cum that glistened there.

He let out a groan as she wrapped her lips around his cock and sucked him, slipping her lips up and down his shaft as she stroked him. But then he was pulling away, leaving her to protest, as he pushed her onto her back, and yanked her jeans and panties off in one go before ridding himself of what was left of his own clothing. “After a week without you, I’m not going to last if you keep that up. And right about now I need to bury myself deep inside you, need to feel your body wrapped around me—and I need to take you hard enough to erase our week apart.”

Already shifting between her legs, he thrust into her, skin to skin, burying himself fully inside her with a single thrust as he covered her body with his and plundered her mouth in a greedy kiss. His thrusts were slow but purposeful, so she felt each one down to the marrow of her bones, and into the depths of her soul, the intensity between them all-consuming, like flying too close to the sun.

She could think of nothing but him, his cock filling her, stretching her tight as he rocked his hips into her and then rolled them to catch her clit, each stroke pushing her closer to the edge. Continuing to take her, to claim her as his, he raked his teeth down her neck, each nip and bite lighting up in a flicker of pain that quickly turned to pleasure, heightening everything she was feeling and spurring her on. And when he teased her nipple and nipped at it, sucking it into his mouth, she bucked into him, trying to quicken their pace, the energy inside her building.

It was all too much: their time apart, the love she felt for him, the happiness he was offering her…and then she was coming, crying out his name, as he covered her face in kisses. “I love you, Harper…with everything that I am.”

Her body quivered below his weight as he slowed his thrusts, milking the last of her orgasm from her body, her breathing still heavy even as she found the words and emotions she’d tried so hard to ignore. “I love you, too.”

He pulled out of her, biting back a needy moan as he grabbed her hips and flipped her onto her hands and knees, burying himself deep inside her once more with a hard thrust that had her crying out, her body already so sensitive from just having come. With his back pressed to hers, he propped himself up with one arm as his other wrapped across her chest and his fingers gently slipped around her neck, pulling her head back to him as he drove into her, her body pinned in place by his muscular form.

His name was like a mantra on her lips as he claimed her body, heart, and soul as his, pushing her towards that delicious edge once more. She could think of nothing but him and the love that was between them, as he drove into her, his mouth at her ear so his warm breath tickled her skin and sent a shiver shimmying down her spine. “Mine. You’re mine and no one else’s. And you…you’ve had my heart from the very start, Harper. Now come for me. One more time.”

And so she did just that, her orgasm torn from her body as he joined her, each thrust like a punctuation as his cock pulsed deep inside her, filling her with hot cum, their hearts and souls now one. “I love you, Marshall. With all my heart, I truly do.”

“And you, sweet girl, are my everything.”

Chapter Twenty-Five

It’d been two months since Marshall went to Maine and convinced Harper to give him another chance, and he couldn’t possibly be happier, especially since she and Moose had moved in with him. He’d even convinced her to come back to Clio so they could continue working on their projects together and kick the competition’s ass, since their designs were now safe, having managed to eliminate every person Claire had bribed.

With enough evidence to go after Claire for corporate espionage—something the authorities were taking very seriously—the courts not only granted him a divorce, they had also thrown out her appeal, putting an end to any claim she’d made for Clio. He could now leave Claire and their miserable history behind him, and get a fresh start on a new life with Harper.

He’d give Harper a little more time, not wanting to rush her and scare her off, but he’d already bought her the most exquisite engagement ring, and when the time was right, he’d propose and do everything in his power to make sure she said yes.

Harper settled into his arms in the back of the limo as they drove through Boston, and he undid the bowtie on his tux, before pressing a kiss to her forehead. “You looked gorgeous tonight, sunshine.”

She’d worn a beautiful gown of shimmering silver that hugged every curve, making it nearly impossible for him to keep his hands off her. Shifting in his arms, she looked up at him, a content smile on her lips. “And you were easily the most handsome guy there.”

“Where the hell was Keane though? He was supposed to be there tonight.” It’d been another charity event, co-hosted with the Rykers, and though he knew Keane didn’t love going to anything too formal, he wasn’t one not to show up when he said he would. Marshall had tried calling him, but all his calls had gone straight to voicemail.

“You know what he’s like…he’s always busy with one thing or another. But if you’re worried, we should swing by his place and check in on him.” Harper pressed a kiss to his throat, her lips soft and warm, making it so he could think of nothing but getting her home and naked.

“It’s nearly one in the morning. I’ll swing by there first thing tomorrow if he hasn’t called or shown up.”

He didn’t get the chance. The call came at nearly four in the morning. Marshall shook the sleep off as his heart hammered in his head, the unexpected call sending a jolt of adrenaline through his system though his thoughts were still thick with sleep. “I’m sorry…can you repeat that? I don’t understand…
Keane’s been arrested?
”

What the hell had his brother gone and done?

THE END

*** I hope you enjoyed Passion and Surrender. Keane’s story,
Obsession and Surrender
, the next book in The Billionaire’s Temptation, is now available for pre-order on all major venues and will be released in July 2015. For updates,
please sign up for my newsletter
via my website, and as always, reviews are greatly appreciated, if you’re so inclined. — Best, Cali ***

Book Series by Cali MacKay

The Billionaire’s Temptation Series