This Is True Love (Exclusive! #1) (21 page)

He was rewarded with a dazzling smile. “You are so amazing,” she said. “You’re worth more than you’ll ever know. Don’t let anyone tell you any different. Thank you for trusting me enough to tell me about your childhood.”

“You made it easy.” He shrugged. “Not like I had much choice anyway.”

Her brow creased. “What do you mean?”

“You’re a bully.”

She hit his shoulder. “I am not. Take that back.”

He laughed. “You’re so easy.”

***

Fliss’s breath caught. Alex’s eyes gleamed with a lightness she’d never witnessed from him before. She didn’t stop him this time when he lowered his head for a long, lingering kiss. Would she ever get enough of this man?

When the kiss came to an end, she rested her head against his chest, his steady, strong heartbeat giving her the strength to reveal her own secrets. “You weren’t the only one Keith did a number on. I was his wife and he rejected me. Made me feel like I was less than a woman. I thought something was wrong with me if he had to find satisfaction elsewhere. After the way I grew up, it was too much.”

His arm at her waist tightened. “The way you grew up? I thought you had a great childhood.”

She lifted her head and met his concerned gaze. “That’s exactly what I wanted you and everyone else to believe.” She sighed. “I don’t want to do the poor-little-rich-girl routine. I didn’t lack for the necessities.”

Alex’s gaze didn’t waver. “But…”

“But my parents are very into hurting each other while keeping up appearances at all times. They got married after my mom got pregnant with me in college.”

“Not the best foundation for a marriage.”

A rueful chuckle bubbled up from her chest. “No. I got lost in the shuffle. I loved them, though, and thought if I was perfect, if I showed them how much I loved them, that surely they’d come around and show me love, but they never did. I thought I found that love I was looking for with Keith. We know how that turned out. I needed something positive to focus on, which is where Crescendo came in. Of course, you came along with the package, but nothing’s perfect.”

He shot her a side-eyed glance. “Fliss…”

She laughed, gathered her dress, and repositioned herself to straddle his hips. There was no place she’d rather be. No one she’d rather be with. “You’re so easy. Thank you for being you.”

She leaned in for a passionate kiss that simply got better and more intense the longer it went. Only when she was desperate for air did she pull away.

They sat there grinning at each other like fools. No words were needed. Tonight was a new beginning for the both of them. Exciting but scary. She just needed to remember to take things as they came and not expect too much too soon. She wouldn’t
want
too much too soon.

No, the only thing she wanted right now was Alex. Naked. The erection pressing against her leg let her know he felt the same way. The heat gathering in his eyes, too.

He ducked his head and nipped along her neck, sending a delicious shiver through her. “Fliss?”

“Hmm?” she whispered. She raised her chin to give him better access.

“About your desirability?” A quick swipe of his tongue accompanied the question.

“Yeah?”

“Never ever doubt it again.” His mouth found hers and took charge. Demanding a response. More than up for the challenge, she curled her tongue around his and placed some demands of her own. She needed him. Now. She snuck her hand between their bodies and squeezed him. Tightened her grip in delight when he gasped.

The hiss of her dress’s zipper served as the first clue that Alex had decided to multitask. He snaked his hand inside the dress and cupped her breast, thumbing her nipple. An arrow of lust shot down between her legs.

“Stand up, sweetheart.”

She wasn’t sure her legs could support her, but she was eager to get to what came next. She stood on shaky legs. He followed her.

He pushed her dress down until it pooled at her feet. His glittering eyes studied her trembling body while he hastily discarded his jacket and bowtie. Then he started toward her, backing her up until she hit the wall with a small “oof.” He cupped her cheeks like he couldn’t bear to let her go and lowered his head. The slow, sweet kiss melted her from the inside out.

Then he dropped to his knees and lifted his face. What she saw arrested her. An emotion she didn’t dare put a name to.

Her breath hitched when he pressed his lips to her stomach. When he kissed her through her panties, her head fell back against the wall. She pressed her hands against the wall, searching for any purchase she could find. He was killing her in the best, most wonderful way. “Alex.”

“Yes, Fliss?” He stared up at her, wicked grin firmly in place.

“I-I…”

“Let me take care of you.” He nudged aside her silk panties. Her legs shook at the first touch of his mouth on her. He wrapped an arm around her waist, preventing her from falling to the floor in an undignified heap. He zeroed in on her clit, sending a jolt through her system. Her eyes slid closed. “Alex…Alex.”

She gasped, her chest heaving, when he swiped his tongue between her wet folds. The scent of her arousal filled the room. At the next swipe, another rush of heat consumed her. Then he took his mouth away. Fliss panted, wanting to demand he continue but not having the energy to force the words out.

“Fliss.” Strong. Forceful. Commanding. Alex.

Her eyes fluttered open. His dark eyes glittered up at her, the hunger in them ratcheting her desire up another impossible degree. Alex’s thumbs hooked in the sides of the underwear and pulled them down. “Step out.”

She did, kicking the panties away.

“Assume the position.”

Knowing what he wanted, she leaned against the wall and spread her legs.

She was rewarded with another grin. He leaned forward and circled her navel with his talented tongue, then headed south again. He didn’t waste time. He found her clit, pressing his tongue against the nub. Again and again.

Stars burst behind her eyes. He knew how to work her body. What she liked. How to drive her insane. He drove her up higher and higher until she was hanging on to her control by a thread, panting his name over and over. The string inside her body drew tight. She cupped her breasts, squeezing the tight nipples, trying to find some relief, but that only built the pressure inside her. Then he slipped a finger inside her, while his wonderful, talented mouth continued to pay homage to her clit.

The combination was too much. Perfect.

She splintered into a million parts, the pieces of her body hurtling through space.

Only when her rapid, ragged inhalations of breath slowed did she realize he was speaking in between the gentle kisses he pressed all over her shaking limbs. “I’m here. I’ve got you.” He rose and gently cupped her cheeks, pressing a soft kiss to her mouth.

“We’re not finished, are we?” she whispered.

A wicked grin broke across his face. “I knew there was a reason I liked you. Hell no.”

He grabbed a condom from his wallet and stripped out of his remaining clothes. Fliss promptly forgot what she was supposed to be doing. All that tempting flesh called to her. Long, lean muscles. Lickable abs. Strong thighs. How had she managed to resist him since Philadelphia? She wanted to touch him. Kiss him. All of him. She strode forward to do so, but he swept her up into his arms and carried her to the couch. He sat and drew her down to straddle his waist.

She settled on those strong thighs and immediately turned to kissing his neck and sweeping her hands across the body parts she could reach, from his broad shoulders down his drool-worthy chest to his nipples that went hard underneath her touch.

“Fliss.” He reached for her hands, but she dodged him. She wasn’t finished. Another one of his body parts beckoned.

“Felicity.” The use of her full name caught her attention. She looked up. “I want to make love to you. Now.”

Her lips curved. “I like the way you think.”

He quickly donned the condom, then gripped her hips and guided her into position. She sank onto him, inch by blissful inch until their connection was complete. She gasped, savoring how perfectly they fit.

“Again, Fliss.” He raised and lowered her. Once, twice, again, in a languid rhythm that sent desire flooding through her pores. The climb was gradual but exhilarating.

“Alex,” she moaned. It had never been this good for her. Never.

“I’m here. Fliss, look at me.”

She gathered her strength and opened her eyes. His dark eyes probed deep into hers. His mouth was there, waiting. The kiss was hungry. All-consuming. She broke away, panting. He flexed his hips, ramping up her arousal by another ten degrees, as impossible as it seemed.

“Alex!” She clutched his shoulders, her hold on the present slipping away.

“I’m here. Let go.” He thrust again and found her clit with his hand. “I need you to.”

She did, soaring, crying out his name. He followed soon afterward, his arms wrapping tightly around her.

She dropped her forehead on his shoulder, her chest heaving. “Alex…”

“Hmm?”

“I…I…”
have never felt like this before
. Happy. Not striving for the vision of happiness that always seemed just out of reach. Because of Alex.

Every muscle in her body tightened. Oh God. She wasn’t supposed to be feeling this much this soon for Alex. For anyone. And yet she did.

Alex’s arms tightened around her. “Fliss, what’s wrong?”

Of course he noticed. He was Alex. He noticed everything.

Breathe. She needed to breathe.

“Nothing’s wrong,” she said as calmly as she could.

Alex leaned back to peer at her with narrowed eyes. “You sure about that?”

Her lips quirked. Guess her acting skills weren’t up to par tonight. But it was okay. She was overreacting. No need to panic. Alex hadn’t proposed. He’d expressed concern because that’s who he was. And that’s why she…cared about him. She
should
care about him. Alex was a good man.

She took a breath, then pressed a kiss to the wrinkle in his forehead, then another to his lips. She lingered there for just a moment because how could she not? He had a seriously sexy mouth. She leaned back and chuckled when he followed her to kiss her again. She met his dark gaze and let her lips curve into a flirtatious grin. “Absolutely.”

He was still Alex. She was still Fliss. Denying their connection at this point was ridiculous. She wanted to be with him. There was no need to lie to herself about that any longer. But she’d take it slow. Not just hand over her heart. Not let their chemistry cloud her judgment and distract her from her goals.

He studied her, his gaze shrewd, then he nodded and ducked his head and nipped the skin connecting her neck and shoulder. “I’m happy to hear it.”

She shivered. “I’m happy to say it.”

“Good. Because I have some plans for you.”

Of that, she had no doubt. “Actions speak louder than words, Alex.”

He lowered her to the sofa, his gaze hungry. “Then let me show you.”

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

At the confident, brisk knock on her office door, Fliss looked up from her computer. “Come in.”

Alex walked in, carrying two flat packages wrapped in brown butcher paper. “Hey. Ready for the meeting?”

She looked at her watch. They were scheduled to meet with Phillip Mansfield at noon, which was less than an hour away. “Wow. Yeah. Time got away from me.” She pointed at the packages. “More presents for Phillip?”

He shook his head. “No, they’re for you.”

Her eyes widened. “You got me something?”

“Yes.” He crooked a finger, a smile playing on his lips. “Come see.”

She stood and rounded the desk, eager to be closer to him. “What brought this on?”

He glanced around the room. “You mean other than the fact that your office is sad?”

“Hey!” She slammed her hands on her waist. She hadn’t gotten around to decorating the space like she’d planned on doing, that’s all. She’d been too busy, but she still had plans. Besides, the room wasn’t completely bare. “I have a plant.”

“You mean that sad thing over there begging for sunlight?”

She poked him in the chest. “You take that back. It gets sun. And water when I remember.”

He squinted. “If that’s your defense, then I definitely did the right thing getting something you can’t kill. Go ahead and open them.”

Fliss took the packages from him and ripped off the paper. And could do nothing to stop a grin from stretching across her face. He’d given her a poster of her first movie, even though she was nowhere to be found on it, and another of
The Princess Bride.
She threw her arms around his waist, inhaling the scent that never failed to offer up equal doses of comfort and excitement. “Thank you. I love them.”

His arms encircled her, drawing her closer. “You’re welcome. Anything for you, sweetheart.”

I love you.
The truth hit her in a blinding flash of light. Oh God.
She wasn’t easing into a new relationship with him. She wasn’t falling for him. She’d fallen. Hard. The time they’d spent together over the past week had only solidified her feelings.