Worth Everything (25 page)

“They’ll still ask questions.”

“You don’t need to answer them. Let them speculate all they want. You’ll all know the truth.”

“They’ll drag my mother through the mud.” That thought hurt the most.

“Stasia, you need to realize that your mother has to take responsibility for what she did. This isn’t your fault.
She’s
the one who had the affair with Michael Worth. And she’s the one who gave birth to you and never told your father that you really weren’t his daughter.” He grabbed her by the shoulders, turning her so she had to face him. “You’re not the guilty party here. She is.”

“Knowing that doesn’t make any of this easier.” She dropped her head, stared at her knees. It was hard to look at him when he had such sincerity, such caring in his gaze. It made her hope too much. “I don’t want to see her go through this.”

“She’s a grown woman. She can make it. And so can you.” He gave her a little shake and she lifted her head, met his gaze. “I’m going to call Alex so he can get the ball rolling on this. Hopefully he can get Hunter involved. He’s the head of their marketing department. I’m sure he could come up with a fantastic statement that’ll cover all aspects of the story.”

He released his hold on her and stood, yanking his phone out of his pocket and scrolling through his contacts before he brought the phone to his ear. She watched him pace the room with his long-legged stride, his expression one of fierce concentration as he waited for Alex to pick up.

“Alex. Sorry to bother you so late. Yeah, it’s me. Listen. We have a situation.” He left the room, pacing the hallway instead and she left the bed, went and stood behind the door so she could spy on him.

But she couldn’t make out everything he said. It was mostly a jumbled murmuring of words. Sighing, she raked her fingers through her hair. She was in good hands. He would know how to explain this to Alex and if anyone knew how to handle a scandalous situation, it was Alex. He’d had many to deal with, most of them brought on by Rhett when he’d been New York City’s resident bad boy.

Reassured, she decided to take that shower she’d meant to get to. And hopefully wash all of the day’s grime away.

“Okay, I talked to Alex and they’ll release a statement in your name to all the pertinent media outlets in the morning,” Gavin said as he strode back into Stasia’s bedroom.

No one answered. He realized the room was empty and he was talking to himself.

Huh. Figured.

Glancing around, he saw the shut door, the light shining from beneath it. The sound of water running clued him in that Stasia had finally taken that shower she’d spoke of.

Images of a naked, soapy, sexy woman filled his mind, and he approached the bathroom door without thought, tempted to go in and surprise her. Maybe join her, if she’d let him.

But would she? Talk about one traumatic hit after another. The woman had had her fair share in the last few months, let alone the last few hours. A never-ending shit storm surrounded Stasia and she always seemed trapped in the middle of it all.

She most likely wanted to shower and then collapse into bed. She needed alone time, not him hanging around and bothering her.

Or he was just trying to convince himself she didn’t want him around.

Deeming his thoughts utter bullshit, he stripped off his clothes methodically, tossing each piece on the chair that sat by the bathroom door, left his glasses on top of the pile. Turning the door handle slowly, he entered the warm, steamy bathroom, stopped short at the vision before him.

The large glass-enclosed shower was full of billowing steam, but he could still make out the naked woman within. His heart lurched, slowly rolled over itself and as if in a daze, he stumbled toward the shower, grasping the handle with shaking fingers before he opened it and stepped inside.

“Oh!” She turned, her hands covering her breasts, the water streaming down her face. “Gavin.”

“Hey.” He closed the door behind him, his head buzzing at the sight of all that soaped up, naked goodness. “Got room for one more?”

“Um, sure.” She stepped from beneath the spray, a little smile curving her lips. “I can’t believe you’re joining me.”

“Am I unwanted?” Without thought, he reached for her, grasping her waist and yanking her close, streaking his thumbs over all that damp, exposed skin. “I’ll go if you want me to.”

“I want you to stay.” She pushed the wet hair away from her face, staring up at him boldly. “I thought of asking you to join me, but…you were too busy on the phone.”

He raised a brow, all the while running his hands along her sides, up her stomach, her ribcage, until he settled his hands just beneath her plump breasts. “Really?”

She inhaled sharply when he drew his index finger across her left nipple. He watched it tighten into a hard point, couldn’t tear his gaze away from it. “Yes,” she murmured. “Really.”

“Well, I’m not too busy now.” He drew an achingly slow circle around that pretty little pink nipple, dying to taste it, but not just yet. He wanted to draw this out, make her yearn and wiggle and cry out before he’d finally give her what she needed.

“Gavin.” His name left her on a whimper, and he smiled his satisfaction. He’d missed her. Hell, he’d missed this sexual connection that linked them so tightly. She was so responsive, so sensually beautiful.

He couldn’t get enough of her.

Leaning in, he cupped her cheek with his free hand, tilting her head back for his kiss. She parted her lips, her tongue darting out for a quick lick, and he settled his mouth on hers. Softly seeking her tongue with his.

She slipped her arms around him, her hands wandering down to his backside, drawing her nails back and forth across his sensitive skin. He pushed her against the wall, out of the way of the streaming water and thrust his hips against hers. Grinding his cock against her soft belly, he forgot his plan of a moment ago.

Gavin couldn’t take it slow. He wanted her too damn much.

“Oh God.” She broke away from his kiss on a moan when he cupped her breasts with both hands. “I need you inside me, Gavin. Now.”

He rained kisses down the length of her neck, across her chest, licking first one nipple, then the other. She clutched his head close, her fingers tightening in his hair as he drew one nipple deep into his mouth. Sucking, licking, tasting her sweet, lush flesh.

“Please,” she whimpered, tugging on his hair so he pulled away from her breasts. Standing up straight so he could face her, he grabbed her by the waist, hauling her into his arms. She automatically wound her legs around his hips, clinging to him, and he kissed her again. Felt as if he could consume her, drown in her…

Pressing her against the wall, he stared at her rapturous face. Her eyes were closed, her swollen lips parted, her cheeks flushed. “Stasia. Look at me.”

She opened her eyes, her unfixed gaze settling on him and she smiled dreamily. “I need you, Gavin.”

“I don’t have a condom.” And hell if he wanted to leave the shower to go grab one, as selfish as that was.

“That’s okay.” She lifted her hips, brushing against his cock, and he gritted his teeth to contain the moan that wanted to escape. “I’m on the pill.”

“I’m clean,” he swore, excitement bubbling inside of him. Had he ever been inside a woman sans condom before? He didn’t think so. He’d always been the king of safe sex, never wanting to risk anything, especially pregnancy.

He’d seen plenty of high school classmates have to drop out because either she was pregnant or he knocked up a girl and needed to get a job to support his new family. That had scared the shit out of him then. Still sorta scared him now.

No babies for him. Yet.

“So am I.” Her smile grew.

She was a sultry, wet goddess, the woman of his dreams, the woman he missed more than he could ever admit. And now that he had her…

No way was he going to let her go.

“Need you inside me,” she murmured, reaching for his kiss. Their mouths met, clung and he positioned her, brushed his cock against her molten hot center. “Yessss. You feel so good.”

And he wasn’t even inside her yet. “Look at me, baby.” She lifted her lids, her gaze meeting his and slowly he entered her, fed her his cock inch by excruciating inch. Her body trembled around him, she tightened her arms around his neck but still she never looked away.

It was the most intense moment he’d ever shared with another person in his life.

He pushed all the way in, filling her completely. Pausing for a moment, he drank in her misty features, the little beads of water that clung to her thick lashes, the lushness of her red mouth. He kissed her, thrust his tongue deep, tangling with hers as he withdrew from her almost completely before plunging deep again.

They continued this battle, the sexual push and pull, their mouths still fused, hands gripping each other’s bodies. Slow at first, a sleek, sensual glide that was driving both of them insane until he couldn’t take it anymore.

“Are you close?” He murmured the question against her fragrant neck, licking and nibbling the tender skin.

She shivered beneath his ministrations. “God yes,” she whispered, moving her hips just so, a little moan escaping her. Showing she most definitely was close to her climax. “Faster, Gavin. I’m begging you.”

Increasing his pace, he hammered into her again and again, his orgasm barreling down on him. She was so tight, hot and wet and his cock ready to explode.

He pressed her so close to the wall, he was afraid he smashed her but she didn’t complain. Her whimpers of pleasure grew louder as his thrusts powered faster, until he was ramming inside her so hard, he finally came apart with a shout.

Stream after stream of semen pumped inside her as he ground his hips to hers. He pressed his forehead against the cold tile wall, right next to her head, closing his eyes as wave after wave of pleasure washed over him. She shivered all around him, little cries escaping her, her fingernails digging into his back as she came. Exhaling loudly, his entire body became shaky and he pulled away from her, still shocked at the intensity of his orgasm.

“Wow,” she whispered, a grin spreading across her face. “That was…”

“Amazing,” he finished for her, returning the smile. “You’re amazing.”

Her smile grew tender. “So are you.”

Reaching to his right, he wrenched the faucet off, the now lukewarm water shutting off. “Let’s get out of this shower, get dry and then do this all over again. You game?”

She laughed, leaning up to press a soft kiss to his cheek. “Definitely.”

He needed to keep the moment light. Before he went crazy and said something that might freak her out.

Like that he was in love with her.

Chapter Eighteen

Alex and Tessa Worth’s apartment was amazing, even more beautiful than Rhett and Ella’s, if that was possible. Stasia tried her best not to gawk. She’d lived in some of the most beautiful places in the world—the Renaldi villa had been featured in some of the most prestigious home design magazines out there—but she couldn’t help but stare unabashedly as Tessa led her and her mother through the sleek, modern yet somehow still cozy home.

“Everyone’s in the kitchen,” Tessa said from over her shoulder, a bright smile on her pretty face. “They’re waiting anxiously for your arrival.”

Nerves ate at her stomach and Stasia took a deep breath. She hoped she could actually eat lunch. It would be awful to insult her hosts. “I’m anxious too.”

“Of course you are. We’re all nervous,” Tessa said.

And for all different reasons. Stasia had a feeling she was the most nervous of them all—with the exception of her mother. She’d had to practically drag Mama there.

“Your home is lovely, Mrs. Worth,” Mama said, her voice shaky. Stasia gave her an encouraging smile, wanting to put her at ease.

“Thank you. And please, call me Tessa. Hardly anyone calls me Mrs. Worth. Ah, here we are.” The kitchen was large, bright with the early afternoon sun. The stainless steel appliances gleamed, the expansive granite countertops were laden with food and the room smelled like heaven.

“Anastasia. It’s so good to see you.” Alex approached out of nowhere, casual in a pair of jeans and button-down shirt. Stasia had never seen him look so relaxed. “Thank you for coming to my home.”

“Thank you for inviting us.” Stasia cleared her throat. “Alex, this is my mother, Claudia.”

The look on Alex’s face was nothing less than cordial as he took Claudia’s hand and shook it. “It is a pleasure to meet you.”

“Yes, thank you.” Claudia bobbed her head, wincing. “I’m so sorry. I’m very nervous.”

“Don’t worry. We all are.” Alex looked at Stasia with a smile. “Won’t you sit down? Care for something to drink?”

The table where the entire Worth clan sat was large, a stunning view of the New York City skyline visible from the wide expanse of windows that lined the wall. Alex owned the penthouse suite of course—he seemed to have the best of everything and Stasia couldn’t help but be impressed.

Her brother—every one of her brothers—was a very powerful man. Hopefully, someday she’d be accepted by the Worth family completely. This lunch was the start of establishing a relationship with all of them, even Alex and Hunter’s children, who were all present.