Closer To You (Suits in Pursuit) (11 page)

CHAPTER
TEN

For the next couple of weeks, they followed the
schedule. Kerrigan stayed at her apartment during the weekdays, and she went to Axel’s house for the weekends. He missed being near her, so he made sure to spend two weeknights at her apartment. The arrangement worked well for her. Axel, however, was growing more and more impatient. He wanted more than sleepovers and wild romps in the bedroom. He wanted her for life. The thought scared him, but he knew where his heart was leading him. It was unnerving, and he was torn. The thought that she might reject him was terrifying. He did the only thing he knew to do. He called his father for advice. The phone rang incessantly until the deep voice on the other end answered.

“Hello
son. It’s good to hear from you. It’s been awhile. How are you?”

“
Good. How are you?”

“
I’m fine. What’s going on? You rarely call me directly.”

“
Things are good, very good, but I need your advice.”

“
Is everything okay with Kerrigan?”

“How did you know when you were
ready to propose to mom?”

“I couldn’t imagine my life without her. Other women ceased to exist in my world. It was only your mother. Is that how you feel about Kerrigan?”

“Yes, since the day I met her and my feelings have only gotten stronger. I want to spend my life with her.”

“Well, you have your
answer. When are you going to propose? Wait until I tell your mother. She’ll be thrilled.”

“Hold on dad. I’ve haven’t made firm plans yet. Please don’t say anything to mom.
There’s a strong possibility that I could be rejected.”

“I’ve seen
the two of you together. I know she loves you as much as you love her. Why would she reject you?”

“She’s convinced that my feelings for her aren’t real. She’s
insecure, scared.”

“I’m no expert, but if you ask her to marry you, I don’t see how she could
doubt your intentions. Putting your heart on the line is the ultimate testament of your love.”

He exhaled a breath.
“I hope you’re right, but I have to wait for the right moment.”

“Son, you don’t wait for the right moment, you create
the right moment.”

Like a beckoning light at the end of a dark tunnel, that simple statement was the clarity he needed to make his next move.

Saturday, October 27

The alarm clock buzzed loudly jarring Axel from his sleep. He hit the off button before
the sound disturbed Kerrigan. He studied the delicate features of her face, a rare natural beauty that required no accessory, no make-up or jewelry. His fingertips ran gently along the dip of her waist to her hip, admiring her generous curves and toned body. He stroked his knuckles across her hairline, pausing at her sun-kissed cheek. She amazed him.

Panic seized him as his next thought formed.
Winning her heart hadn’t been the problem, getting her to give in to their love and to trust him was an entirely different matter altogether. He pulled out the little box from the top drawer of his nightstand and opened it, looking at the custom four-carat platinum ring inside. He closed the box and placed it in back inside of the drawer.

Kerrigan’s eyes
fluttered opened slowly, and Axel’s grin came into view. He propped himself up on his elbow and hovered over her.

“Good morning beautiful,” he greeted her.

“Good morning.”

“
Slept well?”

“What little I got yes,” she replied groggily
and flashed a weak smile.

“I’ll make no apologies for the little amount of sleep you got. You knew what you were in for last night,”
he replied.

“Not true. I had no idea what was going to happen,” she
said coyly.

He
leaned down and kissed the tip of her nose.

“
Liar. You knew I wouldn’t be able to keep my hands to myself. Like this,” he said as he grabbed her breast and kneaded it in his hand.

At the command of his touch, h
er nipple hardened. He lowered his head to kiss her, but she turned away.

She cupped her mouth.
“No. I have morning breath.”

“Al
l right, let’s go get you cleaned up dirty girl. Come on, we’ll take a shower.”

Axel
handed a terrycloth robe to her and then he put on his own. He couldn’t keep his hands to himself, touching and tickling her as they entered the bathroom. As with everything else in his house, the bathroom was exquisitely designed. The room was larger than her living and dining rooms combined. Walls covered in a faint powder blue gave the modern bathroom a serene spa-like quality.

He paused by the sinks
housed in rich, dark chocolate cabinetry. “Here’s your toothbrush.” Axel handed it to her and then grabbed his own. “Oh, and let me close the door,” he said, remembering her quirk about closing the bathroom door whenever she brushed her teeth.

When they finished brushing their teeth, he
sauntered passed paneled mirrors that ran the length of one wall to a series of switches on the wall. Although it was sunny out, he dimmed the room. One of the switches controlled the sensual melodic instrumental tune that pulsated in the background. The shower stood in the middle of the bathroom, encased by glass on all four sides. With the flip of another switch, the clear glass walls turned translucent. He removed his robe and tossed the cover onto a nearby wooden bench. His hands slid down her shoulders, unsheathed her and placed her robe next to his. Grabbing her tiny hand, he guided her into the over-sized shower. The ceiling-mounted rain shower cast a blue-green haze down into the shower.

“
Have I told how much I love this bathroom? I especially, like the feel of the tumbled limestone floors under my feet. Your home is spectacular.”

“Glad you like
my style, especially since you’ll be spending lots of time here. That’s enough about the house. Let’s get you wet.” Axel pressed a button and the rain shower overhead drenched them, a steady stream of warm water washed their naked bodies.

He
took her into a firm embrace, and their lips collided. Moist heat surged through her and flowed between her thighs. Lowering himself to the shower bench, he pulled her down to straddle him. He reached around and under her, stroking her slick wet entrance.

“You want this?” He gripped his mushroom-headed tip.

Aching to have him inside her, she moaned a whispered, “Yes.”

H
e raised her up and gently lowered her down on his hard shaft. His pale length disappearing between her caramel folds penetrated and reached her end.

She gasped. “Ah! Axel.” Clawing, her nails dug into his back
.

“Kerrigan.” He groaned.

Thrusting his hips in rhythmic harmony to the sensual music flooding the room, he pumped into her. Deep. Hard. Slow. She pushed down against him, rolling her hips and taking in the fullness of his thick rod. The intensity built inside her body until she writhed uncontrollably in his arms, her senses shattered. He rocked deep inside her, his fingers pressed into her fleshy lobes as he tightened his grip on her swirling hips until he exploded into her haven, joining her in rapture.

Hi
s cock still hard and buried inside her, Axel held her close against his chest in their heated afterglow. He didn’t speak and she couldn’t. Slumped over his shoulders, her shaky fingers clung tight as she fought hyperventilation. He nibbled on her ears, licking them as he tangled his fingers in her wet wavy hair. Eyes closed, she sucked in a quiet breath and stiffened, her heart nearly exploding at the intensity of his caress and attentiveness of his tender touch. A trail of kisses up her neck forced a soft incoherent mutter from her lips. Suddenly weepy, the cascading rain falling, the music filling the air, and the dimly lit room with the blue-green glow casted down from overhead overloaded her senses.

S
he fought tears back. She had fallen for him, hard, and there wasn’t a thing she could do about it. She wanted him, wanted to give herself to him completely, yet she couldn’t.

Breaking their
intimate connection, he lifted her to her feet. They bathed each other, washing away the evidence of their passion. The rain from the showerhead beat down on her head, mingling with the tears. She hoped the droplets would camouflage her deluge. She didn’t want him to notice that she had been crying. Frowning, his hands dropped to his side, and he searched her eyes. Then unexpectedly, he grabbed her into his arms. They stood naked locked in an embrace as he held her tightly.

He leaned down and looked into her eyes.
“Baby, why are you crying?”

Head tilted and eyes cast down,
“It’s nothing,” She avoided his stare.

“Don’t lie to me. We should
have honesty between us always. I want to be here for you, but I can’t do that if you won’t let me in. Now, tell me what’s wrong.” His voice strained.

“I don’t want to spoil the mood. I’m fine. Please let
this go Axel.”

Holding her at arm’s length, he gawked at her.
“No. We’re not leaving this shower until you tell me. You’re not a good liar, so you better tell me the truth.”

She brought her hands up to her chest, the tears building rapidly.
“I’m just overwhelmed. I’m trying not to be all caught up. When you’re done with me, I don’t ...”

He interrupted her
, his head flinching back slightly. “When I’m done with you? Haven’t you been listening to a word I’ve said? Haven’t I made my intentions clear? Haven’t my actions been clear?” She shook her head after each question, her expression blank. “Kerrigan, I want you.” He frowned, his forehead stressed with creases. “You’re the woman I’ve been waiting for and I want to spend my life with you. I know you need time. I want to give that to you. I don’t understand why you have these insecurities, but I know we can work through them together.” He scratched his temple and then dropped his hands to his sides. “I have long-term plans for us. I’m waiting for you to give me all of your heart. Why don’t you believe me? Trust me.”

She
swallowed hard. She knew she should choose her next words carefully, but he had demanded the truth.

“
You want the truth? Fine, then I’ll give you the truth, but you’re not going to like what I have to say. You’re young, sexy and rich. You’ve always dated skinny blonds who look like super models. You grew up surrounded by wealth and rich people.” Her voice choked with emotion. Flailing her arms, her darting gaze landed on the overhead shower fixture. “Look at the way you live Axel. I grew up in an apartment, and I live in one today.” Her pitch rose to a-glass-breaking-squeal. “I know we have many things in common, but we come from different worlds. I wonder if that will be enough.” Axel’s mouth dropped open.

She wrapped her arms around her stomach. “You went to an Ivy League school with no hesitation—no questions asked. I had to claw my way into one, and then fight like hell, to prove I deserved to be there. You sexualized me from the day we met. I wonder if that’s because I’m a black woman. You say you’re proud of my work. I wonder if that’s because you had such low expectations that anything I did outside of spreading my legs would impress you.” Axel eyes stretched wide, and he clenched his fists tightly at his sides.