CORAL - Fallen (A Romance Trilogy, Book 2) (35 page)

I shake my head at him and feeling a little
self-conscious, I run up the last few steps. Tristan laughs even harder and
follows me up. “Now what?” I chuckle.

“Looks even better bouncing up and down,”
he chuckles cheekily.

My mouth pops open in shock. I go to mock
punch his shoulder, but he grabs my wrist, twists my whole body round and pulls
me into him, so my back is against his chest. With his arms wrapped tightly
around me, he leans down and whispers into my ear. “If we don’t get a move on,
I'm going to take you in here woman,” he says, his voice low with sensual
promise.

“Then do,” I challenge and lean my head
back giving him full access to my neck.

“Don’t temp me,” he growls huskily and
pecks my neck, then releases me. I cross my arms and pout; I hate it when he
says no.

“Hey,” he softly says. “I want to, but not
here ok?”

“Why?” I question.

Tristan runs a hand through his hair. “Because
it’s hot, I need a shower and I’m hungry,” he says, frowning down at me. “And
you need to eat,” he adds, his eyes full of some emotion I can't name.

“Oh,” I sigh.

“Yeah, oh,” he titters – I can't help it, I
smile back at him.

Tristan picks up my weekend bag and the bag
of lingerie. I'm so glad it’s folded over so he can’t see what’s inside. I pick
up my dress.

“What’s in the bag?” he asks gesturing to
what I have in my hand.

“You’ll see,” I smile then peck him on the
lips, and head down the stairs with Tristan following me.

“Got everything?” he asks as he reaches the
bottom step.

“Yep.” Reaching up onto my tiptoes, I peck
him on the lips again. Tristan smiles, readjusts my bag on his shoulder and
scans the room. Suddenly his gaze stops, and his body goes rigid. I watch in
horror as his face falls and his eyes darken.

“What’s that?” he asks in a deep, low voice
as he gestures with his chin to the alarm on the front door –
Shit!
What
do I say?
I don't want him to know what my real fear is
– That I think
I know who it was! –
That someone already got in!

“N-Nothing, one of the
neighbours
had a little trouble with a drunken idiot, so I got one of those,” I
stutter.

He turns and stares blankly at me for a
moment, his cheeks have blushed red and his eyes have gone really dark; he does
not look happy –
Shit!

“Is that an alarm?” he asks, his voice low
and dark.

“Yes,” I answer smartly. Tristan closes his
eyes, takes a deep breath and slowly shakes his head. I can tell he’s mad, and
he’s trying to reign in his temper.

“If there was some trouble, why didn’t you
go and stay at ours?” He snaps, glaring down at me, frustration rolling of him.

I sigh heavily and look up at him. “Because
there’s too many memories there Tristan, and I didn’t want to be rattling
around that big house on my own, besides I was fine,” I gripe and swallow hard
– I hope he can't tell I'm keeping something from him. Tristan frowns and
narrows his eyes at me, scrutinizing me –
Shit!

“I can take care of myself Tristan,” I
huff.

“I don’t doubt that,” he says between
gritted teeth then he looks at the door again –
Great!

“Come on,” I try to usher him out the door,
but I can't budge him.

“What are those?” he asks, his chin
pointing towards my Eskrima sticks that are lying on the sofa.

I roll my eyes at him purposely. “Will’s
teaching me a new technique,” I say nonchalantly. Tristan’s eyes narrow as he
looks back at me. “I thought you said you were hot,” I add, trying to get him
out of the studio before he puts two and two together.

Pursing his lips he hesitates for a moment
then turns to walk forward, just as Bob comes walking through the patio door.

“Hey Bob,” I smile, glad for the
interruption; but he doesn’t smile back at me. Instead, he makes a beeline for
Tristan and shakes his hand –
That’s odd!

“You tell your fella about someone trying
to get in?” he asks.

Tristan’s head whips round to me. I feel my
heart sink to the pit of my stomach, and all the colour drain from my face.
God
damn it Bob!

“No Bob,” I sigh in resignation –
The
cat’s out the bag!
“Not yet,” I add.

“Oh!” Bob looks a little embarrassed.

I stomp out of the studio and wait for the
two of them to follow. Bob is first, he mouths ‘sorry’ to me as he passes me, I
shrug and try to smile at him, I guess he didn’t know I’d be keeping it a secret.
As Tristan follows Bob, I see he looks mad, really fucking mad, but he’s hiding
it well –
Oh well that’s just bloody wonderful, Bob I could kill you for
this!

With fumbling hands, I lock the patio door
and turn to Bob. “See you Sunday,” I tell him.

“Coral you don’t need to do that,” he tells
me. “Gladys is having me over,” he adds.

“Oh...well, ok then. I’ll see you soon,
take care.” Bob smiles apologetically at me. I lean in and kiss his cheek, then
turn and start walking along the concourse.

I hear Tristan’s footsteps easily catching
up with me. “You weren’t going to tell me?” he snaps, almost shouting.
Damn
it! –
I keep my eyes forward and shake my head.

“Why not Coral?”
Oh boy, he’s fuming!

“Because I knew you’d worry,” I answer,
staring straight ahead.

“When we get back to the house, you’re
telling me everything!” He’s practically bouncing from one foot to the other,
he’s that mad. I stop walking and glare up at him. He silently glares back at
me – two angry fools neither wanting to back down.

“No-one tells me what to do Tristan. I get
you’re upset about it, but I’ll tell you in my own damn time, when I'm ready!”
I shout, feeling like I want to stamp my feet.

“You should have told me’ – “I’m going back
to the car. Are you coming?” I interrupt.
Ok, he’s seething!

Shaking my head at him, I stomp off in the
direction of the car park. Tristan silently follows me. Reaching the car, he
opens the boot and places my bags next to his. I lay my dress across the top,
then he shuts the boot, we glance at one another at the same time.

Tristan shakes his head, takes two quick
strides and crushes me into him, squeezing me so tight, I almost can't breathe.

“I'm alright,” I say trying to reassure
him. Tristan leans back and looks down at me, his expression is one of confusion.
Then his eyebrows knit together, he sighs heavily and looks up over my head, as
though he is searching for something, when his eyes reach mine again, he frowns
even harder.

“What’s wrong?” I whisper.

He shakes his head at me and stares out so
sea. I swallow hard –
Fuck he’s changed his mind about us!

“I wish you would tell me,” I say. “You
know how I worry, and right now I'm thinking you’re changing your mind about us.
I will tell you what happened. I just didn’t want you to worry at the time.
Besides, you were away there was nothing you could have done.” I end on a
whisper.

Tristan’s head whips down to look at me, he
shakes it three times, then sighs heavily. “You’ve lost weight,” he softly
says, his brows still knitted together.

I stare back at him in wonder. I got that
wrong, I thought he was still mad about my not telling him. Then when I really
look at him, I see he’s lost weight too. His face looks slightly thinner, and
back at the studio I noticed his trousers were hanging a little lower.

“So have you,” I answer back. Tristan nods
then smiles, my favourite cheeky grin appears, he chuckles once his dimples
deepening then he frowns again.

“Not as much as you. You look like you’ve
dropped a stone in five days Coral,” he admonishes. I shrug and smile, not
really much I can do about it.

“Coral please try’ – “Tristan, I can't help
that I’ve lost my appetite!” I glare back at him. Are we really going to start
fighting already, can’t we at least have some more kisses and sex first?

“No...” he sighs. “I suppose you can’t,
haven’t had much of one myself,” he says, taking my hand in his and kissing my
knuckles. My stomach muscles clench as I get a vivid image of us, naked, having
hot steamy sex –
Whoa! I want him and I want him now!

I look away to try and calm my beating
heart. “We can make up for it tonight, when we eat out.” I tell him. But now
he’s here I don't want to go out and share him with the rest of the world, I
want to stay inside, eat Chinese food, drink wine and have all night sex –
Yes,
that’s what I want
. “Or not,” I snort nervously.

“No?” Tristan’s fingertips pull on my chin
so I have to look up at him. Leaning forward so our lips are almost touching,
my breath catches; the sheer proximity of him is enough to make my legs tremble.
I instantly moisten down below. “What do you want to do?” he asks brushing his
lips softly against mine, teasing me.

I close my eyes fully expecting him to kiss
me, but he doesn’t, I open my eyes just as Tristan takes my face in his hands.
“What do you want Coral?” he asks, trying to read my expression.

“You,” I gasp and tug on his open shirt, so
he has no choice but to lean in. “All night long,” I add panting heavily –
Jeez
he hasn’t even kissed me!

His lips reach mine, and I feel it right
down there, instantly. I gasp against his lips, and he groans a low, deep sexy
sound, his lips parting, then his tongue is in my mouth.

My hands knot in his hair and I pull him
harder against my lips, kissing him back, claiming him, possessing him, binding
him to me…
oh Tristan, I have missed you so
…

His arms wrap tightly around me, one around
my shoulders, the other around my waist, pressing me forcefully against the
length of his body, I can feel his erection growing against me…
Whoa! –
I
want him in my bed. I want him to take me over, and over until I can't take
anymore. I need to get this raging, passionate feeling out of my system.

Unfortunately, we hear a bunch of kids
whooping and laughing, so we quickly pull away. I look across and see they are
school kids, still in their uniforms. A couple of the boys start clapping and
laughing as they pass us –
Not good, now I’m embarrassed.

I smile shyly up at Tristan, my breathing
heavy, blood pumping loudly in my ears. He is staring down at me. “You want to
stay in?” He pants.

“Yes.” I stare up into his wide eyes that
are heated and filled with desire.
Yes!

“You don't want to go out?” he questions.

I shake my head. “No.”
Screw the dress!

“Alright,” he says, measuring my expression.
“But don’t think you’re getting away with not eating,” he admonishes. “Your
frame is too small,” he adds, his eyes blazing.

“Ok,” I whisper.

“Your word?” he growls deeply.

“Yes, I give you my word, I will stuff my
face tonight,” I say trying not to laugh.

“It’s not funny,” he tells me sternly.

“No, it’s not!” I say shaking my head, still
trying not to laugh.

He can't help it; his lips start to twitch
as he fights to hide his smile. I bring my hands up to my mouth and try to hide
the laugh bursts out of me.

He shakes his head in mock horror. “You are
so frustrating,” he sighs, pulling me against the length of his body, holding
me tight again. I close my eyes and breathe in his scent. “But you have
enchanted me Coral Stevens,” he whispers. “I am under your spell, and I have
missed you so.”
Oh Tristan!

“I’m under your spell too Tristan,” I
whisper.

He pulls back and gazes down adoringly at
me. “Let’s go,” he softly says, taking my hand in his…

TRISTAN PULLS THE CAR TO A STOP OUTSIDE HIS HOUSE
. Stepping out of the car and walking around to my side, he leans
down and gives me his hand. Taking hold of it, Tristan pulls me with such a
force that I almost fall to the floor, I scream with delight as he catches me
in time.

Shutting the car door and pushing me
against it, he presses the length of his body against mine. I can feel his
erection digging into my belly, the hard sinew of the muscles in his lean legs,
his toned chest pushing against my breasts.

“I want you,” he growls huskily and kisses
me hard. I have to fight the urge to wrap my legs around him, undo his zipper
and have him take me there and then.

“Then take me, here…now,” I challenge.

“No,” he growls sexily.

Grasping my hand in his Tristan marches to
the front door, unlocks it, pulls me inside, slams the door shut with his foot,
punches in the code for the alarm, then turns to me with dark devilish eyes.

Butterflies start zooming around my stomach
like spitfires in an air battle. Tristan walks over to the breakfast bar,
removes his jacket and hangs it across the bar stool. Then, reaching into his
jacket, he pulls out his wallet, opens it up and takes out a condom.

Then he slowly turns and smiles back at me
with such a dirty, sexy smile, I feel a frisson of excitement tingle throughout
my body. He starts waggling the condom in his hand as he slowly saunters
towards me, his look heated and sexy as hell…
holy crap!

I tremble inside, god I want him so badly.
I throw my handbag on the floor, just as Tristan pulls me into his arms and his
mouth swoops down on mine, kissing me hard, pushing me up against the wall with
his one hand, whilst the other shoves the condom in his trouser pocket.

I kiss him back with all the burning
passion that’s been building for the past five days, our tongues lashing
against one another. I moan and whimper as he continues to kiss me, he growls
in response, a low sexy sound. Then quickly stripping him of his shirt and tie,
I lift my arms so he can get rid of my blouse, followed swiftly by my bra.

Taking my breasts in his hands he stares
down at them in awe, sucking each of my nipples in turn, my head falls back as
I cry out with longing –
Has it only been five days?

“God I’ve missed you,” he breaths, echoing
my thoughts.

Then falling to his knees, he opens the
button on my trousers and gazing up at me, he slowly pulls down the zip.

“What do we have here?” he teases, pulling
my trousers further down, past my pelvic bone, across my backside, revealing a
pair of my new black lacy thongs.

He looks up at me, appreciation written all
over his face. “Very nice,” he says his voice all deep and husky.
Damn his
voice is so fucking sexy!

My stomach flips and everything south of my
waist clenches in delicious anticipation. My lips part, I am panting with
delicious anticipation. Tristan suddenly stands up, and takes a step back,
admiring me.

“Tristan!” I scold –
You can't just stop
like that!

He smiles a sexy smile at me, his eyes
blazing then slowly, he sinks down and unties his shiny shoes, not taking his
eyes off mine the whole time. Taking them off, he yanks off his socks, then
stands. His eyes smolder as he drinks me in, then stepping towards me, he
kneels in front of me again, and takes my wedges off, one at a time.

Then he quickly strips me of my work
trousers and stands, we take a second to gaze at one another in appreciation.
Stepping forward, I lean my forehead against his chest, inhaling his scent,
then I snap open the belt on his trousers. Opening the top button and pulling
down the zip, I plunge my hand inside his boxers.

His erection feels hot and heavy in my hand
as I gently tease him, Tristan’s head falls back slightly, his mouth gapes open
as his eyes close in response. It makes me want him instantly.

I yank his trousers down with his boxers,
so they slide freely down his legs. Tristan steps back so he’s free of his
clothing, then taking him by surprise, I fall to my knees and take him in my
mouth.

“Coral!” he gasps.
Oh I want this, I’ve
missed this.

“No baby,” he protests. “I want to be in
you, come on,” he hisses between his teeth as I take him deeper, sucking harder.
“Coral!” He admonishes.

I take one last suck and stop, but keep him
in my hand, teasing him still. I gaze up at him trying to look innocent and bat
my lashes at him, then smile.

He shakes his head in frustration, or joy,
I’m not sure which, leans down and pulls me to my feet. Then, reaching down he
takes the condom out of his trouser pocket and taking me by the hand he
silently walks me over to the large u shaped sofa.

“Take a seat,” he says. “On the edge,” he
adds.

I smile up at him and slowly sit, with my
knees pressed together, so that my backside is the only thing on the sofa. Then
kneeling in front of me, he places his hands on my knees, leans forward and
softly kisses me, he’s so seductive –
I never had a prayer of avoiding this
man, I realise that now!

His hands slide to the back of my knees and
he yanks my legs apart, it makes me gasp aloud, he’s turning me on, big time. He
starts a trail of soft, wet kisses along my inner right thigh, stopping when he
reaches my sex…
no, don’t stop!

Then he does the same with the other leg, teasing
and taunting me until he’s right there again. He smiles up at me with his most
sexy smile –
I would walk over hot coals for that smile.

“I don’t think we’ll be needing these,” he
croaks in that sexy voice. “Lie back baby,” he adds and I do so. He slowly
peels my knickers off me. “Oh I do approve Miss Stevens,” he teases. “Very sexy
choice.”

My heart leaps with joy…
he likes them
…oh
I hope he likes everything else I bought. Then his mouth is on me, in me. I cry
out in response, and hiss at the contact, it seems like it’s been so long…

“Tristan,” I moan breathlessly as he sucks
and flicks his tongue across, and up and down my clitoris, and I’m building…so
quickly…
oh crap!

Then I feel him slip a finger inside me,
pulling in and out…
oh god…
then another finger, as his tongue continues
to do it’s dirty work, and I can't hold on any longer.

“Tristan!” I mewl. My eyes close, my head
cranes back and my body bows as I erupt, like a volcano, hard and fast,
squeezing relentlessly against his fingers that are still inside me as the most
mind-blowing orgasm rips through me. I cry out a garbled version of his name as
I try to reign in my shattered thoughts, I feel like I’ve left my body again.

“Oh baby,” I hear him rip the foil off the
condom packet. Then I feel his erection there, against my sex. “Open your eyes
baby,” he softly demands.

In my hazy state, I manage to blink both
eyes open.

He’s leaning over me, his weight resting on
his forearms. “Do you have any idea what you mean to me?” he questions. His
eyes darkening, burning into mine with an intensity I haven’t seen before; it
makes me catch my breath.

“No,” I whisper.

He leans his forehead against mine, his
eyes boring into me. “You are everything to me…everything,” he breathes.

“Tristan,” I whisper and softly stroke his
face. Then suddenly he moves again, leans down and plants a soft gentle kiss on
my clitoris.

“Ah,” I cry out. I’m too sensitive there
now.

Then he slowly traces soft kisses up my
belly, along my torso, his hands are squeezing my breasts and teasing my
nipples. Then he trails kisses up my neck, nibbles my earlobe, then sends soft
kisses across my cheek until he reaches my lips, they part automatically for
his tongue to reach mine, but Tristan hovers above me, staring down at me with
that same intensity, like he can see right down to my dark, twisted soul.

I feel his hands leave my breasts, his eyes
do not leave mine the whole time. Taking my face in his hands, he moves forward,
and I feel his hot, heavy length enter me, inch by inch, slowly fill me up. His
tongue softly licks my bottom lip as I gaze up at him in awestruck wonder.

Taking both my hands in one of his, he
pushes them up above my head…
whoa that feels sexy…
then he starts to
move, slow at first, in and out, quickening everything inside me, his other
hand is skimming up and down my body, sending tingles in every direction.

Then he really starts to move, faster and
faster, and I feel it build so quickly, that there’s nothing I can do to stop
it, to slow it down. I feel like my insides are exploding as I come hard.

“Tristan!” I screech as the most amazing
orgasm ripples through me.

“Oh baby,” he pants. “You fit me like a
glove.” He thrusts into me, twice, three times, then stills as his orgasm
ripples through him.

He sinks down on top of me, his head buried
in my neck. I wrap my one arm around his shoulders, while my other hand runs
through his soft hair, and I drift, basking in the glorious feeling spreading
through me…

AS I LAY ACROSS TRISTAN’S TOROSE,
catching my breath from round two on the sofa, I can't help wondering
to myself if it’s really possible to love somebody this much?

Sighing blissfully, I stare at my fingers
tracing soft circles across his chest.

“Coral?” he croaks.

“Hmm,” I murmur.

“You wanna tell me what happened at yours?”
Tristan asks huskily.
Shit!

I close my eyes. What the hell am I meant
to say? I open them up, lean my chin on his chest and look up at his face. He’s
staring up at the ceiling, his eyes are dark and wide with worry.

“It was nothing Tristan,” I lie.

“I wish you wouldn’t do that,” he gripes.

“Do what?” I ask innocently.

“Lie to me. I know you’re trying to keep me
from worrying about you, but you’re fighting a losing battle there.” Tristan
moves us so we are facing one another. I avoid eye contact and stare at his
chest. “Look, I get that you have this self-protecting thing down to a t, but
you can’t be that strong and courageous all the time, surely?” he softly scolds.

I laugh nervously at him. Tristan takes my
chin and lifts it, so I have to make eye contact with him. His look says it all
– he wants to know.

“Fine!” I huff and start blurting it all
out. “It was Monday night. I’d fallen asleep on the sofa when a strange noise woke
me up. I looked up at the patio door, I thought for a split second it might be
Bob in trouble, you know…then…well, I could see a shadow coming in from the
window of the front door, when I turned round someone was stood there’ – “Male
or female?” he interrupts.

“I...I’m not sure,” I answer, hoping he
can't see through me and my own suspicions.

“Go on,” he urges.

I take a deep breath. “I didn’t think much
of it...then they tried the door handle’ – Tristan’s sharp intake of breath is
not a good sign – ‘obviously it was locked, a second later they disappeared.” I
break off shivering slightly and sit up.

Tristan pulls the throw off the side and
wraps it around me. “I'm not cold,” I tell him.

He cocks his head to the side and gives me
a ‘don't argue look’ I take another breath and look out through the window.

“Has anything like that ever happened
before?” he asks.

“No.” I run my hands through my hair.
Tristan nods once, then drifts off, trying to figure it out –
Maybe he has
some suspicions of his own?

“What did you do?” he asks me. “Please tell
me you didn’t open the door and follow them?” he says in horror. I glare down
at him, although, I do remember thinking about seeing who it was? I quickly
quash that line of thinking.

“Do you think I have a death wish?” I gush.
“Jesus Tristan, give me a little more credit that that!” I scold.

“So what did you do?” he asks.

“I called the police and they said there
wasn’t anything they could do. I hadn’t been attacked and they hadn’t broken in.
The woman on the line made a point of saying it could have been someone who was
drunk, you know got the wrong door.” Tristan frowns as I tell him this, but I
keep going. “And she was right Tristan, I wasn’t going to freak myself out
about it,” I say pulling the throw tighter around me as a shiver runs down my
spine.

“Of course not,” he spits sarcastically.
“That’s why you bought some alarms, a baseball bat and some kind of freaky
weapons!”
Shit, he saw the baseball bat in my bedroom!

“Tristan’ – “Don't,” he warns. “Do not sit
there and try to convince me that it didn’t scare you!” I go to argue then
change my mind. He sighs heavily then looks up at me. “Coral,” he softly says,
moving closer to me as he does. “You know you don't have to be strong all the
time. You should have told me’ –“And what would you have done?” I snap,
interrupting him. Tristan goes to answer but I butt in. “You’d have come
straight down to me, I know you would have, which meant you would have had to
cancel all your meetings, and end up going back next week.” I add, thinking about
what I’ve just said. “You’re not going back next week are you?” I question.