London Bound: New Adult Romance (Chase Brothers) (33 page)

Lex’s eyes were so serious and his voice was grave. She tried to focus on his voice, but the scratchy feeling at the back of her throat distracted her. “What is it?”

“I don’t know how to say this, so I’ll just—” He paused. Studying her, he frowned. “Abbie, are you okay?”

“Uhm fine. It’s just a little hot in here. My throat’s a bit scratchy, but it’s nothing. What do you want to say?”

He narrowed his gaze and studied her closely. “Hell. I’m so sorry.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I think you’re having an allergic reaction.”

“Don’t be crazy. I’m fine. It’s just a little hot in here.”

His brows shot up. “Really, then why are your lips swelling?”

Chapter 35

Two hours after the dinner debacle, Alexi held Abbie close and watched her sleep. After using her EpiPen, she’d refused to go home. She’d also been livid that he insisted on paramedics coming to check her out.

But they’d told him the same thing she had. All she needed was rest. So he brought her home. To his bed. She’d been half asleep when they’d come in so he hadn’t even had a chance to show her his place properly. She’d changed into a T-shirt and climbed into his arms as if she’d been doing so for years.

Alexi held her tighter even as he cursed himself for being all kinds of an idiot. He’d called ahead and made sure none of the food had mushrooms in it, but he’d completely forgotten about the condiments and sauces.
Stupid, stupid
. She could have gotten really sick, thanks to him.

Abbie stirred in his arms. “You’re holding on pretty tight there.”

He only loosened his grip marginally. “Sorry. I was really worried about you.”

Abbie turned in his arms. “And I told you that you didn’t need to be.” She gestured to her face. “See, I’m already back to normal. I’m fine. It happens.”

“But it happened on my watch. I told you I’d called ahead and so you were less careful about what you were eating. I feel like an arse. I was trying to impress you.”

“Hey,” she reached up to cup his face, “All I wanted was you tonight. I didn’t need impressing.”

Abbie kissed him gently. Despite everything, his body went on instant alert. Ready to rock as if he’d been plugged into an electrical socket. “Abbie, you should be getting some rest.”

She met his gaze with a direct one of her own. “I’d rather make love to you, if you don’t mind. I’ve missed you.”

He dragged in a ragged breath. With shaking hands, he caressed her cheek. “I’ve been dreaming of having you here in my house, in my bed, since I rescued you from that Mini Cooper.”

She ducked her head. “Of course you would remember that. So embarrassing. Must happen to every single green Yank who shows up on your shores.”

Alexi tilted his finger under her chin and forced her to look at him. “Don’t be embarrassed. I fell for that girl who wanted to save her camera and yanked me down with her to save its life.”

Her smile was soft but warmed him from the inside out. “Well, a girl’s gotta eat.” Quietly, she added, “When you pulled me into your lap, I thought you Brit boys took chivalry to a whole new place.”

Alexi gently drew her into his body.

Abbie drew in a shuddering breath as she came into contact with his erection. “Alexi, I—”

He pulled back and kissed her temple, then whispered, “Shh, it’s okay. We don’t have to do this.”

Abbie shook her head. “I was going to say that I feel safe with you.”

She trusted him? After everything he’d put her through? Again he kissed her, his tongue sliding over hers. Exploring her mouth. She sucked on his tongue, and he shivered. Abbie laced her hands through his hair and lightly scored her nails into his scalp. A shudder racked his body. His erection throbbed against her belly, and she smiled against his lips.

“Jesus, Abbie.”

* * *

Abbie sat up in bed. With one hand, she reached between her and Alexi and started unbuttoning his shirt. One by one, the tiny silver buttons slipped from their loops, revealing tanned skin and muscles beneath. She’d seen him without his shirt on often enough to know just how hard those muscles were. Where tattoos lay hidden. She loved the Sanskrit etching on his ribs, but her favorite was the expansive eagle wings on his back. She loved how his muscles would ripple when she ran her fingertips over them.

Drawing back from the kiss, she tucked both hands into his shirt and pushed it off his shoulders. It fell to the ground without making a sound.

He reached for her and tugged his T-shirt off of her, leaving her bare.

She went for his trousers next, her trembling hand working on the buckle of his belt. All the while, his gaze burned on her intensely. Scorching her exposed flesh.

His hands lightly caressed her face, then traced a path down to her breasts. The backs of his fingertips just barely grazed her flesh. When they reached her nipples, he let the pad of his thumb trace over the puckered tips. When he circled the sensitive tips again, a moan tore from her throat as a stab of pleasure hit her deep in her center.

“You’re so responsive, Abbie. Just one touch, and you’re melting already.”

His pants followed his discarded shirt, and he stepped out of them. All that stood between them were his boxer briefs and the slip of her barely there satin panties. Abbie curled into his embrace once more and kissed his chest. His muscles bunched, and his chest vibrated with a low rumble when she flicked her tongue over his nipple.

“A-Abbie…” His breath was ragged and raw.

Tentatively, as she kissed her way across his chest, she slid a hand down his body, over each rippled ab, down to his straining erection. Lightly, her fingertips explored the rigid length through his shorts. His hands froze in her hair, but he didn’t stop her.

More emboldened, she slipped her hand into the waistband of his shorts then wrapped her fingers around his girth and lightly tested the weight of him. With the contact of flesh on flesh, he shuddered, then hissed, and his grip on her braids tightened. She stroked him, slowly running her thumb over the tip of his erection and his hips bucked. She smiled up at him and stroked him again.

His jaw clenched, and a vivid curse tore out through gnashed teeth. She immediately stilled, and a whimper escaped his lips.

“God, Abbie. You feel so goooood.” His voice was hoarse, raw.

She wrapped her hand around him once more, and he hissed. This time she brought her free hand to his chest and explored the smooth skin of his nipple with her thumb, just as he’d done to her.

His eyes drifted closed, and he moaned deep and low as she explored. His nipple puckered just like hers did when he’d touched her. Alexi dropped his forehead to hers and whispered, “You feel so good. But I need you to stop.”

She stilled immediately. “I thought you liked—”

He chuckled harshly. “God, yes. I like it. I’m just trying to slow us down before I lose total control here.”

“I think I’d like to see that.” She pumped again twice and smiled as his whole body shook. But when his gaze met hers, she knew he’d lost the battle for control.

* * *

Gently, Alexi slid his tongue over her lower lip and she parted her lips. For several minutes the only sound that pierced the silence in the room was their moans and muffled whispers.

Lex shifted their position so she lay propped against the pillows on the bed. “I’ve been missing you.”

A shy smile stole across her lips. “I missed you too.”

“I never meant to hurt you.”

She nodded. “I know.”

When he kissed her again, his tongue was possessive, staking a claim on her as his hands moved over her naked flesh. His thumbs traced each of her ribs before his hands travelled up and he traced over her nipples.

Abbie writhed beneath him and with each wiggle of her hips, the blood rushed louder in his head. And the whispers grew to a thunder.
Take her. She’s yours. Take her. Make her yours. Don’t let go.

She blinked up at him, eyes wide. “Alexi, I know what I want. And it’s you. It’s always been you.”

He rolled off of her for a split second and snagged a condom from his bedside table. In less than a minute, he had it on and pulled her to him kissing her softly. “Abbie, you are incredible.”

As he slid into her warm depths, the words ‘I love you’ lingered on the edge of his consciousness like an ethereal dream he couldn’t catch. He rocked into her over and over again and she scored her nails on his back, calling his name on breathy little sighs. Even if he couldn’t grab hold of the words, he knew he couldn’t ever walk away from her.

He knew the moment she skyrocketed into orgasm because her body clamped onto him like a vice. Unable to withstand the pleasure that chased up his spine, he followed her into oblivion.

Holding her to him afterward, he kissed her temple. “I’ve wanted you here from the moment you danced with me that first night.”

Abbie giggled. “God, I was so nervous.”

“Why?”

“Have you seen you? And you could dance.” She lifted the sheet to look down his body. “I mean, what’s a girl to do?”

“I can think of a few things.” He laughed.

“You’re incorrigible.”

“Who me?” Lex kissed her softly, ignoring the prick of guilt. She was so happy, so relaxed. What would happen when he told her? He’d tried yesterday, but not hard enough. He needed to tell her.
Soon
. He’d tell her soon. But not quite yet. “So, what are you doing Sunday?”

She winced. “Ugh, I’m headed to campus. Xander’s helping me with some of my portrait work. I have a few things I want to show him before class on Monday. And I’d rather get his opinion before I print them all out. Why? What’s happening?”

“I want to take you to meet my mother.”

She sat up, dislodging the sheet covering her breasts. “What? Your mother?”

He did try to focus on her face, but her breasts were right in his face. He licked one nipple, and Abbie immediately melted, laying back on the bed.

“Yes, my mother. I want to show you off,” he whispered.

“Okay. I’ll come. But I have nothing to wear.”

“You can go like this, for all I care. As long as you’re by my side.”

“As if.” She chewed her lip. “What if she doesn’t like me? Approve or whatever.”

“She’ll l—” He clamped his mouth shut. He’d almost said his mother would love her almost as much as he did. He did love her, but before he told her that, he needed to tell her the truth. He’d wanted to do it tonight. But then she’d gotten sick. And now, he wanted to hold onto her for one more night before he might lose her for good. “She’ll think you’re perfect.”

Chapter 36

Abbie leaned into Alexi as he kissed her hard and long at her back door. He lingered over her lips and sighed. For once, the gray that blanketed London the majority of the time had parted to reveal some sunshine, and it backlit his beautiful face.

“I need to go before one of your neighbors sees me and calls the paparazzi.”

Abbie moaned. “You could come inside.” Through the sweats she wore and his jeans, she could feel the ridge of his arousal.

He dropped his forehead to hers. “Woman, you are insatiable. You’d think after last night and this morning, then the shower, I’d have tired you out by now.”

She grinned. She was exhausted, but it didn’t stop her from wanting him again. “What can I say? I can’t get enough.”

“Jesus, Abbie.” He kissed her nose. “I want to. Which is why I probably shouldn’t. You have work to do and a roommate to deconstruct with, and I have some work to do with Nick. But I will see you tomorrow, okay?”

She sighed. “Right. We can’t just avoid our lives entirely. I need to start putting out my resume too. The photography gigs are good. But I think I also need another job.”

His jaw tightened. “I’m trying really hard to respect your wishes, but it’s getting harder. I’m the reason you’re in this mess.”

She kissed him softly. “It’s not a mess. It’s me getting to live my life how I see fit. So, no. No rushing in and doing the prince charming bit. No pun intended.”

He grinned and kissed her once more before heading to his car.

Still a little lust drunk, Abbie tripped up the stairs and let herself in to her flat. Tamsin looked up expectantly with a wide smile on her face. Sophie was also home for once, but she didn’t seem nearly as enthused.

Abbie slid her shoes off in the hall before skipping into the living room.

“Someone’s in a good mood,” Sophie said quietly.

She couldn’t help grinning again.

“Wouldn’t you be in a good mood if you’d spent the night having one of London’s most eligible bachelors catering to your every sexual whim?” Tamsin gave Abbie a pointed look. “You, go shower, change, then come out and tell us all the sordid details. I want to know skill level, size, and dexterity, all of it. Don’t you dare leave anything out.”

Abbie giggled. “But I’m so tired. Can’t I just sit here and rest for a minute?” She’d had a shower at Alexi’s this morning, but she could use the change of clothes. Though his sweats were so worn in and soft, they felt like heaven.