Take a Bow (The Perfect Plans Series Book 2) (6 page)

“You’re so perfect,” he whispers, kissing my thigh, teasing my sensitive bud with his tongue, capturing it between his lips.

My body bows to his delicious mercy, his two fingers sliding along my wet folds before pressing inside. Grabbing his hair, I moan with every thrilling thrust of his digits, pulling and urging the return of his lips to mine. What he’s doing to me feels out of this world, but I need him inside me.

He groans in response, pulling his fingers from my core to tease my engorged clit. Moving upward to settle between my widespread legs, the brush of his hardened erection along my folds elicits another. “I can’t hold back, baby. I need you. Now.”

“Then don’t,” I grab his face, resuming our frenzied kiss.

Reaching down to grasp his cock, he glides it slowly along my wetness, the juices coating its thick head, lining himself up to thrust deep. Our simultaneous moans echo through the tangle of our lips; he feels incredible inside me, filling me.

He slides his cock out with slow precision, its tip tantalizing my quivering sex. His gaze is filled with fire, and I’m mesmerized. “
This
, this is real,” his whispers gruffly, his words consuming me before thrusting deeply once more.

“Oh, God… Alex!”

The feel of his erection slipping through my folds, pushing deeper and deeper inside me, feels completely brand new. The intensity is incredible, his hardness awakening every nerve inside me, my womb contracting in desperate need, clutching and gripping his cock. I buck uncontrollably, bowing in helpless abandon as his thickness plunges again. Seated fully, he stills, lifting his head to stare into my eyes, his blue gaze searching mine, leaving me speechless. Breathless. The pure emotion reflected in his stare has me sucking in air.

“I love you,” I whisper through my gasping breaths.

His eyes close as though he’s savoring the words. Brushing his fingers along my forehead, he pushes the strands of hair away. “Do you know what those words mean to me?
Do to me
?”

“I love you,” I repeat them, suddenly eliciting a powerful force within me, realizing how much my use of them - laced with such absolute, undeniable truth - affects him so profoundly.

“Jesus, baby…” he groans. “Don’t ever leave me again.”

I’m completely overcome with emotion, pulling his lips back to mine to resume our kiss, putting every ounce of my happiness, honesty, and faithfulness into it. I pray that I can show him exactly what mere words could never fully relay.

He pulls his cock marginally from my core, plunging back inside as I mewl into his kiss. My hips meet his thrusts measure for measure, needing him so deep inside me that I’ll never survive otherwise. Our coupling frenetic in our need for each other.

Pulling his lips from mine, he places suckling kisses along my jaw, my collarbone. His hand slides beneath my back, pulling me upwards to arch my body towards him, my head falling back in abandon, offering my breasts to his wanting mouth. With succulent brushes of his lips along my chest, he swipes his tongue along my nipple, sucking it between his perfect lips.

I release a crazed whimper at the sensation, my pussy throbbing around his hardness, my climax imminent.

“Mmmm…yes, baby. You’re so close. I want to feel you come around my cock. Fall for me.”

His words are my undoing. The sexy timber of his voice, combined with the steady tempo of his thrusts sends me plummeting over the precipice. Screaming his name in release, I slide my hands in his hair, gripping hard, riding the overwhelming waves of pleasure, convulsing uncontrollably.

His thrusts pound relentlessly as I ride the waves, in and out, deeper and deeper into my clutching depths, before he finally stills above me. The sensation as he spills his desire inside my pulsing core is as thrilling as the delicious groan he releases into my neck.

Harsh breaths amid the grasp of each other’s arms, we await the slowing of our rapid heartbeats in euphoric silence.

Sliding his still semi-erect cock out of me, he chuckles at my elicited whimper, turning to his side on the mattress, pulling me with him. “I’m not done with you yet, sweetheart,” he warns playfully, running his fingers gently along my sweat-slickened back.

“I hope you’ll never be,” I bite my lip through a small smile.

“Good,” he wraps me in his arms, lifting me up with ease, moving to stand. “Time for a shower,” he smirks, carrying me to the bathroom, holding me in one strong arm, leaning in to turn it on.

Steam slowly fills the room as he places me down inside, pulling me against him under the warmth of the cascading water. Lovingly brushing his hand along my jaw, my satiated body flutters to life with delicious shivers of returned desire. His own unwavering arousal is equally evident, sinfully tantalizing against my stomach in his tight hold.

Our insatiable need is intoxicating, but in this moment, I can sense his longing to move slowly this time. He’s savoring me. And I want nothing more than to just give in to his loving embrace.

“Thank you,” I whisper.

“For?” he questions, running his fingers gently along my back.

“For your forgiveness,” I look deeply into his eyes. I could lose myself in the beauty of them. “I’m so grateful to you. You came for me. You believed in me…in us, even when I couldn’t. I truly never meant to hurt you,” I look down, feeling a build of shameful tears. “The way you left this morning…I thought I’d lost you.”

“No, never. Don’t ever think that,” he lifts my chin to meet his gaze. “I would have done whatever it took to make you see reason. To make you understand just how much I…” flinching, he stops, closing his eyes.

Oh God. He can’t say it.
How can I blame him? I’ve hurt him so much, its bite so recent, still lingering despite his forgiveness. I have to understand that. I have to be strong for him to get past it. “You don’t have to say it, Alex.”

Opening his eyes to look at me, I avert my gaze, battling my insecurities against my strength just a moment ago. He tilts my head, pulling my gaze once more, his eyes saying more than any words could convey, without question. I don’t need to hear the words aloud, not until he is ready to give them freely. And I know that trust will play a large roll in when that time comes.

“It’s okay,” I reassure him, wrapping my arms around him to pull him closer, resting my head against his chest, the water raining over us. “I have to earn your trust. And I will. But…” I pause, searching for the right words, turning my head to kiss his slickened flesh. “I can’t promise that my fears will be gone when we wake in the morning,” I add cautiously, my lips lingering against him.

He bends into my hold, leaning down onto my shoulder, his breaths warm against my skin in his silence. I wish I could see his eyes, desperate to try to read what he’s thinking, but I give him the moment he seems to need.

“I just want to be honest with you,” my words slip out without thought. “There’s only one thing I’m sure of in this moment,” I pull away from him, needing him to see the truth in my eyes. I’m a little taken aback at the somber tone reflected in his. He’s scared too. If he wasn’t before I left, he is now. And, at my hand. I
will
gain his trust back, but until then I can only reassure him what I know is true,
real
…over and over…“I love you, Alex.”

His eyes close again at my words, and I lose my breath when he opens them to me, electric blue in color, oozing desire. Gently, he glides his lips along mine, taking me in a sensual kiss. I can feel his love for me in every slide of his tongue along mine, every sashay of his fingers along my body. It’s overwhelming and utterly enthralling. I feel at home here in his arms. I am home. Alex is my absolute dream come true. My
perfect plan
come to fruition. He’s everything that I’ve ever wanted and so very much more.

Releasing me slowly from our kiss, he whispers against my lips, “Honesty is incredibly sexy.”

“Is it?” I question playfully.

“Mmhmm,” he mumbles, kissing my neck.

“Well, allow me to elaborate my candor,” I manage through his onslaught, pulling every ounce of strength to cement my words. “I will fight those pesky fears to the bitter end. I’ll never run again. I promise you that,” I add, leaning my lips against his chest, waiting in hopes that he heard my truth.

He pulls back, the corners of his mouth curling up into one of his heart stopping smiles. “Well, Miss Ryan,” he brushes his fingers along my tummy, eliciting electric shivers, “…you realize that means you are stuck with me now.”

I can’t help but laugh at his boyish charm, now thankfully returned.
God, how I’ve missed it
. “Likewise, Mr. Tate.”

Placing a quick kiss to my forehead, he pulls me tighter, sighing contentedly into my neck. The feel of his smile against my flesh is indescribable. “Stay the night?”

“I’m not going anywhere.”

“OKAY,” I POSITION myself between Alex and the front door of my parent’s home, looking up into his beautiful blue eyes with weary caution, “…once you step inside this door, you may never see me the same way again. Are you prepared for that?”

His lips curl into that sexy smirk that immediately scorches down my core. I have to bite my lip against the thought of just jumping in the car and taking him back to bed.

“Sweetheart, I’m prepared for anything and everything that is you,” he wraps his strong arms around my waist, his words as charming as his smile. “And I’m more than willing to turn around and take you right back to the hotel to prove that a few more times, if you wish,” he adds, pulling at my bitten lip with his thumb.

“Don’t tempt me.” I can’t resist trailing my palm along his chest beneath the opening of his tweed jacket, my fingers begging me to reconsider his offer. “Let’s just get this over with,” I sigh, reluctantly turning in his hold to open the door. “So, remember, my dad’s not much of a talker, but he has a heart of gold, and Mom,” I pause, turning to look at him, “…well, let’s just say that at the end of the day, I think she means well.”

“Got it,” he nods, lips pursed before that crooked grin curls back into place.

God help me, I’m insatiable for him
. And he knows it. “Are you going to tease me all day with that wicked, sexy smirk, Mr. Tate?”

“I won’t be teasing,” he whispers in my ear, his hand trailing down my back to caress my behind.

“No? What would you call it?” I challenge, playfully.

“An extended warning.”

Oh, gawd
…

“Mom, I’m here,” I call out as we enter.
Let the fun and games begin.

“Aby?” she calls from the kitchen. “Well, thank heavens you finally decided to grace us with your…” she stops abruptly, finally having us in view. “Oh,” she smiles, smoothing down her perfectly wrinkle-free clothing.

“Hi, Mom. I’d like you to meet Alexander Tate. Alex this is my mother, Dianne.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Ryan,” he shakes her hand gently, offering his incredible smile. “May I call you Dianne?”

“Oh, yes, of course,” she giggles, caught in that familiar ‘Alexander Tate’ awkward trance as she stares at the man I’ve fallen in love with. “Abigail, you should have warned me you were bringing a guest,” she fiddles with her perfectly styled hair. “I would have done something with myself.” I roll my eyes - it’s not like she can see me, she’s fixated on the Adonis of a man at my side. “It’s wonderful to meet you, Alexander,” she gushes.

“Please, call me Alex.”

“Yes, of course.” Her giant, frozen smile seems to swallow the moment of silence. It’s hard to look away from her awestruck gaze before she opens her mouth again to speak, “Reggie! Aby is home, and she’s brought a friend. Come, come inside you two,” she grabs Alex’s arm, entwining it in her own to pull him along.

I follow behind, shaking my head slightly. This is more than comical.

We enter the kitchen to find my dad sitting at the table, his reading glasses perched on his nose, his face twisted tightly in concentration as he tries to decipher, what I can only assume, is the day’s crossword puzzle.

“Reggie! Did you not hear me calling? Abigail is here, and she’s brought a friend.”

Begrudgingly pulling his gaze from the newspaper at the shrill, yet undoubtedly partially tuned-out voice of my mom, instant warmth flashes in his eyes when they land on me. “Aby, honey, come here,” he stands, walking towards me, his crossword forgotten.

I immediately fold into his arms, hugging him tight in return. “Hi, Dad,” I smile against his chest, savoring the familiar scent that is my dad.

Pulling back to hold me at arms length, he flashes me his smile. “It’s good to see you. Have you been eating?”

“Ugh, yes I’ve been eating,” I chuckle. “Dad, I want you to meet my boyfriend,” I gesture towards Alex, standing idly by. “Alex, this is my dad, Reggie.”

“It’s a pleasure, Mr. Ryan,” Alex smiles, reaching to shake my dad’s hand.

There’s no question I can see the wheels turning behind my father’s gaze - part ‘who the hell is this guy’ and equal part ‘you’re not good enough for my daughter’. So damn adorable.

“Likewise, Alex,” he replies.
Yup, the man of few words.
I can clearly see the strength in the grip of his handshake, the motion of the gesture continuing a little longer than necessary.