Here With You (A Laurel Heights Novel) - By Kate Perry Page 0,38

took his hand and pulled him into the living room.

He felt a stab of disappointment. She'd never invited him to her bed. He knew her room was sacred, but it bothered him that she lumped him in with the other men that she'd dated.

She'd also refused to show him her designs. He'd brought it up a couple times, but she'd bristled, so he avoided that topic. He didn't even bring up the fact that he'd give his left nut to see her in the black one.

He just had to convince her to trust him. After all, he was the one here with her—no one else.

She let go of him and pulled her top over her head, flashing him her impish smile.

Red lace—heaven help him. "Convenient that Susan's out of town," he said calmly as if he weren't bursting at the seams to be inside her. He unbuttoned his jeans.

She undid her pants, unzipped her boots, and pushed them all off in one swoop. "She travels a lot for work."

He took her in, the bare skin, the gentle curves. Admiring. In awe. "I am grateful."

"For?" Her hair cascaded down her back as she took her ponytail down.

"For Susan being gone. For you." He wrapped his arms around her waist, loving the feel of her, loving her scent. "For this. I don't want to take a moment with you for granted."

Her lips curved in that adorable crooked grin that hadn't changed. "We better get on it then," she said as she stripped bare.

Quickly taking his clothes off, he sat down and pulled her to straddle his lap.

She rubbed herself on him, her hands anchored on his shoulders. "You know what I'm grateful for?"

"Tell me."

"The chance to do this." She nibbled her way up his chest, his neck, spearing her fingers in his hair as she took his mouth.

He held her tight, needing to be closer, needing to be inside her. He lay back, pulling her over him.

She sat up and looked around. "Condoms?"

He cursed under his breath. He'd been in such a hurry to get her naked that he forgot to get them out. "In my bag."

Nicole stopped him from moving with a hand on his chest. "I'm on the pill, if you're safe."

Stilling, he stared at her. He wouldn't have trusted anyone else—Roddy had drummed caution into his head. But Nicole was different. He trusted Nicole with everything. "I'm safe," he said softly.

"Good." She reached between them and took hold of him.

The thought of sliding into her, no barriers, had him breathless. He hissed as she slowly slid down on top of him.

"Okay?" she asked, easing herself down the rest of the way.

"Better than okay." He held her hip with one hand but gave her the room to move the way she wanted.

Sighing, she closed her eyes and dropped her head back. She rolled her hips back and forth against him. "I've been thinking of this all day."

Liking the husky timber of her voice, he reached his free palm to abrade the tips of her breasts. "Does it feel just like you imagined?"

"Better." She braced herself on his chest and rubbed herself up and down on him, over and over. The little sounds she made were so hot, and combined with the feel of her taking her pleasure with him had him ready.

He had to hold out—he wanted to watch her come first. He gritted his teeth and pushed his pelvis up.

She gasped, her fingers biting into his skin. Her eyes were still closed, but her head fell forward and the rocking of her hips became frantic.

"Yes, Nicole," he said softly, his hold on her firm. "Take me. I'm all yours, for your pleasure. Take it from me, Nicole."

She cried out, and he felt her tighten around him as she orgasmed.

It pushed him over the edge, too. His neck arched and he called out her name as his hips pushed up into her one last time.

She collapsed on his chest. He felt her heartbeat against his chest, and he cuddled her closer. They lay silently for a while, then he said, "I had a breakthrough today."

"Really?" She moved her head so she could look at him.

"I have one part of my song."

"That's great." Her smile didn't seem to reach her eyes. "And the lyrics too?"

"Some of them. Once I nail the music, the rest comes pretty quickly."

"I guess you'll be out of my hair soon," she said slowly.

"You don't sound happy about that." He tried not to feel hopeful but it