Part 36 (1/2)
He smiled indulgently as she described herself. ”Can I ask you something I have absolutely no right to ask this soon?”
”Okay...”
”Do you love me?”
”Yes,” she said without hesitation. ”I suspect I have for quite some time.”
”That's really good, because I love you, too. I have since that first day you walked in the room and wiped every reasonable, logical thought right out of my head just by walking in the room. I knew right then and there that you were the one for me, and you hadn't yet said a word to me.”
Overwhelmed by the torrent of emotion his sweet words aroused in her, Jill had no idea what to say. ”Ashton...”
”I know I wasn't in your plans or on your spreadsheets, but I hope you can make some room for me, Jill.”
She reached for him. ”I can definitely make room for you.”
He put his arm around her and held on tight. ”Will you think about the job offer?”
”You don't have to do that. I'm sure Kate will still keep me plenty busy.”
”I'm not being entirely altruistic with this offer. I'm reaching the point where I'm going to have to take on a partner anyway. I choose you.”
”You're serious.”
”h.e.l.l yes, I'm serious.” He nuzzled his favorite spot on her neck again. ”I've waited such a long time for you. My whole life. I don't want to waste any more time.”
”You're overwhelming me.”
”I'm sorry.” He leaned his forehead on hers, closed his eyes and took a deep breath. ”I don't mean to. I don't want to mess this up.”
Sorry to have caused him distress, Jill caressed his face, following her hands with kisses. ”You're not messing it up. I need some time to think about what you've offered. It's not in me to jump in with both feet and think later. I think first.”
”Don't think too hard.” As if the control he'd been clinging to had suddenly given out, he moved quickly to get rid of their clothes, found a condom in the bedside table and was inside her while she was still processing everything he'd said. The second he entered her, however, she stopped thinking about anything other than how amazing it felt to be loved by him.
”Nothing that feels this good can be bad,” he whispered in her ear.
Jill wrapped her legs around his hips, which seemed to make him a little crazy.
”G.o.d, Jill.” He kissed her ravenously, as if he might never get enough of her.
She hoped he never would, because he was right. Nothing had ever felt quite like this, and she wanted to hold on to it forever. With that in mind she put her arms around his neck and buried her fingers in his thick hair.
He met her gaze and held it, slowing the movement of his hips and driving her crazy with slow, deep strokes that took her to the edge of climax.
Shuddering, she gasped. ”Ashton...”
”What, honey?”
”I need... I want...”
He kissed her softly as his chest hair rubbed against her nipples. ”What do you want? Tell me.”
”I need to come.” She felt her face heat with embarra.s.sment. She'd never spoken so bluntly to a man in bed.
As he swelled and throbbed inside her, he smiled and kissed both cheeks. ”Don't ever be embarra.s.sed to tell me what you want.”
”It's embarra.s.sing.”
”No, it's s.e.xy.” He began to move again, faster this time.
When he pressed his fingers to her core, she went off like a rocket. She might've even screamed from the pleasure that shot through her. Opening her eyes, she found him watching her intently and realized he was still hard and still moving inside her.
”Very s.e.xy,” he said, kissing her again.
”Did I scream?”
His smile was full of masculine pride. ”Yep.”
She gripped his backside and made him gasp. ”Your turn.”
”Do I get my choice of how I want it?”
”Um, sure. I guess.”
Before she knew what hit her, he'd turned them over so she was on top without losing their connection.
”Nice move,” she said.
”You like that?”
Nodding, she rolled her hips, drawing a deep groan from him.
”Yes.” He combed his fingers through her hair. ”You're so beautiful. I wish you could see yourself the way I do.”
”Ah, no thanks.”
He laughed and moved his hands lower to cup her b.r.e.a.s.t.s.
Jill's head fell back as she gave herself over to the power they generated together. She couldn't believe it when another o.r.g.a.s.m swept over her without warning, taking him this time, too. She slumped down on top of him, his arms around her and his lips brus.h.i.+ng over her hair as he whispered sweet words of love that she could barely hear. She didn't need to hear exactly what he was saying. He'd shown her, repeatedly, how devoted he was to her, and she wanted everything he'd offered-and then some.
”I want to work with you,” she said.
”What about your plans and your spreadsheets and your checklists?”
She propped her chin on his chest and met his gaze. ”The best-laid plans go out the window when the right one comes along.”