Part 27 (1/2)

”It's nice to meet you.”

I swallowed anxiously as she ushered me inside.

”We're getting a late start. Nathan is helping Arwen with her suitcase,” she said, glancing down at my own bag in my hand. Her lips twitched-a trait-which had been pa.s.sed down to her son. I felt the blood rush to my face, but she simply smiled.

Suddenly, Arwen bounced into the room with Nathan following close behind with her suitcase. She rushed toward me and I leaned down, hugging her tightly.

”Hi, Jada!”

”Hey, sweetheart. All ready for your sleepover?”

Arwen nodded excitedly. ”We're going to the zoo tomorrow.”

”That'll be fun!”

The intercom buzzed.

”That's your driver,” Nathan said, handing his mother the suitcase and all but pus.h.i.+ng her towards the door.

She smirked at her son before turning to me.

”It was very nice to meet you, Jada.”

”It was nice to meet you, too.”

I managed to hold back my laughter until the door closed behind them.

”Eager, Mr. Reynolds?”

”I'm so sorry about that,” he said, rubbing the back of his neck. ”They should have been gone an hour ago, but she had a late meeting and-”

I took a step closer to him. ”It's okay.”

Sighing deeply, he wrapped his arms around my waist and kissed me softly.

”Yes, I'm eager,” he whispered.

I grinned. ”Me, too.”

”Would you like dinner? I could make something . . .”

Always a gentleman, but the last thing I wanted was food.

Slipping my hands beneath his s.h.i.+rt, I felt his stomach muscles tighten. He inhaled sharply, gripping my waist a little tighter as my fingers crept across his skin.

”Jada, I have to be honest with you. It's been . . . a long time.”

I lifted his s.h.i.+rt over his head, letting it fall to the floor.

”For me, too. Since my divorce.”

He seemed relieved, and my admission gave him the courage to pull me by the hand and lead me to his bedroom.

We took our time, slowly undressing and gliding our hands along each other's heated skin. Every touch was gentle and soft as we caressed, discovering one another for the very first time.

”I love you, Jada.” His voice was rough and low, filled with a mixture of anxiety and eagerness.

”I love you, too.”

Taking the lead, I tugged him toward the bed. It was all the motivation he needed, because suddenly, I was being pressed against the mattress as his body hovered above me. With my heart racing, I pulled his face to mine, kissing him deeply as our hands roamed. Touching. Exploring. Memorizing.

Nathan dipped his head, burying his face against my throat as his hand stroked one breast, and then the other, making me groan. I writhed beneath him, desperate to have him closer, as he trailed his hand along my stomach. When he finally reached my heat, he kissed me deeply, swallowing my moans as he teased me with his fingers.

”Please say you're ready,” he whispered roughly.

”I'm so ready . . .”

Nathan raised himself and reached for something on his nightstand. I heard the rip of the foil, and I smiled.

”I hope you have more than one of those.”

”I bought a box,” Nathan said, grinning down at me. I giggled as he nestled himself between my legs, and I arched impatiently, desperate to have him.

”This is going to be too quick, baby.”

”We have all night,” I reminded him, smoothing the hair away from his face.

His blue eyes were blazing with desire as he s.h.i.+fted his hips, groaning loudly as he buried himself inside me. I grabbed onto his shoulders as we began to move. Yes, it was going to be fast, but it didn't matter. All that mattered was the way he was looking at me-as if nothing mattered except that we were finally together like this. As if I was all that mattered in the world. As if I was his reason for taking his next breath.

Nathan groaned my name as his thrusts became frantic, and that was all it took to make me shatter beneath him. I clutched his shoulders, and he shuddered in my arms, holding on tight as our bodies surrendered.

It was quick, but that didn't make it any less incredible.

But what was most amazing?

We still had all night.

”I can't believe it's been a year,” Annalise said as we gazed at the decorations.

The ballroom was once again decked out for our annual Valentine's Day bash. This year's theme was Roses are Red, but somehow, a certain winged cherub had still managed to make an appearance tonight-in the form of helium balloons hovering above our heads.

Despite the most incredible twelve months of my life, my distaste for Valentine's Day hadn't really changed much. But even I had to admit that all the hoopla, and yes, even the Cupids, were a little easier to endure when you had a loving husband and a beautiful daughter showering you with love each and every day.

”Have you told him?” Annalise whispered.

Glancing across the dance floor, I smiled when I found Nathan and Arwen, dancing to a sappy love song. She was eight now, and a little taller, but she still allowed us to read to her before bed each night, and she still loved for her Daddy to sing her to sleep.