I forced back the tears because I saw it on his face right then and it made sense.
A child trusted their parent to take care of them. To support them. To never leave them. It was an unspoken, understood rule. To have that broken did damage, which was why Preston liked his contracts and play-by-play deals.
It also made a remark of Darlene’s stand out: “Preston will never have family.” His feelings about children obviously went beyond the contract and the pregnancy void clause.
“I grew up hated in my father’s home. Every move I made was like shifting a game piece. I don’t like people having information on me and the upper hand. I don’t like the unexpected happening.”
“I understand.”
He kissed my left palm and placed it on his chest. Something cold slid down my ring finger. I looked down to see Preston place the blue diamond engagement ring onto my finger.
“You, Megan, are unexpected.” He leaned in and brushed his lips across mine. “And it scares the hell out of me.”
He kissed me hard and deep and I melted for him. This day was a rollercoaster of emotions. Feeling Preston’s honesty and warmth was all I needed. I hoisted myself up on my knees and threw my arms around him. I kissed him with everything I felt, everything that was hurting me. Everything that made me cry and everything that made me smile. I put it all into that kiss. Because he brought it all out.
“You feel good,” he breathed against my mouth, and I wasn’t sure he even realized he spoke.
“Missed you,” I said back.
He nodded. This was the closeness. The connection I’d been craving. I had been spoiled and seen the side of Preston that was open and lighthearted. Attentive and consuming. Then today to be barely acknowledged was like being on the cold side of the moon. Now, tasting his lips and working each others’ clothes free, I felt alive and whole. Comforted and safe.
I took his shirt off and he lifted my sweater over my head. All my hair fell in loose tangles and his big palms seized the sides of my face and he devoured my mouth with his. On our knees atop my bed, we kissed and laved, like we truly did miss this. Because I did.
A little maneuvering was all it took to get both our pants off. Preston laid me down, his mouth never leaving my skin while he worked my bra and panties off, then his boxers. From my navel to the swell of my breast he kissed and licked. Not teasing, simply stating his intentions.
“Every time,” he growled and sucked on my nipple, “you look more beautiful.”
I arched my back and wrapped my legs around him, coaxing him up. His mouth did amazing things to my br**sts, but I was so lost for him that all I wanted was to feel him inside me.
“I need you, Preston.”
He looked up, ensnaring my gaze, and slowly scooted up my body just enough so that his hard c**k prodded my pelvis. I shifted my hips so that the crown lingered right at my opening. He braced himself on his forearms on either side of my head.
“I need you too…” He kissed me so softly it brought tears to my already aching eyes and he sank inside of me.
I gasped into his mouth and he breathed deep, taking all my air and robbing any kind of oxygen around me. All I felt was him. My environment, every moment surrounding me, and the world itself stopped. All that existed was him.
For a moment, as his steady exhale fanned between my lips, his body surrounding—invading—mine, all I was, was what he allowed me to be. He was the universe I was living in and I the surface that surrounded him.
“Megan…” He didn’t move his body from mine. With my br**sts pressed against his hard chest and my legs wrapped around him, all of our skin was touching. Never withdrawing, he shifted his hips and stirred his c**k deeply. The fire he coaxed had no time to flicker, it just raged hot and began splintering my nerves like dry bark in winter. I was splitting apart. Falling and breaking. The only thing holding me together was him.
“I feel…I…” I couldn’t say it. Because nothing seemed to make sense. I shouldn’t feel the way I did. Not in that moment and not the same feeling that had been gnawing at me for the last week. But it was there. Hovering and seeping into me with every breath and thrust from Preston.
Love.
I never knew what making love was. Because I had never experienced it. The reason I knew that was because what was happening right then was a first. I put the word to the thoughts, but couldn’t say it aloud. Not yet.
“Take me,” I pleaded.
With the blue diamond catching a fleck of light and winking at me as I held Preston’s face, he kissed me hard, and took me at my request.
***
It was ten in the morning and I woke up in a king-sized bed surrounded by fluffy pillows and cream sheets.
“Home,” I smiled into the pillow then sat up quickly realizing what I had just mumbled out loud.
The word came out of nowhere and just like last night, startled me with the truth of it. I was in the penthouse. I vaguely remembered the car ride from my apartment in the wee hours of the morning after Preston and I had “made up.”
“I’m glad you think so,” Preston said, walking into the bedroom. He was freshly shaven and in light gray suit that made his caramel skin shine and his green eyes pop. He sat down on the edge of the bed and ran his fingers along my shoulder. “I have some meetings, but tonight, I’ve arranged for dinner. One I’m certain you’ll like more than the last few I’ve dragged you to.”
“Oh yeah?” I reached and straightened the black pocket square in his jacket.
“Yeah.” He tucked a lock of hair behind my ear. “Kate, Adam and Emma are meeting us.”
I shot up to my knees. “Really?”
He smiled and nodded. “I’ve spoken with Adam and he and Kate are flying in for a few days to spend time with you, then they’ll be back in a couple weeks for the wedding.”
I flung my arms around him and about knocked him off the bed. His chest rumbled with a low laugh and he hugged me tight and laid me back on the bed, following down.
“Have I told you how good you look in my shirt?” In bed with only Preston’s white tee on and him fully dressed between my thighs was an erotic image. If he commanded me to stay here and wait his return in the sternest caveman voice, I just might do it.
“Thank you. So, so much.” I kissed him and he returned my intentions. “I wish you could stay,” I murmured between bites of his bottom lip.
“Done,” he said, and took off his jacket while keeping most of his weight over me.