Closer To You (Suits in Pursuit) (2 page)

“It sounds like you and Bernie had a big influence on him.”

Emma nodded her head. “Axel is like a son to me. Bernie and I tried to have a positive influence on him, but of course, he’s just like his father. Once his mind is made up about something, there’s no stopping him.”

Kerrigan could relate. Axel’s persistence is what had landed her in his arms.

“When he was bout ten years old, he wanted to buy a new bike. Axel was determined to buy the bike by earning his own money. He spent the entire summer with us doing odd chores, and even set up a lemonade stand.” Kerrigan smiled at the thought of a younger, enterprising Axel.

“And, I’m just as determined
, and still going after what I want,” Axel said.

Kerrigan spun around in her seat so fast she nearly got whiplash. Emma startled too, gasping aloud. Glancing up, Kerrigan caught his smoldering look and immediately turned back to her plate. The meaning of his words didn’t get lost on her. Those damn butterflies were at war inside her.

“Emma, thank you for everything today,”
he said.

“Yes, of course. I’ve got an appointment to
get to, so I’m leaving now,” Emma announced and winked at Kerrigan as she left the room.

The way he wore the suit, she almost broke into a sweat
. He had removed his tie and unfastened two shirt buttons, exposing a hint of his chest. A pool of moisture readied between her thighs. He always had a way of commanding her libido.

Axel didn’t say a
word. He swaggered over to Kerrigan, swiveled the stool around and positioned himself between her legs. One hand on her waist and the other on her cheek, intense blue eyes stared into hazel ones. Leaning down, his lips covered hers in a deep, passionate kiss. Groaning, he pulled away and helped her down from the stool.

H
eartbeat racing and legs trembling beneath her, Axel led them up the stairs, down the hall and to his bedroom. The door slammed. Slowly, he backed Kerrigan up against the back of the door, his hard body pressing into hers. Winded and her legs limp, Axel held Kerrigan close, steadying her.

“Hi baby,” he said in a low, sensual
murmur.

“Hi
.”

“I missed you, so much. I’ve been thinking about you all day. Let’s sit
you down. You’re trembling.”

Taking her hand in his, he
led her across the large room and to the bed, covered in a crisp indigo blue and ivory duvet and white linen throw pillows.

“Get off your feet and try to relax, baby.” He
sat down next to her. “How are you feeling after last night? No regrets. Right?”

The memory of the previous evening still fresh, her cheeks warmed.
“I feel good. No regrets.”

“Did
you enjoy yourself?” His brows pressed together, and he scanned her over.

“
You were intense, but the feeling was a good intensity.” She offered him a reassuring smile.

He leaned into her, kissing her shoulder and stroking her thigh.
“It’ll feel better each time we make love. How do you feel about last night?” He muttered into the crook of her neck.

She tilted her head, resting her cheek against his forehead.
“Last night was perfect. I don’t have any regrets.” The scorch of his flesh sent tingly waves of shock pulsing through her body.

Straightening himself up, he took one of her hands into his and met her eyes.
“Kerrigan, I meant what I said last night, every word.”

“I keep thinking
...” She escaped his glare, lips quivering.

“Baby, stop thinking. I’m not about to slow down now. I
need you. I want you.” He lifted her chin, bringing her eyes back to him.

“Can I ask two stupid questions that have been bothering me?”

“There aren’t any stupid questions. What’s bothering you?”

“What are we to each other? What’s happening between us?”
She pulled away and folded her hands in her lap. Her eyes searched his for a guarantee of equal emotion, and her pulse quickened.

“I can answer your second question quite
easily. I know we care about each other. My feelings for you are much stronger than you realize, and I think yours are too, although you’re afraid to admit your feelings to yourself and to me. You’re scared I’ll hurt you.”

He
moved closer to her, his tone softening as he continued. He took her hands into his again. “Your first question is a good one. I’m not into labels. They seem temporary, and I’m not that guy.”

“So where does that
leave me?” Her voice cracked so badly she gasped for air. “It sounds like your way of not having to make any commitments.” Tears pooled in Kerrigan’s eyes, the dam ready to burst. He was trying to let her down gently. She had given herself to him, and now he would treat her like nothing more than a friend with benefits. Her heart hammering, palms clammy and stomach turning, she turned her head away. Her eyes landed on the reflection of his legs in the mirrored chest next to his bed.

“That’s not at all what I mean,” he said
, his tone commanding her gaze back to his.

She
thought she’d almost seen the corners of his lips pull upward into a smile. She imagined he was pleased with his conquest.

“
Last night before we fell asleep, do you remember what I whispered in your ear?”

“No. I was so tired.”
Her voice revealed a slight tremble.

“Well, I’ll have to repeat it then. I’ll
do a better job this time.” He smiled, leaned in closer this time, kissing her lips softly and tenderly.

She
was like stone, trying not to cave under the threat of his allure. The way an orchid wilts under the blaze of the hot sun, her resistance was wasted. She surrendered deftly to the inferno of his touch, kissing him back affectionately. She knew all the risks, but she hadn’t been able to resist him, even now.

Finally, he
broke the kiss. “Kerrigan, how could you think I don’t want more with you? What I said last night was that I never want to let you go. It’s true—I don’t want a girlfriend. I want more. I’m in love with you.”

CHAPTER
TWO

Axel
took her into his arms and consumed her, his tongue invading her mouth as his lips swallowed her cherry flavored ones. Gently lowering her down onto her back, his hand maneuvered underneath her cropped shirt, eager fingers closing the distance between her fleshy round mounds and his firm grasp.

Her nipples hard
ened. In a swift motion, he raised her shirt above her head and arms, ripping the nuisance away from her body and flinging the rag across the room. Feather light kisses trailed up her stomach until he reached her bosom, and then without warning, he stopped. In a fit of fury, his frantic hands unfastened her teal bra, the lacy garment falling from her arms and landing in her lap.

“You’re beautiful. So soft.” He delighted in the twist of her right nipple
between his index finger and thumb as his lips descended onto her other breast, capturing the tender peak with his delicate nibble.

Pleasure rippled through her body in shocks and waves at the command of his touch. “Ah! Axel.”

“I love every inch of your body,” he said as he continued his sensual examination of her delicate curves, his hands explored every inch of her.

“I love your body too
,” she murmured.

His eyes seared her heart.
“Touch me Kerrigan.” Raising himself up, he tore his shirt from his flesh.

Her
shaky hands reached up, fingers tracing the ridges of his sculpted chest, tickling their way down to the six-pack on his abdomen. His skin blazed in the trail left by her fingertips. He captured her hands with his and anchored them above her head, lowering himself onto her and pressing his lips against hers. Impassioned and at the end of his threshold, he abandoned his seductive hold on her lips, stood and stripped away all barriers between his raw flesh and hers—his dress slacks and gray boxers and her jeans and lace teal thongs landed haphazardly at all four corners of the room. Her breath caught, and eyes stretched wide as they slid down his naked frame, his desire in plain sight. Chest heaving, eyes blinking rapidly and throat swallowing hard, obviously, she hadn’t seen his cock in her dimly lit room the night before.

Oh, shit!
He was enormous. The memory of his cock stretching and filling her still lingered, as did the evidence—her ache. She remembered how hard and deeply he had pounded into her. The feeling of him claiming her had been exquisite, and she wanted him to take her again. With him in full view, panic paralyzed her as she lay stripped and splayed out on the bed motionless, breathless and silent, awaiting his next move.

H
e stared into her gaze. “Sweetheart, don’t be afraid.”

She turned her head away, gazing at the clock on his nightstand.
“Did, did you fit inside me….completely?” Her words fluttered out.

“Every inch baby
, and I can’t wait to be inside you again.”

With her eyes shut, she winced.
“Axel, please go easy. I’m still sore.” She pleaded.

“Baby, I’m sorry I hurt you. I’
m about to lose control, so you have to tell me if I’m too rough.” The fire in his eyes burned so intensely she melted under the heat.

She nodded her head and gulped the lump in her throat. “Yes, O … Okay.” Her voice trembling out the only words she could manage.

She still didn’t believe his massive cock had fit inside her. His knees sank into the bed as he climbed in next to her, leaned over and gently stroked her bare legs, making his way up to her golden thighs. His hands found their way between her knees, parting them wide. She was dripping wet for him, soaking with desire. He plunged a finger deep into her as he massaged her clitoris. The intensity surprised her, and she gasped. He inserted another finger, and with an in and out motion, he gently massaged inside her womanhood.

The pleasure inside
her built rapidly and she slipped away, feeling nothing but sensation. He removed his fingers and sucked lavishly on them. He kneeled between her legs and pulled her to the edge of the bed. His tongue went to work on her, lapping greedily at the juices of her delicate flower as her delectable honey flowed. He licked and plugged her moist opening with his tongue tasting her tangy, sweet cream.

“Ah. Ah. Axel.” She
moaned and writhed uncontrollably under his sexual barrage.

He
stopped abruptly. “No, not like this. I want you to feel me inside you when you climax.”

He
immobilized her. She lay helpless in his bed, every inch of her overwhelmed with pleasure, awaiting his next move. He raised himself up and positioned his naked body on top of hers, pushing her legs open as he embedded himself between them. The tip of his shaft sank into her slowly. Inch by inch, his thick, rock-hard cock plunged deep inside her for the second time.

“Ah,” she cried as he circled inside her.

She didn’t protest, and he wasn’t about to stop. With every inch of his throbbing cock thrust inside her, she couldn’t help the sounds that escaped her as he filled her and reached her depths. “Oh, god,” she yelled out.

“
How does this feel?” he asked breathlessly, pumping feverishly into her in rhythmic motion.

She trembl
ed hard underneath him as she submitted her body to his pummeling. “So good,” she whimpered.

He slowed his pace to a halt, still inside her.
“Kerrigan, I want you to enjoy the feeling of me inside you.”

Panting and winded,
“I love the feeling of you inside me. My body is yours,” she said, clinging on to him tightly.

He
lowered his head, sweat glistening on his brow as his lips melded with hers in a slow, sensual kiss. Pulling away, he whispered softly into her ear, “I want your heart too.”

Suddenly, his eyes flashed hot and wild, an unnerving intensity. “Last night, I made love to you slow and gentle. Today, I’m not holding back. I’m going to fuck you hard until you beg me to stop.”

Oh, shit!
The danger in his eyes sent a jolt through her body and her heart hammered in her chest. She gripped his shoulders and her nails planted into his flesh, bracing for his invasion. He slammed into her so hard and deep that all she could do was scream his name repeatedly. He was relentless as he continued pounding into her. Her legs shook uncontrollably as his cock slid in and out, reaching her depths and sending a ripple of vibrations throughout her body so intense that tears formed in her eyes. The feeling that had been an achy soreness subsided and her eyes rolled back, pure sensational ecstasy. Having him inside her, making love to her, fucking her, was the most incredible feeling she had ever had.

She cried out, screaming his name as she climaxed. “Axel, Axel, please. Oh, god.”

“I’m not done with you yet,” he warned. “I told you before, I want you to beg me to stop.”

The musky scent of hot sex in the air permeated his senses. Her wavy hair curled tighter, damp and limp as the climate changed in the room from their sweaty bodies merging.

He pulled out of her and lifted himself up. “Baby, get on your knees, lean forward and put your hands on the wall. I want to see your beautiful ass and take you from behind.”

The soft gray
button-tufted headboard upholstered in velvet banged loudly against the wall, their bodies colliding ferociously. The union of their contrasting skin tones, brown skin to white, tantalized his senses and he slammed into her harder with each blow. Pushing back against his pounding thrusts, she accepted all of him. His hands pinned hers against the wall as he continued ravishing her, pounding into her flesh with full force as he leaned forward and kissed the nape of her neck, inhaling her scent, beautiful feminine heat.

A
loud cry escaped her lips, “Please Axel, no more."

He
leaned over her, and placed his hand under her chin, tilting her face up to meet his kiss. She moaned into his mouth as her body shuddered all over. He exploded deep inside her, and her walls gripped his shaft hard as she climaxed again for the second, joining him in release.

Exhaling,
“Axel,” she moaned in a breathy whisper.

He slumped forward, wrapped his arms around her and held her firmly against his glistening chest.
“Kerrigan, that was amazing. You’re amazing.” Slowly, they tumbled down onto the bed in a heap, hot and damp and exhausted. She turned to face him, nestling her head against his chest. “Axel?”

He titled her face to his, searching her eyes. “Yes, baby? You all right?”

“Yes, I’m fine. Um …. I … I …” she stammered, pools forming in her eyes.

He knew what she wanted to tell him, but couldn’t find the courage to say
.

He pulled her closer, caressed her cheek and looked into her eyes. “
You don’t have to say the words, baby. I know.” A smile painted his lips, and he kissed her tenderly on the forehead. “I love you too.”

Her lips quivered
, tears leaked from her eyes and down Kerrigan's cheeks. He dusted her tear-stained face with tender kisses and held her tight until her tremors calmed. He had never known intimacy like this before. She was afraid to love him, but he was determined to claim her heart, just as he had claimed her body. He couldn’t let her go.

He
lay there fully sated, silently enjoying her in the afterglow of their passion. He enveloped her small body, folding her in his arms. She was beautiful, radiating with a glow as she slept. He kissed her softly until his eyes fell heavy, succumbing to exhaustion.

They spent the next few
days together enjoying and learning everything about each other.

She told him about wanting
to have her own business one day, a boutique of unique furnishings and eclectic finds. He talked about his plans to take on two new accounts that he hoped would give the company a much bigger share of the market. Every evening ended with passionate lovemaking into the wee hours of the morning.

Early
Wednesday morning, he and Kerrigan, went hiking. He knew they shared a love for outdoor activities. Later that afternoon, he took her to a musical festival featuring some of the best local bands. They walked the park grounds hand-in-hand, laughing and enjoying the atmosphere. He noticed strange stares, mostly from older women and a few from younger ones.

He glimpsed down at her and caught her eyes, nervous, unsure, scared. Leaning in, he placed his hand under her soft chin bringing her face to his, “I love you. You’re beautiful, smart, kind and sexy as hell. I don’t give a damn what anyone else thinks and neither should you. You’re my woman, and I’m your man. Say it for me baby.”