Rekindling Love (British Billionaires Series) (20 page)

“
I know. It went a long way in helping me forgive you, but I want to understand you, Rupert. There's a huge difference.”

“
Why do you care to know me better? You've already got your mind set on returning to London once you're done with Broadway.”

“
That's months away. Plans change, people don't,” she countered.

“
If people don't change, nothing in the world I can say or do will convince you I'm a different man.”

“
You're not even trying. You're defeated. This is not a man fighting to make up for what is supposed to be his biggest regret.”

“
I chose sports, because that performance of
Hairspray
spoiled musical theater for me. It left a sour taste in my mouth. I never wanted to relive that and if I indulged my passion of the theater, that's where it potentially would've led me. It was a punishment. I thought back then since I'd ruined your life, why should I be entitled to live out my dreams?”

“
What a waste.”

“
That's what I thought when I heard you'd attempted suicide. What a waste of a beautiful, bubbly young woman and over someone as unimportant as me.”

“
How did you find out?”

“
Dylan.”

“
I didn't know he'd—”

Shutting his eyes, it was an effort not to bad mouth Dylan.

“
He wasn't mouthing off around school it that's what you're thinking Susie. He did make a point to take me and Nikki aside to ensure we knew what happened.”

“
I had no idea.”

“
That's how he wanted it.”

“
Rupert, to throw away your talent over a troubled teen from America and your own boyhood mistakes seems wrong.”

“
Perhaps, perhaps not.”

“
You're so charismatic. You had every ounce of potential. You could've had it all.”

“
No. Maybe I could've had a career on stage. That, I'll never know for sure. But I couldn't have had it all. I couldn't have it all because I lost you. Without you...your absence left a hole in my life. Something was always missing. Has been missing ever since.”

“
Have we gone too far now?” she asked sadly.

“
I think maybe we have Susie.”

“
You sang to me.”

“
In the Brighton College auditorium? Yeah, I sang to you. I sang for you.”

“
No, the other night. You sang to me,” she inhaled. “I told you I'd love you and hurt you, but you never understood. You told me you loved me, could help me, but baby I'm no good.”

Pitch perfect, it was an octave higher than Rupert's version a week ago.

“
I did. I thought it perfect to sum me up.”

“
How did you know the song?” she asked directly.

“
Because I've seen the show. I bought the soundtrack.”

“
You were in London when I was playing?”

“
I went to London to see you performing,” he confessed shyly.

“
You saw me in Chicago too.”

He nodded, his eyes refusing to make contact with hers.

“
I've seen you in everything you've done. I followed your career closely.”

“
Why?”

“
Because I was already responsible for two deaths I didn't want a third on my hands—they're bloody enough.”

“
Rupert, you aren't responsible for Lucas and Leith. And you never put the pills and vodka in my hands. That was my choice.”

“
I was the catalyst though. In both events I played a part. I didn't want my immaturity to ruin you. Seeing you on stage, I could see your talent grow, your star shine brighter. It offered a degree of relief that perhaps I hadn't completely destroyed your life. I could read about you, hear about you, but I needed to see it for myself. I was concerned I may have stolen something valuable from you. You got on, grew up and made something of yourself. I'm glad you did. I wanted you to make a mark. I wanted you to show all the doubters. I'm glad you saw my weakness for what it was – a feeble man, unable to stand up for what was right.”

“
I never had a clue. I never knew you were there. I never even knew you cared.”

“
That's how it was meant to be.”

“
Would it have changed a thing if I did?”

“
We'll never know now will we?” he said. “We're past the point of no return.”

“
Don't sing
Phantom of the Opera
at me when I'm glum.”

“
But you're smiling, so it's stopped your perfect face from being glum.”

“
I don't want us like this. I feel we'll be leaving here more broken than we were to begin with. We're not mending anything. The chasm grows wider.”

“
You don't want that?”

“
No,” she said honestly.

I don't care about the stupid plan anymore, she thought. I don't care about making a fool out of him. I care about losing him. I care about not having a second chance. I care about never feeling for anyone else the way I feel for him.

“
I don't either. I want us to put the past away. But I feel every compliment I bestow on you, you're resentful I wasn't saying it in high school. I'm concerned any expression of feelings I have now you'll relate to your weight loss. I'm petrified you'll feel trapped, obligated to stay in shape in case you think I am the type to walk out on something so shallow as looks. I can't even blame you for that.”

“
How are we ever going to know what lies ahead, unless it's a path we agree to tread together?” asked Susan calmly and sensibly.

“
You need to come with me,” he said.

Standing up, she took Rupert's hand. They walked the remainder of the glass, horseshoe walkway, taking in the Grand Canyon as the flood lights were switched off. On terra firma, Susan saw a huge tee-pee constructed. The conical tent was traditionally made of animal skins. Bending her head to get in, Susan was stunned by the space inside. The double mattress on the floor, made up with dusky pink covers, was strewn with rose petals. There was a thin net to fall from the roof to over the bed. Their overnight bags were on one side. A small fire was lit, a tiny hole at the peak of the tent acting as a chimney.

“
Toilets are outside and considerably less traditional. They flush, they're comfortable and they're clean.”

“
It's glorious,” she said.

“
I asked them to do it as a honeymoon suite. They went crazy with rose petals.”

“I was led to believe we'd have separate beds,” she teased.

“I was cocky enough to believe I could change your mind. If I've totally misread the signs, I promise you I do have a reserve tee-pee for me.”

“Don't worry yourself. I guarantee you won't have an uncomfortable night,” purred Susan.

A table set to one side had an ice bucket with champagne in it.

“
Do you want a glass?” he asked.

“
Do we need a glass?” she returned, taking his hand from the bottle and putting it on her waist.

Deftly reaching behind to close the flap to seal the tee-pee's entrance, Rupert kissed Susan, landing on the bed with her. Locked in his embrace, she submitted to kissing him. The kisses varied from wet and warm to longer, deeper ones, where their tongues would explore and tease each other’s mouths.

Susan could feel Rupert's erection against her leg. Releasing a hand she ran it over the outline firmly, making him groan in delight.

In no rush, he let her fumble with his belt. He held her close, smothering her in kisses. Frustrated by her inability to undo his pants, she straddled him. He bit his lip, watching her face concentrating on undoing his belt. When she finally unhooked it, she went straight to ripping open the buttons of his button fly jeans.

“
It's okay to slow down,” he said.

The words shook her from her demented, lusty sex-haze.

“
I'm not going anywhere, Susie.”

She sat straighter as his hands went to her jumper. His long arms were able to reach to lift it over her head. Susan shrugged it off completely.

“
What was going through my mind when I let you go?” he mumbled.

The question was rhetorical. However catty Susan could've been, the incentive wasn't there. His fingers pulled the thin straps of her singlet. The material was pliable and he was able to drag it to her waist. The bra she was wearing was designed to support her ample bosom in place for dance routines. Rupert knew from a quick study, it was a sports bra with no clasp.

“
Will you take it off for me?”

Wordlessly, Susan obliged. Although large, her breasts remained pert. He stayed motionless, watching her nipples harden in the chilly autumn evening air. Hands on her face, he moved them to her shoulders and ran them down her front – a palm glossing over each breast.

Arching her back, he cupped a breast in each hand, massaging them. The hard nipples and soft white flesh were sensual to touch. Sitting up, Susan sensed his stomach tensing, the six-pack rippling under his shirt and cardigan. Kissing each nipple softly, he took his lips to her. The position enabled him to stroke her silky, white back, as soft as the flesh of her breast. Susan was nothing but femininity. The feel of her curves, tracing them with his fingers seemed to etch a picture on his brain. A memory with her he'd never forget.

Susan was torn between security and sex. She could feel his hard-on pressing against her groin, but the embrace was on a different stratosphere. Lying on the mattress, Rupert pulled her on top of him. Legs astride as they kissed, she gyrated her hips. The sheer material of her leggings ensured she could feel his dick growing and throbbing. Her crotch was dampening.

Susan unbuttoned his cardigan and shirt, reaching the collar she struggled with his tie.

“
Easy tiger,” he said, “I know I wasn't at my best fifteen years ago but don't strangle me as revenge.”

Embarrassed by her ignorance, she watched as Rupert loosened the knot and slipped it over his head. She'd seen hints of it at every gym session but to finally have his naked torso at the mercy of her caressing hands was what she'd been longing for. Tanned, there was a thatch of black hair leading from his navel to his pants. His chest was bare, as was his stomach. Every muscle flexing was visible to her by the light of the fire. There was no body fat on him whatsoever.

Raising himself, he shrugged out of the layers he had on. As her hands roamed over his torso, her tender touch was becoming torturous. His weight and speed were no match for her. When he rolled her over to get on top, she hadn't realized what was happening to even try to struggle. His mouth crushed down hard on hers. Passion competing with love. Grateful for the uncomplicated leggings, Rupert eased them southward.

Her toned stomach was soft with the hint of a curve. Kissing her breasts, he slithered down her body to kiss her stomach.

Susan was uncomfortable about what she referred to as her “wobbly” bits, yet Rupert appeared to enjoying them. His teeth caught the elastic of her cotton briefs. Growling playfully, he tore them. Surprising himself, he tore them clean off her. Her mound was perfect and he kissed it impulsively. Edging lower, his tongue made contact with her bud. She gasped at the unexpected sensation of the tip of his tongue exerting pressure on her clit. Pressing down and releasing was fun, but he changed tactics to let his tongue trace over and around the sensitive area. Her taste was tantalizing, tempting him to lick lower and broader.

Her pelvis raised involuntarily at the intimacy of the act, taking her ever closer to the brink of orgasm. Trailing kisses on the inside of her thighs, he knelt between her parted legs and shoved his jeans to his knees. His tight legged Calvin Kleins were unable to disguise the pulsating erection. He put his thumb into the elastic waist band, lowering it down his hip.

Susan could see the flat pubis and dark hair. The prominent hip bone was sexy. She had a desire to kiss it. Removing his hand, the boxers sprung into place.

“
Don't be coy, Rupert. It doesn't suit you,” she said, acting the part of the confident seductress.

He stayed still a moment or two, watching her eyes glued to his hard-on. Taking his time to sheath his erection was a tantalizing sight. Removing her leggings and leg warmers completely, he flung her legs over his shoulders. Her legs were like jelly as her breathing became raspy. Lowering his boxers to free his cock, he slid it slowly into Susan.

Watching her face was heavenly, as she shut her eyes, tipped her head to enjoy the initial penetration. That second where he would push the helmet of his shaft into her slit. Boring deep, she was caught in the ecstasy. His hips moved, burying his dick further and further inside her. Pelvis raised, she had no control to shallow his movements, but she didn't want to. The hungrier he became to consume her sexually, the more turned on she was. The sex was more than satisfactory, it was stimulating her body, heart and mind.

As his pace gradually increased, his hand returned to her mound. Slippery and wet, his thumb found her clit to toy with as they made love. He expertly glided it over the bud, varying patterns, pace and pressure. When he was overcome with love, the feeling of being inside the most splendorous woman he'd ever known, he bucked his hips hard. The stabbing sensation caused Susan to cry out, but the shock of him releasing his load in her was lost as electric tingles originating at her nub, coursed through her body causing it to convulse in sexual pleasure.

The orgasm having passed, Rupert's eyes were already closing. Removing the rubber he discretely placed it in a convenient wicker bin within arms reach.

“
It's not that I'm not the kind of man who doesn't enjoy pillow talk,” he croaked, spooning her. “But nature created us to rest and recuperate to prepare for round two. As a man, I'm programmed that way. I have to sleep, but I want to be sleeping next to you and I'm hoping I'll wake up next to you.”