Page 78 of Above ’N’ Beyond

Even in heels, she had to crane her neck to look into his eyes. The confusion and pain that had been there were now replaced by something else. Passion. Desire. The pulse at his neck thumped faster as he watched her slide his suit jacket from his shoulders, then slip off his tie. While she popped open the buttons of his shirt, his breathing quickened. When she undid his belt, he gulped audibly. By the time he stood before her completely naked, every muscle in his magnificent body quivered.

“Now.” She grinned, then placed her hand in the center of his chest, urging him backward onto the bed. “Sit back and enjoy the show.”

Gone were her reservations. About letting him see her naked. About giving herself to him. Freely. Openly.

Fully.

She kicked off her heels. In a slow striptease she hoped would drive Jimmy insane with need, she unhooked her dress, letting it slither down her body. The black strapless bra came next, and she tossed it on the armchair. Jimmy’s heated gaze dipped to her breasts, and he licked his lips, as if staring at an ice cream cone he wanted to devour.

Without losing eye contact, she hooked her fingers on the skimpy black thong she rarely had occasion to wear. Leaning over, her breasts hung down as she shimmied out of the thong.

Jimmy’s biceps tightened as he curled his fingers into the bedsheets. “Take the necklace off.”

She clasped the pendant hanging between her breasts, rubbing her thumb back and forth over the large amethyst. “Don’t you think it’s sexy?”

“I do.” He nodded. “Take it off anyway.”

“But I like the way it feels against my bare skin.”

She could swear his expression darkened a fraction. When he spoke, his voice was a growl. Fierce. Possessive. Sexy. “If you don’t get over here, I’ll take you right there on the floor.”

Bella laughed softly as heat curled low in her belly. She cupped her breasts, pinching her nipples and sighing.

“You should know something.” He sucked in a tight breath.

“What’s that?” she whispered huskily, sounding sexy even to herself.

“I never make threats I don’t make good on.”

He launched from the bed so quickly, she squealed. In one fluid motion, he picked her off her feet and took them both to the floor.

She opened her mouth to laugh, but the sound never made it past her lips. Jimmy’s mouth crashed down on hers as he kissed her deeply. He settled between her legs, running his hand up and down the side of her thigh and ribcage, stopping to caress her breast.

He trailed his lips down her chin and her neck to her breast, where he took her nipple in his mouth and sucked. She held his head there, feeling the tension in his big body and sensing an unexpected desperation to his actions.

Jimmy rose on his elbows. Again, that fierce desperation showed in the firm set of his jaw and the odd look in his eyes she’d seen earlier when they’d been in the kitchen. As he’d done to her then, she stroked the backs of her knuckles down his cheek. He closed his eyes and groaned.

The heat curling in her belly intensified to a hot wave of fire, and she parted her legs more, a wanton invitation. When he opened his eyes but didn’t move, she draped her leg over the back of his thigh, dragging it to his muscled ass. “Jimmy, please.”

With an even louder groan, he entered her, thrusting deep and holding himself above her on his elbows. She arched against him, reveling in the intense, supremely intimate connection. What began as a slow, steady glide in and out of her core quickened to forceful thrusts.

Hooking both her legs around the backs of his, she angled her hips to take him in deeper. If she could physically touch his heart, his soul, she gladly would. There wasn’t a single part of the man that didn’t make her want more.

His breath was warm on her face as he leaned down and kissed her, groaning into her mouth as his tongue sought hers. In between the cascading sparks flashing behind her eyes and the waves of sensation building in her core, one word chanted as clearly as if she’d said it out loud. Love.

No matter how hard she’d been fighting it, she’d fallen deeply, profoundly, undeniably in love with him.

As her body flew apart, she dug her nails into the steely strength of his biceps and cried out his name.

When she went limp, he thrust again, pressing his forehead to hers. “Bella,” he whispered between heavy breaths. “God, Bella.”

She sighed because, yeah. That had definitely been a religious experience.

He gazed down at her. A corner of his mouth lifted. “I told you I don’t make idle threats.”

She smiled up at him. “So you said.”

Dipping his head, he kissed her again. Gently. Sweetly, this time, as if he were tasting her very essence. “I’ll be right back. Then maybe we can move this party over there.” He hitched his chin to the bed.