Their Second Chance Page 6

  She lifted a hand to his face and caressed his scruffy jaw. She licked her lips. He’d known she liked it when he had the day’s growth. She’d always thought he looked so sexy, and tonight was no exception.

  “I was lonely without you. I’m still lonely.” The admission hurt. She’d always thought herself so strong, but ever since she’d left she’d wanted nothing more than to go back.

  “You don’t have to be lonely any more. I’m here with you.” He dipped his head and kissed her. A small brush of his lips first, followed by the swipe of his tongue, and then the full sensual invasion. She sighed into his demanding touches. Her body sang with each caress of his hands. Soft whimpers sounded in the back of her throat. She squeezed his biceps, loving the feel of the muscles rippling under her fingertips. He was hard, hot, and her panties went from damp to soaking in the space of a single moan.

  “Nick…”

  He kissed her jaw, nibbling up to her ear and biting down on the area right below her lobe. Her pussy throbbed, wanting him inside.

  “I want you, Ari. I’ve always wanted you.”

  Her heart flipped in her chest. She slipped her hand to the back of his neck and gripped his short hair. She panted. “I want you too.”

  He pulled back from their kisses. She met his gaze and gasped. He stared deep into her eyes, his gaze consuming her with the power of his lust. “I didn’t come here to make love with you. As much as I want you, I think tonight should be about us reconnecting in the area we had issues with: Communication.”

  She nodded. He was right. Fuck. Why the hell did he have to be right? Her pussy ached. Memories of how good they were together taunted her. If she hadn’t been working herself to an early grave lately, she may have found some time to visit her toy drawer. As it was, she was horny as hell and her body wanted the man in front of her more than the last piece of chocolate while PMSing.

  “You’re right. Let’s watch this movie.” She allowed him to pull her into his arms and hold her, while she tried to tamp down fire in her blood.

  Nick wondered why Ari had gone quiet on him. He glanced down at her head pressed against his shoulder. She’d fallen asleep. Should he move her? Or leave her there? He knew she needed the rest. He picked her up in his arms; glad to notice she didn’t waken, and headed for the bedroom. It was easy to find her room. She’d left her door open, and it was straight ahead at the end of the hallway.

  He wasn’t surprised to see blue cover her bed and windows. It was her favorite color, and he’d come to learn that if he ever wanted her to wear something for him, he’d better buy it in blue.

  After laying her on the bed, he covered her with the quilt at the foot of her bed. She snuggled into the blanket and sighed. The dark circles under her eyes told him she’d been working too hard. He was glad he’d sent over the food and cleaning help. He went to the kitchen and cleaned up the dirty dessert dishes and put the leftover food away.

  He decided to stay a while in case she woke up. Looking through her DVD collection, he found their wedding video. Without a second’s hesitation, he put it to play. His chest tightened the moment he saw Ari in her wedding gown. She’d been the most beautiful woman, still was. A beaming smile lit her face and love shone in her eyes as her father walked her down the aisle.

  A knot formed and expanded in his throat. Scene after scene, he watched them promise to love and cherish each other, to be there through good and bad, and to support each other always. Christ. What had they done at the first signs of a problem? They’d stopped talking, they’d let their relationship go downhill, and forgotten their vow to be there for each other.

  The DVD ended as they got into the limo to go on their honeymoon. He froze the screen on Ari sitting on his lap, gazing into his eyes with a smile, a smile he’d stopped seeing years ago. Sorrow clutched at his heart. He shook it away. This was a new opportunity to make their relationship whole again. He’d do whatever necessary to ensure she knew how important she was to him. He didn’t want to lose her. There was no way he’d survive it a second time.

  A soft moan woke him from sleep. He jerked his eyes open and sat up in a rush. He’d fallen asleep watching TV and waiting to see if Ariana would wake up again. The DVD clock read four in the morning. Another moan sounded from the bedroom. He rushed to her bedroom and found her in a fetal position, cradling her stomach.

  “What’s wrong, sweetheart?” He pushed her hair away from her face. She glanced up and met his gaze. Her eyes were dull with pain.

  “My stomach hurts like hell.”

  “How long has your stomach been hurting like this, love?”

  “A few days,” she mumbled.

  He didn’t like the sound of that. “How does it hurt, like a sharp pain or more dull?”

  “Ouch. It hurts like somebody is stabbing me in my guts. Does that help?”

  He grinned. Trust her to give him a drastic graphic description. “Any burning?”

  She nodded and groaned.

  “I think you may have an ulcer. You really need to go to a doctor.”

  She winced. “Ugh. Don’t you think I know that? I made an appointment for the day after tomorrow.”

  He smiled at her snarkiness. “Do you have any ginger ale?” At her nod, he caressed her face. “I’ll go get you some.”

  When he returned, she was still in the same fetal position. She appeared to be dozing. “Ari?”

  She jerked her eyes open and groaned. “I am never working with that client again.”

  He chuckled. He knew all about difficult clients. “It’s alright, baby. You’ll be done soon, and next time you pass her off to someone else.”

  After helping her sit up, he sat next to her on the bed and watched her sip on the cold drink. She leaned her head on his shoulder, making him feel closer to her, needed.

  “Stay here with me.” Her soft breath tickled his neck. “Please.”

  “Anything you want, sweetheart.” He took the cup out of her hands and placed it on the bedside table. She scooted over to create more space for him next to her, and immediately curled into his body. Desire throbbed in his veins, worked its way through his body, and sparked embers of need in his cock.

  He leaned back into the pillows and closed his eyes, ignoring the raging hard-on and enjoying the feel of her body draped over his side.

  Nick woke to the feel of Ari’s hands under his T-shirt, gliding up and down his chest. She rubbed her fingertip over his nipple, and then proceeded to pinch the little bud. He groaned, his cock instantly erect.

  “Ari…”

  She unbuckled his belt, unbuttoned his jeans, and slid down his zipper. He snapped his eyes open the minute her hand gripped his cock.

  “Baby.”

  “Shh…” She gave him one of the sultry looks he loved, the kind that said she wanted to play and he should just shut the hell up and enjoy whatever she had in mind. “Last night is over, and I still want you. It’s a new day. I have no pain and I feel good right now. More than good.”

  He couldn’t argue with that logic. She tugged on his pants and boxers. He lifted his ass off the bed, helping her in getting the material down his legs and off his body. She licked her lips, all the while staring at his cock as if it were a prized possession. Damn, he would never tire of the way she made him feel like the sexiest and luckiest man in the world.

  “Now the shirt.” She didn’t stop staring at his cock while he removed the T-shirt.

  “Someone’s still overdressed, doll.”

  She curled a hand around his cock and grinned. Oxygen fought its way into his lungs. She glanced up and met his gaze. “I think I never thanked you properly.”

  His mind reeled. He’d lost all track of the conversation as he watched her move to the open space between his legs and lower her head to his cock. He sucked air and fought the need to groan.

  “Thank me for what?”

  She caressed him, spreading the moisture at the head of his cock down his shaft.

  “For doing the dishe
s.” She swiped her tongue up his full length, licked around his mushroomed head, and moaned. Her gaze never left his as she slid his dick between her lips, sucking him deep into her hot mouth. Slowly pulling back, she left a wet trail on his flesh and popped him out of her mouth. “And the food you sent over.” She jerked him in her grasp. “And for staying here with me.”

  Hell. He never remembered doing the dishes getting him this kind of reward. Not that he’d fight her on it. He moved her hair away from her face, roped it around his hand and watched the show. Passion sizzled between them, caressing his body with each stroke of her tongue.

  “Jesus.” He groaned when she hollowed her cheeks and tightened the suction on him.

  She hummed and danced her tongue over his slick flesh. Arousal sparked down his spine. It gathered into a shooting tension that wound his muscles tight. She’d always known how to blow his mind with her mouth. And it appeared she hadn’t forgotten the tricks to make him come like a damn teenager, only this time he wasn’t doing things without her. He yanked on her hair to get her attention. She glanced up at him with passion-dazed eyes.

  “Come here.”

  Her eyes sparkled with lust and a bit of humor. Taking her sweet time, she slid him out of her mouth, and he hauled her forward by her shoulders. He tugged on the blue dress. The sound of material tearing filled the room along with her giggle.

  “Sounds like somebody’s a little impatient.” She breathed into his chest.

  She sat over him, straddling his thighs and caressing his stomach with her hands. He cupped her neck and brought her close to him. She squirmed on his lap, her damp panties rubbing over his cock.

  They kissed while he removed her bra and filled his hands with her breasts. He squeezed her flesh, knowing just how much she liked it when he tweaked her nipples just so. She moaned, shoved her chest closer into his hands and ground her hips over his erection.

  She tore away from him, her movements frenzied. She sat back, slid the panties off her body and straddled him again.

  “Nick…”

  He bit his fingers into her waist and hauled her closer to him. Need raged through him, calling for him to take her, to slide into her body and lock himself in her sleek, wet heat.

  She lifted to her knees, grasped his cock in her hand and placed him at her dripping entrance. An inferno of arousal fused their gazes together. She slid down, impaling her body with his shaft in one smooth glide.

  Ariana moaned and let her body guide her. Her pussy felt on fire from her building need for Nick. The loud pounding of her breaths and heartbeat made it impossible for her to hear anything other than her own sharp intakes of air.

  “I can’t wait any longer.” His voice had that rough quality that turned her on. It was how she knew he was close to losing control.

  He gripped her hips and helped her lift and drop up and down his cock. Her nipples ached in need to be touched. She slapped her hands on his chest, digging her nails into his hot muscles, using him for leverage, and riding him.

  He groaned, she whimpered and together they made magical music. Tension spiraled inside her, tightening to a chokehold until she could do nothing but feel her body stiffen. She shut her eyes and became one with the flames consuming her insides. He continued to lift and drop her.

  “Ari…”

  She jerked her eyes open and glanced at his strained face. The vein at the side of his cheek quivered, his jaw was clenched and nostrils flared. Possession lit his eyes. She gasped. His movements turned faster, rougher. He slid a hand between her slick pussy lips and flicked on her pleasure center.

  “Fall, sweetheart, I’ll catch you.”

  He’d said the words. The ones he’d said the first time they’d ever made love. Goosebumps broke over her skin. Her body unraveled, letting go into the wave of pleasure cascading through her.

  “Oh—” She screamed. She panted. She let go. Her existence narrowed down to the feelings of joy and love coursing through her heart. Her chest burned from lack of oxygen. Her body lapped at the pleasure from her orgasm.

  Still shaking to the core with each aftershock, she watched him stare deep into her eyes and tense. He inhaled sharply and groaned. The tension in his body made his frame stiff as a board before slowly turning lax. His cock pulsed inside her still quivering channel, filling her with his essence. He continued to jerk, grinding his cock far into her sex and grunting. He tugged her down, kissed her and held her while still deep inside her.

  She dropped her head on his chest and grinned. There was no moving her. Her bones had liquefied, and she didn’t mind laying over his warm body forever. They both sounded like they’d run a marathon. Exhaustion pulled at her. Maybe she’d close her eyes for a minute. She’d started to drift when she felt Nick kiss her forehead.

  “It’ll be different this time. I promise.” His words unlocked another door in her heart. Hope. She wanted to believe in them again. Wanted the future to be different. She’d try her best to help make it so.

  A hard thumping at her door pulled her from the laptop screen. She glanced at her watch. Shit, she forgot to eat again. No wonder she was starving. She grabbed a banana and headed for the front door. Nick’s mother stood there.

  “Grace?”

  “Hello, Ariana. May I come in?” Grace asked, eyeing the inside of Ari’s small house with pursed lips.

  “Oh, yes. Sorry. Hi, Grace.” She pulled the door open wide and allowed Grace to enter. Ari watched her take some steps into the house and glance around, taking stock of everything. She was probably mentally criticizing Ari but she’d stopped caring what Grace thought about two seconds after she met her.

  Grace visiting her house was the last thing Ari expected, but she should have known Nick’s mom wouldn’t let them start to work things out without shoving her nose into their business.

  “I realize you weren’t expecting me, so I’ll make this a brief visit.” Grace turned to face her. Wearing an immaculate suit and heels, she appeared to be ready for a board meeting. Grace’s short hair parted at the side to a perfect bob curling under her chin.

  “What can I do for you?”

  “Thank you for asking that. The answer is simple. I want you to stop making my son suffer.”

  “Excuse me?” Ari asked with more shock than anger.

  “I know you have been obsessed with this idea of being a career woman since Nick met you. That’s all well and good, but when you marry someone, they take a priority, and your job becomes secondary.” Grace’s tight grip on her handbag told Ari she didn’t want to be there. She pursed her lips as she spoke and held herself so stiff Ari’s muscles ached trying to mimic Grace.

  “Grace, I really think you are getting into private business here—”

  Grace started to tap a foot on the shiny wood floor. Her impatience over Ari’s words coming across along with her inability to let Ari finish a sentence.

  “Stop for a moment, Ariana. Think about this before Nick goes headlong into this reunion and you’re not ready for what you have to do to make your marriage work.”

  Cold seeped into her pores to the point she felt chilled. Her spine went stiff and she held herself immobile, listening to Grace’s words. Words she delivered with such a disdainful look Ari had to check herself to keep from hitting Grace. This was the second time in less than a week that Grace approached her about leaving Nick to be happy without her. She was starting to wonder what the hell was going on that she might not know.

  “You don’t know what you’re talking about.” She heard herself getting hyped up. Her voice got louder and her face heated. She was having a hard enough time biting back the words she really wanted to yell. Like what the fuck was her problem?

  She lifted an arched brow high. Derision covered her perfectly made up face. She twisted her lips in a tight smile. “Of course I know. I’m the one whose son was heartbroken when his wife left him for no reason.”

  Ari curled her hands into fists, biting the nails deep into her palms. “This is no
ne of your business, Grace.”

  “If you’re not going to do what you need to as a wife, then let him go. Let him be happy with someone else.”

  “What the hell are you talking about?” She snapped.

  “You and your complete and utter selfishness. Not doing what you could to give my son the family he wanted so badly,” Grace spat.

  Ari couldn’t believe her ears. Grace had come to her house, to tell her to stop from getting back with Nick. This was getting out of hand. “You have some nerve. I’ve always known you didn’t like me.”

  Harley entered the room, growling the moment she saw Grace. Thankfully, Ari wasn’t the only one who had issues with Grace. Harley had never been fond of her either.

  Grace opened her eyes wide. “Like has nothing to do with this. It’s about my son’s happiness. You need to put your career to the side and work on this marriage. Try harder at it this time and maybe it can work.”

  She shook her head, shoving her hands into the back pockets of her jeans. “Oh, I think like has a lot to do with this. You must think I’m really stupid. From the moment Nick brought me to your home, it was obvious you felt I wasn’t the right woman for him.” She took a step away from Grace to keep from hitting the older woman. “At first it was the fact my parents didn’t have the money your family did. I let that slide because you seemed to truly love Nick and I do too.” She inhaled deep. “Then you started putting pressure and making comments about us.” She stopped by the door and turned to face Grace again. “No. About me. About my lacking skills as a wife. You have never wanted me with Nick. I get that. This is not about what you want, Grace. Nick is my husband. Our actions and problems are nobody’s but ours. And like it or not, whatever we decide to do has nothing to do with you.” She jerked the door open. “Please leave before I do something we’ll both regret.”