Текст книги "Thirty days to win his wife"

Автор книги: Andrea Laurence

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Текущая страница: 9 (всего у книги 12 страниц)

Nine

“I think I might be sick.”

Tyler snapped to attention, moving to Amelia’s side as they stood on the curb in front of Sotheby’s auction house. Her color looked okay, her cheeks pink from the chill of the early-March London air. “What? Are you nauseated again? There’s a trash can over there.”

Amelia smiled and took his hand. “Sorry, I didn’t mean I was really sick. The idea of all those diamonds and millions of dollars changing hands was just enough to make me ill.”

“Oh,” he said with a chuckle as relief washed over him. Amelia had seemed to be doing better with her morning sickness, especially since they’d arrived in London, so he’d been surprised by her sudden declaration. An auction of this caliber could be intimidating to a first timer. Some of the world’s greatest jewels and antiques passed through the doors of this auction house, along with the ridiculous amounts of money that went with them.

“I thought maybe the chocolate tea at the Landmark Hotel had turned on you. We ate so much I was miserable through half the auction.”

“Oh, no,” Amelia argued. “That food was amazing. The one at Fortnum and Mason yesterday was good, too. French macarons are my new favorite thing and I plan to master them the moment we get back home. I think they’d make a lovely item for a dessert display, especially in the wedding colors.”

They’d arrived in London early the previous day. The jet lag had been rough on them both, so he’d taken her on a quick drive around the city and they’d had a classic tea before checking into their hotel. Today they’d tried the tea at their hotel before coming to the auction. They were eating their way through London.

“I just love the idea of having afternoon tea,” she continued. “That’s usually when I get peckish, so it’s perfect. A scone and tea is preferable to the soda and candy bar I typically end up eating. I don’t know why Americans don’t have teatime. It makes us seem so uncivilized, somehow.”

“I just spent two hundred and twenty thousand dollars on a diamond-and-pearl tiara from the nineteenth century. That seems pretty civilized to me.”

Amelia shook her head and tugged him down the street. “Maybe if you wore the tiara while having tea.”

Tyler laughed, following her. Looking the way she did today, he’d follow her anywhere. She was wearing a stunning cobalt-blue wool jacket that came down past her knees to keep her warm. The bright color popped against her fair skin and fiery red hair. Combined with the pregnancy, she was damn near glowing. Beneath her coat, she was wearing a more muted dress with a gray-and-blue geometric design. She’d paired the outfit with sapphire earrings he’d sent her for Christmas the year before. Seeing how radiant the color was on her, Tyler regretted passing up a brilliant sapphire choker that had been auctioned off earlier that afternoon.

“Where are we headed?” he asked when they’d traveled several blocks away from Sotheby’s and in the opposite direction of their hotel.

“You’re going to take me for a ride on the London Eye.”

“I am?” The giant Ferris wheel overlooking the Thames hadn’t been in Tyler’s plans at all, but he didn’t mind going. He’d never ridden it. His past trips to London had been focused on jewels and finding a good chip shop. “I thought we were going to dinner after the auction.”

“We will, but I’m not hungry yet after that big tea. We’ll eat after you take me on the Eye.”

“Okay,” Tyler relented, raising his hand to hail a cab. It was probably a good night to ride the Eye anyway. London had remarkably clear skies for this time of year, so they’d have a nice view. By the time they got there, it would just be sunset, when the sky would glow orange and the lights of the city would start to illuminate. It would actually be a great romantic opportunity if not for the herd of other tourists in the capsule with them.

Of course, he could fix that. She wanted the big romantic gestures, right?

After climbing into a cab, Tyler pulled out his phone and found the number of the agency that handled special events on the Eye. By the time they reached the busy plaza and long, winding queue, he’d arranged for a private go-around.

The London Eye was massive, dominating the landscape along the river. It seemed ridiculous to call the large white structure with its space-age pods a Ferris wheel, but he supposed that was what it was.

As they approached the VIP entrance he’d been directed to, a small woman with short brown hair and an immaculate black suit greeted them. “Mr. Dixon? I’m Mary, your personal London Eye hostess. We have your private capsule waiting for you.”

Amelia looked at him with surprise lighting her eyes. She’d obviously gotten too used to tuning out his phone conversations, assuming they were all about work. She hadn’t paid a bit of attention to the intentionally vague yet still decipherable discussion he’d had with the Eye offices. He hadn’t been trying to make it a surprise, but he was pleased to see she hadn’t anticipated it.

“A private capsule?” she asked with a wide grin. “Really?”

Tyler smiled and gestured for her to go ahead of him and follow behind Mary. They bypassed the hundreds of people lined up and were escorted onto the next available capsule.

“Your three-hundred-and-sixty-degree maps are on the bench. Enjoy the ride,” Mary said before the capsule was closed and locked.

“Off we go,” Tyler said as the glass bubble moved up and away from the platform. He followed Amelia to the far side of the car overlooking the Thames. The sun was just setting, and the blazing orange-and-red sky illuminated the boats traveling up and down the river and the cars crossing the bridges beside them. The Parliament building, Big Ben and Westminster Abbey beyond it glowed brightly in the evening light. Turning to look the opposite direction, he recognized other famous buildings, like the Gherkin and the Shard, against the skyline.

It was an amazing view at any time of day, but Tyler was certain he’d hit the jackpot tonight. Not only was it the perfect time, but he had a beautiful woman there with him. She had been resistant to coming on this trip at first, especially since he’d planned it as a surprise and gone around her, as she’d put it, but she’d really warmed up to the idea. He’d been to London enough that he didn’t get the surge of excitement when he saw one of the famous landmarks. With Amelia here, he was experiencing the city anew. It made him want to take her with him everywhere he went, and if he couldn’t do that, he’d rather stay at home and send one of his employees instead.

Amelia’s back was to him as she gazed out at the panorama before them. Her red hair was pulled up today, revealing the long line of her neck. He wanted to lean in to her and place a kiss against her sensitive skin. He wanted to hear her gasp with surprise and moan softly as the sensations he coaxed from her rushed through her body.

Stepping up behind Amelia, he leaned in and grasped the railings on each side of her. He rested his chin on her shoulder, breathing in the scent of her.

“It’s beautiful,” she whispered.

“You’re beautiful,” Tyler countered, and wrapped his arms around her waist. She leaned back against him, sighing with contentment as their tiny bubble rose higher and higher around the wheel. The view was spectacular, but the longer they spent pressed against each other, the less interested Tyler was in the landscape.

He swept a stray strand of red hair out of the way and pressed his lips to her skin. Amelia gasped and tilted her head to the side to give him better access. He moved across her throat, teasing her with his lips, teeth and tongue. She held still, only her rapid draws of breath giving away her building arousal. His desire for her was harder to disguise. The minute he touched her, the blood rushed to his extremities and he was overwhelmed by the throbbing need to possess his wife.

His wife. Funny how he’d come to think of her that way in only a few short weeks. He’d gotten used to spending the evenings with her, watching her cook and testing her new recipes. He liked falling asleep with her in his arms and waking up to her grumpy morning face. Tyler needed Amelia to fall in love with him. He couldn’t bear to lose all this in a week’s time.

Just as they crested the top of the Eye, he slipped a hand beneath her coat and cupped one large breast. He could feel the nipple form into a hard peak beneath his touch, straining through the fabric to reach him. Amelia arched her back as he stroked her flesh, pressing her round backside into the firm heat of his desire.

Tyler groaned aloud, the sound echoing in the capsule. He was overcome by the driving need to touch her, bury himself in her and lose all rational thought in loving her. But damned if they weren’t four hundred feet in the air, enclosed in a clear bubble with tourists on both sides of them and a closed-circuit camera recording their every movement. It was the most seemingly private yet agonizingly public scenario he could’ve possibly put them in.

Amelia turned in his arms to face him as they started descending back toward the ground. She slipped her arms around his neck, lacing her fingers together at the nape. She did look beautiful today. And this was an amazingly romantic moment. And yet he couldn’t stop from voicing the concerns that had been plaguing him for over a week. They had to get past this.

“Amelia?” he said, his voice near shaking with adrenaline and need.

“Yes?”

“Will you love me?” he asked.

A seductive smile curled her lips. “Absolutely.”

Tyler softly shook his head. She’d answered too quickly, so he was certain she misunderstood. “That’s not what I meant,” he corrected. Amelia had given him her body, but it wasn’t enough. He wanted more. He wanted to break through her walls and topple all her misconceptions about love. He knew her well enough to know he couldn’t force his way into her heart. She had to let him in. “Will you give me your heart?”

Her eyes widened, her mouth falling open without words.

“I want this to work between us, Amelia. I want you to fall in love with me, so we can have a family and all the wonderful things you’ve always dreamed of. But you have to stop fighting it. Are you ever going to let yourself fall in love with me?”

There was a long silence, a painful one, but when she finally did speak, it made him yearn for the quiet again.

“You’re asking me to give you something with nothing in return.”

It was Tyler’s turn to look at her with wide-eyed surprise. “What do you mean?”

“Through this whole thing, you’ve been on a mission to make me fall in love with you—and you’re succeeding, even if you don’t feel that way. But you’re right, I am holding back, and it’s because I get the feeling that you’re not letting yourself fall in love with me. You had it rough with Christine. I know that. Breaking off the engagement a week before the wedding was just cruel, especially if she knew she’d had doubts about the two of you. She hurt you. You wouldn’t ever talk about it, but I can tell by the way you changed after that. All work, all the time.”

He didn’t like talking about what happened with Christine, even with Amelia. Talking about it meant that he would have to face his first big failure in life. To talk about how he couldn’t measure up, no matter what. He’d rather just pretend it hadn’t happened. “I have a business to run,” he argued.

“So do I. That’s no excuse. You’re just hiding away. You might have lost her, but in the process, I almost lost you, too. You buried yourself in your work, flying so much the flight attendants know you by name. But you need to clip those wings of yours if we’re going to make this work. I think both of us are trying so desperately to protect our hearts, so afraid this isn’t going to succeed and we’re going to lose everything we have.

“I will let myself fall in love with you, Tyler,” she continued, “but you have to let yourself do the same.”

Tyler swallowed hard, hearing the truth in her words but not knowing quite how to address it. He had held a part of himself back, and he still wasn’t certain he could give all of himself the way he had before. It was a scary prospect, even as desperately as he wanted the life they could have together. But they’d never have the chance if he didn’t give in. Or at least, let her think that he had.

“You’re right,” he said, forcing himself to smile at her reassuringly. “From now on, no holding back. I will let myself love you and you will let yourself love me.”

A brilliant smile lit her face. Before he could react, her lips met his. He was happy to close his eyes and lose himself in the physical contact that had been his comfort these past few weeks. This was the kiss that was supposed to mark the change in their relationship for the better. They were giving in, and he needed to make her believe his words.

He pressed into her, pushing her back to mold her against the concave wall of the capsule. Her mouth was soft and welcoming in juxtaposition to his hard advance. His tongue forced its way into her mouth, demanding she give him more, and she gladly complied. She pressed her breasts against his chest and met his every advance.

How had he been so blind to this for so long? Amelia was perfect for him in so many ways. She knew just how to touch him, just how to handle his every mood. She wasn’t afraid to call him on his crap. And when it came down to it, he’d never been as attracted to a woman in his life as he was to her. From the first day he laid eyes on her freshman year, he’d known he was hers, be they friends or lovers. When they’d decided on friends, he’d shelved the attraction and kept his distance. Why, even now, he was resistant to let go. The minute he gave in to how badly he wanted her everything would fall apart.

At that unnerving thought, he pulled away. The moment their lips parted, the lights of the Eye illuminated and they were suddenly surrounded by its haunting blue glow. Amelia looked up at him, the lights and shadows highlighting the contours of her delicate features. Her smile was devoid of the pink lipstick she’d had on when they entered the Eye.

“Let’s go back to the hotel,” Amelia said, her voice breathy.

“You don’t want to go to dinner?” he asked.

“No,” she replied adamantly. “Take me back to the hotel right now or risk me doing something scandalous to you in this plastic bubble where everyone can see us.”

As appealing as that sounded, Tyler could see the loading platform approaching below. They wouldn’t have enough time to start anything interesting—or at least not to finish it—before the cops arrested them both.

“To the hotel it is.”

* * *

The moment they touched back down on solid earth, they rushed to get a cab to the hotel. Amelia’s heart was racing in her chest the entire way there, and when they pulled up outside the Landmark Hotel, she felt a tightness, like a vise closing down on her rib cage.

It wasn’t making love to Tyler that made her anxious. She had a thirst for him that never seemed to be satiated. It was their conversation on the Eye that worried her. She’d told him that she sensed he was afraid to give himself fully to the relationship, but there was more to it than just fear. Yes, he might be worried about losing their friendship or afraid of getting hurt again, but there was something else. He’d never seriously pursued her before now. Not once in all these years. But the moment a baby had come into the picture, Tyler had been ready to swoop in and claim her as his own.

Which raised the painful question she didn’t really want to face—was Tyler only here for the baby?

Did he really want them to fall in love, or did he just want Amelia to love him enough to stay in the relationship for the sake of their child? She had a miserable track record—she knew that. If not for the baby, she probably wouldn’t have let their relationship go on this long, in truth. She would’ve found some reason why it wouldn’t work. But now she was having feelings for Tyler. Real feelings that went far beyond friendship. Far beyond loving him, but not being in love with him.

But she didn’t get the same vibes from Tyler. It felt more like...an obligation, despite him telling her he was going to stop holding back.

Amelia shuddered at the thought. She never wanted anyone to be with her just because he thought he had to be. Tyler was attracted to her—there was no doubt of that—but could they have more?

The thoughts weighed heavy in her mind, even as they made their way through the stunning eight-story atrium of the hotel. She barely saw it, or any of the other remarkable features about their historic, hundred-year-old hotel. It wasn’t until they reached their suite that Amelia pushed the doubts out of her mind, just as she pushed Tyler’s suit coat over his shoulders. As they had nearly every night since they’d shared a home, she wanted to lose her worries in Tyler’s arms.

His jacket fell to the floor along with her own blue coat. Tyler pulled her into his arms and kissed her until she was nearly breathless. “I’ve never wanted a woman as badly as I want you tonight,” he said, his voice low and rough.

Amelia’s anxiety faded at the sound of his voice. It wasn’t all about the baby. His desire for her was real enough. She gave him a wicked, knowing grin and tugged at his tie. They shed clothing as they made it through the seating area to the large ivory-draped bed. Tyler whipped back the duvet and the flat sheet, then slipped out of his pants and eased onto the bed. Their make-out session on the Eye had certainly fired up his engine, and he was clearly ready for a long, exhilarating drive.

Kicking out of her heels, Amelia didn’t waste any time joining him in the bedroom. She’d been feeling a little feisty when she’d packed for this trip. Beneath her modest dress today, she’d opted for a lacy black demibra with matching panties and garter belt. The sheer black silk stockings were topped with lace that contrasted sharply with her pale skin.

Tyler’s mouth dropped open when her dress fell to the ground and she exposed the sexy lingerie she’d kept hidden all day. She did a little twirl, showcasing the revealing thong cut of the panties before slipping her thumbs beneath the sides and sliding them down her legs. She’d worn them outside the garter belt just for this reason. “Do you mind if I keep the rest on?” she asked innocently.

A frantic shake of his head was all she received in reply. Approaching the bed, she crawled slowly across it, putting the brakes on his rapid-fire seduction. When she reached the hard-carved muscles of Tyler’s bare abdomen, she threw one leg over his torso and straddled him. The movement immediately brought their most sensitive parts into contact, and the sensation brought a gasp of pleasure to her lips and a wicked smile to her face.

“All day?” He groaned. “You’ve been wearing that all day?”

“Mmm-hmm,” she hummed, reaching for the pins holding up her hair. When she removed the third and final one, her red curls spilled down over her shoulders, and she shook them out to great effect.

Tyler’s palms slid up her silky thighs, running his fingertips over the silver snaps of the garters and lacy tops of the stockings. “I...” he began, but Amelia brought a finger to his lips to quiet him.

They had done enough talking for today. There had been too many emotions and too much angst. Right now she just wanted to lose herself in making love to him. He wanted her to let go, and tonight, she would.

Rising up onto her knees, Amelia planted her hands on the pillows on both sides of Tyler’s head. Her breasts nearly tumbled from their confines as she moved, but he was quick to offer his hands to support them. As he kneaded her flesh, she slowly moved back, finding his firm heat and easing the length of him inside her hot, aching body.

Sitting up, Amelia rocked her hips forward, the pleasure of the moment forcing her eyes shut. It was better that way, so she kept them closed. With her eyes shut, she could focus on the feeling of Tyler’s hands cupping her breasts and teasing her nipples through the lace. She could absorb every powerful sensation as she moved her hips and forced the length of him deeper inside her body. She could hear Tyler’s murmurs of encouragement, her own soft gasps, the faint squeak of the bed as she moved...

But most of all, she could focus on the feeling deep in her chest. It was there, as she gave herself to Tyler, that she really opened up. He’d asked her tonight to let him in, to allow herself to love him, so she would. As though she’d turned the key in a rusty, old lock, she opened herself up to the emotions she’d held at bay for so long.

It was a stunning moment when the feelings hit her. The warmth of love heated her from the inside out, with tears forming in the corners of her eyes. But along with the feeling was a revelation she’d never expected—she not only loved Tyler, but she always had. No other man would ever meet her stringent qualifications because no other man could be Tyler. He was her better half, the part she’d always searched for and failed to find because she’d refused to look in the most obvious of places.

And now she was giving herself to him, heart and soul.

“Amelia...” Tyler groaned, bringing his hands to her hips. His palms cupped the lace-covered curve of her rear, guiding her movements, and she knew neither of them would be able to last much longer.

She placed her hands on his chest, one covering the rapid tattoo of his heart. Moving more forcefully, she quickly drove herself to the edge. When her climax came, her whole body shook with the strength of it. Every nerve lit up; every muscle tensed. She cried out to the dim room, gasping for breath.

Tyler rode out her orgasm, then pressed his fingers hard into her soft flesh and drove into her from beneath until he shouted his own pleasure.

Unable to hold herself up any longer, Amelia collapsed against him. She buried her face in his neck, their bodies both trembling with the power of their release. She kept her hand over his heart as they lay there, feeling the beat slow along with their breaths.

She had given Tyler her heart. It was too late for her to consider fighting the feelings anymore. She just didn’t have the strength. The thirty days would be up soon after they returned to Nashville, and she knew what her answer would be. She wanted to stay with him and start their family together.

The only problem was that Amelia wasn’t entirely sure if she would ever have Tyler’s love. He would stay for their child. She knew him well enough to know that. But that big fantasy of love she’d always dreamed of? That still seemed out of reach.

She couldn’t have it when only one of the people had fallen in love.