Текст книги "Remind Me "
Автор книги: Ann Marie Walker
Соавторы: Amy K. Rogers
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Текущая страница: 12 (всего у книги 19 страниц)
Chapter Twenty-six
Allie pushed through the brass revolving doors of the Drake Hotel and hurried up the stairs. The concierge glanced up from his desk as she passed, but Allie didn’t need directions. She’d been to the Palm Court dozens of times over the years.
The harpist was at her post, same as she was every day during afternoon tea. Her carefully plucked notes wafted through the air in perfect harmony with the tranquil fountain at the center of the room. Chiffon-draped columns framed the scene and divided the restaurant into cozy seating areas of plush velvet couches and white linen chairs. Allie scanned the room and found her mother in one of the chairs, her back to the fountain as she set her china teacup on the white marble table in front of her.
“You’re late,” Victoria scolded. She tilted her head in invitation. Despite her aggravation, Allie obliged, careful not to smudge lipstick on her mother as she pressed her cheek to hers.
“I have a job, Mother. I can’t drop everything just because you leave a voice mail summoning me to tea.”
Her mother bristled. “You were not summoned to tea, Alessandra. I simply needed to discuss a few items with you and this seemed like the perfect venue.”
A tuxedo-clad waiter greeted her the moment she settled in on the dark brown sofa. “Welcome to the Palm Court,” he said. “What can I start you out with this afternoon?”
“I’ll take the Earl Grey. Decaf please. No cream or sugar, but I’d love some honey on the side.” As an afterthought, she added, “Oh, and an orange twist instead of lemon, if you have one.” The waiter backed away with a nod and Allie turned to her mother. “What was so urgent?”
“Elizabeth Prescott called me yesterday. She tells me Hillary asked you to be her doubles partner next summer.”
Allie dug her nails into the palm of her hand. Had her mother really interrupted her workday to talk about tennis? Even if she was somehow under the misconception Allie was interested in league play, the season was still a good six months away. “Mother, if you called me here to discuss—”
“She also invited me to be her guest at the symphony last night.” She gazed at Allie, her facial expression giving nothing away.
Allie tried to keep her voice level. “She did?”
“Yes, seems her husband had something come up rather last minute and she was kind enough to offer me the extra ticket. They were good seats, too. Main floor, center aisle.” Victoria lifted her teacup to her lips and took a small sip. “Of course, I would have preferred box seats.” She moved slowly and methodically, setting her cup and saucer back on the small table. Allie’s heart thudded in her chest, yet she held perfectly still, doing her best to remain impassive as her mother studied her face for any hint of a reaction. Her eyes never left Allie’s as she dabbed the corner of her mouth with a cloth napkin. When she was done, she folded it neatly and smoothed it across the lap of her mint-green St. John suit. “Did you enjoy the performance, Alessandra?”
The waiter arrived with Allie’s tea, giving her a few precious moments to collect her thoughts. Denial was pointless. Her mother had obviously seen her in the box with Hudson. The only question that remained was how much had she seen. Her stomach rolled at the thought. Keep it together, Allie. All she had to do was drink her tea, make a bit of small talk, and get the hell out of there.
“Very much so.” Allie reached for the small dish of honey, just as she had on countless other afternoons. Only this time there was a small tremor in her hand as she dabbed a spoonful into her tea. Hopefully her mother hadn’t noticed. “I was invited by one of the foundation’s patrons. I met him at the museum gala last month.”
“Yes, I saw you dancing with him that night.”
Was there anything this woman missed? “He’s new in town and asked me to be his guest. You know how disappointed I was to discover Julian had forgotten to get tickets. Plus, I thought this would allow me the opportunity to discuss the work we do at Better Start in greater detail, possibly secure another donation.” Allie paused, suddenly aware her words were coming out in a high-pitched rushed. She drew a calming breath through her nose. “We never would have reached our initial goal without his pledge.”
“I’m well aware of the generous check Mr. Chase wrote.”
She knows his name? “You are?”
“I make it my business to know who all the major players are, Alessandra, and I’m not only referring to the foundation.”
The waiter set a three-tiered, sterling silver stand on the table between them. Each level held a china plate displaying an array of finger sandwiches, fruit breads, scones, and French pastries. He hesitated for an awkward moment before hightailing it to the kitchen. Lucky bastard.
“I just love this place. It has so much more character than those new flashy hotels they’re building these days.” Her mother helped herself to a delicate offering of cucumber and tomato on crustless bread, but didn’t bother taking a bite. Instead she placed the small sandwich on her plate and lifted her chin. “There’s no substitute for lineage, Alessandra. You’ll do well to remember that. A few lucky investments do not put that man in the same class as Julian.”
“There’s also something to be said for respecting a self-made man, Mother. Some people aren’t fortunate enough to be born with a title or family fortune. They have to work hard for what they want in life. Everything Hudson Chase has was earned, not inherited.”
Victoria’s nostrils flared ever so slightly. “That’s quite a passionate defense of someone who’s merely a donor.” She leaned closer, her voice a lethal whisper. “Don’t think you can play me for a fool, young lady. You’re hardly the first woman to enjoy a walk on the wild side, Alessandra.” Her hand smoothed an already immaculate French twist. “Lord knows Paolo brightened more than a few of my afternoons.”
Who the hell was Paolo? Allie’s mind raced, processing information before screeching to a dizzying halt as the face of her childhood tennis instructor flashed before her eyes. “The tennis pro?”
Her mother arched a single brow. “His private lessons did wonders for my swing, but I would have never let him escort me to a social event.”
Allie’s heart sank at the realization that her mother was a walking, talking cliché. Her voice wavered when she asked, “Does Daddy know?”
“Your father and I reached an understanding years ago. This is the world we live in, Alessandra, but you’re hardly in a position to expect that sort of latitude.” Victoria’s eyes flicked down to the ring on Allie’s finger. “Wait till you’re wearing his wedding band, have given him an heir to the family title—but even then you must learn to be discreet. Men are willing to overlook certain . . . hobbies, as long as their needs are met. But no man will tolerate the sort of embarrassing display you put on last night.”
Every muscle in Allie’s body tensed as she wondered exactly how much her mother had seen. The balcony wall would have shielded Hudson’s hand from view. And her wrap had been across her lap. Had she caught a glimpse of them behind the curtain? Oh God. Allie thought she might be sick.
“Honestly, it was nothing short of a miracle Elizabeth didn’t see the way you were looking at that man last night.”
All she saw was a few heated glances? Allie would have exhaled in relief if it weren’t for her mother’s piercing stare.
“I won’t be humiliated by your indiscretions, Alessandra.”
The waiter eased toward their table. Victoria gave him a tight smile and asked for the check before turning her attention back to Allie. “I think this will be a lovely location for cocktails, don’t you agree?”
Allie’s brow knit together. “Cocktails?”
Her mother gave a small nod and took another sip of tea. “Yes, before the reception. They clear the couches and chairs out of the way and bring in a few high-top tables. Of course we’ll have them draped in silk, dress them up with votives and fresh flowers. The catering manager suggested a pasta bar or a carving station, but I went with passed hors d’oeuvres. Silver trays and white gloves are so much more elegant than a line forming in the corner. This is the Drake, not the Sizzler, for heaven’s sake.”
Victoria continued to describe her vision of the perfect wedding reception. Staring straight ahead, Allie noticed she had a clear view of the doors to the ballroom in the distance. The words “Gold Coast Room” seemed to float over her mother’s head as she covered everything from the height of the centerpieces to the size of the dance floor. Every detail had been carefully planned, right down to the location of their meeting.
Allie listened without really hearing, somehow managing to nod at the appropriate moments. She rubbed her palms on the velvet couch. Where the hell was the waiter with that check?
She made her escape as soon as the bill was paid, practically running down the stairs. The gust of fresh air was a welcome relief until she looked across the street at the entrance to the Palmolive building. Her chest tightened. She had to end things with Hudson. Postponing the inevitable was getting them nowhere, and it was only going to be harder the more time she spent with him. And now that her mother was suspicious. . . .
“Taxi?” the doorman asked.
“Yes, please.” Her phone pinged with a text and she looked down at the screen.
It was from Hudson. Cleared my schedule. Early dinner at my place?
Only four thirty and Hudson was willing to ditch work. For her. She glanced up at his building. Was he already there, waiting?
“Ma’am?”
She turned to find the doorman holding open a taxi door.
“Still want the cab?”
Allie looked back at her phone and quickly typed a reply. Can’t. Lots of work. Call you later.
Without looking up, she pressed Send and ducked into the cab.
Chapter Twenty-seven
“Drink this. You look like you need it.” Hudson offered Allie a squat glass. She shook her head and continued her pacing from the fireplace to the couch, looping back for a scenic route along the windows. “Then I need it, because I have a feeling I’m not going to like whatever it is you have to say.”
“I can’t keep running over here with my toothbrush and a pair of panties in my purse.”
“I’d offer you a drawer, but that’s not the issue, is it?” When there was nothing but silence, he continued. “This is when you tell me what’s really going on.” Hudson took a long drink from his glass, his throat working on a swallow. He tracked her movements, willing to go all in that this had something to do with the horseshit text she sent him about having to work late. “Spill it.”
She stopped by the fireplace. “I can’t do this anymore.”
“You don’t get to decide that.” He tossed back the rest of his scotch, leaned over, and set the glass down on the coffee table a little harder than intended. “Not this time.”
“My mother summoned me to the Drake today, Hudson. Apparently she saw us at the CSO and felt the need to discuss it over tea and scones.”
“I see.”
“She’s going to be watching my every move.”
Any trace of levity drained from Hudson’s face. Victoria Sinclair was taking up more space in the room than he was. Fuck that, she saturated it. “Your mother’s playing games within games, Alessandra.”
Allie’s face clouded over and she turned toward the fire.
Hudson stepped closer. His tone softened as he slipped a finger under her chin, turning her head to meet his gaze. “You have the power to take control of your life.”
The simple words lingered between them, and as the weight of them settled, he realized he needed to pull Allie out of the eye of the shit storm. She was ready to run, he could see it on her face. Hell, she already had one foot out the door. But words were not going to be enough. He was going to have to show her, make her see that what she wanted was standing right in front of her. “Go away with me this weekend. Just the two of us.”
She shook her head. “I can’t just disappear for the weekend.”
“You’re not falling off the face of the earth, and there is cell reception . . . in most places. Unless you think your mom is tracking your phone; then I’ll see that it finds a new home at the bottom of the lake.”
Allie laughed. “I don’t think cell phone destruction will be necessary. Not that she wouldn’t track me if she could, but the woman barely manages a text message.”
“What do you say?” With his eyes he traced the delicate little crease that wrinkled her brow. The one she got when she was weighed down with uncertainty, confined by the pressure of indecision, or rankly pissed off.
“I don’t know.” Allied chewed on her bottom lip. “It’s Thursday night, where would we even go on such short notice?”
“I have a little place a couple hours from here on Lake Geneva. It’s beautiful this time of year when the leaves have all turned. We can go out on the lake or we can stay in so I can kiss every inch of your perfect body.” He flashed a grin. “Besides, I miss my bike.”
“Finally saved up enough to buy that motorcycle you wanted?” she teased.
“Managed to scrape a few bucks together. And I can’t wait to take you on it.” He dragged his mouth down her throat, leaving a trail of featherlight kisses in his wake. “There’s an idea.”
Allie tilted her head to the side. “It does sound tempting.”
“It’s settled, then.” He lifted his head and pressed his lips to her forehead. “Now how about that drink?”
“Yes, please.”
Hudson strolled around the breakfast bar, then yanked open the door of the wine fridge. The majority of his collection was stored downstairs, but he always had a few bottles on hand in the kitchen. He’d just pulled a California chardonnay from the rack when the phone rang. He set the bottle on the granite counter and snatched the receiver from the cradle. “Chase.”
As Allie approached, Hudson did a tight 180 while running a hand through his hair. “Send him up.” He hung up the phone and cursed under his breath before turning back to face her.
“What is it?” she asked.
His jaw tightened. “My brother.”
Chapter Twenty-eight
“Nick’s here?” The last time Allie saw Hudson’s little brother he was all of twelve years old. Crooked grin, mop of unruly hair, and big brown eyes filled with hero worship for his older brother. Allie smiled. She couldn’t wait to see him again.
“Yeah, but now is not the time for a reunion.” Hudson moved quickly toward Allie and cupped her elbow. “I need you to wait in my room.”
“What?” Allie frowned. “Why do I need to wait in there? It’s just your brother.” True, she’d just had a meltdown over her mother seeing them at the CSO, but this was different. This was Nick. He’d kept their secret ten years ago. She certainly wasn’t worried about him blowing their cover now.
“You have to trust me on this one, Allie.” Hudson’s strides were long and measured as he directed her down the hallway toward his bedroom. Everything about his demeanor had changed since the doorman’s call. Tension rolled off him in waves. When they reached the door to his room she heard the penthouse elevator ping softly in the distance. “Stay here,” he said. “This shouldn’t take long.”
He turned to leave, pulling the door shut behind him.
What the hell was that all about? Hudson had hustled her out of the room so quickly. Allie’s heart sank. Was that how she made him feel? Like she was ashamed to be seen with him? It couldn’t have been further from the truth. Under normal circumstances she’d have been proud to be on his arm. But her situation was far from normal. The panic she’d felt earlier had nothing to do with who he was, or where he’d come from. Somehow she had to make him see that.
Allie sighed heavily, resigned to the fact there was nothing she could do at the moment but wait. Might as well get ready for bed. She hadn’t planned on spending the night but after Nick’s unexpected arrival and Hudson’s bizarre reaction, there was no way she was leaving. Not with so many unanswered questions.
She grabbed a T-shirt from Hudson’s dresser and headed for the master bathroom to change and brush her teeth. A new toothbrush lay in the drawer next to Hudson’s. She unwrapped it, smiling at the gesture. Underneath that tough exterior was a sweet, considerate man. Of course he would hate that description if he heard it. Just picturing the look on his face made her laugh with a mouthful of toothpaste, but it was true. She’d seen his softer side more times than she could count, although it had never been more evident than in the way he treated Nick.
Hudson had always been so good with his kid brother. He was patient, putting up with the incessant barrage of questions only a twelve-year-old could conjure. He was protective, always making sure Nick was home before curfew. And he was kind, letting Nick hang around the two of them despite constantly teasing Hudson about having a “giiiiiiiirlfriend.”
So what had changed? Why was he insisting she stay in his room? Allie spit and rinsed her mouth, mulling the questions over in her head as she dried her face with a towel. Curiosity eventually got the better of her and she slipped quietly out of Hudson’s room.
When she reached the end of the hallway, she heard a voice she assumed was Nick’s. “You gotta help me, man.”
“What the hell do you keep looking at?”
“Your elevator. Does that fucking thing close?”
“Private elevator, Nicky. Here, drink this.” The exasperation in Hudson’s voice was tangible, and although she couldn’t see him, she could picture a deep furrow between his brows. “How many days have you been up this time?”
“Can’t fucking sleep. I haven’t even been home.”
“Why not? Did you blow your goddamn rent again?” Hudson was practically shouting. “Stop looking at the motherfucking elevator and sit the fuck down.”
Allie poked her head around the corner and stole a glance at the two brothers. Hudson had his back to her, obscuring her view of Nick, who had apparently listened to his brother and sat the fuck down. Hudson ran a hand through his hair and moved toward the window, giving Allie her first glimpse of Nick. She had to cover her mouth to stifle a gasp.
Of course he looked different—he was older now, twenty-two, maybe twenty-three—she’d expected that. But what she hadn’t expected was to find him so disheveled and agitated. He was tapping his heel, his leg bouncing at a manic pace as he fidgeted with a water bottle. Cap off. Cap on. And even from a distance she could see how badly he was sweating. Cap back off. Nick skipped the plastic cap across the coffee table and took a long drink. When he’d drained the bottle, he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.
Hudson turned to face his brother and Allie was struck by the overwhelming family resemblance. She’d never really noticed it when they were young, but despite Nick’s current condition, he looked so much like his older brother. Same jawline and nose, same dark wavy hair—although Nick’s was considerably longer and, from the looks of it, hadn’t been washed in a few days. Their most distinguishable feature, though, was their eyes. Hudson’s were a clear blue while Nick’s were a deep brown. Allie’s chest tightened as she focused her attention on Nick’s dark circled eyes. Once so warm and full of life, his eyes were now vacant as they darted anxiously around the room.
“They’re after me. Bastard’s probably got my place on watch.”
“Look, you’re crashing and not making any sense,” Hudson said, but Nick didn’t appear to be listening. All his attention was focused on scraping the label from his water bottle. Without warning he jumped up and began pacing like a caged animal. When he was within arm’s reach, Hudson snagged him by the collar. “Come on, you can sleep it off downstairs or in the theater, take your pick.”
Nick shrugged out of his hold. Hudson stared at him for a long moment and then shook his head as he turned away. Allie ducked back around the corner, afraid she was about to be discovered. She was inching toward the master bedroom when Nick’s voice stopped her in her tracks.
“You’re not listening to me!” he yelled.
“Hearing you loud and clear. What kind of money are we talking about?”
There was a lengthy pause, and when Nick finally spoke, his voice had grown quiet. “A shit ton.”
“How much, Nick?”
Nick muttered a few words she couldn’t hear.
“Fuck!” Hudson exploded. “How could you be so stupid?
Allie flinched at the sound of a fist pounding into a hard surface.
“I didn’t mean for shit to get real. I swear, Hudson, this is the—”
“Don’t you dare finish that fucking sentence.”
A cabinet opened in the kitchen. Glasses clinked. A bottle was set down with a thud. And then nothing but an uncomfortable silence.
When Hudson finally spoke, Allie could tell he’d used the time to reign in his temper. His voice was level though his words were still razor-sharp. “You’re going to listen to me carefully, because the terms of this deal are non-negotiable. I’ll bail you out one last time, but you’re checking into rehab. Tomorrow. Consider it repayment.”
“I got this, bro. Don’t need rehab.”
“There’s only one right answer here, Nick.”
Nick mumbled his reply, and the next thing Allie heard was the sound of Hudson’s footsteps on the living room floor. Shit! She scampered down the hall and was sitting cross-legged on the bed when he entered the room.
“Everything okay?”
“Fine.” Hudson strode through the room without so much as a glance in her direction. His face was taut with tension as he stripped his watch from his wrist and tossed it on top of the dresser. Pockets were next. He emptied them, carelessly dumping his wallet, change, and cell phone into a pile. When he was done he yanked open a drawer and grabbed a pair of pajama bottoms before disappearing into the bathroom.
Clearly he wasn’t fine.
Allie crawled up the bed and slipped under the covers. Exhaling, she leaned back against the headboard, crossed her arms, and waited. When Hudson emerged from the bathroom a few minutes later, his clothes had changed but not his mood.
He threw back the duvet and stretched out on the bed with his forearm resting over his eyes. Allie lowered herself to the pillow next to him, watching the heavy rise and fall of his chest. After a while it became clear Hudson wasn’t going to say anything about his brother’s late night arrival. It was up to Allie to address the elephant in the room.
She took a deep breath and confessed. “I was listening.”
Hudson lifted his arm and stared at her, his expression unreadable. “Were you now?”
She nodded. “I’m sorry. You were just so upset . . .” Allie fumbled with excuses as Hudson dropped his arm back over his face, offering no reaction or further explanation. “I had no idea.”
“What? That my brother is a drug addict?” There was a quiet resignation in his voice and she couldn’t help but wonder if it was the first time he’d ever admitted it to himself, let alone said the words out loud.
“How long has he been using?”
Hudson scrubbed a hand down his face. “Nick had a hard time.” There was an overwhelming sadness in his eyes, and for an instant something else, something darker. “Especially after Mom died.”
Their mom died? This was news to her.
It was a while before Hudson spoke again and when he did his voice had softened to barely a whisper. “Nick’s the one who found her.” His eyes drifted shut. “He was still trying to wake her up when I got there, shaking her, shouting her name.”
Allie’s throat tightened at the thought of the moppet-haired boy she once knew clinging to his dead mother. Her eyes welled up as she imagined how scared he must have been. No little boy should have to bury his mom, let alone discover her lifeless body.
A muscle in Hudson’s jaw flexed. “This is all standard operating procedure for Nick—showing up late at night, asking for money—but tonight was the worst I’ve ever seen him.” He drew an unsteady breath. “If he keeps going the way he is, he’ll end up just like she did, overdosing on God knows what. Shit, I can’t . . .” Hudson’s voice trailed off and his body tensed. A moment later he cleared his throat, and when he continued it was with a steely determination. The CEO was back, handling the issue. “I need to get him some help.”
“Did he take the deal, agree to rehab?” she asked. Her voice was thick with unshed tears.
“He said he’d go.” Hudson didn’t sound completely convinced.
“We should cancel our trip. You need to focus on Nick right now.”
“No, I’ll take him in the morning, then swing by and pick you up. Can you leave at lunchtime?”
“That should be fine.” Allie studied his face, trying hard to gauge his expression. “Are you sure?”
“Not much I can do while he’s in detox.”
Hudson grew quiet again. She could only imagine how helpless he felt, because that was how she felt when she looked at him. Helpless to ease his worry and pain.
Allie shifted closer. Hudson wrapped his arm around her, welcoming her comfort by tucking her into his side and pressing his lips to the top of her head. She reciprocated, planting a soft kiss on his bare chest, and felt him relax beneath her touch. This was the comfort she could offer. If only for the night, he could lose himself in her.
Her hand slid across his stomach, gliding over the ripples of his abs as she left a trail of openmouthed kisses along the slope of his pecs. His chest expanded, and when her tongue flicked over his nipple, an appreciative groan vibrated in the back of his throat. Her mouth drifted further, softly sucking and nipping the skin along his ribs. Hudson ran his hand up and down her back as her questing fingers drew rhythmic patterns. She glanced up at him. His eyes blistered with heat as he watched her explore his upper body with her fingers and tongue.
Wanting more, she reached for the drawstring of his pants. When she tugged them open, his erection sprang free, hard and glistening at the tip. Featherlight touches teased him as her fingers traced the honed contour of his hips. He twitched when the back of her hand brushed the hard ridge of his arousal, and a satisfied smile tugged at her lips. Oh yes, she could do this. She could turn the tables on the game he played so well.
Allie pushed his pajamas lower. She dragged her fingernails down one thigh then back up the other. Then her hand swept across his stomach before repeating the same path, making sure her wrist brushed his straining erection before running her nails down his inner thigh. His hips flexed.
“Touch me,” he whispered.
She pressed a wet kiss to his chest and finally took him in her hand. Hudson’s breath hitched as she caressed him, so firm and yet velvety soft. His hips flexed again. Instinctively her grasp tightened, squeezing and stroking his thickening length. His eyes drifted shut, and when her tongue swirled over his navel, a low moan escaped his lips. It was the most erotic sound she’d ever heard. Her body ignited with a need for more. Touching every inch of him wasn’t enough. She wanted to taste him. All of him. She leaned forward and took the tip of him past her lips.
His eyes flew open. “Allie . . .”
He gazed down at her, his eyes burning with desire as she flicked her tongue across the head of his erection. His hand gently cradled her head as her tongue swirled round and round. Her lips slid over him and she sucked tentatively, pulling him deeper as she found a rhythm with her mouth. His lids lowered and his breath hissed between his teeth.
“Ah, fuck, just like that.”
Moving between his legs, she folded his erection against his stomach, running the flat of her tongue from root to tip before taking him fully. His hips flexed, thrusting him deeper into her mouth. She pushed him to the back of her throat then sucked hard as she drew him out. Her tongue swirled over the top before sliding him deep once again.
His fingers fisted in her hair. “God, Allie . . . that feels good.”
A warm ache spread between her thighs. Hearing her name on his lips had her practically panting with need. She had no idea giving him pleasure could be such a turn-on. But as she looked up at him, she couldn’t imagine anything more arousing than the feel of him in her mouth.
Hudson’s eyes blazed with desire as he watched her take him again and again. “Ah, Allie . . .” He ground the words out through clenched teeth. “You’re going to make me come.” He sucked in a sharp breath and exhaled a warning. “Stop now if you don’t want me to.”
Allie grabbed his hips, feeling his muscles tense beneath her hands. He twitched in her mouth and she knew he was close. She sucked harder, relishing in her ability to make him lose control. The fingers in her hair pulled tighter and the rhythm of his hips intensified.
“I’m gonna come.” He pushed the words out between harsh breaths. He thrust deeply and then stilled, shouting out as his release filled her mouth. “Fuck, Allie.”
She glanced up as the salty taste of his pleasure slipped down her throat. God, she loved watching him come. And knowing it was her touch, her mouth, that caused him to come undone made it that much sweeter. She sat back on her heels, a victorious smile spreading across her face as the tension drained from his body.
Hudson’s chest heaved as he struggled to catch his breath. “That was quite unexpected,” he said, pushing up on an elbow and bending one knee. “Exceptional, but unexpected.” He pushed up further, holding Allie’s gaze until they were sitting eye to eye. One hand supported his weight while the other began caressing her thigh. “Did it turn you on to do that?”
The simple act of his hand on her skin made her belly tighten. “What do you think?” she asked. His palm slid between her knees and she opened herself to him, spreading her legs as his hand moved higher. Her breath caught as his fingers brushed over the silk of her panties.
“Oh, I think it did. I think having my cock in your mouth made you ache to feel it between your thighs.” His crude words sent a rush of heat through her core and her entire body pulsed with need. His fingers kept up their relentless torture, stroking the damp fabric. Her eyes drifted shut as she concentrated solely on the sensation of his fingers rubbing back and forth. Back and forth. Before long her hips began to rock against his hand. “Am I right, Alessandra, are you aching to have me inside you?”
