When he felt her giving herself over to an orgasm, he joined her with one last powerful thrust. He kissed her gently as they both came back to earth slowly.
Reluctantly, he lowered her back to her feet and disposed of the condom before returning to her side. Her clothing fell back into place. He wrapped his arms around her from behind and nuzzled her neck. “You have good taste in dresses.”
“Thank you.” She melted back against him. “I still think you’re an asshole.”
He chuckled. “We’ll see if you’re still saying that by morning.” He kissed his way across her shoulder while unfastening the back of her dress. She stepped out of it, and he turned her, appreciating every curve the tiny satin outfit clung to, as well as those it revealed. “I like the idea of getting to know the many layers of you.”
Her hand sought his cock and encircled it. “As opposed to stripping right down and putting yourself out there.”
“I’m not as complicated as you are.” Remembering what they were talking about had become nearly impossible as soon as she’d touched him. “This is who I am.”
She brought her other hand around to caress his balls while she rubbed her beautiful tits, still covered with satin, across his chest. “Too bad, I was hoping there was more.”
He gripped her ass roughly. “What else do you need?”
She shook her head. “It’s okay. I’ll settle for a night of good sex.”
If all his blood hadn’t been pouring back into his cock, he might have known what to say to that, but he was already finding it difficult to concentrate on anything beyond having her again. He picked her up, carried to the bed, and this time rolled onto it with her.
They made love again, and it was every bit as good as the first time. He stripped her bare for their last, leisurely romp. By the time she fell asleep in his arms, they were both sexually sated, and he knew every inch of her body. What he didn’t know was what more she’d expect from him—and it bothered him enough to keep him awake.
He tucked her to him beneath the blankets and frowned at her as she slept. Now that his head was clear, he replayed his arrival home and didn’t like the way it had gone. She didn’t know he’d been as angry with himself as he’d been with his men. He wasn’t a man who failed, and he’d already failed to protect her. He’d left her unprotected and vulnerable to whoever had hired Petek. It didn’t matter that he’d had no reason to believe she was in danger. Magnus knew how to protect what was his—and she was. She had been since their first kiss.
In the darkness, her gown formed a lump on the floor. He remembered how beautiful she’d looked on the stairs. She’d wanted to be beautiful for him, and she had been.
Had everything else been her idea as well? Was his rejection of it what had disappointed her? Without knowing the nature of his day, she wouldn’t have understood his reaction.
He was not a man who spent much time worrying about what those around him felt, but the idea of hurting the woman in his arms didn’t sit well with him. He rolled over and, despite that it was one in the morning, texted Phillip to order Benito to return.
Did he leave something? Phillip texted back.
No. I have changed my mind. Arrange for flowers, candles, music. Everything that was planned earlier. Use only trusted people.
It will take time. I had the flowers given away in town.
You have an hour.
Rachelle shifted against him, cuddling more closely to his side, and he dropped the phone. Phillip would make it happen. “Are you sleeping?” he asked.
“Are my eyes closed?” she asked with groggy sarcasm.
“I’ve been thinking about what you said.”
She opened one eye, then shut it. “Any chance we can talk about this in the morning?”
“I’m awake now.”
“Yes, you are. I, however, am not.”
“Then you are remarkable at maintaining discourse while sleeping.”
Her eyes opened then. “Fine. What did I say that you actually heard?”
“That I was not thinking about you when I canceled what you had planned for me. I was still preoccupied with my meeting. You and I will shower, get dressed once again, and go have the dance you wanted earlier. As well as whatever else you arranged.”
“I’m sure everyone is gone.”
“They are on their way back.”
She rolled over to check the clock beside the bed. “At this time of night?”
“Yes.”
“Just like that? No one is even upset that you essentially threw them out?”
“They would not dare to be.”
“Of course not, because of who you are. You don’t think that makes you a dick?”
“Do you not want them to return?”
She sat up, and he was momentarily distracted by the bounce of her bare breasts. “No, I do not want them to return. That whole dance thing was stupid. I shouldn’t have been angry with you last night. That’s just who you are. It’s not like you’ve tried to hide it. You’ve been blunt about what you want from me. My mistake was letting Zinnia get into my head.”
“I don’t understand.”
She gave him a long, sad look. “I know.”
He sat up. “Get up. As you said, it’s late. We don’t want to make everyone wait too long for us.”
“I just said I don’t want them to come back. I’m tired. I’m going back to sleep.” She lay back down and rolled away from him. If she truly wanted him to feel anything resembling remorse, she shouldn’t wag her sweet ass at him.
He picked her up and carried her to the shower. “I don’t require a woman to translate this for me. You’re upset that I didn’t dance with you, and you will continue to be upset until we do. So we shall dance.”
He deposited her in the shower and turned the water on—full blast.
She shrieked and jumped away from him in the stall. “Are you crazy? That’s freezing.”
He laughed and shielded her from the water until it warmed, then pulled her toward him. “Now, you’re awake.” He wiggled an eyebrow in challenge.
She threw a facecloth at him. “Jerk.”
“Still upset?” He placed his hand flat on her chest and pushed her back against the wall of the shower. “Luckily I know how to sweeten your mood.” He dropped to his knees, lifted one of her legs, and swung it over his shoulder, then sought her nub with his tongue.
She gripped the back of his head with one hand, steadying herself with her other. “Oh yes. Oh, God, yes.”
Sometimes the best way to talk to a woman did not involve talking at all.
Chapter Twenty
The embarrassment Rachelle felt when she walked down the main staircase fully dressed in an evening gown at three o’clock in the morning faded as soon as they reached the foyer. Whether it was the glow from more orgasms than she’d ever had in one night or the warmth of the candlelight the house and grounds were bathed in, Rachelle felt as if she were stepping into a dream. There were flowers everywhere, not the same as before, but just as beautiful. If his staff felt inconvenienced at all, they hid it well.
Magnus led her out onto the lawn where the band Zinnia had introduced Rachelle to in town was now playing soft music. She waved to Benito and mouthed, Thank you.
Benito smiled and nodded.
As they reached the dance floor, Magnus expertly spun her and began to lead her in a polished waltz. She recognized the tune only because she’d attended dance lessons with Alisha leading up to her wedding. Brett had also gone, but Alisha had said she wanted to keep it fun, and having her best friend there accomplished that. Strange how it took traveling so far away to appreciate all the ways she and Alisha had remained close despite how much had changed.
Magnus spun her again, and her attention returned to him. “I thought you said you couldn’t dance.”
“I said I don’t, not that I couldn’t.”
“Then why are we doing this?”
He pulled her closer. “Because you wanted to.”
She tipped her head back to see his expression. “And that matters to you?”
“We are dancing, aren’t we?”