Treading Water: Coming Home Part 36

He smiled indulgently as she described herself. "Can I ask you something I have absolutely no right to ask this soon?"

"Okay..."

"Do you love me?"

"Yes," she said without hesitation. "I suspect I have for quite some time."

"That's really good, because I love you, too. I have since that first day you walked in the room and wiped every reasonable, logical thought right out of my head just by walking in the room. I knew right then and there that you were the one for me, and you hadn't yet said a word to me."

Overwhelmed by the torrent of emotion his sweet words aroused in her, Jill had no idea what to say. "Ashton..."

"I know I wasn't in your plans or on your spreadsheets, but I hope you can make some room for me, Jill."

She reached for him. "I can definitely make room for you."

He put his arm around her and held on tight. "Will you think about the job offer?"

"You don't have to do that. I'm sure Kate will still keep me plenty busy."

"I'm not being entirely altruistic with this offer. I'm reaching the point where I'm going to have to take on a partner anyway. I choose you."

"You're serious."

"h.e.l.l yes, I'm serious." He nuzzled his favorite spot on her neck again. "I've waited such a long time for you. My whole life. I don't want to waste any more time."

"You're overwhelming me."

"I'm sorry." He leaned his forehead on hers, closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "I don't mean to. I don't want to mess this up."

Sorry to have caused him distress, Jill caressed his face, following her hands with kisses. "You're not messing it up. I need some time to think about what you've offered. It's not in me to jump in with both feet and think later. I think first."

"Don't think too hard." As if the control he'd been clinging to had suddenly given out, he moved quickly to get rid of their clothes, found a condom in the bedside table and was inside her while she was still processing everything he'd said. The second he entered her, however, she stopped thinking about anything other than how amazing it felt to be loved by him.

"Nothing that feels this good can be bad," he whispered in her ear.

Jill wrapped her legs around his hips, which seemed to make him a little crazy.

"G.o.d, Jill." He kissed her ravenously, as if he might never get enough of her.

She hoped he never would, because he was right. Nothing had ever felt quite like this, and she wanted to hold on to it forever. With that in mind she put her arms around his neck and buried her fingers in his thick hair.

He met her gaze and held it, slowing the movement of his hips and driving her crazy with slow, deep strokes that took her to the edge of climax.

Shuddering, she gasped. "Ashton..."

"What, honey?"

"I need... I want..."

He kissed her softly as his chest hair rubbed against her nipples. "What do you want? Tell me."

"I need to come." She felt her face heat with embarra.s.sment. She'd never spoken so bluntly to a man in bed.

As he swelled and throbbed inside her, he smiled and kissed both cheeks. "Don't ever be embarra.s.sed to tell me what you want."

"It's embarra.s.sing."

"No, it's s.e.xy." He began to move again, faster this time.

When he pressed his fingers to her core, she went off like a rocket. She might've even screamed from the pleasure that shot through her. Opening her eyes, she found him watching her intently and realized he was still hard and still moving inside her.

"Very s.e.xy," he said, kissing her again.

"Did I scream?"

His smile was full of masculine pride. "Yep."

She gripped his backside and made him gasp. "Your turn."

"Do I get my choice of how I want it?"

"Um, sure. I guess."

Before she knew what hit her, he'd turned them over so she was on top without losing their connection.

"Nice move," she said.

"You like that?"

Nodding, she rolled her hips, drawing a deep groan from him.

"Yes." He combed his fingers through her hair. "You're so beautiful. I wish you could see yourself the way I do."

"Ah, no thanks."

He laughed and moved his hands lower to cup her b.r.e.a.s.t.s.

Jill's head fell back as she gave herself over to the power they generated together. She couldn't believe it when another o.r.g.a.s.m swept over her without warning, taking him this time, too. She slumped down on top of him, his arms around her and his lips brus.h.i.+ng over her hair as he whispered sweet words of love that she could barely hear. She didn't need to hear exactly what he was saying. He'd shown her, repeatedly, how devoted he was to her, and she wanted everything he'd offered-and then some.

"I want to work with you," she said.

"What about your plans and your spreadsheets and your checklists?"

She propped her chin on his chest and met his gaze. "The best-laid plans go out the window when the right one comes along."

His eyes widened with surprise and his lips pursed, as if he was going to say something.

Laughing, Jill said, "Did I finally render you speechless, Counselor?"

"Yeah," he said, framing her face with his hands. "You take my breath away, Jill Harrington."

Deeply moved by his softly spoken words, she said, "Do you think I still will when we're working together?"

"I know you will."

Jill cuddled into his embrace, completely content for once to throw the best-laid plans out the window.

Chapter 15.

Kate stood before the mirror in the master bathroom, trying to tame her hair into something resembling submission. She had hair-and-makeup people on her team, but she liked to do her own whenever possible.

She hated this whole thing. The idea of going on national TV to talk about her relations.h.i.+p with Reid as well as the s.e.x tape the whole world had seen by now had left her feeling nauseated for days. As they'd settled into a new routine, she'd gone out of her way to hide her growing torment from Reid, knowing it would upset him.

If only the interview hadn't been hanging over her head, she would've been happier than she'd ever been in her life. Being with Reid again, especially here in the home she loved so much, was amazing. They just had to get past today, and then Kate would be able to truly relax and enjoy their new life.

"Hey, darlin'. I thought you could use some coffee."

She turned to find him freshly shaven, his hair still damp from the shower. He must've used one of the guest bathrooms so she could have the full run of theirs. "That's just what I need," she said, as she took the mug from him. "Thank you."

"Are you nervous?"

"A little. Mostly I'm p.i.s.sed that I have to do this at all."

His hands landed on her shoulders and his chin on the top of her head as he met her gaze in the mirror. "I know, but for what it's worth, I think you're doing the right thing."

"It's worth a lot, but it feels like such a huge invasion of our privacy."

"Don't tell them any more than you have to."

"I think about my dad watching the interview..." She shook her head. The thought had tormented her for days.

"Maybe if you returned his calls you could clear the air with him."

"If only I thought we'd clear the air and not make things worse, I'd call him back."

"You're going to have to talk to him eventually if you want him here for the wedding."

Kate wondered if her dad would even come, another thought that had been plaguing her lately. "I'll call him after the interview."

"You're sure you don't want me there with you?"

"That would make me more nervous, worrying about what you're thinking. I'd rather you not even watch it."

"Whatever you want, darlin'." He kissed her cheek and squeezed her shoulders. "Speaking of your daddy, there's something I need to tell you in the interest of full disclosure."

Kate couldn't imagine what it could be. "What's that?"

"You know how we promised complete honesty this time around?"

"Yes."

"Normally, I'd prefer not to tell you what I'm doing today while you're tied up, but because we're being honest, I'm telling you that I'm flying to Rhode Island to see him."

Kate stared at him in disbelief. "Whatever for?"

"I'm an old-fas.h.i.+oned kind of guy, darlin', and when a man plans to marry another man's daughter, he asks permission. That's just how it's done."

"He'll never give you permission. You know that."

"Maybe so, but I'm still going to ask."

"You don't have to do this."

"Yes, I do."

Kate rested a hand on her stomach, which had begun to ache.

"I don't mean to make you more nervous than you already are, but I wanted you to know where I'll be today."

She looked up at him. "It might make things worse."

"How? How could it make anything worse?"

"He might punch you or something. He's wanted to for a decade now."

"If that's what he feels he needs to do, so be it. That won't change how I feel about his daughter or that I plan to marry her very soon." He put his arms around her. "I'm probably wasting my breath by telling you not to worry, but please don't. It'll all be fine."

"I'm glad one of us is so sure of that."

"Nothing can come between us unless we let it. I have no plans to let anything or anyone come between us. Do you?"

"No, you know I don't."

"Good," he said, kissing her. "Whenever you're ready, the car Jill sent for you is here."

"Okay." She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Then she finished the coffee, brushed her teeth and took one last look in the mirror.

"You look gorgeous as always."

"You have to say that."