Harper lay in Matt’s arms, completely satisfied if not still stunned that she’d ended up in bed with the man she’d never been able to get out of her heart.
“I can hear the wheels turning,” Matt said, his hands stroking her arm. “What’s wrong?”
She had to ask because she had to know. “Why did we get together now? Or should I say what held you back until now?” She bit down on her lower lip after questioning him.
He stiffened but didn’t speak, and in the wake of his silence, she couldn’t help what came out of her mouth next. “I always wondered if it was me. My curves. My body.”
“Fuck, no!” He pulled himself up and over her so she was looking into his face, his expression pained. “I always wanted you,” he assured her. “These curves. This body.” He slid his hand over her waist and around her hips. “But …” He drew a deep breath. “I made a promise to your brother that I’d leave you alone.”
“What?” She couldn’t have heard what she thought she did. “Noah?”
Matt nodded somberly.
“He didn’t,” she said on an angry growl. “He meddled in my life?”
“He did, but he was looking out for you. He was doing what your father couldn’t,” Matt said. “Besides, I’m the one at fault … for listening to him.” Matt appeared both sad and ashamed. “The things he said, they hit a nerve. That you deserved someone better, smarter, with a college education.”
She could see how hard it was for him to admit to what he and her asshole brother considered shortcomings.
“Well, Noah had no right to get involved. And I see you as someone bright enough to take over a business at too young an age and make sure it thrived. You’re smart enough to fix any car brought into your shop. You have a big heart and an even bigger …”
“Hey.” He tickled her sides and she writhed with laughter.
As she sobered, she asked, “What made you change your mind?”
He met her gaze. “I knew you were going to call me when the belt broke on the car. And all I could think about was how this was my chance. I wasn’t going to let you miss classes that meant so much to you, so I was going to take you to Denver. We were going to be together. I could go after what I wanted or regret it for the rest of my life.”
She blinked back tears. “Well, I’m glad you did.”
He kissed her, and she sighed into him. His hands skimmed over her sides, coming up to her breasts, pausing as he fondled her, cupping them in his big hand.
He lifted his head, his gaze coming to rest on her breasts.
“What?” she asked.
He lifted each globe in one of his big hands. “I’ve always thought about you. Jerked off to the idea of thrusting in between these fabulous breasts.” Leaning down, he licked at first one nipple, then the next.
She didn’t know if it was an attempt to distract her, but she couldn’t stop thinking about what he said even as her sex swelled and she grew damp while he sucked and nipped at the tight buds.
She drew a deep breath and said, “Try it.”
“What?”
“Play out your fantasy.” She lifted her breasts and offered them to him.
His blue eyes darkened to nearly black. “Yeah?”
“Yeah.” There wasn’t much she wouldn’t do with this man.
He leaned down and kissed her, slowly and leisurely, rolling his tongue against hers, telling her without words what her offer meant to him. Then he raised his head and slid forward until his thick, hard cock rested between her cleavage.
“Hold your breasts tighter in your hands,” he said in a rough voice she felt straight down to her clit.
She watched his face, the play of emotions in his expression as his gaze came to rest on her breasts once more. She did as he asked, gripping herself with both hands. It felt odd, touching herself in front of him.
“Now squeeze them together.”
As she pushed her breasts, she captured his cock between the two mounds of flesh. Leaning forward, he began thrusting his cock, tunneling in and out of the cavern she’d created.
As she watched his taut expression and felt him pass through her breasts, she found herself getting more aroused. It was sexy as hell, him getting off this way.
His rhythm started out slow and sure, but the closer to orgasm, the jerkier his movements. And his grunts and groans grew louder until suddenly he stiffened, streams of pearly liquid spreading over her chest as he came. And he continued to come until he collapsed into a sitting position, his breathing coming in shallow spurts.
“That was better than any fucking fantasy.” Picking her up, he carried her into the bathroom.
They showered, cleaning off only to have him drop to his knees so he could lick, suck and play with her sex until bright lights flickered behind her eyes and she came so hard she would have fallen had he not been there to support her.
An hour later, they shared room service only to end up back in bed where they enjoyed each other some more before falling asleep in sated heaps.
The next morning, they woke up late, having forgotten to set an alarm, and Harper rushed to get ready for her first class. She still had to figure out where in the hotel the session was being held and eat something so she didn’t pass out during the long hours ahead of her.
But through her quick shower and putting on her makeup, she practically bounced on the balls of her feet, happy in a way she’d never been.
Yet in the back of her mind was the niggling thought that so much time had been wasted and it was so unfair. But they’d found each other now, and she wasn’t going to dwell on what she couldn’t change. Except she was going to kick her brother’s ass when she got home.
* * *
Matt listened to Harper humming in the bathroom as she got ready for class. A lead weight sat in his stomach. Not because he regretted anything with Harper last night, but because he was worried about her car, which led to concern about her.
Last night he’d been preoccupied with finally having her in his arms, and besides, there hadn’t been anything he could have done that late. But her serpentine belt had been tampered with. Someone had deliberately sabotaged her car. Not wanting to upset her or ruin her weekend, he didn’t mention the issue.
He picked up his phone and called Harry. “Hey man, can you have a tow sent for Harper’s car?” He gave his worker the mile marker and the road name where he’d left the vehicle. “When you get it back to the shop, check it out top to bottom, but pay special attention to the belt. I think someone played with it.”
“Sure thing, Boss.”
“See you Monday.” The shop was closed on Sunday and Harry had the day off.
“Ready!” Harper joined him in the room.
He smiled at the sight of her, pretty in her black slacks and white shirt, her hair pulled back in a ponytail. “I’ll see you to class then go exploring,” he told her.
“Sounds good.”
They left the room and walked down the hall hand in hand. He’d never expected to be with Harper, never mind have it feel so perfect or right. God, he was head over heels for this woman.
At the ballroom where her class was being held, he kissed her long and hard before leaving her for the day.
Then he headed into town with the intention of doing some very specific shopping for one extremely special woman. Afterward, he killed time until he had to meet up with Harper, preoccupied with thoughts of her. How much he loved her despite the fact that they’d only been together one night. Despite that, they had a lot of time to make up for and things to learn about each other.
But before he laid his heart out to her, he needed to stand up to her brother and hopefully get his approval. Only then could he come to her and ask her for forever.
* * *
The full-day class ended early, and Harper sat at a table inside the lobby lounge, ironically drinking coffee. Susie Majors, a friendly barista Harper had met early in the day, joined her.
“So, where are you from and where do you work?” Harper asked the pretty brunette, although Harper had a hunch about what part of the country from which the woman originated.
“I’m from Tennessee.” Susie laughed. “Did the accent give me away?”
Harper chuckled. “Only a little.”
“Anyway, I work at a Starbucks in downtown Denver now, but I’m hoping to open my own place one day. I’m taking all the classes I can so I’m prepared if and when that time comes.” Susie took a long sip of the hotel brew.
Harper smiled. “Well, if you ever need advice or pointers, I’ve done it … twice. Once with my own shop and once on a full renovation when my best friend and I turned the combined space into a bakery and coffee shop.” She handed her a business card. “Keep in touch.”
“I will.” Susie slid her own card across the table and Harper pocketed it, feeling like she’d connected with her and made a friend.
She and Susie were talking about what they’d learned today when the other woman’s eyes opened wide. “Oh, wow. They don’t make men like that where I come from,” Susie said in an appreciative tone of voice, fake fanning herself with her hand.
Harper grabbed the back of her chair and turned to see Matt striding towards them, an intense feeling of possessiveness filling her as she looked over the handsome man, from his bearded face – a beard which she’d indeed felt against her thighs late last night – to his bulky body.
Before she could pivot back to Susie, Matt reached her, leaned down, and pressed his lips to hers. The kiss was long and equally as possessive as she’d felt towards him. By the time she turned around, her cheeks were flaming as she met Susie’s startled gaze.
“Oh! I didn’t realize he was yours,” the other woman said, clearly flustered.
Was he hers? Harper wondered. Or was this a weekend outside of their normal routine and he’d go back to ignoring her when they returned to Montlake? As much as she wanted to know, she wouldn’t ask and ruin their time together. She’d find out where they stood soon enough. They were going home tomorrow.
“I’m Matt,” he said, extending his hand to Susie to shake.
“I’m Susie.”
“Nice to meet you, Susie.” Matt looked down at Harper. “Are you all finished?”
She nodded, rising from her chair. “Save me a seat tomorrow if you get there first?” she asked Susie.
Her class was an hour in the morning and then they could start their trip home.
“I will. And you do the same.” Susie rose and threw her cup in the trash. “See you tomorrow!” She strode out into the lobby.
Matt turned to Harper. “Did you have a good day?”
“I did. It was so much fun, and I learned amazing techniques.”
“I’m glad.” He grasped her hand and led her to the elevator. “I’m also glad we have one more night here,” he said as they stepped into the lift.
Once the doors closed, he backed her against the wall and pressed his mouth against hers. His tongue swirled around the deep recesses of her mouth and she moaned, rubbing her breasts against his chest.
He broke contact long enough to look into her eyes and touch his nose to hers. “I missed you.” He dipped his head once more to continue the kiss, but the elevator dinged, announcing they’d come to their floor.
He took her hand and led her to their room, opening the door and letting them inside. She kicked off her shoes and walked into the room, stopping short when she saw an ice bucket with champagne and chocolate-covered strawberries on a plate.
“Matt?” She spun to face him.
“I just wanted to do something nice for you.” He lifted the bottle out of the ice, untwisted the wire covering and popped the cork. “I have dinner coming up in half an hour. I thought you’d be tired after a full day of classes.”
Even as her stomach growled at the thought of food, her eyes misted, and though she felt silly, she couldn’t help it. No one had ever done anything so sweet for her before. She never thought she’d have this caring man in her life. And she didn’t want to lose him. That was the thought behind the tears, but she wasn’t ready to express her fears.
Instead, she stepped over and accepted the glass of champagne he’d poured for her and took a sip. The bubbles tickled her throat. “Mmm.”
His sexy grin aroused her and she forgot all about being hungry. Well, hungry for anything but him, that is. “How about a quickie before we eat?”
He picked her up and tossed her onto the bed. Laughing, they rolled over and stripped each other out of their clothes, coming together in the center of the mattress. Their bodies aligned, his hard cock pressing against her belly.
She moaned and he rolled onto his back, easing her on top of him. “Condom,” he reminded her. “I picked some up this afternoon.” He gestured to the bag on the counter.
She leaned over pulled one out, handing it to him so he could cover himself. His gaze came to rest on hers. “Ride me, beautiful.”
She pushed herself to a sitting position, coming astride him, her core settling over his erection. She gripped his shaft and lowered herself onto him, feeling him fill her up completely.
She groaned loudly, the sound coming from deep inside her. She felt so much for him and wanted to tell him. She needed to say the words, but she didn’t know if he reciprocated or if in his mind this was pure desire, not love. But she also understood this was new and they had a lot to learn about each other. So she cautioned herself to take things slow and appreciate what they had now.
Then he reached out and slid his finger over her clit, causing delicious tremors to shoot through her body. She trembled, emotion and sensation building along with the waves of need that threatened to consume her. He thrust his hips up over and over, rising to meet her, causing her breasts to bounce as she rode him.
Her climax hit suddenly and she cried out, calling his name. He gripped her hips hard and came at the same time, his big body shuddering beneath her.
For the rest of the night, they snuggled in bed, rising only to eat. They talked. A lot. She learned more about his life, realizing that he was as lonely as she’d been.
“I’d watch you, you know, as I worked.”
“You did?”
“Mmm-hmm. And how do you think I learned to love coffee so damn much?” he asked, sitting up in bed, holding her in the crook of his arm.
She laughed. “I just thought you liked to torment me.” She was only half-joking. Because he had come into the shop often, but given he worked across the street, it seemed normal. “I watched you, too,” she murmured.
He grunted at that as if it was hard for him to believe. “You dated a lot,” he said gruffly, taking her off guard. “Especially lately.”
She sighed and lay her head against him. “I was trying to get over you,” she admitted. “Emily getting married really forced me to face that I needed to move on with my life.”
“I thought I was doing what was best by staying far away.” He leaned down and kissed her.
“And now?” she asked, holding her breath, hoping he’d give her the answer she needed.
“Now we make up for lost time.” And for the rest of the night, he proceeded to do just that.