Falling for Him 11: Karen and Robert, Book 3 Read online

  He pulled her against his body, using his hands to mold her curves to his length. His hands pushed through her hair, holding her head in place as he ravaged her mouth. Just when he was searching for self-control in the fear he might be hurting her with his aggressiveness, she responded to his kiss with a passion that spiraled his lust even higher.

  “I want you so badly,” he groaned.

  She moaned and slid her hands beneath the waistband of his jeans, digging her nails into his ass. He tightened his grip around her waist and carried her the three steps to the next wall, where he captured her between the hard concrete and his equally hard body. But it was not enough. He needed more.

  He wanted to crawl inside her skin, feel her around him. Her soft and warm curves molded so perfectly against his muscles and he wanted – no, needed – to feel her skin without anything between them. His hands found the button border of her pretty summer dress and ripped it open, causing the buttons to spring across the floor like pebbles upon the water. “I’ll buy you a new dress, beautiful.”

  Robert undid her bra and took off his shirt, before he leaned even closer into her, relishing the feel of flesh against flesh. Finally her soft and hot skin melted against his with nothing between them, and he ground his hips into her, making sure she felt his turgid length, confined behind his zipper, at her very core. “Feel what you do to me,” he said with a voice thick with lust.

  Then he bent his knees, hooked his arms behind her thighs, and straightened. Karen moaned into his mouth as his hot, hard length pressed against her wet, pulsating core.

  “Robert…”

  “Yes, babe?” he groaned before he sank his teeth into the soft flesh of her naked breasts, while his hands expertly groped her ass.

  “That feels so good.”

  “Tell me what you need,” he murmured, between licks and bites.

  “I need to have you. To feel your hunger for me. Please. Just take me any way you want,” she said, arching against his hardness and grinding her hips into him.

  “God, woman. Be careful what you wish for. I can think of a dozen ways I want to take you.” He looked into her trusting eyes, which mirrored the desire he felt for her, and bit down onto her nipple until she moaned in half pleasure, half pain.

  “Anything. I want to be yours. ”

  Robert felt the anticipation rising and pushed her legs around his waist, “Hold on.” He turned them around and then carried her quickly to the large king bed sitting in the middle of the room.

  “I’ll show you just how much I love you.” With those words he set her down on the edge of the mattress and gave her a little push backwards. He resisted the urge to ravish her on the spot and lowered himself over her body, kissing, licking, and biting a way from her collarbones down to her luscious breasts. Karen was panting and moaning beneath him, her sexy little cries of pleasure music to his ears.

  When she grabbed his hair to pull him up to her lips again, he took both of her small hands in his big palm and held them above her head. “Tonight, it’s my turn to make you writhe in pleasure.”

  The erratic heaving of her breasts with every shallow breath turned him on beyond imagination. He could sense she was so close already, and he hadn’t even touched her core yet. Keeping her hands captured above her head, he continued to tease and torture her nipples while his free hand delved beneath her panties and slid into her hot, wet folds.

  “Robert. I can’t wait…” She groaned while he rubbed her most sensitive spot.

  “Then don’t, baby, come for me. Now.” It was if she’d only waited for his words, because as soon as he’d finished speaking, he felt how her muscles tensed, and he released her hands and her nipple to straighten up on his elbow and watch how she bucked and shattered against his rubbing thumb. She was a sight to behold, and his eyes feasted on her pleasure until she totally came apart with one prolonged cry of ecstasy.

  Her bucking upper body fell back onto the satin sheets and he flashed a devilish grin. “I loved watching you come, babe.” Karen’s eyes fluttered open and her entire body flushed a sexy shade of pink.

  ***

  “You loved watching me?” Karen was still breathing hard and fast and had difficulties forming a coherent thought in her mind. He’d observed her every twitch during this earth-shattering orgasm, and her body heated up some more at the thought of just how exposed she’d been.

  “Yes. And do you know just how sexy you are when you blush furiously like now?”

  “I am?” If she heated up any more, she’d set the sheets on fire.

  “You are, and it makes me think of a dozen ways to intensify that pretty pink shade.” Robert didn’t give her time to think about what he could have in mind, because he sealed his lips with hers and took her in a passionate, rough, and needy kiss. He shifted his weight over her body and pressed her into the mattress. Oh. My. God. Skin against skin, she lay beneath him, feeling the heat spread from her core throughout her limbs all the way into her fingers and toes.

  When he broke the kiss to come up for air, and looked at her with unlimited desire in his blue eyes, she licked her swollen lips and shivered in anticipation of what was to come. If her brain hadn’t been reduced to mush, she might actually have tried to guess his next move. His hard length pressed against her core, rubbing and twitching, and she relaxed into his weight, effectively handing control of her body over to him.

  “Robert?” she whispered. “Anything you want.”

  She saw his eyes darken with desire before he left her for a moment to shed his pants and underwear, never leaving her gaze. When he returned to the bed, he flipped her over, baring her backside to his gaze. She fisted her hands into the sheets, searching for purchase while his strong hands palmed her ass.

  He squeezed and kneaded, rocking her entire body back and forth. Her over-sensitive nipples scraped across the sheets and heightened her arousal. Within minutes after a mind-numbing orgasm she was horny as hell again. Her own moans and groans echoed in her ears and she felt like she was about to climb the walls.

  Suddenly he pulled her hips back until she was on her knees. He wedged his hips between her spread thighs and then leaned down and kissed her hungrily. “I love you, Karen.”

  “I love you too,” she said, screaming in intense pleasure when he joined them together with one firm thrust of his hips. His thrusting sped up and with each powerful stroke he buried himself deeper inside her. Karen felt her arms go wobbly and sank down on her elbows, giving him even deeper access with this angle. One of his big hands slipped around her waist and rubbed across her clit, taking her instantly over the top. Again.

  Her inner muscles convulsed around his long and hard shaft, while her entire body was shaking violently. Only seconds later she felt his jarring, pulsing climax spilling his hot seed into her. They remained in this position until the last wave of pleasure had left both of their bodies. Then he collapsed against her and wrapped his arms around her. “I love you to pieces, babe.”

  Despite lying spent in his arms, she had to giggle. “I’d much prefer to stay in one piece.”

  They spent the next five days making love, having wild sex in the shower, on the couch, against the wall, and just about every surface they could in the hotel room. When they weren’t busy exploring each other, they were out enjoying the sights and sounds of Las Vegas.

  Karen hadn’t stopped smiling, and every time she caught a glimpse of his face, he was grinning from ear to ear as well. Things were perfect, and as their last day in Vegas arrived, they both sensed their relation had changed to a whole different level.

  After a wonderful farewell dinner of lobster, champagne, and mousse au chocolate both of them needed to stretch their legs, and they opted for a walk along the Strip arm in arm, for one last romantic and exciting evening before they had to fly back to Santa Clara first thing in the morning.

  “Did Rachel know you were the mysterious author?”

  “Of course.” Robert grinned and stopped to kiss her forehe
ad. “Someone had to make sure you packed the right kind of clothing.”

  “She mostly packed lingerie.” Karen said with a giggle. By now she’d worn most of it, only to have Robert take a greedy look and then remove it piece by piece – or shred it to pieces.

  “Smart woman, that friend of yours.”

  Karen smacked him lightly on the shoulder. “You tricked me.”

  “It worked, though.” They continued walking past fancy, magnificent hotel after hotel.

  “Yes, but how did you get Sheila on board with this? She really had me convinced there was a new author waiting to meet me here. And a rather difficult one, that is.”

  Robert pulled her tighter against his body, and she loved the possessiveness in his touch. “Sheila’s a good sport and was tired of seeing you mope around like a lovesick puppy.”

  “I didn’t mope around.” She pouted but leaned against him. Since arriving in Vegas, she’d floated on cloud nine and wondered if she’d tumble down to earth once they arrived back home.

  As they passed a row of wedding chapels, a newlywed couple stormed out and Karen had to laugh at their boisterous joy. Robert stopped and took her lips in a kiss she’d never forget. It started tender and caring, but got more intense with every moment, until she felt the lust for him consuming her. His tongue danced with her own tongue and the sensations echoed through her entire body. When they broke apart, panting and dizzy from the whirlwind of intense emotions, he locked eyes with her and asked, “Do you want to marry me?”

  Karen’s eyes flickered between him and the wedding chapel while her brain tried to process the question. “What? Here?”

  “If you insist.”

  She shoved him away from her. “I cannot believe you just said that.” Tears of hurt pooled in her eyes; he didn’t even seem to get it. Unable to contain her emotions, she turned on her heels and stormed off to hail the first taxi that came along.

  When she climbed inside, Robert had caught up with her, but she didn’t even give him a second glance as she sped away in the taxi. Sad and lonely, she reached the hotel and dashed inside, only giving way to her tears once she was in their room.

  How could he not get it?

  Chapter 11

  Robert watched Karen running away. It took him a minute to process what had happened. In a burst of emotion, he’d asked her to marry him, and she’d rushed off, furious.

  I’m an idiot. He should have known better than to let the words tumble out of his mouth without thinking. Wasn’t this what had gotten him in hot water with Karen to begin with?

  He entered the now empty wedding chapel, sat down in one of the back pews, and allowed his mind to travel back in time five years. The details about the day he married Marcela were dizzy, just flashes of pictures here and there. They’d both been so drunk that night. Only in Nevada could two drunken individuals enter into a legally binding contract, tying them together until death or divorce did them part.

  His life apparently was a string of impulsive actions that could be considered less than brilliant. And now the love of his live had run from his proposal as if the devil personally was after her. But before he could feel sorry for himself, he turned his thoughts into another direction and tried to analyze her reaction.

  Then it dawned on him, that she must have been seriously offended by his words. God, man. You’re such an insensitive klutz. After all of the trouble this very place had caused in their lives, and he’d asked her to marry him here? He wanted to hide inside a mouse hole and stay there for the remainder of his life.

  After a few more minutes wallowing in self-hate, he decided it was time to make things right. Peter had cautioned him to tread carefully, and that was exactly what he would do. That meant not going after Karen right away, even if his heart and soul wanted to do just that.

  She needed a chance to calm down, and he needed to make some serious effort toward rectifying his mistake. Before going back to their hotel suite, he needed to have a bulletproof plan and a proposal she couldn’t say no to.

  Robert smiled. Yes, he’d beg her forgiveness for his impulsive words, and surprise her with a proposal in the proper way. He couldn’t imagine anything that would make him happier than to see her walking down the aisle on their wedding day. And that day sure as hell wouldn’t take place in some two-bit wedding chapel on the Vegas Strip.

  A plan in mind, he headed for the upscale shopping section of the Strip, where he entered a posh-looking jeweler and an hour later was walking out with a gorgeous two-carat diamond solitaire in his pocket.

  Back at the Mirage Hotel, he stopped in the lobby and bought a bouquet with thirty-seven red roses and two dark purple ones that looked almost black. One rose for each month they’d been together and the two months without her.

  In front of the door to their hotel suite he paused a moment to square his shoulders before he inserted his key card and then pushed forward.

  ***

  Karen was sitting on the couch, a wad of tissues in her hand, and an empty box lying on its side when she heard the key card in the door and forced herself not to look up.

  Robert’s careless suggestion had ripped her soul apart. Only when she saw his shoes standing next to the couch did she raise her head, an empty, blank stare in her eyes.

  “Karen, I’m so sorry.” He held out a wonderful bouquet of red roses. Her hand reached out before her brain could tell it not to and she took the flowers from his hand. As she lifted the bouquet to her face and sniffed the refreshing aroma of a spring day, her glimpse caught on the two stunning blackish-purple roses amidst the sea of red.

  She knitted her brows together in a question. “Black roses?”

  “One for each month we’ve been together. The good times and the bad times,” he said and sat down on the coffee table in front of her. His thoughtfulness moved her and she felt her insides soften.

  “I’m sorry. Not for asking you to marry me, but for blurting out the words next to that chapel.”

  “You hurt me. Again. I can’t believe you asked me to marry you in the same chapel where you married Marcela. Not given your history with her. I’m not going to become some secret nobody knows about.”

  Robert smiled and then quickly hid it when she frowned. “Babe, I don’t think you have to worry about that. All of my friends already know you.”

  Of course, he was right, but that didn’t change a thing. She’d let him suffer and apologize some more first. In an attempt to hide her true feelings, she gathered the flowers close to her chest like a shield, reeling in the comforting scent. But when she attempted to remove the rubber band holding them together, she screamed and pulled her hand away. A bright welling of blood formed on her fingertip.

  “Hang on,” Robert said, and took the roses from her arm and put them onto the table, before he retrieved a tissue and wiped the blood away, until the drops of blood stopped oozing out. Then his kissed her finger in such a sweet gesture it warmed her heart.

  “Karen, I didn’t mean to imply you weren’t worth a big wedding. I was acting on an impulse, a romantic feeling that overcame me when I saw the happy newlyweds skipping out of the wedding chapel.”

  Karen looked at him, loving him more for the way he was always trying to protect her. “I love you, Robert.”

  He smiled down at her, and then asked, “Do you forgive me?”

  Karen nodded, an impish light filling her eyes. “I forgive you.” She paused for a moment and then continued slowly, “I’m not opposed to marrying you, provided you agree to a few demands.”

  “That sounds like my girl. What are they?” he asked. He was looking at her in a way that made her wish he’d throw her over his shoulder and carry her to bed. But first things first. Wild and crazy make-up sex had to wait a little longer.

  Karen bit her bottom lip. “First, I want to go on an exciting vacation as least once a year. Someplace exotic, where there’s more to do than lie on the beach for a week.”

  Robert grinned. “Done. That actually so
unds amazing to me.”

  She didn’t return his grin, but continued, “Second. We will have a date night every month. And we’ll do something romantic.”

  “Are you prepared to help come up with these romantic adventures for two?” he asked.

  Karen hadn’t thought of helping plan their dates, but now that he’d made the suggestion, she loved it. “Yes. I will help plan our monthly dates.”

  “Anything else?” he asked.

  Her eyes locked with his, her lip trembling. She wanted a proper proposal and she didn’t want to ask for it. If he couldn’t pick up on that…

  Robert never lost contact with her eyes while he slid to his knees, pulled out a neatly wrapped jeweler’s box from his pocket, and held it out to her. “Karen, love of my life. I always seem to do things backwards. But here goes.

  “I love you – more than my own life – and I cannot imagine living another day without you by my side. I want to live with you, have a family with you, and grow old with you. In good times and bad times. Always. Will you marry me?”

  By the time he finished his declaration, tears were streaming down her cheeks. It took three attempts until her voice finally obeyed her. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”

  Robert stood up, twirling her around in a victory celebration.

  “I want a big wedding,” she said.

  “I figured as much.”

  “With all of our family and friends in Santa Clara. Not here in Las Vegas.”

  “Forget I even made the suggestion. I do have one request. Well, actually the request was from Marcela.”

  Karen grinned. “She wants an invite to the wedding.”

  “How did you know?” he asked.

  “Because I would have asked for the very same thing.” Her eyes darted around, in search of something. “And now I want my ring.”

  Robert chuckled. “How could we forget about the ring? Where is it?”

  They both searched the hotel suite until he found the box under the couch. “Got it. It must have fallen down when I twirled you across the room.” He removed the ring from the box, picked up her left hand, placed the ring on her fingertip, and then paused.