Hollywood Ever After (Red Carpet 1)

I was wrapped in a warm embrace, effectively capturing my attention. I smiled as Josh pulled me against his broad chest. He smelled heavenly.

“I don’t give a damn about the flowers. I’ve been waiting to do this all day.” Josh sounded as hungry as he looked.

My response was immediate. I’d been waiting for him to do it all day too. It had been a very long day.

His hands cupped my cheeks, my hands covered his, and our eager lips met and clung. One kiss turned into two. He cradled my head in his hands, holding my lips captive—two very willing captives.

My hands slipped down, one grabbing at his shirt front, the other sliding around to grasp the nape of his neck. His hands traveled too, catching my back and pressing me to him.

I was vaguely aware of Arthur’s politely murmured good-night, Shannon’s giggle, and the front door closing behind them.

“We’re alone?”

His voice was husky against my lips, pulling on my lower lip and stealing my murmured, “Yes.”

We stumbled, still clinging to each other, across the living area to my room. Josh ran into a coffee table and I tripped over Will’s shoes, but we made it without injury. The bedroom door shut rather loudly behind us, startling us into stillness.

I peeked up at him, my heart full. His hands framed my face and his lips moved over mine, hungry and hot. “I missed you. Every single inch of you,” he whispered.

I stood on tiptoe so my lips could travel behind his ear, down the side of his neck to the spot where his neck met his shoulder. His skin quivered under my lips, making me smile.

His breathing hitched as he bore me back onto the bed. He untied my sweater and rolled me onto my stomach to pull it off. His breath blew in hot bursts against the nape of my neck as he dropped tender kisses along the curve there, between my shoulder blades and down my spine. His lips nuzzled across the sensitive skin on my side while his fingers unclasped my bra. His hands slipped under me, cupping my breasts. His mouth pressed against the back of my neck, catching my earlobe in his mouth and making my head spin.

His hands slipped lower, unzipping my jeans before he stood and pulled them, and my panties, off. My skin quivered as a finger traced the bare curve of my buttock. I jumped as his lips nipped at my thigh, his breath exquisitely hot against me. With eyes shut, I gave in to feeling. His hands traced across my lower back, over the curve of my buttocks and down my legs to my feet. He grasped one ankle and rolled me over again.

I was naked, sprawled on the bed, and he was staring down at me. He was wearing too many clothes.

I smiled up at him, shifting onto my knees to quickly unbutton his shirt. He helped until there were no clothes to get in the way.

When his arms pulled me close, the feel of his skin sliding against mine was magic. His chest, hard and lightly furred, fit perfectly against me. I gasped against his lips; his breath hitched in response. My hands slipped across his back, exploring the hard lines of his torso, the firm swell of his hips and buttocks. I loved the feel of him under my hands.

I lay back. He followed, pressing us into the mattress with more passion than finesse. I bit his lip as his hands cupped my buttocks, parting me gently. In one deep thrust, he was deep inside me. I didn’t try to stifle my groan. I couldn’t.

He was heavy and thick, joined so intimately with me. I lifted to meet him, hungry for all of him. The ache for him grew, rising within me with his every thrust. His hands, his breath, his scent, his body wrapped me in a passion, a love I didn’t know I could feel.

My release was hard, rolling over me with an intensity that made me cry out into his mouth. His hands held my face, holding us together. Our lips clung, sealed to catch the throaty call of his climax.

He stared at my face, his fingers tracing my lips, my chee

ks, exploring me. He pressed his lips to my forehead and shifted, pulling me alongside him. He smoothed the hair from my shoulder and spoke softly. “I love you.” His face broke into a smile. “I should have started with that, I suppose.”

“I’m fine with the order,” I teased. I was very happy. I smiled at him.

He kissed my forehead again. “That’s a relief.” His arms held me loosely against him.

I sighed, resting my head on his chest and burrowing closer.

“I thought you’d changed your mind.” His voice was strained.

“Changed my mind?” I peered up at him.

“I hadn’t heard from you. I thought you’d decided not to… I thought you weren’t coming.” He paused, his jaw working briefly. “And then you were there, at the premiere. I could finally breathe again.” His voice grew husky. “I thought maybe I’d imagined this.”

He’d been missing me, thinking of me, too. “No. You didn’t imagine this.” My voice was hoarse.

His eyes were tender as his thumb traced my lips. “And you’re here.” I nodded.

He pulled me closer and I burrowed into him, wrapping an arm around his chest to anchor him tightly in place. I hoped I’d made my preference clear before I asked, “Staying?”