Release Me (Stark Trilogy 1)

“I thought you had Wikipedia,” he deadpans.

I make a face, and he bends down to kiss my nose. It’s playful and erotic and I realize that my fears have evaporated. Has he soothed them? Or am I simply unable to think clearly when I’m close to this man?

“It’s not easy for me,” he says, the intensity of his words surprising me. “I’ve never wanted to share the bits and pieces of my life before.”

“Do you want to now?” My words are a whisper, as if truly voicing them will kill that little bit of hope.

He strokes my cheek, making me tremble. “Yes.”

The relief that floods my body has a sensual, fiery quality. “Then you’ll try?”

“I’ll try,” he confirms. He steps into the bedroom, then holds out his hand. “Come with me.”

I put my hand in his, feeling the familiar tingle as my skin brushes his. He leads me to the window, then takes my hands and presses my palms against the glass. He stands behind me, his arms around my waist, the strong length of him tethering me to the earth as the darkening city opens up in front of me.

“Nikki.” His voice is low and needful, and my body responds automatically. My breasts feel heavy, my nipples are tight nubs. Between my thighs, my sex quivers. I want him. Dear God, how I want him.

“Why?” I whisper. “Why does everything fall away when I’m with you?”

“Because there’s nothing else,” he answers. “Nothing but you and me.”

He keeps one arm around my waist, but removes his other hand. He trails his fingers up my leg, then pushes up my skirt until it’s bunched around my waist and my bare ass is pressed against his trousers. I feel him against me, his erection straining against a piece of cloth that is undoubtedly worth more than my car.

“Please,” I say. I want it fast and hard. I want to feel the passion that burns between us. I want it to erase all the doubts I’d come in with until there truly is nothing but me and Damien and the world outside. “Please fuck me.”

“Oh, God, Nikki.” His voice is a groan, and I hear him fumbling with his trousers. I feel him shift behind me, and then the press of his erection like velvet steel against my bare rear. “Spread your legs.”

I do, and he slides his fingers over my cunt, stroking me, teasing me, making me writhe against him. But this isn’t what I want. I want him inside me. I want him now, and I tell him so.

He takes my hips and positions himself. I ease up onto my toes, then lower myself as he thrusts inside, but I have no control in this position. It’s all Damien, thrusting deep inside me, the power of his strokes pushing me forward. My palms are still on the glass, and with every stroke I’m pressed closer and closer, the wide void calling me, and nothing but Damien keeping me there.

I take one hand off the glass and reach down to stroke my clit as Damien fills me.

“That’s it, baby,” he whispers. The world is getting dark outside, and I can see our reflections now in the glass. I meet his eyes as the orgasm rockets through me, making me clench tight around him, drawing him out, making him come in deep, long spurts inside of me.

I gasp, shaken by the power of the orgasm, my body still pressed slightly forward, my hips still high, and Damien’s cock still deep inside me.

“Look outside,” Damien whispers. “What do you see?”

“It’s sunset,” I say playfully as I look over my shoulder to once again meet his eyes.

He presses his mouth to my ear, and there’s nothing playful in his tone. “Never, baby. Between us, the sun is never going down.”

“No,” I whisper, feeling safe and satisfied. “Never.”

25

Because Damien has to spend the next day in San Diego and Blaine is off dealing with some sort of gallery crisis in La Jolla, I’m back at my apartment before eight in the morning, and am surprised to find Jamie already awake.

“What the hell?” she says, by way of greeting. “You just vanished into thin air.”

“I know,” I say. “I’m a terrible roommate, but I’ll make it up to you. Breakfast. My treat.”

“And you’ll tell me everything?”

“Swear,” I say. And I cross my heart for effect.

We end up at Du-par’s on Ventura Boulevard, and after I tell her about Bruce and about what Ollie said and about Damien’s explanation, she proves that she is in fact worthy of best friend status by siding with me one hundred percent. “Ollie’s like an overprotective brother. And Damien’s just too damn hot to stay mad at. Besides, it’s not like he told Bruce to hire you. He just told Bruce about your resume.”

“Exactly,” I say. And since Damien and I worked through our issues rather thoroughly last night—as my soreness this morning can testify to—I shift the conversation. “This is my last week among the unemployed,” I say. “Wanna catch a movie?”

We end up seeing two, because what’s the point of being a lazy bum if you don’t do it up right, then head back to the apartment in a popcorn-and-soda-induced haze.

Jamie immediately heads to her room to change into pajamas even though it’s not yet four. I’m about to do the same when I’m stopped by a sharp knock at the door. “Hang on,” I say. If it’s Douglas, I’m totally shooing him away. For that matter, Ollie will get shooed, too.

It’s neither. It’s Edward.

“Ms. Fairchild,” he says, and though he keeps his professional face on, I see the smile in his eyes. “Mr. Stark asked me to deliver a personal apology that he wasn’t able to spend the day with you in celebration of your new job.”

“He did?” I bite back a grin. We’d done a bit of celebrating last night. Celebration sex. Make-up sex. We’d pretty much run the gamut.

“And may I extend my congratulations on your new job as well?” Edward adds.

“Thank you,” I say. “But he really didn’t need to send you. He already congratulated me when I saw him last night.”

“Yes, but I’m to deliver your gift. Or, rather, deliver you to your gift.”

I narrow my eyes at him. “What are you talking about?”

“I’m afraid I have very specific instructions that forbid me from actually telling you.”

“Oh. Um, okay. Let me just tell my roommate.”

“Ms. Archer is invited as well, of course.”

“Really?” This was getting interesting. I give a shout toward her room. “Hey, James. Change of plans. We’re going … somewhere.”