Room to Breathe (22 page)

“Not as fast as I want you too,” he says, heading up the stairs. “Which room is yours?”

“Third one from the left,” I answer, hoping that was right. He opens the door and instead of the room I have been staying in it is the screening room. There are several large black comfortable loveseats in arranged in front of a huge screen.

“Damn, this isn’t it,” I say as Eric continues into the semi-dark room.

“I don’t give a fuck,” he says, roughly setting me down on one of the loveseats. “It has a door that locks and that is good enough for me.” He quickly locks the door and then returns to me.

He uses one finger to tilt my face up to him. He presses his lips to mine again. They are hungry with need.

“Cora, I meant what I said that night so long ago. You are mine. I will not let you doubt that again, do you understand? You belong to me because I am completely yours,” he says in a throaty whisper.

“I have been yours since long before you claimed me and I want to always be,” I pull him back into my kiss.

He quickly helps me remove my clothing. My body is on fire where his hands skim my skin. It surprises me how my body seems to recall his touch so quickly. I pull his shirt off over his head and run my hands over his perfect chest and abs. He is so firm under my hands.

His breathing quickens at my touch. I undo his belt and jeans as he slides them off exposing his hardness. I grasp him in my hand and lean forward to lick at him. He forces me back by my shoulders.

“No, not today. I haven’t had you in too long. I want to be able to take my time with you and if you put that perfect mouth on me I won’t last more than ten minutes. Come here,” he says, tilting my face up to his and kissing me fully again. I love kissing him. I could spend an entire day attached to his mouth.

He grabs my hips and lifts me further up onto the little couch. He follows, hovering over me. It is just big enough for us. He has one hand one either side of my head and he is just gazing down at me.

“Honey, you are so amazing and beautiful. I don’t ever want to be close to losing you again,” he lowers himself down slightly to tease my nipple with his tongue, causing me to gasp a little. He smiles at my reaction and moves over to torment the other breast. He licks and sucks at both nipples, alternating until I am arching my back off the couch in silent begging.

He lowers his weight on top of me and starts kissing down my body. He works his way down to my inner thighs. He kisses me where my thighs meet my body first the right then the left. His mouth being so close and yet so far from where I want it is sending me in to a frenzy. He kisses the top of my labia lightly. I inhale sharply at his light touch.

Very slowly he moves his tongue between my folds until he reaches my core. He spreads me wide with his hands as he kisses my center deeply, his tongue working inside me. He licks up to my hard button and begins to tease it with short, fast licks. He stops to suck it gently between his teeth. The sensation has me about to levitate off the couch. He returns to licking at my most sensitive spot until I can hardly stand it anymore. I reach down and entwine my fingers in his hair, pulling him tighter against me. Just as I inch impossibly close to release, he pulls out of my grasp and slides up to kiss my mouth.

I let out a frustrated groan. He smiles and chuckles softly. “Something the matter my love?” he says, placing small kisses all over my face.

“I need you inside me, my love,” I respond playfully.

“You do?” he says, rubbing one of my nipples between his finger and thumb. I swear I am about to lose it.

“You don’t play fair,” I moan.

“No, I don’t but it is just because I love this body so damn much. It is so much fun to tease,” he says as he slides his hand down between us. His fingers find my center and he inhales sharply. “You are so fucking wet.”

“I told you I need you inside me.”

“I can tell,” he says, putting his hands on the arm of the couch at either side of my head. The head of his large cock is resting against my opening. I buck my hips in attempt to entice him in further.

He slowly slides all the way into me. My body takes a moment to adjust to his size. It has been too long since I have felt so close to him.

“I could stay inside you forever,” he breathes against my hair.

“I could let you,” I respond as he starts to move his hips in a slow, firm rhythm.

“I swear your body feels like it was made to fit mine perfectly,” he whispers, kissing my mouth lightly. This slower pace is causing my whole body to respond in waves. I can feel warmth spreading out to my limbs from my core.

“I don’t want to be without you ever again,” I say softly as his pelvis rocks against me.

“You won’t have to be,” he responds, greedily kissing my mouth.

He gently increases his pace rocking in and out of me. I can feel my pleasure building like electricity coursing through me. Eric lowers his head to tease my breasts again with his mouth. He then returns to my mouth, kissing me passionately.

“Oh Eric, if you keep doing that you are going to make me lose it,” I moan against his mouth.

“Good,” he breathes as he grinds his pelvis against me. It is enough to send me over the edge. My body begins to quiver as my inner muscles tighten around him. He rocks his body into mine twice more and erupts inside me, my body milking him as he pulls me tight against him.

After a moment, he rolls holding me. I am lying mostly on top of him with my head on his chest. I am warm and happier than I have ever been in my whole life. Eric gently runs his fingers through my hair in a familiar way.

“Eric, I do love you and you do really love me don’t you?”

“More than I have words to tell you.”

“I am so sorry I didn’t tell you sooner.”

“I am sorry for a lot of things, honey. I don’t think it will do either of us any good to dwell on what we could have done. All I know is that going forward I need you with me.”

“I want to be with you. How are we going to do that though?”

“What do you mean?”

“I don’t really want to go back to Greenwood and have things be like they were with people coming and going,” I admit, biting my bottom lip.

“Okay so no more people coming and going. It will just be you, me, Dean, and the staff,” Eric responds, rubbing his hand down my back.

“Does Dean have to stay there? He hates me.”

“He doesn’t hate you. He may not have been your biggest supporter at first but he has come around. He is actually the one that told me to quit being stupid and tell you how I feel.”

“Really? Huh, well that is an American for you. We are usually right, you know,” I joke, smiling at him.

“Don’t think that just because I was gentle with you a moment ago that I won’t spank that pretty bottom until it is red,” he replies, running his hand lightly over the aforementioned body part.

“Oh please say you will,” I plead, lifting my head up to look into his warm brown eyes.

“You are so cheeky,” he smiles back at me. “Cora I love you with my whole body and soul.”

“I thought you didn’t talk that way to women,” I smile, remembering our conversation all those days ago at the castle. It feels like something from another lifetime.

“I didn’t before I meet you. Like I said a man needs a bit of crazy to feel that way. You, my dear, drive me madder than everyone I have met combined and I wouldn’t change you for all the money in the world,” he says, his eyes warm and comforting.

“Eric,” I whisper, placing my hand on his cheek, “you make me crazy too.”

He kisses me and I know that no matter what we will face tomorrow, next week, or even next year we will face it together.

Epilogue

I grip the arms of the seat as the plane leaves the runway. I am sure I’m going to claw right through the leather. I close my eyes and try to think about something else. I really don’t need to have a panic attack on the damn plane. I feel suffocated enough on this thing. It is a private jet, that can seat about eight people, but it still feels small.

“Hey, just breathe,” Eric whispers in my ear. I didn’t even realize I had been holding my breath.

“I can’t,” I respond with my voice shaking slightly. “It is too cramped in here.”

“There is still enough room to breathe, honey,” he says sympathetically as he takes my hand in his. His touch once again has its magic effect on me. I can feel my body start to relax and my breathing return to normal.

“Thank you,” I say as I open my eyes and look at the beautiful and kind man next to me. “I think I am okay now. I swear I won’t be like this the whole flight. It is just takeoff and landing that scares me.”

“Good to know,” he chuckles at me. His eyes are warm and so full of love when he looks at me. I feel so lucky to be sitting here with him. He is in a white, lightweight, linen suit and light blue button up. The first few buttons are open, making me want to open them all.

“Um, Cora? Are you sure you are okay?” he asks. I realize I have been just staring at him. With as often as I do it you think he would be used to it by now.

“Sorry,” I answer smiling. “I am fine, I promise. Did I tell you I really like that suit on you?”

“No, you didn’t,” he responds with a wolfish grin.

“Yep, it is going to make it hard to behave on such a long flight.”

“Well, you are the one that picked India first,” he points out. “Besides, did you look in a mirror before we left the house? I have been fighting against an erection since you came down stairs.”

I look down instinctively at my sun dress. “We are going to India in May. It is going to be really hot,” I explain in defense of my dress. It is white linen, with thin straps and deep neckline. It hits me just above my knees.

“Whatever the reason is, you look wonderful,” he says as he winks at me and kisses the back of my hand. The plane levels off and I feel even more relaxed. The captain’s voice comes over the intercom to let us know that the conditions look good for the rest of the flight.

“Do you want something to drink?” Eric asks me, getting out of his seat.

“Sure. What are my options?”

“Well this is Tristan’s plane so I am sure any alcohol you can imagine is here,” he says as he walks behind a small bar in the back of the plane. “It looks like he has a few bottles of that white wine you like.”

“I can’t believe he remembered that,” I remark surprised. I have spent a lot of time with Tristan and Jane in the past few months. I have been living with Eric at his home in London. It has made it really easy to spend time with the Coopers.

“Tristan always remembers stuff like that. It is why he was better at getting; well, never mind what he was better at getting.” Eric smiles as he brings me a glass of wine. I move over to the small couch type seat across from where we were sitting during takeoff. Eric sits next to me with his usual glass of scotch. “There is food for when you are hungry, too.”

“So are you going to be my stewardess?” I ask as I bat my eyelashes at him.

“I will be whatever you want me to be for you,” he replies, sweetly tucking a stray strand of my hair behind my ear. I lean forward and lightly kiss his lips. “However, there is an upside to not having anyone else back here. We could make use of this comfortable space.”

The spark in his eyes leaves me no doubts about his meaning. I feel a little strange knowing that the captain could come back here at any time though.

“Yeah, I don’t think so,” I say as I take a large sip of wine. “We have a really long flight and I don’t really want to put on a show for the captain.” I grab my phone to set a reminder for myself. I type a quick reminder to get a souvenir for Claire. I think she would love a sari. I already have my mom and siblings down.

“Do you want to pick something up for anyone while we are in India?” I ask Eric as I continue to make my list. “Other than your family, of course.”

“I have no idea, but I do want to get you into a traditional outfit at some point,” he answers with that heat still in his eyes.

“I think we can make that happen,” I tell him with a wink. “I am adding Dean to the list. He has been really great lately.”

“Yes, he has been a big help. It has been really nice not having to deal with any charges for a few months. I didn’t realize how much of my life it was taking up until I stopped being involved with it. Make sure you have Claire on there. She will pout for days if you forget her.”

“I already added her.” I slide my phone back into my handbag and toss it on to the chair across from me. I look back at Eric to find him watching me. “Are you sure you aren’t going to miss being a part of that? The charges I mean.”

“I am not going to miss it because I don’t need it anymore. I had a hole in my life before you, Cora. You filled that hole with the purest love I could ever imagine. So, no I won’t miss a second of it. Besides, it isn’t like I am abandoning it altogether. I am still offering free legal help to the charges already in the program. As long as I know they aren’t being taken advantage of unfairly, I’m happy. “

“Are you really sure, though? I feel like you gave up part of your life for me.”

“Cora, honey, we have been through this. You being happy is what makes me happy. I didn’t give up part of my life. I gave up part of a hobby, really. I would rather wake up to you every morning for the rest of my life than do anything else in this world. I can’t settle for anything less than that with you,” he tells me as he gently caresses my knee.

“Well then I guess it is a good thing I like staying at your houses,” I respond playfully. He scowls at me, crinkling his forehead. I am not sure what I said wrong.

“That reminds me,” he says as he leans down to take something out of his bag at his feet. “I guess now is as good a time as any.”

He pulls out what looks like a small jewelry box.
Oh dear God! Please don’t let that be what I think it is!

“Um, Eric, wait. I think before,” I stumble over my thoughts. I am not sure how to tell the man I love that there is no way I am ready for what I think is that box.

“Relax, Cora. It isn’t a ring.” He smiles at me with a cocky grin.

“Oh, well good,” I respond but feel a little disappointed. I may not be ready to for it but it would be nice to think he wants to ask me.

“I do happen to know you rather well. I know there is no way you are ready for that yet. You should know that the second you are I will ask you and we won’t be just sitting on a plane,” he reassures me, lifting my spirits. He hands me the little box and I open the lid. Inside is silver keychain in the shape of a “c” and covered in crystals with a single key attached.

“Thank you, but what is it for?” I ask looking into his warm brown eyes.

“It is to the front door at Greenwood Manor. It is symbolic really since all the locks there are electric too. You would only need that if the power and generator were both out. It was easier to fit into a box though then the whole house,” he jokes smiling at me. I am still kind of confused.

“Is this because you want to me to come live there with you, permanently?”

“No, it is because it is your house now.”

“What? Eric! You can’t just give me a house!”

“Yes, I can. It was my house and now it is yours. Cora, I don’t want to ever think that you are with me because you don’t have anywhere else to go. I need to know that you will always be taken care of as well. You owning Greenwood does both.”

“Eric, I don’t know what to say. It doesn’t matter if I own a hundred houses; the only place I want to be is with you. I can’t imagine my life without you in it. I happen to have a great imagination. I have tried but I just can’t. I know that it doesn’t begin to cover it, but thank you.”
Holy fuck! I own an English manor!

“Thank you is a perfect start, but if you really want to show your appreciation I can think of a few ways.”

“I am sure you can but what are we going to do when the captain wanders back here?”

“Is that the only thing stopping you?”

“Yep, pretty much.”

Eric stands and walks over to the intercom on the wall. A moment after he presses a button the captain’s voice echoes out, “Yes, your Lordship?”

“We are going to rest for a while and wish to not be disturbed unless it is an emergency,” Eric says in his commanding Lord voice. He is so sure of himself and strong. It turns me on and makes me a little envious all at the same time. I am always pretty sure I am going to say something wrong. Even when I do, Eric just laughs it off. He is more than I ever could have dreamed.

“Of course, your Lordship,” the captain responds as Eric makes his way back over to me. He pauses and unfastens a curtain that is pulled back against the wall. He pulls it around the little area cutting it off from the rest of the plane.

“There, I would say that is fairly private.” He takes off his jacket and sits next to me looking pleased with himself. I reach out and cup his face in my hand. I love his eyes and the emotion I see in them when he looks at me. How could I have ever doubted he really loves me?

“I would have to agree with you,” I respond to him, moving my hand from his face to the front of his shirt. I unbutton a few more of the buttons and run my hand over his firm, toned chest and abs. He leans in and kisses me lightly.

“You are so amazing, honey. Every moment you aren’t touching me I am wishing you were,” he whispers against my mouth. I pull away from him and stand up. I slide my panties off from under my dress and toss them aside. I straddle his lap and wrap my arms around his neck. He smiles at me, making my heart jump into my throat.

“I love you, Eric Ashford. I love you so much that I am terrified of losing you.”

“I love you, Cora Allen. You have nothing to be terrified of. You are mine and I will go anywhere you go, always. I haven’t just given you my heart; I have given you my soul.”

“And I have given you mine,” I whisper as I lean into him trying to show him how much he means to me with a kiss. He wraps his arms around me and pulls me tighter against him. Suddenly, I wish our flight was even longer.