Page 53 of Replacement

I laugh softly. “You’re exhausted, and I’m fine. Besides, I still don’t much want to take off my clothes.”

“I’m sure I can manage something with your clothes on. Aren’t you turned on?”

I am definitely aroused. My cheeks are hotly red, and I’m perspiring lightly, and there’s a deep clench of desire between my legs. But I told him the truth. I’m good right now. Physical desire is fairly far down on the list of emotions I’m feeling at the moment. “Kind of. But you really don’t have to—”

I break off my unconvincing protestation when his hand slides between my legs. Before he touches me intimately, he asks, “Are you trying to be generous, or do you really not want me to get you off?”

He’s genuinely asking. He doesn’t want to go further until he’s clear on what I want.

“I was trying to be generous,” I admit. “I loved doing that for you, so I don’t need reciprocation. I wanted you to enjoy it. I’m honestly okay, but if you want to—”

I cut myself off again. This time with a sharp gasp when I feel his fingers slide beneath my underwear and stroke my hot arousal.

He flicks my clit. Adjusts my body to give him better access. Then parts me again with his fingers and slides one fully inside me.

I whimper and hide my face in his suit jacket. I know the barrier between the front and back of the car is soundproofed, but I’m still a little self-conscious about Ray sitting only a few feet away.

“Do you think I don’t enjoy doing this for you too?” William asks thickly. “Think about how you felt when you did this for me. That’s how I feel with you.”

I make a weird little sobbing sound, more from emotion than physical pleasure. Because it’s so hard for me to believe it could be true.

He curls two fingers inside me and presses against my G-spot. My whole body jerks from the pleasure.

“I want to give you this, sweetheart. I want you to feel good. I want to watch you let go of everything you’re always trying to hold together. I want to give you everything you need. I’ve never known anything like it before, how much I would want to take care of someone. How deeply the need is now rooted in my heart. I’ve never gotten to experience this before, so please don’t take it away from me.”

I’m sobbing for real now—with heightening pleasure and with helpless emotion and with a neediness I’ve never let myself feel before.

He tilts his head to kiss my hair, his hand pumping faster and harder. “You can trust me.” He makes a weird sound, like he choked on a word. “Sweetheart, you can trust me enough to let go.”

I’m sobbing into his jacket, smothering the sound as best I can. I’m not sure what’s happening to me, why I’m falling apart all of a sudden like this. I wouldn’t think I’d be capable of coming while wracked with emotion this way, but my body is still responding. A climax is growing slow and heavy, and my hips start moving instinctively, trying to ride his hand.

“That’s right,” he murmurs. “So good. You’re so good. Just let go. You can let go for me. Let me give you this. Let me give you everything.”

He pushes hard against my G-spot, and my spine arches dramatically as the pressure gets me over the edge.

I shake and sob through a powerful climax, coming apart completely on his lap. It lasts a long time, and he strokes and talks me through it, murmuring how good I’m doing, how much I need this, how all he wants is to give it to me.

When I’ve worked through the last of the spasms, I collapse against him, limp and replete. He brushes kisses into my hair, rubs my back and one of my thighs until my breathing has finally evened out.

“Thank you,” I mumble when I’m capable of speech. I lift my head when I realize the car is moving again. The traffic jam must be finally clearing.

“You’re welcome.” His voice is a little different now. Not as sexy but still tender. “I want you to trust me in everything. You need to know that.”

I manage to nod. “Thank you,” I say, wishing I could. Wishing life would allow it.

But he doesn’t know what he’s saying.

He wants Amber to trust him.

He doesn’t love Jade. He doesn’t even know her.

And he never will.

9

Two days later,William takes the entire Sunday off from work. We sleep in, go out to brunch, and then take a leisurely walk in a nearby park afterward.

The day is crisp, cool, and bright, and I enjoy the feel of the breeze and the sun on my face as William and I stroll, chatting occasionally and otherwise sharing a comfortable silence.