Conklin's Foundation (Conklin's Trilogy) (25 page)

“Your mother wasn’t that bad, Tyler.  She thought I looked sensational in this dress,” I bit.

Tyler’s eyes darkened.  “For once I agree with her.”

He took a step closer to me, his breath hot on my cheek.  “You looked so sensational that I c
ouldn’t take my eyes off of you.  ” He leaned back licking his lips then his eyes hardened. “So sensational my father and brothers kept checking you out.  God, even Nathan was throwing glances your way.”  A small smile played on my lips as he continued speaking.  “I wanted to rip their eyes out and throw a parka on you.”

“I know,” I whispered
then bit my lip.  I stared up into his hard, lustful eyes. How Tyler could make me go from utterly annoyed with him to completely turned on was beyond me.

“You know?” he asked confused.

I nodded my head, biting down on my lip harder.  I stepped closer to him, our chests touching as I put my hand on his wrist.

“I liked it,” I
whispered.

Tyler’s eyes blazed.  “You liked them staring at you?” he growled.

“No! I… never mind,” I mumbled, becoming embarrassed and planting my eyes to my feet.

Tyler reached for my chin, pulling my face to look at him.  “Becca Stine, you better start talking.  You just insinuated you enjoyed my family ogling your body when only my eyes are allowed to ogle.”

I gulped as his thumb brushed my cheek.  His eyes were boring into mine, hot like stones.

“I liked that you didn’t want them looking.  How you walked up behind me, blocking their view,” I croaked.

His grip became less harsh then traveled down my neck to my collarbone, fingering the diamond necklace he gifted me, his eyes still studying my reaction.

“No one has ever been so…
possessive.  No one has ever made me feel so… desired.” I felt stupid the second I used the word desired.  I pulled my face from his grasp, wishing I had just kept my mouth shut.

“Becca, the thought of someone gawking at you makes me crazy.  I wanted to put my fist through a
wall at least 10 times this evening because they were looking at what is meant for my eyes only.”

I peeked up at him.
His eyes were still intense but softened.  He wasn’t mad, at least I didn’t think he was. 

“I want to m
ake you feel sexy and beautiful because that is what you are,” he murmured, finally wrapping his arms around my waist.

I closed my eyes as he leaned down to kiss me.  “You made me feel sexy and beautiful for the first time this evening,” I whispered across his lips.

He kissed me once then pulled back gazing at me.  “It’s about time.” A smile tugged on the corner of his mouth.

I took a deep breath and grabbed his hand, completely forgetting about our little
tiff about my wardrobe.  I pulled him towards the bedroom, stopping to pick up my bag. Tyler, being the gentleman he was, quickly took it from me and we continued to the bedroom.

“Where are we going?” he chuckled.

I abruptly stopped in his living room, my eyes glancing over his shoulder to see the big city lights of Chicago.  Tyler saw my gaze then turned to the window, a smirk playing on his mouth.  It was his turn to tug me along through the dark room over by the floor to ceiling windows. 

He pulled me in front of him
then wrapped his arms around my waist, his lips at me ear.  It was snowing over the city, big fat flakes falling on the large buildings and in the busy streets.  Cars, trucks, and buses still moved as though it wasn’t a holiday, and I could see the strands of garland and lights around the light posts.  Chicago was beautiful in its own way, just as Grand Rapids was.

Tyler’s lips caressed my neck as I gazed.  “The city really is lovely,” I sighed, tilting my head to the side so he could kiss farther down my neck.

I felt his grin brush across my skin.  “Not as lovely as what I see,” he murmured.  My eyes met the window and saw his in the faint reflection of the glass.  I no longer saw the city through the window but only saw Tyler peering over my neck, his hands gliding over my stomach to my arms and shoulders then back down to my hips.  He gently turned me around, pulling me into him.

I looked up at him, finally feeling the courage
to do what I was originally planning.   I pulled his face down to mine, giving him a long, lingering kiss.  “I have another Christmas present for you.”

He licked his lips, his eyes still closed from the kiss.  “I have a feeling it’s going to be the best present ever,” he said softly.

I held his hand and slowly pulled him to the bedroom.  I motioned to pick up my bag, but Tyler continued as we had earlier, taking it from me and continuing on down the hall. 

Once we were a few steps from his bedroom, he wrapped an arm around my waist and started kissing my shoulder.  I turned on the light, and Tyler dropped my bag down then reached for the dimmer. 
A dusting of nerves spread throughout my body as he walked with his arms wrapped around my waist to the bed, his lips still spreading across my shoulder.  Once my trembling knees were about to reach the bed, I turned in his arms then pulled him to sit down.

“I just want to freshen up.
” I turned to walk to his bathroom.

“Let me join you,” he flirted, starting to stand
from the bed. 

“No, just wait.  I won’t be long,” I said, trying to speak without my lips trembling.

I grabbed my bag and closed the door behind me.

I unzipped the suitcase with a shaky hand, searching for my final present to Tyler. 

I shimmied out of my dress and undergarments, happy my skin still felt smooth from shaving this morning.  I freshened up a bit, brushed my teeth and ran a washcloth over my intimates.  I couldn’t stop my hands from shaking as I pulled out the lacy royal blue lingerie that had the Cubs emblem attached to where it would be placed over my pelvic bone.  It was a miracle I ran across it in the store.  I was walking by Victoria’s Secret and happened to see some Tiger’s themed pajamas and thought I would check it out. Low and behold buried deep in the pile happened to be one last panty, and it was in my size.  I picked up a lacy push up bra in the matching royal blue color.

I slipped the lace up my legs and around my hips, wishing there were more to the back.  No doubt Tyler’s mouth would water, and the thought of
him wanting me and desiring me calmed my nerves slightly.  I hooked the push-up bra and adjusted myself while looking back to the mirror.  I kept Tyler’s diamond necklace on but took off the bracelet and earrings.  It was just too pretty to leave my neck.

The royal blue looked good with my
complexion and helped pull out the depth of my eye color.  I fluffed my curls that were droopy now, but I didn’t care.  My hair still felt soft, and my makeup had settled down from rubbing the washcloth over my face.  After one long deep breath, I pulled the last garment from my bag and slid it on.  I smirked at myself in the mirror.

He might not like the top as much, but if I could manage to keep to my plan, I wouldn’t be wearing it for long.

I slowly walked to the door and turned the knob, my eyes finding him through the small crack before I braved completely opening the door.  He was sitting back on the bed, his hands behind his head on the headboard.  His eyes were on the ceiling, his expression calm and relaxed.  I wish I could relax.

I slo
wly opened the door all the way then reached for the dimmer, raising the lights to almost fully on.  Tyler’s gaze quickly locked with mine as he eyed me up and down, a sly grin spreading across his face.

“Do you like my shirt?” I
asked, my voice cracking against my will.

I tugged on the open collar of the Justin Verland
er Tiger’s jersey I was wearing that provocatively rested just higher than mid-thigh and was far too big, the collar hanging close to my shoulder the more I tugged.

Tyler
ran his tongue along his top teeth as his eyes took me in. He scooted to the end of the bed, setting his hands on either side of his hips.  Tilting his head back he said with a sexy smirk, “You need to take that shit off.”

I smiled at his expression then nerves washed over me
again.  A thick lump got caught in my throat as my heart started to race. 

My jittery fingers found the
top button and slowly opened it then moved to the next.  My chest was heaving as my breaths became longer, my chest rising heavily with each button.

Tyler sat up straighter, his eyes creeping down my body then coming back to my gaze.  I closed my eyes again, taking one more deep breath.

He loves you.  Stop being scared.

I fluttered my eyes opened then undid the last button, letting the shirt fall off my shoulders and pool to the floor by my feet, meeting my red
toenails.  Maybe I should have kept on the stilettos.

Tyler’s eyes widened and
followed my jersey to the floor then shamelessly wandered back up my body.  I heard his sharp intake of breath as he took me in.

I kept my hands to my sides, trying not to squirm under his examination.  But once his eyes found mine
any awkward feelings evaporated.

His gaze spoke volumes.
  Love and awe were pouring from his body as he kept his eyes locked with mine.

“Is this more fitting?”  I asked, my voice sounding husky and brave.

He nodded his head twice, biting his lip.  “Come here,” he whispered, holding his arms out to me.  I slowly walked over to him.  He placed his hands on my hips, feeling the lace along my skin, tracing his fingers to the Cubs emblem on my pelvic bone.  He traced the C as he looked up into my eyes, then moved his other hand to the strap of my bra, tracing his finger down the satin fabric.

“I take it this is my Christmas prese
nt,” he asked, staring up at me.

I put my hands on his shoulders.  “Act
ually, the Verlander jersey was.” I smiled.

A grin spread across
his face.  “But I like this--” He rubbed his thumb along the tops of my breasts, grazing a small portion of the bra, but mainly making contact with my skin.  “Although I don’t think I could pull it off like you.”

I ran my hands along the nap
e of his neck as he took me in, letting his hands graze between the lace and my skin.  Here I was, almost bare to him.  I tried not to flinch as he moved his hand down my breast to my stomach.  He ever so slowly ran his fingertips down my belly button and over the faint stretch marks.  My stomach clenched, and he brought his eyes back to mine.

“You are so gorgeous.  So special
,” he said with pure sincerity.  His hand moved from my stomach back to my hip, his other hand still tracing the emblem on my pubic bone.

I gave him a
shy smile, believing his every word.  I took three steps back, causing Tyler to furrow his brows. 

“I’m not done giving you
your present,” I murmured.

His eyebrows evened as he placed his hands in his lap.

Taking another deep inhale of oxygen, I moved my hand to my back, feeling for the clasp of my bra.  With quick fingers, I unlatched it, letting the straps ever so slowly run down my arms, joining the Tiger’s jersey on the ground.

Tyler’s chest rose, but was nothing compared to
the rise and fall of mine.  My heart was racing, my chest finally revealed to him like it had never been before. 

His eyes d
rifted from my face to my chest then back up but kept traveling down.  He was fighting the urge to watch my revealing versus holding my gaze.

“I want to kiss that
emblem,” he groaned as I hooked my thumbs in the lace.

“You do?” I asked innocently, slowly pulling the royal blue lace farther down my hips.

His gaze left my eyes again, glued to my unsteady hands.

“Becca,” he rasped.

I pulled the lace completely off my hips, letting it fall to the floor.  I swiftly pushed the clothing to the side, standing completely exposed in front of him.  I wasn’t mortified like I had always pictured. I wasn’t terrified of what his facial expression might hold once he found my imperfections, but I was finally ready for him to see all of me in the soft light. 

“You are so beautiful,” Tyler purred, his eyes taking in
every inch of my unclothed skin. “So perfect.”

He reached for me, pulling me so I was standing in between his legs, his hands rubbing up and down from my lower back to cupping my behind.  He kissed my stomach as I ran my fingers through his hair then swiftly pulled me down on the bed.

He hovered over me, just staring as I laid on my back.  “How did I ever find you?” he whispered with awe and wonder.  Before I could respond his lips were covering mine hungrily.

I gasped when he finally pulled away to pull off his shirt.  I loved when he knelt over m
e while taking off his shirt.  I got the best view of his strong and defined shoulders and biceps.  His pecks flexed as he ripped the cuffs from his wrists, completely ridding his shirt from his tanned and muscled body.

I reached for his jeans, but he grabbed my hand and kissed it gently.