Unmatchable (22 page)

“
I'm sorry that you got hurt. And yeah, maybe I went about things the wrong way. But knowing how things turned out, and knowing how things could have turned out if something had gone wrong, I don't regret it. I would do the same thing all over again if it led me back to where I am now.”

“
Calm down.” Alex closes his eyes and lets out a long breath as if he's trying to still his nerves. “I'm sorry. You're right. I have no right to...I'm just sorry.”

I deflate in an instant, guilt replacing all of the other negative emotions. “No. I'm sorry. I'm sorry that I left you behind. But it is what it is, and we can't go back, only forward."

He opens his eyes, and the corners of his lips raise into a soft smile. “You're right. We can only go forward. And I'm happy that we're here right now. I'm happy that I'm getting to see you again.”

Some of the guilt melts away from his words, but I know he's still hurt. He will be for a while. I just hope that this conversation has brought us both some closure.

“
I am too.”

“
And hopefully, you'll want to hang out with me a bit more while I'm still in town.”

“
Of course.”

“
Good. I would like that.” He seems pleased.

“
I would too.” I'm not sure if it's a lie, but part of me feels it's not. Another part of me is worried about getting close to him again. He reminds me of home—the only good things about it. More than that, he reminds me of the strongest bond I've ever had with another human being. We've only spent a few short hours together, and repressed feelings for him are already starting to resurface. Thankfully, I'm certain they're one-sided, the same as they've always been. Because if they weren't, that could be dangerous to my relationship with Colton.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

COLTON

The hours pass with a sickening need the likes of which I've never experienced before. It's hard to keep my hands off of myself while I count the hours down until dinner. And when my driver opens the door to the limo and I see Ember standing there in a cobalt blue halter dress with lace accents, I know I won't be able to keep my hands off of her before we get to the restaurant. The dress is just too easy access. It's like she's begging to have my fingers, my face, my dick between her legs.

“
My God, I've missed you.” I don't even give her a chance to sit down. Instead, I pull her onto my lap the second that she's inside the limo.

“
Geez, Larsen, get a hold of yourself,” she teases me, her perfectly painted red lips curving into a gorgeous grin. I can't resist kissing them. “Jesus. Is that your wallet or are you really that happy to see me?”

“
Take a guess. You can even feel around for clues if you like.” I scrunch my nose up at her.

“
You're too much,” she giggles, music to my ears.

“
Seriously, though, I've been craving this ever since you left this morning.”

“
Oh really? This?” She glances around the limo.

“
No. This.” I wrap my hands around her waist and push her down while I grind up against her.

She snorts. “You are absolutely insatiable.”

“
Yes. This has already been established.” I nip at her collarbone.

“
You'll have to wait until after dinner.” She places her hands on my shoulders for balance as the limo lurches to a stop in Houston traffic.

“
Oh, will I? It looks to me like we have some time.” I gaze briefly out the tinted windows. While I can barely see out, no one can see in.

“
And what are you suggesting?” she purrs. That's a seductive sound if I've ever heard one. My cock twitches as I look into her eyes. There's no hesitation. She's receptive to whatever I'm about to say, and that only turns me on more.

“
I think you know.” I place a hand on her thigh, sliding it up beneath her dress.

She tenses, and her expression changes, though I can't quite place it. The lust is tempered with something else. Muddied by apprehension that I never saw coming. Maybe she just needs some warming up. I certainly hope that's all it is.

“
Haven't you always wanted to have sex in a limo.” I waggle my eyebrows at her.

She rolls her eyes, but amusement is plain on her face. “That sounds more like a billionaire's fantasy to me.”

“
It's not a billionaire's fantasy. It's just our reality.” My hand creeps higher, my thumb strumming at the hem of her panties.

“
Are you saying you've fucked someone in here before?” she sounds appalled. Even worse, turned off.

“
It wasn't you, so it doesn't count.” I tug playfully at the bow under the bust of her dress with my free hand.

“
That's disgusting.”

“
That's honest. Would you prefer that I lie to you?” I can feel the mood fading, and while I desperately want to salvage it, I'm not willing to lie to force her to want me again.

Her gaze falls to my lap and she looks solemn. “No. Thank you for being honest.”

I cup her chin. “I will never be anything but honest with you. Even if it hurts, I'll be honest with you. I only ask that you do the same for me.”

“
I will. Always.” She smiles.

“
Good. Now that that's settled...” I wiggle to show her that my erection is still going strong.

She slaps at my chest and laughs. “You're horrible.”

“
Insatiable and horrible. I'm racking up all sorts of compliments tonight.” My eyes widen for effect.

“
Indeed. I have sex with you a few times, and now you want it all the time.”

“
You make that sound like a bad thing.”

“
It must just be a Colton Larsen thing,” she teases.

“
I think it would be any man's thing who had a taste of you.” I lean forward and kiss her neck.

When she doesn't come back with a snarky retort, I take it as an invitation to proceed. The halter part of her dress, though made of a sheer see-through material, works as a barrier to keep me from getting to her breasts. My only option is to go from below.

I hook my finger around the waistband of her panties and give them a gentle tug. Ember rises from my lap enough to allow me to pull them down. As soon as they're off of her legs, she crawls on top of me again, looking shy.

“
What's this all about?” I stroke her cheek before brushing her ponytail over her shoulder.

“
What's what all about?” She gazes down at me with desire. I decide not to question it any further. If I'm going to pounce on her, then now should be the time.

I unzip and unbutton my pants before sliding them along with my boxer briefs down over my ass. It's a bit of a struggle with Ember on my lap, but I manage to get it done.

To my surprise, as soon as my cock springs forth, she's wrapping her hand around it. I let out a low hiss as she strokes me gently, shivering slightly from the clamminess of her hand.

“
Do you have a condom?” she asks.

I pull one out of my pocket and tear open the wrapper before sliding it down my length and tossing the empty packet to the side. Ember hikes up her dress and climbs on top of me. The way that she's taking control with such confidence has me impressed. It's as if she has done this a hundred times before. Maybe she has. I don't want to think about that, though. I just want to think about this one time. With me.

I feel her lower lips slick across the tip of my cock as she positions herself. Good lord, she's wet. The thought of being inside of her makes me want to be rough—makes me want to wrap my hands around her waist and force her down on me. Imagining her gasping in shock is highly arousing. But I don't want to cross any boundaries. Also, I'm kind of curious about what she'll do on her own.

I give her free reign, resting my back against the warm leather seat and staring up into her eyes. My focus is fixed on her face, waiting to see the pleasure there when she sinks down onto me and I spread her wide.

She struggles a little to get me in, but once she finally lowers her weight, it feels like pure heaven. I exhale a breathy moan as her cunt envelopes me completely. Ember bites her bottom lip to stifle her own erotic sounds, but I can see it in her eyes that she feels just as good as I do.

For several seconds, she sits there soaking in the sensation of our joined parts. It takes everything in me not to buck my hips, but I'm determined to let her have her way. Eventually, she begins grinding on me. I sit back and enjoy the ride, marveling at how beautiful she looks as she fucks me the way she wants. Her body moves in the most seductive way, her hips practically rolling on top of me.

“
It feels really good,” I give her praise, though I doubt she needs it. She can tell how I feel by my expression.

She starts off slow at first but quickly picks up the pace. The way she's looking at me with such a sensual intensity is enough to get me going. Briefly, I think about making her stop, but I know it won't be much longer before we arrive at the restaurant, and we can always have sex again later. There is no limit to how many times we can have sex in a day. Only if she sets one, and I have a feeling she won't.

She squeezes her muscles around me, and I'm done for. I come hard, cursing between clenched teeth as I bury my face against her chest. A tiny moan escapes her lips, and she grinds down on me a few more times before I feel her shatter as well.

We hold each other, panting for breath until our bodies have calmed. Then she crawls off of me and pulls her underwear back on. I inhale deeply before removing the condom and disposing of it. By the time I've shoved my dick back into my pants, the limo is pulling up in front of the restaurant.

“
Perfect timing.” I grin at Ember.

“
You must be a master at this kind of thing.” She waves her hand at me absentmindedly. I can't help but think she's still stuck on the thought that I've fucked in this limo before.

“
You were in control, so the timing was all you.” I tap her nose, making her scrunch up her face. She rolls her eyes at me but doesn't argue. “Don't act like you didn't enjoy it.”

“
I did enjoy it. But I would have enjoyed it more if we had more time...and a bed.”

“
Live a little, Ember. Life is all about fun, spontaneous decisions.”

“
Maybe your life is about them. Mine is about structure.”

My driver opens the door, and we step out onto the sidewalk in front of Mark's American Cuisine. Ember gazes up in wonder at the restaurant that was once a church. Seeing how intrigued that she looks makes me smile.

“
This is a restaurant?” She glances over at me.

“
Yes. You've never heard of it before.”

“
No. I do see a reoccurring theme, though.” She gently jabs me in the ribs with her elbow.

“
What's that?” I chuckle.

“
You keep taking me to buildings that were converted into restaurants.”

“
I like interesting places.” I look up at the tall steepled roof. “Unfortunately, this is the last month this place will be open.”

“
Why is that?”

“
The owners just decided to close it. Maybe they just got tired. They've been running it for nineteen years now.”

“
That is a long time.”

“
Don't worry, though. It has nothing to do with the food. The food is delicious, the service is excellent, and I really think you'll like the décor.”

“
Let's go see, then.” She steps off of the curb, leading the way to the front door.

The inside of the restaurant greets us with hardwood floors, tall golden ceilings, and candlelit tables. While the building still looks like a church from the outside, the inside very much resembles a high-class restaurant. There's a full-service bar on one end, and on the other side is a balcony with a curving staircase.

“
Exquisite,” Ember whispers, every bit as impressed with the inside as she was the outside.

“
You should wait until you taste the food.” I place my hand on the small of her back and guide her to the hostess.

Tonight, I've planned ahead. When I give the hostess our reservation, she takes us back to a private room. As Ember steps inside, she turns to give me a look that suggests this is way too much. I know it is, but I wanted my last meal in this place to be special, and there is no one I would rather share it with than her.

Once we're seated, I immediately order a bottle of champagne. Ember props her elbow on the table, resting her chin on her hand and smirking at me.

“
What?” I open my menu, hiding my grin behind it.

“
You're too much. You know that, right?”

“
You keep telling me that.”

“
I mean it.” She sighs, and the happiness in her expression falters. “Sometimes I think
thi
s
is too much.”

“
This. What do you mean?” I lower the menu, worried that I've done something to upset her.

“
Nothing. Just...never mind.” She shakes her head and drapes her napkin over her lap.

I cock my head to the side. “What did we say about honestly earlier?”

She deflates even further. “I'm just...not used to this.” She glances around the room. “You spoil me like money is going out of style. I know it sounds immature and irrational, but sometimes it makes me worry.”

“
About what? That I'll run out of money,” I laugh. That would never happen.

“
No. That...how do I say this.” She taps her fingers on the tabletop. I can tell that she's gathering up the nerve to say what she wants to say, and I'm not sure I'm going to like it. She wouldn't be hesitating if she wasn't carefully choosing her words. “Sometimes I think you're too good for me.”

Worry dissipates, and a soft smile takes over my face. The fact that she'd even think something like that only makes me like her more. Despite the fact that we come from two different worlds and financial backgrounds, I've never really thought of her as less than my equal.

“
Ember.” I slide my hands across the table palms up. She places her fingers on top of mine, and I lace them together. “I do this stuff for you because I want to impress you. Because I like you.”