Among the Heather (The Highlands, #2)

I forced myself not to jump all over her as soon as Blake wrapped for the day. It turned out Blake knew who Aria was because Wesley was the one who got her access to the set. I didn’t introduce her as my girlfriend because I wasn’t sure yet how she wanted to play this, but the kiss probably gave us away. Afterward, I escorted Aria to a restaurant for a bite to eat before taking her back to my place. The whole time, my blood thrummed hot with the prospect of getting her alone. It felt like I hadn’t touched her in so long.

We talked over dinner about how we’d make the long-distance thing work while I was filming because now that she wanted to be in a relationship with me, I was wary of any kind of distance between us. Aria seemed certain it was time she started taking back her personal life and not work weekends at the estate, which would free up time to fly out to see me. I wanted to pay for the flights, but she was adamant about paying her own way. Between her savings and trust fund, money was certainly no object for her. I imagined she was worth a lot more than I was.

I didn’t care.

None of it fucking mattered.

All I cared about was getting to see her any chance I could.

We’d make this work.

I’d fight like hell to make this work. And I was starting to believe that Aria would too.

All my thoughts of making leisurely love to her went out the window as soon as we got into my flat and my woman jumped me. Aria pulled at my clothes, her kisses desperate and hot, and I couldn’t have denied her even if I wanted to.

Our clothes scattered through my living space and into my bedroom like a trail of bread crumbs until we were naked and she was riding me like an Amazonian queen, taking what she fucking wanted.

By the time I returned to the bedroom after disposing of the condom, Aria sat up against the pillow, one long leg bent at the knee, her arms flung over her head, olive cheeks dewy from our lovemaking. Her eyes met mine, and she didn’t rush to cover her body. Instead, her gaze invited me to look my fill. She trusted I wanted her. That I found every inch of her spectacular. It made me feel good to make her feel good about herself. God, I loved her.

Blood rushed to my cock, and her eyes lowered as my semi went full mast. “I could stare at you all fucking day, woman.”

She gave me a sultry smile, and I suddenly knew this was who Aria had been before Preston and Lucas got in her head. Confident, sexy, sexual. She’d found her way back. “You too.”

I grinned as I swooped down to pick up my jeans to pull the pack of condoms out of the pocket. Aria watched as I rolled one on.

Putting a knee on the bed, I climbed over her as I caressed my hand up her smooth leg, ripping the duvet aside to trail my fingertips across her silky inner thigh as she spread her legs to accommodate me. Hovering over her, I watched her face as I slid two fingers inside her wet heat. Her eyes lowered as she shifted her hips against my touch. Her lips parted with an excited gasp, making me thirsty for them. I kissed her. Deep, hungry, and she slid her arms around my back, drawing me closer.

Removing my fingers, I braced my hands on either side of her shoulders and nudged between her legs. Releasing her from the kiss, I stared into those gorgeous eyes filled with trust I did not take for granted, and I pushed inside her.

Aria brought her thighs up around my waist and slid her hands down my back to grip my arse as I thrust. She moaned, and the sound throbbed in my dick at the same time her fingers clenched into my arse cheeks.

I pulled my hips back, a teasingly slow withdrawal, and then groaned as her tight heat squeezed me when I pushed in.

“Yes,” Aria panted. “Yes. Only you feel like this.”

Satisfaction mingled with emotion, and even though every nerve ending was screaming at me to fuck her, I didn’t. I wanted to make love to her.

Gripping her thigh, I yanked her hips higher, changing the angle of my thrusts, as Aria released her hold on me and slid farther down the bed. “Fuck.” She panted as I dragged out of her painfully, pleasurably, slowly, until only my tip was inside. Her hands clenched into the sheets as she held my gaze. She had to see everything I felt. Had to know how much I loved her, adored her, but she didn’t look away. And that gave me hope. I found her clit with my thumb as I moved, and her eyes widened as she tilted her chin back and whimpered.

Fuck, yes.

I circled her clit harder.

“North.” She gripped my waist now, fingers biting into me. “North, please.”

Knowing I was at the breaking point, I increased my thrusts, fucking into her, her generous tits trembling with my every drive. Her whimpers grew into moans and needy pants, making me harder. So fucking hard.

“Am all I you need?” I braced over her, hips snapping as the desire to come overtook everything. “Because you’re all I need.”

“Yes!”

“I love you, Ari. I love you so fucking much,” I gasped, needing her to come because I was about to lose it.

Her nails dug into my back. “North … ahhhhh!” She threw her head back in a cry of pleasure as I felt her inner muscles throb around me as she came.

“Aria!” I roared as the power of it tore through me, my hips jerking against her as I ground my cock into her, wanting to feel every single lingering tug of her climax.

I fell over her, my lips against her damp skin as I breathed heavily into her neck and shuddered, my cock still pulsing.

Finally, I lifted my head to meet her stunned gaze. Tears filled her eyes as she clasped my face in her hands and kissed me gently, reverently. When she released me, it was to snuggle against my throat and wrap her arms around me.

Catching my breath, I held her tight and promised myself it was okay that she hadn’t told me she loved me back.

I could be patient.





Twenty-Eight


ARIA





It was unusual for me to be off the estate on a weekday at lunchtime, but here I was, attempting to have more of a life. A month ago, I’d reluctantly left North in London and flew back to the Highlands to have a serious chat with Lachlan about the hours I worked. My boss had never asked me to take on the overtime and responsibilities that I had, so he seemed relieved that I was creating boundaries for myself.

“We have a management team capable of running the estate at the weekend,” he’d reminded me. “That’s how the place ran before your arrival.”