Page 146 of No Holds Barred

“Hope…” She stilled, staring down at their joined hands.

“Look, I know what the issue is.” Hope lifted Angelica’s chin so they looked in each other’s eyes. “Your business brain is warring with your heart. Businesswise, it was a bad demand for me to make, but this isn’t business.”

“It is,” Angelica countered, needing her point to be made.

“No, this time it wasn’t.” Hope breathed steadily.

Angelica just continued to stare at her, waiting for it to click in her thick skull, but no matter how hard she tried to grasp what Hope was saying, it just wouldn’t happen.

“I love you,” Hope whispered, that gentle curl to her lips making the smile that much more genuine. “I love you.”

“I know that.” Angelica clenched her jaw.

“Do you?” Hope looked at her again, pulling Angelica’s chin back into place. “Do you believe it?”

“I…” Angelica paused. She did believe it. But the resistance to everything was still tightening in her chest. “I do.”

“But…?” Hope asked, teasing out what Angelica hadn’t wanted to say.

“But you shouldn’t have done that.”

Hope nodded slowly. She slid her hand behind Angelica’s neck, threading her fingers in the hair and tugging tightly. Angelica closed her eyes at the sense of possession that filtered through her, the way Hope commanded and took control.

“If you’re thinking with your business brain, then yes, you’re right. I shouldn’t have made that demand.”

Angelica dashed her tongue against her lips, feeling Hope’s breath along her cheeks as she moved in even closer. Her voice lowered. Angelica’s eyes fluttered shut as sensation after sensation ripped through her.

“But this was a decision I made with my heart, and it was selfish, I won’t deny it.” Hope brushed a kiss over the corner of Angelica’s mouth. “I want to be with you, Angel. And I wanted to make sure that we had a chance to do that, together. You and me. Because I love you.”

“Oh, Hope.” Angelica breathed in deeply, surrounded by Hope’s scent, by the lilacs and the comfort, by the splendor and impulse. Opening her eyes, Angelica looked directly into the crystalline blue ones across from her. Angelica reached forward, fisting the fabric of Hope’s t-shirt in her hand and tugging hard.

“Fuck,” Angelica whispered right before their mouths crashed together.

Chapter

Forty-Six

Hope filled her hands with Angelica’s hair, luxuriating in the waves and lushness. She’d lost count of the number of times they’d kissed. But it didn’t matter. Every time felt this intense. Every moment when their mouths were pressed together in love and adoration brought out a warmth in her that she wouldn’t ever deny.

Angelica hummed against her, completely melting under Hope’s fingertips. It was a stunning thing to witness, and Hope was damn sure that she was one of the very few who actually got to see it. But the way Angelica melted, soft and pliable, easy to smile and hum and make noises of pleasure and joy, was perfection.

Sliding her hands down Angelica’s shoulders and back up, Hope cupped Angelica’s cheeks and started to walk backward, dragging Angelica with her as she went. She’d been waiting for this for weeks now, just to touch her again, to be in Angelica’s presence, to entwine their bodies naked and sated. Her heart raced. She moved a hand between their bodies, pulling at Angelica’s blazer and undoing the single button that held the fabric together against her belly.

“Angel…” Hope swallowed, breaking the kiss as she pulled Angelica’s blazer off her shoulders and dropped it to the floor. “I wouldn’t have done that for anyone but you.”

Angelica paused, her fingers at Hope’s waistband. “I know you wouldn’t have.”

Of course she wouldn’t. She’d been there when they were renewing the first time, and Hope hadn’t pushed for Rex to get the same treatment either or for him to have a promotion. She’d been there for everything. Hope nodded and dove back in for another kiss. As much as she wanted to make it to the bedroom so she could have full access to Angelica’s body, they weren’t going to make it there. At least not at first.

Moving Angelica slowly, Hope walked and pulled at her clothes at the same time. She dropped the silk blouse to the ground, along with Angelica’s bra. Covering Angelica’s breast with her palm, Hope massaged her while she teased her tongue along Angelica’s lips and begged for Angelica to part them for her again.

“We’re alone in the house,” Hope whispered, diving in for another kiss as she pulled the buttons on Angelica’s slacks. “I want you to scream if that’s what you want. No one is going to hear us tonight.”

Angelica moved in fiercely. She tugged Hope’s shirt off and then her pants, shucking them to the ground. Hope shivered, wanting Angelica’s fingers between her legs immediately. And she wasn’t disappointed. She groaned as Angelica slid two fingers into her, rubbing her thumb against Hope’s clit. She was still half dressed, but they could never quite do this slowly, could they?

Hope nipped Angelica’s lower lip and then chuckled as she stepped away from Angelica and turned them. She sat down on the edge of the couch and bent down to pull her pants all theway off and unhook her bra while Angelica stared down at her, a hungry look in her gaze.

“Come here.” Hope patted her thigh, wanting Angelica to sit in whatever position was comfortable with her. Until that boot came off, they were going to be limited to just some of the positions that Hope wanted to explore.