The Final Hour Page 6

  Mishca didn’t even have to look over to know the effect he was having on her.

  Lauren narrowed her eyes on him, knowing that he was playing with her, but two could play that game. After all, he had taught her how best to please him.

  But that wasn’t her goal currently. No, she wanted to make him suffer.

  She rested her hand on top of his, could almost se him peering at her out of the corner of her eye, then slowly, she pulled his hand beneath the hem of her dress, opening her legs just wide enough so he could feel the damp lace that covered her sex.

  Lauren wanted to laugh in triumph, the way his fingers tightened around the steering wheel until his knuckles blanched, or even how he cursed softly.

  But he didn’t speed up like she thought he would, he took his time.

  With nimble fingers, he easily moved her panties to the side, seeking her out with his fingers. They didn’t have much space to make it work, but Mishca was determine. With a gentle nudge, he silently commanded her to spread her legs wider, and she had no choice but to comply.

  It was hard for him, trying to pay attention to driving as well as her, and Lauren found his growing frustration amusing, but she wasn’t laughing for long.

  They stopped at a red light, the car jerking to a stop as Mishca immediately reached for her, drawing her over onto his lap despite their limited space. He was painfully hard, she could feel the length of him through his pants.

  His hands tangled in her hair, his mouth demanding. She gave as much as she got, grinding down against him.

  Lauren reached for his belt, almost at the same moment he shoved up the skirt of her dress, ready to rip her underwear off, but the light had turned green, and the insistent honking of the car behind them—even though there was ample opportunity to drive around— made Lauren climbed back across the seat, laughing softly when Mishca put the car in drive, nearly speeding towards his place.

  “Isn’t Alex coming back here?” Lauren asked on the ride up to his apartment, toeing her heels off.

  “Said she wanted to spend time with a friend.”

  Smiling, Lauren faced him. “Or maybe you told her to give you the night?”

  He shrugged. “Not in so many words.”

  Knowing they would be alone, there was a significant charge in the air, one that made Lauren’s breath catch when Mishca looked at her. She didn’t feel like herself when he looked at her, she felt like more.

  She walked ahead of him out of the elevator, opening the door. Glancing over her shoulder to smile at him. Curiosity lit up his gaze as he followed her in, pausing to shut and lock the door.

  Lauren waited for him to round the corner, then reached behind her back, feeling for the clasp and zipper, drawing it down with ease. His eyes drifted over her as the dress pooled at her feet.

  With the look on his face, she was glad she took that trip to the boutique with Amber. She crooked her finger, wanting him to follow her to the table. Sitting on the edge of it, she motioned for him to sit in the chair.

  Once he was seated, she leaned forward, tugging at the knot of his bow-tie, watching him smile slowly. “I thought of you when I bought this,” she told him as she dropped the material on the floor, going for the buttons of his shirt next.

  “I’m not disappointed.”

  When he attempted to lean forward, probably to draw her closer to him, she placed her foot against his chest pushing just enough to get him to comply to what she wanted.

  “Not yet,” she said, but there was a challenge to her tone and he picked up on it immediately.

  Wrapping his fingers around her ankle, he turned her foot just slightly, pressing a kiss to her instep. “You don’t want to play this game, Lauren,” he said as he kept hold of her.

  “And if I do?”

  With ridiculous ease—not that she put up much of a fight—he stood, moving between her legs, resting his hands on the table on either side of her hips. She could feel him, hard and ready against her.

  His hand was in her hair next, the strands wrapped around his fist as he tugged, forcing her to look up at him. “Before this is over, I’m going to make you beg.”

  Blowing out a breath, trying to seem unaffected though her entire body clenched with need, she said, “Promises, promises.”

  His smile was brilliant, his eyes bright with excitement. He released her, just long enough to strip out of his clothes. When he reached for her again, he kept his hands moving, never resting in one place as he kissed a heated path along her throat to her lips, biting gently on her bottom lip. He broke free from the kiss only when she was swaying slightly, silently begging for more.

  But that wasn’t good enough for him.

  “Show me,” he ordered.

  Lauren’s heart was racing a mile a minute, her thoughts scattered as she dutifully, albeit shyly, spread her legs for him. He was different, like he had been when he’d stormed over to her apartment after her talk with Naomi.

  He took his time dropping his gaze, his hand inching up her thigh. She couldn’t help but watch his slow ascent, the anticipation at feeling him where she needed him most making her desperate to get closer.

  “These have to go,” he said softly, using both hands to rip off the panties that were no use for his strength.

  It might have taken seconds for her to slip out of them, but clearly those seconds were too long for him. Mishca didn’t waste any more time, touching her intimately, his fingers slipping between her folds as he rubbed up and down, coaxing moans out of her.

  He nudged her legs farther apart, finally pressing a single finger inside of her, then another. All the while, he watched her face, his other hand back in her hair. “I would give anything for you to look at me like this every night,” he said on a soft whisper, slowly sliding his fingers in and out.

  The look she saw in his eyes…she couldn’t look away if she tried. “What look?” She asked.

  “Like you need this, like only I could give it to you. You have no idea what that does to me.”

  He was making it hard for her to speak, the words he was saying, the way he was trying to force an orgasm out of her.

  “I do need you, Mish. Always.” And she meant that, but for more than just this.

  “You have me.”

  He captured her lips again, taking her breath away as he sped up, drawing her closer to the edge, faster than she could have imagined.

  Her legs were quivering as he finally relented, but she could still feel the urgency in him as he hoisted her up, spinning her around until she was facing the table. She could feel his erection straining against the fabric of his pants, and made it a point to press back against him, smiling in satisfaction at his growl of approval.

  With a gentle, but firm hand, he pressed her forward until her stomach was flush against the table, her butt perpendicular to his body. The heat of his palm seared her as he swept up her back, cupping the nape of her neck.

  The sound of his zipper sounded impossibly loud to her oversensitive ears. Those few precious seconds where she didn’t feel him at all against her made Lauren squirm, twisting her head around so she could watch him. He was shedding the rest of his clothes.

  After torturous seconds, she sighed at the feel of him back behind her. Mishca was poised at her entrance, one thrust away from sheathing himself inside of her, but he held fast, just the head breaching her. It didn’t matter how she tried to move, he wasn’t going anywhere until he was ready.

  He didn’t bother with a condom, considering they had talked about it—and he had gotten the paperwork in case she was worried.

  She was trying to breathe normally, waiting, aching for him to get on with it, but he merely shushed her soft moans, pulling her nearly off the table until they were flush against each other

  His tongue traced her bottom lip as he eased inside of her. He wasn’t even fully inside her, but her legs were shaking, her mind blissfully blank as she focused solely on him.

  Her back was to his front, his body soli
d behind her. In this position, she felt vulnerable, like he was all that was supporting her.

  The worst part, he wasn’t moving.

  After finally seating himself inside of her, he held steady inside of her, but despite how good it felt, she refused to do what he wanted from her.

  Beg.

  “We’ll be here all night,” he whispered next to her ear and she could hear the smile in his voice.

  She ground her teeth, trying to move herself on him, but he reached down with one hand, clasping her hip to still her movements.

  “You wouldn’t.”

  “Try me.”

  She ducked her head, breathing deeply through her nose as he ground his hips against her, giving her a taste of what he would be doing if she complied. She wanted to wait him out, just to see if he would actually stay like this, but her need for him was too great.

  “Please Mish—”

  It was simple, barely over a whisper, but it was enough to spur him into motion. He eased out of her, until just the tip of his length was still inside her, then shoved back into her, his path made easy by how wet she had grown around him.

  Mishca wasn’t gentle with her, it was rare that he was anymore, not since that night at her apartment some months ago after their fight about Naomi. She had been right about one thing, Mishca had been holding back from her, in most things besides this, but once Lauren had asked for it—practically demanded it—he didn’t anymore.

  She got what she asked for.

  He brought her hand up with his, squeezing one of her breasts possessively as he grated in her ear, “Say it.”

  Exhaling, she wanted to follow his command, knowing what he was demanding her to say, but the way he felt around her, inside of her, she couldn’t form a coherent thought, not until his thrusts slowed down, but if anything, that made her more conscious of him.

  “Say it,” he demanded again, the hand in her hair pulling just a bit tighter.

  “I’m yours.”

  It was enough. It was what he needed.

  He released the hold he had on her, forcing her front back against the table, his hands moving to her hips as he jerked them back to meet his thrusts.

  Lauren couldn’t think of a single word to describe how she felt in this moment, from the grip he had on her, from the restless words falling from his lips, even the way she was practically shaking under his onslaught.

  But when his hand snaked around, his fingers delving between her folds, she felt it as she crashed over the edge, him quickly following her.

  Alex was at the table the next morning, eating a bowl of cereal when Lauren exited the bedroom. It wasn’t so much that she was eating there…but the place she was sitting.

  Of all places, she had to sit at that end of the table?

  Noticing Lauren, Alex raised her spoon in greeting. “Why are you looking at me like that?” She asked noticing the deer-in-headlights expression on her face.

  Lauren coughed, clearing her throat, shaking her head as she felt the flush creep up her neck. Mishca was right behind her, buttoning his shirt.

  “Alex, you’re—” He paused when he saw the way everyone was looking, but unlike Lauren, he couldn’t keep the grin off his face.

  “What the hell is wrong with you two? I know you’re engaged—hurrah hurrah—but you’re like freaking me out.”

  “You, uh, might want to move,” Lauren stammered out, blindly reaching out behind her to punch Mishca when she heard his soft laughter.

  “Why would I…” She looked down at the table first, then at the two of them. “Seriously? We eat here! God, Mish keep it in your pants. If I can restrict my guests to my room, you can do the same.”

  “It is my house.”

  “And when has that ever mattered to me?”

  But Mishca had just realized what she said to him. “Who the hell have you brought here?”

  Grabbing her bowl off the table, and snatching the box of cereal, Alex smiled sweetly, heading towards her room. “Wouldn’t you like to know.”

  “Dammit Alex.”

  Ignoring him, Alex asked, “Are we still on?”

  “As soon as the resident babysitter arrives,” Lauren replied, reaching for Mishca’s hand when he moved to follow Alex. “She’s only messing with you, Mish.”

  “Knowing her, she probably meant it. What do the two of you have planned for the day?”

  “Apparently my mom suggested we go browsing around the city for wedding stuff.” She reached for his tie, pulling the knot into place and straightening it, smoothing it down. “Alex is going to pick her up.”

  He reached behind him, pulling out his wallet, handing over a black American Express card. “For whatever you want.”

  “I guess there’s no use in me turning this down?” She asked as she took it. Judging from his expression, she’d guessed right.

  “Oh, Mish,” Alex called as she stuck her head out to peer at them. “What’s my timeline?”

  “Two weeks.”

  “What?” Lauren and Alex both parroted.

  But they had heard him correctly as he repeated, “Two weeks.”

  “That’s not enough time,” Alex said aghast, just as Lauren said, “That’s so soon.”

  “Plus, it doesn’t give me enough time to get everything in order.”

  “Fine.” Mishca amended his earlier words. “Four weeks.”

  “Two months.”

  “Four weeks.”

  “Fine!”

  “Do I get a say?” Lauren asked dryly.

  Mishca and Alex both said, “No.”

  Lauren threw her hands up, knowing she would never be able to voice her opinion with the two of them. As Alex retreated back to her room, presumably to get dressed, Lauren turned to Mishca wit another concern.

  “Shouldn’t we talk about a budget or something?” Lauren asked as she settled against his side, turning the card he’d given her over in her hands, staring down at his rather legible signature across the back of it.

  “No.”

  “No? What do you mean, no?”

  He shrugged. “Whatever you want.”

  “Mish—” He gave her a hard stare. “Thank you.”

  Kissing the top of her head, he inclined his head to Amber and Alex, then he was gone.

  “I’m ready!” Alex declared, her blonde hair pulled up into a ponytail, a pen behind her ear, a three ring binder under her arm.

  “What are you doing today anyway?” Mishca asked after he kissed Lauren’s forehead.

  “Every girl’s dream,” Lauren said though she didn’t really sound all that enthused, “Shopping for a wedding dress.”

  On every wedding show Lauren had ever watched, the brides-to-be always went through multiple dresses before they found the one, and normally that was followed by tears of joy. Lauren didn’t know if she would experience anything like that, or if she would get that grand epiphany that most had, but she was excited, if not a little nervous about the whole experience.

  They entered the boutique on Fifth Avenue Alex insisted they go to. One floor was designated for wedding dresses alone, another for bridesmaid gowns, and another for alterations. Since it would cost a fortune to have her dress altered if she needed it—although Mishca was footing the bill—Susan had already volunteered her services.

  The windows in front provided plenty of natural lighting, making the space appear brighter and bigger thanks to the white walls and offsetting black fixtures. There were a few parties waiting off to the side, their eagerness palpable.

  While hey were looking forward to this with giddy excitement, Lauren wasn’t sure what she was feeling.

  They had only been waiting for a few minutes at most when a woman came walking towards them.

  “Good morning, I’m Mariah Lawrence. I’ll be working with you. Who do we have here today?” The consultant was a plump, middle-aged woman with a warm smile and a kind personality.

  Lauren introduced her to everybody—their small party consisting of Lauren, Al
ex, Amber, and Susan.

  “Can you tell me what you’re looking for today?”

  Everyone was looking at her expectantly, leaving Lauren at a loss for words. She really had no idea what kind of fit she was looking for.

  Noticing this, Mariah suggested, “How about I bring out a few different styles, then we can get a more precise idea about what you like and dislike.”

  “Sounds good.”

  Lauren followed her back to a private room, stripping out her clothes and putting on one of the white robes as she waited for Mariah to get back. Up until she put on the first dress, it didn’t feel real to her, not until she saw her reflection.

  This was it. She was really getting married to the love of her life.

  “What do you think of this one?” Mariah asked as she stepped back.

  It was absolutely stunning, with a beaded corset bodice and puffy skirt, but Lauren didn’t think it was for her. “We can show them, see what they think.”

  Before Lauren even made back to where they were waiting, they caught sight of her, their faces lighting up.

  “I like it!” Alex spoke up first.

  Laughing, Lauren said, “I thought you would.”

  “What do you think of it?” Susan asked.

  “It’s pretty.”

  “But…”

  “Maybe something a little more form-fitting.” Lauren smoothed the front of the dress, though there was nothing she could do to tame the bottom half. “Like, I like the top, but I kind of want the same thing at the bottom. Maybe a train?”

  “Okay, we can do that. Let’s get you changed.”

  Seven dresses later, they were no closer to finding Lauren’s dress than when they’d started. She felt that familiar unease creeping in, worrying that she might not find the dress. It might have been easier if she had more time, but since the wedding was only a few weeks away—and Susan would still need time to make alterations—she felt like she needed to find a dress today.

  Lauren was alone in the dressing room, waiting for Mariah to get back when there was a knock at the door.