Page 20 of Midnight & Memories

He found himself saying this before he genuinely thought it through.

Fuck! I should have mulled this over a little more. But to hell with the consequences. I can’t quite say goodbye to her just yet.

Chapter Eleven

POPPY

If she weren’t in her car driving to her place, she’d be jumping for joy to match the thumping of her heart. Ridge Turner was following her home in his Audi for the third time this week. She, of course, had been skeptical about seeing him since he was her client, and she didn’t want to lose the account if things didn’t turn out well. The thing was that the more time she spent with him, the less she thought about him giving up his account with Creative Collabs. His unfaltering assuredness that they had something between them that wouldn’t fade kept her going. The holidays were fast approaching, which meant spending a lot of time with Ridge to plan his event.

This man with dark eyes, a chiseled chest, and solid arms who did things to her nether region was the man she envisioned a forever with. The c-word always scared her off with other men, but she felt she could be with Ridge. In fact, all she cared to do was profess her feelings to this man.

A commitment wasn’t something she did, and she wasn’t sure if she was comfortable enough to do so. Yet? Her body resonated with Ridge’s, every fiber. It was almost as if she knew to wait for him. Her heart swelled as thoughts of dancing with Ridge on the Titanic surfaced.

Maybe those dreams about the Titanic were trying to tell me something about Ridge? Is it possible he is my soulmate?

Poppy smiled as she remembered the experience of being so safe in Ridge’s arms before the ship sank. And strangely, calmness washed over her when she saw herself falling off the boat this time. She realized that he may be her soulmate, and they were given this beautiful gift, a second chance, here and now.

They were pulling into her condo parking lot. Poppy found an empty parking space near her assigned spot and motioned for Ridge to park there before she headed to hers. She quickly parked her car and practically jumped out to meet him. He reached for her hand and pressed his lips to her knuckles in response. The gesture was sweet and searing all at once.

“I’m yours for tonight. I can’t promise how long I can stay because I need to be at work by 6 AM, but I’ll stay as long as possible.”

She smiled at his response, and they were in each other’s arms before she ever closed the door to her place. He trailed kisses from her lips down to her collarbone as he unbuttoned her blouse.

“I want you, Poppy.”

He growled. The sound vibrated into her chest as his lips contacted her bare skin. He kissed it while unbuttoning her blouse. One hand slinked up her thigh and played with the hemline of her trousers, while the other slipped off the lace of her bra to palm her breast. “Shall we continue this in your bedroom?” He whispered in her ear.

She let out a soft hum before directing him to the long hallway. Ridge scooped her up and took her to the bedroom. Once inside, he placed her on the bed, removed the rest of her clothing, and added his own clothes to the growing pile by her bedside.

“You are so beautiful, Poppy.” He said, tracing a line from her collarbone down to her inner thigh.

He straddled her and gently kissed her nose. His erection, full and teasing her clit with the slightest touch, sent pools of pleasure to her core.

She moaned and arched her back in response to his touch.

“Oh, not yet, darling. I want a taste of you first.” He said as he kissed her stomach and slid two fingers deep within her sex. “Mmm, you’re so wet for me.”

His tongue slithered down to her clit and swirled her center as if he were an expert at pleasing her. Not that it surprised her. The man studied her through his hooded gaze. With each moan, shaky breath, and each arching of her back, he seemed to have committed to memory, all so he could make her come five to six times every night he’d spent with her. Tonight was no exception as she arched her body towards his lips, signifying her need for his touch. He deepened the intimate kiss and lapped up her juices briefly before sliding his cock inside her.

“I can’t wait any longer, baby. I need to be inside you. The need to have your pussy pulsating around my dick is just too great.” He said as he slowly thrust himself within her.

“Oh, Ridge, I need you, too.” She dug her fingernails into his backside as he continued to fill her to the hilt.

They quickly found their rhythm with one another and rocked and thrust against each other until they both were riding on the edge.

“Oh, baby, you feel so good. God, I’m gonna come!”

“I need your fill inside me, Ridge. Come on, baby.”

He instantly released within her at her words. They sounded more like a command than a request, and the thought made him growl. He pulled her onto his chest as she pulsated against his cock, making him hard again.

“You are amazing, Poppy. Simply amazing.” He said as he cupped her cheek. “A man could get used to this.”

“A woman could too.”

He straddled her again, readying himself for another round of pleasure.

“Poppy, I love you.”

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