She couldn’t agree more. Stepping into his embrace was so easy. So natural. Felicity arched up onto her toes just as his head lowered, their mouths meeting with ease and familiarity now, a perfect fit that stirred anticipation. Their bodies were in sync, the attraction so tangible neither of them seemed able to resist.
She wasn’t sure how long it would take to see this through, but she was determined to take all she could until then.
He tasted of the berry cobbler they’d had for dessert, topped with the best vanilla ice cream she’d ever had. Everything about this family brought the best of the best to even the simple pleasures of life. They weren’t pretentious, but they were privileged. Quickly, she pushed away the thought that threatened to chill her and wriggled closer.
His hand slid down her arm in a delicious glide until he linked fingers with her, stepping back. “Follow me.”
“What do you have in mind?”
“Trust me,” he said, blue eyes full of irresistible intent.
* * *
Conrad tightened his grip on Felicity’s hand. Leading her through his home, his mind set on exactly where he wanted to take her. During the entire party at his brother’s place, Conrad had fantasized about getting Felicity into his own pool. Preferably, naked.
Images of her curved body, dark hair slick on her breasts, set his heart racing. Feeling her quickening pulse in their laced hands, he maneuvered through the living room, winding around the sectional and leather recliners. Her footfalls were soft against the thick rug on the hardwood floor as they passed the large dining table, which saw use only when he’d hosted holidays for his brother the year after he lost his wife and daughter.
Conrad pushed the thought aside, as he smoothly opened glass sliding doors to his own heated, enclosed pool area.
The space was private, even with glass walls. The tint was one-way, with an incredible view overlooking a cliff and snowcapped mountains in the distance. No one could approach from that side.
Felicity turned in a slow circle to take it all in, her red leather boots clicking on the mosaic tile flooring. “This space is breathtaking.”
Her smile pleased him.
He couldn’t take his gaze off her. “You are breathtaking.”
A fire lit in her eyes as she stepped back to peel off her sweater dress. Inch by inch, she bunched the knit fabric up, revealing creamy skin one breath at a time. She whipped the dress the rest of the way over her head, tossing it onto a pool lounger and shaking her silky hair back into place. Static lifted strands in a shimmery electric halo around her slim face.
She was bold and beautiful as she stood in a black lace bra and panty set, still wearing her red leather boots.
His pulse hammered in his ears, all the blood rushing south. Fast. Leaving him hard with desire, his feet rooted to the spot as he watched her.
She reached behind her, unhooking her bra. The straps slid forward along her arms, the cups holding on to her breasts for a moment before the scrap of lace fell to the tiled floor. She shimmied her panties down her legs and stepped out of them.
His breath hitched in his chest. Her beauty, confidence and sensuality lit up the room. Moving forward, he lifted both hands to sketch a finger along her collarbones, down to her breasts, the tightening buds encouraging him to continue. He traced farther, farther still until he dipped to stroke between her legs. Already, she was damp and ready for him. Her knees buckled and she grabbed his shoulders, her eyes sliding closed with a sigh.
He reclined her onto a padded poolside lounger to remove her boots as he’d done the first time they were together.
“I don’t think I could ever grow tired of this.” Her eyes blinked open, the hazel depths full of shadows that reminded him of the time limit she’d put on their affair. The last thing he wanted was for her thoughts to already be jetting toward leaving.
He touched her lips, silencing her, before he stepped back to toss away his own clothes in a speedy pile. He snagged a condom from his suit pocket before lowering himself over her. She beckoned him with open arms, her knees parting. He didn’t need any further invitation. Stretching over her, he pressed between her legs, inside her welcoming body.
Her sighs, the roll of her hips, the caress of her skin against his—all of it teased his senses. The water feature tapped an erratic symphony that matched his speeding heart—her answering heartbeat against his chest.
He lost himself in sensation, in her floral scent and the mist of salt water from his pool. The glide of their bodies against each other as perspiration dotted their skin. He waited what felt like an eternity to get her into his bed since the first time he’d laid eyes on her. In reality, it had barely been two months. But time had shifted in that moment when he’d seen her, his every waking and sleeping thought leading him to pursue her.
And he didn’t intend to let up. This woman was one in a million, a class act with sex appeal that seared him clear through. He thrust deeper, her legs hitching up and around his waist, drawing him closer still as her hips encouraged him on.
A flush spread over her skin, her head pressing back into the cushions from side to side. Seeing the oncoming tide of her completion sent a fresh surge of pleasure through him. Her moan grew louder, becoming a cry of bliss. The warm clasp of her pulsed around him, bringing him to a throbbing finish that rocked him to the core. His arms collapsed and he fell to rest, blanketing her. His orgasm shook him once more, a shudder racking through him. Her hands on his back, his butt, teasing every last bit of sensation from his tingling nerve endings.
Once their labored breaths slowed, he hefted himself off Felicity and lifted her in his arms. She smiled up at him and looped her arms around his neck without a single protest, seeming to trust wherever he intended to take her.
He strode toward the pool, the tile cool against his bare feet. Carrying her down the steps, he plunged them both into the heated waters, the stone fountain feature spewing a shower into the deeper end. A saltwater pool, there was no chlorine to sting the air or skin. Just the glide of soft, warmed waves over them.
Neither of them spoke afterward. He smoothed her hair back, his forehead resting against hers, their breaths mingling. It had been an intense couple of days, with Brea’s return, making love to this woman, the emergency C-section of Isabeau’s baby boy.
And he couldn’t deny having Felicity by his side had made all of it easier. She’d supported him. It was also an unusual dynamic since he was more often on the giving end. He wasn’t quite sure what to make of that. And he wasn’t in any state of mind to untangle those thoughts.
Felicity had a hold over him that exceeded anything he’d felt for any other woman. And that scared the hell out of him.
* * *
Felicity stared at her lover as he slept, his head denting the pillow beside her. After they had sex by the pool, they’d swam playfully, then showered together. Her body was mellow and sated, her still-damp hair gathered in a loose knot on her head.
She hadn’t meant to stay through the night, but time had slipped away as they’d made love again and talked into the early hours. The long dark nights of an Alaskan winter had made it all too easy to lose sight of the approaching morning.
In the gentle rays of moonlight streaming through the window across his room, Conrad looked peaceful. Sexy and chiseled, but the light revealed a softer side of him. The kind of light that sent her mind wandering, probing possibilities. A seductive space to imagine.
Combing her fingers through his coarse hair, she could swear that he leaned into her touch. She took in the strength of his body as she sank into the down feather pillows. For the span of a breath, she allowed herself to picture an impossible future. One where she moved through this space—Conrad’s space—dressed in this room of cool grays and breathtaking views. Shared a bed and a life with this bewitching man. What it might be like. What that life would taste like, fresh berries
, his lips, mountain air singed with pine scent... Incredible sex, a shared interest in supporting and bettering others.
She’d prided herself on dating people with less traditional good looks. But there was no denying that Conrad had a movie star face, with his strong cheekbones and jawline.
Even the hints of gray in his hair grew in with perfection, just the right amount sprinkling at the temples.
He was a handsome man, completely comfortable in his own skin.
Given he was the younger brother of an immensely successful businessman, Felicity marveled all the more. She would have expected a younger brother to struggle at least a bit to find his place in the world.
Not Conrad. He’d built his own business, while still supporting his brother’s business and personal ventures. Maybe that was why Conrad had never tried marriage again after the failed engagement.
Who the hell would have time for more? His life was packed.
Or maybe she was just giving herself a convenient out for keeping barriers between them.
Sliding out of the bright white, high-thread-count sheets, she landed gently on the tan carpet. Toes luxuriated in the softness as she gathered her clothes from the nearby chair.
Before they slipped into bed last night, Conrad offered her a tour of his place. She’d never been in a home quite this large or extravagant. No question, the home was amazing, from the pool to the media room. He even had a workout area and indoor basketball court, perfect for enjoying during long Alaska winters.
She knew her worth. Understood that she was a smart woman with a great career. A catch in her own right.
Still, there were times she wondered what drew Conrad to pursue her so intensely. He could have anyone he wanted. Certainly, even someone much younger. She’d half expected that after their first time together, the thrill of the chase would fade for him and he would walk away.
But he hadn’t.
The previous morning had brought the invitation to join him at his family’s get-together. And then here, as well. He’d been attentive, while giving her space, a difficult balance to achieve.
Slipping into her black lace panties, she cast a casual glance back at Conrad. His chest steadily rising and falling.
She wasn’t sure what to make of him.
And until she figured that out, she needed to maintain some distance between them. Sitting to hook her bra behind her back, she willed her mind and body to sync.
She needed to hold strong to her decision to keep this simple. She would not—could not—linger for a romantic breakfast.
She tugged on her sweater dress, then resecured her damp top knot. Hair she’d defiantly grown out after her messy divorce. Her ex had preferred her with a shoulder-length bob. When the divorce process started, she’d resolved to do something small and symbolic for herself. So she let her hair grow long and wild. A reminder to herself she’d never be compromised or caged like that again.
A rustle of the sheets gave her only a moment’s warning before he spoke.
“How about coffee before you leave? I wouldn’t want you falling asleep behind the wheel.” He swung his legs from the bed. “Or better yet, I’ll call for a driver.”
His hair was mussed from her fingers, his jaw peppered with a five o’clock shadow. He was every bit as appealing as when he was decked out in a custom-fit suit. She needed to get moving or she would be tempted to crawl back into that bed for the rest of the night...maybe longer.
“There’s no need for that.” She pulled on her fluffy socks and tall boots, ready to find that distance she’d been thinking about. “I didn’t mean to wake you.”
“More like you were sneaking off. No need to do that. I heard you loud and clear about your ‘no sleepovers’ rule.”
“Well, technically I did sleep over, even if I didn’t fall asleep.” She dropped a quick kiss on his mouth. “But I also meant what I said about making the most of this time while we’re planning the hospital event. Avoiding the attraction would make those meetings miserable.”
“I’m glad we’re in agreement on that.”
She pointed to his phone. “Could you check for any message about Isabeau and the baby?”
“Of course.” He scooped his cell off the dresser and thumbed through. “All’s going well. He’s still on oxygen, but is eating well and alert. Would you like to see some photos?”
“Yes, please.” She rushed to his side and leaned in to look at the screen. The pinkish newborn had oxygen tubes around his tiny face in the stark white warmer. A fighter already. At five and a half pounds, so tiny, but bigger than they’d feared. A sting of regret pinched her as she thought of the children she’d once dreamed of having.
“They’ve named him Everett, which means strong.”
She touched the screen lightly. “He’s beautiful. Congratulations, Uncle Conrad.”
“Great-uncle. Good God, that makes me sound old,” he said, although he showed not the least bit of vanity. Just a wry laugh.
“You’re a good bit younger than your brother. You could still have children of your own.” How had she let that loaded statement slip from her lips? Especially when she’d vowed to keep things simple between them. This was not a simple question, by a long shot. Yet she couldn’t help but wonder how he felt about not ever being a father.
“What about you?” he dodged her question, his face inscrutable.
She weighed her answer, trying to decide whether to speak or run far and fast. She opted for the truth. “I’ve considered adopting an older child. The timing just hasn’t been right.”
He stroked a strand of her hair back, cupping the side of her face. “You would be a phenomenal mother.”
The tender sincerity in his words touched her in a way that stirred her heart, too much.
“Thank you.” She passed back his phone. “But this conversation has gotten entirely too serious for our ground rules about this affair.”
He cupped her hips and drew her close. “Then by all means, let’s not lose focus.”
She laughed, appreciating that he didn’t push the point. “I’ll take that coffee, thank you.”
“Lucky for you, I know exactly how you like it.”
That wasn’t the only preference he’d taken note of, and it didn’t escape her attention. Was he that thoughtful? Or was she being played?
She hated being suspicious, but her instincts in the romance department had led her so horribly astray, she couldn’t bring herself to let her guard down.
Living in the moment was far safer. She kissed him once more. “I’ll take that coffee to go, please.”
* * *
Jack rubbed the back of his neck, exhausted.
The day spent at the hospital visiting baby Everett, helping Trystan and Isabeau, had proved to Jack more than ever that it was time to hand over the reins of the business. He wanted—needed—to focus on his family. The sooner he could wrap up this call with Ward Benally, the better.
Leaning against one of the windowpanes on the wall of windows, Jack searched the lake while listening to Benally on speakerphone. Fading sunlight filtered through the blinds in Jack’s private library, casting the room in a weary twilight glow. It matched his mood. His fingers rested on the blinds, opening up the view ever so slightly. As if there’d be a magic answer out there about winning back Brea if he could just see better.
If only it were so simple. If only anything made sense to him anymore.
Benally said his goodbyes on the other end of the phone.
“Thank you,” Jack said. “Yes. We’ll talk soon.”
He placed the cell phone on the vintage desk. It had belonged to Jack’s great-grandfather. A man Jack remembered in flashes. Images mostly, if he were being honest. But his grandfather had built and carved the wooden desk. Embedded scenes of the Alaskan tundra into the wood—elk, bears and cresting mountains. The w
ell-worn wood gave Jack a sense of solidity.
The library served as a refuge for Jack and Jeannie as their ever-expanding family filtered in and out of the common areas of the house. He didn’t mind retreating here. The walls were warmed by shelves of books and a plush, red Oriental rug. A crystal chandelier descended from a recessed point in the ceiling. Years ago, he’d painted that ceiling sky blue. A reminder of hope in the days after his family suffered unimaginable tragedy.
Jack was a detail man.
“Jack?” Jeannie called from the sofa, where she sat with boxes of papers at her feet. “Who was that on the phone? Was it something to do with Isabeau and the baby? I should get back to the hospital.”
Jeannie gathered her blond hair—streaked with glistening gray—into a ponytail. A move Jack had learned to associate with action, unrest and intervention. Jeannie’s bright blue eyes turned cloudy as worry set in her jaw.
He made fast tracks across the room to rest a hand on her shoulder, to reassure her. “Relax. That wasn’t Trystan.”
She pressed a hand to her chest in relief. “Thank heavens.”
The NICU allowed only a limited number of visitors and Trystan and Isabeau had made it clear they wanted the nighttime alone to bond with their baby. Odds were in the infant’s favor, but a tiny preemie was still a frightening proposition for all.
A call to come to the hospital would likely only mean the worst.
The fire crackled, adding warmth to the cool, fading light from the overcast sky. Snow fell harder, in bigger chunks outside as night approached. While he would drop everything to be at Trystan and Isabeau’s side, a small pang of guilt and relief passed through him. Relief, because no call from the hospital meant the baby’s stability. Guilt because he’d merely exchanged one crisis for another.
Their joint families could not seem to catch a break or a breather. His heart was heavy. The contents of Brea’s written statement had only made things worse as she detailed the off-the-grid family who had rescued her at the crash site, then brought her up as their own.
The Billionaire Renegade Page 11