Thoughts like that should not be in his head. He needed to remember why he hadn’t gotten it on with a woman before now. Why he’d forbidden himself to even think about such a thing.
He reentered the house carrying the boxes but didn’t see Ashley anywhere. So he called out to her.
“I’m in the bedroom. You can bring the boxes in here, Ray.”
Bedroom? It had been years...at least three, he knew...since he’d been in any woman’s bedroom, no matter the reason. He drew in a deep breath and headed toward the direction of her voice.
He walked into the spacious bedroom and he could tell that already Ashley had added her touch. There were flowers and beautiful floral covers on the bed. And there were pillows, a lot of pillows, and a nice floral rug. But what caught his attention and held it more than anything was the bed. It was a huge iron bed that sat high off the floor and looked comfortable as hell. And it looked so damn inviting. For a quick moment he could envision Ashley in that bed.
“You can set the boxes over there. Thanks.”
He just realized he’d been standing in one spot in the middle of the bedroom. “You’re welcome.” After placing the boxes down, he glanced around again. “This place came furnished, right?”
“Yes,” she said, smiling. “But with just the basics. I decided to spruce it up a little.”
Ray thought she was doing more than sprucing it up; she was making it a home. He found that odd for someone who only intended to stay for three months.
She came over to stand beside him to open one of the boxes and then glanced up at him. “You wouldn’t happen to have a box cutter, would you?”
“No, but I have a pocketknife. That should work.”
It did, and when he took a step back, he almost bumped into her. “Sorry. There’s a couple more boxes I need to get out your car.”
“Okay.”
* * *
ASHLEY WATCHED RAY rush from the room like the devil himself was behind him. She could read her husband like a book and knew he was definitely attracted to her and was still trying to figure out why. She hoped the day would come when he put two and two together and got his memory back.
She was looking forward to her time in Catalina Cove. The one thing she knew about him was that he’d never been able to resist her for long. Nor could she resist him, so her willpower had to be just as strong as his. Even stronger.
“Do you also want these in here?” he asked, coming back into the room.
“You can set them here,” she said, moving out of his way to stand by the window. She turned and looked out at the view. The cove was beautiful and today the water was the bluest green. There were a number of boaters out on the water and pelicans were flying close to shore in search of their catch for today. Just looking out the window was having such a calming effect on her, not at all like the man behind her, who had the ability to raise her temperature without even trying.
“Anything else?”
She glanced over her shoulder. “Yes. Come here for a minute. I want you to see the view I’ll wake up to every morning.”
* * *
RAY FELT A quiver up his spine and wished Ashley hadn’t given him such a bright smile. He also wished he had more willpower to deny her request. What he should do was tell her if she didn’t need any more help that he needed to leave. There were other things he could be doing...like remembering he had a company to run.
Instead he was moving his feet toward where she stood by the window, her entire body silhouetted in the glow of the noonday sun. Today she was wearing another cute pair of shorts and a diagonal print top. The prominent colors of yellow and blue seemed to enhance her skin tone, making her appear even more radiant.
With every step he took toward her, he tried convincing himself the only reason he was going to her was out of curiosity. He wanted to see the view. He tried forcing from his mind the image of her waking, stretching and getting out of bed wearing something soft, sexy and alluring that barely covered those legs.
If anyone would have told him even last month that a woman would come to Catalina Cove who would get embedded deep in his skin, he would not have believed them. Yet here he was. Since the day he’d pulled her out of the water, this woman was constantly on his mind.
He wanted to stand beside her, but since she was in the middle of the window, it made more sense to stand directly behind her. He was tall enough to see over her head. But standing so close to her was causing all kinds of sensations to swamp him. He drew in a deep breath—a huge mistake when he took in her scent through his nostrils. Damn, she smelled good.
A long, sensual moment passed before he could finally say the word “beautiful.” And he wasn’t talking about the view out of her bedroom window. He was talking about her.
* * *
ASHLEY COULD FEEL her husband’s heat as well as the warmth of his breath on her neck when he’d spoken. She momentarily closed her eyes, fighting the urge to lean back against him. She wished she didn’t remember their very active sex life and what she’d gone without for the past three years. His touch. His kiss. His lovemaking...
She blinked open her eyes, drew in a deep breath, which included his masculine scent, and said, “Yes, I think the view is beautiful, too.”
“I wasn’t just talking about the view of the cove, Ashley.”
His rough and sensuous voice made her draw in another deep breath. She slowly turned. The moment she did, he reached out and brushed the back of his hand across her cheek. His touch made her heart beat fast in her chest.
For several tense seconds she just stood there and studied his features. Standing before her was the man she loved with every fiber of her being and he had no idea that every beat of her heart belonged to him. That for three years since receiving word of his death she’d been a woman grieving for her mate. A woman who knew that no other man could ever take his place. A woman who didn’t care if he remembered her or not. A woman who cared even less if he was called Devon or Ray, because in her heart his name would forever be Mine.
“So what else were you talking about, Ray?”
He took a step closer and she could feel his erection press hard against her middle. Lordy, it had been three years too long, and although he might not remember her, this part of him did, and it was doing what it usually did when desire got the best of them—communicating with the area between her thighs, telling her exactly what it wanted. What it needed.
“I was talking about you,” he said, staring down at her. “I don’t understand.”
She held his gaze and asked softly, “And what don’t you understand, Ray?” Was it her imagination or was he lowering his head and his lips getting closer and closer to hers?
“Why I want you so much. I haven’t wanted a woman this much in three years.”
“Since your divorce?”
One of his eyebrows went up and then it lowered when he said, “Yes.”
She swallowed and said, “And I haven’t wanted a man as much as I want you in three years, too.”
“Since your husband’s death?”
“Yes,” she said as his mouth got closer and closer.
“Then I guess this is about needs.”
And then he sank his mouth into hers. Her eyes drifted shut as sensations she hadn’t felt in three years, sensations she’d convinced herself she would never feel again, swept through her, capturing her in a maelstrom of passion, the strength of which she’d never felt before.
When he deepened the kiss, she moaned in a way that sent shudders all through her, feelings that only Devon could stir within her. Feelings he could not only initiate but take to unprecedented levels.
Like he was doing now.
The way he was taking her mouth was causing nerve endings inside of her to detonate. This kiss was bringing back detailed memories of nights and days spent in his arms, enjoying this delicio
us foreplay before they would strip off each other’s clothes.
Devon had been a master kisser and she could definitely say he hadn’t lost his touch. He had defined a whole new meaning of French kissing. He had his own special technique and had taught her just how to reciprocate or die trying.
She wished there was a way for this kiss to bring back memories for him like it was doing for her.
But for her it was doing more than rekindling memories. There was a distinctive heat spreading all over her, moving up her thighs and settling at the core between her legs. Now there was an insistent throb, a titillating ache. Her senses were being crushed under the onslaught of his masterful tongue.
She wrapped her arms around his neck to return the kiss the only way she knew how. The way he had taught her to do. From the sounds he was making, he still liked that way although he probably had no earthly idea why. He couldn’t remember the many college nights they’d spent sharing heated kisses because he’d refused to take things further.
When he finally had and she’d gotten her first taste of deep-rooted desire and passion, she’d come apart. The reminder of that first time with him, three years without and what he was doing to her now, took over her mind and body, destroying the last remnants of her control.
Suddenly, it happened. Her arms tightened around his neck while sensuous spasms tore into her, and when the multitude of contractions became unbearable, she pulled back from his mouth and screamed, not caring if all of Catalina Cove could hear her. All that pent-up passion, sexual need and carnal hunger was being ripped out of her with unprecedented proficiency. Only Devon had the ability to do this to her. Devon who was now Ray.
He was still there, holding her in his arms and saying soothing passionate words while pressing soft kisses to her lips and running his hands over her backside, like he had every right to do so. He did.
In all honesty, she would not have been surprised if her loud screams had run him off. Devon had been used to her orgasms from kissing. She couldn’t help but wonder what Ray thought of it.
Ashley closed her eyes as spasms continued to tear through her. She didn’t even reopen them when she felt him sweep her off the floor to carry her across the room to the bed, placing her on it and lying down beside her.
She would forever recall his soothing words and the kisses he continued to nibble around her mouth. She wasn’t sure how long they lay there, yet she still refused to open her eyes. She didn’t want to see the look of lust instead of one of love in his eyes. The lack of recognition at this moment would break her heart.
As he continued to hold her, she felt the spasms begin to wane, and that was all she recalled before drifting off to sleep.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
RAY EASED OFF the bed the moment he knew Ashley had drifted off to sleep. Shoving his hands in his pockets, he walked over to the window and looked out. Now he was seeing what Ashley had intended for him to see and she’d been right. The view was beautiful.
He turned and glanced at her sleeping in the bed. She was even more beautiful like this. When she had reached the pinnacle of sexual pleasure just from their kiss, he’d come pretty damn close to doing so himself.
He tossed his head back and looked up at the ceiling when regret began taking over his mind. He should never have kissed her. How in the world had he allowed such a thing to happen? It was as if the moment he’d gotten a taste of her mouth, something within him had snapped, propelling him with a greed he wasn’t prepared for.
And it seemed as if a similar greed had propelled her to an orgasm she’d definitely needed. And like he’d said, it had been all about needs.
He understood how such a thing happened. She obviously had enjoyed a pretty active sex life with her husband. Ray had every reason to believe she hadn’t been with a man since losing him and some women couldn’t always depend on one of those pleasure toys to take care of business to the degree they might like. That kiss had given her a way to unleash all that sexual desire. He was glad in a way, but where did that leave him?
She had unknowingly lit a torch within him, a torch he had successfully kept dormant. But kissing her had blatantly reminded him that he was a man with needs he’d buried for three years. He had a feeling that now that the torch had been lit, it wouldn’t be easy to snuff it out again. But he had to do so. He had no other choice. Needs or no needs.
The first thing he had to do was get away from here. As far as he could get and especially before she woke up. He couldn’t handle any awkward moments between them and he knew there would be some.
Ray noticed a photo on the dresser. That of her and three other women. They were all smiling for the camera and you could tell the three were close. He glanced around and figured there would be a framed photo of her late husband someplace. When he didn’t see one, he assumed she hadn’t unpacked it yet. He cursed himself for being nosy.
When there was a movement on the bed, he glanced over and saw Ashley had shifted in sleep, making a portion of her shorts ride up her thighs. He felt his body get hard and begin throbbing. He had to get out of there and away from her.
Walking quickly, he moved toward the front door.
* * *
“HOW ON EARTH am I going to face him again, Emmie?” Ashley asked, setting her wineglass down with a thud. It was night and she was sitting out on the screen patio that overlooked the ocean. It was beautiful how the moon, the only light that appeared in the sky, seemed to glow across the waters. Earlier that day she had awakened alone to remember just what had happened. There was no telling what Ray was thinking about her.
“Hey, don’t beat yourself up over it. The way I see it, it was bound to happen. I’m surprised the two of you stopped at kissing. If you recall, you and Devon used to mate like rabbits.”
Ashley did recall and wished she didn’t. “That was then, and this is now. He is Ray.”
“Yes, but Ray is still a man who, according to what you’ve said, has shunned women for three years. He’s attracted to you, so the kiss was inevitable. You can’t fault yourself for kissing him the way you’ve always done.”
“But he doesn’t know that. I’m not looking forward to seeing him anytime soon.” But then, a part of her was looking forward to it. He was the reason she was here. The very reason she had rented the house for the summer.
“Get used to it. I have a feeling that kiss is only the beginning.”
Emmie’s words came back to her as she checked all the doors and climbed into bed that night. She had unpacked a lot of her belongings. Bryce and Vashti had returned with food since they figured she hadn’t stopped to eat. She hadn’t and appreciated their thoughtfulness. Vashti had brought the baby with her and Ashley had thought he was a mini Sawyer. The little guy definitely was a cutie with all his father’s features.
Seeing him made her remember how much she’d wanted a baby. Devon’s baby. She wanted to believe there was still hope they would find their way back together.
As she curled into bed, she couldn’t help but think of the kiss she’d shared with Ray. When she’d awakened to find him gone, at first she’d felt a deep rush of embarrassment, but talking to Emmie had helped. Besides, although she’d been a willing participant, she hadn’t been the one to initiate the kiss. To her that had been something.
And then for her it had meant everything to feel her husband’s lips possessively moving over hers and making her remember how things used to be between them. His kisses would always start off sweet, then move to hot, scandalous and, finally, all-consuming. He might not have his memory but the mind-blowing technique was still there.
As she shifted positions a few times before settling comfortably in bed, there was no doubt in her mind Ray would try avoiding her for a while, and as hard as it would be, she had to let him. The next move had to be his and she refused to consider the possibility that he wouldn’t make it.
* * *
&n
bsp; “OUT LATE TONIGHT, aren’t you, Ray?”
Ray lifted his head from drinking coffee as Sawyer slid into the booth across from him. It was close to ten at night, and instead of being home in bed as usual, he was here, at Witherspoon Café, drinking coffee. “Yes, and I could say the same about you, Sheriff.”
Sawyer grinned. “Trust me, there’s nothing I’d rather be doing about now than be home with my wife and kids, but I’m covering for one of my guys tonight.”
“Oh, I see.”
Sawyer lifted a brow. “So what’s your reason for being out so late? You rarely come back out once you go home.”
Sawyer was right. But there was no way Ray would tell Sawyer he hadn’t been able to sleep because the image of a certain woman wouldn’t let him. Her image, along with memories of how she’d come apart in his arms, was too much to think about. So he had escaped here, needing a diversion.
But not before he’d driven by Ashley’s place, convincing himself that he needed to make sure she was okay. Instead of going up to her door to find out, he’d parked under a cluster of trees in the lot adjacent to hers and sat there awhile, convincing himself it was concern and nothing else that had motivated him to be there. He’d known the moment her bedroom light had gone out.
“I couldn’t sleep,” he finally answered his friend truthfully.
“You’re okay?”
He heard the concern in Sawyer’s voice. Unlike Kaegan, who was closer in age to him, Sawyer was at least five years older and, to Ray’s way of thinking, a little wiser. “I’m fine. Just restless.”
Sawyer chuckled. “Usually when a man is restless it’s because of a woman.”
Ray didn’t say anything and instead took another sip of his coffee. “You know my rule when it comes to women.”
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