“And then what?” Matt asked. “Once the book is done, will you get back to teaching more than just a couple of classes a semester?”
“I haven’t thought that far ahead yet. I keep hitting so many roadblocks. I’m not sure the research will ever be completed.”
A tidal wave of guilt slammed into him, but Matt quickly squelched it. He refused to allow his sins to weigh down their night. Apparently, Tamryn had the same idea.
“You know what? No more talk about work or my research woes,” she said. “Let’s just drink beer, suck heads and have fun.”
Matt tsked as he leaned back in his chair and took a long pull of his beer. “What would your students think if they saw you, Dr. West?”
She shook her head. “I’m not Dr. West tonight.”
“I can go with that,” Matt said. He brought his chair forward and said in a lowered voice, “Just remember that I have this naughty-professor fantasy. So, later on tonight, Dr. West might have to make an appearance.”
The instant blush materialized and the only thing that stopped Matt from scooping her up and carrying her out of the building was Dooney Boudreaux picking that moment to walk up to their table. They chatted for a few minutes before Dooney’s wife called for him from the swinging door behind the bar.
A man in an LSU Tigers T-shirt walked up to the microphone on the pieces of plywood that passed for a stage in the corner of the bar and put out a call for karaoke singers.
“You know, I’ve always wanted to do that,” Tamryn said, gesturing to the stage.
“Sing karaoke?”
She nodded.
“Go on up there, then,” Matt encouraged.
She shook her head. “I’ve got guts, but not that much.”
“We’re having fun tonight, remember?”
She regarded him with a challenging stare as the first singer walked onto the stage.
“Are you waiting for me to say it?” Matt asked. Her brow rose. “Okay,” he said. “I dare you.”
She set her beer down and lifted one of the premoistened towelettes from the basket on the table. She used it to wipe her hands, then pushed her chair back, stood and strode toward the stage.
Matt turned his chair around and straddled it, folding his arms over the back. Tamryn stood just to the right of the stage while the guy singing a song from a boy band from years ago wrapped up his number. She waited for him to leave the stage before stepping up to the microphone in those sexy-ass boots.
Matt placed two fingers in his mouth and let out a loud whistle. The crowd clapped as the emcee introduced her.
The first bars of a Mary J. Blige song began and Tamryn started singing.
Matt’s jaw dropped. He stared at the stage in complete awe, unable to believe how god-awful she was. Not a single note was in tune. Her voice cracked as it went from low to high in the middle of the same note. It had to be one of the worse performances in the history of karaoke. All karaoke. Everywhere.
But to see her on that stage with her eyes closed and her body swaying from side to side made it all worth it. At least for him. The rest of the crowd looked to be in agony.
When she was done, Matt stood up and clapped loudly, whistling again and cheering her on. He didn’t call for an encore for fear that they would be tossed out of the restaurant.
When Tamryn came back to the table, the smile on her face was a mile wide.
“I can’t believe you did that,” he said. “That was...uh...something.”
“It was terrible,” she said with a laugh “I know it was, but I don’t care. That was so much fun.” She put her hand to her chest; her eyes were bright with excitement. “I swear, I have wanted to sing karaoke for so long, but I couldn’t do it in Boston where I know people. This was the perfect place for it. Now no one I work with has to know just how bad a singer I am.”
“Unless someone captured it on a cell-phone camera and you turn into a YouTube sensation,” Matt pointed out.
She brought both hands to her cheeks as a look of horror stole over her face, but then she laughed. “You know what? I don’t even care. It was worth it. It’s been so long since I did anything like that. Just crazy, and silly, and free.” She looked over at him, her eyes soft. “Thank you. I needed this tonight.”
“You’re welcome,” Matt replied.
“Was I really that bad?” she asked.
“Yes.” He laughed. “But if you wanted to do it again, I would walk down to that stage with you and cheer you on from the very front row.”
“You would really do that for me?”
“Damn right. Even though the crowd would probably rise up in protest if they had to go through that again.”
Her features relaxed into an easy smile. “Your brutal honesty stings, but I think you still might be the sweetest man I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing.”
She closed the distance between them and melded her lips to his. Matt soaked in her flavor, detecting her essence despite the spicy food and beer she’d consumed. Her mouth was sweet and delicate, and it tasted better than just about anything he’d ever had in his life.
He was completely lost when it came to this woman. Everything he thought he knew, everything he thought he held dear—his candidacy, keeping his family’s lies hidden—all of it meant nothing when pitted against the chance to feast on Tamryn.
“Are you ready to get out of here?” he asked once they came up for air.
She opened her eyes; her lips hovered a millimeter away from his. “Where to next?” she asked.
“I haven’t given you a proper tour of the Gauthier mansion yet,” Matt said.
He studied her face as the smoldering look entered her eyes, and he knew that she understood exactly what he was suggesting.
“I think I’d like that,” she said.
He released the breath he’d refused to take until he had her answer. Now that he had it, Matt knew that the half-hour bike ride back to Gauthier would be the longest of his life.
Neither saying a word, they gathered their things from the table. Matt dropped a fifty in the center of it, disregarding Dooney’s insistence that his money was no good there.
He was ready to jump out of his skin as they made their way out of the bar. The anticipation of what was to come had him so on edge, he missed the kickstand when he first tried to release it. Matt took a moment to pull in a deep breath. Then another. He took several more, allowing his body the opportunity to find some control.
“Are we leaving?” Tamryn’s warm breath fluttered against his ear, and all the control he’d fought so hard to find rushed out of him.
Matt turned and caught her lips in a deep, fierce kiss that left them both breathing hard. He handed her the helmet and said, “Strap this on. We’re about to break every speeding law in the state.”
“I’m pretty sure that would be an unwise move for a state-senate candidate.”
“I’m pretty sure I don’t give a damn.”
Matt revved the bike and took off, winding back the way they’d come. By the time he drove through the open fourteen-foot iron gate at the Gauthier mansion, he was holding on to his control by a flimsy thread. He drove down the driveway, parking at the back of the house.
Tamryn alighted from the bike. As he studied her legs in the skintight jeans, the bottom halves tucked into the equally tight, calf-high boots, the remaining bits of his hard-fought control vanished.
Matt climbed off the bike and took her by the hand. He fitted the key into the lock, but turned to her before opening the door.
“Just so we’re clear, the tour comes after.”
A sexy grin curled up the corners of Tamryn’s lips. “You took the words out of my mouth.”
* * *
Tamryn faintly registered the sleek stainless-steel appliances and ash-co
lored cabinetry as she entered the house through the kitchen door, but she scarcely had time for more than a passing glance.
The moment they got inside, Matt pinned her against the door and attacked her mouth, thrusting his tongue inside with a greediness that fueled her own passion. He gripped the hem of her sweater and pulled it up, his mouth leaving hers for only the briefest moment as he pulled the top over her head.
He gripped her backside, hoisting her up and wrapping her legs around his waist. She could feel his hardness through his jeans. It hit her exactly where she wanted him, needed him, craved him. She was awed by his strength as—her legs still wrapped around him—he carried her through the kitchen and up a large, winding staircase.
Tamryn tucked her head against his neck, inhaling his earthy, musky scent. She loved this side of him, the strong, cocky, self-assured biker she just knew was seconds from rocking her world.
They entered a bedroom that was just off the landing at the top of the stairs. Tamryn lifted her face from his neck and looked around. Her head reared back.
The room was completely white, with a canopied bed draped with delicate eyelet bedding, a painted rocking chair in the corner and a self-standing cheval mirror.
“This is your room?” Tamryn asked.
“Hell, no. But it has a bed. That’s all we need.”
He deposited her on the bed and hastily removed his T-shirt, leaving him in nothing but low-riding jeans. Tamryn’s breath quickened at the sight of the evenly spaced ripples that cascaded along his stomach. On either side, just below his waist and above his hips, were sexy little indentions that just begged to be licked.
He reached down and captured her right foot, bringing it up to rest on his shoulder. His eyes closed, he ran his hands up and down her leather boot.
“I wish I could get those jeans off of you while leaving the boots on.”
“You can’t,” she said.
He let out a sigh. “I know.” He caught the zipper pull just below the back of her knee and tugged it down, slipping the boot off and dropping it to the floor. He repeated the process with her left leg. Once her boots and socks were gone, he grabbed her waist and pulled her closer, unsnapping her jeans and tugging them down her hips.
“Can I put the boots back on you?” he asked.
“It’ll take too long. Hurry up and get undressed.”
“You’re right,” he said, shucking his jeans and underwear in one swift motion. “Dammit, give me a minute,” he said before leaving the room.
Tamryn lay back on the bed and stared up at the lace canopy. Her entire body hummed, to the point that it felt as if she would burst clear out of her skin. Moments later, Matt returned carrying three condom packets linked together. He tore one off and ripped the packet open.
Tamryn scooted up the bed as he rolled on a condom. He climbed in next to her and dived for her neck, pulling the skin between his teeth as his strong, muscled chest met her soft breasts.
“This is going to go fast,” he murmured against her skin. “Finesse will have to come later.”
“I don’t care about finesse,” Tamryn breathed. “Just get inside me.”
He swooped an arm under each of her knees and pushed her thighs up and back, entering her in one steady, sure thrust. Tamryn’s head fell back as every pleasurable feeling she’d ever experienced before seemed to converge. She melted into a hazy puddle of sensation as Matt drove his hard length into her. He knew exactly where to stroke, exactly how much pressure to apply. He knew when to hold back and when to go deeper. It was as if they had been making love to each other for years instead of only minutes.
Tamryn closed her eyes and concentrated on the feel of him. His hot, silky flesh felt like heaven as it penetrated her. It was intoxicating. The pleasure he delivered was something she knew her body would come to crave. She already craved it. With every deep, seductive slide of his steely flesh, her body wanted more. He shoved his hands underneath her, clutching her bottom and holding it steady as his hips surged and retreated.
Sensation began to build low in her belly, slowly fanning outward to all her extremities, until her limbs started to tremble with it. Matt’s open mouth clamped down on her shoulder and her entire being erupted as wave upon wave of pleasure soared through her bloodstream.
Tamryn cried out, her screams echoing off the walls. As her body shivered, Matt continued to pump his hips with fevered abandon, thrusting in and out until, finally, his body stiffened and he growled his release.
He collapsed on top of her, his lips falling on that spot behind her ear.
Tamryn lay supine on the bed, staring up at the lacy canopy that stretched from the four ornately carved bedposts. It took effort just to pull air into her lungs.
“I don’t know why I fought this for so long,” she said.
Matt’s deep chuckle reverberated along her skin. He moved onto his side and pulled her naked body flush against his. He drew a lazy finger down her arm and along her side, over her hip and down to her thigh. He sucked on her bare shoulder, trailing his tongue over her moist skin.
“You are so sexy,” he murmured as his lips drifted to the curve of her throat. He peered at her. “I need you in those boots. Oh, wait, no. The reading glasses. I need to live out my sexy-history-professor fantasy.”
She laughed. “You are so warped.”
“I’m dead serious.”
She twisted around in the bed and wrapped her arms around his neck. “I’ll make sure to bring them next time,” she said, placing a quick kiss on his lips.
“I like that you’re already thinking of next time,” he said.
“Well, I still have two weeks left in Gauthier. I figure we can do this as often as possible. Now that I know what I’ve been missing, I’m sorry I held out for so long.”
Matt sobered. “Are you really down to just two weeks?”
She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth and nodded. “I know. It’s gone much quicker than I thought it would.”
“When do classes start up again?”
“The last week of August, but the faculty has to be there the week before.”
“That’s nearly six weeks away. You could stay in Gauthier for another month and still have time to get things ready for your next semester.”
Just the thought of extending her stay sent a flutter of pure elation through her stomach, but Tamryn swiftly suppressed it.
She shook her head. “I can’t stay here another month. Never mind the fact that I would go broke if I had to pay for four more weeks at Belle Maison—”
“Stay here,” he interrupted her.
“What?”
“Stay here. We could get your things tomorrow. Phil and Jamal have a waiting list of people wanting to stay at Belle Maison, and if they can’t rent out your room, I’ll pay for the remaining two weeks you have there.”
“Matthew,” she said.
“What? It’s not as if everybody in town hasn’t been betting on when we’re going to get together anyway. Why not stay here with me?”
“Matt, I can’t.”
“Tell me why not,” he persisted. “Give me one good reason why you can’t stay here. And it has to be a good reason.”
“So, ‘because’ won’t work?” she asked with a grin.
“No. ‘Because’ is not a good enough reason.”
She shrugged her bare shoulders. “I can’t think of one right now. I just...I don’t know. You’re the one who’s in the middle of a political campaign,” she pointed out, poking his solid pectoral muscle. “You’re the one who should be concerned about rumors.”
“I’m a grown man. Who I have staying in my house with me has nothing to do with my ability to serve the good citizens of Gauthier.” He took her hand and pressed a kiss to the back of her fingers. “And if that’s the best excuse
you can come up with, I say we head to Belle Maison right now and get your things.”
“I can’t,” she said with a laugh. “Not because I don’t want to, but because I have too much work to do. And after what we just did, you’re now at least ten times the distraction you were before tonight.”
“I like being a distraction,” he whispered as he dipped his head down and captured her lips in a slow, sweet kiss.
Tamryn closed her eyes and soaked in the intoxicating feeling of his mouth against hers, loving the patient care he employed as his tongue gently plunged in and out. It would be so easy to take him up on his offer. To spend the next two weeks—the next six weeks—nestled against him in this massive, historic home. Heaven on Earth couldn’t begin to describe it.
But she couldn’t. Not when she was as far as ever from meeting the goal she’d set out to accomplish when she’d arrived in Gauthier. With a reluctance like none she’d ever experienced before, Tamryn managed to pull away from his drugging kiss.
“God, you’re good at that,” she said. “And that’s the main reason why I will be returning to Belle Maison. I would never get any work done if I stayed here with you.”
Matt let out a groan. “Work, work, work. You’re worse than an attorney,” he said with a playful wink.
Tamryn burst out laughing. She placed a swift kiss on his mouth before twisting around and, once again, settled her back against his chest.
“Remind me again why you’re making this big push to get your research done by the end of the summer? Didn’t you say that you’ve been researching your grandmother’s past for years?”
“Yes. And that’s part of the problem. I’ve been researching it for far too long. It’s time I stop lollygagging and get it done.”
“The fact that you just used the word lollygagging in a sentence makes me much happier than it probably should.”
Tamryn rolled her eyes.
“But there has to be more to it than you just crossing off an item on your to-do list, right?” Matt continued. “You want the career boost that you’re hoping the book will give you.”
Yours Forever Page 13