Bordering on Obsession

by Susan Kearney

  She thought about drinking the entire bottle of champagne so she could blame the alcohol for doing as he asked and acting irresponsibly. Then she could wear the blindfold and have a delicious night of sex with Quinn without making up her mind. But that would be taking the easy way out.

  Nothing wrong with the easy way, Maggie girl.

  It wasn’t as if making love to him again was committing to more than a continuation of the fling she’d wanted. But Maggie knew that the more intimate time that she spent with Quinn, the harder it would be to guard her feelings. And her self-protective instincts were strong. They’d been strong enough to keep her from going after Quinn for the last four years. But not strong enough to keep her out of the mess she’d created. Now that she’d broken down the physical barrier between them, keeping her heart out of the mix wasn’t such an easy task.

  Maggie leaned into the lilies and breathed deeply. She loved fresh-cut flowers and chocolate and champagne. Who didn’t? But that didn’t mean she would automatically succumb to Quinn’s request.

  But she wanted to. And fighting her own desires along with his was really more than a woman should have to do. Just because he’d tricked her into bargaining with him earlier didn’t mean she had to go along with his plans. Neither did taking the casting opportunity he’d offered. Or the flowers, chocolates and champagne. All of those gestures were wonderful, but none of them meant that he really loved her, did they?

  She’d asked him to prove his love and he’d certainly taken the challenge seriously. But she had no idea how one proved love—or trust, which was really the issue. She couldn’t read his mind—only her own. And even without the champagne, her thoughts seemed fuzzy around the edges. She admired Quinn. She adored making love with him. She liked working with him. But that wasn’t enough. To let herself love him, she needed to know that he loved her. But how could he prove that? Had she set him an impossible task, so she’d be free to walk away? Was she really as afraid as he’d said?

  Maggie didn’t know.

  She lifted the blindfold off the nightstand and ran it through her fingers. Was he right that she had to give him a chance? She didn’t know that, either. In fact ever since she’d begun her quest to make love with Quinn, her IQ seemed to have plunged.

  Yet, as seven o’clock approached, she found herself showering and dressing, still not committed to the night with him. At five to seven, she wondered if she was making the biggest mistake of her life as she tied the blindfold over her eyes.

  Yet, once she did, she knew that she couldn’t fight what she wanted and him, too. The five minutes ticked by too fast, and at the knocking on her door, her mouth went dry.

  She licked her lips. “Come in.”

  She heard him step inside and close the door. Sensed him watching her. Smelled his clean scent that made her think of rolling around the crisp hotel sheets with him. “Thanks for the flowers.”

  “You’re welcome. You have no idea how I enjoyed the thought of you blindfolded, waiting here for me.”

  His rich voice alone heated her, but then his words actually set off a pulse between her thighs. Her breasts ached for his touch and her nipples hardened as if her body recognized the love her mind had yet to accept.

  And she finally believed she’d made the right decision. There was no place she’d rather be right now than here with Quinn, anticipating what he’d planned for their evening. If things didn’t work out between them, at least she hadn’t fled out of cowardice. She was here, ready for him to sweep her into another rich sexual fantasy.

  “Ready to go?” he asked as if she wasn’t wearing a blindfold, as if he had no idea how much she wanted him to take her into his arms and kiss her.

  She wished she could see his face, wondered at his expression. He sounded as if he’d moved fairly close to her but she couldn’t be certain.

  Talking when she wasn’t sure exactly where he was seemed strange to her. Exciting somehow. “We’re going out?”

  “Oh, yes.”

  “But I’m wearing a blindfold.”

  His tone was light and playful but edged with desire. “If anyone asks, I’ll tell them it’s your birthday, and I’m planning a surprise present.”

  She grinned as she realized he was as impatient to have her as she was to have him. Perhaps she could keep him in this room, after all. “Well, if you’re going to be responsible for me, there’s something you should know.”

  “What’s that?”

  “We forgot to buy lingerie.” She heard him take a ragged breath. “So I’m not wearing anything under my skirt.”

  At her words, her pulse accelerated. She couldn’t help wondering if the thought of her so bare, so accessibly close by, caused him to harden. She wouldn’t mind changing his plans and coaxing him into making love right here, right now.

  As if reading her mind, he spoke softly. “You know Maggie, I think you should show me.”

  Huh? In her desire to get him to make love to her, she hadn’t been following the conversation. “Show you what?”

  “Lift your skirt for me, babe.”

  And all of a sudden what she was doing hit her like an icy bucket of water, causing her spine to shiver. Quinn had seen every inch of her—but back then he hadn’t known that she was Maggie. And that made the prospect of lifting her skirt so different that she hesitated. Panicked. Tried to change the subject. “I thought we were going out.”

  “We will. But I want to see what’s under that skirt. A little appetizer.”

  “Wouldn’t you rather use your imagination?”

  “What happened to my bold lover?”

  For a moment, her obvious reluctance seemed to surprise Quinn, but then he finally seemed to realize this was the first time Maggie was with him as Maggie. She didn’t have her fake French character to hide behind. And trusting him was different when he could reject her, not some character she was playing.

  “It’s not so easy when the blindfold is over your eyes, is it?” he asked.

  She told herself that she was ridiculous to feel so vulnerable. Not five minutes ago she’d wanted to make love and would have tossed off her clothes without any need to convince herself that she shouldn’t be naked with this man. But the entire scenario with him fully dressed and her partially so—suddenly had her wondering what she was doing.

  Did she want to make love?

  Yes.

  Did she want Quinn to see her?

  Yes.

  Did she want Quinn to touch her?

  Absolutely.

  Yet just thinking about lifting her skirt while he looked at her when she couldn’t see him had her nerves snapping. She recalled when he’d waited for her in his office—completely nude. And how he’d pursued her relentlessly after finding out her true identity. The memory gave her a measure of courage mixed with a bolt of desire.

  Perhaps he did have real feelings for her.

  Standing on trembling legs, she clenched and unclenched her fingers. She inhaled and exhaled, trying to calm her galloping breath. Then slowly she lifted her skirt. Very slowly. Inch by revealing inch, she showed him her knees, her thighs, her almost totally shaved mons, so silkily bare.

  And very lightly, he skimmed his fingers up the inside of her smooth thighs. She’d never felt more naughty in her life, and she was loving every second of wondering what he’d do next. Where he’d touch next.

  His breath fanned her thigh and she realized he must be kneeling at her feet. “You know what I’m remembering, Maggie? How you teased me when I was the one blindfolded.”

  She sucked in a breath of air, waiting in anticipation for his first touch, his first kiss.

  “You undressed for me, but I couldn’t watch you then,” he coaxed. “But I can see you now, Maggie. I like looking at you and knowing I can slip my tongue between your folds, run my hands over your bottom or just taunt you with my breath fanning over your skin. And you’re enjoying every moment. You want me here with you, don’t you?”

  She did. In fact, her
skin was already plumping for him in expectation.

  “Of course I want you.” Maggie’s hesitation was gone. “And I want you to do more than look.”

  She parted her thighs slightly. She was already damp. Wanting him.

  It was his turn to draw in hot air.

  And she thought that if he didn’t touch her soon she would just keel over and collapse.

  Luckily for her, he couldn’t resist fondling her. He slipped his fingers into her slick folds. Then stopped. Stopped way too soon. What had happened to his fingers slicking back her flesh and his mouth on her? Why wasn’t he doing anything?

  “What’s wrong?” she asked.

  “Perhaps, I’m jumping a few steps. I intended to kiss you first, play with your breasts. I’m going too fast—”

  “You aren’t.” At his sudden cessation of lovemaking, she felt like gnashing her teeth in frustration.

  “Room service.” At the knock on the door, she jumped and smoothed down her skirt, making sure she was totally covered up from prying eyes.

  Quinn paid the bellhop and returned to Maggie. “I asked room service to bring up this special lotion. Lift your skirt again.”

  This time his tone was more commanding, sexy. She wanted the need back in his tone. After all, if they were going to play love games, she didn’t want to do so in frustrating fits and starts. But he wasn’t going to change his mind. She’d heard that in his firm determination to put the lotion on her.

  She bit her bottom lip, but didn’t hesitate to lift the skirt. She imagined him unscrewing the cap and dabbing the lotion onto his fingers. When he touched her, she still jumped.

  “It’s cold.”

  He smoothed the lotion over her mons. “How does that feel?”

  “How is it supposed to feel?” she answered impatiently.

  “Just wait.” She could hear the water splashing in the bathroom sink and figured he must be washing the lotion off of his hands. “The bottle says to reapply as needed.”

  “I’m tingly.”

  “Reapply ever hour or so. I think I’m going to enjoy this,” he teased and she suspected he was enjoying the blush that heated her neck.

  When she started to lower her skirt again, he grabbed her wrist. “Let me blow the lotion dry, Maggie.”

  “What did you put on me?”

  “An aphrodisiac.”

  “There’s no such thing.”

  “If you say so. However, you should begin to feel warm down there quite soon.” He skimmed a finger up the inside of her thigh and slipped it onto her clit. “I adore pink.”

  “Are you trying to embarrass me.”

  “I’ve already seen all of you. And I like what I see.”

  “But—”

  He moved his finger ever so slowly over her clit, making her wild with need. “Trusting isn’t so easy when the blindfold’s on you, is it?” he teased softly.

  Trusting wasn’t easy for her, period. Oh my the things the man could do with just one finger. “I can’t take—”

  “You’re strong, Maggie. A lot stronger than either of us knew. Have I ever told you how much I adore strong women?”

  His finger was making it almost impossible not to gyrate her hips.

  And he knew how he was driving her wild. Damn him, he knew. “Hold still, Maggie. You don’t want to get that lotion on your pretty skirt, do you?”

  “Surely I must be dry by now?”

  “Almost.”

  His finger moved just the tiniest bit faster. Maggie bit her lip but failed to keep back a moan. She would have been a fool to pass up another night together. Another fantastic orgasm. She thought Quinn might stop, leave her hanging. But he just kept playing, so gently that the explosion sneaked up on her. It wasn’t a huge orgasm, but it lasted and lasted and lasted. Quinn never broke contact and never stopped moving his finger until she staggered. She would have fallen if he hadn’t caught her up in his arms.

  “Just think, sweetheart—”

  She didn’t want to think.

  “We can do that over and over. I believe the package said to reapply every hour.”

  Every hour? He intended to give her an orgasm every hour? “Surely you can’t be serious?”

  “Oh, but I am.”

  “But—”

  “I didn’t forget to buy you underwear, Maggie,” he told her sounding quite pleased with himself.

  “You planned to, to…”

  “I’m going to enjoy seeing how many times I can make you come in one evening.”

  He pulled down her skirt for her. “It’s time to go.”

  “Go?”

  “I told you before that we’re going out.”

  “I thought—”

  “That I’d changed my mind?”

  “Well, you did say you were going to reapply the lotion, so I assumed—”

  “You assumed incorrectly.”

  “We’re really not going to make love?” She couldn’t hide the disappointment in her voice.

  “First, we’re taking a walk, then having dinner.”

  “And then we’re going to make love?”

  Deliberately, he didn’t answer. She knew Quinn was having way too much fun to satisfy her curiosity yet. Anticipation would undoubtedly add to both of their eventual pleasure, but not knowing what he planned was setting her nerves on edge.

  “Quinn, I’m not into taking my clothes off in public.”

  “Let’s just see how the night unfolds.”

  Maggie couldn’t imagine going that far, but then she should have been satisfied with the wonderful orgasm he’d given her yet she wanted more. The tension rebuilding between her legs, plus the sheer exhilaration of the moment, had carried her into a place she’d never been. Always before when she’d been with Quinn, she’d had her anonyminity to protect her. When Quinn hadn’t known her identity, she’d felt as if there could be no lasting consequences of their love play. She could always change her mind and still have had the security of knowing that he’d never know what had really happened between them.

  Now, she could no longer hide. He’d made that abundantly clear just moments ago.

  And just knowing he intended to give her more orgasms kindled a heat that even now kept her moist with wanting.

  She didn’t know what exactly about Quinn could excite her into this state of heightened sexuality. Maggie wasn’t inexperienced. She’d had other lovers, although her last serious relationship had been before she’d turned thirty—over two years ago. With her last boyfriend, she’d had no complaints in the sex department, but he couldn’t make her pulse leap the way Quinn could.

  Quinn led her out of her hotel room toward the elevator. She was surprised when they descended toward the lobby. She’d have thought he might be bringing her up to his private suite for dinner, but he walked her right through the hotel lobby and outside into the cool night air and the sidewalk.

  “Now you need to take a large step up,” he directed her.

  Maggie did as he asked, a maneuver made easier with Quinn’s guidance on her foot as he placed it squarely on a step.

  Maggie smelled the clean animal scent of a horse and she was delighted that he’d apparently rented a buggy and driver to take them around the city. And yet since this was her first visit to Vancouver, she would have liked to have seen where they were going, but she wouldn’t spoil Quinn’s plans by asking to remove the blindfold.

  “We’re going for a ride in a carriage?”

  “You’ll find out soon enough.” Quinn took the seat next to her and tucked a blanket over their laps. “And don’t worry about the driver overhearing our conversation. I requested him because he’s hard of hearing.”

  The driver must have signalled the horse because the buggy moved forward. Maggie enjoyed the sound of the horse’s hooves on the road and snuggled against Quinn’s shoulder. “I didn’t know you could be so romantic.”

  He placed an arm over her shoulder and spoke into her ear with a husky tone. “I have an ulterior motive.�
�

  “And what would that be?”

  “Seduction.” Beneath the blanket, his fingers found the hem of her skirt and skimmed up her legs.

  “I don’t buy that excuse. You could have seduced me back at the hotel.”

  “But this is going to be much more…interesting,” he promised while his fingers caressed lazy circles along her knee.

  Cars whizzed past them, trucks honked and people spoke to one another along the sidewalks. But all she could think about was the breeze on her face, the sway of the carriage and Quinn’s fingers dancing along her skin.

  She tried to keep up a conversation. “Why is the carriage more interesting?”

  “Because no matter how much I fire you up, we can’t make love in it.” His fingers dipped between her thighs.

  “Oh.”

  “Exactly.”

  Already tendrils of excitement had her breasts aching for similar attention. She didn’t know why she reacted so immediately to his every caress. Perhaps it was the lotion’s effects on her. Perhaps the blindfold placed her in a world where she had to concentrate on her remaining senses. Quinn’s clean male scent in addition to his mesmerizing voice and his wicked touch had her reeling in no time.

  “Quinn, exactly how long is our carriage ride?”

  “Long enough for us to get to talk.” He inserted his fingertip inside her. “You know this whirlwind relationship hasn’t included enough conversation.”

  He was teasing her thoroughly and the sway of the carriage seemed to heighten the effect of her already sensitive breasts. Without her bra, her breasts bobbed and her nipples rubbed her blouse increasing the ache between her legs.

  “I can’t even think while you’re doing that.”

  “You can,” he insisted. “And there’s one question I’d really like an answer to.” His fingers slowed to a disconcertingly minute pace.

  “What?” Her voice came out breathlessly.

  “Why don’t you think we can be good together?”

  She wriggled against his hand, hoping he’d give her a little more. And then she realized he was waiting for an answer that she didn’t want to give.