Eleanor was only beginning to comprehend his meaning when he bent his head and traced her left earlobe with his tongue. Then he slipped his fingers inside the top of her bathing suit and brushed his fingers across her bare breasts, her tight nipples.
She sank into the sensations. He lifted her out of the water, high enough so he could bend his head and reach the tips of her breasts with his teeth and tongue.
“Joshua,” she whispered, as the bright, hot excitement shimmered through her.
“Do you like that? Does it feel good?” he asked thickly.
She whimpered and rocked against him, straining her body to get closer and closer to his heat.
“I want you to come, Eleanor,” he said hoarsely. “I want to bring you real pleasure.”
His shocking words should have brought her firmly back to reality. Instead they made her already taut desire tighten and ache. Her body seemed so synchronized to his, her need so strong, she doubted it would take much more than a few more soul-melting kisses and tender caresses until she climaxed.
“I only pray that we don’t drown,” she whispered.
The cold of the water surrounding them contrasted sharply with the heat of their bodies. They rose and fell together gently with the swell of the waves. Somehow the weightless floating seemed to intensify the need pounding through her.
At Joshua’s urging, she straddled his thigh. His hand reached between their bodies and slipped inside the elastic leg of her swimsuit. She held her breath as his questing fingers explored up to the top of her thigh, across her stomach, through the crisp curls that guarded her innermost secrets.
Eleanor gasped at the splendid invasion, and he swallowed her reaction with a deep kiss. His hands never hesitated. One finger probed deep inside her warmth, while his thumb caressed her most sensitive spot. With swift, sure strokes Joshua expertly brought her to the edge, then gently held her as she fell over.
Shyness and embarrassment quickly followed her climax. What in the world have I just done? Her sexual experience had been limited to two long-term relationships where the most adventurous thing she had ever done was make love on the couch instead of in a bed.
She felt his hands move to the back of her spine, to keep her from slipping under the water. She could hear their shallow breathing in the quiet stillness of the water. It was almost as loud as her thundering heart.
For what seemed like an eternity they simply stared at each other, bobbing in time to the rhythmic waves. Then Joshua broke into a wide grin.
“You are one incredible woman.” He kissed her tender lips softly. “Race you to the shore.”
He vanished in a flurry of movement. Eleanor took a deep breath, conjured up a weak smile, and obligingly followed in his wake.
Eight
“Eleanor? Are you almost ready? My father and Rosemary thought we could share a quiet drink before the party began. I told them we would meet them in the solarium at seven.”
“I’m sorry, I don’t think I’ll be dressed by then, Joshua,” came the muffled reply from the other side of the closed door. “Why don’t you go ahead without me?”
Joshua pivoted on his heel, paused, then turned back to the door that connected their bedrooms. “I’ll go down and make our excuses. Then I’ll be back to escort you to the party.”
The faint humming noise of a hair dryer instantly ceased. “You’ll be back? Well, I . . . ummm, I’m not sure how much longer I’ll need. Are you sure you want to wait?”
“Yes.”
“Oh.” She cleared her throat. Twice. “Great. Guess I’ll see you soon.”
Joshua smiled. Eleanor’s voice held all the enthusiasm of a woman facing a firing squad. He felt bad knowing she was so reluctant to attend the party, but happy realizing her feelings meant she wouldn’t leave the room without him. Which was exactly what he wanted.
Ever since their erotic escapade in the ocean this morning, Joshua had been feeling restless and edgy and filled with an almost unbearable need. For Eleanor. He hadn’t wanted to go anywhere without her by his side, and tonight was no exception.
It was a surprising, yet not completely unhappy discovery. This strange, unexpected sense of awareness he had for her seemed to burn a little hotter each time he was near her. The house had been too crowded when they returned from the beach to afford them any privacy, any chance to slip away unnoticed.
So instead, they had mingled with his father’s guests, chatting amicably about a variety of inconsequential topics. Yet in truth what Joshua was really doing was anticipating the time when he could again be alone with her.
He didn’t know exactly when his feelings toward Eleanor had changed. Maybe his attitude had first. He no longer saw her as a means to an end, a way to learn about his father’s new wife, but as a person in her own right. Intelligent. Funny. And surprisingly sensual.
It was a remarkable revelation. Like suddenly discovering the gentle kitten you brought home from the pet store had a ferocious, feline streak hidden deep inside. It wasn’t precisely a bad thing, just an unexpected notion.
Joshua checked his watch. It was nearly seven. He paced the room for a few moments, feeling unaccountably restless. He was confident that he could control his wayward desires around Eleanor, but more and more he was starting to believe that it wasn’t necessary. That thought alone brought on hot chills.
Deciding it would be prudent to return quickly, Joshua hustled out of his bedroom. It took him less than twenty-five minutes to race down to the solarium, toss off a quick drink with his father—who was also without female companionship since Rosemary was still dressing—and return upstairs.
On the way back, Joshua snagged a chilled bottle of champagne and two crystal goblets, reasoning a drink or two before the party might help Eleanor relax.
He popped the cork and poured the sparkling nectar into two crystal flutes. The moment Eleanor stepped into his room, he handed her a glass.
“Thank you.”
She stood awkwardly in the middle of the room, one hand clutching her flute of bubbly champagne, the other a tiny black evening bag. She looked lost and fragile and a rush of pure male protectiveness seized his heart. No matter what else happened tonight, he was determined that Eleanor was going to have a wonderful time. A memorable time.
He raised his glass and tapped it gently against hers. “To moonlit nights in North Carolina. May they always be this enchanting.”
Her eyes grew big and round. For a few seconds she simply stared at him, then hastily lowered her eyes and took a quick sip of her drink. “It tastes lovely.”
He watched her tongue glide sensually along the rim of the crystal and a flicker of anticipation shot through him. She looked gorgeous. Even though he had seen her wearing the dress in the shop, he was stunned by her radiance tonight. It nearly stole his breath away.
He wondered how he had ever thought her plain, ordinary. The exposure to the hot sun earlier in the day had given her skin a pink glow, softening the creamy whiteness of her shoulders to a delectable color. She wore more makeup than usual, but it was discreetly applied, highlighting her eyes and cheekbones. Her hair was swept up and pinned atop her head, displaying a graceful neck with a sexy nape that looked ripe for kissing.
“Shall we sit?” he asked, indicating the cozy love seat near the picture window that looked out on the ocean.
“I can’t sit!” Eleanor exclaimed. “I’m afraid I’ll wrinkle my dress.”
Joshua bit back his laugh when he realized she was serious. “Okay, let’s lean.” He topped off her champagne glass, then rested his shoulder against the closet door frame. “Better?”
“Much.” She imitated his action, positioning herself on the opposite side of the door frame. She gave him a hesitant smile and sipped her champagne.
He saw the uncertainty in her eyes and realized she was waiting for his reaction. To her appearance? Probably.
“By the way, you look beautiful tonight,” he said in a soft, seductive tone. “Simply stu
nning.”
Eleanor promptly choked on her drink.
Alarmed, Joshua reached over to help, but she waved him away. “I’m fine,” she rasped. “The bubbles just went down the wrong way.”
“Most women just say thank you after they receive a compliment,” he said teasingly, waiting until she had stopped choking before refilling her glass. “That’s one thing I’m starting to admire about you. This incredible need you seem to have to be different.”
“That’s me all right. Different.”
She took another sip of her drink and this time managed to swallow without incident. She raised her glass mockingly, as if daring him to comment. Joshua grinned appreciatively.
Her sense of humor was one of the things he found oddly endearing about her. Whoever would have imagined that laughter could be an aphrodisiac? Certainly not him. He felt oddly humbled to have been unwittingly taught this simple truth.
His eyes traveled again over the lovely expanse of bare shoulders she displayed. Yes, there was no denying there was an extra sparkle about her tonight. Possibly from excitement, but Joshua decided he knew her well enough to determine it was partially nerves that brought on that additional glow.
“Nervous?” he asked with a gentle smile.
“You have a real talent for stating the obvious, Joshua.” Eleanor pursed her lips. “I’m a wreck at the thought of meeting all these high and mighty people. What I really need from you is a little practical advice on how to conquer those nerves. And I’m warning you right now if you tell me to picture everyone in their underwear, I’m going to pinch your arm as hard as I can.”
Joshua chuckled. Her honesty and lack of artifice were something else he was quickly coming to appreciate. “The trick to dealing with nerves when encountering a group of strangers is learning how to fake it,” he instructed.
“What?”
“Fake it.” He shrugged his shoulders. “As you circulate around the room, remember at all times to give everyone a wide, carefree smile.”
Eleanor obediently grinned, wet her lips, then grinned again. “I can’t do it,” she sighed, turning away in defeat. “I feel like an idiot. And I’m certain I look like one, too.”
“You’ve got the wrong approach.” Joshua put his hands on her shoulders and swung her toward him. “It’s not only the smile, but the attitude behind it. You’ve got to start grinning and smirking as if you know something that everyone doesn’t.”
“I know I don’t belong at this party. Does that count?”
He dipped his chin to his chest and peered at her from beneath his lashes. “You need a serious attitude adjustment, Eleanor.”
“I thought I was supposed to smile.”
Joshua exhaled slowly. Her teasing grin and flirtatious manner were doing a number on his already overheated libido. The temptation to kiss her was really strong and getting stronger by the minute.
When an enchanting blush raced upward from her throat to her cheeks, Joshua realized a trace of his desire must have been evident on his face. She took a hasty gulp of champagne and angled her head to observe him.
Eleanor kept her eyes hidden, but her hands gave away her sudden agitation. Her knuckles were white as she clutched the goblet and for a moment he feared the glass might shatter in her hands.
Maybe it would be best to wait until later in the evening before the kissing between them started. To heighten the anticipation, to build the excitement, to stoke the fires of passion that were shimmering just below the surface.
“I can hear the orchestra tuning up,” Joshua said, removing the nearly empty glass from her nerveless fingers. “Shall we go downstairs and join the party?”
Eleanor took an exaggerated breath, then placed her hand on top of his. “ ‘Lay on, Macduff, and damned be him that first cries, “Hold, enough!” ’ ”
“Shakespeare, right?”
“Who else? I find it comforting knowing I can usually count on the bard to provide the appropriate phrase, no matter what the occasion.”
Joshua leaned close, until his breath brushed gently against her cheek. “ ‘Two households, both alike in dignity, In fair Verona, where we lay our scene, From ancient grudge break to new mutiny’ ”
Eleanor’s smile finally relaxed. “Stop. There’s no need to get carried away with the melodrama of Romeo and Juliet. I’m nervous enough already.”
“Sorry, I thought I was distracting you. Let’s talk about something else. How about John Milton? Just mentioning Paradise Lost practically puts me to sleep.”
Eleanor pinched his arm. Joshua barely felt it. He was enjoying himself too much. He had forgotten how much he liked English literature and was amazed at how much he had remembered from those few college courses he had sandwiched between the barrage of business lectures.
Yet another example of the difference he had teased Eleanor about earlier. No other woman of his acquaintance could get him to think about literature . . . and like it. She truly was different from any other woman he had known, but in a unique, refreshing way. He felt like a real idiot for not having realized that sooner.
The first floor of the house was bustling with noise and guests. Within minutes Joshua and Eleanor were standing in the foyer, participating in an informal receiving line beside his father and Rosemary.
“Now, who might this pretty lady be? I don’t believe I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting her.”
Joshua turned just in time to see Adam Hughes, an old golfing buddy of his father’s, lean suggestively toward Eleanor and practically drool over the perfectly shaped curves of her breasts. Mr. Hughes’s eyes looked too bright and anxious as he appraised her creamy shoulders like a greedy child looking at a luscious dessert, poised to take a bite.
A primal burst of jealousy shot through Joshua. Damn, the mangy coot was old enough to be her grandfather.
“Good evening, sir.” Joshua thrust out his hand, grimacing when he realized he had to nearly wedge his arm between Eleanor and the old geezer, because the man was so close. Hell, he was almost standing on her toes. “It’s nice to see you again.”
Adam Hughes raised a bushy gray eyebrow and gave him a hard, speculative glare. Joshua immediately took a protective step closer to Eleanor.
“So that’s the way the wind is blowing,” the older man said with a sly smirk. He squeezed Joshua’s hand firmly. “About time you found yourself a good woman.”
His boisterous, cackling laugh turned a few heads, but Adam Hughes either didn’t notice or didn’t care. Joshua strongly suspected the latter was true.
“What a character,” Eleanor whispered in Joshua’s ear, as Adam Hughes shuffled off.
“He’s a dirty old man,” Joshua retorted, still struggling with his temper. “The old lech was trying to look down the top of your gown.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“Wow. I’m glad I let you talk me into buying it. And wearing it tonight without the sheer jacket. This really is a great dress.” Eleanor craned her neck forward to catch a glimpse of her admirer. As if sensing her gaze, Adam Hughes turned around and gave her a suggestive wink.
Joshua made a low, disagreeable sound in his throat.
Eleanor must not have noticed. She grabbed Joshua’s arm excitedly. “He winked at me! Did you see? My first conquest of the evening. What a hoot. How old is he, seventy-five, seventy-six?”
“He’s pushing eighty and not likely to make it if he keeps acting up.”
“Oh, he’s harmless.” Eleanor linked her arm with Joshua’s and patted his hand in an absent manner.
“You’re wrong.”
“I am?” Eleanor’s head whipped around in surprise.
“Absolutely.” Joshua leaned over and pressed his lips against hers in a caress that was both sensuous and tender. He thought the dreamy, faraway expression on her face when he finished was a good sign. A most encouraging sign. “That old codger definitely isn’t your first conquest of the evening. That honor belongs to me.”
E
leanor dredged up what she hoped was a confident smile. Which wasn’t easy, considering how the butterflies in her stomach were doing a major war dance. When the evening began she had been feeling too terrified to leave the safety of the bathroom, and when she finally had emerged, Joshua had been patiently waiting for her.
Dressed in a designer black tuxedo, he’d looked more gorgeous, more perfect than any human being had a right. They had shared a bottle of champagne, some witty banter, and a newly discovered intimacy that made breathing a definite chore.
But the stunner of the night had come later, when he claimed to be captivated by her. Eleanor swore if she hadn’t been holding onto his arm when he made his little announcement, she might have easily tumbled to the floor.
Three hours later, he was still at it, acting like she was the most fascinating, interesting, exciting woman in the room. And quite frankly, it scared the hell out of her.
She had spent the afternoon playing and replaying their sexy swim in the ocean and had rationally concluded that it had been all about desire. Raging hormones. A natural, physical reaction between a man who had been too long between partners and a woman who carried a secret longing for him deep in her heart.
But tonight, tonight it was different. The desire was there. Heightened, she supposed, by the forbidden taste they had already sampled, yet not fully experienced. Yet there was more. Possessiveness, protectiveness, and a genuine feeling of affection. Coming from Joshua. Toward her.
She resisted the urge to pinch herself, admitting a part of her wanted to stay asleep if this really was a dream . . . to pretend, just for this magical night, there would be a chance to explore these incredible physical and emotional feelings.
She was sure the food served at dinner was superb; yet though she had eaten a fair amount of the artfully presented delicacies on her plate, Eleanor had tasted nothing.
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