As Krista clung to him, rocked in his arms and kissed him thoroughly, he became rock solid. She loosened her banded legs to allow for the change and suddenly her moist folds of skin were taking his turgid flesh inside. With a shudder he ran his hands up and down her satiny back, pressing her tight, as if to fuse her heat to him. It was all happening too fast. He wanted her too badly.
Dizzily, he toppled their bodies onto the huge circular bed.
Krista’s arms and legs fell away from him as he landed on top of her. Her hair was a tousled mess around her face, she was breathing hard, she was watching him intensely.
Rising on his haunches he began to kiss her length, skimming her silken throat, tasting her nipples. Backing up on the endless mattress, he dipped his tongue into her navel, kissed her soft nest of curls. Her husky purr of contentment encouraged him to go lower, stroking her inner thighs, planting small kisses along the tender skin. As she squirmed in pleasure he slipped his hands beneath her, clamped firmly to her small bottom and tasted the petal folds of her opening, probing deep inside her with his finger until she gave a small guttural cry that was keening and foreign and perhaps the most erotic sound he’d ever heard.
Reaching out to the nightstand he got hold of the open foil package and the condom inside. Then, with swift movements he sheathed himself and drove into her. She released another small cry of pleasure and then another as he drove inside her again and again.
He savored the act as long as he could before his own climax. To his amazement, she climaxed for the second time.
Breathless, they clung to each other for a long time.
She finally said, “I’m ready for a boost.”
“What kind?”
Her eyes twinkled. “A chocolate boost, of course. Hand it over.”
He took her extended palm, rubbed it on his abdomen. “I believe some negotiation is in order. Say, a boost for a boost…”
Her eyes twinkled some more.
Chapter Fifteen
Krista awoke the following morning to find a man in her bed. The sexiest, most exciting man on earth, as far as she was concerned. With a gentle hand she stroked the fine hairs on his chest, tracing her fingers over his firm muscled belly. He groaned in his sleep with a hint of a smile. She would have liked nothing better than to slip over his length, awaken him with renewed lovemaking. And would have done just that had she not glanced over at the clock on the nightstand. It snapped her out of her reverie.
“Michael! Wake up!”
Michael rolled onto his side. His eyes opened and he reached out a hand to her creamy shoulder. His grin was lazy, his voice groggy. “I’m ready, honey. Maybe this time you can put on a little of that makeup and be Simona. And I’ll pretend to be some important dignitary visiting your newspaper….”
As he went on with his scheme, Krista couldn’t help thinking that he sounded as whimsical as her amorous aunt Rachel. With all her shenanigans, it appeared Krista had managed to create some kind of insatiable playmate. To her own surprise, the game he suggested struck her as rather tempting. At any other time.
“I bought you those slinky shoes you liked in the shop the other day,” he intimated slyly. “They’re in my closet. Why don’t you go put them on and surprise me….”
“You wish!” She shook him. Hard. “C’mon, you have to be dreaming.”
“If I am in your bed, I’ve been living the dream all night long.”
“That is so sweet.” She paused, touching the hair that had fallen over his forehead. “But it’s morning now.”
“Already?” He blinked in the darkness. “It’s impossible to tell what time it is in this town.”
“Don’t let the heavy drapes fool you. We’re already late as it is.”
“Late for what?”
“Kitchen duty. We were due downstairs about half an hour ago.”
“Damn!” Suddenly Michael was reacting, sitting up, rolling away from her. With a flourish his long legs kicked aside the covers. “Get ready. Hurry!”
The second practice run was in full swing by the time they arrived in the basement of the hotel, dressed in jeans and their red polo shirts.
“I bet the people using yeast have been here for hours,” Michael grumbled half to himself.
“Don’t worry. We have our strategy, our recipe.”
Krista was by no means feeling any more confident in the kitchen, but she did know her duties and felt a closer kinship with her master chef. It was a lot easier to anticipate Michael today. His short temper didn’t help matters, but all in all, the finished product was, in their estimation, worthy of high marks in presentation and taste.
“Hey, strangers.” Norah Larkin appeared in their booth just as she had yesterday, but a bit earlier this time. “Here are the prized upside-down doughnuts!” She edged her way along the counter to the miniature upside-down cakes crowned with crushed pineapple and chopped cherries cooling on racks. “May I sample one? Or do Krista’s aunts intend to rush off with this batch, too.”
Michael flashed her an impersonal smile. “Help yourself.”
Norah took a healthy bite of cake, her expression growing thoughtful. “They have such a unique flavor. What is that, Mikey?”
“Trade secret. At least, for now.”
Norah frowned. “I should be able to figure it out, if it is a blend of common ingredients.”
Michael put a hand on her shoulder, graciously steering her out. “I have every faith in you.”
She halted in her tracks with a strained laugh. “I’ve come here to invite you back to our suite. Allan and I are hosting a small brunch. We’re providing coffee, and everyone is bringing their doughnuts from today’s run. Surely even you, Mr. Secrecy, can’t object to sharing now.”
She was staring Michael down, as if daring him to refuse the challenge. Krista couldn’t help but think Norah was strung a little tighter than usual, if that was possible.
“Sounds nice,” he said. “What time?”
“Immediately. Allan’s already organizing things.”
“We’re still cleaning up here, but we’ll be there soon.”
Krista smiled once Norah left. “She’s in top form today.”
“Judging by her behavior, I’d say she just paid us the highest compliment.”
“You mean she’s all the more concerned about us as a competitor now that she’s tasted your doughnut?”
Using his thumb Michael gently wiped some flour from her chin. “Exactly.”
In keeping with the day, Krista and Michael were the last to arrive at the Larkin suite. They came straight from the testing area. Krista carried the red plastic storage box of doughnuts, Michael his briefcase. Randy Norquist opened the door to admit them. Behind him lay a sea of people in red polo shirts. Networking certainly was a Larkin strong point.
“Hey, gang!” Randy cheered, whisking the red plastic storage box out of Krista’s hands. “An official batch of the Kris Pineapple Kringles have arrived!”
Applause swelled in the room. Krista noticed that it caused Michael to grimace.
“This was another bogus idea,” he said under his breath. “The socializing should be kept separate from the contest. But here we all are, showing off our entries before the judging.”
“It shouldn’t cause any harm,” she speculated. “Everyone is locked into their recipes now.”
“I still don’t like it, Krista. Some lines shouldn’t be crossed in competition.”
She agreed, in theory. But there was no turning back on this get-together. Everyone was in the community spirit. A larger crowd than ever before, in fact. She recognized the core group, Beth and Randy, Lucy and Kyle, Laurie and Ray, Amanda and James. “Guess all we can do is join ’em at this point, even the playing field by sampling the competition.”
The long table that had held drinks and appetizers the first night during the VIP reception now displayed two coffee urns and a colorful array of doughnuts, sliced in cubes on platters. There were ten platters in all, each be
aring the name of the contestant and the doughnut entry. Krista took a sample of each one.
“My, we have an appetite.”
Krista grinned at Beth, who had joined her. “I have a furnacelike metabolism. Burn up everything I eat.”
“I’m only kidding, out of envy.” She patted her small rounded tummy. “Like everybody here hasn’t tried every flavor.” Spotting Michael’s late addition, Beth promptly popped a cube of the cake into her mouth. “Mmm, this is fabulous. Just as Norah said.”
Krista asked after the Norquist’s entry of Cinnamon Spice. Beth pointed it out on Krista’s plate. Krista took a bit of the dark, deep-fried doughnut with appreciation. “Wow. This tastes like the gingerbread cookies I buy at the bakery. Simply heavenly.”
“Hope the judges find it heavenly enough to push it into the finals. Then it will all be up to Gerald.” Beth looked worried. “Big hurdles to jump.”
Krista looked around. “I expected Gerald to be here.”
“I suppose he’s off someplace with your aunts. That’s another thing Norah said, by the way.”
“I see.”
“You know what she is like, lady of the manor, guarding her territory.”
“She certainly does see Gerald as her territory, doesn’t she.”
“Yup. She and Allan both do.” Beth’s expression grew inscrutable. “She’s pretty frosted about the way you all have taken over Gerald.”
Krista fought to keep her sense of humor. “It’s all Gerald’s doing. My aunts came here with the intention of taking over Michael and me!”
“There’s something about your group that he finds appealing.”
“Life is unpredictable.” Krista watched her carefully as she went on. “Speaking of unpredictable, did you know my napkin with the sketch—you remember the one—landed in Gerald’s hands?”
Beth appeared surprised. “Really? How very strange.” She noticed Norah weaving through the throng with a carafe of coffee and called her over. “Krista has just been telling me that Gerald got hold of her napkin sketch.”
“It somehow took the scenic route all the way here from your house,” Krista said guilelessly.
Norah’s face contorted in melodrama. “You poor, poor dear.”
“Oh, I don’t want either of you to fret about it,” Krista said lightly. “It could end up with a very happy ending. Gerald is actually considering abandoning his bad toupee altogether.”
Norah froze, her nose in midtwitch. “Why. Well. How nice for you.”
As their hostess breezed off, Krista turned back to Beth, who was rummaging through her fanny pack.
“I brought some pictures of Katy with me this time—if you’d still like to see them.” When Krista nodded enthusiastically, Beth produced a small photo album.
Beth held the booklet out in front of Krista while she nibbled on her doughnuts, explaining in proud detail the story behind every photo. Katy in the bathtub, Katy on the big slide at the park, Katy giving her daddy a jelly-smudged kiss.
“She is beautiful,” Krista murmured sincerely. “Has your lovely red hair.”
“Wonder what your first child will look like.”
Krista’s expressive brows jumped. “Excuse me?”
“Yours and Michael’s. Your hair is so dark, his so golden. It’s fun to wonder, isn’t it?”
Perhaps. Krista allowed her mind to drift, imagining what kind of baby she and Michael might produce. A short week ago she probably would have sworn their offspring might very well pop into the world wearing a mini business suit. But now, knowing more about herself and Michael, she had the feeling the baby might be full of impish jelly-smearing surprises.
“The physical characteristics are only part of the mystery, of course. There are all the quirky personality traits to look forward to. Though I already fear Katy has Randy’s crazy sense of humor. I can only imagine how she’ll taunt him by the time she’s, say, eleven.”
They laughed over the prospect. Krista sobered first. “I hope the doctor can straighten out Katy’s breathing problems.”
“Oh, he will,” Beth assured. “I’m sure Randy and I have been talking about it too much. But everything about that child consumes us. There is nothing we wouldn’t do to make sure she has the best of care.”
“Sounds like you’re wonderful parents.”
“Thanks. People we know don’t think to say that very often. Like us, most of our friends back in Chicago are parents, and parents don’t tend to compliment one another. There’s too much rivalry to raise the most superior child. That is one reason why Michael’s friendship is especially refreshing these days. As a bachelor he has been the same old reliable guy, out of the baby loop, enamored only with our child. I honestly don’t think there is anything he wouldn’t sacrifice for Katy’s sake.
“Not that we won’t welcome you and your children into our life,” Beth added as an afterthought. “I have high hopes that we will all get along very well.”
Krista wasn’t sure exactly what specific messages, if any, Beth was trying to relay. What struck her hardest was Michael’s avid interest in the Norquist child. The discoveries she had made concerning Michael in the past eighteen hours were like precious hidden treasure she’d unearthed. Beneath his formal, businesslike facade he was not only a hot-blooded lover, but very promising daddy material.
Michael stared at Krista from across the room and couldn’t help wondering what she was thinking about. Her expression was distant, dreamy.
Could she possibly be thinking of him?
“You hear me, Mikey?”
His head snapped back to Allan Larkin. “What?”
“I was saying there are rumors that Gerald is intent on expanding his operations to unexplored states.”
Michael kept few secrets from Allan. Therefore, his first impulse was indeed to blurt out that Krista had heard that rumor from the big man himself, right here in this room. But in light of this convention’s unusually intense professional warfare, someone’s dirty trick with Krista’s sketch, he stopped himself. Until this contest was over, there would be no revelations, no confidences.
“I thought maybe, with the stronger bond you’ve made with Gerald, you might have heard something.” Allan was looking at him hard, as if trying to read his mind.
Michael worked to keep a passive demeanor. “Gerald hasn’t said a word to me, Al.”
“But you’re getting on so well with him. Spending so much time with him.”
“Not that much—”
“Gee, I feel like I’ve been robbed. You and I have barely talked.”
“Sorry, Al.”
“I do miss the old days back in Chicago sometimes. Guess I took you and Randy for granted back then.”
“Guess you just like being a surrogate father too much.”
“Without a doubt.” He waved a beefy hand. “Say, if you do hear any buzz about an expansion, let me know. Or maybe I should just go to the source,” he said grimly. “Those interloping aunts of Krista’s!”
“They do seem to have Gerald’s ear. It’s so nice of him to take an interest in my little ladies’ club.”
Allan looked as if he were about to say something, but refrained. Michael used the brief silence as an excuse to escape, expressing interest in the brunch table.
“SOUNDS LIKE YOU HANDLED Allan perfectly.” Krista was curled up on their suite’s sofa later that afternoon, giggling like a young girl as they recounted events of the brunch.
Michael regarded her affectionately. “I have mixed emotions about shutting him out the way I did. There is the rivalry, but there is also our history.”
“I’m sure he does miss mentoring you. But he is the one who moved here from Chicago.”
“True.”
“In a way, the Larkins have been spoiled by your attention. Until now you’ve never had a significant other at your side. They’ve had you all to themselves. Any good mentor should be willing to let go a little bit, even if it means some competition.”
“
I hate to think the Larkins view me as a threat.” Before she could jump in, he added, “But I know I can’t completely trust anyone, not with the stunts being pulled all around us.”
Intent on another kind of stunt, Michael reached out and coaxed her onto his lap. Slipping a hand beneath her thick, rich curtain of hair, he began to stroke the tender back of her neck. She in turn snuggled cozily into his lap, wove her arms around his neck and locked her lips with his. With soft needy moans they tasted one another and began to slide to the cushions.
He was just reaching up into her polo shirt with eager fingers, when the telephone rang. Cursing mildly, he struggled to rise on his elbows and reached out to snag the receiver.
“Hello…Yes, I recognize your voice.” His voice strained in mild exasperation as he gave Krista a knowing look. “We have been busy. Here to win a contest…. Oh, really? That would be nice. What time did you say? Yes, she is here. Hold the line while I call her. Krista!”
Still half draped over him, Krista took the receiver and deftly cupped the mouthpiece with her palm. “Which snoop is it?”
“Gerald.” He watched her blue eyes widen. “He’s invited us to his place tonight.”
“Why does he need to speak to me?”
“Dunno. Use some finesse and find out if the aunts are invited along, too.”
She held the receiver to her ear. “Hello, Gerald…I see. No, that shouldn’t be a problem. Until tonight, then.”
Michael hung up the phone. “Did you find—”
“The aunts are already at his place.”
His gold-colored brows formed a disgruntled line. “The old fox sure has a funny approach to things, always taking us on as a four-pack.”
She stroked his forehead. “You’re a fox yourself, acting as though the call were a nuisance. I assumed it was Rachel or Beverly.”
He shook his head dazedly. “I’m beginning to see the three of them in a single blur. What did he want to tell you in particular?”
“He’s still waiting to sample that pineapple upside-down cake recipe the aunts were supposed to make; but didn’t make, because they were helping us with our entry.”
Wedding Roulette Page 20