by Lori Foster
A tidal wave of sensation rushed through her, making her thighs shiver and shake, her belly hollow out, her back arch. He kept it going, sliding two fingers into her, back out, in again. She didn’t know if it’d ever end and didn’t really care.
Her mind was still blank of cognizant thought when Gil very gently kissed her cheek. “You still with me, Anabel?”
“Mmm.”
His mouth smiled against her jaw. “That’s good. Because I’m not done yet.”
A groan erupted. She honestly didn’t know if she could muster up any strength to accommodate him.
“You were awfully easy. But then, so was I.” He continued to press tiny, affectionate kisses to her cheek, her ear, her temple. His big hand rested on her belly, one hairy thigh over hers. “It had been a long time for me,” he admitted. “I guess too long.”
Anabel forced her eyes open. “Why?”
His gaze went from her eyes to her mouth. “Who knows? I thought I’d lost interest. I said I was too busy. Maybe it’s just that no one really appealed to me.”
She lifted a hand to his sweaty shoulder. “It’s been three years since I was with anyone else.”
Beneath her hand, his muscles stiffened. “Three years?”
Anabel shrugged. “Shelly was pregnant and upset and I spent a lot of time with her. Then Nicole was born. I didn’t really have a baby-sitter, and I was afraid if I left her with Shelly…”
“That she’d take her away.” His voice was low, a little angry, somber and accepting. He cupped her cheek and turned her face toward him. He wore a frown, but as he bent his head and kissed her, she felt his grave gentleness, and his silent thank you.
Amazingly enough, the second his mouth touched hers, Anabel felt revived. She loved him. For her, loving Gil was the biggest reason that she’d been celibate so long. True, she always put Nicki first, but it hadn’t been a hardship to give up men when Gil was the only man she wanted.
She turned toward him, sliding her arms around his neck and pressing her belly to his. Gil rolled to his back and pulled her atop him, adjusting her legs so that she straddled his hips.
“I want you to ride me, Anabel. I want to play with your breasts and belly while I’m inside you, and I want to watch you come.”
Just hearing his intent was almost enough for her. She said, “All right. Just tell me where to find a rubber.”
Chapter Four
Three years, Gil thought, unable to fathom such a thing, especially for a woman as sensual and open as Anabel.
Holding her hips with one hand, he reached past her to the nightstand and pulled open the top drawer. Anabel saw the packet of condoms and pulled one out.
She flipped it like you would a fan. “I’m out of practice, so let me know if it doesn’t feel right.” After tearing the silver package open with her teeth, she held his cock and teasingly rolled the rubber on.
Not feel right? Gil considered the touch of her small soft hand around him, the glint in her eyes as she concentrated on the task, wonderful, mind-blowing torture.
“On your knees.”
She lifted up, bracing her hands on his chest. “Like this?”
Gil didn’t answer. With two fingers, he stroked her, making sure she was wet enough, opening her, preparing her. “Now ease down.”
Her smile taunted. “You like to give orders, don’t you?”
He met her gaze. “Sit down, Anabel.”
She laughed, and slowly sank onto him. The head of his cock passed her delicate lips, then got hugged by the hungry clasp of her body. She paused, drawing a breath, closing her eyes.
“A little more,” he urged through clenched teeth. He held her hips and pressed up while drawing her down. They both moaned with the incredible sensation of him sinking inside her, stretching her a bit, fitting snugly. Her fingers curled against his chest, leaving half moons from her nails. Her head tipped back and she thrust her breasts forward.
Gil drew her down so he could latch onto a tightly drawn nipple—then he began to thrust. He wanted to be easy but he couldn’t manage it. Never mind his own long abstinence; knowing Anabel had been three years without sex drove him wild. He loved seeing her shifting expressions, how her teeth bit into her bottom lip, the way her belly drew in, how her thighs gripped him. He squeezed her soft ass, guiding her until she found his rhythm, then slipped one hand around the front of her and wedged his fingers between their bodies.
She was hot, wet, gasping and making low, sexy sounds deep in her throat. Using the tips of his fingers, Gil applied pressure where he knew she’d need it most. Far too quickly, she started to come. She dropped forward to take his mouth, and Gil rolled, putting her under him again, slowing so that her climax was suspended.
“Gil.”
“Shhh. Easy now.” He kissed her again, long, deep, wet kisses while slowly sliding in and out, giving her only shallow thrusts, keeping her on the edge.
She tried to lock her legs around him, probably in hopes of taking over. Gil caught her knees and pressed them forward and out, opening her completely, leaving her vulnerable. Anabel went still, a little apprehensive, he knew, but nowhere near ready to call it quits.
“Am I hurting you?”
Breathlessly, she said, “No,” but she strained against him, trying to hold him back.
“Good.” He eased her legs farther apart. “Then relax.”
She drew two deep breaths, trying to do as he asked.
Very slowly, Gil pressed forward, deeper, deeper…
“Oh God.”
“Relax for me, Anabel.” He no sooner growled the words than he felt the start of her climax. Gil marveled at her. Her eyes had darkened with trepidation, and still she enjoyed him. She quit holding him off and instead embraced him with a soft, throaty, vibrating moan of surrender.
Gil lost it. He thrust hard, fast, aware only of the draining release, the powerful rush of scalding sensation. It was more than he had ever experienced—more than he’d known existed.
Some moments later, utterly sated, he became aware of Anabel squirming beneath him. “Gil? My thighs are killing me.”
Oh hell. He realized he still had her legs caught up in his elbows. He groaned, straightened away from her, and fell to his back. His bedroom smelled of sex. It smelled of Anabel. He took a deep breath, then let it out on a sigh. “Sorry,” he murmured.
“All things considered,” she teased, “you’re forgiven.”
Gil turned his head on the pillow to look at her. “What things?”
Her eyes were closed, but she smiled. “Three orgasms?”
“Ah.” Knowing he had to do the manly thing, he pushed himself from the bed and stumbled on shaky legs into the bathroom. He disposed of the condom, washed, and filled a glass with water. When he returned to the bedroom, his door was open and his bed was empty.
Frowning, he stepped out into the hall and found Anabel peeking into Nicole’s room. He noted with some disappointment that she’d pulled her tee and panties back on. But with a toddler in the house, he supposed some sacrifices were necessary.
He didn’t own any pajamas, but he went back and got his boxers, then joined her. “She’s still asleep?”
“Snoring like a bear cub.” Anabel turned to him with a smile. Her gaze skipped over him head to toe and back again. “I just wanted to make sure.”
Like any good mother would. Gil took her arm and guided her back to his room. This time he left his door open but turned the lights out. Without a word, he urged her into his bed, then climbed in beside her and pulled the sheet over them.
She immediately curled into his side. That felt right. More than right. He closed his eyes and said, “Sleep.”
She was silent a moment before asking, “Here?”
It was fast, but Gil didn’t care. “Yeah, here.”
Anabel said nothing more. She just snuggled against him and quickly drifted into deep slumber. And like his daughter, she snored.
Sometime late in the night, Gil woke to the
feel of damp breath in his face. He opened his eyes, then started with surprise. Nicole was on the bed beside him, leaning on his chest, her nose almost touching his.
“I’m wet,” she explained in a loud stage whisper.
“Oh.” Gil’s brain scrambled at such a predicament. He was in his underwear. Did two-year-olds notice or care about such things?
“I can’t find Mommy.”
She sounded ready to cry. Gil quickly got over his squeamishness. This was his daughter, for crying out loud, and Anabel was exhausted. “She’s right next to me,” Gil told her.
“Why?”
Why? “She…got cold.”
“Oh.”
“Do you want me to change you? That way we can let your mommy sleep.”
No answer.
Gil carefully caught Nicki and lifted her away so he could get out of the bed. Her gown was soaked, but he still cradled her close to his chest. “Let’s be real quiet and sneaky, okay? Won’t your mommy be surprised?”
Nicki had no comment on that, but she rubbed her little hand on his chest. “You’re whiskery.”
“Not too much.”
“I’m not whiskery.”
“No, and neither is your mommy.”
“Only daddies?”
“That’s right.” He slipped out of the room and quietly pulled the door shut behind him. “Do you know where your nightgowns are?”
She tugged experimentally on his chest hair. “No.”
Wincing, Gil untangled her fingers and set her down in her room. Together, they rummaged around until she approved a soft shirt to sleep in. The pull-up diaper was thankfully easy. He wasn’t altogether sure he could have managed the other kind, not without any practice to his credit.
After he’d changed her wet sheets and was ready to tuck her in, Nicole stuck out her bottom lip. She looked half asleep on her feet, but still she said, “I want a story.”
So he’d get to hear the ending of the book after all? Gil could handle that. He settled in the chair with Nicole in his lap, and had barely finished one page before he heard her breathing even out in sleep. Feeling very paternal and proud, he slipped Nicole into her bed, stood there a moment to make sure she wouldn’t awaken, and then headed back to his own room.
Anabel had slept through it all, proving just how little rest she’d gotten lately.
He, on the other hand, was now wide awake and very aware that he had a warm, sensual woman curled up in his bed. Not just any woman, but Anabel. He’d always been drawn to her, no matter how he fought it. But now he liked and respected her, too. She’d done so much. Without complaint, she’d taken on responsibilities that weren’t hers, and managed them admirably.
She was not only sexy, but strong. She wasn’t just outrageous, she was also bighearted. She was…beyond appealing. Physically and emotionally. And now she was here, in his bed.
Moonlight flooding through the windows formed a halo around her face. He could see her soft hair tangled on the pillow. She had one hand tucked beneath her cheek and one slender leg bent at the knee, drawn up in what Gil saw as an invitation. Of course, in his frame of mind, even her deep, even snores seemed inviting. He was in a very bad way.
What the hell, he decided, and again locked his door.
Moving silently so that he didn’t disturb her yet, Gil pulled the blankets off the bed. Anabel shifted, but didn’t awaken. She had beautiful legs, slim and sleek, but it was her fanny that caught and held his attention now.
Gil pushed his boxers off. Given it hadn’t been that long since he’d come twice, he stared at his boner with some chagrin, then donned a condom before getting into bed behind Anabel. He leaned close and smelled her hair, a familiar smell now, arousing and comforting at the same time. Gently, he brushed his nose against her, over her ear, her temple, down to her nape. He wallowed in the pleasure of having her near. She slept on.
Using only one finger, Gil traced her graceful spine down to the small of her back, continuing to her bottom, and on still until he found the incredible warmth between her legs. He lightly stroked, using only the tip of that one finger, and felt her soften, swell.
She made a sound in her sleep, one that sounded of growing urgency and awareness.
Gil continued to tease, to arouse her. He wanted to take her from behind. It was nice that way, giving him easy access to her breasts and sex. He could push deep while fingering her, teasing her nipples.
Biting off a groan at those erotic images, he slid one arm under her so he could keep her close, in just the right position, at the same time kneading a soft breast. “I want you, Anabel.”
She fluttered awake. “Gil?”
Roughly, he stripped her panties down far enough that he could get inside her. He positioned himself, held her still, and with one firm thrust, he was there.
“Gil.”
His heart pounded with the excitement, the power of it. “Push back against me, Anabel.”
And with a welcoming moan, she did.
Oh yeah, his life was different now. As far as Gil was concerned, it was infinitely better.
Anabel felt a hand on her breast and groaned. Did the man never rest? Okay, so she knew he was sexually uninhibited, but no one had said anything about insatiable. “Go away.”
A husky, male laugh sounded in her ear; solid morning wood nudged her hip. Against her ear, he whispered, “How late does Nicki sleep?”
Oh, good grief. She was actually sore. Deliciously sore, but still, she needed a little time to recoup. He’d really taken the whole trial-run thing to heart. “Um…what time is it?”
“No, you answer first.”
Knowing he was on to her, Anabel grinned. “Gee, I expect her any minute.”
“Liar.” Gil turned her to her back and rose over her, smiling with sensual intent.
And Nicki shoved the door open. Vaguely, Anabel remembered Gil unlocking the door after making love to her again. “Time to get up!” Like a small whirlwind, she burst into the room and scrambled up onto the bed, bursting with morning cheer.
In a flash, Gil jerked back to his own side of the bed and pulled the covers all the way to his chin. “Nicole…”
“Daddy!” Nicki landed between them, liked how the mattress bounced, and began to jump.
Laughing, Anabel pushed herself to a sitting position and caught Nicki. She dragged her over her lap and gave her a resounding smooch on the cheek. “Did you sleep well, rat?”
“Daddy changed me.”
“He did?” Anabel noticed then that Nicki’s nightgown was gone, replaced by a tee. She glanced at Gil.
He, too, had sat up, and now he had one of the plump bed pillows over his lap. “It was a small matter of a wet nightgown. Nothing too difficult.”
“He read to me.”
“Twice in one night?” It sounded like they’d been up having a good time without her. “Aren’t you the lucky little girl.”
Nodding, Nicole confided in a loud whisper, “Daddy’s whiskery all over.”
Gil sputtered. “She commented on my chest. She also pointed out that you aren’t whiskery.”
“I see.” But she didn’t, not really. It made her feel odd to know that Gil had managed a midnight crisis without her. Why hadn’t she awakened? Why hadn’t he awakened her?
But she knew why. Gil was a very capable man. She’d been fooling herself to think he needed her. For anything.
And she trusted him. It was why she’d come to him in the first place. Not only was it the right thing to do, but in her heart she’d known that he’d be a terrific father. He wouldn’t completely remove her from Nicole’s life, but would he let her stay in his?
As if he’d read her mind, Gil put a hand on her shoulder. “We decided to let you sleep. You were pretty wiped out.”
Anabel nodded. After all her worries, she’d finally felt safe enough to sleep soundly. She didn’t doubt that if Nicki had wanted her, she’d have come awake in a rush. But Gil had handled things, proving he was not only a sensiti
ve, astounding, tireless lover, he was also considerate beyond belief.
She felt lost, unsure what to do next.
Very gently, Gil smoothed her hair. “If you’ll throw blinders on the little monkey there, I think I’ll escape into the bathroom to shave and dress. Then we can start on breakfast.”
“Stay put,” Anabel told him. “We’ll head out and give you your privacy.”
She rose from the bed, but rather than follow, Nicki threw herself against Gil and said, “I want pancakes.” She ensured obedience by giving him a sweet kiss on the cheek and a tight hug. Only after finishing that did she allow Anabel to lead her from the room. Gil, the sop, looked ready to rush off in search of his griddle.
She had just finished helping Nicki dress when a knock sounded on Gil’s front door. He hadn’t come out of his bedroom yet, so with Nicki racing beside her, Anabel went to the living room. Before she could reach the door, a key rasped in the lock and it opened.
In stepped two big men. One looked to be in his late thirties. He had hair as black as Gil’s, but the bluest, most piercing eyes she’d ever seen. He seemed startled to see her, then in one quick sweep, he took in all the changes to Gil’s home. One glossy black eyebrow shot up.
Another man, this one a younger version of Gil, pushed his way in past the first with a grin. “Hey. You must be the mystery lady, huh?”
Painfully aware of her mussed hair, slept-in clothes, and lack of makeup, Anabel cleared her throat. “I’m Anabel Truman. I take it you’re Gil’s brothers?”
The friendly one nodded. “That’s right. I’m Pete and the thundercloud is Sam. He’s thundering, by the way, because he wanted to bring Gil’s car back here without me, only I was too curious to wait. Sam hates it when things don’t go his way.”
Sam rolled his eyes. “Is Gil around?”