She laughed. “You’re being silly. Sweet, but silly. ” He pulled her into his arms and smiled.
“Silly? You’re accusing me of being silly? I get what this is. You’re feeling a little cocky and smug because you think I’m old and I’ve been satisfied. “
She gave him a radiant smile. Richard felt like he’d been sucker-punched. She was so beautiful.
“Well, yeah. ” She couldn’t believe this playful exchange. This was a side of him she hadn’t seen. She liked it.
He wrapped his arms around her and gave her a spontaneous hug. “Don’t get too cocky, babe. I promise I can get it up again. “
Jenny sat quietly in the passenger seat of his big car. They were driving down the interstate at a fast clip. She looked out the window at the Mississippi river. It was always so pretty this time of year. She relaxed in her seat. Her big, comfortable seat. Her big, comfortable, leather seat. Anxiety pierced her. Surely he wasn’t really a mobster. Did mobsters really exist anymore? There was just something about him. Although impeccably dressed, and good-looking, there was an elusive quality that she couldn’t identify. He was so big, and scarred, and he had a ‘Don’t fuck with me’ attitude.
He reached over the console and took her hand in his. He looked at her with hot eyes. Tingles went down her spine. He looked back to the road and spoke. “What does a hot little mom like you do for a living, Angel? Nice house and two kids away at school? College is expensive. ” He intertwined their fingers. His touches had been constant. It felt like he was staking his claim. The idea was sinfully, distressingly enticing.
She looked away from his hand enclosing hers, and tried to concentrate on his question.
“I’m a bookkeeper. ” She named the large insurance company she worked for. “I only have to go into the office about fifteen hours a week. The rest, I can do from home. I like it and it was really convenient when the boys were growing up. “
“Paying for a house and college can’t be easy. Does the dumb-ass help? ” He looked her way.
“Dumb-ass? “
“He must have been a dumb-ass to let you slip through his fingers. ” His grip tightened and Jenny felt like a warm, quivering mass of jelly.
“He hasn’t helped at all since the boys turned eighteen. I got the house and the mortgage in the divorce. Thank God the twins are smart. They’re both at University of Houston. I haven’t had to pay for any college. Have you ever heard of National Merit? “
He turned and looked at her again.
“Yeah, I have. So, you’re brilliant as well as beautiful? ” His thumb was making stroking circles on her hand. Jenny was finding it hard to concentrate.
“No, not me. Why do you say that? “
“Well, babe, I thought everybody knew that kids inherit their intelligence from their mamas. “
Jenny’s heart was still beating too fast as she looked at the menu. Damn, he was hard enough to resist when he was stalking her, but now he had to start being charming, also? Jenny watched his interchange with the waiter. She couldn’t believe how smooth he was, so at ease with himself and everything around him. He didn’t try to impress her, and that impressed her the most. He was so utterly confident. After they had been shown to their table, she took a seat in the booth. He paused for a moment just looking down at her and holding her hand. He finally let go of her and walked around to sit facing her. “I think it would be best if I sat here, don’t you think? You look good enough to eat. ” He paused. “I want to save that for later. “
Her pulse rate hadn’t come down since.
At her confirmation, he ordered a bottle of white wine. They were at a seafood house on Baton Rouge’s riverfront, so they both ordered seafood. The waiter left them alone. “I like this place. Have you been here before? ” His voice was steady as he watched her looking around.
“No, I haven’t. But it seems nice. ” She looked at the expensive furnishings and the upper-class clientele. Her voice was soft. ” Maybe I should have changed. “
He saw her discomfort intensify as she absorbed her surroundings. He felt something go through his system that he hadn’t felt in a long time. The need to protect. To comfort. To make everything right for her.
“No. You look perfect the way you are. I was just being an ass earlier. Every man in here wants to be sitting where I am tonight. Just as long as I’m the only one who knows that your panties match that bra peeking through. ” She blushed.
“They don’t. Not anymore. I had to change them. ” Her blush intensified. Lust hit him like a freight train.
“What color are they? —No, wait, don’t tell me. I want it to be a surprise. “
Their entrees came out and as they drank their wine and ate he told her there was a dance floor and live music later. “You’ll dance with me, won’t you sweetheart? “
Her head spun and she knew it wasn’t from the alcohol. “Yes. I’d like that. “
He smiled and poured her more wine.
Jenny swayed in his arms and knew she had never had an evening like this before. She had never had a lover like this before. He was her lover, right? Even if all they had was tonight and tomorrow, he was her lover. Her dream lover. He was so gentle. So considerate. Such a gentleman. He opened every door for her, he stood when she stood, he kissed her hand.
He was not a gentleman when they were alone. When they were alone, he was dominant, he was assertive, he was aggressive. Yet, she knew he wouldn’t hurt her. He was her dream lover.
He spoke into her ear now as they danced to a slow classic rock song. “You feel so tiny in my arms. I want to eat you. ” He smelled her hair. He breathed in her scent. “Angel, are you going to let me eat you up tonight? ” His tongue swirled around the rim of her ear. He blew into it. Jenny’s legs started to shake and she didn’t know if she could stand by herself. He was holding her up now. He stood tall and straight and she could tell he felt comfortable with their height difference. She loved that.
Jenny found some bravado. “I want to eat you up, too. ” She looked up into his eyes. His dark eyes went black at her words. “I want to lick you, too. ” He gripped her so hard she could barely breathe. He reached down and kissed her deeply.
He broke the kiss and stopped dancing. “We can’t make love in public. “
“Make love? ” She whispered.
“Yeah. I owe you that much, after today. I want it that way, with you tonight. ” He searched her eyes.
“Yes. “
Chapter Five
During the drive to Richard’s home, Jenny found herself questioning the impulsive nature of her reaction to the man calmly driving the car. Even when they weren’t touching, the magnetic force he exuded was potent. Too potent. In less than a twenty-four hour period, he had stormed her defenses and left her examining how her organized and logical life had gone off the rails. The suspicion that this meant more to her than just a three-day interlude was troubling and left her feeling vulnerable and panicky. There was also the suspicion that he actually was some kind of present day mobster. His face, as he concentrated on the road, was hard, lean and dangerous. She searched for some sign of softness. There was none. Yet his voice, as he held her and danced with her earlier, mesmerized her and cast her under a spell.
The car slowed and turned into a drive. The front of the house was nice but unimpressive. He helped her out of the car and retrieved her bag from the backseat. Automatic lights came on as they entered through the side. As she stepped inside, she was immediately astonished at the difference in the inside of the house and its unassuming front. Although the house was old and stately, the inside was completely modernized and customized. It was an executive home, no doubt, and anxiety started churning through her.
Richard was very aware of her absorption in his home. He was pleased as he looked around and saw it through her eyes. There were no new homes being built on the riverfront, so he chose the house for the grounds it sat on, more so than the structure itself. While keeping the historical details i
ntact, he had hired a team of engineers and designers to completely update and restructure the inside of the house. It was more costly than completely razing the house would have been, but he was well pleased with the results and felt that the added expense had been worth the effort.
The house was on two levels and had ceilings seventeen feet high on the first floor. Custom marble columns dominated the main room and emphasized the curved, wrought iron stairway. Bamboo floors created a relaxed, low-key elegance that he required in his home. The house was open and airy and drew the eye to the back of the house where a wall of windows displayed an infinity pool that gave the illusion of flowing into the Mississippi river.
Richard gently picked up her hand and led her into the center of the room. “Welcome to my home, Jenny. ” It occurred to him that he wanted her there. In his home. He usually never brought women here. His house and private space were sacred to him, and he didn’t like anyone intruding. What kind of sorcery was she casting on him? What kind of witchery was making him act so differently? Her softness was a persuasion he couldn’t resist. Her beauty a lure that tantalized him. He reached out and kissed her softly on the lips. He brushed his mouth lightly to the corner of hers. He took soft pecks all over her face and opened his mouth enough that she could just taste him. “Thank you for agreeing to come here with me, Jenny. “
She was mesmerized by his gentleness. She was terrified by the feelings coursing through her. She was forty-three years old, and the mother of two sons. She had experienced life and knew what lust felt like. This was more than lust. At least on her part. She felt an urgent need to regain control. She walked away from him and went to stand by the bank of windows. She gazed out over the water. “You have a gorgeous place. It’s so much more than I expected. “
“What did you expect? ” She felt his complete attention on her.
“I don’t know. A house. You know. Like mine. Maybe a three bedroom, two bath ranch in the suburbs. Like mine. ” Her head tipped to the left as she watched a speedboat go by.
“I’m sorry you’re disappointed, sweetheart. ” He came up behind her and laid his hands on her shoulders. He pulled her back into his front and pushed his pelvis into her. His presence was intense and consuming. Had she really thought she could regain control, just by strolling away? She was quickly learning that when he focused on something, he gave it all his attention. His focus now was on her.
“I’m not disappointed. ” She turned in his arms. He circled his arms around her. She took a deep breath. “Richard, what do you do for a living? I mean, really do? “
He stiffened, but did not move away. If anything, his arms became firmer, more aggressive.
“You know I run a bar, Jenny. ” His eyes glimmered at her. She felt his ruthlessness. His need to get his way. “Have you forgotten my office so soon? ” He moved his hand to her breast. She jumped. “You want me to remind you how we met? “
Jenny shook her head. “I remember. ” She looked around her. “But I don’t understand all of this. Surely a bar in the city can’t pay for this. “
She covered his hand on her breast with one of her own. She gazed into his eyes. “It scares me. ” Her voice was a whisper. “Should I be scared of you, Richard? “
“No. I don’t want you scared of me. “
“But, should I be? “
His stance became rigid. “I’m not letting you out of your promise to spend the weekend with me, just because of your prudent, moralistic attitude about how much money I have and how I make it. I’m not hurting you or anyone else. “
“You’re not hurting anyone at all? ” She relaxed slightly in his arms.
“They hurt themselves. I don’t open their mouths and pour the alcohol in. If I didn’t supply the place to drink, someone else would. I see no legitimate reason that I shouldn’t be turning a profit from other people’s vices. Maybe you don’t agree with that. But it’s how I make money. Deal with it. “
Jenny felt some of the tension run out of her body. His answer was to the point. Succinct. He thought her morals were offended by the ethical question of his livelihood. Although she would like to give herself credit for worrying about the rightness of it all, she knew her distrust was more basic than that. She suspected he was engaged in illegal, nefarious activities.
She wasn’t going to get to the bottom of this tonight. In fact, she would probably never know. They were on day two of a three-day interlude. She refused to worry about it anymore.
“Okay. ” Her answer was simple, concise.
He felt her smile at him as much as he saw it. He felt it all the way to his soul. She smiled at him like she was giving him forgiveness. Forgiveness and acceptance. She turned her head toward the windows and laid it on his chest. Her sigh vibrated through him. He felt like Mother Theresa had just granted him absolution. Son of a bitch.
This fascination he had with her goodness caused an uneasiness in his gut. He didn’t like the feeling. He had to quit letting her slip under his skin. Maybe the best way to stop feeling this way was to just get everything out of her he wanted. And he wanted everything. It was time for a methodical approach to getting her out of his system. And he knew just where to start.
He led her over to the couch. He pulled her down beside him in one smooth movement.
He lifted her cami off over her head. He unsnapped her bra. Shock went through her when she realized he was about to strip her completely. She grabbed the cups and held them together. “Wait. I—wait. ” He didn’t stop. He moved his hands to her skirt and slid the side zipper down. Confusion and distress mounted as she realized he wasn’t going to stop. It didn’t stop her passion from rising. She felt a wetness between her thighs.
His control snapped when he saw her tits spilling from the cups of her bra. “You want it, babe. You know you do. I want to see you naked. Now. I’ve waited long enough. “
Tears came to her eyes. “I do—I do want it. But not like this. Please. You said you were going to make love to me. ” The crudeness of the encounter was causing a bubble of hysteria. Her body was a mass of conflicting emotions that was causing a conflagration about to consumer her. She didn’t know if she was about to burst out in tears or start tearing his clothes off, too.
Richard felt shame and disgust at himself as he saw what he was doing to her. His need didn’t go away, but the combativeness did. He wiped a single tear from her face and zipped up her skirt. “I’m sorry. ” His mouth moved to the side of her lips as he steadied his breathing. “I’m sorry. I’m an ass and you’re a complete angel and I’m out of my mind with wanting to f—touch you. “
His soft, soothing words flowed through her. She quivered in his arms. He spread wet, warm kisses on her lips, her cheek, and back to her lips. “I’m sorry, Jenny. ” He breathed into her mouth. She felt the hunger and utter need that she seemed to have for this one man slam into her. She opened her mouth and sought his lips. He didn’t make her wait. He opened his mouth over hers and their tongues entwined in a fury of aching and lust.
Her world began to spin as he lifted and carried her up the stairs. Her arms clung to his neck and need coursed through her veins. In a matter of seconds he was dropping her to her feet in front of him.
The bedroom was dim with soft lights coming in from the French doors leading to the balcony. Through the doors, the night was clear. A half-moon glowed on the water. Everything was still.
Richard hugged her to him and ran his hands up and down her delicate spine. His lips brushed her neck with a gossamer touch and desire claimed all her senses.
Gently, He took her hand and led her to the bed. Richard sat on the side and pulled her between his spread thighs.
He put his hands on her waist and pulled her to him. His lips found hers. He took small, tiny sips from her mouth. His kisses were slow, his movements unhurried. She sighed as he lifted her arms and put them on his shoulders. His lips brushed her neck as he kissed down her body until he reached her loosened bra.
He lift
ed his head. He moved her hair off her shoulders and brushed it to her back. His mouth moved back to the slight swell of her breast, above her bra. He breathed her scent in deeply. His hands were gripping her hips, holding her tightly. His tongue was making swirls, moving from the top of one breast to the other.
He dipped his head farther, and moved the loosened cups aside, and found her nipple. It was taut, hard, and aching. She felt it swell against his tongue. His mouth was wet, like silk, and he was rasping his tongue up and down, taking licks at her nipple.
He lifted his hands to the silk straps on her shoulders. He put one each between his hands and held them. “Sweetheart. ” He moved his hands down an inch. “I need to take this off. “His voice was low, calm, and completely beguiling, his breath hot against her breast.
The straps hit her elbows, the cups completely open. He lifted his head from her breast and stared at the feast he had unwrapped.
His eyes lifted to hers. They were dark, intense. He searched her face. Waited for permission. She wriggled her arms a fraction, helping him. The silk slid down her arms and dropped to the floor.
He cupped her breasts in his hands and lifted them. They were perfect. Small, round, just right for his hands. They were made for his hands. He squeezed them gently and buried his face between them. He inhaled her scent and his heartbeat slammed through his chest.
“Jenny, you’re perfect. ” He felt a tremor in his hands as he ran them up and down the curves at her waist. He leaned back and looked at her body. She was slight and delicate and a wave of tenderness consumed him. He wanted to be careful with her.
She moaned and put her arms up around his head and her fingers in his hair. She shifted her body toward him and put one knee on the bed. She pressed her pelvis into his torso.
He ran his hand over her hip and down her thigh. He lifted her foot and quickly removed one shoe and then the other.
Jenny’s mind was reeling and she desperately tried to hold onto this moment, tried to engrave it in her memory, so that she would have it forever. This moment, this time with him was perfect. Amazing. It was what she had hoped and dreamed of all day when she thought of him. She felt disconnected from her body, felt as though this was happening to her in another lifetime.
The Louisiana Liaisons Series Box Set Page 4