Bewitching the Reclusive Billionaire Cowboy
Page 7
The room was quiet except for their heavy breathing. But it wasn’t a comforting quiet to Gina. It was the kind where you waited for the pertinent question and hoped it wouldn’t be asked. But he would ask it any minute now.
Graham rolled to face her. “Are you on the pill or any type of birth control?”
There was the question. “I haven’t been dating for some time, so I stopped the pills. I’m not on any birth control.” She couldn’t read his expression. He sat on the side of his bed, then stood. She couldn’t help admiring his muscled backside and his tight buttocks and strong, long legs.
He walked slowly to the bathroom and turned at the door. “When will we know?”
“In a few weeks. I’m usually regular. But maybe I can get the morning-after pill from the drugstore in town.”
He took long strides across the room and leaned over her. His blue eyes flashed with fire. “Don’t even think about it. If a baby of ours has been conceived, he or she will not be destroyed. If you don’t want the responsibility, I’ll take the baby.” He stormed back into the bath and shut the door.
Stunned from his words, Gina sat on the bed totally confused. His reaction was not what she’d expected. She got out of bed and went to her room. When she flipped on the light her bright-yellow walls made her smile and comforted her.
Graham Brodie was an enigma, and she had no idea how to react to all that had happened between them. When she didn’t know what else to do, Gina cooked. But it was the middle of the night. She turned off the light and opened her curtains then crawled into bed. While staring at the dark sky and the sparkling stars, she gradually dozed off.
At six, she woke and showered then headed to the kitchen and got out the pancake mix. She was rested and stronger this morning, and she felt energized at the idea of meeting whatever challenge Graham put in her path. I must be sick in the head. She grinned at the thought.
When Graham joined her, she had pancakes and sausages ready for him. He looked from the food to her. She was mixing batter for brownies and tried to ignore his speculative glance.
“Aren’t you going to eat?” he asked.
“As soon as I finish these.” She poured the brownie mix in a pan and placed it inside the oven. Then she washed her hands and came to the table. He’d waited.
“Your pancakes must be cold.” She started to take his plate and put it in the microwave.
He held her hand. “Stop. Sit and eat. They aren’t cold.”
After she sat, and they’d both eaten several bites, Graham looked across at her. “You’re no more to blame for what occurred than I am. I never forget my condom, but when we make love it’s difficult to think of anything but you.”
She was certain her mouth had fallen open. Especially when he reached across and pushed her chin up. He smiled, and her whole body went mushy with love. Love? No, not so soon. Maybe.
“I’m sorry. I’d thought of going back on the pill recently, but since I didn’t have anyone in mind to need it for, I put it off.”
He nodded and went back to eating. When they were finished, he helped clean the kitchen.
“I have a proposal,” Graham said. “If you’ll do my edit, I’ll take you out and about to see some of our local sights.”
She grinned. “I’ll be taking advantage of you. I enjoy editing, and you’re going to hate having to go out.”
“A deal’s a deal. What do you say?”
“I’ll start right now.” She left him standing in the kitchen and went into his clean man cave. Maybe she’d start calling it the study.
The time flew. Gina loved his historical novel, the suspense and the characters. She wrote suggestions on the sides of a few pages and did the editing as she went along.
“Lunch is served, madam.” Graham waited in the doorway, a dish towel folded across his arm and one of her frilly aprons tied around his waist.
“You cook?” she asked as she walked with him to the kitchen.
“I’m an expert at peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. I’m renowned all over town for my specialty.”
Giggles bubbled up inside her, and she couldn’t hold them in. “I know a spaceship landed and carried the real Graham Brodie off. You are an alien taking his body as your disguise.”
Graham pulled her chair out and waved for her to sit. “You have found me out, madam. But you will see I am much more amiable than he.” He turned and poured two tall glasses of milk.
“You won’t have to try hard to be able to make that claim,” she teased.
Gina wondered if she’d fallen asleep and this was a dream. If it was, she hoped no one woke her. Graham sat across from her, his half smile sending warmth spilling into her veins and rushing to every cell. Her face must be red.
To take her mind off Graham and what she’d like to do with him, she bit into her sandwich. The sweet strawberry preserves and peanut butter sparked her taste buds. Graham came around and squatted by her.
“You have a tiny bit of strawberry here.” He licked her chin and then each corner of her mouth. “And just a little more on your lips.” His tongue licked along her upper lip, then her fuller lower lip. He nibbled at her mouth.
Gina put her arms around his neck, and he picked her up. This time when he undressed he put a condom on before he started to make love to her. No more chance of babies. Sadness mingled with the desire he was arousing inside her.
He took her hard and fast. He kissed her breasts, bit lightly at her nipples, and moved quickly to her lower lips. His teeth raked across her clit, and her body bowed in response. He tasted her all along her lower lips. As soon as she was wet enough, he surged inside and pumped hard in and out. She raised her hips to meet his rhythm. Her pussy tightened and loosened with his movements.
A ripple of pleasure started at her feet and rolled across her body. She stiffened and arched her body as the wave of pleasure filled her to the brim.
Graham’s eyes stared into hers as he reached his peak and held still inside her. They were connected in a different, more thrilling way, a tie that she’d find hard to break if he took her home. She pushed the unpleasant thought to the back of her mind.
Chapter Nine
Graham had caught the flash of sadness in her eyes. She’d tried to hide it from him. He started to ask her what was wrong, but decided to leave the moment as it was. Every time he made love to her, it got better. He rolled to the side, but held her close against him. It wasn’t just the lovemaking either. He’d peeked in on her in his office during the morning. She was so quiet. Her head had been bent over his manuscript as she wrote on the edge of the page.
He’d watched as she continued to read. Once in a while she’d smile at a certain entry. Graham had difficulty admitting it, but her opinion of his work had become important to him. He’d never cared what others thought as long as his readers liked his writing and bought his books. He half listened to his editor, who put up with Graham because his books sold very well. But Graham was anxious to hear what Gina would say when she was finished.
Glancing down, he saw her eyes had closed. Her small body lay across him. “Are you sleeping?” he asked softly.
“No. I’m enjoying the moment.” She raised her head. “This is the first time you haven’t hurried to the bathroom to get away from me.”
“I was afraid if I stayed I’d make love to you again. You’re a hard person to resist.”
“My first real compliment from my reclusive lover. I may faint.” She put her hand to her head.
Graham slapped her sweet ass. “Behave.”
“Ah, the real Graham is back and beating on me.”
“Hardly beating.” He moved where he could reach that delicious ass and kissed her. “There, does that make it better?”
“Hmmm, just rub my backside, and you’ll be forgiven.”
Graham started massaging her feet and went upward. When he lay across her back, he whispered into her ear. “You know where this is heading.”
“Yes. Don’t stop.”
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He’d just turned her over when the phone rang. He hesitated to answer it, but he’d never been able to ignore a ringing phone for fear one of his family needed him. Reaching forward, he grabbed the receiver. An unfamiliar woman’s voice asked for Gina. Puzzled, Graham handed her the phone and lay beside her.
“My dear, I hope I’m not interrupting, but this is Mrs. Trevor. I was wondering if we might meet for lunch tomorrow. Then next week I’ll have you and a few others over for tea.”
“That would be a nice way to get better acquainted. What time?”
Graham faced her. He put his hand on her breast and tweaked her nipple. She gasped.
“Are you all right, Gina?” Mrs. Trevor asked.
“I’m fine. Shall we meet at noon?”
“I’ll see you at Millie’s then.”
Gina put the phone back and gave Graham an obviously fake scowl. “You are bad.”
He pulled her body under him. “And you love it.”
“Maybe.”
Graham tickled her and had her pleading for mercy. He’d found her weak spot on the side of her neck, but as he’d planned, the tickling led to arousal for both of them. Soon he was kissing all over her body, and her soft moans encouraged him to continue.
When he kissed across her lower lips and into her pussy opening, her body shook. Graham hurried off the bed and into the bathroom. When he came back his cock was sheathed and ready.
His fingers dipped into her wet pussy and rubbed across her special spot. Desire spiked up her spine. He straddled her and positioned his aching, hard cock at her opening. When he plunged in, she rose to greet him, and his cock was fully embedded. Her pussy was hot, soft, and tight. He surged forward and back.
His heart pounded, and his balls tightened then his orgasm hit hard and fast, and sparks shot before his eyes. Her body shivered with her release under him.
Raising his head, he kissed her tempting mouth. “You scare me.”
“Why?” she asked in a soft voice.
“You’re becoming an addiction. A dangerous one.” But he still held her close as he rolled onto his back.
* * * *
When she returned to work this time, it was hard to keep her mind on what she was doing. Consequently, she worked at a slower pace.
Graham had been so different today in and out of bed. She heard him outside chopping wood for the fireplace. The evenings were still chilly. If she stood to the right side of the window and stretched her neck, she could see him chopping. The muscles in his arms and his chest bulged with strength. He’d removed his shirt, and his skin glistened with perspiration.
Her pussy clenched with desire for him. I’m becoming a sex maniac. What has this man done to me? I enjoy every moment of his lovemaking and want more. But what will I do if it’s all a game to him?
The baby part wasn’t a game. He’d been very serious regarding them having a child, and very conscientious about using a condom each time since. Restless, she walked out to where he worked.
“Bored?” he asked and raised an eyebrow.
“Not at all. You’re a good writer, you must know that.”
“It helps to hear it once in a while from someone other than my regular readers.” He put down the ax. “I’ll take a quick shower, and we’ll go for a walk. You haven’t seen very much of my property.”
“I’d like that. I’ll put on sunscreen and get my hat.”
He waited for her by the front door. He glanced at her feet. “We need to get you some real hiking boots. Those walking shoes aren’t the best for stomping around in the wilderness. But they’ll do for today. We won’t go too far.”
She followed him to the edge of the woods, between the house and the storage shed. A fairly wide path led off into the distance and then disappeared around a curve.
“We’ll follow this cleared path.” Graham walked beside her as they went deeper into the woods. When the path narrowed, he walked in front.
“How much land do you have?”
“Around one hundred and fifty acres. The property winds around the back of the main ranch.”
“Are you planning to raise cattle? That’s a lot of land.”
“To some people. My brother actually has put some cattle on part of the land. I don’t care. I wanted it for privacy.”
“Why does that not surprise me.” She wasn’t sure, but she thought he might have chuckled. He didn’t comment.
After walking a little farther, he stopped and pulled a bottle of water out of the backpack he carried. She hadn’t asked what was inside, but knowing him there was probably food, drinks, and a first-aid kit. He wasn’t the type to go out in the brush in a reckless manner.
“We’ll stop and rest a few minutes. Not far ahead is the place I want to show you, and then we’ll turn back for today.”
The water was cool and refreshing. She took off her hat and swung it on her arm. “I hate hats to keep the sun off. They make my brow sweat.”
“There isn’t much sun getting in through the thickness of the trees in this area. You can go without it until we reach our destination.”
“So the place you want me to see is more open?”
“Yes, and you aren’t getting any more clues. Follow me.” He picked up the backpack and walked onward.
Gina jumped up and followed. They walked at a brisker pace now. This part of his ranch must be important to him.
Suddenly, they broke through the trees, and a wide-open prairie stretched in front of her. It was filled with wildflowers in all the colors of the rainbow.
About midway across the prairie, a wide stream flowed. The sides were surrounded with trees and several large boulders, and the whole prairie was encircled with thick woods.
The blue sky capped this spot of paradise. A few small clouds floated by on the slight breeze, and in the far distance a mountain range peaked over it all. Gina had clasped her hands.
“It’s an awesome sight. Your expression is similar to the way I felt the first time I saw this spot.”
“Why didn’t you build your cabin here?”
“I was waiting.”
“For what?”
“The right time. I’ll know when it’s right.”
She shook her head at him and smiled. “Sometimes you surprise me and talk more than usual, but most of the time you continue to be reclusive. I think you like to keep people wondering. It’s a game with you.”
Instead of answering, he said, “Have you ever made love in the open with the blue sky over you and the breeze cooling your skin?”
“No. The grass looks prickly.”
He swung his backpack down and opened it. “Where’s your sense of adventure?” He pulled out a blanket and held it up. “No prickly grass.”
“You have to catch me first.” She laughed joyfully and ran through the wildflowers toward the stream. He let her get a head start and then ran after her.
Graham caught her at the stream. “Got you.”
“You lagged behind. Why? You could have caught me sooner.”
“Sure, but I wanted to show you one more surprise before we try that loving in the open.” He laid the blanket and pack down on the grass. Then he took her hand, and they walked to the right toward a huge boulder.
As they got closer, she heard the water. She ran the last few steps, and taking off her shoes, she went into the water to see the falls coming out and down to the stream.
“Your own private waterfall. How wonderful.”
Graham took her arm and pulled her out. “You’ll get soaked, and we have a ways to walk home. If you want to get under it, undress.”
She didn’t wait for him to say any more. Quickly undressing, she went back into the creek and stood under the falls.
“Wow, that’s cold.”
“Later in the summer the water gets a mite warmer.” He grinned. “I know a way to warm you though.”
“I bet.” She ran out and threw her arms around him, getting some of the cold water on him.
He swung her into his arms and walked back to the blanket then put her down. Graham spread the covering across the grass.
“My lady.” He put out his hand to her. She lay on the ground and used the edge of the cover to dry herself. When she glanced around Graham stood naked in the sunlight, reminding her of a Viking warrior, except her warrior had dark-brown hair.
His hard cock stood out, sheathed and ready. When he saw her observing his dick, he said, “What can I say. I’m insatiable.”
She lay back and opened her legs. “I must be, too.”
He knelt between her legs. His warm hands ran along her calves and thighs. He bent to kiss her lush breasts. The sun shone bright on them, and the breeze caressed her skin. She’d never felt so free, so happy, so in love.
But this wasn’t real. She was a staid librarian, not this hungry, sexy, vibrant woman Graham had created. This was a bubble in time, and when he took her home, she’d return to her real self. But until then…
“What’s wrong?” Graham looked at her with a worried expression.
“Nothing, it’s all freeing and wonderful.” She threw her arms wide. She was going to enjoy every moment, and when she lost her prince, she’d have the memories.
Gina pulled his head down and kissed him hard. “What are you waiting for? I’m cold. You said you’d warm me.”
Chapter Ten
“Who is this woman you’re meeting for lunch?” Graham asked again.
“I’ve told you. She’s one of the older women in the knitting group, and she’s new in town like me. She lives by herself and must get lonely out on the ranch she bought.”
“I don’t like it.”
“Why?”
“A feeling I have. I’m going into town with you. I’ve called Rand. He’ll join me at Millie’s for lunch. We won’t sit right by you.”
“Thanks, but that isn’t necessary.”
“We’ll be across the room though,” he said, ignoring her statement.
Gina stomped her foot. “I don’t need an escort. The restaurant will be full at that time.”
“It’s not debatable.” He frowned at her.