by Sara Orwig
“You drive a hard bargain, but I get a trip to New York City,” she said, feeling giddy at the prospect.
After pictures, they drove to the country club for the luncheon reception.
She shed the train to her dress and stepped into Jeff’s arms for the first dance. “When we get back from the big city, I’ll take you to see this ranch I just acquired. Maybe then you’ll see why I wanted it so badly.”
She doubted if she would. It was simply land with horses and cows and barns and sheds as far as she was concerned. She told him nothing about her feelings; she couldn’t imagine he cared how she felt about his home or the ranch he had just received from his dad.
She looked up at Jeff as they circled the floor. “Think we look as if we’re a couple in love?”
“Definitely,” he replied and she shook her head.
“Ever the optimist. I don’t care. My family is happy. Even Noah seems to have accepted this. We have two weeks in two cities.”
“Traffic, noise, lines everywhere,” he reminded her.
“Restaurants, museums, stores, symphony, opera. People everywhere.”
“At least we agree on ribs, and dancing.”
“That’s about all. Jeff, we’re opposites and that’s that.”
She danced with her father, who seemed pleased for her. As they danced, she saw Jeff with her auburn-haired mother and suspected Jeff would captivate her parents.
Dancing with her brothers, she got the same reaction as she had with her dad. They all thought she’d made an incredible bargain with Jeff.
She wasn’t surprised that the families liked each other because they had a lot in common. Only Jeff with his ranching background was the one who had far less in common with any of them.
It was night when they arrived in New York and she was breathless looking at the city lights.
When they reached the suite of their hotel, Jeff picked her up to carry her inside, setting her on her feet in a luxurious suite that held chilled champagne, lavish hors d’oeuvres, plus huge bouquets of fresh flowers. She crossed the room to the window to look again at the view and the myriad of lights until Jeff turned her to him.
He had shed his suit jacket and tie and kicked off his shoes. He poured two flutes of champagne and brought one to her, turning lights low throughout the suite before he returned to raise his drink in a toast. “Here’s to marriage accomplishing what we want.”
She laughed and touched his glass lightly with hers. “Jitters come and go. I hope they’ll go for good before long.”
“Mrs. Jeff Brand. Marriage will be advantageous, Holly.”
“Do you always get what you want?”
“Of course not. But I do often enough to be optimistic about life. Another toast,” he said, holding out his flute. She watched the pale liquid as bubbles rose to the surface and popped. “No regrets, my love.”
“I’ll drink to no regrets. The my love part is a stretch.”
He smiled as they both sipped their champagne. Then he set down his drink and took hers.
The look in his eyes was blatant lust and her heartbeat drummed. He drew her to him. “You were stunning today.” He gathered her into his arms. “Mrs. Brand,” he said in a husky voice. “First, these have to go,” he said, pulling pins out of her hair. Locks tumbled down her shoulders as her heart thudded and she forgot her surroundings and everything except Jeff.
“I don’t know how this bargain can work when we’re such opposites, but we managed to convince everyone today.”
“You try and I’ll try and voilà, we should succeed.”
All the time he talked, his voice dropped lower, growing huskier. His gaze had shifted from her eyes to her mouth and he slipped one arm around her waist to draw her to him.
Barely able to get her breath, she wanted his kisses, his lovemaking. She had waited, through the past week, dreaming about him at night, fantasizing about this moment when the waiting would be over. She was on the Pill now and they didn’t have to worry about a condom.
While she slid her arm around his neck and leaned closer, his mouth covered hers, his tongue going deep. Desire was a flash fire—white-hot and intense—sending her temperature soaring.
Jeff’s arm banded her waist tightly as he leaned over her and kissed her hard.
After unzipping her dress, he stepped away to let it fall around her feet. He held her waist, taking his time to look at her. “You’re beautiful and you take my breath,” he declared in a rasp.
He reached up to unfasten the clasp on her bra.
She sucked in her breath as his hands cupped her breasts. “So beautiful,” he repeated, caressing each breast before leaning down to take her nipple in his mouth and run his warm tongue over her.
As she closed her eyes, moaning softly, she clung to his broad shoulders. Tingling from all he was doing, she wanted to drive him wild. She unbuckled his belt and his trousers, pushing them away. He stepped out of them and she pushed away his briefs, freeing him. His rod was thick and ready. She tingled in anticipation.
His marvelous, muscled body, his firm buttocks and long legs turned her desire scalding. He picked her up and carried her in swift strides to the bedroom where he placed her on the bed and then came down beside her to pull her into his embrace.
Writhing beneath his touch, she moaned with pleasure, wanting more of him and kissing him with all the passion she felt. Desire had been pent-up, their lovemaking limited and cut short from the first kiss. Finally, she could let go and she wanted him with an urgency that shocked her.
Jeff’s kisses had always driven her wild. Each time they were together, need and pleasure had heightened. Tonight the barriers between them were gone. Wanting to kiss and explore his strong body, she ran her hands over him. When she pushed him on his back to shower kisses over him, she scooted down to take his thick shaft to caress and kiss.
With a groan, he shifted. She was now on her back and he bent over her, returning kisses and running his hands lightly over her, his fingers traveling down to her legs, caressing her inner thighs.
He caressed her intimately while he kissed her, his hand moving between her legs, tension spiraling as she arched beneath his touch and cried out. His tongue traveled down over her, showering hot, wet kisses across her belly and then farther, between her legs.
She cried out with pleasure, twisting her hips, unable to keep still, wanting him. She wound her fingers in his hair and thrashed as he drove her wild. Moving her hips frantically, she sat up to pull him to her and kiss him passionately.
“I want you,” she cried. “Love me now.”
“We’re just getting started,” he said, starting again to kiss and caress her and then moving down, turning her over to trail kisses down her back, down the backs of her legs as his hand went between her thighs again.
Pleasure was hot, intense and need just as strong. The torment and passion grew as he continued his loving, driving her to the brink.
When he moved between her legs and lowered himself to enter her, she was frantic with wanting him. She tried to pull him closer as he entered her slowly. Hot, thick and hard, he slid into her, then withdrew, setting her on fire. She gasped, tugging him closer with her hands and legs that were wrapped tightly around him.
He entered her again, moving slowly, still maintaining his iron control. He filled her and withdrew. She cried out, arching beneath him, pulling him closer.
“Jeff, come here. I can’t wait any longer,” she gasped.
“You’re passion and fire,” he whispered as he pumped and heightened her pleasure.
She ran her hands over him, moving with him, one with him for now.
He finally lost his control and pumped wildly, sending them both over the brink. She cried out with rapture as she climaxed and then he shuddered with his. Ecstasy enveloped her, swirling her away into brief oblivion.
“Holly, love. Ahh,” he gasped.
Slowly, her breathing returned to normal and she began to think and come out of her
daze.
Moving together, they held each other tightly. At that moment she felt close to him, as if all differences fell away and were no longer important. She turned her head to kiss him and he kissed her on the mouth in return, a satisfied, loving kiss, light and an affirmation.
Keeping her close with him, Jeff rolled to his side and they lay facing each other.
“You’ve destroyed me,” she said.
“I hope not. That wasn’t my intention. Besides, I have plans for you later tonight.”
“Don’t tell me now,” she whispered lazily. “You’re a terrific lover. This is your talent, Jeff,” she said dreamily, only half aware of talking to him. She was giddy with pleasure. She barely had a sip of the champagne, so she should be cold sober, but his loving had thrust her into a dazed euphoria.
“You’re the superb lover, but then I always thought you would be,” he replied.
She opened her eyes to look at him. “Always? I think not.”
“Maybe not that first day when you were cold enough to give me frostbite, but after our first kiss, I knew.”
She laughed softly, thinking even conversation was too much effort. “Ridiculous, but I like hearing you say it.”
He chuckled and held her close, stroking her hair. “This is a grand arrangement we have, Holly.”
“Beware, neither of us wants to fall in love.”
“Not much danger of that I’d say. At this point we do have a spectacular union, though.”
She snuggled against him. “What a body you have,” she murmured.
“I believe that’s my line. Maybe we’ll make Paris on the next round and just stay two weeks right here in this hotel room.”
Her eyes flew open. “No way, Jeff Brand,” she replied. “You promised Paris. We have arrangements—”
“Calm down. I’m teasing, sort of. I’ll take you to Paris. But the other was a nice thought.”
“If I were a cat now, I would definitely be purring.”
He trailed his fingers along her hip and then on her arm. “I can’t get enough of touching you or looking at you or kissing you.”
“That’s good to hear,” she replied happily, still in euphoria, enjoying this moment of silly banter with him and the intimacy of the past hour. She felt bonded with him, joined in more ways than purely physical. For the moment, differences dwindled to insignificance. Right now, they weren’t poles apart. Tonight they were in harmony and in union.
She knew it wouldn’t last, but she cherished it, seeing a side to him she hadn’t seen before.
“Jeff, this is a night I’ll always remember.”
“I hope so,” he replied. “Who knows about the future? If it is my only wedding, it’s a good one.”
“I quite agree,” she answered, running her fingers over him. She looked up at him, wondering about him and what in life was deeply important to him beyond being a cowboy. His emotional risks in this marriage were minimal and she didn’t expect him to change. This was her only wedding night, too. This time their marriage had been good.
Seven
C ongratulating himself on getting her to marry him, Jeff showered light kisses on her temple, ear and throat. He had the ranch and he had Holly in his bed. If the rest of the year was like their first night, he would be in paradise.
At the end of the year, he expected she would be gone instantly, picking up her life where Noah had interrupted it.
He kissed her, his thoughts consumed by desire. He had never been deeply in love or deep in any relationship and he didn’t expect that to happen now. He stood and picked her up, carrying her with him to the shower where he set her on her feet and turned warm water on them.
Slowly he began to soap her, running his hands lightly over her, already aroused and wanting her. He was hot, wanting her as if they hadn’t just made love only a short time ago.
He moved her beneath the spray to wash off the soap and then turned off the water as he began to kiss and caress her. She was wet, warm, her skin smooth. She moaned softly with pleasure, stirring him more. Her responses heightened his excitement and need and she reacted to each caress and kiss.
“You’re beautiful, Holly. So beautiful, love,” he whispered, unaware of what he was saying to her as he showered kisses on her throat and breasts. He ran his hands along her shapely legs, caressing between her thighs while she gasped and clung to him.
He shifted, stepping back to brace himself and picked her up, lifting her onto his hard shaft.
She cried out with pleasure, gripping his shoulders and moving on him, setting him ablaze as he thrust into her warm softness, feeling her envelop him. He fought for control, trying to last, to pleasure her until she was wild with passion.
She clung to him with her arm around his neck while her other hand slid over his back and neck, caressing him, heightening his own pleasure.
“Jeff, love me,” she gasped, moving on him, and he knew his control was slipping away.
He thrust furiously, moving faster, hearing her sob of pleasure as she held him tightly and shook with her release.
“Jeff.” She cried his name as she climaxed and then he reached his, plunging him into ecstasy as he pumped. Shudders of pleasure racked him. His pulse thundered while he soared into oblivion.
Gradually, his breathing returned to normal and he slowed. She was draped over him, stroking his back and showering kisses on his face. He turned his head to kiss her in a long, caring kiss.
“This is great, Holly,” he whispered, looking at her. She opened her eyes slowly, a lethargic, satisfied expression, her mouth red from his kisses, her face flushed.
He smiled at her and she smiled in return. He wondered whether there was any danger that after a year with her, he would fall in love. He shrugged away the notion as ridiculous. Whatever he felt at the end of a year, he knew she would be gone instantly. She disliked everything about the ranch—the quiet, the horses, riding, the open spaces. Everything he loved and valued, she rejected.
In the meantime, certainly in the present, he couldn’t have done better in choosing a woman for a marriage of convenience.
He shifted, letting her stand to shower briefly. After drying, he picked her up to carry her back to bed where he pulled her close against him, to hold her in his arms.
“Ahh, love, this is the best. I’ll show you Paris, but first I want to show you our Parisian bedroom.”
“That’s fine with me,” she replied, shifting to prop her head on her hand and look down at him. “Remember, you made lunch arrangements with your uncle while we’re there. He’s flying in from London.”
“It’s our honeymoon. He would understand if I canceled.”
“He knows this marriage is a sham and why, so he’ll expect you to be able to tear yourself away for a lunch. You’ll be glad to see him.”
“In the meantime, I will make the most of my time here,” Jeff said, suddenly rolling her over beneath him. She yelped in surprise and then looked up. He saw her green eyes darken slightly with desire, a heated look as she wrapped her arms tightly around him.
As he leaned the last few inches to kiss her, he became aware of every warm inch of her against him. She wound her arms around him and the discussion was over.
It was noon before one of them could even think of breakfast. Holly heard her stomach rumble, and Jeff must have as well because he stretched his long arm and picked up a folder from the table near the bed.
“We’ll have room service and eat in the nude in bed.”
“I don’t know about that. I don’t think you’ll ever bother with eating if we follow your plan,” she said, smiling at him.
“So what if we don’t? Hunger will win at some point.”
“I veto the nudie breakfast,” she said. “You give me time today to check my e-mails. I don’t want to lose touch with the office.”
“You have got to be joking,” he said.
“No, I’m not. We don’t need to stay out of total contact. Something vital might happen.”
“Holly, you need to learn to relax and enjoy life a bit more.”
“I enjoy my life plenty,” she said, raising her chin. “I also like to get things accomplished. You might take note.”
“I’d rather get back to discussing the nude breakfast. Maybe I can talk you into it. In the meantime, let’s order. What would you like?” She found it difficult to concentrate on a menu when Jeff continually kissed and caressed her. It was after one before they finally ordered and breakfast turned into lunch sent to their room.
Over crisp bacon and fluffy scrambled eggs, she stared at Jeff. “Do you realize we’ve been here four days and never set foot out of the room with this wonderful city filled with all sorts of things to do and to buy?” Mid-morning Thursday they were to leave for Paris.
“I’ve had a far more entertaining time right here,” he answered. “Is this a complaint?”
She blushed. “Not really. You know I’ve been happy or I would have mentioned this before now. I’m just shocked that neither of us wanted to get out.”
“I definitely had something I’d rather have been doing,” he said with a grin and she decided to stop talking about getting out of the hotel.
For the next three days, she saw no more of Paris than of New York, but the fourth day, they had that lunch appointment with his uncle and she dressed carefully, excited to see the city.
In a delightful French restaurant they ate outside, and over lunch she enjoyed the surroundings and her food while the men talked. Gradually, as Shelby got to the subject of business, she began to pay more attention to their conversation.
“Jeff, my brother’s doctor has told him to get out of the business completely or face dire consequences. Your mom won’t and can’t do anything with him. She’s always left him to do as he pleased and then he leaves her alone to do what she wants. He won’t let go, staying on as chairman of the board. I’m busting myself to get more business and I’m glad to see what you did, acquiring the Houston account. I want you and Noah to succeed like crazy because maybe then Knox will step down—if it’s not too late.”