What the Heart Desires

by Victoria Rose

  She had enough to deal with. It was hard enough losing her memory. What if there was something in her past that she didn’t want to remember? What if she was running away from something—or someone!

  She sighed. Her life probably wasn’t that dramatic, but she needed time. And being here on this secluded ranch with Keane Whitmore was good for her. She didn’t want to leave, well, not until she found herself again.

  “I know you are trying to help.” She raised her eyes to meet his. “But like

  I’ve said before, I will like to pass on your offer. I will wait until I can remember

  something, and get a better clue of who I am, and then I will be out of your hair.”

  Keane got up and joined her. His arms went around her slumped shoulders. He pulled her close against his body.

  “You are a hard woman to pleased, you know that.” He leaned in and kissed her

  on the forehead. “I only made the suggestion to give you some peace of mind. I

  thought having some answers would make you happy. I see the emotional toll

  this whole thing is taking on you. I want to make it easy on you.”

  She swung around to look at him. “I know you want to make things better—I

  really do, but I prefer to do it my way for now. Besides, I’m sure the Sheriff and his men have better things to do with their time. I’m certain this storm has resulted in dozens of freak accidents.”

  “This is rural Minnesota, not some big city. Not much happens around here,

  and especially not at Christmas time. Forget I asked. Just remember that I’m here if you change your mind and want my help.”

  She reached up on tiptoe and kissed him. “Thank you. You won’t regret it. In

  fact, you won’t even know that I’m here.”

  Keane wrapped his arms around her small waist, and drew her even closer to him. “And how do you plan on doing that?” he gave her a mischievous grin.

  “Wait and see.”

  “Is that a challenge of some sort?”

  “It could be!” She flashed him a fast grin, and tried to wriggle out of his arms.

  Keane held onto her. He swept her up in his strong arms and swung her around a few times. Becca shrieked with delight as he twirled her around.

  “Stop, oh, please, stop!” She giggled. “You are making my head spin!”

  Her arms found their way up to his neck not long after, and she encircled it. She

  moved her face up closer to his, smiling at him as she did so, her eyes never

  leaving his. Keane stopped swirling her around at that point. He stood still and

  locked eyes with her, his piercing gaze moving down quickly to her generous

  mouth, resting on her quivering lips.

  And it wasn’t long before he claimed her lips in a passionate, hungry kiss again, and they stood entwined for an indeterminable amount of time, devouring the surreal sweetness of each other. And their mouths were still joined in sweet unison when Keane stumbled over to the bed, and lay her down gently on the covers.

  He stood back and looked at her, his eyes filled with raw passion and longing

  as he feasted on her glow, her trembling, swollen lips, made that way from his kisses, and what he could see of her heaving chest—her full breasts almost spilling out of her white push-up bra.

  “Are you sure about this?” His voice was a hoarse, shaky whisper.

  His entire body quivering with desire for her. He didn’t know how long he would be able to contain himself.

  Becca wetted her lips and held his eyes. “You mean, if I’m certain that I want

  this beautiful, wonderful thing to happen between us, Keane.” She reached up and stroked his face slowly. “Is that what you are asking me?”

  Keane swallowed hard and nodded. He was too choked up to say the words. He was bursting at the seams, waiting for her to give him the go ahead. He desperately wanted to make love to her, but he also wanted to make sure that it

  was what she wanted—he wanted her to feel the same way he did.

  He swallowed some more, and managed a weak smile.

  Becca reached up, and slipped her arm around his neck and drew him down to her.

  “I haven’t been this certain and ready for anything or about anyone in my

  entire life than I do right now, my darling. I want you, Keane, more than you know.” She trailed the tip of her finger across his lips, then her hand went

  down to rest on his body, her fingers exploring as they did.

  Keane blinked. The smile on his face widened. His dimples deepened. He lowered his head and buried his face in the small of her neck, and the cleavage of her ample breasts, cupping them with his hands as he did so, breathing in her sweetness.

  “Are you oo…k.”

  “Kiss me, Keane. Just kiss me, Please! No more talking!”

  The grin on Keane’s face widened. He didn’t have to wait for another word. His eager lips devoured Becca’s with sweet hungry and urgency.

  He guided his hand down the small of her back, and onto her pert behind. She

  was perfect in everyway, he thought. Every inch of her sensuous body had been made just the right way, and for him.

  His excitement grew, knowing that she was going to be all his.

  He drew her closer and closer to his firmness. And Becca surrendered

  herself completely and willingly to him, allowing Keane to love her the way she was certain no other man had ever loved her before.

  Chapter Five

  “Why didn’t you say something?” Keane’s voice was a bare emotional whisper when he finally spoke to her, many, many pleasurable moments after.

  “Umm.” Becca moved her body closer to his and smiled.

  “You heard me.” One of Keane’s fingers went up to trail the top of her bare arms and back.

  He and Becca were laying entwined, basking in the glory of what had just happened between them. Not a single word had passed between them in the last ten minutes, as they savored the moment. Keane finally raised his head from the soft warmth of Becca’s naked breasts and searched her face. There was a glow on her face. She seemed happy. She seemed contented. It was the happiest he had seen her since she arrived at the ranch.

  He pushed her hair back from her face so that he could see her eyes better. He stroked her hair. It was damp from their loving making. His hand went up to caress it some more. He was a lucky man to have experienced something so wonderful, magical, pure and unforgettable with Becca.

  He pressed his lips against her hair, and smiled.

  He realized that there was no going back now—he was completely hooked.

  Becca was his, now, and forever.

  “Why didn’t you say something?” he said again in a low voice, his fingers going up to caress her flushed cheek.

  He didn’t realize how much in love he was with her until now. He couldn’t deny it anymore. What they had shared together was beyond real. It was surreal. And it had brought them even closer now.

  “Huh, what? Did you say something?” She feigned innocence.

  She would have liked to go on pretending that she didn’t hear him, but she knew that he wouldn’t let it go.

  “You heard me.” He nuzzled the sensitive spot behind her ear and nibbled gently on her earlobe. “I would have wanted to know.”

  “Why? It wouldn’t have changed anything, would it?”

  She met his eyes with a huge smile.

  “If you mean would I still have made love to you, my darling, then the answer is yes, but just in a different way.” He pecked her on the tip of her nose.

  “Then that’s taken care of! I would not have wanted it any other way.” She reached over and pinched him gently on the butt. “It was wonderful and special!”

  “Hey, not so fast! You are not talking your way out of this!”

  Keane rolled onto his side and shifted his head on the pillow so that he was

  face to face with her. His eyes peere
d deeply into hers, as if he expected to find

  the answer he was looking for there.

  Becca gave him a wide sheepish grin and reached up to touch his cheek.

  “Don’t blame me for that! From what I could remember, we didn’t do much

  talking, honey.” She trailed her finger down his hard body and kissed him playfully on the mouth. “You know we were both caught up in the moment. It certainly wasn’t the place or time to blurt out something like that to you, honey. Silence was beyond golden in our case!” She pecked him on the lips again, and giggled.

  She was happy—happier than she could remember ever being.

  “You should have warned me.” He insisted gently.

  He allowed his fingers to caress her arm, thigh and leg, his exploring fingers finally coming back to rest on her thigh, his roaming fingers toying with the sensitive spot there.

  “It’s not something a girl shouts out in the throes of passion.” There was a coy smile on her lips.

  Keane bent over and kissed her.

  “That still doesn’t get you off the hook.”

  Becca tossed one of her bare legs over his, and smiled at him. “Well, it’s

  over and done with. No harm done,” she told him nonchalantly. “I had a lovely

  time, and from what I could tell, so did you.”

  She slapped him lightly on the bare butt. Then she grabbed it gently, and giggled. “Wow! This is as hard as rock, like the rest of you!” She brushed her hand down his middle and smiled, as her fingers encircled him.

  “You are lucky. I’m not usually that gentle with any woman.” He toyed with her hair, wrapping a few damp strands around his finger and letting them go again.

  “Oh,” Becca gave him a shy grin. “You could have fooled me. I’m glad I didn’t say anything because I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way. Everything was simply rapturous, and marvelous!”

  Keane put his arms around her and rolled onto his back, taking her with her. She ended up spread-eagled-like on top of him, her full, firm breasts nestling pleasurably against his upper chest.

  “You do know that it’s not every day a man comes across a beautiful blushing

  virgin like you.” He kissed the top of her nose, and each cheek, then her lips, taking full possession of them. “I could have hurt you, Becky,” he said after, hovering over her with a very serious look on his face. “I could have spoilt it for you.”

  “And it would have worth it, darling.” She gave him a very amused smile. “But you didn’t—you were gentle and attentive, and loving, and adventurous, and fun. I enjoyed every last moment of your lovemaking, honey. I really did. I will always remember how it was with you, and what we shared. No amount of amnesia could take that away from me, not in a hundred years!” She giggled and ran her hands over his bare chest.

  Keane gave her a serious look. “So you have no regrets about what happened between us?”

  She smiled at him sweetly. “None at all—No! No! No!” she told him in a very convincing voice. “In fact, I made the right decision by choosing you to be my first and only. I wouldn’t have wanted it to be anyone else.”

  She caressed his cheek and stared into his eyes. She was deeply in love with him, every single part of him. And she knew that he felt something for her too. She could see it in his eyes.

  “I would never have been able to forgive myself if I had brought you any more

  pain, darling. I mean it.” Keane stroked her face, his eyes never leaving hers as he spoke. “I…”

  She went in quickly for a kiss. She kissed him long and hard, her tongue reaching inside his mouth to claim his. She nibbled, sucked and tasted him until she’d had her fill of him.

  Keane’s head fell back onto the pillows when she was done with him. He pressed one of his hands across his chest and stared up at her in wonder.

  “Wow! That was some kiss!” He was almost out of breath when he spoke.

  “It was to shut you up, darling—no more talking!”

  “Oh.” He grinned, and caressed her bare buttocks.

  “I don’t want you to spoil the moment with your talking. I told you I enjoy

  being with you, and that’s that! Darling, you are not the barbarian you are trying to make yourself out to be. And I’m not some delicate flower that you need to handle with extra gentle care! I just want you to continue loving me the way you have. There’s no need for you to change anything.”

  She rested her hands on his chest and stared provocatively at him.

  Keane chuckled and pulled her down onto him.

  “I see the student has become the teacher,” he told her in a laughing voice.

  He remembered he had done the exact thing to her not that long before to keep

  her from talking. “You are a fast learner!”

  “Oh, but I’m just getting started, darling. I have so much more to learn from you, my love—so much more! And I hope you are up to teaching me.”

  She ran her fingers down the length of his naked body, encircling his hardness in her hand, caressing the entire length of him, in quick successive jerks.

  Keane gasped, and buried his fingers deep into her thick curls, and moaned, as she continued to fondle him.

  “What are you trying to do to me?” he finally asked in a bated breath.

  “Show you that I’m not the naïve little girl you probably think I am. I may not

  have the experience as the women you have been with, Keane, but I can learn.”

  He leaned over and drew her up to him. “Oh, darling, Becky! You are perfect the way you are! I wouldn’t change anything about you! You are like a breath of fresh air. You have pumped new life into me.”

  She paused to look at him. “You mean that literally don’t you?”

  He laughed heartily. “I would never trade what we have just shared for anything or anyone in the world! You are mine now. You complete me.” His lips found hers again. “You are all the woman I have ever wanted and would ever need,” he confessed. “You have just proven that to me, darling.” He caressed her face lovingly.

  “Do you mean that?” She searched his eyes.

  “I do,” he replied in earnest. He smiled at her, and took her hands in his. “I am

  never one to say something I don’t mean. And I will prove it.”

  She could see he meant every word. It was all there in his eyes.

  His head disappeared quickly under the covers.

  “Waa…! Wha…t! Umm!” Becca raked her fingers through his hair and gasped. “Ummm, darling, Ooh…”

  She moaned!

  She screamed!

  Her body shook—it rocked! It shuddered with desire.

  And she moaned some more, over and over again.

  Her head went back against the pillows, only to come forward again, in quick, successive jerks, as she fought to keep up with Keane’s ardent loving—but she couldn’t. He knew exactly what he was doing to her—and he did it, as she teemed on the edge of no return, until sweet rapture finally claimed her body, once more, flinging her back against the bedrails and the pillows, with Keane following close behind, his head coming up to rest on her bare stomach.

  They shifted their heads to look at each other, their eyes locked with each other’s for an indeterminable amount of time, until Keane finally spoke.

  “Was that convincing enough?” He grinned widely at her.

  She didn’t reply. She slipped her hands around his waist and pulled him back onto her, daring him to finish what he started.

  Chapter Six

  Keane wasn’t in bed when Becca awoke and reached for him

  He was gone. She sat up suddenly, and peered around the semi-dark room, hoping to see him standing there, looking down at her.

  He wasn’t. He was nowhere in sight!

  She stifled a huge yawn, fell back against the pillows and pouted. She was disappointed that he hadn’t stayed with her. She wondered how he had managed to untwine himself from her without her knowing. Sh
e was a light sleeper—she would have felt any slight movement from him.

  She guessed she was more exhausted than she thought.

  She threw the covers off, and rolled onto her side. He probably knew she would have wanted him to stay, that’s why he had slipped away from her so quietly. She glanced at the time on the clock on the night table and sighed.

  It was only five-ten. She wondered where he could be. He had probably gone back to his room to get some rest. Maybe he wanted to sleep alone in his own bed. She didn’t blame him. They hadn’t slept much! They had made love again, and again, then talked and giggled, then made love some more, until they had finally drifted off to asleep sometime after one in the morning from sheer

  exhaustion.

  She remembered, because Keane had said he had to be up in four hours. He

  hadn’t told her why, but she had only assumed that it had to do with work. He had been spending a lot of time on the phone when he wasn’t with her; making and returning calls, faxing important stuff, signing contracts. And couriers had been coming and going from the ranch nonstop since she was here.

  She knew Keane was the head of some sort of company that manufactured equipment for the military and the US government. He was a billionaire. She had Googled him, and had done some snooping when he wasn’t around. And he had mentioned his job briefly when she had asked him about it, but he hadn’t gone into specific details—and she hadn’t pushed him.

  She knew running a conglomerate couldn’t be an easy job. And lately, she had been feeling that she was keeping him from his work. She knew he was holed up at the ranch only because she was there. He would probably get more done if he was in the city or if he could travel around more freely, and frequently.

  She had overheard him arranging important business meetings with investors, and his associates only to cancel them at the last minute, citing an important family emergency. And it hadn’t taken her long to realize that she was the family

  emergency he was talking about.

  He hadn’t exactly left her side since she had been there. She knew he was

  putting everything on hold for her, because he probably felt responsible for her.