“Conrad!” She called as she held onto him. The world around her was suddenly white-hot, her body rigid with a new sensation that set her on fire in an explosive climax that surely rocked the world.
Well, hot damn! Happy days were here faster than he’d planned, Conrad thought as he held Thelma close, her body tight to his, shuddering in climax. She responded so easily to his touch, so completely. Who would have thought?
He kissed her hard, her full, swollen lips melting against his. He turned them around and sat on the bench. “Make love to me, Thelma.”
She stared at him, her eyes wide. “I’ve never—”
He cupped her ample hips with his hands and pulled her close. It was good to feel real woman, some flesh, and not skin and bones like others he’d taken to bed. “Let me help you.” He wedged his knees between her legs as he brought her to him. He parted her legs with his. “You’re beautiful like this, Thelma. A woman ready for making love is irresistible to a man.”
“You find me irresistible?”
“You have no idea.” And, he meant it, because ... because of the money, that was it. “Put your hands on my shoulders and just ease onto me, sweetheart. Take your time, let yourself get the feel of me inside you.”
She looked from his engorged penis to his face and swallowed. “You’re so big.”
He grinned. “And you’re a flatterer.”
She gave him a tentative smile. “I’m serious. What if I hurt you? What if I’m not big enough for you? There seems to be pretty much there, Conrad.”
“This won’t hurt, Thelma. I promise.”
She bit her lip and spread her legs wider and lowered herself ‘til her heat touched his tip. Her gaze fused to his as she sucked in a quick breath. “That’s it, sweetheart,” he encouraged. “Let me have you, every sweet inch of you.”
He tugged on her hips; her skin was like velvet. He brought her down, her body opening for his, letting him gradually slide into her heat.
“You’re so ready for me. We were made to make love like this.”
Her face flushed, her breaths becoming shallow as she lowered herself more, his erection suddenly throbbing with anticipation. Not that self-control was a problem. He knew how to keep himself in check, waiting for the woman to climax before achieving his own release. He prided himself on women coming before he did. He was a terrific lover, and he intended for Thelma to climax at least once more before he did. He wanted her to find him irresistible.
Her body relaxed more, letting him fill her deeper. She gasped, and her mouth suddenly found his in a kiss. He hadn’t expected that. Usually women were intent on the sex part, the actual intercourse, and nothing so emotional as a kiss. And this kiss was emotional, filled with sweetness and caring and the need to have him close.
Then she suddenly let herself all the way down, taking him fully inside her body. He gasped. Hell, he never gasped, and she kissed him harder, her mouth suddenly devouring his as she slid him in and out of her body in a frantic rhythm. He hadn’t expected this or her ability to arouse him so quickly, bringing him to the brink. “Slow down, sweetheart.”
“I can’t,” she gasped, her movements faster, her heat stroking his. “You are an incredible lover, Conrad.”
Her sweetness, her freshness, her complete giving of her body and her heart to him overwhelmed him. His hips arched up, his thrusts in rhythm with hers, filling her harder and deeper each time, his excitement and desire to have her out of control spilled over to himself as he climaxed in her with a raw, unrestrained release that shocked him. He felt Thelma’s climax as she trembled in his arms, her sex tightening around his dick, her face buried in his neck as the spasms rocked her head to foot.
Her body continued to shudder, or was that his, as the warm water rained over them. The steam was coming from their bodies more than the water, he was sure.
“Conrad,” she whispered in a ragged breath in his ear. “That was incredible.”
And it was. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d climaxed like that. Usually it was a mutual form of. .. recreation more than anything else. But this ... This recreated the hell out of him.
“Where did you learn so much about sex?”
She looked up at him, her eyes bright, and she smiled sweetly. “From you.” Then she kissed him and placed his hands on her breasts. “Let’s do it again.”
And he realized that’s exactly what he wanted to do as his tongue mated with hers. How could this happen? How could he want to take her again so quickly? Her breasts swelled at his touch. Her hips arched against him. His muscles hardened, and he gazed into her beautiful brown eyes.
It was the lure of the money, that was it. That’s why he couldn’t get enough of her. The money!
———
Ryan walked toward town, needing to get away from the mall plans and Effie. Perspiration pasted his T-shirt to his body like a second skin as the late afternoon sun baked the Landing. A few insects darted here and there, but even bugs had enough sense to stay out of the boiling sun at this time of day. Too bad he didn’t. He passed the bank already closed for the day, then Burgers-n-Bait. The town did need a facelift, bad. He waved to Betty Lindel ringing up a customer at the market, passed Doc Shelton’s, then crossed the street and headed for Slim’s.
Smoke from the outdoor grills behind the bar swirled into the air, the scent of Memphis barbecue making his mouth water. No one did barbecue like Slim. If he could bottle the scent, he’d make a damn fortune.
Ryan pushed open the door. The sudden chill of air-conditioning set just above blizzard made him suck in a quick breath. The rhythm of B.B. Boogie vibrated through the old frame structure bedecked with photos of Slim and B.B. King, Carla Thomas, Ruby Wilson, Howlin’ Wolf and Ryan’s personal favorite, Aretha Franklin. Now, there was a voice.
Ryan sat at the bar, and Sally wandered over, her dark eyes and hair in perfect harmony with her dark skin. Ryan was sure all the boys in their class had had a crush on her at one time or another over the years, him included. She flashed him a wide grin. “Well, I’ll be. Look what the cat finally dragged in.”
She popped the top from a cold beer, put it on the bar, leaned across it and kissed Ryan full on the lips. “’Bout damn time you got your sorry white ass back home to see your own baby.” She winked. “But I know you, Ryan O’Fallon. I’m guessing there’s more going on there than meets the eye.”
Ryan took a long, cool swig. “Just because you got an MBA from Harvard you think you know everything.”
She laughed and quirked an eyebrow. “Keep it down, okay. Give the place a bad name with talk like that.”
He laughed in return. “Too late, everybody already knows all about you.”
“Yeah, but you don’t have to keep reminding ‘em.” Sally took a sip of his beer. “Where’s Bonnie? Your dad hasn’t brought her in today. We’re going to introduce her to the sounds of Rosco Gordon. Get her used to the good stuff.”
“He’s feeding her right now.”
Sally tipped her head with suspicion. “Not you?”
“It’s a granddaddy thing.”
“Sure it is.” She gave him a look that said she wasn’t buying any of the bullshit story he was selling. He bent across the bar, leaning on his elbows and keeping his voice low enough to get drowned out except for Sally. “How well did you know Mimi DuPont while she was here?”
Sally pursed her lips. “Do I get to know why you’re asking?”
“This is just between us, and you can probably figure it out.”
She considered that for a moment, and her eyes sparked. “Mimi and Rory? Well, that sure makes more sense than the talk that’s going around about you and Bonnie.” Sally wagged her head. “Wish I could help, but I don’t know anything about Mimi really. Nice gal. Liked Rory, made him real happy.” She chuckled. “Obviously happier than I thought, but I’ll keep that bit of information to myself since I’m guessing that’s the way you all want it to be for some reason.”
“Anyone
ever come asking about her?”
“A guy nosing around last week, but before that nothing. I don’t know anyone around here who she got friendly with. Not even Thelma. Mimi just kept to herself.”
“Any strangers poking around since?”
“Always new crew and captains for the tows, so it’s hard to tell who’s poking and who’s just getting acquainted.” She shrugged. “But I’ll keep an eye out.”
Ryan nodded his thanks, then sat back. “You getting bored around here yet and ready to head on back to New York City and play the business game with the big boys again?”
“Hell, no!” She let out a hardy laugh that drew a few looks. “Not in this lifetime. Three years on Wall Street about did me in. I don’t need to be on ulcer pills and looking at triple bypass before I’m forty.”
And Slim needed her to help run the place after her mama died. Sally continued, “I’m right where I want to be and tickled pink. Besides”—she winked—”I got myself a new beau, and he’s a real pretty one.”
Ryan slowly shook his head. “You didn’t wait for me?”
“Last time I checked hell hadn’t frozen over. I’m afraid you and I passed that stage a long time ago. Tve been seeing a guy for about two months now. He’s a real estate investor from Nashville. Going up and down the Mississippi scooping out a place to build retirement homes for the empty-nester set. Asking a million questions about the Landing, the people here, wanting to know if they accept outsiders and the like. I think he’s really interested in the place. Could be good for the local economy, and the town could use some sprucing up.”
She took another sip of Ryan’s beer. “With Conrad’s dry dock not doing too good people need more jobs to fill in. That man sure can spend money. Too bad he doesn’t know as much about making it.”
“I think he knows. I don’t think he cares.” Ryan looked around. “Is your man here now? I got some stories about you that could curl his hair.”
“His hair’s straight, and let’s keep it that way. Besides, if we’re sharing stories, the ones about you way outshine mine.” They laughed over old times; then his gaze suddenly met hers, and he remembered a particular time in a fishing boat. One starry spring night on the banks of the Mississippi when angling for catfish turned into angling for a whole lot more and they lost their virginity to each other. He smiled at Sally, and she smiled in return, a slow smile that turned her face soft and warm and totally beautiful as if remembering exactly the same thing. They never made love again, their attraction more deep friendship than intimate. But no one ever forgot their first time.
“His name’s Demar,” she said, interrupting both their thoughts and bringing them back to the present. “And he’s back in Nashville ‘til tomorrow. You’ll like him.”
Ryan took Sally’s hand and kissed the back. He kept her hands for a moment and said, “What matters to me is that you like him and he treats you good.”
Her eyes danced, and she gave him a slow, easy grin. “He treats me just fine. And I do like him. So does Dad.” She hitched her chin toward the back door. “He’s out back grilling. You can ask him when he comes in.”
“Smelled the barbecue all the way here, drove me crazy. Didn’t realize how much I missed it ‘til now.”
“That’s the way the Landing is. When you come home you realize just how good it is. If you play a little something for the customers, I bet Slim could be persuaded to give you dinner on the house. Bubba keeps his sax in the back, and you know he has extra reeds in the case. Bet he wouldn’t mind.”
“I should help Rory. Thelma’s out tonight, and he could use an extra hand.”
“What about that cute blonde you brought with you?”
“Effie?”
Sally winked. “How many did you bring?”
Heat crawled up his neck, and he nearly knocked over his beer. “We work together is all.”
Sally rested her elbow on the bar and parked her chin in her hand. “You can save that line of crap for someone else. That look in your eye means this Effie’s more than a work partner; she’s got you all twisted up inside.”
“There are extenuating circumstances.”
“Honey, this Effie’s got you. About damn time somebody did.”
“Like hell.”
Sally grinned. “Play some music, city boy.”
Ryan stroked his chin. “Been a while for me.”
Sally gave him a wicked grin. “I so doubt that.”
He wagged his head. “Damn, I missed you.”
“Yeah, me, too. Now you just got to figure out a way to keep yourself and that cute little blonde here.”
“It’s San Diego for me, and Effie has no interest in the Landing.”
Sally set another beer in front of him. “Stupid, stupid man.”
———
Effie pushed open the door to Slim’s, the chill taking her breath away for a second. Some bluesy-jazzy song flowed through the room as her eyes adjusted to the dim interior and hovering cigarette smoke. She coughed and tried not to choke. What happened to the smoking and nonsmoking section? She sat at the back table and looked for Ryan.
“What’ll it be?” asked a huge man in a barbecue-smeared apron with a gold ring in his left ear. She was cool with that; heck, she had one in her belly button.
“I don’t have all day here.”
She hadn’t considered the eating aspect until she got out of the car and inhaled heaven-on-earth. With an aroma like that permeating the atmosphere, even Richard Simmons didn’t stand a chance at not eating at Slim’s. “Could I see a menu, please?”
He gave her a what’s-a-menu look.
“Can you just bring me whatever you have cooking that smells so good?”
“Ribs, chicken, sausage.”
Slim didn’t seem the sort of man interested in answering a lot of questions about this being one item on the nonexistent menu of this establishment or three separate items. Discussing side dishes and beverages was definitely out. She went with, “Okay.”
This time he gave her a dumb-tourist look and trudged off.
So much for blending in with the locals. More soul music filled the room as she looked for Ryan. That’s why she came, to beat him about the neck and shoulders for tricking her into working like a deckhand. She’d bet her Italian shoes he’d done it as payback for the lunchroom betting pool. Whatever, she didn’t appreciate it, and she intended to tell the big fat handsome, terrific-in-bed louse just that. She shook her head. She had to forget that last part, and he definitely wasn’t fat. More lean and trim and muscled. Aw drat!
She checked the packed bar and tables but no Ryan, until she studied the lovely woman with the incredible voice and the man playing sax beside her. Effie blinked. Ryan on sax? And he was really good! He never played so much as the spoons back in California, and there it was, Ryan on sax!
The music captivated her. Who was she kidding. Ryan captivated her. He seemed part of the instrument, an extension of some part of him that she’d never seen before, and considering the last twenty-four hours she’d seen pretty darn much!
Her body swayed with the rhythm as did everyone else’s. Her soul soared with the high notes and crashed with the low ones as the woman sang about no joy when he’s gone. When the piece ended everyone clapped and whistled and Effie joined in, thanks to her granddad teaching her how to put her two little fingers in her mouth and whistle big-time. Course, her parents didn’t appreciate this particular talent.
Ryan was incredible, least that’s what she thought ‘til he swooped the beautiful singer in his arms and kissed her full on the mouth.
More clapping and wolf whistles, this time without Effie because her breath lodged in her throat, her jaw dropped and her eyes popped. How could Ryan do that? How could he have frantic sex with her last night and less than twenty-four hours later be kissing another woman like that!
She’d kill him dead. The no-good, lying, two-timing son-of-a-bitch deserved it. She was more pissed off than before. She watched
Ryan pack up the sax, put the case against the wall, then head for the door, stopping to talk to friends as he went. His woman headed for the bar and served up beers. Effie stood and followed Ryan as more misty music, from a recording this time, filled the place.
The door to Slim’s closed behind her, and she followed Ryan down the step onto the sidewalk. She grabbed his arm, bringing him to a halt and turning him around to face her. “You dirty rotten pig.”
He stared, his eyes round. “Effie? What are you doing here?”
“Ha! Didn’t expect to see me, did you!” The heat outside matched the heat boiling in her gut. “I’ve come to beat you to a pulp.”
“Why?”
“I have a list, and it’s getting longer.”
“Hey there, Ryan,” a guy in jeans and a T-shirt called out. “How’re you doing?” He nodded at Effie. “See you got yourself another pretty gal. You do have the knack, always did.”
The man walked into Slim’s, and Effie felt smoke curl from her ears. She pointed toward the man. “That’s why. How can you do it? How can you be fooling around—”
“Wait.” Ryan took her hand and dragged her off the sidewalk and toward the side of the building. “I don’t think I want this little confrontation broadcasted all over the Landing. This place is ground-zero for gossip, and right now because of Bonnie I’m already in everyone’s crosshairs.”
He peered down at her. “What’s got you so fired up?”
“You tricked me on that damn boat. You got me to do all kinds of stuff that didn’t need doing just to show me who’s boss.” She half closed her eyes. “That was really, really, low, Ryan. Just because of my extracurricular lunchroom activities, and since when did you start saying fired up?”
“Always .. . except in California, and I didn’t make you run all over the tow for the reason you think. I did it to get you used to the boat. You were a basket case sitting in the captain’s chair.”
Til There Was U Page 14