In Forbidden Territory

by Shawna Delacorte

  “That was before someone carrying a nearly full pot of coffee rounded a corner and ran into him.” Ty attempted without success to stop the chuckle as he recalled the collision. “Mac, of course, didn’t find it as amusing as I did. Coffee on the walls,” he gestured with a wave of his hand indicating a large expanse of space, “coffee on the floor and coffee all over a very unhappy McConnor Coleman.”

  Her laugh joined his. “I’ll bet that was quite a sight. Mac hates being dirty and messy. He’s been that way for as long as I can remember.”

  “The last I saw of him was his back as he retreated down the hall toward his office muttering something about needing to go home to change clothes and that was about ten minutes ago. So, he could be here any minute.”

  “You’re right. We wouldn’t want him to catch us.” Her gaze locked with his for a hot moment, sending a wave of desire coursing through her. Her words turned husky surrounded by a breathless quality. “Not that we’re doing anything wrong.”

  “True…” He reached out and brushed his fingertips across her cheek and tucked an errant lock of hair behind her ear. He skimmed his fingers down the side of her neck until they came to rest on her shoulder. “We’re not doing anything wrong.” The words only reinforced what he knew but didn’t want to admit, that he had less than honorable designs on the forbidden temptation standing in front of him. A definite internal conflict pulled him in two directions. On one hand was his desire for Angie and on the other his loyalty to Mac.

  And on top of that was his confusion over exactly what his true intentions were. The one thing he did know was that he had somehow gotten in over his head where Angie was concerned. He knew he couldn’t continue to tread water. He had to do something, but he didn’t know what.

  Ty recovered from his moment of confusion by pushing his thoughts aside. He had the scene all set at his house. They would grill some chicken on the deck, then enjoy champagne in the hot tub. It would be an evening devoted to sensual pleasure.

  Angie gathered her purse and swimsuit and they left just as Mac pulled into the driveway. As he climbed out of his car, his gaze darted from Ty to Angie and back to Ty.

  There was an uneasiness in Mac’s voice, a forced casualness. “You two going out again tonight? That’s every night this week.” Mac turned his attention to Ty. “It’s nice of you to keep Angie company so I can finish the design. I know what a busy social life you lead. I hope she isn’t taking too much of your time.”

  “Don’t worry about us. We both know how important the design project is and the time crunch you have.” Ty placed his hand at the small of Angie’s back and gently pressed to start her walking toward his car. “Tonight we’re going to a barbecue.”

  A look of surprise darted across Mac’s face. “A barbecue?”

  “Yes…and we’re running late.” Ty indicated the front of Mac’s shirt. He tried without success to hold back a teasing grin. “You seem to have had a little accident. Did anyone get hurt or was your shirt the only casualty?”

  Mac acknowledged the large stain on his shirt, but scowled at Ty’s ill-timed attempt at humor. “I’m only home long enough to get a clean shirt.”

  Ty flashed an outgoing smile as he turned toward the street. “We’ll be running along. See you later.”

  “Don’t wait up.” She hadn’t meant anything by it, but Angie regretted saying the words as soon as they were out of her mouth. The expression that quickly clouded Mac’s features told her he had interpreted them in an entirely different manner than she intended.

  Ty hurried her to his car and a minute later they were on the way to his house. A little pang of guilt pushed at him. He had purposely deceived Mac in not telling him that the barbecue was at his house and then he had hurried away before Mac could question him about his plans. He didn’t like the feeling of sneaking around behind Mac’s back even though that wasn’t what he was doing—at least not really.

  Confusion raced through him, increasing to a new level each time he was with Angie. The warning look on Mac’s face and the protective edge to his voice every time he referred to her as his kid sister continued to play through his mind. Yet the person he had become very attached to in such a short time was a delightful and enchanting woman who could in no way be thought of merely as someone’s kid sister.

  They drove along in silence, each seemingly preoccupied by personal thoughts. Ty also lived on Bainbridge Island, only about a ten minute drive from Mac’s house. He pulled his car into the garage and they entered the house through the kitchen. Angie set her purse and swimsuit on the table.

  He brushed a quick kiss against her lips. “I’ve had chicken in the refrigerator marinating in a special barbecue sauce all day long. I’ll get the charcoal started, then we can have a glass of wine while the chicken cooks.”

  “Is there something I can do to help? Do you want me to make the salad?”

  “That would be nice, thank you. You’ll find what you need in the refrigerator. I’ll be right back.”

  Angie found the lettuce, tomatoes and a few other ingredients and set about making a tossed salad. Ty lit the charcoal, then retrieved a bottle of white wine from the wine rack and put it into the wine chiller.

  They were soon enjoying a delicious dinner out on the deck, the cool night air warmed by the blaze in the outdoor fireplace. The conversation was light, but underneath sizzled a layer of sexual tension enhanced by the bubbling of the hot tub about ten feet away. It was a sound that beckoned, a sound that promised untold pleasure. A sound that soon filled the air with a sensual rhythm that resonated to the very core of their being and touched the most primal of desires.

  After dinner Angie helped him carry the dishes into the kitchen. When she started to rinse them off to put them in the dishwasher, Ty stopped her. His voice contained a huskiness that sent a little tingle of excitement up her spine.

  He kissed the side of her neck, then whispered in her ear. “I can do that later. Why don’t you change into your swimsuit while I change into mine and we’ll settle into the hot tub.”

  It was the moment she had anticipated yet at the same time had been apprehensive about. Would they make love that night? The possibility heated her yearnings while at the same time filling her with uncertainty. She found the prospect of becoming intimate with Tyler Farrell a little bit intimidating.

  Regardless of what her brother chose to believe, she had not spent her adult years cloistered away from life, although she knew her experience was less than that of the women Ty dated. Would she be a disappointment to him? If she suddenly rebuffed his advances after allowing the passionate kisses and the tender caresses, would he think she was nothing more than a tease? Someone just leading him on in some sort of adolescent game?

  A little tremor of anxiety accompanied her words as she picked up her swimsuit. “I’ll be right back.”

  Angie changed and appeared on the deck a few minutes later. Ty was already there. A solid jolt of lust swept through her senses when she saw him dressed only in his swimsuit. His long tanned legs, broad shoulders and hard chest were certainly enough to turn the head of any woman. He was the most perfect specimen of male physique she had ever seen. Her breathing quickened and her mouth went dry. She may have been uncertain a few minutes ago, but that had all changed in the twinkling of an eye. Or more accurately, the devilish gleam in Ty’s hazel eyes.

  He flashed a dazzling smile as he blatantly did a visual trace of every line and curve she possessed. The two-piece red swimsuit revealed a body that would send any man’s senses skyrocketing. The heat churned low inside him as the blood rushed hot and fast through his veins. “You…in that swimsuit…” His voice contained a huskiness he couldn’t hide. “That’s a sight that could make grown men tremble.” And he was no exception.

  “Thank you.” The crimson tinge of embarrassment spread across her cheeks and forehead.

  He held out his hand to her, but noticed the moment’s hesitation before she took it. She was not the only one fil
led with uncertainty. He had set up dinner and an evening that screamed seduction and could only lead to sensual pleasure. But suddenly he was very unsure of himself. He didn’t know how to proceed, or whether he should proceed at all. To say he felt reticent would be an understatement of monumental proportions. He knew exactly what he wanted, but his loyalty to Mac continued to play havoc with his conscience.

  He was torn. He suspected he was too involved as far as keeping an emotional distance from her was concerned. Suspected…that was a laugh. He didn’t suspect—he knew.

  They settled into the steamy swirl of the hot tub. He watched, nearly mesmerized, as the water bubbled along the edge of her swimsuit top, tickled the exposed portion of her breasts and dived into her cleavage. He wanted to follow the trail of bubbles, to know the intimate recess hidden in the crevasse of the red fabric. He wanted to know the feel of her bare skin against his, to succumb to the swirling heat of the water, to spend the rest of the night making passionate love to this enticing woman.

  He fought to clear his mind of the delicious possibilities. He pulled the bottle from the ice bucket and poured each of them a glass of champagne. He held out his glass toward her. “To a very lovely lady, one who excites my senses.”

  “Thank you.”

  He saw the flush spread across her cheeks again. Had he said too much? Admitted more than he should have? Allowed a hint of his erotic thoughts and desires to escape into the open? He closed his eyes for a second in an attempt to gather his composure before he did something he knew he shouldn’t.

  It didn’t help. The pull of the irresistible force was too strong—his ability to resist too weak.

  He slid over next to her and gathered her into his arms. A moment later his mouth found hers and all the underlying sexual tension exploded into reality. Wet skin against wet skin with only the tiniest amount of swimsuit fabric preventing them from joining together as one. He twined his tongue with hers while slowly tugging on the strap tied at her back. The strap gave way. Then he tugged on the tie at her nape. The top of her swimsuit fell to the water, revealing her bare breasts.

  Her puckered nipples appeared then disappeared in the foamy swirl of water. A sudden shortness of breath caught in his lungs, leaving him gasping for air. He wanted to touch her, to caress the perfect roundness of her breasts, to taste them. Then the image of Mac’s disapproval and his protective tone of voice again invaded Ty’s consciousness. Did he dare pursue what he wanted? And if he did, what might the consequences be?

  A moment later his mouth was on hers again. No more thoughts, no more concerns. She was far too tempting and he wanted her way too much. One lingering thought tried to remain in the forefront, the one that asked what his true feelings were. Just how emotionally involved had he become even though he didn’t want to be?

  His tongue meshed with hers sending a wave of exhilaration through Angie’s body. The hot water swirled around her bare breasts, keeping her nerve endings primed and ready for more…much more. When he had tugged on her swimsuit strap she knew the time for a decision could not be put off any longer. She needed to either stop what was happening or welcome it with open arms. Her breathing increased and her pulse raced. The steam rose into the cool night air, enclosing them in a diaphanous cocoon of sensuality.

  She totally let go of her inhibitions and allowed her body and senses to flow with the dynamic energy of Tyler Farrell. She had earlier suspected she might be falling in love with him. Now she was becoming more convinced of it even though she didn’t want it to be true. Was it too late to stop this falling-in-love process? To turn back the hands of time? Could she persuade herself that it was only lust? Physical desire for a very attractive and sexy man and nothing more? What would the consequences be if they made love? Was it something she could handle and keep under control so that it didn’t become more than she wanted it to be? Too many questions—and no answers anywhere in sight.

  All her thoughts stopped the moment his hand caressed her breast, then cupped the fullness. Any composure she might have been clinging to quickly evaporated. The warmth of his touch made even the temperature of the bubbling water seem cool by comparison. She skimmed her fingers across the wet skin of his back, each touch sending another ripple of excitement coursing through her veins. She felt herself slipping further and further away from reality as she moved into the world of pleasure and total delight.

  He pulled her onto his lap. Being enfolded in his arms while surrounded by the swirling clouds of steam heightened her already stimulated senses. His growing arousal pressed against her thigh. The situation had moved rapidly beyond the point where she would be able to easily put a stop to it—if it wasn’t already too late.

  A soft moan escaped her throat as his lips nibbled at the corner of her mouth, moved down the side of her neck and across her shoulder, leaving sizzling trails of pleasure. Then he moved lower until he reached her breast. Excitement rippled through her body. Her head jerked backward as he teased her nipple with his tongue until it formed a taut peak. He drew the puckered treat into his mouth, sending a quick jolt of exhilaration racing through her. Her breathing became ragged. Every tautly drawn nerve ending tingled with anticipation—and also an ever-increasing level of apprehension.

  Four

  A cloud of trepidation and doubt settled over Angie. Ty was so smooth and experienced. Everything about him excited her in ways she hadn’t dreamed possible. But was it as Mac had said? That Ty lived in the fast lane and she wasn’t in his league? The insecurities she had learned to hide from everyone else now forced their way to the front. Her internal battle raged at full force. She fought to bring her rampaging desires under control and regain her composure. She had to put a stop to what was happening before it was too late. Her words came out as a breathless whisper—part anticipation, part regret and all enveloped in the anxiety she couldn’t control.

  “Ty…we can’t…”

  Her voice floated toward him through a swirling cloud of steam and euphoria, the words barely discernible above the sound of the bubbling water. The meaning of those words took a few moments to register with him. He tried to pull in a calming breath and force some sort of rational thought. He had never wanted anyone as much in his life as he did Angie Coleman at that moment.

  “Can’t?” His voice was as breathless as hers and conveyed his confusion mixed with a heavy dose of frustration.

  “Why not?” He tilted his head back just enough to be able to see her face.

  He expected to see the glow of excitement shining in the depths of her eyes. Judging by the ever-increasing passion surrounding the many kisses they had shared and her enthusiastic response to his advances, he had anticipated finding a level of desire to match his own. What he caught sight of instead was a wariness and uncertainty that jerked his senses to attention as if someone had thrown cold water on his escalating arousal.

  He held her in his arms as his mood shifted from lustful craving to reassurance and caring. It was an odd transition, one he had never before experienced. He took several deep breaths in order to bring his ragged breathing under control and curtail his heightened desires. He wasn’t sure what had just happened. He knew he didn’t want to turn loose of her. He continued to hold her in his arms and cherish the closeness of the moment.

  “I thought you also wanted…well…” He took another calming breath. He knew he needed to be very careful in the words he chose. “I’m sorry, Angie.” He pulled her tighter into his embrace, not at all sure he was doing the right thing. “I didn’t realize I was pushing you into something you didn’t want—”

  She placed her fingertips against his lips to still his words. “Maybe not yet would be a more accurate way of saying it.” She wasn’t sure exactly what she did want, but she knew she didn’t want him to think the door had been closed permanently. But first she needed to clear the confusion whirling around inside her.

  A sense of relief flooded through her as he pressed his lips against her forehead. Not only had he acc
epted her decision without challenging it, he had not pulled away from her or made her feel as if his only interest in her was sex. It felt so right being in his arms. Another moment of doubt clouded her thoughts. Perhaps it was too comfortable, too much the way she would like it always to be rather than a reflection of reality.

  The disturbing thought lingered in her mind. Falling in love with someone, especially someone like Tyler Farrell, was not part of her plan. It probably wasn’t a good idea even if she didn’t already have an agenda for her future. He was the type of man who would not allow himself to be trapped in a relationship. Her thoughts startled her. A relationship…she had just escaped from a relationship where she felt trapped. That was certainly a direction she didn’t want to go again. She needed to refocus her efforts on her career goals and keep that foremost in her mind.

  Her attention wrenched back to the present when his hand grazed the side of her bare breast. Just the slightest intimate contact and her desires burst into flame again. She had to put some physical distance between herself and Ty or the next step she took would be toward his bedroom. But before she could react, Ty eased her off his lap and onto the bench seat in the hot tub. Then he fished the top of her swimsuit from the swirling water and handed it to her.

  His breathing might have been under control, but his husky words were surrounded by the emotions and desires that continued to fill every corner of his consciousness. “I think it might be better for both of us if you put this back on.”

  She took the piece of clothing from him. “Yes, you’re right.”

  Ty’s action of turning away to give her privacy while she adjusted the top of her swimsuit was not lost on Angie. The gentlemanly gesture was certainly not the type of behavior associated with a callous womanizer who had only one thing on his mind. A soft glow filled her with a tender warmth. The heated lust of moments ago had transformed into a sense of closeness. She had never been enveloped in such a total feeling of caring with Caufield, never felt the type of tenderness and warmth she felt with Ty.