The overwhelming sensation frightened her in both its hidden meanings and blatant assault on her emotions leaving her totally confused about what the future held. She knew what she wanted—a position of responsibility in her brother’s company, something that would be a career for her. At least she thought she knew. She had made a plan and put it into action. Now she wasn’t sure any longer. And the confusing factor that had been added to the equation was the very disconcerting presence of Tyler Farrell. He scared her—not physically, but most assuredly on an emotional level.
Ty handed her a filled glass and offered a reassuring smile. “We can still enjoy the hot tub and some champagne, can’t we?” He noticed the slight tremble of his hand telling him how stimulated he still was despite the fact that he knew any possibility of making love that evening was gone. Hopefully she wouldn’t notice it. The last thing he wanted was to make her more uncomfortable than she apparently already was.
She accepted the champagne and returned his smile. “Of course.”
He clinked his glass against hers, then took a sip. He eyed her carefully as she took a drink. She appeared composed on the outside, but he could see the anxiety and uncertainty in the depths of her eyes. He looked around at the scene he had staged—champagne, a bubbling hot tub, swimsuits which were the minimum amount of clothes they could be wearing and still be wearing something. It was a carefully prepared setting that screamed seduction and a night of passionate lovemaking.
He had invited her to his lair knowing exactly where he expected the night to go. He had used it many times, but always on very willing partners. Angie was not like other women, certainly not like the many women he dated and bedded. His sidetracked seduction attempt pulled at his emotions while inflicting feelings of guilt.
They stayed in the hot tub for half an hour, sipping champagne and valiantly attempting to ignore the sensual swirl enveloping them in desire while carrying on a casual conversation. And with each passing minute Angie became less sure about having put a stop to what had happened and more certain that making love with Ty would be ecstasy beyond anything she had ever known.
And all of her conflicting thoughts and feelings said one thing to her—she had to get safely away from Tyler Farrell. She needed to clear her mind and think things through without the distraction of this incredibly desirable man.
Angie set her empty glass aside and rose to her feet. She picked up a large towel and began to pat the water from her skin. “It’s getting late. I think I’d better start for home. Between the champagne and the therapeutic effect of the hot tub, I’m so relaxed I can barely keep my eyes open.” She offered what she hoped was an engaging smile rather than one filled with anxiety.
He climbed out of the hot tub and grabbed a towel. “Of course. I’ll change into some dry clothes and drive you back to Mac’s house.” He paused a moment, then pulled her gently into his arms. He held her tenderly in his embrace without being aggressive. He cradled her head against his shoulder. He searched for the proper words, something that would put her at ease yet allow him to know how things stood between them.
His words were more hesitant than he wanted them to be. “I…I hope my actions haven’t put a strain on our seeing each other again.” He cupped her face in his hands and peered into the depths of her eyes. He placed a soft kiss on her lips, nothing too intimate and definitely not demanding. “I truly didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”
A shy smile turned the corners of her mouth. “Nothing has changed. I would be very disappointed if we didn’t continue to see each other.”
Angie knew it was her fault. She had given him the green light with her actions, then changed her mind and pulled back. Yet he was the one accepting responsibility. It was certainly a gracious gesture, not that of a callous playboy. And it intensified the rapidly growing emotional attachment she felt for him. Did she dare allow the word love to once again be a part of her thoughts where Ty was concerned? A little shiver of anxiety made its way across her skin.
She tried to lighten the moment. “The air is a little chilly. We’d better get into some dry clothes before we both end up with a cold.”
She retreated to the guest bathroom to change while he did the same in his bedroom. Then he drove her back to Mac’s house.
Ty held her hand as they walked up the path toward the front door. “May I see you tomorrow night? Maybe dinner and a movie, or whatever you’d like to do? I know Mac will still be working on the design project. He’s not happy with the way it’s going and has redone some portions of it. That’s one of the reasons it’s taking him so long.”
“I read in the newspaper this morning about a new art gallery in Seattle. There’s going to be a grand opening tomorrow night. Perhaps we could attend?”
“That sounds great. I’ll pick you up at six o’clock so that we can make the six forty-five ferry.”
She gave his hand a little squeeze. “I’ll see you then.”
She watched until his taillights disappeared around the corner, then went inside. It had been a profound evening, one that had helped crystallize some of her emotions but had left her very unsettled in other areas. His actions following her decision not to make love had been commendable and showed a great deal of consideration for her wishes regardless of his personal desires.
And it made her feel that much closer to him on all levels.
Pangs of regret over her decision to call a halt to things had already started to filter through to her conscious thoughts. Now she wondered what tomorrow night would bring. She slid into bed and closed her eyes. Vivid images of Tyler Farrell danced through her mind along with the heated desire that still coursed through her veins.
The next evening, Ty rang the bell and a moment later Angie opened the front door. He immediately stepped into the entryway. “I’m sorry I’m late.”
“That’s okay.”
He glanced at his watch as he shook his head in irritation. “I got stuck at the office in a meeting. I didn’t call because I kept thinking I’d be able to leave any minute and now it’s too late to catch the six-forty-five ferry to Seattle.”
“We can catch the next one.”
He pulled her into his arms, being careful not to hold her too tight but unable to resist taking the action. “I’m afraid by the time we do that we’ll end up being too late to attend the gallery opening.” He looked at her questioningly, as if he wasn’t sure what to say. “Maybe we can go tomorrow night instead? We’ll miss the opening festivities, champagne and hors d’oeuvres, but it won’t be as crowded.”
She smiled in response to his obvious uncertainty. “I’d like that very much.”
“In the meantime, we can still go out and get something to eat. How about the pub at the waterfront where we first had lunch?” He glanced down at what he was wearing, then extended a sheepish smile. “I had to dress appropriately for my meeting. Since we aren’t going to the gallery opening, I’d really like to get out of this suit and tie and into something comfortable before we do anything else.”
“Same here. If you give me a couple of minutes, I’d like to change clothes, too.”
“I’ll wait right here.”
Angie made a quick change from the dress she had been wearing to a pair of slacks and simple pullover top. They drove to Ty’s house where he excused himself and went to his bedroom to change clothes.
His absence gave her an opportunity to study the surroundings he had chosen for himself, something she had not been able to do the previous night. The expensive furnishings and decoration reflected the good taste of the owner—elegant yet comfortable and inviting. She examined several porcelain objects inside a glass-fronted cabinet. From a distance they appeared to be delicate statuettes. Up close she discovered the whimsy and humor the figurines projected. Another indication of the fun-loving personality of the owner.
She studied the titles of the books that filled several bookcases. They contained just about every genre of fiction, biographies and autobiographies, r
esearch books on various topics and general nonfiction. It was an impressive collection of reading material covering a wide range of topics.
She wandered toward the large window that looked out to the deck, the private dock and the ocean beyond. She closed her eyes and allowed the tantalizing sensations of the previous night to wash through her body. Her nerve endings came alive, every desire she had experienced in the hot tub once again playing havoc with her senses. Her mind drifted to where things had been headed when she put a stop to it. A huff of regret spilled out from her throat. Chickened out was a more accurate description. She had allowed her insecurities to dictate her actions.
Her thoughts came to a screeching halt when his arms slipped around her waist from behind and he pulled her to him until her back rested against his chest. His smooth masculine voice whispered in her ear, sending a tingle of excitement rippling across her skin.
“A penny for your thoughts.” He leaned his head over her shoulder and placed a tender kiss on her cheek. “You looked like you were a million miles away. Anything you’d care to share?”
She placed her hands on top of his, the physical contact completing the feeling of comfort and caring that radiated from him. “My mind was kind of wandering…just thinking about what might—” She cut off her own words. She had said more than she intended.
“About what might…?” He turned her around until she faced him. He placed his fingertips under her chin and lifted until he could look into her eyes. The wariness and uncertainty of the night before had vanished. He tried to read her thoughts, determine what had been going through her mind. He didn’t want to make another mistake by taking too much for granted. But that did not stop the heated desire pushing at his consciousness, reminding him how much he wanted her.
“Were you thinking about what might have happened if things had moved to their logical conclusion last night?” He ran his fingers through her silky hair, caressed her shoulders, then held her close.
“Angie…” He felt her arms encircle his waist. He pulled her body tighter against his. “I want so much to make love to you, but I don’t want to rush things.” He kissed her tenderly. “I want it to be something you want as much as I do.”
“What about Mac?” She wasn’t sure why those words had escaped her mouth, but they had. It was testimony to her ingrained concern about her brother’s opinion, but at what cost?
A slight grin tugged at the corners of his mouth. “I like Mac very much, but he’s not my type. He’s not the one I want to make love to.” The grin disappeared and his expression became very serious. “Mac is your brother and he’s my business partner and best friend, but this doesn’t involve him. This is something between you and me and no one else.”
“You’re right.” She had allowed her fears to dictate to her last night when they were in the hot tub. She would not make the same mistake tonight. A moment of doubt tried to cloud her thoughts. At least she hoped her decision wasn’t going to turn out to be a mistake. She reached her face up to his until their lips touched.
The moment her mouth came in contact with his a jolt of electricity surged through his body. His hand slid down her back and came to rest on the curve of her bottom. He snuggled her hips up against his as his tongue meshed with hers. He reveled in the sensuality of the texture. If he lived to be a hundred years old he would never have enough of her taste.
Ty scooped her up in his arms and carried her across the house to his bedroom. He placed her on his king-size bed, then quickly kicked off his shoes. He yanked off his sweater and tossed it on the chair. Then he was next to her, stroking her hair and placing soft kisses on her face. “Are you sure you’re okay with this? I don’t want to cause you any problems or make you feel like you were being coerced into something you didn’t really want.”
“Yes…I’m sure.” And she was. No feelings of guilt and no doubts. She wiggled her feet out of her shoes and let them drop to the floor. It felt right. Making love with Tyler Farrell was exactly what she wanted. A glimmer of a thought tried to pierce her consciousness, asking her how much more she wanted, but she refused to acknowledge the concern.
A moment later she found herself enfolded in Ty’s arms. His mouth captured hers in an incendiary kiss, demanding from her yet giving everything all at the same time. She lost herself in his tantalizing touch and earth-moving kisses. Her ragged breathing matched the pounding of her heart. The heat flowed through her veins touching every part of her body.
If his kisses were a portent of what making love with Ty would be like, then she knew she was about to experience something very profound and special. She welcomed his tongue as it twined with hers. She ran her hands across the bare skin of his back, his well-muscled torso rippling beneath her fingers.
Her touch was so light that it almost tickled before fanning the flames of his desires. She was so exquisite, so breathtaking…so perfect. His chest heaved with his labored breathing. He ran his fingers through her hair as his kiss deepened, then he slipped his hands under her shirt. He wanted the barrier of her clothes out of the way. He craved the feel of her bare skin against his, to be able to touch her everywhere, to know every intimate place, to know what excited her. He wanted to both experience and share her pleasure.
His hardened arousal strained against the front of his jeans. As much as he wanted to divest himself of the rest of his clothes, he didn’t want to let go of her, to break that physical contact that so inflamed his senses. He pulled her shirt over her head and tossed it on the chair with his sweater. When he reached for the waistband of his jeans, his fingers met hers. His words came out in a husky whisper.
“Need to get these off…and your clothes…”
Her words were equally ragged. “Yes…I’ll do this.”
Each quickly removed their own remaining pieces of clothing, then fell back on the bed into each other’s arms. Ty ran his hands down the length of her torso, reveling in the creamy smoothness of her skin. With all the women he had made love to over the years, never had he experienced anything quite like the sensation of her bare body pressed against his. He wanted all of her and he wanted it right now. And at the same time he also wanted to take it slow and make the evening last forever.
Again his tongue twined with hers as he cupped the fullness of her breast in his hand. Her tautly puckered nipple pressed into his palm. He smothered her face with feverish kisses, tasting her skin as he moved down her body. He teased her other nipple with his tongue before drawing it into his mouth. No one had ever excited him the way she did. Just touching her sent waves of yearning crashing through his body.
He trailed his fingers across her abdomen, then through the downy softness nestled at the apex of her thighs. He inserted his finger into the moist heat. Her quick intake of breath and soft moan of delight fueled his desires. His pulse raced. His mouth captured hers with a demanding fervor.
Angie’s mind swirled in a sensual fog of euphoria. His mouth gave as much as it demanded. His body shuddered as she stroked his hardness, then wrapped her hand around his manhood. He pressed his hand against her intimate core, his fingers working magic. Levels of pleasure built one on top of the other deep inside her until they reached a crescendo peak. The convulsions reached out to every part of her body, filling her with total ecstasy.
He knew he could not wait any longer. He saw the passion that covered her features and glowed in the depths of her eyes. It matched the desire burning inside him. With a slightly trembling hand he reached for the drawer of the nightstand and took out the condom packet. A minute later he nestled his body between her legs, his hardened arousal slowly penetrating the core of her heat.
A searing jolt of pure rapture swept through his body as the folds of her femininity closed in around his manhood, encasing him in a tight cocoon. The sensation had his senses reeling, leaving him nearly breathless. He gulped in a lungful of air and set a slow rhythm that quickly escalated as his excitement grew.
Angie tightened her arms and legs around
his body. She had never experienced anything like the passion of Tyler Farrell. Every place he touched her left her craving more of his magic. She arched her hips upward to meet each of his downward thrusts. Their bodies moved in unity, each so attuned to the other. It was as if they had been making love together for all their adult lives. She had never felt so at one with another human being. Every movement…every breath…every conscious moment flowed and swirled into an ethereal oneness that left her wanting more and more.
The pace quickened as did her heartbeat and breathing. Wave after wave of euphoria rippled through her, then a sizzling arc of electricity shot through her body. Her head jerked back into the pillow as the final rapture convulsed deep inside her. She clung to him as if he were the center of her life, the main focus around which her very existence revolved.
Ty’s heart pounded in his chest. The moment she tightened her arms around him he shuddered with release, the hard spasms moving up into his chest and down through his thighs. He held her tightly until the spasms subsided and he had regained some control of his ragged breathing. If only he could force some sort of control over his emotions, to be able to think of it as just another night of passionate fun and games with a very willing and sexy partner. But as much as he wanted to be able to do that, he couldn’t. There was no way he could think of Angie in the same category as any of the other women he had ever dated.
There was something so very special about her. It was the same something that frightened him so much. He placed a soft kiss on her forehead, hoping it would somehow calm the inner anxiety that threatened to take over.
He stroked her hair, kissed her forehead again and continued to hold her in his embrace. The physical aspects of their lovemaking may have quieted, but the emotional turmoil had just begun. It twisted inside him, telling him exactly what he didn’t want to know—that he was more than just physically involved with her. But how much more? It was a question that scared him. What would she be expecting from him? What kind of relationship did she think they had? And equally important, what was he willing to give? It was a question that preyed on his mind, one for which he did not have an answer…yet.
In Forbidden Territory Page 6