He checked his watch. There was a corner store down the street. Maybe he could give her romance and candlelight after all.
* * * *
Michelle reached out for Connor as she rolled over in bed. Empty. The she heard the music. Sade. A smile lifted the corners of her mouth. What was that about? She wrapped herself in her robe and wandered to the living room—she’d made her way into a very romantic setup. Candles were everywhere, flickering, bathing the room in a magical glow. He was sitting on her couch, sipping a glass of wine, casually, as if he’d done nothing at all. The room dimmed with the blur of her tears.
At the rustling sound of her robe, he turned and lifted a brow. As one song came to a close, he stood, walked over, and then took her hand. “May I have this dance?”
She didn’t reply. Instead, she drifted into his arms. They whirled around the room with no sounds but the hiss of candles and the soft slide of satin on skin. One song turned into another, and before long, the music stopped.
She studied his face, so unbearably dear, so unbelievably handsome, and let the robe fall to the floor. At first, he didn’t move, and instead, let his gaze linger long and slow, making her blush. He lifted his hand and trailed a gentle finger from her mouth, down the line of her throat, between her breast and lower.
“I owe you an apology,” he murmured.
“For?”
He lifted her in his arms. “I should have done this at the start. Sometimes I’m a little slow.”
“I’m starting to find that I like it when you’re a little slow.”
Gently, he lay her down on the couch. “Good,” he murmured, his mouth cruising over her throat, and then her breasts, heavy with intent. She reached for the buttons on his shirt, but he grabbed her wrist and shook his head.
“This is for you.”
Helpless to do much more, Michelle closed her eyes. His palms grazed her breasts and she arched upward to meet his touch. For long, torturous moments, he did nothing but lightly circle her nipples with wicked strokes of his fingers. She felt the moisture pool inside her, pulsing and throbbing.
He lowered his head, his mouth replacing his fingers, and she shoved her fingers in his hair, pulling him close. His tongue flicked against her skin, at first gentle, sensual, and then with more purpose. His mouth pulled her nipples in deeper, almost painful, and she cried out.
Michelle curled her toes, her thighs falling open, waiting for him to appease her. But he chose to ignore her pleading and instead, his mouth worked its way farther down, his tongue teasing against her belly.
“Oh, yes!”
His fingers stroked the inside of her thigh. High, but not high enough. He cupped her heat and she curled her hips into his hand, waiting to be filled.
But he had other plans. He slid his hands beneath her legs, opening her even wider. His mouth pleasured the inside of her thighs, licking the moisture coated between them. With each flick of his tongue, he moved closer, and she fisted her hands into the couch.
Incoherent pleas fell from her lips as she felt herself flying higher and higher. She bucked against him, her muscles clenching and unclenching.
Just a little more.
While his mouth continued its torment, he put his fingers inside her, touching her there. And that was all she needed.
The lights behind her eyes flashed brilliantly bright and she felt her muscles began to spasm. She cried out just as her senses exploded.
* * * *
They didn’t leave her apartment that weekend and on Sunday afternoon, they’d just finished lunch when she received the phone call. It was a retired office manager from Royal Cleaning Company returning Michelle’s call. When Michelle hung up the phone, she was flushed with her success.
“Good news?” he asked, like he couldn’t tell.
She sat down on the couch next to him, her hands automatically straightening the weekend paper.
“Great news. He knows where the old files are. I knew we’d get them, and now there’s undisputable proof. We have to celebrate.”
He bet she celebrated a lot. She worked so hard to achieve everything that she had. “What would you like to do?”
She pulled her hair back with one hand, her breasts lifting, reminding him that she wore no bra. “Dinner tonight at Aoki, champagne.”
And Japanese Magnolias. Tonight he’d give her the Japanese Magnolias.
“I’ll make the reservations.” He started to rise from the couch, but she pushed him back.
“Not yet.”
Her hazel eyes were full of purpose. He was coming to recognize that look. Connor might never have been the smartest in school, but he knew how to please a woman. Michelle pulled her tank top over her head and climbed into his lap. His hands found the places she wanted to be touched; his mouth kissed her in the exact right way. It wasn’t everything he wanted to give her, but right now, it was all he had.
* * * *
Without saying a word, he came to her, took her face between his hands, and lowered his mouth to hers. The kiss was smooth and wet. She basked in its gentle warmth. But it wasn’t enough. She needed more. So much more.
Michelle broke off the kiss, her hands sliding up his rock hard chest to clasp around his neck. “Make love to me,” she said, her voice barely loud enough to be heard. He swept her up in his arms and carried her through the doors.
After they entered the room, Connor set her feet down on the floor and held her up as he suckled her breasts through the soft material of her camisole. She pressed against him, cupping her palm along the hard ridge outlined by his jeans. With a low groan, his mouth moved back to hers, this time kissing her with the same rough and savage passion as he did in her dreams.
She wanted him. Now.
Michelle tried to undo the metal clasp of his pants, her trembling fingers struggling with the unyielding material. He kept their mouths joined together while his hands shifted and released the fastener for her. She unzipped his fly, feeling the sound of pleasure he uttered against her lips when she dipped her hands into his briefs, stroking his velvet heat. He strained against her hand and her fingers curled around him, easily sliding up and down as she slicked the length of him with the drops of his own desire.
He took a step toward the bed, but she stopped him. The urgent need to have him inside her, right then, consumed her. “Now. Please. I want you inside me now.” She sank down to the floor, pulling him with her so frantically that he stumbled a bit before righting himself and bracing his arms on either side of her. A soft, cool breeze blew over them through the open windows as her desperate hands shoved his pants down below his buttocks then yanked her pajama bottoms down her legs. It didn’t take him long as he made the frantic motions to protect them.
As he came up over her, she flexed her hips against him. She clasped her palms on his lower back, tugging him to her. The burning throb between her legs intensified as he easily glided into her moist flesh.
It was almost more than she could bear. The need she felt for Connor was almost overwhelming. Then he began to make love to her. The smell, the touch, the taste of them blended and circulated through her senses until their differences blurred into obscurity. She cried out his name, feeling him stiffen and hesitate a moment before pulling back and sinking into her once more.
His hand slid up to caress her breast, lightly pinching the erect tip as he began a slow, rhythmic thrusting. When she tried to increase the pace, he held her hips. “Easy, now. I’ll bring you there. Just let it happen.”
Her nails lightly raked across his shoulders and he shuddered against her. “Please,” she begged him, her breath coming in gasps. “I can’t…stand it. I can’t…”
“You can,” his husky voice told her. “Because I won’t stop.” He drove into her again, filling her to the hilt. “Not until you come for me.”
Her back arched off the floor as she climaxed, seized by rapture so great that her breath caught in her throat and her lips parted in a silent cry. His hands left her hips to
cup her buttocks, tilting them and plunging deeper into her heat as he groaned with his own release. The spasms of pleasure seemed to go on forever and yet, not long enough.
He whispered something foreign, nibbling at her ear. She didn’t have the strength left to ask him what it meant.
Her hands slid down from around his back to spread along the rigid muscles of his chest, her lips burrowing into the hard chords of his neck. A sense of well being settled over her as she lay in his arms, her heartbeat returning to normal. It was right to be here with him. Because—
Because she loved him.
She loved him.
Her breath caught in her throat as she realized it was true. She had been tossed irrevocably, inconceivably in love with a man she hardly knew. And why? Because he saw her unruly dark hair as shining silk? Because he could bring her to orgasm? A banners flying, rockets shooting, I-could-die-right-now-because-I’ve-experienced-an-epiphany kind of climax. With Connor it wasn’t just a pleasurable melding of bodies. It was something more, something she couldn’t even put into words if someone were to ask her. As if her love for him had always been there, dormant inside her and waiting to be released the moment he entered her life. That’s what was so frightening. She’d never felt this way about anyone. Connor held the power to wound her down to the very depths of her soul.
Chapter Fifteen
Monday morning came way too soon. Connor had the alarm set for 4:00 a.m. He had to make it home, shower, and get into work. Michelle was still fast asleep. He watched her sleep, the city lights keeping the room from darkness, even at this hour.
She loved him. He hadn’t brought it up again. He was too afraid she would change her mind. He gathered up his clothes and started to dress. He still didn’t understand it all. There was one big question that lurked in the back of his mind. What now?
She was going to help win Luis’s case for him, go out and take the world by storm. And what was wrong with him? Why couldn’t he be proud? Why couldn’t he get past the fact that second place was really okay?
After all, he’d been in second place most of his life. So much so that most people were often shocked to find out he was Theodore’s older brother. He pulled on his shoes with more force than necessary and started to walk out the door. Michelle rolled in the satin sheets and his heart clenched.
He loved her.
He leaned down over the bed, brushed the hair away from her face. He pressed a gentle kiss against her check and then walked out the door.
* * * *
Michelle made it into to work at 10:15 a.m.…10:15 a.m. Two hours and fifteen minutes later than Sigsmond. It was going to be the talk of the office. She just knew it. Nobody said anything, though, and she was somewhat shocked—and disappointed—that no one had noticed.
On the other hand, she was glad no one noticed. Then she might have to experience the awkwardness of explaining why she was late. She’d looked through her apartment for a note from Connor, but couldn’t find anything. Oh well. He’d call. By noon, she’d heard nothing. It was still early. By 4:30, she was ready to cry. Thankfully, Julia was nearby, adorned with a Mickey Mouse emblem hanging from her neck.
“Julia, do you know a place to get a drink around here?”
Julia looked up from her desk. “Well, Bocca’s is just around the corner, and there’s always Killarney’s. Are you looking for someplace upscale or a little rowdy?”
“Rowdy.” She couldn’t handle upscale today.
“Killarney’s is the place. They have the best drinks. They also have a pretty hot bartender. His name is Daragh, and he wants to be an actor. Oh my word. He is to die for.” Julia fanned herself. “Oh, but I bet you’re taking your new boyfriend. Mr. Connor Sakuma. Probably wouldn’t be the best choice.”
“No, I’m going alone. Unless you would like to join me?” she asked hopefully.
Julia saw through her facade. “Oh, no. He’s done it, hasn’t he? He broke your heart. Look at you. I’m sorry.”
“He didn’t call today.” She felt pitiful and needy, but after the weekend they’d shared together, surely…
“Oh, it’s even worse than I thought.” Julia made a sympathetic sound.
“I thought he’d at least leave a note.”
“They just get so wrapped up in themselves, they forget that we need a little reassurance.”
“I told him I love him.”
Julia’s expression became one full of sympathy. “Oh, sweetie. You’ve been hurt, but you can’t let this get you down, you know what I mean? It’s that time of year. You’ve got basketball, arena league football is starting up, and soon, baseball. And what woman can compete with sports?”
Julia’s attempt to ease the situation didn’t work. This uncertainty was new to Michelle, and she felt tears in her eyes. “I don’t even know if he likes sports.”
Julia took her by the arm. “Come on, sweetie. You’re new to this entire thing. Let me tell you how it really is.”
* * * *
Killarney’s was packed. The air was heavy with the sounds of laughter, conversation, and smoke. Every thirty minutes, Michelle excused herself to go to the bathroom. She didn’t think Julia bought into it after the third time, but she checked her voicemail faithfully.
“You have zero new messages.”
What had she done wrong?
She made her way through the crowds back to their table. “I want to call Connor.”
Julia slapped her hand over Michelle’s. “No. Give me your cell phone.”
Michelle hesitated.
“Right now. It’s for your own good.”
Julia looked at the caller ID. “Dr. Sakuma.” She pushed the talk button. “Hello, Dr. Sakuma. Yes, Michelle is right here. Would you like to speak with her? No, I’m her personal assistant, dating coach, advice giver, and drinking confidant.” She covered the mouthpiece. “It’s for you, sweetie. The doctor.”
Michelle took the phone “Theodore?”
“Michelle, have you seen Connor? I was supposed to meet him for a night out on the town, but he seems to have been detained.”
She had hoped he knew. Hoped he had some message for her. Pitiful. “No, I don’t know where he is.”
“Are you all right, Michelle? Your voice sounds rather faint.”
“It’s just the noise in the bar, Theodore. I’ll try and speak up.”
“It’s quite all right. If you see Connor, tell him that I’m waiting.”
The phone clicked, and Michelle closed her phone. She was a logical person. She tried to create rational reasons for his behavior. She did it all the time.
“He is supposed to meet Theodore tonight. Maybe that’s why he didn’t say anything. Maybe he knew he had plans and couldn’t see me.”
“Oh, sweetie. A woman has to see the truth as it exists.”
“I think I’m going to cry.”
“Go ahead, honey. I’ll get you a sex on the beach. It’ll make you feel better.”
* * * *
For the first time in his thirty-seven years, Connor was looking forward to hanging out with his brother. But, they had two extra parties come into the restaurant, and he was running behind schedule.
Finally, he met up with him, Theodore looking totally out of place wearing a suit and tie at Black Cayman. Connor slid into a chair, beer in hand. “Hey, little brother.”
“Hello. You’re late.”
“Got tied up at work. Sorry. You’re more crabby than usual.”
“I’m sorry. I had a little girl who fell out of a shopping cart and knocked out a few teeth. She’s going to be fine though.”
Oh. Connor clenched his hands, then slid his beer across the table. “Here, you need this more than I do. I really am sorry.”
“I spoke to Michelle.”
Connor looked at Theodore. What did that mean? “Oh? She called you?”
“No, I called her. I was looking for you.”
“I was at the restaurant,” he answered casually, anxious to hear how she w
as.
“I thought the two of you would be together.”
“No. She has a life of her own. A very busy one.”
“Is everything okay, Connor?”
“Of course! Why do you ask?”
“You’re being more of an idiot than usual. You have a wonderful woman with a prominent career who obviously cares for you. What could be wrong?”
“Yeah, Michelle is perfect, isn’t she?”
Theodore studied a lady across the bar. When she smiled at him, he smiled in return. Then he turned his attention back to Connor. “What’s the real issue?”
Theodore would never understand. “You know, Theodore, I never thought I’d meet someone more successful than you, but I think Michelle even has you beat in the accomplished department.” He tried to make light of his dilemma.
Theodore arched a brow, looking completely unfazed. “Is that an issue?”
“Well, yeah.”
“Why?” Theodore assumed his typical inquisitive persona.
“I think I should buy a new vehicle. Maybe a Japanese import like yours, but not yours. It’d be more reliable that what I currently drive.”
“You don’t need a new car, Connor.”
“What? Everyone can have a new car except me?”
Theodore exhaled heavily. “No. All I’m saying is that you don’t have a real need for a new car. Is that why you have been working all the extra hours? You can’t finance it like the rest of the world, you have to pay cash?”
“No. However, it will have to be something reasonable. I have culinary school that I am paying for and trying not to put myself into too much debt. I have also been thinking of moving to another part of town.”
“School, I can understand. However, a new apartment? I thought you were happy with the one you are currently in. If I had known you weren’t, I would have helped you move a long time ago.”
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