“What’s that?”
“You mentioned having a psychic confirm your need for a child. Why? How would she be able to give you assurance on a matter so volatile where no one can control the out come?”
“You don’t believe in them do you?” His left eye crinkled, but he only waited for her to answer. She sat up. “It’s not something I like talking about, nor have I ever wanted to deal with it. I have dreams; psychic dreams. Normal dreams and nightmares like everyone else, but sometimes they come true, sometimes they aren’t as bad.” She looked at him to see if she’d lost him. Most people laugh it off and tell her she’s nuts, but he watched her with interest. “This psychic is reputable and a friend of one of my sisters. Her specialty is premonition. I went to see if she could…It doesn’t matter.”
“I assume you dreamt of the child.” She nodded. “Isn’t that typical? To dream of something that’s weighing you down.”
“The dreams I have that come true are not ones with happy endings. They usually result in bodily injuries or death. This is why I wanted her read.”
“And she led you to go for it. But why this way?”
“I don’t want to talk about it.”
“I’m sorry. I thought if we got to know each other, I’d understand why you fight what’s happening between us. Why do you fight it?”
Because you make it so damn easy to enjoy it. She lay back, watching him watch her. He did do it for her, that’s for sure, but as a permanent fixture. She couldn’t see that happening. Good things invariably turn bad. His eyes searched hers and she returned his gaze, then whispered, “Please, kiss me.”
He planted a quick kiss on her mouth.
“What was that?”
“A kiss.”
“No, that was a peck.” She pulled his head down, pressing her mouth against his, hungrily moving over it, probing with her tongue. His lips parted and she found his tongue meeting hers in a dance, causing her hips to rise. Her hands slid over his muscular back, caressing, drawing him closer.
“You might want to get the pole before it goes all the way in.”
Cheri heard something, but ignored it. Allen’s tongue followed hers back into her mouth as his fingers slipped under her shirt, grazing her skin in his quest toward her breast. Its warmth enveloped the aching flesh and she moaned. Nothing mattered but what he drew from her.
“I’ll reel the big one in. Don’t mind me!”
The loud voice penetrated her mind and she pushed at Allen as her eyes sought out the source. Oh my God! She scrambled away from Allen and got up, straightening her shirt. “I’m sorry, Allen. This is another brother, Randy.” She walked over and took the pole from him without letting the line slack and gave him her sisterly I hate you glare. “What did Paul do? Call the entire family?”
“Did you bring the net?”
“Next to the tackle box.” She worked the line, giving the fish some room and easing him toward shore. The fish showed itself a few feet in front of her and went back under. “Now, Randy.”
He walked into the water and when she brought it to the surface again, he netted it. “Well, sis, looks like you broke your own record.”
“The scale and camera are in the bottom of the box.” She set the pole down against the fork and reached into the net. She pulled the catfish out by the gills and grinned when she felt the heftiness. “Seventeen pounds three ounces,” she told him while removing the hook from his moving lip.
Randy took the fish and weighed it with his hand, “Fifteen pounds ten ounces.”
“Guess again.” Cheri hooked the end of the scale through the gill and Randy took it, letting go of the fish. They watched it stop at seventeen pounds six ounces. “I win. Now, you leave and tell the family if one more person comes out here, I will not be bringing my Cranberry Delight to the family reunion.”
“You wouldn’t dare.” He handed the fish back to her and picked up the camera. “Allen, in the picture.”
She glanced at Allen to gauge his reaction at being ordered by her brother. He wore a grin as he came toward her. The gleam in his eye said he enjoyed the sibling interaction. His hand lightly caressed her ass before circling her waste. Damn it, this wasn’t the brother to do that sort of thing around.
After the picture was taken, Cheri traded her brother. “Filet him, please, and leave him in the walk-in. We’ll pick it up on our way out.”
“Do you have your key?”
“Of course.” She set the camera in the tackle box and walked to the river’s edge. After splashing her hands around to remove some of the fish slime, she turned to get a wipe. Randy stood examining the fish, but his set jaw said he figured out who Allen was and why he was here. She’d never wanted her family to meet any of the men. “I mean it, Randy. Get out of here.”
Allen handed her the wipe he’d removed from the package and the sanitizer she’d used earlier.
“Thanks, hon.” The surprised look on his face mirrored her own. She glanced at Randy and saw the disapproval before he stormed off. Out of all of her siblings, he’d been the one to worry about her when their father died. It hurt he didn’t support her in this, but she’d deal with him Sunday. She took Allen’s hand. “Now, where were we?”
He pulled her against his body and her hands rested on his upper arms. “Maybe we should have stayed in your apartment.”
“No, he’ll pass the word. Remind me to turn the ringer off on the phone when we get home.” She wound her arms around his neck, eliminating the last smidgeon of space between them.
His hands molded her ass, pressing his groin into her. There was no denying how little her brother’s interruption affected his desire. It hadn’t diminished it at all. “Maybe we’ll just stay the night.”
“I have to be to work at noon.” Her eyes roamed over his sweet lips. Her tongue snaked out and ran the length under his bottom lip.
“Plenty of time, then,” he whispered against her mouth.
“We don’t have to worry about fishing.” She nipped his bottom lip. “Are you hungry?”
Chapter 8
“Starving.” He lifted her in his arms and lowered her down on the blanket while their mouths devoured with a slow urgency. He lifted his head, his fingers caressing the side of her face. “You are one intoxicating woman, Cheri London.”
Her forehead wrinkled and he saw confusion register in her eyes before she pushed at him and moved away. “I better get the candles lit.”
Allen raked his fingers through his hair. If only she’d talk to him. Tell him what had happened to destroy her faith in love. What kept her from acknowledging her wants and needs to herself?
She returned to the blanket and opened the basket. In seconds, she had the wine open. He grabbed the glasses from the basket and held them while she poured. “How did you manage to get the time away from the hospital on short notice?”
“I traded. You shouldn’t be drinking wine.”
She reached for the bottle and handed it to him. “It’s non-alcoholic from my private stock. The liquor store special orders it for me by the case. And no, I don’t drink a lot of it. It’s a treat for the kids during holiday dinners.”
He read the label and she returned it to the basket. “Sounds like you have a weakness for spoiling kids. Do you?”
“I have my moments as disciplinarian, but, as their aunt, I get to be fun.” She tilted her head and looked at him with an inquisitive look. “Have you ever thought about having kids?”
“Kids have this innocent way of making you feel like you’ve grown up a bit too much. Or at times remind you to enjoy today in case tomorrow doesn’t come. So, yes, I think about kids.”
“I’m sorry. I know your work must be depressing at times.”
“It can be. But I go home to my …” Shit! He wasn’t ready to tell her about Andy. Or Erin. Not until he felt sure he’d broken through her barrier.
“Yeah, I love going home to my own little world after a rough day at the restaurant. No drama, just an honest-to-g
oodness let-your-hair-down be-yourself atmosphere.”
“And what will a baby do to that? Have you considered all the up-and-down nights, the extra laundry, the crying, the sudden ear infections—doesn’t make for a drama-free life.”
“It’s a different type of drama. Non-work related.” She took a sip of the wine. “I have no misconceptions about the pitfalls of night feedings and colic.”
“Good.” Andy never went through the colic stage, but to be awakened by painful cries and find he had a high fever and double ear infections was no picnic. He’d do it all again if it meant having the woman he loved beside him.
“Allen, what is it?”
He blinked and looked at her. “You said if you aren’t pregnant, you’ll be returning to see this other guy. What if I don’t want you to?”
“I’ve been honest about what I want.”
He tipped her chin up and waited for her eyes to meet his. “But, have you really been honest with yourself.” She started to pull away, but he tightened his grip. “What happened, Cheri? Who hurt you?” It didn’t surprise him when she knocked his arm away, but he stopped her from rising when she went to her knees. “Is your independence so important to you that you can’t share your life with a man?”
She sat back on her heels. “Damn it, Allen! Why are you doing this? Why did you come here?”
He took her wine glass and set it down when he realized he’d come close to giving himself away. If she figured out he was Darius Markum, she might not give him a chance to explain. “I want a chance to see if what I feel is more than the effects of great sex. My gut says yes.”
“You’re trying to push your feelings onto me and I don’t want them.”
“Is that how you’re going to handle your child when he disappoints or hurts you? Are you going to push him away?”
“Shut up!”
Several minutes of silence went by while neither spoke or moved. He hadn’t meant to come down so hard, but it needed to be said. “It could take months before you conceive. All I’m asking for is a chance.”
When she brushed at her cheeks, he realized he’d pushed her to tears. Feeling like an ass in spite of her wall crumbling a bit more, he pulled her against him and kissed the top of her head.
To ease the awkwardness of their position, he lay back, taking her with him, letting her rest in the circle of his arms. “Are your sisters like you?” Allen asked as he ran his hand up down her arm. He hoped the night hadn’t been ruined, but at least she hadn’t slapped him and left him there to find his own way back to civilization.
She sighed. “No. I don’t know. I never really thought about it. I guess in some ways.” She looked up him. “We have the same base, but also our own lives and I guess that’s what makes us work. Why? Hoping you can latch onto one of them instead?”
“Well, I do have to keep my options open if things don’t work out.” She stiffened against him and he gave her a squeeze. “I’m kidding.” She ran her hand up his chest, but didn’t say anything. He would have loved to know what ran through her mind, but he’d pushed enough. For now anyway.
* * * *
Cheri shut out the rise and fall of his chest and waited for the hand around her heart to ease its grip. She couldn’t afford to have her emotions get mixed up in this.
Allen’s fingers slipped under her shirt and caressed along the edge of her jeans. She felt a part of herself relax. This is all she needed right now. To be touched and desired; to be given a taste of what she didn’t want to fit into her day-to-day life. She nipped the corner of his mouth as she slipped her hand down his chest, across his stomach and stopped over his erection. His cock felt hot, hard and she undid his jeans to feel him in her hand. She skimmed the veined ridges of his shaft. An urge to suck him came over her, almost paralyzing her. The idea had never entered her mind before. What if I do it wrong? What if I bite him? It jerked like it knew what she contemplated. Allen hadn’t moved, hadn’t said anything. Did he expect it or hoped she’d go down on him like he did her? Would it feel as wonderful as his tongue did in her pussy? The thought of it excited her.
She moved down and kissed the head. Okay, not so bad. Her lips moved down the shaft. She jumped when he jerked. A glance up at him told her she hadn’t hurt him. His eyes were closed and there was definitely no pain registered in his face. A little braver, she ran her tongue over him, finding she liked the taste and musky smell of him. She closed her lips over the head and slowly took more of his cock into her mouth as she sucked. The slight movement of his hips and the moans that reached her ears urged her on. She had no idea how close he was until her tongue tasted the salty liquid.
“Ride him, Cheri. Bury him in your hot pussy.”
The husky request didn’t need repeated, she wanted… Damn it, she needed his hard, throbbing cock inside her. She removed her jeans, her thong and straddled him. “Oh,’ she moaned as she felt the head spread her swollen lips. The muscles of her thighs quivered when his head slid into her wet heat. “Hot and hard, the way I like him.” She pressed down on him, then rose up and each stroke quickened her breathing. “Wow.” Shudders rolled through her.
With desire controlling her, she pulled her shirt over her head and lowered the tips of her aching breasts. He molded their firmness and drew the hard buds into his wet warmth, sucking one, then the other. Her body ignited with the fire his mouth sent through her. She felt her muscles contract and his shaft thicken, telling her he was as close to coming as she was. He drew long and hard on her nipple. “Yeah, that’s it,” she whispered more to herself than to him. He reached for her hips as she quickened the pace, and then slowed as she strained to ease the urgent need to come and rode again. She was so close. His thrusts matched her need and then her back arched. Her face turned toward the sky as wave after wave of the spiraling orgasm flowed through her.
She collapsed against his heaving chest, relishing in the caresses of his hands and the way he wrapped his arms around her.
When she could breathe and think again, she moved to his side. “You have too much on.”
“I was thinking the same thing.”
Cheri watched him undress and felt the rekindling of need as she openly gazed at his nakedness. He unfolded the extra blanket and spread it over her before rejoining her. Could he be any more perfect? Her hands moved over his bare skin. “You feel so good. I love touching you, feeling the heat rise and your heart pound.” The tip of her tongue washed over his nipples, causing his breath to catch. His semi-aroused state twitched between them and she thrust against him with a wild urgency. “I need you to fuck the hell out of me and don’t stop until morning.”
“No.” He brought her hand to his mouth, kissing it. “I’m going to make love to you. We’re going to make love.”
She groaned, wanting to feel him inside her, feel him pounding her flesh, and hear the slap of their flesh meeting with each thrust of his cock. Her breasts heaved with the need.
“Relax, hon.” He caressed her cheek. “Have patience.” His lips touched hers and moved to her ear. “I’m going to kiss every inch of your body. Caress you with my tongue, touch you with my fingers.” His tongue swirled over her ear. She whimpered.
Her hips strained, needing everything he wanted to give her. “If it’s possible, you’re going to make me come just in anticipation.” His fingers caressed hers one at a time, adding to the simmering fire.
“That first night, on my bed, you had yourself so turned on I wondered if you’d come without cock stimulation.”
Shudders swept through her and she caressed the side of his face. “The massage you gave my leg ignited the need.” Her fingers entwined with his. “I guess I could call you my witch doctor.”
“They get such a bad rap.”
“Guess they should have been more like you,” she whispered as she brought his mouth closer. The tip of her tongue met the tip of his and she drew him between her lips and tasted the saltiness of his lips. “Mmm,” she moaned. She memorized the flavor fro
m the workout she’d given him, the contours of his shoulders, the defined muscles of his back. They had one more night after this one, and she wanted to store everything she could about him. There could be no more from this time on. She couldn’t.
She tipped her head back to catch her breath and his kisses feathered down her neck, slow and soft. His tongue delved in the cleft of her collar bone. Shivers shot through her and she didn’t know if she could survive the torture he wanted to put her through. She searched the sky and concentrated on the white clouds. Her breath quickened when he continued down to her breasts, swirling his tongue around her hardened nipples. The skin quivered beneath his fingers as they moved lower. She opened, inviting his fingers to enter the hot, throbbing center of her being. He plunged and her breath hitched as spasms rocked her. “Oh, yes!” she whispered.
Under lowered lashes, she watched his head move lower. His fingers pumped into her, feeding, but not satisfying the hunger. He nipped at her waist and nibbled a path down her abs. Anticipation welled and she held her breath, waiting for the initial touch of his lips to replace his hand. It didn’t happen.
“Don’t torture me. Please,” she said when he bypassed her throbbing pussy. The roughness of his tongue moving over her thigh increased the agonizing ache. She squirmed and dug her hands into the blanket. Her eyes closed, shutting the vision out.
He licked the back of her knee. “Oh, God!” she groaned and reached for him. Her hand caressed his muscular, hot, sweaty thigh. The fire drove her to move her hand over his ass and caress his hip in her quest. She reached beneath him and wrapped her fingers around his shaft. “Please… baby… it hurts.” Allen moved back up her quivering thighs, his lips wet, soft, tormenting her.
He removed her hand from his cock and sucked on her fingers, one at a time. Her heel moved through the sand, her hips rocking, desperate to feel him thrust in and out of her. The intensity of the desire shot through the swollen flesh. If she didn’t get something, she was going to cry, scream, something, anything to ease the torture.
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