That was all Wyatt needed to segue from sullen to stirred up. For the next ten minutes he described the variety of real-estate-related solutions he had designed into full-blown software applications. He described the prototypes he created for the investors to review, the market research he had completed. Even without much knowledge of software or real estate, Keeli could see that there was a real opportunity for the programs Wyatt described. They could help homebuyers, people moving to new cities, brokers and agents and even renters and commercial property developers. He had covered all the bases.
It all sounded fabulous to Keeli. She found herself peppering him with questions, occasionally having to slow his enthusiasm down so that she could understand. He really was a geek, she realized, when she repeatedly asked him to speak in words she could actually understand instead of computer jargon. Finally, Wyatt caught a deep breath and grabbed Keeli’s hand.
“Enough,” he announced. “I have other plans for us tonight.” Keeli started to clear the table. “Leave it,” Wyatt commanded as he leaned forward to blow out the candles before dragging Keeli by the arm so that she had to jog to keep up with him. “And my favorite color is red, like your hair,” he told her with a leering grin as he pulled her down the hall to his room and turned down the bed, leaving the lights glowing softly.
“Don’t move,” he ordered. “Don’t move until I say you can.” With that he left her standing, toes digging into the softness of an elegant oriental rug. She heard him run back to the kitchen. He returned in moments carrying the two wine glasses and a fresh bottle of wine. Placing them carefully on one side of the bed he pointed a finger at her.
“Do not move,” he admonished and disappeared again, this time returning with a large glass of water, which he placed, on a coaster on the opposite bedside table.
Bounding over to stand in front of her he slid his hands up and down her bare arms, flashing a sexy smile that sent her pulse racing.
“Okay, now you can move, but only to kiss me,“ he warned seriously. He moved his hands from her arms to her waist, lifting the hem of her tee to run his fingers lightly over her skin, side to side low across her stomach inching higher. Keeli struggled to stay immobile under the erotic onslaught. She lifted her face to his for a kiss and he crushed his lips down upon hers.
Wyatt’s mouth claimed Keeli’s as his hands splayed across her stomach and torso, tilting her off her feet until she fell back onto the bed. Soon he was pulling off her jeans, never breaking the kiss. His tongue was devouring her mouth relentlessly, his hands sure in their movements. He had her divested of all but her panties before raising his head from the kiss. Her mouth was swollen and bruised with kisses. Her eyes looked drugged and her hair was wild about her head.
“I have never seen anything more beautiful than you are right now,” he said in a husky whisper before dropping his head to suckle her breast. Keeli could not breathe, could not think. Instinctively she wrapped her bare arms and legs around his still fully clothed body, clumsily pulling at his shirttails to help him undress. He got the message, rapidly undressing, haphazardly tossing his elegant suit to the carpet.
Reaching into the nightstand, he pulled out a string of condoms ripping several from the chain, keeping one in hand while dropping the rest on the tabletop. “For later,” he shared, the corners of his lips lifting. Then he was removing the last of her clothing and tonguing his way from lips to breasts to naval and back again. Keeli was moaning and thrashing with desire as Wyatt sheathed his length and drove into her wet, waiting body.
“So much for taking it slow,” he laughed. “You okay?” Keeli nodded yes, adjusted to the sudden fullness of having Wyatt deep inside her. Wyatt took the pace down a notch, making love to her slowly, kissing her hair, her lips, her eyes, his hands tracing her features, her arms, her body.
“You feel so good,” he kept repeating, “so good.” Much as she loved the ferocity of their earlier lovemaking, Keeli was savoring this slow sensuous dance until she found herself urging Wyatt on, speeding up her responses to his thrusts, clawing his back to drag him closer.
Her breath came in quick pants as Wyatt took Keeli to new highs, holding her there, hovering on the brink until she thought she would explode, then taking her higher.
“Please, Wyatt, please,” she was begging. Wyatt picked up the pace even more and took them both over the precipice. Keeli’s panting took on a frenetic quality, as she pulled harder at Wyatt, shuddering with her orgasm, pushing Wyatt over the edge with a satisfied moan.
Keeli could barely catch her breath, disappointed when Wyatt rolled off her until he pulled her tight against his hot skin. Wrapping one arm around her shoulders, his other hand made lazy circles around her breast. She loved that he kept touching her.
“Good,” he said, kissing her soundly, “that was so good.”
“It was amazing,” Keeli agreed when she could finally find her voice. “You are a wild man and I am exhausted.”
“Exhausted? Does not mean you don’t want to try out the shower tonight?”
Keeli barely mumbled a response, snuggling closer into Wyatt’s side.
“Huh?” he asked her. “What did you say?”
“Just give me a few minutes, okay?” Wyatt translated her mumbling at last and leaned back with a contented sign. Keeli felt his hand leave her skin only to find him handing her a wine glass a moment later. Taking a sip, he offered her the glass and she perked up a bit, sat up, dislodging his arm reluctantly and took the wine.
The two stayed together like that, sharing the wine, bits of conversation and light kisses. Wyatt moved his hand from her skin to her hair, from her hair to her breast, over and over in a soothing pattern.
“Mm, that’s nice,” she uttered in a voice lulled with sleep.
“Morning shower it is,” he said softly. “What time do you need to be somewhere?”
“I need to work tomorrow, my place, whenever,” her voice faded.
“Sleep,” he whispered. “Sleep.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Keeli sat up in bed, looking around her, remembering last night with a rosy blush. She rolled to face Wyatt only to find herself alone in the big bed. The alarm clock indicated that it was only 7:15. The heavy curtains kept the room dark but Keeli could see strong sunlight peeking around the edges. She could not remember falling asleep, but she felt well rested.
And slightly sore. A good sore. A great sore.
Hearing no sounds Keeli wandered into the bathroom, caught a glimpse of herself in the large mirror, and tried to tame her hair unsuccessfully. She splashed water on her face and went digging for her toothbrush in her hobo bag. She brushed her teeth noticing that her lips were much fuller than usual, bright pink and well kissed. She rummaged in his dresser drawer, finding a clean white t-shirt and yanking it over her head. It was long enough to pass for a short dress.
Good thing I work at home today. Anyone looking at me, even a stranger, would know what I have been up to.
Although she heard no sounds, Keeli assumed Wyatt would not have left her in the apartment alone. She wandered past the living room, now lit by the large windows to display a pair of white leather sofas separated by a low modern table. There was a magnificent bright colored rug covering the hardwood floors. A statement art piece displayed prominently over the fireplace looked suspiciously like a Miro. Shaking her head in disbelief she continued on to the kitchen.
The smell of coffee was strong as she got closer and Keeli saw an espresso machine tucked into the corner of the counter. There was a lovely Japanese style teapot sitting open beside it. Looking in it, Keeli saw teabags with their tags dangling out the opening, waiting for hot water. Padding back down the hall, she went in search of Wyatt, finally hearing faint sounds of music coming from his office.
Knocking quietly on the door Keeli waited for permission to enter. She knocked a bit louder the second time and the door was quickly yanked open. The sound of the Rolling Stones was quite loud now. Wyatt stood there
in a pair of lightweight sweatpants looking well muscled, powerful and downright irresistible. His hair was sticking up slightly on top and curling against his neck in back. Longing to run her fingers through it, Keeli rose on tiptoe, shyly pulling his head down for a kiss and fingering the soft curls.
“Good morning,” her voice was husky and sexy. “Good morning,” she repeated in a clearer voice.
“Hey sleepyhead,” he kissed her again, lingering on her lips, wrapping his arms about her and pulling her t-shirt clad body against his shirtless one. Sliding his hands under the shirt he cupped her butt and pulled her tightly against a growing erection.
“Tea, or back to bed?” He was being boyish and provocative.
“Tea first, then bed? How long have you been awake?” she followed him down the hall.
“What time is it?”
“About 7:30, a little before,” Keeli estimated.
“A couple hours. I am an early riser,” and with that he took her hand and moved it toward the tented front of his sweatpants with a laugh. She gave him a very brief caress before he moved away to get hot water for her tea, starting the espresso machine as he passed it. He turned to her with a large, airtight metal canister.
“I didn’t know what kind of tea you would like so I bought a bunch. I threw Earl Gray in the pot, but feel free to change it.”
“You must have thought I was a sure thing,” she said with a pout, digging through the canister of Earl Grey, Chai, English Breakfast and assorted flavored teas.
“I hoped,” Wyatt replied with a swift kiss to the top of her head. He was so tall and powerful standing next to her at the counter, both of them in bare feet. He made her feel small, a rare thing for a woman of her height. She liked it.
“I’ll stick with the Earl Gray. Good choice, this is really good selection, Wyatt. I appreciate the effort you went through.”
“Absolutely my pleasure,” he responded, pouring water over her tea and frothing steamed milk noisily. She added a touch of the milk to her tea, he added sugar to his cappuccino and they moved as one to the dining table to enjoy their morning brews.
“No dirty dishes?” The kitchen was spotless despite last night’s feast.
“I took care of it this morning,” he volunteered and she chided him gently for not letting her help clean up last night.
“I had better plans for you last night,” he smirked.
The light coming in the dining rooms windows was really white and pure. Keeli sat with the sun bathing her face in contented silence. Wyatt broke her reverie with a light touch of his fingers caressing her arm.
“You seem far away, what are you thinking?”
“I was thinking that this is exactly the way I picture morning light in Paris. I was imagining sitting at an outdoor café, sipping my tea on a perfect morning.”
This is a perfect morning.” Wyatt stroked her arm again, slowly up and down, up and down. “Have you been to Paris?” Keeli shook her head. “You would love it. We should go some time.”
It’s just a figure of speech, Keeli reminded herself when her hopes soared and her heart sped up. He is not planning a future with you. He is just caught up in the moment.
“So, what will your day be like? Mine will be filled with boring meetings that I will not be able to concentrate on.” Just like that, Wyatt had moved from musing about Paris to the mundane realities of a workday in Chicago.
“I have an incredible day today actually.” Keeli’s excitement was palpable and Wyatt could not help grinning in response. “I get to pick the jewelry that I will take to Milwaukee Friday. It is a juried show, so the pieces they reviewed must be included but I get to pick the rest. Tomorrow I will pack them all up and get everything organized for the weekend.”
“I wish I could go with you, help you set up or whatever, watch you in your element for awhile. The art museum is fantastic too; I love the architecture and the setting. A few romantic nights away with you would be a lovely bonus, of course.”
“I totally love that plan, but I understand you have your own life too. I have tons of work and long days and no chance of a romantic hotel in my future. Clarice and I will share a room at the Motel 6. It keeps our costs down so we can afford to do a few away art shows. Usually I just turn them down but Milwaukee is my favorite art fair to go to and to show at. I love the lakeside setting, the access to the art museum, the crowds, just everything. In addition, the artists there are fantastic. They help raise my game.”
“Well then, I better get you moving so you can get organized and on your way.” Wyatt checked to see that she had almost finished her tea, gulped the last of his espresso and grabbed her hand, pulling her down the hall toward the bedroom.
Get her on her way? What happened to going back to bed? Keeli tamped down her disappointment when Wyatt pulled her past the bed, still rumpled and inviting, and into the brightly lit bathroom.
“Time for us to christen the shower, don’t you think?” With a wicked grin, Wyatt threw an oversized towel onto the edge of the tub, within easy reach of the shower, stalking towards Keeli like a leopard and lifting the shirt from her body. Running his hands slowly up her back and back down to cup her butt he pulled her tight against his body, gave her a slow, coffee-flavored kiss then reached in the stall to turn on all those confusing dials. Three showerheads sprang to life as a warm mist quickly fogged the room.
Adjusting the temperature, Wyatt directed Keeli to stand under the rain shower from above, following her in as he maneuvered the double jets on each wall. Soon they were being sprayed evenly from shoulder to thigh, despite their height differences. Wyatt wrapped Keeli in his arms and she sighed with pleasure.
“This is sheer bliss,” she gushed, turning to face him.
He was sliding his hands over her slick body, a forest scented soap in hand. “Yes, it certainly is.”
Keeli stole the soap from Wyatt and started working her slippery hands down his back before turning him to lather his chest, arms and abdomen. As her hands moved lower, Wyatt took the bar back from her to do the same luxurious massage on her soft skin, moving lower to caress her thighs and calves with his sliding hands. She used him for balance when he lifted first one foot, then the other, growing drowsy from the heat and aroused by his hands. Turning in his arms, she rested against him, her back to his front as Wyatt continued his seductive movements. When he reached her breasts he trailed small kisses along her hairline and cheek until Keeli turned in his arms to demand a more satisfying kiss.
Pulling his head toward her, Keeli rose to her toes and pressed her body against his, sliding skin to skin. Her mouth sought his in a deep kiss, exploring his mouth thoroughly. Her hands grazed over his damp skin. She felt like she was trying to climb inside his skin, trying to get ever closer as he pushed her from beneath the overhead spray and against the wall. Lifting her legs to wrap around his waist, he slid easily into her moist heat.
Murmuring incoherent phrases, Wyatt slid his length in and out of Keeli, holding her between the wall and him with ease. The tile, at first chilly to her back, had warmed and served as a slippery backdrop, easing their movements. Their kisses were hungry, deep and demanding as Keeli climbed quickly to completion. Keeli moaned her pleasure, her body pulsing around Wyatt as her legs and arms constricted about him of their own volition. She moved as if to encourage Wyatt to orgasm but he shook his head.
“Again, Keeli. Do that again. I love watching you, babe. You are so incredibly hot.” His words, his kisses, his touch and the hot hard length of him soon had her losing control, a soft scream escaping her lips. Almost immediately Wyatt was moaning his pleasure as well, quickly pulling out of her to spill his seed down the shower drain.
Arms still entwined, Wyatt leaned against Keeli where she lay slumped against the wall. They regained their equilibrium and their breath slowly, peppering each other with small kisses. Wyatt pulled Keeli back under the overhead spray, matter-of-factly reaching for shampoo to lather his short curls, rinsed off and stepped fr
om the shower.
Still coming down from her high, Keeli took the shampoo in a daze, washed her red mop unconsciously, rinsing from head to toe before fiddling with the dials until the spray shut off. Stepping from the moist heat, she found Wyatt holding up an oversized white towel before he quickly cocooned her in the expensive Egyptian cotton.
It was so comfortable and natural for Keeli to stand beside him at the double sinks, taking the toothbrush she left by the sink, running a comb through her wet and tangled locks while watching from the corner of her eye as Wyatt shaved the face she had come to hold so dear. They behaved like a couple, and she reveled in the sensation.
Don’t get ahead of yourself, just try to enjoy it while it lasts. You need to keep your head on with this guy, much as you want to just let go.
Getting all the snarls from her hair at last, Keeli wrapped it again in the towel, squeezing the last of the moisture from it before following Wyatt from the bathroom in search of her clothes. Digging clean panties from her bag and sliding into her jeans and top, Keeli turned to find Wyatt emerging from his walk-in closet in a crisp white shirt and perfectly pressed dark trousers. He was wrapping an elegant blue tie about his neck without a mirror, the knot flawless. His bare feet looked so sexy to her, peeking between the dark pants and dark carpet, and for a brief moment she wanted to grab him and pull him back to bed. Instead she moved from seductive to practical.
“What time do your meetings start?”
“Not ‘til ten, so I have time to get a little food in you and take you home.”
“Not necessary, Wyatt. I never eat this early although I appreciate the thought. I can keep you company and then grab the bus home. I know you have lots to take care of.”
“Absolutely not. I will take you home even if you don’t let me feed you. The office can wait. Except for a four o’clock conference call with my potential investors, I really don’t care anyway.”
Bedazzled (The Beguiling Bachelors Book 1) Page 21