“I’m just sorry you lost your cell phone. I know how aggravating that can be.”
Lia realized Rochelle was still talking to her. “No problem. I have all of my contact information stored on the computer. I’ll get another one soon. Until then, you have my land-line number.”
“Yes, we do.” Cade helped her out. The chauffeur had stepped to their aid too, but the singer was almost as down-home as she was. They might ride around in a limousine at times, but these two were good as gold. “Do you have your key?”
“Yes, I do, thank you.” She gave it to the chauffeur who took her bags into the house. Gazing around her yard and the surrounding woods, Lia observed. “The snow is still deep. Looks like it will be with us for a little while longer.”
“I’m glad. We haven’t had a winter like this in years. Makes for good skiing.” They stepped up to hug her. “You take care now, and we’ll be in touch.” Lia stood in place, waving goodbye as they left. Her dog scampered right and left, checking out fresh scents, eager to catch up on what he’d missed.
Heading to the porch, Lia called over her shoulder. “I’m going to leave you out for a bit. Don’t go far.” Entering her house, she unpacked her suitcase, trying not to think about how much she missed Scott or how nervous she was about being alone. All the years she’d lived here by herself since her mother and grandmother died, and never had she been so uneasy.
Elvis’s frantic barking caused her heart to jump in her throat. What if Reggie were back? She ran to the door, threw open the screen and looked out. She saw nothing. But she heard something, the whipping whirr of a helicopter. Hope flooded her soul. Could it be? As she watched, the same helicopter that had picked Scott up was dropping him off. He stepped out and spoke to the pilot. Lia couldn’t take her eyes off of him. He had come back! She covered her mouth. What did this mean? He strode toward her. Tall, dark and bad-boy handsome, with a body she knew first hand could bring a woman to her knees.
Behind him, the helicopter rose into the air. As soon as it was over the tree tops, Elvis calmed down and ran toward him. Lia watched him take the time to greet the old dog. Her heart warmed. The question of what had happened with the phone call drifted from her mind. The closer he came, the more clearly she could see his features. He was smiling, his eyes were alive with a teasing light and he looked happy. To see her. Her feet wanted to run, but she held back, literally holding onto the door facing. About twelve feet from her front porch, he stopped. The footprints he’d left in the snow behind him seemed poetic somehow. He was leaving an even more indelible mark in her heart. Dressed in all black, with a brown duffle slung over his shoulder, he made her think of an old west desperado come to town. “I hope you don’t mind a little company.”
She chewed on her lower lip. “I wasn’t expecting company.”
He looked back over his shoulder. “Well, seeing as how my ride has up and left me stranded here, do you think you could give a weary traveler a hot cup of cocoa and a warm place to nestle down for a while?”
“I have a spare room I’ll rent you.” Why was she teasing him?
“How much?” He stared at her with enough heat in his eyes to ignite a bonfire.
“Two kisses.”
“That sounds mighty cheap. If I give you more, could I maybe upgrade my accommodations to your bed?”
She still hadn’t moved. “I’ll consider it. But you’ll have to fill out a satisfaction survey.”
“Are you planning on satisfying me?”
“I’ll give it a shot.”
He took one step forward and held out his hand. “Come kiss me, Houston.”
Lia wasn’t even aware she moved. She literally flew off the porch and into his arms. “I missed you, so,” she gasped as her fingers tangled in his hair. He cradled her in his arms and she gifted him her kiss, softening her body to the hard contours of his. “How did you find me?”
“We stopped at two other places, until someone gave us directions. You’re worth searching for.” Scott took what she offered. Gratefully, he tasted her lips. Lips so soft and sweet, lips which melted at his touch, burning him with their passion. “Why didn’t you answer the phone? I was worried to death.” He was surprised he was making sense. It was hard to think with an erection pulsing between his legs.
Wrapping an arm around his waist, she coaxed him toward the house. “Let’s go in, you’re chilled.”
He hugged her to him. “Elvis, inside!” he called, as if the blue tick hound belonged to him. His attitude made Lia smile. “Answer my question, why didn’t you answer the phone?”
Opening the door, she led him inside. “I just got home. I’ve been with Cabe and Rochelle while they filmed the special. Somewhere out on the side of that mountain, I lost my cell phone.”
Scott growled. “And it didn’t cross your mind that I would worry?” He followed her to a bedroom. Seeing her things spread around, he smiled. This was obviously not the spare room.
“Not really, not after I talked to your secretary.”
Uh-oh. Scott heard a tinge of annoyance in her voice. “I hadn’t explained the situation to Susie. I merely asked her to phone you and tell you about the key.”
“There wasn’t anything to explain.” She made room for his duffle on the wide leather stool at the foot of her bed. “I overreacted when she called. I expected to hear your voice instead of hers. Your name came up on my cell phone. I was upset about something else, or I never would have asked those questions.”
“Upset about what?” He didn’t like the idea of something upsetting her.
“Just a local thing, nothing to worry about.” Taking him by the hand, she pulled him. “Let’s get the cocoa and sit in front of the fire. I need to look at you.”
Scott chuckled. “You want to look at me?”
“Yea.” She grinned. “I can’t believe you’re here. This is an unexpected surprise.”
“Good, I’m glad. I can’t stay long. I have to go back on Sunday.”
This was Friday. She had him for two days. “I’ll take it.” She had hot cocoa K cups, but she made it with heavy cream and extra chocolate syrup. “Try this.” Lia handed it to him. “It’s luscious.”
Taking it, he helped her down beside him. Talking about luscious, she looked good enough to eat. Dressed in a dark red, tit-hugging sweater and tight jeans, with an honest to God bow in her hair, he thought she was the cutest thing he’d ever seen. He didn’t know women wore bows anymore. “What would happen if I pulled on this?” He tugged at the end of the ribbon.
“My panties come off,” she answered with a straight face.
He started to yank it, but she dodged, giggling. “Down, boy. You’re gonna make me spill my cocoa. And you don’t want to get between a woman and her chocolate.”
“For now, but I plan on tugging on more than that ribbon in a little while. I want my lips back on your nipples and that sweet cherry clit of yours.”
Lia moaned. “You are so damn addictive.”
“You better believe it.” Her reaction seemed to satisfy him. “So, what were you doing with Cabe Allen?”
“Watching him rehearse, helping him with interpretations of the songs. I write them, but he sometimes puts a little different spin on them.” She shrugged. “He likes my input.”
“I want to watch you in that environment sometimes. I bet you’re hot as hell.”
Lia almost spilled her drink, she laughed so hard. “I don’t think so.”
“You mean no one made a pass at you. That I don’t believe.”
Honestly, Lia didn’t pay much attention to any looks or attention she might get from men. After living in Adah all of these years, she’d learned to go about her business and not notice how others reacted to her presence. And what Reggie did, wouldn’t be considered a ‘pass’, except in prison, maybe. “We’re working
on two new songs, a Bonnie and Clyde one that tends to be sympathetic to them and a ballad of the Alamo called A Line in the Sand.”
“Really?” He sat across from her Indian style, with his legs crossed under him, sexy as all get-out. “I have an intense interest in the Alamo. I’d like to see what you’ve done, maybe I can help.”
He looked so excited, she leaned over to kiss him. “I’d like that.”
“Do you only write ballads?”
“No, I wrote Sela Duncan’s song, His Smile.”
“Great song, very emotional. Any more love songs?”
“Not in a long time. I quit believing in love.” His expression froze as he looked at her, but she didn’t give him a chance to say anything else. “Tell me what you’ve been doing?”
She could tell he wanted to pursue her comment, but he didn’t. Instead he recounted the strange, humorous incident with Isaac’s barmaid being shot between the eyes and living to drink coffee while she waited to be patched up. Then, he sobered and told her about Angela. “I’m scared over this one, Lia. She may have to make a choice between her life and the life of her child.”
“No woman should ever have to do that.” She looked at him sympathetically, knowing he would get emotionally involved with this case. He was going to be hurt. “I know which one I’d choose.”
Scott didn’t like to think about Lia ever being in that type of situation. “If I were the father, there would be no doubt which one I would choose.”
She nodded sympathetically. “Yes, the child.”
“No, I wouldn’t choose the child’s life, I’d choose yours. In a heartbeat.”
Lia smiled, weakly. “Well then, I’m thankful we don’t have to make that decision. Aren’t you?”
“Yes, I’m praying for a way out of this, but I don’t know if we’ll get one or not.”
Setting down her hot chocolate, she took his cup. “Put your head in my lap. Let me pet you. I’ll make you feel better.” He dragged the pillows from the couch, much as they had at Windswept, and stretched out on the floor. Even though there was desire in the air, the atmosphere was restful, peaceful. His head lay in her lap, her fingers playing through his dark hair.
As he watched the flames, his hands were joined on his mid-section. She let her eyes rove over his face and his body. Damn, the man was fine. What was he doing here in the back-of-nowhere, Arkansas with the likes of her? Did he want to make love to her? Did he want to touch her? Hold her? Lia could imagine bending down, kissing him, devouring his groans. She wanted passion from this man. And she wanted more…
Staring down at Scott, she watched his eyes. The flames from the fire were reflected in their depths, his long lashes forming shadows against high cheekbones. She let her gaze slide down his body and felt the familiar ache between her legs at the sight of the large bulge in his jeans. “Are you always hard?”
He looked up at her, blue eyes meeting green. “Around you, yes.”
“Why?” Lia needed to understand. She was a bit amused, but a lot turned on. The idea of being wanted by this man was too entrancing to ignore.
“Why?” He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her down for a kiss. “Just thinking of how creamy wet your pussy gets for me turns my cock to stone.” He wove his fingers in her hair, anchoring her close. “All I can think about is being inside of you, fucking you hard and fast until you fly apart in my arms.”
“I seem to remember doing that for you once.” She gave in to the tug of his hand, stretching out beside him, her head next to his on the pillow. Lia placed a hand on Scott’s neck, massaging his nape. She touched her lips to his gently. And he began to kiss her. God, she almost swooned! His kiss. If she could write another love song, she’d entitle it His Kiss. Moaning against his lips, she let herself go, sinking into the wonder of his lips against hers. Their tongues sliding over one another, tasting, licking, her sheathe contracting on itself, aching to be taken by him.
“I want you,” he murmured. Immediately his hands were at the hem of her sweater. She got the idea, helped him and soon they were both naked. Her breasts peaked and swelled at the sight of his nude body. His cock was full and distended, jutting out from the thatch of dark hair. It was heavily veined, the crown purple and leaking precum.
Pushing her down, flat of her back, Scott came over her. Lia clutched his upper arms, leaving nail marks as she held on tight. He ran a hand gently up her thigh, a caressing promise. Arching to him, she groaned as her nipples rasped against his chest hair. “Make love to me, Scott,” she begged as she sucked at the skin of his neck. In some small way, she wanted to leave her mark on him.
“God, yes,” he moaned the words as he kissed a path down her chest to the upper swells of her breasts. Lia curled one of her legs around his, trapping him. But he was a willing prisoner. His greedy lips captured a nipple and sucked hard. Sizzles of electricity arced through her. She pushed upward, tempting him to take as much of her as he wanted. Despite her brave words about never expecting love to find her, she was beginning to dream of forever—very dangerous indeed.
“I could kiss you for hours.” His lips slid down her body, he pressed wet open-mouth kisses to the smooth skin above her mons. Lia had always kept herself smooth, it was a habit based on preference rather than the hopes she’d ever feel a man’s hot breath down there, but, God, she was glad she did. “Spread your legs, I want to look at you.”
Lia spread herself, bending her knees, arranging herself as a butterfly might, stretching open for him, totally vulnerable. He sat back, opening her even farther by pressing on her inner thighs. His eyes were alight with lust. Lia could feel his gaze as clearly as she could his touch. It only made her wetter.
“Christ, you’re beautiful.” Scott licked his lips. “I can see how much you want me.”
“I do, I can’t help it.” She lifted her hips, imploringly. His cock jerked. Both of their eyes went to it. “I want you inside of me.”
“How? How do you want it?” If she wanted him gentle, that’s how he’d take her. If she wanted him slow and easy, he’d do it if it killed him. “Just ask.”
“I want it real. I want you to take me just the way you want me. I want to see you. Feel you.”
“Then that’s how you’ll get it.” His hand lowered and Lia gasped as he pushed two fingers up inside of her. That wasn’t what she wanted, but it felt so good she didn’t complain. He pushed deep, curling his fingers to play with a little spot she hadn’t even known she possessed.
“Scott!” She keened as he pushed his fingers in and out, manipulating that hidden place which seemed to be as sensitive as her clit or nipples.
“More?” He seduced her with his touch, he drove her mad with his mouth, on her tits, on her lips—he was everywhere. “I want more. I want this.” Bending, he kissed her pussy, twirling his tongue around her clit. Fitting his lips around it, he flickered his tongue fast, lapping like a hungry tiger.
“You’re killing me, you realize that,” she panted in a tight little voice.
“What a way to go.” He set out to steal her breath, her sanity and her soul, licking, kissing, sucking. He feasted at her flesh until she was ravenous for all of him.
“Stop, stop, stop,” she almost wept.
“Why?” He saw no reason to delay their ecstasy.
“I have to touch you. I want you.” She pushed on his chest. “Now.”
Lying back, he opened his arms. “Here I am, take me.” Lia looked at him, from the tip of his toes, past that magnificent cock, to the top of his head.
Then, she ran the tip of her pretty pink tongue around her lips. It was the sexiest damn sight he’d ever seen. She moved between his thighs. “You’re at my mercy.” It wasn’t a question.
“Show none.” He challenged her. Smoothing her hands up his legs, she caressed the hard muscles up and down, nea
rer and nearer, almost touching his cock, just lightly passing his aching ball sac. “Lord have mercy.”
“No use asking him for favors, you’re mine now.” Mine. How bold was she?
He didn’t seem to mind. “Fuck,” he breathed. “I like the sound of that.”
She did too, too much. Lowering her head, she licked his balls, drawing one between her lips, playfully rolling it with her tongue. “Houston!” he bellowed, his whole body almost levitating from the floor.
“Problem?”
Scott couldn’t take his eyes from her. She was amazing, wooing him, seducing him, playing with him. With kitten-like licks and nibbles she tortured his sack, his thighs, then the thick stalk of his cock, working her way up to slip her lips over the head and suck on him like the sweetest candy. She licked, she laved, she ran her hands over his legs, up his stomach and found his nipples and gave them a slight pinch. “Christ!” he screamed. He had never been so hard. “I’m gonna cum, I swear to God.” Perspiration was forming on his brow, he had to fuck her or die.
“Not till you get inside me.” Crawling up his body like a hungry feline, she straddled him, keeping her legs wide, she lowered herself onto his cock. Scott held onto her legs, caressing them as her pussy enveloped the head. It was absolute agonizing ecstasy to feel her take him in slowly, luxuriously impaling herself on his cock.
“Heaven,” she murmured as she lifted herself up and down, letting him slide out, then taking him back in. Each time, he could see the thick syrup of her passion coating his rod. Slowly, oh so slowly, she massaged him with rhythmic caresses, pussy-kisses. She used his body like an instrument of joy, her hands resting on his pecs as she rode him to paradise and back.
Scott could feel his body tightening, the pleasure mounting. Her face had that look of complete abandon. He wanted to hold on to her, to the moment forever. Grasping her hips, he steadied her as she took him, letting her body adjust to the invader whom she’d conquered so effortlessly. Quick and hard. Slow and smooth. She varied her attack and bent him to her will.
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