by Sara Orwig
He tried, but he couldn’t stop his awareness of her. Or the trepidation that had been building in him all day. Was he being driven in a long white limo to a destination that would change his life? He didn’t think so, but he also didn’t want to get hurt badly. Falling in love with Vivian could be disastrous. He was holding the hand of Thane’s wife and he couldn’t get past that.
* * *
The club was on the top floor of one of the tallest buildings in Dallas. Through the floor-to-ceiling windows they could look out on the glittering lights of the city below. The band was good and the crowd already partying.
They ordered drinks and sat at a table for two. When the drinks came, he raised his eyes, looking over the rim of his glass into her big blue eyes. “Here’s to you, Vivian. May you get what you want in life to make up for what you lost in the past.”
“I’ll drink to that,” she said, holding up her glass and touching it lightly to his crystal goblet. She watched him as she sipped and he wanted to skip dinner, skip dancing and go to that penthouse condo of hers and make love to her all night long. But if he didn’t want his life in a tangled snarl, he shouldn’t do any such thing. He should stay right here, party, enjoy looking at her, flirt with her a little, relish in her company and dance with her, but avoid with all his being getting any more entangled with this woman.
His gaze shifted to her full red lips and he drew a deep breath, remembering how those lips felt beneath his. He looked up to meet her wide-eyed gaze that held desire, a come-hither look that set him on fire.
“Let’s dance, Mike,” she whispered. “I need to move around. I’ve looked forward to this all day long.” In minutes they were on the dance floor, dancing to a lively number, and he watched her as she moved around him with abandon. The more he was with her the more he wanted her in his bed. Get through tonight, he told himself. One day at a time and soon he would be away from her.
After dinner he shed his jacket and got down to dancing in earnest, ending two fast songs with one slow ballad, finally taking her into his arms to hold her close. She smelled wonderful and was as soft as he had remembered.
Holding her, he couldn’t help but anticipate the rest of the night at her penthouse. They’d be alone, just the two of them, and he envisioned doing all the things to her that had kept him up at night. But he didn’t dare. He shouldn’t even think about it. It would be smarter to stay here at the club until it closed, to be with people and avoid getting in a situation in the condo where he would kiss away his determination to not complicate his life.
Vivian looked as if she was having the time of her life and he felt a clutch in his heart as he thought about Thane, remembering those last moments of holding his friend and trying to stop his blood from flowing away. She and Thane had loved each other and she’d had a lot of lonesome months since his death. She was isolated on the ranch. She had Henry and Millie and Francie to talk to, but Henry was out doing things and Millie had her work, and Mike doubted if she hung out in the kitchen with Francie very much. He was surprised she had remained on the ranch this long, except that it was one last tie to Thane that hadn’t been broken.
“I think it’s time to move on,” she finally said about the same time the band stopped playing. He nodded and walked back to the table with her to get her purse. Her condo was close and it was a nice night so they walked. As he left the club, he wondered if he was walking straight into heartbreak.
Five
Noticing her perfume again as he walked beside her, Mike wanted her in his arms and he was having a silent argument with himself. It would be best to tell her good-night and go to his room and lock himself in there. But that wasn’t what he wanted to do at all.
He tried to think of all the reasons not to get intertwined with her. First of all, she was Thane’s wife. Even though Thane was no longer living, Mike felt there was some unspoken agreement that when Thane asked him to take the job of running the ranch, and he accepted, that he would not cause her heartbreak or any unhappiness. He also felt certain Thane didn’t send him to the ranch to seduce her.
She was his boss. That would be bad business. She was his friend’s wife, his close friend who had hired him to help her and look out for her. Any time he touched her, he felt he was breaking an honored trust. She was the daughter of a billionaire. She had inherited Thane’s millions, making her wealthy beyond his wildest dreams. She was accustomed to getting what she wanted, when she wanted it. He was not accustomed to having a woman like that in his life and he didn’t like it and he didn’t want to get emotionally wrapped up with her. And he damn well didn’t want to fall in love with her. He could never buy her a ring or a necklace or any other thing that would be as beautiful as she could buy for herself. Not only the disparity between their incomes, but also when those three months were up , he was leaving. He wasn’t going to live with this arrangement for years. He would have worked the three months he promised Thane.
“You’re quiet, Mike.”
His mind raced for a believable reason, because he certainly couldn’t tell her the truth. “I was thinking about the ranch,” he lied. “I think Slade will leave soon and he should. I’m urging him to go. I feel certain that it’ll be sooner than he first said. He’s decided I can take over and do his job and that frees him up to go.”
“Do you feel ready to take it over?”
“Yes, I suppose I do. You take each problem as it comes.”
“Then when he talks to you about it, do what you feel is best. As far as the ranch goes, you’re going to run it as if it’s yours. That’s what I need and want. I don’t know anything about it and running a ranch isn’t my deal. Thane said I’d never have to take charge.” Her voice weakened on the last and she looked away. He knew she hurt over Thane, and Mike hurt because he couldn’t do anything for her.
“Here we are,” she said, stopping at a tall oil and gas building. Lights were on in the lobby and an attendant sat at the desk. “There’s the night watchman.” Lights played over the front of the building, so everything was well-lit and big flower boxes were packed with multicolored blooming spring flowers. She punched a button and Mike heard a beep and clicks and then she opened a door.
He took Vivian’s arm and they crossed an empty lobby. The attendant at the desk said hello and called Vivian by name. She answered and introduced Mike to the night watchman.
After leaving the front desk, they stepped into the elevator and it was a fast ride to the penthouse where it opened directly into the condo.
As the doors closed behind Mike, she tossed her purse on a table. He glanced around at an entryway that held a crystal chandelier, potted palms and Queen Anne fruitwood chairs covered in a muted design of red-and-blue damask. “Is this whole floor yours?” he asked.
She nodded. “I told you there’s plenty of room for you to stay tonight.”
Mike walked into the living area with floor-to-ceiling windows that gave another panoramic view of the sprawling city. It was even more breathtaking than the restaurant’s view with all the twinkling lights. “This is spectacular.” He turned to look at her and amended his thought. It was Vivian who was spectacular and took his breath away. The soft light spilled over her, highlighting her blond hair and creamy skin. He met her gaze and saw the desire in her eyes that he felt. It was hot, intense.
“Would you like a drink?”
“You know what I’d like,” he said quietly. He couldn’t look away. He was caught and held by her big blue eyes as he walked toward her. “I should get in that elevator and get the hell out of here. You and I don’t belong together.”
“Are you telling me you don’t want to kiss me? I’ve seen the way you’ve looked at me all evening.”
“I’m going to complicate my life and yours.”
“You make way too big a deal out of it, but I’ll tell you what, I’m not going to push you into kissin
g me.” She raised her chin and turned to walk away. “I’ll get us drinks—”
He stepped up and lightly placed his hand on her arm, turning her. She looked around with her eyes widening as surprise filled her expression. “Mike, don’t kiss me if you don’t—”
“You know damn good and well I want to kiss you with all my being,” he said. His voice was gruff. “And you want me to kiss you. Come here, Vivian.” He drew her to him, his mouth coming down on hers and coaxing her lips open as his tongue thrust inside.
Breathing heavily, he raised his head to look into her eyes. “I want you. I want to kiss you the rest of the night, to hold you, to make love to you.” He framed her face with his hands, his gaze searching hers. “You want me, too, don’t you?”
“Yes,” she whispered. “I want you to kiss me until I melt from loving. I want kisses that for tonight will stop heartaches and emptiness. Something to wipe all that out even briefly and something I can cling to in nights to come. Hot memories that don’t leave me crying. I just want to feel alive with someone. I want to feel wanted, Mike, by a sexy, desirable man and I want to make you happy in return.”
“You don’t have to worry about that one, darlin’. Ah, Vivian if you’ll take tonight—”
“Mike, I’ll take whatever I can get,” she said, brushing his mouth with hers. His heart felt as if it would pound out of his chest. He was aroused, aching with wanting her, wanting to kiss her senseless, to take her now, but he wasn’t going to do any such thing. If they made love, he wanted to take a long time to give her all the pleasure and loving he could. He wanted to make her happy, leave her with the kind of memories she wanted. Do everything in his power to excite her and give her a night she could remember. He’d had his own cold, lonely nights, losses and hurts. Without even trying, he knew she would give him all the pleasure, memories, hot sex and excitement he craved.
He wrapped his arms around her and held her close to kiss her passionately. In minutes, he shifted, trailing kisses across her cheek, his tongue tracing the curve of her ear, his breath hot on her skin as he whispered, “I want to excite you as much as I possibly can, darlin’. I want to kiss and caress every beautiful inch of you and feel you moving and responding to my touch.”
“Mike,” she gasped, turning to kiss him.
He pulled her up tightly against him, holding her close, his tongue stroking hers while he slipped one hand down her back, unfastening her zipper and stroking her bare skin. He tangled his fingers in her hair and kissed her while she clung to him, moaning softly and kissing him in return. He wanted her with a need that felt like desperation. He wanted to spend the night with her in his arms. He’d tried to do the right thing. He’d tried to do the smart thing and walk away, but he couldn’t and clearly she didn’t want to, either.
She moaned softly, thrusting her hips against him, her hands playing over him as she opened the buttons of his shirt and tugged its shirttails out of his trousers. Desire swept over him and he leaned away slightly so he could pull the thin spaghetti straps of her blue dress off her shoulders. He slipped his arm around her and drew her close to kiss her again. As they kissed, he pushed her dress away and let it fall. It dropped in a puff and a whisper around her feet. When she stepped out of it, she left behind her shoes, as well.
The diamond pendant lay between the rise of her breasts. Mike touched it lightly, his fingers brushing her warm skin. “Do you always keep this on?”
“Yes, I do,” she said.
He leaned back, placing his hands on her hips as he looked at her. She hadn’t worn a bra beneath her dress and he cupped her bare breasts with his calloused hands. She wore only lacy bikini panties. “You’re beautiful, darlin’. You take my breath away.”
“Just kiss me, Mike,” she whispered, clinging to him and leaning closer, her nipples brushing his chest. He cupped her breasts again, holding her. She was soft, filling his hands, so warm. He kissed first one breast and then the other, tracing each rosy peak with his tongue. “Ah, Vivian, you’re beautiful and perfect. So soft, so gorgeous,” he whispered.
She had her eyes closed, her head thrown back as she ran one hand through his hair and ran her other hand over his shoulder beneath his shirt. “I want this, Mike. I want you to kiss and hold me the rest of the night and drive away my hurt.”
“Ah, Vivian. You shouldn’t hurt and you shouldn’t be lonely. You’re too beautiful.” He kissed her and she clung to him. He was aroused, his hard shaft between them, pressing into her. “Oh, baby, you should have a man’s arms around you every night of your life. You were made to pleasure a man and take him to paradise.” His gaze roamed over her. “I want you,” he whispered hoarsely. “I want to kiss and touch you. We’ll give each other tonight.”
“I’m not protected. I’m not on the pill.”
“I’ve got a condom.” They looked into each other’s eyes and he saw the desire he felt mirrored in her expression. He drew her to him to hold her naked body against his.
Wrapping her arms around his neck, Vivian stood on tiptoe to kiss him. “I want you, too,” she said. “I want to kiss and touch you, to have it all for tonight.”
The way she looked at him, the emotion he saw in her eyes, the need that reflected his own, all combined to take away the last of his control. In that moment, he wished he really could take away all her hurt. While he couldn’t do that, he knew he could give her pleasure and he set about doing just that. He knew he was breaking all his rules and promises to himself. He wasn’t avoiding trouble. Instead, he was running into heartache and regret with open arms. But he could no more stop and resist her now than he could quit his job and walk away. He wanted her more than he had ever desired any other woman. He might be tearing up his life for a long time to come, but he wanted Vivian this night. He wanted to hold and love her, give and take the excitement and pleasure of one night with her. This was the time and the opportunity and he wasn’t going to back away from the most desirable woman he had ever known. He only hoped he could survive the consequences of tonight.
* * *
Vivian tingled from head-to-toe. Desire was hot, pulsing, an aching need, but she wanted this night to last, to make love for hours. There had been so many empty nights and now Mike was holding her, kissing her and making excitement race through her.
She pushed away his shirt, letting it fall while she unfastened his belt. She looked up and was caught in his hungry gaze. His slow perusal roamed over her body, and she trembled with eagerness, feeling as if he had drawn his fingers over her.
He took off his trousers and yanked away his socks and boots. He had on briefs that she peeled down to free him and then held and caressed his manhood that was hot and hard, ready for her. He held her hips lightly with his hands as she stroked him.
For a moment he let her take him in her mouth to run her tongue slowly over him, and then he pulled her up to trail kisses along her throat and down to her breasts, kissing first one and then the other, his tongue circling taut peaks, hot and wet, exciting her more.
Moaning softly with pleasure, she closed her eyes while he showered kisses on her and caressed her, feathery strokes that made her sigh softly.
Touching him, she explored his marvelous physique, discovering his body that was muscular and in peak shape. She tangled her fingers in the sprinkling of crisp, curly black hair across his chest. His chest was rock hard, all muscle, broad and warm as she trailed her hands over him.
With a low sound deep in his throat, he whispered in her ear. “I want you, Vivian. I want to make love to you all the rest of this night.”
“That’s what I want, too. To kiss and touch and discover each other. I want to excite you and pleasure you every way you want.”
“Ah, darlin’,” he said, showering kisses on her breasts as he cupped them in his big hands. “You excite me just by letting me look at you. You’ll never know how much I wan
t you, more than you can possibly imagine. I’ve dreamed about you, fantasized about you, longed for you. I don’t want to let you go until this night is over and the sun is high in the sky. And only then, because I know I’ll have to. I can’t keep you and hold you forever, but for tonight, I don’t want to take my hands off you. Or my mouth,” he whispered, kissing away her answer.
His kiss was possessive, demanding, and she returned his kiss passionately and clung to him. They stood in each other’s arms and she ran her hands over his shoulders and nape while one leg rose up to pull him even closer. His deep moan thrilled her, because it meant she had excited him as he had her. Knowing that, she burned with need, wanting his hands and mouth and body all over hers.
As she started to put her foot down, he caught her leg, holding it and sliding his hand up along her calf, over her knee, going higher till he touched her intimately and she gasped as his fingers rubbed and caressed her.
Her breath was coming in short bursts when he finally picked her up. “A bed?”
She pointed behind her and pulled his head down to kiss him, needing the contact as he carried her through the condo to set her on her feet beside her bed. He yanked back the covers and placed her on the bed, coming down beside her to pull her into his arms and continue kissing her.
He was hard muscle, warm against her, and she ran her hand over his marvelous body. Minutes later, he moved to her feet, holding her foot and watching her, while he trailed his tongue across her ankle and along her leg. His fingers caressed her leg, sliding slowly, so lightly up her leg and the back of her thigh, barely touching her.
He showered kisses on her leg, rolling her over on her stomach to caress the back of her thighs and run his tongue over her. She moaned softly and in minutes turned over again as his hands drifted to the inside of her thighs while he leaned down to kiss her, his tongue touching hers. She wrapped her arms around his neck, holding him, kissing him in return until he moved back, letting his tongue slide down her front, circling each nipple and then moving lower, his mouth joining his hands where they played between her thighs.