More Than One Night

by Tuhart, Marie

  “You love me?” She spun around to see Jake standing in the doorway, a stunned look on his face. Apparently he’d listened to her messages after all.

  “Well…” She took a deep breath and took the plunge. “Yes. I love you.” There it was. Her heart was open to him.

  He crossed the room and gathered her into his arms. His face nuzzled her neck. “You are the best thing to ever come into my life.” It wasn’t the declaration she expected to hear, but it would do for now. She had a lot to make up for.

  “Is that cheese I smell?” he asked.

  “Yes.” His stomach growled and she couldn’t help but laugh.

  Moving out of his embrace, she picked up the platter of cheese and crackers and handed it to him. “It will be a little bit before the pizza is ready, munch on these and get your hunger under control.”

  “Sounds good, but after we eat, I plan on feeding another hunger.”

  Her cheeks grew warm. Even now he could still make her blush. “Go sit down.”

  Grinning, he took the plate and sat down at the table.

  Within forty-five minutes, food was on the table and Jake was eating, but Beth was playing with her meal. Her mind was still a hurricane of conflicting emotions, joy, fear, excitement, trepidation, love.

  The scraping of a chair on the tile floor snapped her to attention. Jake stood, marched over to her then reached down, lifted her in his arms cradling her against his chest and strode out of the kitchen.

  “I thought you were hungry?” She wound her arms around his neck excited to be in his embrace. Her heart pounded and her pussy grew wet.

  “I’ve had my fill of food and, since all you were doing was playing with yours, I figured you’re not hungry.”

  “I…” Her voice trailed off at the blaze in his green gaze.

  “It’s time to feed another hunger.”

  Words stuck in her throat, but excitement caused her nerves to tingle. Inside the bedroom, he dropped her on the bed. “Tonight we’ll stay here.” He tugged her shoes and socks off before removing his own. “We have some lost time to make up for and I’m not prepared to wait until we can get to your apartment.”

  Before she could say anything, his lips captured hers. Most of her worries melted away, and those that wouldn’t she pushed to the back of her mind. Later. Later she could deal with them, right now she wanted Jake. And apparently he wanted her, too, as his mouth devoured hers.

  Jake had been doing fine playing Mr. Cool until he heard her messages. He heard the tears in her voice and the sorrow. Right then, he couldn’t hold out anymore. Hell, who was he kidding. Her words about loving him went straight to his heart. But he hadn’t said the words back.

  He believed if he said them now, she wouldn’t believe him. He had to prove his love to her. He could do it later. He’d missed her so much and right now, all he wanted to do was to make love to her until neither one of them could move. He wanted to show her how much he loved her through actions, not words.

  Tugging her T-shirt from the waistband of her jeans, he yanked it off of her, flung it across the room and her bra followed a second later. Without pause, he took one full breast into his mouth.

  His erection pushed and strained against the fabric of his sweats. Ignoring his own needs, he licked and kissed her breasts in turn as he undid her jeans. Lifting his head, he stared into blue eyes glazed over with passion, her mouth open and her hands fisting in the sheets.

  “Lift your hips, sweetheart.”

  Hooking his fingers into the waistband of her jeans, he swept them down along with her panties. Beth didn’t say a word, but her increased breathing told him she was right along with him on this journey.

  Their mouths fused together again, and this time her fingers fumbled with the drawstring of his sweats. Cool air hit his ass, then she caressed him from root to tip. Fire swept through him from her touch. It had been too long. Breaking the kiss, he threw his head back, gasping for air. He couldn’t take her touch for long…he’d reached his limit days ago.

  “You are so beautiful,” he whispered, kissing her hard before sitting up. He kicked his pants away, then yanked his sweatshirt up and over his head to join the rest of their clothes on the floor.

  Reaching over, he pulled several foil packets out of the drawer and dropped, all but one, on the nightstand top. He slipped the condom on then lowered his body.

  His fingers found her wet pussy, stroking her once, then twice until she squirmed beneath him. Removing his fingers, he rose over her and drove into her tightness with one hard thrust. Heat invaded him. She let out a gasp then a moan.

  “Am I hurting you?” He ran his fingers down her cheek. God he hoped not because she felt so good around him, her moist heat calling to him on the most primitive level.

  “No. God no. You feel so good. Hard, hot and needy.”

  “And you’re soft, moist and ready for me.”

  “Yes.” Her hips rose as he retreated. “Love me, Jake.”

  “I will,” he whispered before capturing her lips again as he set a punishing pace, fucking her until her pussy spasmed hard around his cock and she cried out her climax. He thrust two more times before joining her, causing her to have another orgasm.

  I will love you now and forever.

  Hours later, Jake stared down at the sleeping woman beside him. Beth’s hair was spread out over his chest, her breathing even and calm. His arms tightened around her.

  Now he could admit he’d thought he’d never see her again. But she’d made the first move and he silently thanked God for sending Beth back to him.

  This woman of his was so different from any other woman he’d ever known. In her phone messages, she poured her heart out to him and never once did she mention his money. He found it charming that Beth wasn’t comfortable with his wealth.

  She loved him for himself, and he loved her. But he still hadn’t told her. First he had to prove his love to her. Plans began to form in his mind. She was back in his life and he wasn’t going to let her go.

  Once she was comfortable with him sharing her place, he’d move to the next step in their relationship, but until then…she snuggled closer to him and he closed his eyes. He was content. Content to have her in his arms and life.

  Chapter Ten

  Jake stretched, then opened his eyes to see the light blue ceiling and a smile curved his lips. Beth’s bedroom. The sun was peeking through the closed blinds. He turned over and…fell right out of bed.

  “Humph.” Damn it, he’d done it again. You’d think after three weeks, he’d remember she only had a double bed.

  “Jake, you okay?” Beth poked her head out of the bathroom.

  “No, I think I bruised my ego again.” Sitting up, he rubbed his back. The royal blue carpet did little to cushion his fall. “We need a bigger bed.”

  “Actually, I like it.” She knelt next to him, her warm fingers massaging his lower spine. “It forces you to curl up next to me each night.”

  “Like it’s a hardship to hold you.” His arm encircled her waist and he tugged her onto his naked lap.

  “Hey, stop that.” She batted his hand away from her skin. “We have things to do today.” She wiggled her ass against his growing erection and he fought against taking her on the floor.

  “Right. Things.” He kissed her, pleased when her tongue tangled with his, making the kiss hotter. She squirmed again. “Witch,” he whispered against her lips before trailing down to her collarbone.

  “Umm, nice,” she murmured, when his tongue swept across her pounding pulse.

  “Are we excited?” His hand found her breasts, but instead of finding her satin skin, he came in contact with fabric. With a frown, he glanced down at the bra. “Why are you dressed?”

  “Well, I seem to remember someone made us an eleven o’clock appointment at Cecila’s dress shop.”

  He looked at the clock. “It’s only eight.”

  “I thought I’d run down to the bakery and pick up those cream-filled donut
s you like so much.” Her tongue swept across his ear.

  Hot waves of passion flowed through him. “Keep that up and we’ll end up spending the day in bed.” He buried his face in her neck, taking in the spicy scent of cinnamon.

  “Sounds good to me.” Her hips shifted. Jake let out a groan and she laughed. “Let me go get breakfast first, otherwise, we’ll both faint from the lack of food.”

  “I’d rather make you my breakfast.”

  She dropped a kiss on his chin. “You already had me as an early morning snack. I need real food. Besides, we’re out of coffee, too. And I know how cranky you get without your caffeine intake.”

  “What are you waiting for? Go fetch me some coffee.”

  “Always what you want.” Laughing, she scooted off his lap and got to her feet. Grabbed her shirt and slipped it on.. She gazed down at him and love flowed through Jake’s veins. “You know, I could get used to you being at my feet.”

  He lunged for her and she danced away, her laugher floating in the air as she went out the door.

  Lord he loved hearing her laugh. It sent shivers of happiness up his spine.

  “I already took my shower, so feel free to take yours while I’m gone,” she called from the living room. “I’m taking Rosie with me.”

  Rolling to his feet, he stretched before padding to the kitchen. Opening the fridge, he found a carton of orange juice. Pulling a large plastic cup from the dish drainer, he filled it and turned to the kitchen table.

  The paper sat there, telling him Beth had been up for a while. His lips curled upward. Beth fit right into his morning routine—coffee, the paper and playing footsies under the table.

  But this morning, he didn’t want the paper, he wanted her. He grinned. She was constantly telling him he couldn’t have everything he wanted. Padding back down the small hallway, he drank half the juice before going into the bathroom.

  Turning on the shower, he drank the rest of the juice, before stepping inside. The hot water beat down on his shoulders, but he knew it wouldn’t remain hot for long. The first few times he ran out of hot water, he teased Beth that they would need to take showers together to conserve water.

  Then one morning she tugged him into the shower with her, and so began a new daily routine of showering together. Another grin tugged at his lips when he remembered the first time they made love in her shower. They both ended up on the floor, laughing and bruised, before he carried her back into the bedroom.

  Now his mind started to drift over the events of last night. Pietro, her boss, told her she could have the day shift if she wanted it. Beth hadn’t said yes, but she hadn’t said no either. Over dinner, he’d tried to talk to her about it, but she kept changing the subject.

  If she worked days, they could have more time together. He was on the verge of asking her to move in with him. Oh hell, who was he kidding? He wanted her to marry him. Beth made him happy—very, very happy—and comfortable, something no other woman had ever done. He even had the ring already picked out.

  The water was starting to cool. Quickly he finished, then stepped out, taking one of the big white fluffy towels, drying off before wrapping it around his waist. There had been some changes in her apartment, since he started spending time there.

  Gone were the old small towels and, in their place, soft Egyptian cotton ones. He started another subscription to several newspapers so it could be delivered to her place, and cable installed on her TV so he could watch news anytime he wanted. All these things made him feel comfortable and he didn’t mind paying for his comfort.

  Always what you want. Beth’s words echoed in his mind. Did she really think that? He didn’t think so, since she’d been laughing, plus she was good at speaking her mind. They already had a discussion about him wanting to buy a new state-of-the-art TV for her living room, but she pointed out that she didn’t need it and a 50 inch flat screen was way too big for her tiny living room. Striding back into the bedroom, he dropped the towel into the hamper and slid on a pair of briefs and shorts. He hoped she’d hurry back, he really needed his caffeine kick.

  Oh damn, he left his juice glass in the bathroom. Striding back to the door, he snagged it off the counter as the phone rang. He started to answer it, but he decided to let her machine pick it up. He smiled. He was so used to voice mail the first time he heard her answer machine, he’d asked her who was in the apartment with them.

  “Hello, this is Mr. Howard at San Francisco Memorial Hospital.”

  Tossing the cup into the sink, Jake grabbed the receiver. “This is Jake Masters, what has happened to Beth?” Had she been in an accident? “How bad is she hurt?” It hurt to breathe.

  “Mr. Masters, I apologize. There seems to be a misunderstanding. Is Miss Grant there, I need to speak to her about her bill with us.”

  “Bill?” Jake collapsed on the sofa. Beth wasn’t hurt, mangled or dying. The pressure in his chest eased.

  “If she’s not there, please have her call me when she comes in.”

  “How much is the bill?”

  “I can’t tell you that, Mr. Masters.”

  Jake stifled a curse, wait a second, San Francisco Memorial. Chad Montgomery was on the board there. “Then transfer me to Chad Montgomery, as Miss Grant’s fiancé I’m taking care of her bills.” The lie flowed off his tongue. Well, not actually a lie, he just hadn’t asked Beth yet.

  Silence, then, “Congratulations, if you’ll hold on for a moment.” The line clicked and Jake knew the man was checking on him. Chad would back him up, they went way back together. “Ah, Mr. Masters, thank you for holding. Let me get the amount.”

  Paper shuffling in the back ground made Jake grind his teeth. Why hadn’t Beth told him about the bill? He would’ve paid it for her. And there was the problem. She hated it when he paid for little things, like groceries, cable and the paper. They’d argued enough over it.

  “The current amount due is three hundred dollars.”

  Current amount? “And what is the full bill amount?”

  “That would be fifty thousand dollars.”

  “You’ll have a check by tomorrow, would you please tell me where I should send it.” Finding a scrap of paper and a pen, Jake wrote down all the particulars then hung up.

  Why hadn’t she told him? He’d noticed when they were out together that she always paid cash and, when he asked her why, she said she hated bills. Something wasn’t right. Pushing off the sofa, he strode down the hallway and into the bedroom. He grabbed his cell off the dresser.

  He’d tried numerous times to get Beth to talk to him about her life. Oh, she’d give him a small tidbit then change the subject. He’d told her about being an adopted child, but she stayed silent. He needed to know if she was sick or in trouble, that was the only way he could help her. And damn it, he was going to help her, even if she didn’t want it.

  This time he wasn’t going to leave a stone unturned. “Hey, Ed. I need the full background check you did on Beth Grant.” Jake paused, listening. “Great. Yes, my office. Thanks.”

  Jake was standing in the living room when she came back to the apartment. Beth’s heart warmed. She never realized living with a man could be well…so wonderful.

  “It’s gorgeous out.” She set her purchases down before unsnapping Rosie’s leash. The dog made a beeline for Jake, then at the last second, turned and ran for the kitchen.

  Hanging up the leash, Beth picked up her purchases and sashayed across the room. “I’ve got breakfast.” She held up a large white bag.

  “Forget food, I need coffee.” He snagged her around the waist, then snatched up the cup from the cup holder. She laughed as he lifted it to his mouth and took a hearty sip.

  “Ah, I needed that,” he said coming up for air. “And this.”

  He snatched the bag from her fingers and sauntered into the kitchen.

  “Hey, give that back.” She followed him, trying to keep the laugher out of her voice.

  Turning his head, he gave her one of his sexy smiles, then o
pened the bag. “There’s one missing.”

  “So I ate one. Someone didn’t allow me to eat dinner last night. Want to make something of it?” She crossed her arms over her breasts and spread her feet.

  “Yeah, I do.”

  Before she could take a breath, she was in his arms, his mouth plundering hers. God she loved the way he kissed, heck she loved everything about him. When he lifted his head, he was smiling. “You taste sweet.” He licked her lips. “Sugar and cream, my favorites.”

  Her arms entwined around his neck as they kissed again. Each passing day, she was falling more and more in love with Jake, but he still hadn’t said he loved her. And while she still feared he’d walk out on her, she wasn’t ready to give up on him.

  In unison their stomachs growled. Jake broke the kiss. “I guess we better eat.”

  Curling her fingers in his hair, she held him in place. “We could eat in bed.”

  “Don’t tempt me.” He dropped a kiss on her chin, then set her away from him. “We have to be at Cecilia’s shop by eleven, remember?”

  She stuck her lower lip out. “I can easily pick up a dress at one of the department stores.” Of course, he would never know it came off the sales racks. When he’d first mentioned this business dinner, she’d fought down the apprehension, now it returned ten-fold.

  “Tonight is special. A department store won’t do.” He pulled plates out of the cupboard and set them on the table, along with breakfast.

  In a way she understood. He had clients to entertain, to impress and he wanted her with him. But she didn’t like him buying things for her. While it was true that most of the things he bought for her place had been for his comfort—the towels, the cable and the paper. She’d put her foot down when he wanted to buy a new big screen TV. And what an argument that had been, until she pointed out her living room wasn’t big enough. Besides, the nineteen inch color TV she had was only ten years old.

  But the dress wasn’t for him, but her. And while her wardrobe was sorely lacking in the glamour department, a pricy designer dresses was not exactly her style. “Why do I need to go with you tonight?” Lord, she sounded like a whiny kid, but she couldn’t seem to help it. She was so afraid of doing something, saying something wrong and embarrassing Jake. And the last thing she wanted to do was bring attention to her lack of sophistication.