Discovering Pride (Pride Series)

by Jill Sanders

  She saw wine chilling on the side table, and there were candles already set on the table. She moved to light them and was pleased by the Jasmine smell they produced. He did have good taste. He walked in carrying a salad and after setting it on the table, he walked back out. She noted there were almonds and large green olives among the fresh leaves and had to smile. Okay, he really had good taste.

  Dinner was excellent. The conversation some of the best she had enjoyed in a long time.

  “You know, we could use another chef down at the restaurant.” she said later as she helped him clear the table.

  “No thank you, I like my profession.” Grabbing the plates from her, he nodded towards a bar stool. He then proceeded to carry the dishes to the sink and started rinsing them.

  “Where did you learn to cook?” she asked as she finished off her glass of wine.

  “Here and there, but mainly in Paris. I was there for about a year.” He noticed her glass was empty and filled it for the third time. He could see that the wine had dulled the headache he could see earlier in her eyes.

  “Really, Paris? I lived there too.” she smiled.

  “I went through this phase in my life and I thought Paris was the answer.” A small crease crossed his forehead.

  “I went there to find myself.” she smiled over at him. “That’s where I met Matt, Megan’s brother. You could say he came to my rescue when a date went bad.” She smiled again remembering the night.

  “You met Matt in Paris?” Aaron felt a stab of jealousy. He knew that Matt had died recently but it got him wondering whether there had been something between her and Megan’s brother.

  “Yes.” She saw the look that came into his eyes and did not mind the pleasure it caused her to see he was a little jealous. “I had met this painter, yes I know it’s a cliché, but he had these big puppy dog eyes and spoke with the sexiest Spanish accent and asked me to pose for his drawings.”

  Aaron let out a breath that sounded a lot like a laugh.

  “What?” she asked tilting her head.

  “You didn’t really fall for that line did you?” he said sipping his wine as he leaned against the counter. He looked very relaxed and sexy in the cozy kitchen.

  “Oh, it was no line.” she smiled into her wine. “Naturally when he invited me to meet him later that afternoon at the cafe down the street, I saw no harm in it.”

  “And he jumped at you?” Aaron could see where this was going and didn’t like it.

  “Oh no, we had a lovely time. He was a shy and quiet gentleman and a very good artist. I still have the painting hanging in my bedroom.” she smiled again.

  Aaron realized his hands were clenched around his wine glass so he forced his fingers to relax.

  “Where does Matt come into the picture?”

  “Well, you see I met Ricardo at the cafe to pick up my painting, and you would never think to look at him, but he was married with four children. I guess his wife didn’t like the attention he had been giving me; so she showed up at the cafe to his surprise.”

  Aaron drew a breath trying to be patient. Apparently when Lacey told a story, the details were very important.

  Aaron was having a hard time trying to be patient.

  “Well, as luck would have it, Matt had overheard the ensuing argument as he was sitting at the next table. When Mrs. Ricardo was threatening to scratch my eyes out, Matt jumped in and explained, in Spanish no less, that he had commissioned Ricardo to paint me for a wedding anniversary present. Then he quickly paid for the piece of art and we left the café together.” Lacey smiled again thinking the whole thing was just as funny now as it had been then.

  “Matt was a great friend.” She stopped smiling and looked sad. “We spent weeks together exploring Paris, when he found out I was from Pride I guess he decided to come for a visit. Turns out he had been born near here and came to visit when his trip to Paris was over.”

  Remembering the fond times she had with her friend before his death, she took a deep breath.

  Wanting to change the subject she stood up and started to walk around the room “You really have gotten a lot done around here. That kitchen is something else.” Her headache was dull and she thought she was a little tipsy but enjoyed the feeling. He followed her into the next room and listened to her as she explored the rooms.

  “You amaze me.” The simple statement had her doing a double take as she was inspecting the fireplace in the great room.

  “I… I do? Why?”

  “Because, you see the good in people, you’re not out for self-gain, and you trust people easily. Someday, I’m worried; you’re going to get hurt.” He walked over and grabbed her wine glass and set it down on the coffee table then started back towards her.

  “I don’t trust everyone.” It was a whisper in the large room. She felt very much like the mouse waiting for the cat to pounce. Taking a deep breath she took a step back but she ended up tumbling onto the couch she had not realized was behind her.

  Aaron chuckled then proceeded to sit next to her.

  “Do I make you nervous?” he asked as he leaned over and placed his arm around her to pull her closer to him.

  “Yes, dreadfully so; why do you do that?” she asked looking over at him.

  Reaching up he used the back of his fingers to gently smooth the crease in her brow, then he let his fingers trail down her face and settled under her chin. Nudging her face up, he looked into her eyes and realized she was a little more than drunk. Her cheeks were flushed and her eyes were slightly out of focus but her lips looked very inviting.

  “You inspire me.” he leaned down and tasted her mouth. He meant to show her tenderness, but the taste of her and the feel of her sent him spinning. Pulling her closer so that she almost sat on his lap, he reached around and gripped her hips.

  Her hands were already racing over his face and neck to end up tangled in his hair. She nipped at his lips, gave a quick tug, and then smoothed the sting away with her tongue. She pushed him back to the couch and straddled him. She pinned his back to the cushions to deepen the kiss.

  He realized she was driving him mad, and he let her.

  He hadn’t brought her here tonight to seduce her; he had just been concerned. When he found her asleep on his office couch, he had been mad. Angry at her for letting herself get in that kind of state. As a doctor he knew the importance of rest and maintaining your own health, but apparently she needed to take better care of herself. She needed someone to help her and he was going to. But now she felt good, her soft body was pushed up against his as he enjoyed feeling her rapid heartbeat. Reaching up he skimmed his hands up her back and started to pull her shirt up to trace the contours with his fingertips.

  She pulled back as she leaned over him and looked down into his eyes.

  “I wasn’t going to do this you know,” he said continuing to toy with her soft skin and looking up at her with confusion.

  “I’ve waited and waited. I never thought it would be with someone like you.” She started to lean down to take his mouth again, but felt his body tense. She leaned back again and looked down into his face and she saw fear. Laughing she grabbed her sides and flopped onto the couch next to him.

  “You think this is funny?” he said pulling himself up and running his hands through his hair and giving it a good yank to try to bring some sense into his brain.

  “Yes… You stalk me for months and then at one hint at my innocence you freak to beyond speech.” She laughed again at the look he gave her. “I’m a virgin not an alien.”

  “Lacey this is serious.” he began, sitting back up.

  “I…” He looked at her. “I…” He ran his hands roughly through his hair again, mentally pulling it all out by the roots. What was he supposed to do? She sat across from him with her mouth swollen from his lips, her work shirt, which was always so neat and proper, pulled from her waist band and tugged to one side and laughing like a loon. Her laugh was rich and smoky and only caused something more to spread within
him.

  How could he do this? She was innocent!

  Seeing his frustrations, she leaned in and kissed him on the nose and placed her fingers on his chin, pulling his face to hers.

  “Lacey, I don’t want to pressure you.” He ran his hands up and down her arms as she straddled him again.

  “The only pressure I feel now, I know you can relieve. Please Aaron.” She leaned down and claimed his mouth and his heart.

  CHAPTER TEN

  One thing was for sure, she may be innocent, but she knew how to drive him mad. Her legs were tucked on either side of him and her center was pressed up against him. Her mouth was roaming over his face and neck, placing light kisses where she could and setting him on fire. She was driving him crazy and unless he slowed her down, her first time would be here on the couch and over before either of them knew it.

  Grabbing her hips, he hoisted her up into his arms. She wrapped her legs around his waist, latching onto him while continuing to nibbling on his ear. When he started walking she let out a quick breath against his neck and held on as he walked towards the bedroom.

  Laying her down gently on the large bed he stood over her stretched out on his bed with her short hair in tuffs and her lips swollen.

  She was aching for him to kiss her again and reached up to push her hair from her face so she could see him. She was nervous when she smiled up at him but held her hands up inviting him down onto the bed with her.

  He went into her arms and started to kiss her again. He paused, pulled up, and pushed her hands over her head and looked down into her eyes. They were the color of the sky after a good storm, he felt as if he was a drowning man. He couldn’t get enough air or enough of her; he could see her eyes cloud over when he ran his hand up her side lightly.

  She moved her hips and wrapped her legs around his trying to pull him closer.

  “Aaron, please.” It was barely a whisper.

  “Let me take care of you.” he said as their lips met again.

  He heard her moan as he reached down and started unbuttoning her blouse. Tiny goose bumps spread across her skin as his fingertips touched her.

  What was he doing? He was going to torture her with his gentleness. One moment she felt like she was melting and the next she was going to explode if he did not hurry up.

  He pulled her shirt gently off her shoulders. Placing his mouth at the base of her neck, he saw her milky white shoulders. They felt so soft that he wanted to spend hours exploring the spot. She tasted like heaven and he couldn’t get enough. As he ran his hands over her small breasts and stomach, he noted that she wore a deep green bra with red lady bugs on the straps making him smile. He could be nuts for a woman with an eccentric taste in undergarments.

  With his fingers he pulled the straps down over her shoulders. She moaned quietly as he pulled them lower still. Her breath quickened and her heart fluttered with a slight touch of his mouth. She was small and firm but very sensitive. As he reached around and undid the straps, he released her to his view and let a small moan out himself.

  “Beautiful.” he mumbled against her skin.

  “Please. Please.” Lacey said over and over feeling like she was on fire just for his touch.

  “Yes? What is it Lacey?” he said smiling down at her. He ran his fingertips over her heated skin and started tracing kisses across her stomach.

  Her hips jerked every time he would get near her stomach.

  “I need you.” She walked her hands up under his shirt and pulled it over his head.

  He was exquisite. She could see his shoulders were wide, and he was covered with tan skin. He sat still as she explored his body with her eyes; she saw there was a light trial of dusty colored hair that went from his belly button down to below his pants. Making her want to explore beyond, so she started to run her hands over him. She could tell he spent time working out as well as working on the house. She wanted to explore more of him; and, running her hands over his stomach, she felt his muscles bunch under her fingers

  He let her explore his chest and stomach as he had done to her; it was pure torture. She had a determined look on her face, so he sat back and did not interfere. But when she gripped his jeans at the buttons, he pulled her hands aside. Again he chuckled at the sound she made along with the frustrated look she gave him.

  Taking her hands in one of his, he pinned them down again and ran his hand up her torso, stopping briefly to undo her black work slacks. He slid them over and down her narrow hips.

  How could someone so small have such long legs? He thought as he ran his hands over her. She moved under him meeting his hands by flexing her back and arching towards him.

  Leaning over her he claimed her mouth once more and rolled with her across the soft bed.

  Her hands, once freed, rushed to pull his jeans down over his hips. She was burning and felt she needed speed, but every time she tried urging him, he seemed to pull back and slow down his movements. He was driving her crazy.

  When they finally had all barriers removed, both were panting. He tilted his head back and looking at her he thought she was a goddess. He was sure he had never seen anything so perfect as the creature lying below him. Her eyes sparkled and a smile formed at the corner of her lips, causing something inside him to crack. He tried to pull back but she wrapped herself around him pulling him closer.

  She thought she could see fear creep into his eyes but for her, there was no going back now, so she held on tight and promised herself to think later.

  “You’re not getting out of this that easy.” she said against his chest. She could feel the apprehension leaving his body. His hands came up; his fingers spread in her hair, pulling her mouth back to his. She felt him tremble when she ran her hands lightly down his stomach. Then he sucked in his breath when she wrapped her hand around his length.

  He was trying; he really was trying to go slow. But she was doing such a good job of driving him crazy. He just could not stop himself from pushing harder and faster. Pushing her back, he quickly sheathed himself.

  “Hang on to me baby.” he said and gently slid into her. There was a quick flash of pain, but then there was nothing but pleasure as he moved slowly inside her. He gripped her right hand holding it above her head with their fingers intertwined. His mouth moved to hers, trying to set a slow pace, gently torturing them both. She felt their need building as the speed of their loving gained.

  He tried again to slow the pace to keep them both in the moment. But they were both slipping in and out of control of their bodies.

  When he saw her throw back her head with her eyes closed, he could feel her convulse around him, only then did he lose control. He grabbed her hips and took her higher for a second time. He rolled them both, so she was straddling him; and, when he felt her need building again, he held tighter to her hips to guide her to their completion.

  Lacey matching Aaron’s steady slow beat, let her rhythm slow to match his. The left side of her cheek was being tickled by the cover of light hair on Aaron’s chest. She smiled and stretched into him as he rubbed his hands gently up her back.

  She just knew it would be like this; she’d always imagined love would be just like this. She had never been one to deny her feelings, leaving her open to teasing from her brothers, but she hadn’t cared. Here was the man she’d been waiting for, and she was going to enjoy every minute of pleasure with him, holding on to the hope that it would last.

  He removed his hands from her back, and she let out a little pout causing him to chuckle.

  “More?” he said against her forehead.

  “Mmm,” She tried to reply but was so relaxed all she could manage was a moan.

  She let out a quick gasp as she was swiftly flipped over on her stomach. Aaron’s legs were pinning her hips down as he straddled her. Letting out another laugh, he began to massage her lower back.

  “You know, you really should take better care of yourself,” he said working his way up to her shoulders; he could feel the tension in the muscles
of her back tight with knots.

  “Yes, Doctor.” She smiled into the comforter when he gave her bottom a quick snap.

  “I like your birthmark,” he said tracing the small tan mark on her lower back. It reminded him of Australia which only caused him to smile even more.

  “Mmm,” she moaned again as he continued his exploration of her back. He moved lower to her legs. When he got down to her feet he noticed the small blister on her foot.

  “You’re on your feet too much,” he frowned. “Why don’t you take a day off now and then?” he said.

  “I usually don’t work this hard,” she said and stretched her arms above her head.

  “Only when you’re trying to avoid me?” He turned her over and began on her front. He noticed that she seemed to have no modesty.