by Lori Herter
Josie grinned as she leaned against the back of the spa—and got jabbed by the bra closure. As she sat forward again, she glanced at Peter.
His eyes were wide, playfully alert. “Guess you’ll have to unhook it again.”
She felt self-conscious sitting so close to him. “Can you turn the other way?”
“How about if you turn the other way? I’ll help you undo it.”
She stared at him for a long moment, taking his offer as a challenge. “All right.”
Peter stared back at her with wonder and a trace of shock. But he raised his hands out of the water and shifted his eyes to her top.
“Happy to be of help,” he said.
Josie’s heart was pounding now. Nevertheless, she turned, angling her shoulder toward the center of the spa so that he could reach her back. She felt him touch her near the closure. Then she felt the palm of his large hand on her back.
“Are you sure?” His tone was solicitous and caring.
She turned her head a bit, but decided not to look at him. Meeting his eyes at this moment might be too much for her. “Yes.”
And then he simply went to work, unfastening the hooks. Surprisingly, his fingers seemed to fumble a little, as if he were nervous, and she began to feel more secure. She felt a peculiar hint of hidden power she’d never experienced before.
Suddenly her top came loose in the back and she hurried to clasp the floating material to her breasts. Slowly, she shifted back to her original position and leaned her bared back comfortably against the tiles. When she looked at him she saw the most breathtaking expression in his eyes. He looked as vulnerable as she felt.
His gentle gaze touched her heart and emboldened her. “Are you all right?”
He shook his head. “I think I’ve died and gone to heaven.”
“No.” Not knowing why, she found herself using a soothing tone. “You’re still here on earth. This is real.”
“Why?” he asked. “This is a definite change. You’ve been different all day. You stopped wearing long skirts. You let me kiss you, and even withstood my heavy breathing.”
“I don’t want to be scared anymore. I don’t want to be my old self anymore.”
The top of his broad chest was above water, and she watched it expand as he took in a deep breath.
“That’s good to hear,” he said. “Just keep me clued in as to how far you want to go. Believe me, I don’t want to do anything to scare you off.”
Both were quiet for a long moment. Peter watched her, as if waiting.
Finally, he said, “So…what’s the first clue?”
Josie’s eyes widened and she laughed. “I don’t know. What’s supposed to come next?”
Peter grinned and shook his head. “You’re adorable.”
“Inexperienced is a better word,” she said ruefully.
“Let’s say you’re out of practice.”
“Okay.” That did sound better to Josie. “Last night you talked about touching. H-how about if I take off my top?”
Instantly, he turned his head to look at her again. He seemed speechless. Indeed, he opened his mouth, but at first nothing came out. “You said you’d let me, but I didn’t think you’d follow through. That’s absolutely fine with me, if you’re comfortable…. God, Josie, are you on some new medication or something?”
She laughed again, her shoulders shaking as she hugged the top against her. “No. I’m not on any medication.” She grew shy as she added, “But being near you is sort of like a drug. You’re a little overwhelming. I want to find out what I’ve been missing all these years.”
He gazed at her with eyes she could only describe as adoring. “How about if we start out with a kiss?”
His voice was so gentle, she thought she’d melt. All she could manage was to nod her head in agreement.
Peter smiled in that knowing way of his and leaned toward her. He reached for her upper arms to draw her to him. His mouth grew close to hers and she mentally braced herself. She’d kissed him a few times now, but…this was different. She was about to bare her body. This was the beginning of a new kind of relationship with him that she knew would carry her into territory she’d feared to go for most of her adult life.
When his lips found hers, she accepted the kiss tentatively. But his mouth was so warm and sweetly insistent that she responded almost immediately by slipping her arms around his neck. His arms slid around to her back, and his hands felt silky beneath the water. He brought her chest against his, and she reveled in his masculine embrace as if she needed him to be fully alive.
Slowly, he released her from the kiss, as if not wanting to get too carried away, nuzzling her nose against his playfully before drawing back. When he moved, she saw that her top was floating in the frothy water between them, still held to her arms by the shoulder straps. She’d let go of it when she’d slipped her arms around his neck. Her bared breasts may have pressed against his chest, she realized, and she grew momentarily self-conscious. But when she remembered how she’d enjoyed it, she didn’t care. Even now, the sensation of her breasts being lifted, buoyant under the water, made her want to sigh with the freedom and pleasure of it.
She slipped the shoulder straps off her arms and threw the wet garment onto the rim of the pool. “There,” she said, smiling at Peter.
While his eyes looked as if they could devour her, his grasp was gentle as he pulled her to him again. She felt her breasts touch his chest. Under the water, he slid his hand around her rib cage and then slowly upward toward her breast. She closed her eyes as she felt the sweet silky sensation of his palm pressing into her flesh. His thumb found her nipple and she gasped at the sudden electric pulse that coursed through her. His eyes darkened at her reaction, and he touched her again the same way. Josie breathed with excitement and clasped her hand over his.
“You like this,” he murmured with satisfaction.
“Yes,” she sighed.
“You’re so sexy, Josie. I can’t believe… No, I take that back. I always sensed an underlying sexuality in you. But now to see you respond takes my breath away.” He kissed her again, more ardently this time. Yet she sensed he was still holding himself back. That was fine with Josie. This was just about all she could deal with right now. She felt alive, daring, a little giddy. But if he sought to do anything more, panic could easily set in. Her fear was still there, lying at the furthest boundary of her new sense of freedom.
Peter seemed to understand this. He seemed to rein himself in and ended the kiss. Instead, he turned her a bit and drew her against him so that her back leaned against his chest, and her head rested against his neck and shoulder. He slid his arms around her ribs, and held her snugly, continuing to caress her breasts. His tenderness toward her, the reassurance in his hands as he stroked her soft skin, subtly teasing her sensitive nipples with a touch that seemed almost reverent, brought tears to her eyes. There really could be joy in being a woman, she was discovering with a profound sense of gratitude.
It got to be ten o’clock. Reluctantly Josie leaned forward out of his embrace. “We’ve been here a long time. We ought to get some sleep.”
Peter nodded. “I know.” He didn’t sound any more eager than she to leave.
She gave him a little kiss, to which he eagerly responded. She kept him from extending the length of the kiss by pressing her hand into his shoulder. “There’s tomorrow night to sit in the spa again.”
He acquiesced. But his eyes took on a glow of sheer desire when he saw her breasts as she came out of the water. And then he winced as if in pain, and looked away. “You’re too beautiful, Josie. I’m glad I couldn’t see what I was touching….” He gazed at her again, as if unable to stop himself. “Oh, God…”
Josie felt dumbfounded, proud and very female. After being so close with him, she hadn’t thought twice about getting out of the water topless. Peter’s reaction stunned her…but she liked it. Still, she hurried up the steps and out of the spa. She grabbed the towel he’d left for her and wra
pped it around herself.
Peter was watching every move she made. He gave her a sorrowful look when she’d fully covered herself with the towel. “I’m not going to get any sleep tonight.”
Josie sighed. “I probably won’t, either.” She knelt down near him and touched his cheek as he looked up at her. “Thanks for…for being patient with me. For not taking advantage.” He might not be able to walk, but she’d felt the strength in his muscled shoulders and arms. She knew he could have physically gained control of her if he’d wanted to.
He stretched up to kiss her on the mouth. “You’re worth being patient for. Though you’re putting my circuits on overload.”
She smiled and let go. When she got to the cottage door, she turned to glance at him. He was running his hand over his face, looking a little drained. She felt guilty, seeing his frustration. Well, it couldn’t be helped. She had to take this one step at a time, or she wouldn’t be able to go down this path at all.
THE NEXT DAY, Al was in his lab when Amy came in.
“There’s a man on the phone who wants to talk to you. He won’t identify himself.” She pushed up her glasses with a shaking finger and looked very concerned. “Do you want to talk to him?”
Al could understand why Amy was nervous. Everyone in the office still speculated about who had sabotaged the test structure. But who would be calling now? It was long past the time that reporters or the police were pursuing the matter. And the police would have identified themselves.
“Does he sound dangerous?” Al asked.
Amy raised her shoulders beneath her long, thick brown hair. “Not exactly. His voice is sharp, but he was polite.”
“Put the call through.” Al walked to the lab phone as Amy left for the reception desk.
When his phone rang, Al picked it up. “Al Mooney.”
“Is anyone else on this line?”
Al raised his eyebrows, recognizing the voice. “I’ll see.”
He put down the phone and walked into the main office to check on the other employees. Amy was working at her computer. Tim sat at his drawing board. Everyone else was busy doing something.
Al came back and picked up the receiver. “Only me on the line. So spill. This better be good! Why are you calling Frameworks Systems?”
“I’m calling you, not Frameworks.”
“Listen, pal, I am Frameworks Systems.”
Martin Lansdowne hesitated. “I stand corrected. I’d like to meet with you. Can you come to Earthwaves?”
“Why would I?”
“I have something to talk over with you. Something different than before. It could be to our mutual benefit.”
“Tell me now,” Al said, increasingly annoyed. “Why should I go over there?”
“I want you to see our plant.”
“Won’t it look a tad funny, me there?” Al asked sarcastically.
“No one would recognize you. Come at noon, when my people will all be out at a birthday lunch.”
Al had to admit he was curious. He didn’t think there was anything Martin Lansdowne could offer him that would interest him, but why pass up the invitation to see the competitor’s plant? “Tomorrow?”
“Day after tomorrow.”
“You got it. I’ll show.”
They hung up, and Al walked back to the equipment he’d been using. No need to tell Peter about this, Al decided. He would only worry.
JOSIE TRIED HARD to concentrate on the data she was processing, but Peter was a few yards away, working on the other computer screen, and her eyes kept moving in his direction. She glanced at him again, and found him looking at her. The roguish expression in his eyes made her smile, glance away in momentary self-consciousness at being caught looking at him, then gaze at him again.
“After last night in the spa, it’s hard to concentrate on work today,” he said, leaning away from the computer.
Josie nodded. “I know.”
“What do you think we should do about it?”
“Do?”
“Why don’t you come over here? It’s recess time. We need to play.”
He managed to look innocently devilish, with one eyebrow raised seductively. Josie couldn’t help but laugh at his theatrical leer. She also couldn’t help but give in. She got up and walked over to him.
Peter took hold of her hand when she approached his wheelchair. Gently he tugged her toward him.
“Nice outfit today,” he said as she slid onto his lap. He clasped his hands around her waist.
“Thanks.” She tugged at the chambray shirt she wore with jeans. It was a shirt she usually only wore under a sweater, because it fit more tightly than she used to like to wear her clothes. But times had changed for her lately, and she found herself wanting to show off her figure. She looked at Peter with a little smile. “So, how long does recess last?”
“Well, that depends on what activities we do.”
She loved the way he baited and toyed with her, even though she was hopeless at trying to match wits with him. “What activities do we have to choose from?”
“Ah, well…you may not want to hear all the choices available.”
“You mean I’m in danger here on your lap?”
“Oh, God, I wish…!” He drew in a breath. “No, sweetheart, not unless you want to be.”
Josie’s heart was racing. What did he mean exactly? Was it possible to—to do the deed in a wheelchair? She had no time to think further, because he was inclining his head toward her, pulling her closer.
She accepted his kiss eagerly, slipping an arm around his shoulders. His hand slid up her rib cage and cupped her breast. She relished the warmth of his skin through her shirt. He began undoing the buttons, starting at the top and working downward. She trembled in anticipation of feeling his touch on her bare flesh again. When a button gave him trouble, she took over and undid the rest of them.
Before she could finish the job, he pushed the material aside, revealing the cleavage above her bra. He stopped kissing her mouth and slid his lips along her chin, down her neck. His mouth seemed to grow hotter, more urgent. Instinctively, she stretched upward to bring her breasts closer to his seeking lips. When she felt him nuzzle and kiss the inner curves of her breasts, she inhaled with excitement.
As if spurred on by her response, he pushed the shirt off her shoulder, then slid the bra strap off, too. His hand slowly crept downward, as if savoring every inch of her soft, pliant flesh. He pushed the thin bra down to expose her pink nipple, and when she felt the slight roughness of his palm, she gasped. Her nipple immediately hardened beneath his touch. In the next moment, his mouth found the pert nub. She trembled with new pleasure. As he suckled her, drawing her into his mouth, electricity coursed hotly through her until she felt aching twinges between her legs. The physical reaction startled her. Her breathing grew shaky and shallow.
Peter lifted his head from her breast and looked into her face, his eyes glassy and wild, as if he were a little drunk. “I’m like a moth in your flame.” His voice was a low, breathy whisper that excited her even more. She was beginning to find his labored breathing sexy. Each new, sensual thing he did made her forget ugly memories, replacing them with intoxicating new experiences.
He kissed her chin, her mouth. “I think about you constantly. I hardly think about anything but you.”
“I know,” she whispered back. “I know. I feel that way, too.”
“What are we going to do about it?” There was a raw edge in his voice that made her realize he couldn’t live with his frustration much longer. Though his male urgency unsettled her, she also felt the power of her hold over him.
“N-nothing right now. We have to get back to work, remember?” She shifted her bra back into place and began to button her shirt.
He closed his eyes and winced.
She slid her hand over his cheek to his ear and kissed him on the mouth. “We’ll be in the spa tonight,” she reminded him.
He smiled, but it wasn’t exactly a contented smile. “You�
�re heartless and cruel,” he told her, but there was adoration in his voice. “Till tonight, then. I’ll pretend to work in the meantime.”
As she got up off his lap, he kept hold of her until she moved out of his reach. She swayed on her feet slightly as she moved back to her computer. He’d done a real number on her equilibrium. Her body was still aquiver from his heated embrace, his hot, urgent kisses.
And she noticed something else, something she hadn’t felt before. A slick moistness in her labia. She sat down and gazed at the computer screen without seeing it. Her mind was transfixed with a new and earthshaking revelation: though she might not yet be ready to have sex, it seemed her body was.
7
ALONE IN THE SPA as he waited for Josie, Peter closed his eyes and let the hot water relax his body while he tried to relax his brain. He felt as though he’d been in overdrive all day. After coaxing Josie into his arms, watching and feeling her respond, he hadn’t been able to get his mind off his need for her. He’d spent the day constantly aroused.
He ought to be embarrassed at himself for becoming so completely besotted with her. But the thing was, he didn’t give a damn whether he should be embarrassed or not. He wanted her with every fiber of his being. He felt as if he’d never get back to normal until he’d made love with her.
And if and when he did, what then? Peter had no idea, couldn’t even think that far ahead. All he could think of now was finding the way to conquer her fears, get her to totally trust him with her body, make her want him as much as he wanted her. Earthquakes, the future of his company, the possibility that someone might still be out there wanting to kill him—all the things he ought to be worrying about—were not nearly as important to him as making love with Josie. Here at his home, in the cottage or in the spa, they seemed to be in their own enclosed world. He’d begun to believe that maybe God had decided—perhaps to make up for his injuries—to give him this one beautiful gift, this adorable and sensual woman. But he had to learn how to open that fragile gift without damaging it.