The Tycoon's Reluctant Bride

by Jenn Roseton

  She wasn’t going to let go of him now, Laura thought hazily as she enjoyed the all-too-brief kiss. Managing not to sigh with disappointment as Alex released her, they walked back to the SUV, Alex catching her hand in a dominant clasp that sent a shiver of awareness down her spine.

  Thirty minutes later, they arrived in Elk View Corner, a small town that proudly boasted a population of 4,163. Alex led her into a chain coffee shop that instantly reminded Laura of the branch she often visited in San Diego. After placing their orders at the counter, she and Alex found a table in the corner.

  “We can hit the supermarket after lunch,” he said, his eyes resting on her.

  “Sure,” she responded, wondering if Alex was this efficient in the boardroom. As long as he was like this when investigating the problems with her parents’ business, she didn’t think she had any complaints. So far.

  “Is there anything you’d like to do while we’re here?”

  Laura studied his expression. He seemed genuinely interested in her reply. “I’d like to look around the stores,” she ventured. “That boutique nearby looked interesting.”

  He smiled at her indulgently. “We’ll go there next.”

  Their food was ready, and she realized she was hungrier than she thought. Or maybe it was all the sexual tension she experienced while being around Alex. Eating with relish her roasted vegetable foccacia, she found herself enjoying another meal with her new husband.

  After Donna at the boutique tempted her with a gorgeous silk lilac nightgown, they stopped at the large supermarket. All the way home, Laura wondered if she would have the courage to wear her new gown tonight. It revealed her curves in an elegant way, and had made her feel alluring in the changing room. But would she be alluring enough for Alex? Did she want to be, tonight?

  When they arrived back at the ranch, they unpacked the groceries, then Alex took her for a walk around the ranch, talking about his eventual plans to run a herd of cattle and own a couple of horses. After horseback riding in the morning, her thigh muscles felt a little tired, and after a while, she found herself lagging behind.

  “I’m going back to the house,” she announced. Instantly, Alex was beside her.

  “What’s wrong?” Concern creased his face.

  “I’m a bit tired,” she confessed.

  “I’ll walk back with you.” He slipped his arm around her waist, pulling her close. Her stomach fluttered at the warmth of his touch. Shortening his stride to hers, he escorted her back to the house. “You better have a shower,” he advised, once they were inside. “You’re not used to horseback riding.”

  Laura nodded. “Okay.” Heading for the bedroom, she looked in the dresser drawer for some clean clothes to wear.

  Gathering up a pale pink cotton summer dress that managed to flatter her curves, she went into the bathroom. While part of her wanted to slip on the new nightgown once she stepped out of the shower, the rational part of her shouted, not yet.

  Freshly showered and dressed, Laura joined Alex in the kitchen, noticing with a jolt of surprise that it was already dinnertime. “I should cook,” she said, as Alex took groceries out of the fridge.

  “Sit down,” he commanded, waving at a kitchen chair. “I’ve got this.” He suddenly grinned at her. “Besides, you’re on your honeymoon. When we get back to the city you’ll be busy with catering jobs.”

  If she landed any more.

  When she didn’t reply, he stopped chopping vegetables and turned to her. “As soon as we return the day after tomorrow, I’ll look into the situation. If I had the accounts here, I could start studying the problem in depth now.” He shrugged self-deprecatingly. “But I thought this would be a good opportunity to have some time to ourselves.”

  Laura realized that she hadn’t heard the buzz of a cell phone the whole time they’d been here. She’d left Edna in charge, and besides, they didn’t have any catering jobs on right now. But Alex … would his business suffer while he took a break from financial wheeling and dealing or whatever it was he did? She didn’t even know how he became so successful in business. She resolved to ask him when the opportunity presented itself.

  During a tasty dinner of chicken stir-fry, Laura couldn’t help teasing, “Ever think of taking up catering?”

  Alex grinned. “I’ll leave that up to experts like you.”

  The rest of the meal passed in light-hearted banter. When she rose to help with the dishes, Laura hoped their marriage could be a success. She was attracted to Alex, (more than she had been to any other man she’d met) enjoyed his company, and was more than starting to develop feelings for him. But would he ever think of her in the same way?

  He insisted on marrying you, didn’t he?

  ###

  After dinner, they sat side by side on the comfortable old sofa. “Want to see if there’s an old movie on TV?” Alex asked, picking up the remote.

  “Sure.” Laura settled back in her seat. It might be fun to watch a movie with her husband.

  The medium size TV flashed to life and an old black and white film filled the screen.

  “Haven’t seen The Maltese Falcon in years.” Alex relaxed next to her, making her aware of just how sexy and attractive he was. Sometimes, she had to remind herself that she was married to him. Since they’d been husband and wife for less than forty-eight hours, she didn’t think it was too surprising.

  Laura tried to focus on the movie, but her senses were attuned to Alex’s every move. His thigh almost touched hers, and she wondered if he was aware of it. His left hand rested on the sofa between them. She bit back a soft giggle. He seemed to like holding her hand. What would Alex do if she entwined her fingers with his?

  Before she could make a decision, her husband’s left arm slid across her shoulders. Holding her breath, she wondered if Alex was going to say something, but when she peeked at him from beneath her lashes, his whole attention seemed focused on the screen.

  Laura decided to just enjoy the moment. Relaxing by degrees, she let herself get caught up in the movie, only realizing a while later that her head nestled on Alex’s shoulder as they watched the film together.

  The End rolled across the screen. Carefully lifting her head, she straightened up on the couch, wondering if Alex had even noticed her snuggling with him.

  “Don’t go.” Alex’s arm tightened around her shoulders.

  She looked up at him, hope fluttering in her heart. Maybe he had noticed how close they’d been during the movie. Her lips parted, but she had no idea what she was going to say. Before she could utter a single syllable, Alex’s mouth brushed against hers.

  The kiss became deeper and deeper. Laura wrapped her arms around him as he pulled her close. Her husband was an excellent kisser, she thought hazily, enjoying his demanding mouth on hers.

  Alex’s hands roamed over her back. Not an inch of space separated them. Would tonight be the night? Would she have the courage to slip on her new nightgown and beckon him to bed? Even though he kissed her as if there were no one else he would rather kiss, would she be enough for him? Did he truly want to have a real marriage with her?

  His large hand cupped her breast. Laura sighed into his mouth, enjoying the touch of his thumb against her taut nipple through the soft fabric of her dress and bra. What would his touch feel like when she was nude?

  Alex’s lips left hers and trailed along her neck. Shivering when he kissed a particularly sensitive spot, she gave herself up to the sensations rioting through her. Hardly knowing what she was doing, Laura unfastened the top button of his shirt, and then the next. A smattering of crisp dark chest hair greeted her, and she placed her hand on the small expanse of bare chest.

  “Don’t tempt me,” he suddenly growled, capturing her hand and enfolding it in his. Her gaze flew to his face. Placing a gentle kiss on her palm, he laced his fingers through hers. “I’m not a saint, Laura.”

  She moistened her swollen, freshly kissed lips, blushing when Alex‘s gaze narrowed in on the small movement of her tongue
.

  “I guess I better go to bed,” she whispered. Wanting to make love with her husband, but not having the courage to tell him so, she tugged her hand from his, rising from the sofa.

  “I’ll be along soon,” he said gruffly, watching her as she left the room.

  Why, why, why, she berated herself when she reached the bedroom. Why didn’t I have the courage to tell Alex I wanted him? Because deep down, she couldn’t help wondering exactly why Alex had married her. She had no money, no connections, and wasn’t exactly a supermodel. She’d only had a couple of boyfriends in the dim, distant past, and both those relationships had fizzled out, Laura always wondering if her ample figure had been to blame.

  Stripping off her clothes and slipping on the nightgown she'd worn last night, she hopped into bed, pulling the covers over her. If Alex had wanted to seduce her tonight, she would have let him, she realized, turning off the bedside light. But when it was up to her to do the seducing …

  Laura stiffened when she heard her husband enter the bedroom. Should she pretend to be asleep? Closing her eyes, she tried to breath evenly.

  The mattress depressed when Alex climbed in beside her. Forgetting about faking sleep, Laura held her breath, wondering what his next move would be. Would he lean over and kiss her? Touch her?

  Torturous seconds later, she had her answer. Just like last night, he gathered her in his arms, pressed a kiss on her hair and spooned her. Before long, she fell asleep.

  ###

  To Laura’s relief, Alex didn’t mention last night when they woke up the next morning. Once again, he hit the shower first, so she was barely aware he’d woken until she heard the shower running in the bathroom. Waiting her turn for the bathroom, she wondered how many more nights they could sleep in the same bed without doing … anything? How long would Alex be content to hold her in his arms at night, without becoming truly intimate? One week? One month? One year?

  Laura touched her fingers to her lips at that last thought. She didn’t think she could chastely sleep in the same bed as Alex for a whole year without going crazy. What would that do to him?

  “All yours.” Her husband appeared in the doorway, showered and dressed in faded jeans and a blue polo shirt. “I’ll start breakfast.”

  “Thanks.” She smiled shyly at him, waiting for him to leave before she got out of bed, although she didn’t know why she was worried about him seeing her in her white nightgown. He’d proven himself perfectly capable of controlling himself two nights in a row.

  After a quick shower, Laura dressed in the bathroom, wondering who would make breakfast when they returned to his penthouse. Would Alex? Or would he expect her to do so, because she was his wife? She was used to just having a bowl of cereal and some fruit for breakfast; although she loved cooking and did a lot of it in her job, sometimes it was nice not making an effort at home. Would all that change tomorrow?

  He’s got a housekeeper, remember? Laura wondered what Sandra would be like. Would she be an older woman like Helen, or someone a little younger?

  The rest of the day passed in a blur. More horseback riding, although her muscles protested when Alex helped her mount Prince. Then they went for a country drive, through Elk View Corner and along rustic roads; Laura marveling at the wide-open spaces as well as the mountains in the distance, still snow-capped even though it was late June.

  Then they were back at the ranch house and it was the last night of their honeymoon.

  “I wish we could stay longer,” Laura ventured as they sat down at the dining table, the savory fragrance from the large dish of lasagne tickling her nose. “It’s so beautiful here.”

  Alex’s eyes crinkled at the corners, a smile tugging his lips upwards. “I feel the same way about Wyoming. I try to get here when I can, but lately it hasn’t been as much as I’ve liked. Once we get to the bottom of what’s happening with your catering business, I’ll make sure we come out here more often.” He paused. “Would you like that?”

  She nodded. “Yes.”

  “Then we’ll definitely do that.” Alex passed her the bowl of salad. Once again, he’d cooked the evening meal, waving away her offers of help. Laura hoped he would remain as relaxed and approachable as he was now when they returned home tomorrow.

  “Are you sure you’re not a caterer in a past life?” she teased as she tasted her first bite of lasagne.

  “I’ll leave the expert cooking to you,” he bantered, digging into his own meal. “I still remember the raspberry cheesecake you made for my business event.”

  Warmth flickered through her at his reply. “That’s my own recipe.” She couldn’t help the smile lighting up her face. Creating her own recipes was one of her passions, but since her parents had gone on vacation, she’d had her hands full running the catering business with little time for anything else.

  Except marrying Alex.

  After dinner, they washed the dishes in companionable silence. Laura was enjoying Alex’s company right now, and didn’t want to think what could happen in a couple of hours. Would she be brave enough to invite him to bed? Should she wear the new nightgown she bought yesterday, or leave the sex side of things as they were, until they returned to San Diego?

  Before she could decide what to do, Alex spoke. “We’ve got to leave here by nine tomorrow morning for the airport so we should have an early night.”

  Laura gnawed her lip. “Okay.” Although she was used to getting up early because of her job, it had been nice the last couple of mornings to wake up when the sun woke her, and not to the shrill tone of an alarm clock. Now, she guessed, even if she tried to seduce her husband tonight, it mightn’t be the best time if they had to get up early tomorrow.

  Deciding to have a quick shower, she cast a wistful glance at her new nightgown in the dresser drawer. Would she ever have a chance to wear it? Bundling her white nightgown in her arms, she walked across the hall to the bathroom.

  Laura enjoyed the scent of the designer body wash as she showered, hoping the same awaited her at Alex’s penthouse. If not, she could always buy it herself, although she might wince at the price tag. Although she was now married to a billionaire, they hadn’t discussed finances. Even though she paid herself a reduced wage from the business, she could still buy her own personal items, such as gourmet chocolate, and she guessed Alex would pay for everything else. Resolving to talk to him about it once they returned to the city, she stepped out of the shower and dried herself with a fluffy towel.

  Laura entered the bedroom, halting at the look on Alex’s face when he saw her. Although the nightgown covered everything, she felt naked under his burning gaze. Perhaps the gown covered her flesh, but it also artfully flattered her generously curvy figure, including her breasts.

  She held her breath, aware her cheeks burned with warmth as he continued to look at her, smoldering desire in his eyes.

  “I’ll jump in the shower.” He moved past her, his lean, muscled frame coming into close contact with her, but not touching any part of her.

  Laura let out her breath with a whoosh when he left the room. If he’d tried to kiss her just then, or even touch her, she knew she would have melted in his arms, consummating their marriage a foregone conclusion.

  Scurrying to her side of the bed, she hopped in and pulled up the covers. She was sure Alex would continue to be a gentleman in bed, just as he had been the last two nights. In fact, she was rather looking forward to being held in his arms tonight.

  Laura frowned when she looked at the bedside clock. Alex had been in the shower for a while. Finally, she heard the water shut off and turned off her bedside lamp.

  A few minutes later, she heard her husband enter the bedroom. Holding her breath, she started to wonder why he hadn’t gotten into bed. She sensed him standing there, next to his side of the bed. Just as she was about to turn onto her back and ask if something was wrong, she felt the mattress give, and then Alex lay next to her.

  She waited for him to gather her close in his arms. And waited. His s
teady, even breathing reassured her he was all right. But was it too steady, too even?

  Laura wrinkled her brow. Should she do the wifely thing and ask Alex if he was okay? Or should she continue to feign sleep? Opening one eye, she looked at the clock. Quarter to ten. She guessed they’d have to get up around seven or even a little earlier to pack and have breakfast before leaving for the airport.

  Slowly turning on her back, she turned her head toward him. “Alex?” Her voice was tentative.

  “Go to sleep,” he advised.

  In the gloom, she slowly made out his form. He lay on his back, seeming to stare at the ceiling.

  “Is everything okay?”

  “Everything’s fine,” he said gruffly, remaining still.

  “Are you sure?” Laura raised herself on one elbow, peering down at him.

  “Laura.” He exhaled through gritted teeth.

  She blinked in surprise at his tone, then looked down. Through the darkness of the room, her pose had caused the neckline of her gown to gape, exposing a large portion of her cleavage.

  “Oh.” Hastily tugging up the gown, she lay back down. “Well, good night then.” She hoped he hadn’t heard the slightly forlorn tone in her voice. Until now, she hadn’t realized just how much she’d enjoyed Alex’s night-time embrace.

  Trying to match his even breathing, she hoped the steady rhythm would send her off to sleep, but it seemed to do the opposite. After a few minutes, she couldn’t rein in her imagination any longer. Images of them together in bed, entwined in the sheets, naked and glowing, rose in her mind. If Alex was half as good in bed as he was at kissing, then ...

  “Go to sleep.” His murmur was close to her ear.

  “I can’t,” she confessed. How could she fall asleep when she imagined his hands on her, caressing her breasts, smoothing over her hips, exploring her secret place? Just thinking about making love with Alex was making her all hot and bothered, not to mention dampening the valley between her thighs.

  Should she make her move? Even though it seemed Alex was attracted to her, especially right now, would she be enough for him? Could he enjoy making love with her? Once he saw - or felt - her naked form, would he be turned off - or turned on?