“Kami?” he whispered.
She released the breath and gazed up at him.
“I have been looking at you in the same way ever since I opened my eyes and saw you in the lodge.”
Her head lowered again.
“Are you afraid?” His voice was soft.
She nodded.
Taylor reached down and picked her up from the chair.
Her heart was pounding furiously in her chest.
Watching her face closely, he tugged her to his chest and lowered his lips.
Kami raised her face up, and he moved his lips a little closer. Unexpectedly, she felt a need to taste him again. He licked her lips with his tongue, and she automatically licked over where he had traced her lips.
Taylor’s eyes seemed to darken as he drew closer again.
As though spellbound, she stared at his mouth.
“Take my mouth if you need to.”
The purr in his voice caused a tingle to creep all the way down her spine. She moved her lips closer and opened her mouth.
Silent, he leaned in coming closer to her face within a breath of her lips.
Kami opened her eyes and they locked with his.
“You will have to kiss me first,” he prompted.
She drew in a fearful breath, placed her lips to his, and met his mouth.
With a quiet acceptance, he remained unmoving.
Kami pressed her lips to his. He tasted so good, a delicious blend of champagne and his own flavor. She parted his lips with her tongue and explored his mouth. His tongue was so hot and sweet tasting. Taylor tugged her closer, but just kept his mouth open. A shiver ran along her skin as she deepened the kiss. His tongue began to spar with hers as the kiss grew and heated up. She felt moisture wetting her panties and a nervous tremble ran through her limbs.
He kissed her more deeply and held her to his chest.
Kami’s skin flushed all over; she could feel his heart pound up against her torso. The healer in her became aware of their heartbeats as the beats came together. Their bodies met while their mouths joined and the rapid beating pulses rose in strength, the rhythm becoming one movement. She suddenly felt panic at this heartbeat joining and fear melded with all the other chaotic feelings happening inside of her. With a breathless gasp, she broke the kiss.
“Yes, you sure can kiss!” he announced with a breathless tone.
Stunned by her body’s reaction, she moved completely away from him.
“You can’t tell me that you don’t want me.” He continued to watch her face.
She attempted to hold her shaking hands together while her wondering gaze rose to his. “No, I can’t.”
Taylor stepped back from her and seemed to take in a deep concentrated breath.
Oh man, I can’t handle this! Kami’s body joined her hands as she shook all over.
Abruptly, Taylor clapped his hands and rubbed his palms briskly together.
Her head jerked up at the startling clap.
“Okay, dessert it is!” Grinning, he pulled her arm and walked her around to the passenger door of the limo. He swiftly put her in and shut the door.
Startled by the abrupt change in his manner and mood, she swallowed heavily and sat demurely in the seat while attempting to get control of her body again.
Taylor sat himself behind the wheel and started the limo up.
Kami stared over at him with wide eyes.
He saw her stunned expression and chuckled as he maneuvered the long vehicle down the hill. “I hope you like chocolate!” He drove the car along a side street and headed out of the hills.
Anaheim, California
An hour later…
Kami stared out through the glass window, as overly large furry caricature animals marched happily by. She heard Taylor’s low chuckle while she stared at the various costumed characters prancing around.
“Kami?”
She slowly turned her head to look across the table at him.
“You really have never been to Disneyland before?” he asked.
“No.” She shook her head.
Taylor slid the humongous-sized sundae toward her. “Everyone should visit here, before they grow up.” He took the long spoon and put a large mouthful of whipped cream into his mouth.
Music drifted in from outside. ‘It’s a small world after all...it’s a small world after all…’
She turned her bemused gaze back to him. “It’s just a huge playland?”
“Mm-mm, one of the oldest in the world. Good ole Walt knew what he was doing, all right.” Reaching out, he nudged the sundae toward her. “Eat it before it melts!”
She stared down at the largest hot fudge sundae she’d ever seen. “I can’t eat all of this!”
Taking another bite, he smacked his lips. “Just remember, you have to save the cherry for the last bite!”
“When you said chocolate…” She took her spoon up. “I thought maybe like a candy?”
“Eat it!” he ordered with a desperate tone.
Her eyes widened at him.
His handsome face had cream all along his upper lip.
At the comical sight, she laughed aloud.
Taylor stared at her as she laughed without inhibition. “Yes, there it is!”
Kami continued to laugh and spooned a mouthful of the whipped topping into her mouth.
“See?” He reached out with a finger full of cream and tapped her nose with it. “You are a child, having fun again!”
“I never had fun as a child.” She almost choked on the sugary fluff. “Especially—this kind.”
His eyes widened a little at the choking expression on her face. “Here.” He slid a soda full of ice cream across the table at her. “Chase it down with this.”
With incredulity, she stared down at it and looked up at him. “You’re kidding, right?” The cream in her throat tickled.
Taylor shook his head. “I’m going to get you high on pure all-American sugar!”
Letting a giggle slip out, she picked the soda up and took a gulp. She set it down and began to cough.
“Good, uh?” Taylor beamed at her with a boyish smile.
Staring at the smile, her belly did a neat and succinct flip-flop.
“Now more sundae!” He pointed with his long-spoon to the sumptuous dessert which sat in front of her.
Taking the spoon up again, she dipped it in.
“Nothing like the feel of hot fudge in your tummy, is there?” he asked.
She swallowed the warm confection. “Oh, this will be a sugar overdose!”
“Yes, so much fucking fun!” He laughed with abandon.
Kami experienced an immediate sugar rush just as he had predicted, and she stared to laugh with him while she scooped up more of the addictive cream.
CHAPTER THIRTY
RICK
Lightning Cave
Rick rolled over in the large silk-sheeted bed and gazed up at the rock ceiling. Oh, man, I feel like a bus hit me. He winced, and grunted from the tender sore spots all over his body. His mind was full of fuzz and he heard sounds coming from close by. I can’t move but I have to. He sat up, put his head in his hands, and groaned. Is it a hangover? I don’t remember drinking anything. I was with Sophie and she changed, she wanted me to—A heat rush burned along his body as the erotic images cascaded across his mind.
“Hey, sleepy head!” she called.
His head shot up.
A dazzling smile spread across her lips as she stood at the foot of the bed with a cup in her hands. “Coffee?”
With a web-clearing shake of his head, he blinked his eyes and gawked at her.
Outfitted in a long tee shirt, her blue eyes sparkled at him. “Do you still drink it black?”
“Sophie?” he whispered.
“Yes and...” She gave him a wink as she came around the bed. “No.” She put the cup into his hands.
He gaped at her.
Her hair had red glints, so that it was sort of a strawberry blonde. Her face
looked different from Sophie’s somehow; maybe it was a trick of the cave light. Maybe—he’d finally gone crazy. He shook his head. “I thought it was all...” His voice trailed away as his mind could not seem to put it together right.
“A dream?” She laughed.
His head flew up at the familiar laughter. “Phoebe?”
She scooted closer, put her hands around his, and lifted the cup. “Just drink this, okay?”
He did as she told him until the cup was empty.
Taking the cup, she set it on the bedside table. “Now, we have a lot to talk about, you know.”
Rapidly, Rick nodded his head while the caffeine and shock rushed through him. “We sure as hell do!”
“Like twenty-five year’s worth of talking.” She nodded back.
“Just wait a dammed minute here, I…” Rick scooted back from her.
She put her arms around his neck. “Nope, I’ve waited a long time, already.”
“How?” He looked into those blue-sparkling eyes.
“You got the stone, didn’t you?”
Astonishment had rendered him mute, so he nodded in reply.
“And you dropped it in the lake, right?”
He shook his head.
“The legend says it has to be thrown into Lake Titicaca.”
Rick stood up from the bed. “I was here and all I had was the lightning pool.” He put his hands onto his bare hips. “And, I kicked it in!”
With a flush on her face, her entranced gaze slowly rose up along his bare body. “God, you are still so built!” She seemed to shiver as she stared at his muscled body.
His mouth popped open as he gawked at her with astonishment.
A smile broke out on her face.
Phoebe’s smile. Stunned by the familiar smile and the implications of what he could not understand, he stepped back.
“Rick?” she whispered as her smile fell away.
“Just wait a minute, just...” He held his hands up while backing away from her.
“I don’t want to wait.”
“So, what about Sophie?” His chest tightened as the reality of what had happened hit him yet again.
Phoebe titled her head. “Oh.” She looked around at the cave. “She is here, I guess?”
“Here?” Rick blinked his eyes. “Like what do you mean, she’s just floating somewhere?” he shouted.
She laughed at his description. “From what I can tell, she really...”
“Yes?” Rick stepped closer.
“Wanted your hot bod in the worst way!” she announced with a humored expression on her face. She got up from the bed and went around him. “So, what do you want for breakfast?”
“What?” he asked with a baffled tone while he gaped at her receding back.
Phoebe went to the fridge. “You know breakfast…break-the-fast?” She searched through the fridge. “This is fully stocked with all kinds of goodies.” She pulled out some eggs. “Who owns this wonderful cave, anyway?”
Rick was more than distracted as he looked around for his jeans. “Your…” He grabbed the pants and sat down on the bed. “…Son-in-law.”
She paled and dropped the eggs. They made a splat sound as they hit the stone floor. Her hands rose up to her mouth.
Rick pulled the jeans up over his hips and stared over at her.
“My what?” she asked in a whisper.
“Oh, well you see Maddy…” He stood up and buttoned his jeans.
Phoebe walked slowly over to him and took his hands into hers. “Was it for love?”
“Yes.”
Again, she put her shaky hands up to her mouth.
“She said that she saw all the—”
“—Colors of the world,” Phoebe finished for him with a gasp.
“Yeah, she is a changed woman.” Rick smiled. “Happy and she actually hugged the stuffing’s out of me the last time I saw her.” He shook his head. “That warrior is really something.”
Crying, she stared up at him through her tears. “Warrior?”
“It’s a long story.” He took her arm.
“I have all the time in the world now to listen to your wonderful voice. So, you sit here.” She steered him to the table. “And tell me the whole story!” She went to the fridge again. “And, I will cook for the man I love again, for the first time…” She paused to swipe the tears from her rosy cheeks.
Rick sat down slowly as goose bumps ran along his arms. “…For the first time in forever?” The words sounded as surreal as the situation was.
She turned to him, her arms full of bread, eggs and butter. “Yes and no more—” Her voice broke. “Being alone.” Tears rushed down her cheeks. “Looking all over the world for you, wondering if you were dead or just so angry with me that…”
He stood from the table, rushed over and picked her up. The eggs and food hit the floor again. “Angry,” he breathed the word close to her face. “Yes, I was angry!”
Her tears fell rapidly down her cheeks as she stared into his eyes.
“I was furious that I watched every sunset without you. I was exhausted from a lifetime of disappointment when I could find no other woman who compared.”
Phoebe wept louder.
“I moved almost every month for twenty years as I ran from any memory of you.” He drew close to her lips. “Then—to hear you were gone from this world?”
With a sob in her throat, she lowered her head.
Enraged, Rick shook her. “I couldn’t run from that.” He moved her back, laying her onto the table, and lowering his jeans. “You’re God Dammed right, I was angry!”
She was weeping loudly. “I saw only your face when I closed my eyes for the last time, only you!”
Rick lifted her hips closer to him and entered her without pause as he immediately pounded into her with violent thrusts. “To never feel you skin again? Your voice and your laughter echoed in my brain every day.”
“Oh...” Breathless, she clung to him.
With a low growl, he lowered his mouth and kissed her hard. Driven by all the years of want and need for her, Rick ground into her.
“Unh, unh,” she cried out into his mouth as he drove her back with the force of his thrusts.
Fervent, he pulled her back toward him again, and pumped her relentlessly. He grasped her face with his hands. “I’m going to fill you up with all the emptiness you left behind.”
“Give me everything, everything!” She clung to him.
Ferociously, he pulled her to the edge and pounded her even harder.
“Oh!” she shouted. Her thighs tightening around him, as he came inside of her.
“I will just keep filling you until...” He was breathless.
Phoebe panted and held onto his neck as he lifted her from the table. “No—there’s no more until. Never stop!” Huge tears fell from her blue eyes. “I wanted to die rather than live anymore without you,” she cried onto his shoulder as he carried her to the bed.
With a saddened sigh, he lay her down and pulled the sheet up over them. He drew her close and rested his head on her chest. “You won’t ever leave me again,” he whispered fiercely as he listened to her rapid heartbeat. “If you do? I will follow you, this time.”
She wiped her tear streaked face with her palms and laughed. “I guess we’d better find another lightning stone.”
Rick raised his head and gazed into her twinkling eyes. “We’d better be booking a plane to Peru then.”
Phoebe began to laugh while the tears kept falling down her cheeks.
Rick woke up to feel her warm body lying next to him. He pulled her tighter to his side.
“Mmm,” she groaned in her sleep. “Cutter?”
At hearing the endearment, he smiled. “Hmm?”
“What do we do now?” she asked with a sleepy tone.
“I don’t know.”
She laughed and put her arms around his neck. “I just can’t believe the stone actually worked!”
“Whatever gave you the idea th
at it might?”
“I discovered the secret when I was on that shoot in Peru and I’d already been diagnosed with cancer. At that point, tradition didn’t matter anymore and I’d already witnessed some incredible things in the world. I didn’t know that it would work at all, but when someone is desperate they may try anything, you know?
Rick grew still, remembering his desperation these last few days ever since he lifted that lid on the Shadow Box. “Yeah, I do know
She propped herself up on one elbow. “I vote we take a swim in that little pool outside!”
“About that pool, Phoebe...”
“What about it?”
“It’s not a normal.” He stared into her beautiful eyes. “Like a regular swimming hole, you know?”
“Oh?” she asked with a bewildered tone.
“It’s like a special place.”
With a laugh, she rose up and lay her body over his. “Well, we’re special.”
Smiling at her cute response, he smoothed her hair with his hands. “Yes, I suppose we are.”
Phoebe sighed and lay her head on his chest. “I just feel like I need to hang onto to you and not let go.”
“Me too.” He closed his eyes and squeezed her with his arms.
She giggled.
“What’s so funny?” He grinned at her girl-like giggle.
“You don’t suppose we could use super glue and…” Her giggle turned into laughter.
Rick laughed with her. “It may be sort of painful and we would have a hell of a time with—”
The sound of thunder rumbled through the cave.
Phoebe sat up. “What was that?”
Rick stared around and listened. “I don’t know.”
They sat and listened. A strange roaring sound rushed through the cave and the flames from torches rose up and gave off a surreal blue light. “What the?” Rick sat up straighter.
“I thought we were alone here.” Phoebe gazed around.
He scooted to the edge of the bed. “This cave is…”
A cold breeze blew through and strange echoes rumbled from behind the cave walls.
“What is it, Rick?”
“The cave is for the leader of a tribe.” He shook his head. “His People set it aside for him in some supernatural understanding.”
“Maddy’s husband, you mean?”
Tame Me: A Filthy Billionaire Romance Page 25