by Mary Eason
His lips trailed kisses along her ribcage and down to her navel, dipping inside. A shudder of uncontrolled desire pulsed through her body. Her responses were honest. Instinctual. Inexperienced. And he couldn’t get enough of them. His hands tightened around her body possessively. It thrilled him to be the one to school her in the art of love.
When his lips drifted lower, her shocked reaction told him she’d never been touched this way before.
“No, Alex,” Kate forced the words out. Her body grew restless beneath his. She was suddenly shy again. He smiled and tried his best to reassure her.
“It’s okay, baby. Just relax. Let me love you.” His mouth caressed her inner thigh for a moment until he felt her relax a little bit more, then he moved upward until his lips rested again her warm entrance. For a moment, she tried to pull away but he didn’t let her go. He continued to kiss and caress her until she moaned with pleasure.
When his tongue parted her folds and slipped inside, Kate’s body arched against his lips. Waves of pleasure rocketed through her.
Alex stilled his touch, waiting until the moment of climax passed before he stood and quickly undressed, his eyes never leaving hers.
When he came back to her, his lips took hers once again. She opened willing up to his caresses. His tongue explored the innermost parts of her, gliding along the walls of her mouth and tangling with her tongue. She shuddered, then met his kisses with a hunger that surprised them both. Her hand slipped between their bodies, stroking his full arousal.
“No.” The word came out sounding angry, but in truth, he was barely hanging on as it was. Her gentle touch threatened to shatter his control.
Alex took her hands and held them above her head. “I want to go slow. Show you all the many ways there are to experience pleasure.”
He took his time kissing her, his mouth bringing her pleasure and learning the pleasure points of her body until she begged him to take her. He moved between her legs his hands parting her urging her thighs further apart.
“Are you okay?” He could feel her tension. She nodded, but he knew she was afraid. Seth hurt her in more ways than emotional.
“It’s okay, I’ll be gentle,” he told her in a tight voice.
Slowly, Alex slid deep inside her in a single movement and then waited, searching her expression for any sign of pain. He wanted to be careful with her. He knew she wasn’t experienced. But it was almost impossible to fight his own body’s need. It made him want to devour her.
Kate responsive body came close to climaxing again, at their first joining. Not that he was holding out much better. Alex went still for a moment. His breathing came hard. He was trying to hold out.
“Are you okay?” he asked again. Time froze. Their hands joined. Their eyes locked. He waited for her to accept him. Her only answer was a tiny nod, but it was enough.
With each thrust, he became more deeply encased in her velvety warmth as her muscles relaxed a little bit more. He watched her come close again. Just before she reached the edge, Alex slowed the rhythm of his body prolonging her pleasure and her agony.
“Alex, please...” Her cry sounded weak and wanton—urging him on. He drove harder, faster, until Kate’s orgasm exploded around his shaft, tightening then releasing again and again.
He held on until that moment and then with one final shuddering plunge, he let go, releasing within her, losing himself inside her softness with a force he’d never experienced more completely.
He collapsed against her, his heart racing in time with hers as the world around them splintered then spun out of control.
Slowly Alex eased his body away from her, but he didn’t release her as he rolled over onto his back taking her with him. She lay weak and exhausted on top of him. She was crying softly. He wanted to be sure he hadn’t hurt her.
“Are you okay?” He brushed his thumb across her wet cheeks in wonder.
She shook her head, “Thank you, Alex,” she said through the ragged sobs before abandoning talk altogether. It didn’t matter. He understood. He felt the same way.
Alex’s breath left his body in one sharp sigh before he switched off the bedside lamp and wrapped her in his arms, letting her cry.
“It’s okay. We don’t have to talk about it now. There will be plenty of time for talking. We have all the time in the world.”
* * * *
Kate’s breath came in labored gulps. There was so much she wanted to say to him right now. She’d never felt this way before. He made it special for her. Alex made her believe in romance again. But she couldn’t manage even a single word. For the first time in years—since Seth’s betrayal, Kate cried.
Alex’s hand moved over her breast, stroking it slowly. She caught her moan, but couldn’t stop her body from reacting. Her nipple hardened beneath his expert touch.
“It’s okay, Kate.” She couldn’t possibly answer him. She couldn’t breathe over the pounding of her heart. It slammed against her chest from sheer reaction to him. Her last coherent thought disappeared the moment his lips replaced his hands upon her breast.
“It’s okay...” he whispered once more, and then Alex stopped trying to comfort her with words. His lips found Kate’s once more. For one second she hesitated, and then she was struggling to touch him as well. To be closer to him. She couldn’t get close enough to him.
Alex made love to her in the same controlled way as before. It drove her wild with desire.
They slept very little. Kate awakened many times throughout the night to the feel of Alex’s skillful touch.
He pulled her back against his body, his arms circling her waist. His hands moved over her familiarly, igniting buried desires and longings inside of her, his lips touched the hollow beneath her ear, feeling her awaken to his touch before he whispered gently against her ear.
“Wake up, sleeping beauty...I need you again.” She thrilled in response to his lips, his caresses, his words. His body took possession of hers once more and Kate gave herself to the pleasure she knew she could never find again in another’s arms.
Chapter Three
When Kate awoke the following morning, she was alone in bed. Alex was gone. He left her a note promising to call soon. But he never did.
At first, Kate thought maybe his work had taken him out of town suddenly. Alex told her he was a corporate attorney, and at times, the job required extensive travel. But when several days passed still without any word, Kate forced herself to accept the truth. He’d lied just as Seth lied. Alex seemed too good to be true. Perfect in almost every way. She was almost certain he had to be hiding something major. Apparently, it had been the fact that he was a creep as well.
Kate had tried to keep from getting her hopes up again as she did with Seth. She couldn’t believe she’d actually begged Alex to make love to her. God, she cringed just thinking about how pathetic she must have seemed to him. He was probably married or worse and just out for a little fun. She was such an idiot for trusting him.
Kate desperately needed to talk to someone about Alex, but she couldn’t bear to have Brandy disappointed by her out-of-character behavior.
When her college pal Ronnie called a few days later to catch up, Kate found herself telling her friend everything.
“I knew he was too good to be true,” Kate added once she’d finished with the whole sordid affair.
“He wasn’t different at all. I was a fool to trust him, Ronnie. What’s the matter with me anyway? Am I wearing some invisible sign somewhere announcing to the male population how naïve I am? I was right—all men are the same. They’re all creeps. They just come disguised in different clothing.”
“Kate, you don’t know that. He might just be busy like you thought.”
“Oh, give me a break. He’s just like Seth. He got what he wanted so he moved on. I am so through with men. You can have them all—Alex included. They’re all the same.”
“You don’t mean that. Don’t give up on him so easily. Maybe he just needs some time.”
&nb
sp; “Oh please! It was just a game for him. I must have seemed very amusing to him. I can’t believe I fell for his lies.” Kate tried to control the tears. She couldn’t believe she was actually crying over a man who didn’t deserve her tears. “From now on, I’m concentrating on work and work alone. If I need any male companionship, I’ll spend more time with Earl.”
* * * *
What was wrong with him anyway? Why wasn’t he happy? Two weeks ago, he would have been thrilled by the outcome. He had her and her father exactly where he wanted them. But after one night in Kate arms, everything changed.
So why couldn’t he just go to her—tell her the truth about their past connection? He’d make her understand somehow.
Alex knew the right thing to do would be to leave her alone. End this thing now before it got any further out of his control. But he couldn’t do the right thing by her no matter how much he wanted to. Kate was different. Hell, he was different. He no longer cared about hurting her father.
Alex wrestled with his conscience for days before finally accepting the truth. Kate had gotten under his skin the way no other woman had. He wanted more from her than just sexual satisfaction. He wanted all of her. But first, he needed some guarantees she wouldn’t tell him to go to hell the moment she learned the truth. To get those guarantees, he was willing to do just about anything—including marrying her.
He bought an engagement ring; then, knowing how much she loved the bookstore, he’d bought it for Kate as a wedding present. Once they were married, he’d find a way to tell her their families’ connection. He’d make her understand somehow.
Alex stood just outside the bookstore for a long time just looking at her. The second he saw her through the window, he knew he loved her. As crazy as it sounded for someone as analytical as he’d once prided himself as being, he loved Kate Edwards. The daughter of the man he’d once swore to be his enemy.
“Hello, Kate.” She turned at the sound of her name. Her expression said it all. He’d hurt her terribly.
“What are you doing here,” she asked at last without one little bit of welcome in her eyes.
“I came to talk. To explain.”
“There’s nothing to talk about.” She turned away, gathering her things. She was ready to write him out of her life completely.
She clicked off the lights and walked to the door, resisting his attempts to touch her.
“I think you said it all in your silence, don’t you?” She blinked then looked away. She was going to cry. “It’s late and I’m tired, so please go.”
“There is, Kate. There’s plenty to say. I want to—” There was so much he wanted to say to her. I love you. I’m sorry I hurt you. Please forgive me.
“What? What do you want, Alex.” She faced him again. Her hand still rested on the door. Her unshed tears held all her uncertainties.
“I want you to marry me, Kate.”
For a moment, he thought she hadn’t heard him. She stood staring back at him as if he’d lost him mind, speechless.
“I, beg your pardon?”
“I want you to marry me, Kate. Right now—tonight. I came here to ask you to marry me. I don’t want to waste another minute.”
“Don’t.” She turned away. She didn’t believe him.
“Kate, just listen to me.” He blocked her way, standing before her still arguing with his heart.
“Kate, I love you.”
He saw her waver for a second, then she shook her head.
“You don’t love me. You don’t even know me.”
“I know I’ve been miserable without you.” He watched as each of those words registered. Her eyes filled with tears, but she wasn’t ready to trust him yet. “I know I can’t get you or the night we spent together out of my mind.” Alex took a step closer. She didn’t move. “I know the thought of never seeing you again scares the hell out of me.” His trembling fingers reached out to cup her face as a single tear slipped from her eye.
“Alex, this is crazy. We can’t get married. We barely know each other,” she said, but there was a tiny smile forming, wiping the doubt from her eyes.
“That’s love. It’s crazy, its unexpected, its causes you to lose control and do stupid things.” He stopped fighting with his heart and gave into it. Alex took her in his arms, touching his finger to her lips when she tried to protest. “It’s wonderful, isn’t it?”
“No...Yes.”
“Then come away with me now—tonight. I don’t want to wait any longer.”
“But the bookstore.”
“Surely your assistant can take care of it.”
“My father.”
“We’ll both tell him when we get back on Monday. Stop fighting it, Kate. Stop resisting. It’s useless, you know. I love you and you love me. Let’s just go with what we feel for once in our lives.”
“You are so crazy, Alex Bradshaw,” she whispered just before she started to laugh. “This is so crazy!”
“No, baby. This is love.”
* * * *
Kate would remember their honeymoon for the rest of her life. Alex arranged for them to have the hunting lodge at the top of Mount Charleston all to themselves. They stayed in one of the lodge’s two honeymoon suites.
“This room is perfect. I love the view,” she told him when they were finally alone.
Alex stood close behind her. Too close. Kate closed her eyes and started counting. One, two, three... Everything was happing too quickly. She needed to slow things down for a moment so she could think rationally.
Why did she suddenly feel so anxious? This wasn’t new to her. She and Alex made love so many times that night at her apartment. But this was different. She still had doubts then.
There weren’t any left inside of her now.
“The view is perfect,” he whispered against her ear, his hands sliding around her body pulling her back against him. “I like it a lot.”
“Alex.” Her answer sounded soft and inviting.
“Relax, Kate. You know I would never hurt you, don’t you?” His arms tightened possessively. “I’ve been going out of my mind all evening wanting you.” His voice was rough with desire. Alex’s hand slipped beneath the band of her skirt, touching her stomach.
She leaned against him, moaning softly as his fingers moved beneath her panties, cupped her once, then stroked across her entrance, parting her gently.
“You feel good.” He groaned against her neck. With his free hand, he caressed her breast beneath the thin covering of her clothing.
“Alex.” Kate’s breath caught in her throat when his finger slid inside her body. She pressed closer to him. She felt his arousal against her bottom.
He turned her in his arms, his mouth claiming hers. Kate met his demands willingly. His lips left hers to trail hot kisses down to her throat. Kate’s head rolled back as his mouth ravaged her throat.
“Make love to me, Alex.”
“Yes, oh God, yes.” He lifted her up in his arms and carried her to the bed.
Alex’s fingers slipped beneath the hem of her blouse and lifted it up over her head and then he stopped.
“What is it?” She asked when her eyes locked with his.
“I just want to look at you. Before things get too carried away.”
Heat flamed inside of her. Kate couldn’t hold his gaze. Not when Alex looked at her like he did at that moment.
He slowly unclasped the bra. It landed with her blouse. His fingers reached out to touch her for the first time without the encumbrance of the bra and she drew in a sharp breath. His fingers trailed across her breast then underneath to hold its fullness in his hand. Her body was all reaction. She trembled with every touch.
“Your eyes are so sexy. When I touch you like this, they grow dark. You’re so damn sexy. I don’t think I can hold out much longer. I want to be inside you.”
Kate didn’t want to wait either. She pulled him closer and claimed his mouth. Her trembling fingers pushed his pullover up and out of the way.
&nbs
p; For a moment, surprised by her actions, Alex could do little more than let her lead the way. He let her hands stroke over his chest, down the hard plane of his abdomen to the button on his pants when he stopped her.
“Wait. Slow down, baby. If you go any further I’m not going to be much good to you.” Alex pushed her back against the soft bed. “Just lie back and let me look at you. Let me love you.”
He had no idea how much he was asking. She wasn’t sure if she could wait for him to remove the rest of her clothes.
Alex slid her skirt down her hips and away from her body, followed by the panties. Shaken by the look in his eyes, she closed her eyes and tried not to think about his lips, moving along her stomach. He was playing with her tiny little broken heart tattoo—a reminder to herself never to let another man break her heart.
“You are so damn sexy. Look at me, Kate. I want to see your eyes when I touch you.”
“I can’t. Not and hold out. I want you inside me, Alex.”
Alex stood and unzipped his pants then stepped free of them along with the boxers before taking her back into his arms.
“All right, we’ll do it your way this time. But only because I love that you’re so eager. Don’t close your eyes,” he whispered softly and she obeyed. “I want to look in your eyes when I take you.” Alex parted her legs with his body and pushed inside of her with one strong thrust.
For a moment, he hesitated. His body went still within hers. He lifted a finger and brushed something from her face in wonderment.
“You’re crying?” he asked in amazement. “Did I hurt you?” Kate couldn’t speak. She didn’t even know why she was crying. She only shook her head.
“Please, Alex. If you don’t make love to me now, I think I will just melt away into a million little pieces.”
Slowly Alex began to move within her. He felt so good. She never imagined feeling this way with anyone after Seth’s disappointment.