by Landen, Thea
Anna closed her eyes. His maddening movements brought him everywhere except where she wanted him to be. Finally, a single finger stroked her damp cleft, and she jolted as if reacting to an electrical shock. Then, his broad tongue soothed her, probing into her, yet not venturing very far.
“Please, Brendan.” Her voice rasped with desire. “Please.”
His mouth closed over her clit and a long sigh left her. He laved precise attention on the throbbing bud, licking in concise circles, and manipulating her nerves to bow to his command. When her hips jerked upward, he held her in place with one hand and teased at the opening of her cunt with the other.
She bit back a scream as he drove a finger into her pussy. Her inner walls clenched around him, but that didn’t prevent him from working a second finger inside. Gliding in and out, he continued to attend to her clit. Every tremble, every moan of hers encouraged an expert response. She was torn between wanting to savor the sensations and surrendering to their effects.
The oncoming orgasm bubbled at the edges of her resistance. Anna braced her feet on the mattress and tangled the sheets in her fists. The inferno in her core blazed out of control. One final propulsion of his fingers shoved her over the precipice and she spasmed, her muscles clenching violently before slackening into blissful release.
An indeterminate amount of time passed before she opened her eyes. Brendan propped on an elbow beside her and gazed upon her with pure satisfaction. His thumb brushed the swell of her cheek. “God, you’re beautiful,” he whispered.
At that rate, she doubted he’d lose the ability to make her blush. “No, you’re just talented,” she answered with what had to be a dreamy smile.
“Maybe so.” He laughed. “All I know is if you were waiting in my bed every night, I don’t think I’d leave Chicago again for the rest of my life.”
A wave of sadness crashed over her as she contemplated another impossible situation. Anna tried to fight it back and hoped to hide behind the façade of her descent from rapture. “Why fret about the rest of your life?” she purred. And when she reached for his swollen cock, he didn’t push her away. “We’re not done with tonight.”
She wrapped her fingers around the shaft and he tilted his head back with a low, rumbling growl, his eyes at half-mast.
When she gave it several short pumps, his breathing shallowed. “Remember what I said about taking things slow?” he asked.
“Mm-hmm?”
“Forget I said that.” Pulling away from her, he hopped off the bed and opened a pouch he’d left on the nightstand. He produced a condom from its recesses and tore off the silvery wrapper.
Wide-eyed, she watched him grip his dick with one hand and slowly slide the latex over the bulbous head. The snug condom only emphasized his impressive bulk, and her gaze traveled up and down its length. A sudden, crushing emptiness billowed inside her, demanding to be filled, and quickly.
Slipping one finger under her chin, he aimed her face up to meet his ravenous stare. “Tell me what you like best. I’m flexible.” He chuckled. “Well, reasonably flexible.”
Anna mulled over the wide array of options spinning through her brain. “I want you on top of me,” she finally said, circling an arm around his waist and pulling him toward her. “Make me yours.”
Brendan climbed over her leg and knelt between her knees. Grasping his cock, she guided it toward her and he rubbed the head up and down her cleft, lubricating it with her juices. Little by little, he pushed inside.
Embedded to the hilt, he stretched her pussy and began to grind against her, rocking back and forth. Anna ran her hands along his strong arms and his biceps rippled beneath her fingers.
When he lengthened his thrusts, she clutched his forearms. “Damn, you feel good,” she mumbled.
He halted and without sliding out of her tight hold, he grabbed one of her ankles from behind his waist. He maneuvered her leg around and hooked it over his shoulder, maximizing the depth of his penetration. Then, turning his head to the side, he kissed her calf, stroking it with affectionate warmth. His loving expression stirred up forgotten emotions in her heart. When was the last time someone appeared so devoted to her?
The sentimental mood didn’t last long. He slammed into her and her squeals pierced the air. Spearing her cunt, he plunged deeper and deeper, dragging her along for the torrid ride. Her fingertips dug into his arms and she looked up, meeting his gaze while he rammed into her slickened sex.
Heavy breaths indicated his impending orgasm. “Oh, God….” Droplets of sweat beaded his brow and he closed his eyes. “Oh…Samantha, I….”
Anna! Anna! Call me Anna! Her words screamed in her head, but she didn’t dare speak them. Settling for the next best thing, she trusted in the bond they’d forged, surrendering to his assault on her pussy, ready to share in his climax.
With a primal groan, he bucked one more time. The knowledge that he’d erupted inside the protective barrier sent her careening into a second orgasm. She opened her mouth to let loose the building scream and quaked around his dick. Hips undulating, she tumbled into explosive ecstasy.
Brendan collapsed on top of her, burying his face in her shoulder. Finally catching his breath, he slid away and headed to the bathroom, cleaning up in record time before coming back to her. She rolled over into his awaiting embrace, stretching alongside him beneath the blankets he pulled around their tangled limbs.
“I’m so glad I met you.” He kissed the top of her head.
Pangs of guilt wracked the solace she’d enjoyed, even while snuggled into him. “Me, too.” She hoped the shreds of regret were absent from her voice.
Anna closed her eyes. While waiting to drift off to sleep, she tried to commit to memory the security of his arms, the rise and fall of his chest, and the scent of his skin. How much time would elapse before she’d be allowed to feel this way again?
Chapter Four
The bright red numbers on the clock flashed six-oh-three. Vacation or not, Brendan awoke at his usual time. He didn’t want to disturb the sleeping woman in his arms, so he lay motionless. Her hair tickled his shoulder.
Samantha embodied everything he’d dreamed of in a potential mate. Her intelligence and charm radiated from the words she spoke, and her grace and physical beauty matched those desirable qualities. The heat of her bare skin pressed against his and recollections of the previous night rippled over him. They’d elicited unmatched pleasure from one another. He resisted the urge to wake her up and bury his erect cock in her again.
As wonderful as their time together had been, something nagged at him. He tried to brush off any apprehension as residual first-date jitters or the exhilaration of embarking on a new relationship. But the voice refused to be silenced, forcing him to discover its message.
Throughout their date, the air of familiarity had never disappeared from his companion. No one by the name of Samantha Coburn had ever crossed his path before, but that hadn’t lessened his curiosity. Brendan stared at the top of her head, at the tousled chestnut waves, the angled contour of her chin…he’d seen her before, was certain of it. But where? And when?
He closed his eyes, desperate to jar his subconscious into cooperating. The pieces lay before him, he simply needed to figure out how they fit together. The memory of her voice reverberated in his ears, telling tales about sprawling European capitals and quiet rural gardens. Where in the world had their lives intersected?
She stirred in his embrace, but didn’t wake. Her eyelashes fluttered across his chest, a wispy, ethereal touch. Like the butterflies she’d always loved….
Realization slammed into him, whisking the air from his lungs. He recognized her. Her smile, her laugh, the way she carried herself—everything combined to form the image he’d sought. The identity of the woman curled around him revealed itself with startling clarity.
But the answer only led to many more questions. Why had she used the name Samantha Coburn? Why had Madame Eve sent him someone who’d arranged the meeting under false pretenses? How much of
all they’d shared was genuine? Should he truly trust her intentions? Could he?
Brendan’s heart pounded. Opening his eyes, he glanced down at her once more. The information he’d gathered confused him and he couldn’t decide whether or not he should tell her what he’d gleaned. Despite the apparent lies, he believed in the sincerity of the connection they’d built. No way the image of the little girl surrounded by butterflies in her grandmother’s garden could be a lie. Grains of truth flourished below the initial deception, amplified by how she gazed at him when he moved inside her. He wanted to be with her.
His epiphany changed nothing about his burgeoning attachment with her. One last issue remained—when should he tell her what he knew? If she went to such lengths to camouflage her real name and background, he’d respect whatever motives lay behind that decision. No one he’d ever met had gone to such lengths to hide their identity without good reason. She didn’t appear interested in his vast amount of money, nor had she pried into secrets of his business. Whenever she was ready to confide in him, he’d be waiting with open arms, ears, and heart.
***
The morning sunbeams streaked in through the ivory curtains. Anna lifted her lids and yawned. On the pillow beside her, Brendan slept peacefully, his lashes flush against his cheeks as he inhaled and exhaled in long, steady breaths.
She would have been content to languish in his arms for hours, but the airport beckoned. Sliding carefully from beneath his elbow, she tried not to wake him. Her efforts were unsuccessful.
“Good morning, Samantha.” His drowsy state did nothing to diminish the radiance of his smile.
“Good morning.” After landing a feathery kiss on his forehead, she set about collecting her clothing strewn around the room.
He watched her slip into her bra and panties. While she shimmied into her wrinkled sundress, he stood and fished his own underwear off the floor. “I assume you’ll want to shower in your own room before packing your belongings,” Brendan said. “Tell me when you’re done, and I’ll walk you out to your car.”
“Oh, you don’t have to—”
“Of course I do. What sort of gentleman would I be if I didn’t?”
She glanced down at her feet. Despite her apprehension, the corners of her mouth turned up. “I suppose I don’t mind letting someone else carry my bag for a change.”
“Great.” He stepped closer to her and tucked a lock of her messy hair behind her ear. “Besides, I’d like to find out when I’ll get the chance to see you again. I was hoping we could possibly make some plans before parting ways today.”
The inevitable moment hovered between them. As much as it would sting, she’d stick with her plan of going through the expected motions before disappearing. Since she’d embarked on her high-ranking profession, lies trickled forth with ease. This morning would be no different. Any additional time spent with Brendan held a world of promise, but it also assumed a set of accompanying risks. Emotional attachments were nothing but a liability in her chosen occupation. If she let him play a continuing role in her life and someone found out her true identity and wanted a way to hurt her….
Two quick blinks dispelled the unsettling thoughts, and she met his stare with what she hoped resembled friendly enthusiasm. “Sure. We might be able to schedule something for down the line.”
“Excellent. I’d hoped you’d say that.”
When she arrived at the door, he spoke again. “One more thing,” he said when she reached for the knob. “Anna?”
She froze. Her eyes widened and her stomach twisted in a knot. Attempting to regain her composure, she turned and raised her eyebrow at him. “I’m sorry, what?”
Brendan said nothing, his expression a blank slate.
“After we just spent the night together, did you just call me by the wrong name?” She tried to keep her voice light, playing her reaction as blithe confusion rather than shock or anger. “I think you might have drunk a little too much wine with dinner last night.”
“Sorry. I just thought…you reminded me….” He shook his head. “Never mind.”
White-knuckled fingers wrenched the knob, evidence of her desperation to get out of his room and away from the resort as quickly as possible. When the door opened, he closed the distance between them in several long strides and slammed it shut again with his palm.
“No, wait,” he said. “I know it’s you. Tell me I’m right.”
She frantically searched the room, seeking something, anything to use for protection if necessary. No thigh holster was hidden on her upper leg, nor were any firearms stashed in her own accommodations. A pair of heavy lamps stood on the twin bedside tables, but the short, blunt objects wouldn’t accomplish much until an assailant jumped on top of her. Her martial arts training should prevent that from happening in the first place.
Backing away from him and the door, she put a safer space between them. He didn’t come after her. “Who are you?” she asked, fixing him with a steady glare.
He assessed her, his brow furrowed. “I guess it was pretty foolish to expect you to remember me,” he said softly.
Her legs brushed against the side of the bed. The nightstand sat solid beneath her palms, and she prepared to grab her makeshift weapon at a moment’s notice. “Who are you?” she repeated.
A bittersweet expression darkened Brendan’s face, his face and neck muscles tightening. “Anna, we went to school together. Cherry Hill Regional High School, out in Iowa.”
She didn’t answer, refusing to confirm or deny anything.
“As I said, I shouldn’t have expected you to remember me, but I definitely remember you.” His jaw softened and he stared at a spot somewhere beyond her. “I can’t begin to tell you how many sleepless nights I spent praying for the courage to say hello to you and your friends in the hallway. You always seemed so happy, and you were the smartest one in our classes…and even back then, I thought you were so pretty, it defied all logic.”
A muscle in her cheek twitched. Silence remained her safest strategy.
“I always knew you would go places, far beyond the farmland and fields of our town. In a way, you motivated me to do the same.” The soft chuckle she’d grown to adore spilled forth from his chest. “So imagine my surprise when, years and years later, I turn my life over to a matchmaker and she sent me someone who looked exactly like the girl of my teenage dreams.”
He padded across the carpet and joined her at the side of the bed. Trepidation paralyzed her limbs. “It didn’t take long to convince me it was really you,” he said. “Yeah, the name thing threw me for a bit of a loop, but whatever. I’m sure you have your reasons.” His gaze held nothing predatory or threatening. “You were the same intelligent, witty, warmhearted person I remembered you to be. That’s what’s important.”
Anna closed her eyes. Her mind screamed at her to run out the door and never turn back, but she stayed rooted in position. Even with all her scripts and all her varied personas bouncing around her head, any suitable platitudes vanished. A tiny piece of her soul yearned to be honest with the man standing before her…but honesty had ceased to be a priority in her universe long ago.
“I can’t,” she whispered. Her throat tightened, and the words barely squeezed out. “I can’t be Anna for you.” Fingertips caressed the side of her face, and she opened her eyes again.
“That part doesn’t matter,” he said. “You can call yourself Anna or Samantha or, hell, even the Queen of Neptune if you’d like. I don’t care about that.” He took her hand. When she didn’t resist, he pressed it to his bare skin, above his beating heart. “I care about who you are, the woman with me last night. That’s it. Because the woman who I spoke with about Prague, confessed my childhood woes to, and made love to until we fell asleep in each other’s arms…that was you.”
Brendan spoke the truth. But, it might not be enough. “I…I just….” Her deepest desires and personal safety yanked her in opposite directions. “I’d love nothing more than to take a chance with you an
d see what happens,” she admitted. “But I just don’t know if I can.”
Releasing her, he picked his pants up off the floor and dug his wallet out of the pocket. He slid a card out, turned it over on the nightstand and used one of the resort pens to scribble on the back. “This is my cell number.” He pressed it into her palm. “That’ll get you directly to me, day or night, regardless of where I am in the world.”
Her mouth opened to protest, but he silenced her with a finger on her lips. “I can see that the events of this morning have startled you, and I don’t want to make you feel worse,” he said. “I also won’t insist you make any life-changing decisions right now.” His cobalt eyes sparkled. “I can’t think of a single thing that would make me not want to be with you. Whatever the issues are that made you try to conceal yourself, I meant it when I said they don’t matter to me. There’s a reason we were brought here together, and I think we can work past anything. You’re worth it.”
She searched for an appropriate response and came up short. “Thank you,” she finally said. “I…I’ll think about it. I promise.”
He circled his arms around her shoulders and squeezed her to his chest. Returning the gesture, she hugged his waist and rested her cheek on his warm skin. They stood tangled together, and she didn’t want to let go, but flights and job obligations lured her away. With a resounding sigh, she left the comfort of his embrace.
His lips brushed against hers, the faintest of flutters. “I hope you’ll call me, but I’ll understand if you don’t. Either way, know that I had a fantastic time last night.”
“I did, too.” Dampness crept into the corners of her eyes. “I’m sorry I don’t remember the boy you were, but I’m very glad I got to meet the wonderful man you turned out to be.”
His sincere smile held no traces of anger or resentment. “Drive carefully and have a safe flight.”
Hurrying to her room, she threw her belongings into her bag, not bothering to change out of her clothes from the night before. She wanted to get far, far away from the resort in an effort to clear her head. Once packed, she ran down the stairs, tossed her luggage in the backseat, and sped out of the parking lot.