by Rachel Cross
“Are you joining us for Thanksgiving, Kate?” Anna asked as dinner was wrapping up. Her husband shot her a look.
Kate blushed as every pair of eyes went to her. She avoided Alec’s gaze. They hadn’t discussed the holidays.
“My younger sister will be in town, and we do a small gathering with friends in Cielito,” she replied.
Dave solicited information about her sister and family friends.
“What about your mom and dad?” one of the six-year-old twins asked. Kate was having a hard time telling them apart.
When she explained that her mother had died, there was a collective gasp from the little girls. Horrified, she turned to Anna. She shouldn’t have mentioned it.
“I’ve explained to the girls that people die when they get very, very old and very, very sick,” Anna said calmly.
The conversation moved on. Kate took Anna aside later to apologize, but the older woman laughed it off.
“Oh please. They kill every mother in the movies the kids watch. It doesn’t affect them!”
But later, one of the twins, Vivian, came to her when it was time to say goodnight before bed. She hugged Kate tight against her tiny pajama clad body and whispered, “I’m sorry your mommy died.”
Kate pulled her close, her throat thickened with the effort of holding back tears. After the girls had gone, she escaped into the bathroom to compose herself. When she finally came out, Alec was there, waiting. He pulled her close and gave her the comfort of his large warm body. His long, elegant fingers stroked through her hair and down her back.
“What did she say?” he whispered.
But Kate didn’t trust her voice, so she shook her head and held him tighter.
Anna and Dave found them that way a few minutes later, still in the hallway.
When they finally arrived at his home in the hills, he rushed her through a tour of the each room and asked her to meet him on the patio when she had settled her things. He sat in the hot-tub wearing only a grin. She passed through the sliding glass door, suddenly shy. Her eyes darted around, aware of his heated gaze on her. She undressed quickly and entered the water as rapidly as she dared, gasping in shock at the heat.
“The pool guy was here today. I had him turn it on, thinking we’d be here earlier.”
She shivered, nerves and anticipation ran through her. She made her way over to where he sat. He pulled her onto his lap, careful to keep her shoulders underwater, since the night was clear and cool. With little light pollution up in the hills the stars shone vividly.
“We should go to Tahiti,” he suggested. “You wouldn’t believe how bright the night sky is there.”
“Mmmm. I’d love to go. Bora Bora?”
“That’s where I went a few years ago for vacation, though I hear some of the other islands are beautiful too.”
“You’ve been everywhere touring, haven’t you?” How she envied him. She itched to travel.
“I have, but much of it I don’t remember.” His lips twisted. “The only reason I know I’ve visited some places overseas are the stamps in my passport. What a waste.” They were both silent.
She could feel him press against her, but he didn’t seem to be in any hurry. Were they going to have sex in the hot-tub? Her heart skipped a beat, then accelerated. She shivered again.
“Cold?”
“Nervous.” And she was. Extremely.
“About being here with me? I’m a good host,” he assured her.
“Wondering if it will work in the hot-tub,” she replied, shyly, unable to meet his eyes.
His brow wrinkled for a moment, then cleared with a laugh. “How do I keep forgetting how innocent you are?”
He turned her to face him and pulled her knees onto either side his, then froze as his body connected to hers. He set her aside for a moment, then scooted out of the tub, reached back for the towels and a foil packet he’d had the foresight to bring.
“I’ve been meaning to tell you, I’ve been on the pill since high school.” Would she have to explain about acne and heavy periods? God, she hoped not.
His hands stilled, then continued to roll the condom. “Okay.”
“So is this a trust thing or a disease thing?” Her smile felt pasted on. This was the first time they were having this conversation and it was awkward. “Or maybe you’d rather not talk about this now.”
He sighed and climbed back into the tub, hauling her onto his lap.
“It’s a habit thing, with a little bit of my own trust issues thrown in. I’m clean because I’ve always used condoms. Where I grew up, a lot of girls got knocked up before high school was even over. I knew if I got some girl pregnant in high school, I’d be stuck in that town forever, so I was very careful, and old habits die hard.”
She sank deeper into the water, stroking his arms, his chest, slick with water. “So you’ve never had sex without a condom?” She couldn’t hide the skepticism in her voice. His drug and alcohol history aside, he had been with a lot of women.
“Never.”
She turned herself to face him and straddled him. The water was hot, almost too hot, and she felt a rush of prickly heat. His arms went around her waist and her heartbeat accelerated. She didn’t know if it was arousal or the heat from the water, but something was making her incredibly lightheaded. Her lips met his and it was as though she was starving for him.
She moaned as his tongue surged inside her mouth. She felt the throb of his arousal against her body and tried to urge him inside. He soothed her with his hands while she reached down to guide him to her, groaning in frustration when the water created too much friction and made his entry difficult. He stilled her greedy hips with his hands. His mouth went to her nipples and she arched her back. Their tips hardened from the cold night air and arousal. His hand went to the place their bodies were barely joined and rubbed her expertly. Frantically, her hips worked, desperate to bring him in, breath coming in pants. He pushed in, slowly, relentlessly, the water made the fit tighter, almost uncomfortable.
“God, Kate.” His breath shuddered out. “Are you okay?”
She nodded, inhaled deeply and held his shoulders, her nails making half moon indentations as her body adjusted to his heavy invasion. His fingers hadn’t stopped their relentless stroking. She felt her body tighten further, her movements desperate, she went over the edge and the unbearable pleasure of it drew a long, low cry from her bucking body. She was still spasming around him when he cursed, hands less gentle now. He pulled her hips hard into his, once, twice, then he came with a long, loud groan.
She rested against the crook of his neck, periodically shivering, though from the chilly air or residual tremors of arousal, she had no idea. Through her exhaustion, she was vaguely aware of his shaky laughter.
“Whass funny?” she slurred, nearing sleep.
“Oh, no you don’t. You can’t fall asleep here, Kate. Kate?”
She woke several hours later to exquisite pleasure. Thoughts still jumbled from sleep; it took her a few seconds to remember where she was, and a few more to realize Alec’s head was between her spread legs. She tensed, hands automatically going to his hair and she pulled, hard.
“Alec!” she hissed. “Stop. What are you doing?”
He raised his head, eyes dark and thoroughly aroused, they glinted wickedly at her.
“I don’t think I like that,” she whispered, scandalized.
“Give me another minute,” he whispered back, gently inserting a finger into her warm, slick entrance.
She let out an involuntary moan and tried to force her body to relax. It didn’t take long before her hips were writhing, the touch of his expert mouth brought her to the longest, hardest, most powerful orgasm imaginable. She lay, stunned, eyes wide and disbelieving as he crawled up her body. He stretched over her, his tongue licked into he
r mouth. He thrust into her hard and fast with no preliminaries. She gasped in shock but her legs wrapped themselves around his rocking hips, creating a primal rhythm. She thought herself satiated, spent, after that unbelievable orgasm but within moments she felt the telltale weakness in her legs, arched her back and came long and hard, endlessly around him. She watched his face intently as he came, features rapt. Her heart expanded in awe.
Moments later, he rolled off, shoulders shaking with repressed mirth. She turned her puzzled, sleepy, still rapturous eyes on him.
“Alec?”
He pulled her into his arms, but she pulled herself up on an elbow to look into his laughing countenance.
“What’s funny? That I told you I didn’t like it? ’Cause that is funny, in retrospect,” she admitted, smiling self-consciously.
“No, that’s not it, but I think I’ll remember the expression on your face afterward for the rest of my life.” His lips stroked hers, gently. “What’s funny is my complete lack of control. Sex is supposed to be leisurely you know, not a mad dash for the finish, and yet every time I get inside you, all my intentions of prolonging it get completely overwhelmed. That’s never happened to me before, at least not since I was a teenager.”
“Works for me.” She shrugged. “Obviously.” Her hand stroked down his chest, over his hip, eliciting a surprising response. He looked at her hand, hovering near his body, brows lifted.
“No condom,” she breathed.
“Well. There’s that. That could be part of the problem. Skin against skin with you was indescribable.” He tugged her hand to his lips and put a hot open-mouthed kiss in the center of her palm. His expression held a tenderness that made her blush and look away.
Chapter 17
Paradise. That’s what this place was. Kate floated on the raft in Alec’s pool in the warm California sun. She briefly considered his offer to use one of his two vehicles to venture downtown, maybe take in a movie or window shop, but the idea of taking out his sports car or Range Rover made her nervous. It wasn’t that driving a stick shift was a problem, but the sports car had funky paddle shifters and she had no earthly idea how to use them. Trailing her foot in the warm water, she stretched.
Alec wasn’t around much, at least not during work hours, but they connected at night. That should be enough, right? So what if he had gotten too busy to do anything with her during the day. He was stressed about his job; that much was obvious. Tonight they were going to a party, and tomorrow he was going to take her home. If only she could shake the feeling that something was wrong. There was a distance between them here in Los Angeles that hadn’t been there before, and she didn’t know how to breach it. It wasn’t anything she could put her finger on. Maybe she was just being paranoid because her feelings for him were so overwhelming? It was way too early to know if she was in love with him. Wasn’t it?
The party was hours away. She should get out of the pool and take Zack for a run, but she was feeling too lazy.
Excited barks from the house had her paddling her raft to the steps. She hopped out and padded through the house in her bikini, expecting to see Alec home early.
In the hallway greeting Zack was someone she had only seen onstage in stadiums and in the pages of magazines. He was taller and more vibrant in real life. Slightly star-struck, she attempted nonchalance.
“Well, hello there!” he greeted heartily, his gaze appreciative as it swept slowly up and down her body. His deep drawling voice was oddly familiar. A big fan of his band Spade, she had most of their songs on her playlist.
“Asher Lowe.” So here was Alec’s good friend. In the flesh. It dawned on her that she was only wearing a bikini and her smile dimmed, as she became shy and self-conscious.
“And you are?”
“Kate Gibson.” She reached out to shake his hand only to have her hand enveloped in both of his as he tugged her in closer.
“Actress?” He stroked one large palm over her shoulder and down her bare back, where it came to rest on the curve of her hip, his eyes glued to her breasts.
Belatedly, Kate realized that while she knew who he was, he had no idea who she was. Well, what was she to Alec, anyway? His girlfriend? A hookup? Before they came to LA, she would’ve said they were edging toward the former. Now? Who knew? Whatever she was, his friend was hitting on her.
She squirmed away, uncomfortable and irritated. Apparently he was a good enough friend to have a key to Alec’s house, but not to know about her? She folded her arms across her chest and lifted her chin. He finally met her furious gaze and backed off, hands up.
“Alec wouldn’t mind.” He shrugged broad shoulders.
She recoiled. “I do,” she returned coldly. Ick.
He laughed, not offended, and looked around idly. “Where is the man?”
“Work,” she replied stiffly, maintaining her distance.
His expression registered mild surprise. “And you’re here because?”
“Because he invited me.” Had he even knocked? Maybe she hadn’t heard it because she had been in the pool.
“Ah.” He was still obviously puzzled. “From?”
“From Cielito. Not that it’s any of your business.” She didn’t care if he was good friends with Alec. He was an irritating, lecherous jerk.
He stared down at her, frowning.
“Why don’t you come back later?” She put one hand on a bathing-suit-clad hip and gestured toward the door authoritatively with the other.
He grinned at her diminutive form appreciatively. “Kicking me out? I don’t think so. Got coffee?” Without waiting for an answer, he left her in the entryway, headed toward the kitchen.
Grumbling under her breath about arrogant jerks, she opened the hallway closet and rifled through jackets and coats until she found Alec’s hooded sweatshirts and pulled one on. It was warm and almost reached her knees. Once covered adequately, she followed him to the kitchen and jumped up on a stool. He held out the carafe.
“No thanks.”
“So, Kate Gibson from Cielito — ” He stopped abruptly as her cell on the island counter both vibrated and rang simultaneously. Alec’s ringtone, Asher’s song.
He froze, then his eyes crinkled, amused. He winked at her and continued, “ — with excellent taste in music.”
She picked up the phone, swiveling the stool, turning her back on Asher. “Alec,” she greeted.
“Hey darlin’.”
“Are you calling to cancel our lunch?” She recognized his apologetic tone and gritted her teeth. “Alec, I’m leaving tomorrow.”
“I know, I know. I’m sorry. Honest to God, work this week has sucked.”
She sighed.
“I’ll take you to lunch,” Asher put in, his deep voice a low growl.
She shushed him.
“Who was that?” Alec’s tone went from distracted to sharp and suspicious.
“Asher Lowe. He let himself in,” she stage whispered and Asher laughed.
“Put him on,” Alec’s reply was terse and unfriendly.
She shrugged, handed Asher her phone and took the opportunity to go change. She put on underwear and a sundress, stepped into her cowboy boots, pulled her hair into a messy knot and re-applied sunscreen.
When she returned Asher was kicking back on Alec’s patio under an umbrella at the glass topped table, sunglasses on, posture relaxed.
“Seems I’m taking you to lunch,” he said, smiling widely. “Don’t worry. I’m not going to make a pass.” Her posture became less defensive. “I want to spend some time with the woman who has my buddy in a tizzy.”
A startled laugh escaped her. “A tizzy? Hardly,” she replied honestly. “He’s been blowing me off since we arrived.”
He flipped his hand. “That’s Alec. Work, work, work. Consider yourself lucky if you get any time with h
im. I do. Besides,” he looked at her from over the rims of his sunglasses, “I got the hands off lecture from Alec. First time ever. So naturally my curiosity is … aroused.” The lecherous grin was back, but it seemed more like a reflex. His eyes were full of intelligence and calculation, not lust. She decided to relax. If he and Alec were friends of such long standing, he wouldn’t pursue her.
“I told him I was taking you out since he was so busy.” This grin was pure wickedness and hinted at some inside joke. She shrugged inwardly. It would be nice to go somewhere. He looked her up and down.
“Ready?”
“Yep.”
Pulling the front door closed behind her, he locked it.
She froze on the walkway, staring at the car in the driveway. They were going to go in that?
“Great, isn’t it?” He bobbed his head, indicating she should get in.
“What is it?” This was a car for a superhero. It was silver, low slung and sexy. Gorgeous. It also seemed more appropriate for a racetrack, not the street. She said as much and Asher bestowed a dazzling smile on her, a genuine smile, not his half-lecherous grin.
“It’s a Bugatti Veyron. Wait till you get in, if you think the outside is great.”
He was clearly having fun on the winding road down the mountain. Unfortunately, she couldn’t seem to relax her death grip on her purse.
He reached over and patted her hand reassuringly, but slowed down.
An hour later, Asher paid the restaurant bill over her protests. From the happy, astonished expression on the waiter’s face, he had left a generous tip.
By the time he got the car back from the valet after lunch at the exclusive West Hollywood restaurant, she could see why Alec liked him. He didn’t take himself too seriously and was easy to talk to. He was not, however, at all subtle about trying to elicit information about her relationship with Alec. Since she didn’t know the status of their relationship, he was out of luck.
“What now?” he asked.
“Alec said he’d be home around four-thirty. He wants to go to a party tonight.” She checked her watch; it was after one.