by Kara Lennox
She suffered a moment or two of confusion, and then she remembered. Griffin. He’d spent the whole night in her bed, and now she had her arms and legs wrapped around him. He had one hand on her bottom and the other on her breast, and his deep, gentle breathing told her he was asleep.
She certainly wasn’t, not anymore. Her body tingled with awareness and her mind filled with erotic images of her and Griffin—more vivid than they’d been before.
Suddenly the effort of denying what her body wanted was just too much work. Her brain went on strike, simply refusing to tell her how to extricate herself from this sticky situation of her own making.
Maybe consciously she hadn’t intended this to happen, but on some level, she’d been hoping to ease herself into an intimate situation with Griffin. She hadn’t made any monumental decision to abandon her six-plus years of celibacy; rather, the day’s events had organically led to her and Griffin in bed, their hands all over each other’s bodies.
His T-shirt rode up, revealing a strip of his tanned abs. Knowing it was dangerous, Raleigh moved her hand down until her fingers flirted with his bare skin. So warm. So vibrant. So alive.
She shoved the bedcovers back and her breath caught in her throat. She had a clear view of Griffin’s erection. She knew men often had erections in the morning. She’d been married, after all. But she couldn’t help feeling that this one was for her. He was cupping her breast.
He wouldn’t object if she changed her mind. Griffin had made it pretty clear he would welcome sex with her. If they crossed that line, it would be just sex and friendship, she reminded herself. He hadn’t alluded to anything more.
He wanted her, she wanted him, pure and simple. No exchange of heavy emotions need be involved.
Raleigh turned her head and pressed her lips into his neck, touching just the tip of her tongue to his skin, tasting him.
“Raleigh?”
The low rumble of his sleep-roughened voice startled her. “Um…good morning.”
“I’ll say.” He made no effort to move his hands. “What’s going through your mind? And you better tell me fast. Because in about ten seconds, words won’t be necessary. Or welcome.”
“Words are overrated.” Who needed explanations? It was pretty clear what was going on here.
She pressed her hand against his chest, raising up so she could kiss him on the mouth. What was left of her brain melted on contact. It was the most inviting, sexiest, warmest kiss on earth.
With a groan, Griffin rolled her onto her back, bracing her head on either side with his big, capable hands and kissing her with an intensity and a thoroughness that took her breath away. She squirmed with the need to feel him all over her, inside her. Her private parts tingled like a limb that had gone to sleep and was just now waking up. The sensation was so pleasurable, yet almost painful at the same time.
Her silk robe’s belt was already loose. Griffin worked one hand inside the robe, then found her bare thigh. Her nightgown had already worked itself up around her hips, and she wasn’t wearing panties.
“Raleigh. Oh, my—you have the sexiest ass I’ve ever seen on any woman. And your belly. I have to see.” He raked the gown up higher, revealing everything to his hungry gaze. He got up on his knees so he could lean down and kiss her belly, working his warm kisses lower, stroking her thighs, teasing her legs open.
“Do you—” Her brain was having trouble forming words, but she wasn’t so far gone she’d forgotten one important thing. “We need—”
The kisses slowed, then stopped. “You think I carry it around in my wallet?”
She couldn’t help laughing, on the edge of hysteria at the thought that they might not be able to consummate their mutual and rather frightening lust. “I’ve heard that’s not a good thing to do. Your body heat—”
He groaned. “I’m gonna die here and now.”
“The bathroom. It’s incredibly well stocked. Disposable razors, feminine products—”
“Don’t move. I mean it. Don’t move and don’t think too hard.”
She wouldn’t. She would stay in suspended animation until he came back. Seconds later, she heard a victorious “Yesss!” and she nearly wept. Bless Daniel. Or Jillian. Or whoever the gods of illicit sex were.
When Griffin returned to bed, he was gloriously naked. She quickly followed suit, though the only thing still actually on her body was the silly wisp of a silky nightgown she’d found in the room, like nothing she would ever buy for herself. She whisked it over her head, letting it float to the floor in a blue-gossamer cloud.
She could see that Griffin approved. His eyes darkened, and he opened his mouth slightly, taking in more air.
Letting her instincts guide her, she held her arms open. It seemed so wanton, all this naked flesh in the bright, cheery sunshine. Sex like this was more suitable for the dark. But she was glad for the light, because she wanted to experience this coming together with all of her senses, including sight.
Griffin was a beautiful example of the male species.
He rejoined her on the bed, drawing her against him, kissing her again until she was dizzy with longing to be one with him. He coaxed her legs open again, stroking her folds with boldly curious fingers. She was as hot and slick as she’d ever been, her flesh aching to have him inside her.
“Oh, Griffin. Do it, please. I can’t wait any longer. I’m going to burn up.”
“Whatever you want, honey.” He pulled away from her only long enough to sheathe himself. Then he covered her body with his, settling into the cradle of her thighs, letting her get used to his weight.
He probed her entrance with his erection and she took a deep breath. It had been such a long time. She was a virgin all over again, at least that’s what it felt like.
He pushed inside. “You’re tight.”
“It’s good.” She didn’t want him worrying about hurting her. He pushed deeper, stretching her just to the bounds of comfort. But there was no pain, just a delicious fullness, and she lifted her hips and thrust upward to meet him. She wanted all of him, all that he would give her, and he obliged, thrusting himself to the hilt.
She gasped just as he did—with pleasure, with the surprise of how incredibly good it actually felt. It went beyond mere physical satisfaction. He completed her, filled her from head to toe with a deep sense of satisfaction.
She basked in the warmth of their union as he pushed in and pulled out, slowly at first, building to a delicious cadence like a well-crafted symphony. He filled her physically, but on some other level, too. She surrendered to him until she couldn’t bear one more moment. Yet she held back, wanting it to last forever.
Finally she toppled over the edge, putting a fist in her mouth to stifle the scream she longed for. They were somewhat isolated in the guest wing of Daniel’s house, but if she let it out, she was pretty sure everyone within several blocks would hear her.
“Good, Raleigh, so good. You’re so beautiful, incredible, I’ve never…” She let his praises settle around her like flower petals. Yes, it was good, and it was even better when she watched his facial muscles tighten as he struggled for control, then lost the battle and unleashed himself inside her, burying his face in the pillow beside her head to muffle his own cries of ecstasy.
Griffin collapsed, panting as if he’d just sprinted across a football field.
“Raleigh.”
“Mmm.” She was less articulate than him, even.
She reveled in the tingly afterglow for as long as she dared. They barely moved, except when Griffin shifted his weight off her. She never wanted it to end, as all good things inevitably did.
“Honey?”
“Yes?”
“I’ll probably kick myself for asking, but I’m naturally curious. What changed your mind?”
“I didn’t really change my mind,” she admitted. “It’s just that my body went off and did its own thing and my mind took a vacation.”
“Ah.”
“No regrets, though.” He didn�
�t deserve that. He’d given of himself from his very depths, and she had to be grateful—no, awed—by the generous nature of his lovemaking. “Thank you.”
He laughed. “You gotta be kidding.”
“I’m not. You were there for me, when I needed you.”
“I’ll always—” He stopped, cleared his throat.
He’d been about to say he’d always be there for her. An automatic rejoinder, and he’d thought better of it, she was sure. At least he was honest. “I’m glad I helped you through what could have been a tough night.”
Her thanks extended way past last night. But she supposed a postmortem of everyone’s motivations wasn’t necessary. This wasn’t a case to take to court.
She glanced at her watch. “It’s late. I have to meet with Garrett this morning.” She sighed. “I’d like to stay here awhile longer. But the real world is knocking.”
“The real world can be a bitch sometimes.” He kissed her on the nose, then released her from his embrace so she could slip out of bed. She was suddenly cold as she walked naked to the bathroom.
GRIFFIN SLUMPED back against the pillows as Raleigh closed the bathroom door on the enticing sight of her bare bottom.
Damn. That had been as pleasurable as it had been unexpected. His body was satiated in a way that was new to him, yet he already wondered how and when he could have her again.
For those few insane minutes when they’d made love, she’d been completely open to him, unguarded. For the first time, he thought he’d seen the real Raleigh.
He’d liked it. As he’d stared into those guileless green eyes, so trusting, he’d felt something blooming in his chest besides desire. Something that felt a lot like love, or at least the potential for love.
That was new. Most of his relationships had involved him trying not to say or do anything that implied commitment. A couple of times he hadn’t been clear enough, and he’d ended up breaking some poor girl’s heart and feeling like a heel.
With Raleigh, he’d almost told her he would always be there for her—and meant it. He’d censored himself, though, not because he feared being misunderstood, but because he wasn’t quite ready for her to see what was in his heart.
Thank God he’d stopped himself. He was in no position to make promises. He’d chosen a lifestyle that didn’t accommodate happily ever after.
He had to get his head back on straight. His work had always been his top priority. That hadn’t changed just because one beautiful, intriguing, vulnerable woman had let him past her defenses. Once.
He heard the shower running and decided it would be better if he was gone when she finished bathing. If not, if he saw her all rosy-pink from the warm water, smelling of whatever fancy shampoo Daniel undoubtedly provided, he might be tempted to bundle Raleigh right back into bed.
Griffin quickly pulled on his boxers and T-shirt, though probably no one would be roaming the halls. As far as he could tell, he and Raleigh were alone in the guest wing.
He paused on his way out the door. Raleigh’s briefcase sat open on a small, antique writing desk, and sunlight glinted off something inside, drawing his eye.
Taking a couple of steps closer, he saw that it was a small, framed photo of Jason.
They had escaped her apartment with little more than the dog and the clothes on their backs, yet Raleigh managed to have a picture of her dead husband with her. She probably kept it in her briefcase, and when she’d arrived here, the first thing she had done was open the case and look at that picture.
Damn. Disappointment pressed against him from every direction. He had thought maybe Raleigh had made a breakthrough. But it was clear who took precedence in her life. Yeah, she’d made love with him this morning, not Jason. But only because Jason wasn’t available.
He should have questioned her more closely. Her change of heart, the fact that she had initiated sex when last night she’d been firmly against it, should have tipped him off that something wasn’t right.
Now he understood what she’d meant about her body making the decision, rather than her brain. Nothing had changed. And unless he wanted to play second fiddle to the sainted Jason, he needed to make sure this did not happen again. He didn’t particularly like the feeling of being Jason’s surrogate.
He should have been able to simply shrug and walk away. But it was time for him to admit that what he felt for Raleigh was more than lust, more than mere affection. She had become a priority in his life, and protecting her was more important than anything else—including his story.
Including his career.
His dedication to finding out who wanted to hurt her wouldn’t change. He would find out, and stop them. But he would no longer press Raleigh for more than she could give.
RALEIGH COULDN’T REMEMBER the last time she’d felt this light. As she let the warm water cascade down her body, she relived Griffin’s hands roaming at will, seeking and getting responses from her like a virtuoso playing a violin.
It was as if every emotion from the past several years had been bottled up inside, and Griffin had pulled the cork. She wanted to laugh and cry at the same time, to dance and hit something. She wanted to hug her dog.
She was starving. She hoped Daniel stayed true to form and fed them a huge, greasy breakfast. Her usual fruit and yogurt did not sound appealing in the least.
Daniel had provided every cosmetic or toiletry she could possibly wish for, including a mango/grapefruit body lotion that smelled fantastic. She slathered it over every inch of her skin, brushed and flossed and dabbed on a bit of makeup.
She plugged in the blow dryer, then straightened her hair as she always did.
Her hair didn’t really matter that much, did it? The only person she would be meeting with was Garrett. But somehow, the habitual act of taming her mop helped her to feel more in control. She clipped it back into a ponytail and smoothed back any strays from her face.
She had no idea what sort of clothing she would find in the closet, but she felt pretty sure it would fit. Daniel—or perhaps Jillian—had a magic touch when it came to anticipating guests’ needs. She still couldn’t believe Griffin had found condoms.
She opened the bathroom door. “Shower’s all your—” The room was empty. Griffin was gone.
Sinking onto the rumpled bed, Raleigh tried to tamp down her disappointment. What had she expected? That he would stick to her side 24/7? He’d probably wanted his own shower, his own things. In fact, yes, she could hear his shower going.
In the closet she found a variety of casual clothes. Nothing like she usually wore for work, but she was officially on vacation according to Daniel. She chose a pair of stone-washed jeans and was amazed at how well they fit and how comfortable they were. Her closet at home held a couple of pairs of old jeans, but she seldom wore them.
She made a note of the size and brand, intending to purchase a pair for herself. She went to her briefcase to find the notebook she knew was there, and stopped cold when she saw Jason’s picture, smiling up at her in that frozen, timeless way. “Oh, Jason.” She picked up the picture and touched the glass over his face. “Are you terribly disappointed in me?”
She felt sure he would have been okay if she’d started seeing someone. He’d been a generous man in life; no reason to think he would be stingy and possessive with her after his death.
But she didn’t know what he would think about hot, frantic sex with a man she wasn’t even dating.
“It was a little much, I guess. I underestimated how much I’d be tempted.” She sighed and tucked Jason under some books, wondering if Griffin had seen the picture and, if so, what he’d made of it.
Minutes later, with her cell phone stuck in her pocket, she headed downstairs. Copper greeted her effusively, and Raleigh picked him up and held him close. “Are you having a good time visiting your uncle Daniel?” she asked as the dog licked her on the chin.
“I heard that.” Daniel appeared in the doorway of the formal dining room. “I am not your dog’s uncle.”
“We’re having breakfast on the patio today. It’s a beautiful morning.”
“Wonderful.” She set Copper down, and the dog ran off, probably to find his new playmate, Tucker. The two dogs, though comically mismatched in size, seemed to get along famously.
“The police didn’t find any sign of the shooter,” Daniel said. “Just an open window in a vacant office across the street. No bullet casings, no hair or fiber, no witnesses.”
“That’s bad.” Actually, she’d expected as much. Whoever was out to get her was very good at not getting caught.
“Where’s Griffin?” Daniel asked.
Raleigh stepped carefully, worried that anything she said regarding Griffin would give her away. “I heard a shower running down the hall from me a while ago. I’m sure he’ll be down shortly.”
Breakfast was exactly what Raleigh was craving—fried eggs, pork sausage, toast slathered in butter, orange juice and strong coffee.
“We have all kinds of cereal, oatmeal, granola, fresh fruit—would you prefer something like that?” Daniel asked as Raleigh took her seat at the large glass-topped table, shaded by the biggest umbrella she’d ever seen.
“Oh, no, this is fine.”
“Really? I remember that you were kind of a health nut.”
She didn’t think of herself that way. “Usually I’m—sensible when it comes to my diet. But hey, I’m on vacation, right? Besides, something about almost dying has made me crave cholesterol.”
Daniel smiled. “Plenty of that here.” On his own plate, though, she noticed he had fresh melon, a whole-wheat muffin and a dish of plain yogurt. She supposed he couldn’t eat the greasy stuff every day, even if his cook was happy to put it in front of him.
Jillian joined them, looking daisy fresh in a polka-dot sundress, a teeny black cardigan and black sandals. Daniel apparently didn’t require a dress-for-success wardrobe from her so long as she did her job.
“Good morning, Raleigh. I hope you slept well.”
“Very well, thank you.” In part because of her warm, muscular pillow. Her heart sank a bit as she thought about Griffin. When she saw him again, she had to be prepared for however he chose to play it.