She smiled at him, remembering the other times he had pushed her over the edge and how the sensations had ripped through her. “Yes, it just might, but I can’t guarantee it.”
He found her smile a total turn-on and needed to kiss her. So he did, slow and easy, making her moan some more. Kissing her felt sensual, and it was a physical pleasure he wanted for the rest of his life.
But it was time to deepen the pleasure, and he lowered his hands to the area between her legs and began stroking her there. When her moans got a little louder, he whispered in her ear, “Shh, remember we aren’t here alone anymore. There are other guests in the house.”
And then he left her mouth and began tracing downward to taste her sweetness. When he got to her belly, he took his tongue and drew circles all around her navel, and just loving her this way made him that much more aroused. And when he got to the area of her he sought, he went in for the gusto, determined to give her the most intimate kiss that a man could give a woman.
Her thighs that cuddled his head began shaking, and he knew it was only a matter of time for her, and he wanted to be inside her when the explosion hit. He pulled up and placed his body over hers and guided himself unerringly to her.
“I love you.” He said the words the moment he entered her and watched her face when she began to reach a climax. He felt her muscles clench him, and when she was about to let out a scream, he leaned down and latched on to her mouth, absorbing the sound deep in his throat. The sensations caused by her orgasm were so profound that he broke off the kiss and threw his head back and squeezed his lips together to kill his own scream.
When the explosion had passed, he shifted their bodies, holding her tight against him. Never had he experienced anything so earth-shatteringly magnificent. When their breathing had slowed and they could talk, he asked her the question that had been burning in his heart for months.
He leaned on his elbows and gazed down at her. “Anna, will you marry me?”
He saw the tears that suddenly sprang to her eyes and said, “Before you answer, I want you to know something. I’m thinking of pursuing a political career, but only if that’s what you want, too. I want you more than a political career, and I want you to know that. If that’s not what you want, too, then I’ll do without it, but I won’t do without you.”
She reached up and cupped his face with her hand. “Oh, Zach, more than anything I want to marry you, but I’m not sure I’d make a good politician’s wife. What if the people don’t like my mixed heritage? There are still those who still remember Vietnam and—”
“You’ll make a wonderful politician’s wife. You are everything I want in a woman, the total package. There are those who admire what you had to endure for all those years and how you grew up to make something of yourself without the Fuller family name. You’re a fighter, Anna. I knew that the first day I met you, and that’s what captured my heart: the fighter in you. And you’re the type of woman I need by my side.”
Another tear fell from her eye. “I don’t want to disappoint you.”
He smiled with all the love in his heart. “Trust me, you won’t, sweetheart. But like I said, I want a political career only if it’s something you want, too. Otherwise, I can continue doing what I’m doing now.”
She nodded, but deep down Anna knew for him even to be considering a political future meant he really wanted one. Could she be the wife he needed?
Suddenly, a particular letter her father had written to her mother came to mind. In that letter he told her that he had ask for leave to bring her to the States where he wanted their child to be born. He didn’t care what anyone thought about his marriage to a Vietnamese. The most important thing was their love for each other because together they would be able to handle anything.
And she believed that in her heart. Together she and Zach would be able to handle anything. Emotions filled her entire being, and she reached out and cupped his chin and said in a soft voice, “Yes, Zach, I will marry you. There’s nothing in this world that I want more than to be your wife and the mother of your children.”
37
A smile touched Monique’s lips the moment she saw Lyle. “Good morning.”
He leaned over and brushed his lips against hers. “And a good morning to you, too.”
“Thanks for the flowers. They’re beautiful.”
“Just like you,” he said, reaching out and pushing a strand of hair back from her face. “Ready to go jogging?” Yes.
After jogging a couple of miles along the shore as they usually did each morning, they walked hand in hand back to his condo. He told her about the meeting he had attended last night and that he’d been asked to come back next summer to host another six-week symposium.
“Think you’ll do it?” Monique asked quietly while walking by his side.
“Next summer is a long way off, but I’m really thinking about it,” he admitted. “I like it here. This place has a tendency to grow on you.” He then looked at her, smiled, and winked. “But then you being here had a lot to do with it, too. I enjoyed sharing breakfast most mornings with a beautiful woman.”
They sprinted up the brick steps to his apartment. Today would be her day to prepare breakfast while he showered. And when he was getting dressed, she would use his shower. But today things would be different, too. She had done a lot of soul searching last night and had made a number of decisions. She knew her feelings for him were real, and if he was willing to go the distance and establishe a solid relationship, then so was she.
He unlocked his door and stood back to let her in. “Do you have a taste for anything in particular this morning?” she asked when he closed the door behind them.
“As a matter of fact. . .” And then he pulled her into his arms and kissed her, and it seemed his kisses were becoming hotter and hotter, and the moment their tongues began to tangle, her desire for him escalated.
“If you don’t go ahead and take your shower, you’re going to be late for work,” she said, reluctantly breaking off the kiss and whispering across his moist lips.
“Oh, I forgot to mention that I don’t have a class today. Since tomorrow is the Fourth, they gave everyone an extra day. I was going to ask you to spend the day with me.”
Monique immediately thought the cancellation of his class worked nicely into her plans. “Umm, I’ll have to see. I thought about going shopping with Faith and Shannon again today,” she lied. “Now go take your shower so I can feed you afterwards.”
He gave her another quick peck on the lips before turning to walk off toward his bedroom. He hadn’t made it to the door when his mobile phone on the table started ringing. “Will you get that for me?” he tossed over his shoulder, not breaking his stride, before going into the bedroom and closing the door.
She shrugged. If he didn’t have a problem with her answering his phone, neither did she. She quickly crossed the room to pick it up.
“Hello.”
There was a pause.
“Hello,” she said again, certain someone was on the other end.
“I was trying to reach Dr. Lyle Montgomery,” a feminine voice said.
Monique would be a fool to think other females didn’t have Lyle’s number, but the woman in her wanted to know why this particular one was calling. “He’s busy at the moment.” And to get her point across, she added, “In the shower. Would you like to leave a message?”
There was another pause, and then the woman said, “No message. Just let him know his sister called.”
His sister! “Carrie?” Monique asked tentatively.
“Yes?” The woman seemed surprised that Monique knew who she was.
“This is Monique, a friend of Lyle’s. He and my brother Arnie went to med school together.”
“Oh yes, he’s mentioned Arnie several times. And how are you, Monique?”
“I’m fine, and congratulations on your marriage.”
“Thank you. I just wanted to let Lyle know our flight plans for next Friday.”
“That’s right, and I hope to see you when I get there. I look forward to meeting you.”
“Same here, and I’ll let Lyle know you called.”
“Thanks. Good-bye.”
“Good-bye.” Monique smiled as she clicked off the phone. Like her brother, Arnie, Carrie seemed very protective, a good sister.
She lifted her head when she heard the shower going and decided that now was the time to let Lyle know of her decision.
Lyle lifted his face to the shower head to let water flow over it. He always enjoyed taking showers after jogging. And today he felt full of energy, filled with life, and so much in love.
Monique hadn’t said anything about their conversation of yesterday, although she had thanked him for the flowers he’d sent. He wondered what would be her reaction to discover a bunch would be delivered to her almost every other day. He intended to do whatever it took to get his point across.
He turned when he heard the shower door opening and blinked, then taking his hand, he wiped the lathered water from his face to make sure he was seeing straight. Monique was standing there, totally naked. His gaze did a swoop of her body and zoomed in on the perfectly shaped shoulders before moving downward to her firm, thrusting breasts with the hardened nipples, moving lower still to her flat stomach, small waist, and shapely hips and legs that had him losing his breath. But what his gaze was fixed on more than anything was the dark triangle in her center.
He forced his gaze away from that particular spot to her face and saw her smile softly. “I decided it would save time if we showered together this morning. Do you mind?” she asked.
He swallowed and forced himself to speak. “No, I don’t mind.”
“Good.” She held out her hand and when he looked at it like he’d never seen a hand before, she grinned and said, “The soap, please.”
“Oh.”
The moment he placed the soap in her hand, their fingers touched, and she felt the spark at the same moment he did. Monique watched as his eyes darkened and she heard his breathing suddenly become labored. But what really gave him away and proudly announced the magnitude of his desire for her was the way his erection was growing, right before her eyes. Oh my.
“Do you need help?” he questioned in a low, sexy voice. “Do you want me to lather you?”
She gave a small sensual laugh. She intended for him to do more than just lather her. “Only if you let me lather you.”
“Whenever you want.”
She smiled and handed him back the soap and watched as he lathered some in his hand before reaching up and, meeting her gaze, began gently rubbing the soapy substance onto her chest, caressing it onto her skin. She gave a sensual shiver when his hand touched her breasts, bathing them in soft bubbles around her hardened tips. The confined space had the fragrance of the scented soap that he continued to lather into her body, leaving his imprint everywhere he touched.
“You okay?” he questioned softly, when he saw her eyes close.
She nodded. “Yes, I’m okay. Just don’t stop.” “I won’t.”
And then he was leaning down to lather lower, moving toward her waist, reaching around and massaging soap into the curves of her butt, all over her hips, and slipping his hand lower to lather the area between her legs.
When she made a deep sound in her throat, he glanced up and saw her eyes were no longer closed but were looking at him, focusing hard on his enlarged erection.
“Are you ready for me to lather you now?” she asked in a voice that sounded so sexy, it made his heart pound hard in his chest.
“Yes,” he said, forcing the words out through clenched teeth. “I’m ready.”
She took the soap from him and instead of starting with his chest the way he’d done her, she went straight to the area below his waist, reaching out and gripping him in her hand. But instead of lathering it, she just held it for a moment, stroked him, cupped him, and slowly begin sliding her fingers up and down him.
“Do you know what you’re doing to me?” he asked, backing up against the shower wall as if his legs couldn’t support him any longer.
“No, what am I doing to you?” she asked innocently, like she didn’t have a clue.
“You’re driving me crazy. You make me want to take you here and now.”
“Then do it.”
He didn’t have to be told twice, and leaning down, he captured her mouth with his at the same time that he lifted her off her feet, and she automatically wrapped her legs around him. He turned slightly and backed her against the shower wall while water cascaded over them. She gripped his shoulders when he nudged her legs apart, and before she could catch her next breath, he drove into her, locking their bodies tight. For a moment he didn’t move, just continued to kiss her with a hunger that sent waves of pleasure all through her, and when he began moving, thrusting back and forth inside her, she let out a loud scream.
That same orgasm that had torn into her ripped into him, and he began moving faster, going deeper, groaning out her name over and over again. And then he switched positions where he was the one whose back was against the wall. He sagged against it for support with her body still locked to his, refusing to let her go. And they stayed that way for long, glorious moments while getting their breathing under control, while she tucked her face into his neck.
When he pulled back, he met her gaze. Smiling, he said, “That was some shower.”
She giggled. “Yes, it was.”
His expression then turned serious. “Why?”
She knew what he was asking. “Because I’m ready to move on with my life, and I want you to be a part of it. I’ve fallen in love with you, Lyle.”
“Oh, sweetheart.” And then he was kissing her, and Monique believed with all her heart that everything would be all right.
38
Shannon stood at the window in her bedroom and looked at the sky. The sun was coming up, and it was a beautiful sight. Today was a special day, the birthday of the nation, and already her nose picked up the scent of charcoal. Evidently several residents in the community had decided to fire up their grills early.
Monique decided to spend most of the day with Lyle and wouldn’t be back until later when it was time to view the fireworks from the pier. Faith, who seemed rather quiet last night, mentioned that she had picked up another book at the grocery store and intended to hang out on the beach and read.
Shannon wasn’t sure what she would be doing, although Adam’s invitation weighed heavily on her mind. He wanted her to go to Savannah with him, to a drag race, of all places. But then she figured that’s probably what a mechanic did on his days off: go somewhere to inhale more nitrogen and carbon monoxide. Why on earth did he think she would want to tag along? Did she even closely resemble a drag racing babe? If Adam Corbain thought for one minute that she would show up at his place today, then he had another thought coming.
But then when she should have been satisfied with that decision, a gentle stir seemed to vibrate under her skin. And suddenly the feel of Adam caressing her body came to mind. She quickly gathered her defenses, not willing to fall under the Corbain spell, but she couldn’t help it when an ache took over her.
The feeling was highly unexpected, and something she couldn’t explain. The only thing she knew was that she had to act on it. Moving away from the window, she went to the closet and began getting dressed. She didn’t understand any of it. All she knew was that she wanted to spend the day with Adam, no matter where he planned to go.
Later she stopped only long enough to scribble a note to place on the refrigerator for Faith and Monique. Then she quickly headed for the door.
A smile touched Adam’s lips as he hung up the phone. The Fourth was not only the birthday of the nation, but it was also his father’s birthday, and he had just finished talking with his parents. They were excited about becoming grandparents, and he had listened while they went on and on a
bout how long they had waited for such an event.
He checked his watch, giving up all hope that Shannon would show up. He’d figured she wouldn’t but had held out that maybe, just maybe, she would. He turned around, wanting to punch something. The woman had gotten under his skin in the worst possible way.
He glanced up when he heard a sound. She was standing there by the window. Surprise and pleasure filled him, and he quickly crossed the floor to let the garage door up. She strolled in and looked at him. Tossing her hair out of her face, she said, “You said to be here by ten. I’m here and ready to go.”
The breeze coming in through the SUV’s window did little to cool off the inside of the vehicle as they headed toward Savannah on Highway 278. With little traffic off the island, it would take less than an hour for them to make the trip.
Shannon settled comfortably into the leather seat, feeling she was where she wanted to be and for the time being she wouldn’t question things.
She glanced over at Adam. Why did he have to be so darn handsome? Why did his mere presence cause shivers to run down her spine? He glanced over at her and caught her staring, and the grin that spread across his face was full of sin and sensuality: a deadly combination. She wished it didn’t set off the rush of desire that began spreading through her.
“You okay?” he asked in that sensuous voice of his, reaching across the seat to place his hand on her thigh.
No, she wasn’t but she wouldn’t tell him that. “I’m fine, but don’t you think you should have both of your hands on the steering wheel?”
He threw his head back and laughed. “But I like touching you.”
“I gathered as much.”
“And you like me to touch you.”
“Yes,” she admitted, deciding to be truthful about that at least. “But there’s a time and a place, and driving down the highway while doing seventy miles an hour isn’t the time or the place.”
What a Woman Wants Page 24