Open In Private

by Samantha Gentry

  The next three hours passed quickly but without enthusiasm. She surveyed the scene, evaluating what she had accomplished so far. Everything in the dining room met with her satisfaction—festive holiday candles, pinecones, and fresh greenery carefully placed on the long dining table and the sideboard.

  She quickly scanned the living room, the place where she wanted to make some changes. The traditional mantle decorations handed down through her family were in place. But what could she do with the rest of the room that would be different, using the decorations she already had? Maybe if she rearranged the furniture to make room for the Christmas tree in the alcove rather than in front of the large picture window where she had always put it.

  With a total lack of enthusiasm, she moved the small table and reading lamp out of the alcove. She heaved a heavy sigh of resignation, then headed back to the alcove to struggle with her favorite reading chair.

  The doorbell stopped her half way across the room. A wave of irritation rippled through her in response to the unwanted interruption. She was in no mood for company, especially her neighbor two doors down the street who seemed to always be out of something and needed to borrow from her just until she could get to the store. There had been so many times Carli wanted to suggest that she go to the store now. Or better yet, tell her next time to make sure she had all the ingredients before she started cooking something. And today was definitely one of those times.

  She took a calming breath to settle her annoyance, then opened the door.

  Shock…elation…anger. She stared in stunned silence when her gaze landed on Parker. Frozen to the spot, unable to move, incapable of doing anything other than continuing to stare. Confusion ran rampant. Her heartbeat jumped into high gear. She experienced a shortness of breath. Was it possible for him to be even more desirable than when she last saw him a week ago?

  "May I come in?" He flashed a sexy smile even though his eyes held a degree of uncertainty, something akin to hesitation. In spite of that, the sound of his smooth voice lulled her into a state of compliance. She stepped aside and motioned him in.

  Parker closed the door behind him. He immediately noticed her nervousness, a condition matching his own anxiety. So many times during the last week, he had started toward her house, then changed his mind. He wanted the feel of her body next to his, to have her folded in his embrace, to taste her lips. But instead, he had settled for phoning her twice and not saying anything relevant. And now, he fought his urge to pull her into his arms and claim her mouth as his with an all-consuming kiss.

  "I'm, uh, surprised to see you. Why are you here?" Her voice carried a full measure of apprehension.

  "You told me you always spend the Friday after Thanksgiving putting up your Christmas decorations, so I assumed you'd be home. I probably should have called first, but I didn't want to give you the opportunity to duck out and not be here." He offered what he hoped looked like a teasing grin, but it felt more awkward than anything else.

  "Well, as you can see…" She gestured, indicating the mess of boxes and paper, decorations strewn around the living room, and pieces of furniture out of place. "That's what I'm doing."

  "I thought you might need some help." He nervously shifted his weight from one foot to the other as he took off his jacket, looked around, then draped it across the back of the sofa. "Why are you rearranging the furniture?"

  "I decided to put the tree in the reading alcove this year. Something to break with the traditional spot in front of the picture window. I wanted some change, a break from the same old routine I seem to have accepted as my life, and I thought this would be a good place to start."

  Did her comment have a deeper meaning than what it seemed on the surface? Or was his guilt poking at him again? "That should look very nice." Mindless chatter. He didn't seem to be able to say anything meaningful. He thought he had the words together until the moment she opened the door and he drank in every nuance of her physical presence. Then his fears kicked in, preventing him from saying what he had intended. He wanted to tell her about his feelings, not just surface things but the emotional upheaval he had been through since he left her house a week ago. He wanted to share it all with her—his fears, anxieties, concerns, realizations, and ultimate decisions.

  But instead, he stood there like some tongue-tied schoolboy, babbling inane and insipid ramblings about furniture. Oh, I see you're rearranging the furniture. Yes, the Christmas tree will look nice in the alcove. Isn't that a nice warm fire you have going. It sure feels nice on this wintry day. Nice…nice…nice. Blah…blah…blah. What a pile of shit.

  She was all he had thought about for a week. As she had just said, a life change from the same old routine. A life change from a bad marriage. A life change from the day-to-day limbo he had been in for the last seven months. A life change from an unfulfilled life. But now he couldn't find the words to tell her.

  "Let me help you." He grabbed the large over-stuffed chair in the alcove. "Where would you like this?"

  "I think maybe over there," she pointed to the location, "on the other side of the fireplace."

  He positioned the chair where she indicated, and she placed the small table and reading lamp next to it.

  Another three hours passed as they rearranged the living room furniture. There had been very little conversation and what they had managed felt more strained than natural. He had to make things right. But how?

  When they finished, she stood at the front door and surveyed the effect. "My original intention was to clear out the alcove to make room for the Christmas tree. I hadn't intended to rearrange the entire living room, but I like the results."

  "I do, too." He reached out and took her hand. Then he pulled her into his arms. The temptation had been too great. He could no longer fight the desire. He felt her initial hesitation, then she just melted into his embrace without saying anything. He held her tenderly with her head cradled against his shoulder.

  "Sometimes unexpected changes are what's needed." His emotion-laden words came out in a whisper. "Sometimes life needs a complete shake up, something to open our eyes to new possibilities."

  A renewed awareness of the joys of life flowed through his veins, touching every part of his existence. "For the last week, I've been doing battle with my fears, trying to figure out what's real as opposed to my self-doubts. And part of those fears was about new things and even more changes to my life. I've wrestled with my uncertainties, my concerns about repeating my mistakes. I wallowed in extended periods of self-pity. I analyzed the disintegration of my marriage. Any love I once had for Brenda has long ago ceased to exist, but I still tried to figure out what had gone wrong, what I could have done differently. I don't want to repeat my mistakes. As philosopher George Santayana said, 'Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it.' And the one thing I kept coming up with was the fact that I had rushed into my relationship with Brenda too quickly. We didn't take the time to really know each other."

  He paused for a moment, not sure of what else to say. "Or more accurately, I didn't know her, didn't know who she really was. I only knew the side she showed me…what turned out to be a carefully crafted and calculated persona." The words carried all the pain of betrayal churning inside him. "Even sex. When we were dating, she seemed to enjoy it, but after we were married, it became a very regimented world of missionary only with no regard for the fact that I enjoy variety."

  "Oh, Parker…I had no idea what you were going through."

  "To put it as simply as possible, what I was feeling toward you scared the hell out of me. I didn't want to lead you on with false promises or to even allude to what might be when I didn't have a clue."

  He placed a caring kiss on her lips, brief but filled with emotion. He framed her face in his hands, brushed his mouth against hers again, then took control. His tongue darted between her pliable lips, twining and meshing with hers. He wrapped his arms around her body, holding her tightly. Her taste filled his senses, conveying the heat of her desir
es. She wound her arms around his neck and fully embraced the building passion.

  Almost quicker than his mind could sort out the sequence of events, pieces of clothing lay strewn across the floor in a path leading to the bedroom. They had landed in the middle of her bed, Parker on his back and Carli on top of him.

  With one hand, he cupped her ass, and with the other, he caressed her shoulders and back. He reveled in the smooth texture of her skin, the perfect curve of her ass. He twined his tongue with hers, lost in the all-consuming clutches of lust. Blood rushed hot and fast through his veins, heating every part of his body. Her heartbeat reverberated against his chest. His cock twitched to full erection, thick and hard, seeking out her pussy.

  Sex had not been his intention when he knocked on her front door. But, like a force of nature with its own momentum, neither of them seemed capable of stopping the rush. But one thought continued to circulate in the back of his mind, something that could not wait. He broke the kiss just long enough to gasp the breathless words.

  "Please tell me you're on some kind of birth control."

  "Yes, I'm on the pill." Her words were as labored as his. "But that's not the only concern—"

  "I'm healthy, I assure you." He fought to bring his breathing under control and slow everything down. He brushed a tender kiss against her mouth. "It's easy to just say that based on an assumption, but this is much too important. Three months ago, after I'd been dating again for a while, I had myself tested. I would never put you at risk."

  Carli maneuvered off his body and snuggled next to him. The heated moment of unchecked sexual frenzy had calmed, leaving an opening for more rational thinking. "You didn't make that spontaneous grab for condoms before you left home?" As soon as the words were out of her mouth, she regretted saying them. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean that the way it came out. I wasn't making an accusation."

  He wrapped her in his embrace. "And your first thought was exactly why I didn't. I did not want you to believe that my only interest in you was sex. Since I've been divorced, I've discovered just how readily available sex is, and I'm not talking about paying for it. It's been an eye-opener. Women—even the wives of my business associates—are coming on to me. It's unnerving. It also makes me suspicious. Are they cheating behind their husband's backs or is it a business strategy with their husband's approval? I don't like the feeling of always looking for an ulterior motive." He placed a quick kiss on her lips. "That's one of the many things I've always appreciated and respected about our business arrangement, your honest straight-forward manner."

  She believed every word of his heartfelt confession, the bare bones truth obviously coming from a place deep inside him. A man who conducted himself in a forthright manner, who took his promises seriously whether business or personal, a man of honor and principle. An errant thought hit her, one that nearly evoked a chuckle at the coincidence. She could very easily have been one of those women he referred to as throwing themselves at him.

  What did she need to do? How could she establish a committed relationship with this unique and special man, one she held in the deepest admiration and respect as a person? What did he want? What was he looking for in a woman? And the most important consideration…did he have any interest in being involved in a committed relationship so soon following his divorce? Or at all?

  Then another consideration popped into her mind. Exactly when was it that she decided she wanted that committed relationship specifically with Parker Simmons? Had it happened gradually over the years without her realizing it? True, he could have her creaming her panties with nothing more than his sexy smile and smooth voice. But hot sex and committed relationship weren't the same thing. Hopefully, that relationship would include the hot sex, but all the heated passion and incendiary sex did not make for a serious commitment between two people who truly cared for each other to the exclusion of anyone else.

  A rush of pleasure rippled across her skin as he moved his hand from her breast to her inner thigh. As if waiting for a cue to drop the self-analysis and allow her physical needs to take over, her pussy once again throbbed with desire. The heated frenzy that pushed them into bed reclaimed the upper hand. She sensually ran her fingers across his stomach, then fondled his balls. His low throaty moan excited her senses. She moved her hand to his rigid shaft, the tautly stretched skin making her fingertips tingle. He slipped two fingers inside her, invading her wet and ready pussy. Her hips bucked upward against his hand in an involuntary response to his stimulation.

  Then his mouth captured hers in a kiss that screamed heated passion and hot sex. He pulled her on top of him again. Her entire body pulsed to the rhythm of his increased heartbeat, momentarily replacing the sense of loss when he withdrew his fingers from her pussy. His hard cock pressed against her belly, the heat spreading across her skin.

  Strong hands grabbed her around the waist and lifted. She opened her legs wide as he lowered her onto his erect shaft until she was fully impaled.

  Carli sat upright, closed her eyes, and slowly rocked back and forth, reveling in the deep penetration. She rubbed her engorged clit against him. Surges of hedonistic delight ebbed and flowed through her body, taking her on a journey to the pinnacle of euphoric pleasure. Never had she enjoyed sex more than her encounters with Parker. As a lover, no woman could ask for more or better.

  Her hips jerked erratically, and her body bounced as she rode him with wild abandon. A moment later, his hands grasped her jiggling boobs, cradling her tautly pointed nipples in his palms. She leaned into his touch. Whimpers of exhilaration turned to cries of rapture when the orgasmic convulsions exploded inside her. Waves of incendiary release crashed through her body. She fell forward against his chest, gasping for air.

  Parker's lungs strained as he gulped in as much oxygen as he could. Her orgasm had almost sent him over the edge. Her pussy muscles squeezed, rippled, and tugged at his cock. It took all his conscious control to hold back. And it had been worth the effort. Being able to watch her face glow in the grip of orgasmic ecstasy had been an added pleasure. But now it was his turn.

  In one quick and smooth motion, he lifted her off, positioned her on her stomach with her legs drawn up under her and her knees splayed to each side so he could probe her from behind. He grabbed her ass cheeks, then slid his dick into her wet pussy. Again imbedded to the root, he savored the way her still contracting pussy muscles latched onto his shaft. He tried to establish slow, smooth strokes, but the effort only lasted a few seconds. Harder. Faster. He couldn't get enough of her searing, tight sex.

  Each of his thrusts were met by her enthusiastic response. He wrapped one arm around her hip and manipulated her clit. With his other hand, he ran his fingers up and down the crevice separating her perfect ass cheeks. He pressed a finger against her anus, then wiggled just his fingertip inside.

  Her body jerked in response at the intrusion, then a sensual moan reached his ears. He carefully inserted his finger a little farther into her ass with his dick still filling her pussy. He bestowed several kisses across her shoulders and back.

  His chest heaved, the moment of ultimate release teetering on the edge. His body stiffened, followed by hard spasms that shuddered deep inside him. Each spurt of cum shooting into her pussy sent an added ripple of excitement through his body. He withdrew his finger and wrapped his arms around her, cupping her breasts in his palms. He stayed there, relishing the contentment until his breathing returned to normal.

  He reluctantly withdrew his cock, then turned her over. Passion glowed in the depth of her blue eyes. Her blonde hair surrounded her face in an earthy, wild disarray. He had never seen anyone more beautiful and desirable than she was at that moment.

  "Carli…that was fantastic." Even though his breathing was mostly under control, his words came out as a raspy whisper. In fact, it had been more than fantastic. Each sexual encounter with her, every fuck to orgasmic completion, had been the best.

  He held her in his arms, the intensity of their shared passion continui
ng to course through his veins. But at the same time, confusion clouded his mind. He wanted her, no doubt about that.

  He tried to put some rational thought to the problem. Charlene Vance was nothing like his ex-wife. He had known her long enough to believe in her honesty, to be assured she wasn't hiding behind a façade. But everything between them had changed so drastically in the blink of an eye. A week ago, she had arrived at his office for their scheduled Christmas shopping meeting and that night they had fucked until the early hours. And here they were again, the middle of Friday afternoon a week later, naked in her bed enjoying the moments following a powerful orgasm. What a strange life twist.

  And even stranger…he didn't want to leave.

  Chapter Four

  "Done!" Charlene Vance surveyed the decorated Christmas tree. "Now let's see what it looks like with the lights turned on." She plugged in the cord and what seemed like hundreds of twinkling lights came alive.

  "It looks terrific." Parker put his arm around her shoulders. "In fact, the entire house looks great. Even the outside, if I do say so myself."

  Carli placed a quick kiss on his lips. "You did a marvelous job on the outside. I especially like the added items you purchased this morning. I usually get it all done on Friday, but with rearranging the furniture and other distractions…" She felt the heated flush on her cheeks and forehead.

  He tilted his head, raised an eyebrow, and flashed a teasing grin. "Are you saying that you would have preferred to eliminate those distractions?"

  A sensual warmth flooded through her body as she thought back to yesterday afternoon and the sex that threatened to set her bed on fire. She had mixed feelings at the time about his decision to go home last night and come back this morning rather than spending the night.