by Rita Sawyer
Dade took one look at her eyes and lost all control. He crushed her lips under his. She moaned and parted giving him the entrance he demanded. He swept his tongue along her hers loving the sweet way she tasted. Her arms slid around his neck and they clung to each other desperately eager for the intimacy the connection gave them. Dade pressed his pelvis against her letting her feel what she did to him. She felt so good in his arms that he didn’t want to let go, but the damn pesky part of him that still had some honor urged him to pull back.
“Rosie,” He took a second to catch his breath. “I want you, but I’m not sure you’re ready for this.”
“Okay, this is the second time today that you’ve hinted that I don’t know what I want. You really need to stop doing that.” Her smile confused him.
“So you’re saying?” He needed to hear the words.
She tugged her shirt over her head and dropped it to the floor. “That we can discuss everything I want later. Right now how about you show me what you want.”
He didn’t need to be told twice. With a quick bend at his knees he leaned forward and slung her over his shoulder. He carried her upstairs. When he reached the top he had a brief moment of indecision. His room or hers? Now was a good chance to check out her room, but there were condoms in his room. She reached down and grabbed his ass and he made it to his room in three long strides.
Dade lowered her to the floor letting her body slowly slide along his. He wanted their first time to be something they’d both remember for a long time. Slow and easy savor every touch and taste that had been his plan until she reach for the button on his jeans. The two of them tore at each other’s clothes as he walked them toward the bed. Of all the things her uncle had wanted for them Dade was sure wild raging lust wasn’t on his list. They fell onto the bed in a tangle of limbs.
It was damn obvious neither of them was in the mood for slow and easy lovemaking, but Dade was still going to make sure this was good for her. She was breathing heavily as he kissed along her neck down, nibbled here and there, until he reached the swell of her breasts. He slid his hand from her now bare breast down her side. He stilled for just a second when she squirmed under his touch and giggled. Ticklish. He tucked that little tidbit away for later and continued his journey.
When he reached her hip his palm settled on the generous curve. His thumb rested on that spot where there was a dip that would lead right to where he wanted to be most. Dade rolled himself off her enough to give him access. He slid his hand between them, his fingers parting her curls. She was soft, wet, and welcoming.
Dade ran his fingers along her silky folds enjoying the way she squirmed under his touch. She moaned as he slid one finger inside her. She was tight and he realized instantly he was going to have to be gentle with her at least at first. Rosie moaned as he toyed with her. The louder she was the harder he got. Damn, he was going to lose it soon if he didn’t get her off. He added another finger to her tight passage and she pushed against his hand. Dade pressed the hard part of his palm to her mound and added pressure. He let her own movements drive her pleasure higher.
Rosie reached down and put her hand over his pressing it harder as she squeezed her thighs together. Dade knew she had to be close. He closed his lips over her nipple and suckled giving her everything he had.
Chapter Seven
Dade paced around the office trying to decide what he should do. It was downright scary how good he and Rosie were getting along. Since the afternoon two weeks ago when they had sex they had slept together every night. Some nights they were in her bed, some in his, even a few on the couch when they’d fallen asleep watching TV. The truth was he was getting used to sleeping with Rosie.
Maybe he was growing a little too comfortable, because the idea of them staying together wasn’t as crazy as it once sounded. And it wasn’t just the sex making him think it either, because sleeping wasn’t the only thing they were doing together. They’d taken to living like an actual couple. Somewhere between the sheet and the breakfast table a change had taken place. Suddenly they were in a new place. Rosie told him all kinds of things about her life and asked him dozens of questions about growing up with her uncle. He told her stuff that no else, not even Teddy knew.
Dade had never considered what it would be like to have anyone know him so intimately. Probably because he hadn’t wanted anyone enough yet to really put himself out there. Rosie hadn’t given him a choice.
It wasn’t hard to want Rosie. Just being around her he felt lighter than he ever had, even before his parents had died. She was always smiling at him. When she wasn’t in the study working he could find her in the kitchen. She was either cooking or baking, so the house smelled amazing. Dade figured he’d gained about five pounds. He was going to have to start watching how much he ate, or start really working out. It was worth it though, because he loved watching her prance around in those purely feminine aprons.
When she left —he was sure she was going to at some point, because even though she was happy there he’d seen her in the city and she loved it there— the place was going to seem emptier than ever. Teddy had always said the house needed and deserved to have the laughter of children carrying throughout the halls. Sadly both times Teddy had found love it hadn’t lasted long enough to give him that. Dade wondered if he moved out and let Rosie have the house if she would ever make Teddy’s dream a reality. He knew the only way he’d find out was to ask her.
There would be a possibility she’d give him an answer he didn’t want to hear. It occurred to him that it could go even worse and she might feel as though he was pressuring her for a commitment to him. He was pretty sure neither of them was ready for that.
“You’re going to end up with some serious lines if you don’t stop frowning.” Her voice snapped him out of his thoughts.
“How long have you been there?” Dade asked.
Rosie walked into the room as if she belonged and sat in his chair. “Long enough to see that you’re worried about something.”
He didn’t know what he wanted to say to that. He watched silently as she popped her feet up on the desk and crossed them at her ankles. She had on another pair of those stilettos she favored. This time they were a leopard print. She waggled her foot and he wondered if she was waiting for him to make a comment. There were a few that sprang to mind, but he held them back.
“You wanna talk about it?” He appreciated her offer.
“Not really.” He glanced at his watch. “Are you still planning on going to meet Sophia for dinner?”
“Yeah. That’s what I came to talk to you about.”
“What’s up?”
“I’m not sure. All I know is Sophia needs to talk to me about something. So I have no idea how long I’m going to be. I just wanted to let you know if it’s late I’ll probably stay in the city for the night, but I’ll call and let you know for sure.”
His first thought was she might be tired of sleeping with him, but then he figured it was probably a smart idea not to drive back out there if it got late. “Okay.”
“That’s it, just okay.”
“What else can I say?” Was he supposed to demand that she be home and in his bed by midnight?
The smile that curved her lips made them even more kissable. “You could say you’re gonna miss having me.”
“I thought that was obvious.” He meant it wholeheartedly.
“Nothing with you is obvious.” She tipped her head and narrowed her eyes as she stared at him. “Is that what you were frowning because you were thinking about me leaving?”
He nodded and she laughed. “Liar. You were probably thinking about work.”
“Nope, my mind has been on you since lunch.”
“More like your belly.” Dade knew she might be a little right with that assumption, but there were other parts of his body that made him think about her even more. “I bet you were wondering what you were going to do for dinner. Don’t worry it’s all set in the fridge. I taped the directions on top t
ake them off before you put it in the oven.”
He sighed. “You didn’t have to do that.”
She shrugged and her cheeks took on a pretty pink tinge as she blushed. “I know, but I wanted to.”
“Why aren’t you married yet?” The question just came out without him really thinking about it.
“Whoa!” She leaned way back in the chair and held up her hands, and Dade feared he’d made a big mistake.
“I’m sorry.” Truly he was because this was a dangerous direction to take their conversation in right now. “You don’t have to answer.”
“I don’t, but I’m going to. The easy answer is no one’s asked me.” She took a breath and sort of huffed it out. “If I dig a little deeper I guess that’s because I haven’t encouraged anyone to want more than I’m willing to give.”
“Or maybe it’s just that no one has come along that made you want to settle down?” Dade wondered if he was projecting his own issues on her.
“I’m only twenty-five. It never seemed like there was any rush.”
“There still isn’t. You still have plenty of time.” They both did, or at least they had before Teddy’s request.
“What about you?” Rosie asked.
He knew turn at some point she’d turn this back on him. “I’m only thirty, I have time.”
“No,” She laughed and shook her head. “Why haven’t you gotten married?”
He cocked his head to the side and pretended to think of an answer. “Well, no one has asked me.”
“Are you expecting some woman to walk in off the street and propose?” The question was in jest, but he noticed that her foot had stopped waggling.
“Maybe?” He gave her a one shoulder shrug.
“And you’d consider saying yes?” If she was looking for encouragement he’d give it to her.
He nodded. “If she had the right qualities.”
“This I need to hear. What is it you’re looking for in a woman?” Dade walked over and eased his hip onto the desk by her feet.
“She needs to be caring, giving, and able to deal with me working all the time.” He put his hand on top of her foot and slid it toward her bare ankle.
“That’s all?” Her voice was a little shaky.
“If she was sexy as hell it wouldn’t hurt.” He lifted her foot in his hand and slipped off her shoe. “And now that I’ve gotten used to having a wonderful cook feed me she’d have to be passable in the kitchen.”
“Not asking for too much huh?” She sighed when he pressed his thumbs into her arch and rubbed in little circles.
“Nope.” Dade really didn’t think so.
“What about kids?” He stilled his ministrations for just a few seconds.
“This might sound strange, but I’d prefer she have mine.” He gave her a wink and she laughed.
“That’s not a bad thing, but I meant how many do you want?”
“I’d have to discuss it with the lucky woman.” Rosie wiggled her toes making the blue polish on her nails sparkle.
“So already having a kid is a deal breaker huh?”
“Not totally. If she had enough of the other qualities I might bend a bit on that last one. You hinted to your mother that you want kids. How many?”
She shrugged her shoulders and glanced at the floor then back up at him. “You know I was an only child, which was good because I don’t think my parents could have handled more than that. Growing up I was bored most of the time. I’d like to have a couple of kids, maybe three, so they’d have someone to play with on rainy days.”
“I remember my grandmother telling me once that my parent’s tried for years to have another kid. They finally gave up and showered me with all of their attention, and bam my mother got pregnant. Unfortunately she died before she could have the baby. Sometimes I wish I had a brother or sister to share the memories of them with.” Man that was sappy. What the hell was she doing to him?
“Here we are wishing for siblings, when I’m ninety percent sure the reason Sophia’s spazzing is because her little sister has done something to freak her out again. And poor Tiffany, her and her sister are like night and day. They barely talk unless it’s about business.” She tugged her foot from his hands.
“Are you saying having more than one kid isn’t necessarily a good idea?” Dade picked up her shoe and held it out.
She took it and slid it back on her foot. “Not at all. I’ve seen Nicolette’s family in action and though they argue and tease each other it’s done with love.”
“So you think it’s a good idea?”
She laughed. “I’m saying no matter how many kids you have you need to raise them with love, affection, and discipline. It might be hard not to give them whatever they want if you can afford it, but it’s important not to spoil them. From what I’ve seen mostly kids just need to know they’re loved and be taught right from wrong.”
Dade considered what she said. Not some much the words, though she made sense, but it was the passionate way she said it. He knew she was speaking from personal experiences. Any kids were going to be lucky to have her for a mom. He hoped the father would be worthy of her too. It bothered him more than it should that he might not ever be in the running. Suddenly he didn’t want to talk about this anymore.
“So when are you leaving?” He asked hoping to switch the subject.
She shrugged, and sighed as she got to her feet. “Now is as good a time as any.”
“I’ll walk you out.” He laid his hand on her lower back and they headed for the door.
They paused by the door and he picked up the black leather overnight bag. Neither of them spoke as he walked her to her car. He opened the driver’s door and tossed the bag onto the passenger seat. He stepped back and she slipped in between him and the car. Dade hooked his arm around her waist and pulled her against him. Her hands went to his chest. He lowered his head and covered her mouth with his. She yielded to him allowing him to ravage her mouth. Dade kissed her until he could feel the pressure in his chest telling him he needed air.
He eased away. “Have a nice visit.”
Rosie nodded. He wanted to tell her he’d miss her, but instead he just turned and walked away.
* * * *
Rosie pulled up in front of Sophia’s townhouse and shut the car off. She sat there for another minute or two, not that she thought it was going to help her. She’d just spent two hours listening to the radio and trying to decide what this thing going on between her and Dade was. Was there even a name for what they were doing?
She had a friend who lived with her boyfriend for years before they’d finally gotten married. Rosie’s mother always called her ‘the one who was playing house’. She wondered if Dade thought that was what they were doing. They were acting like a married couple to a point. Dade had even managed to breach a few of the walls she purposefully had in place to keep most people at bay.
She didn’t have time to sit there and dwell on her situation with Dade. Rosie had a little over three months to figure things out and right now Sophia needed her. She got out of the car and started for the steps, but a pizza delivery boy got there first. Rosie started to follow him. A noise behind her had her looking over her shoulder. A young man was coming up behind her with a takeout bag from the Chinese restaurant down the street. Rosie groaned, but kept moving. She reached the top step as the door opened and Sophia appeared.
The kid handed her the pizza and took the cash she held out. Rosie took the box from her as she went inside and waited for Sophia to pay the other delivery guy.
Once the door was closed and they were alone Rosie said, “It’s a double delivery kind of problem?”
“Worse, but I stopped myself from ordering anything else.” Sophia walked into the dining room and started unpacking the food.
There was no doubt in Rosie’s mind where Sophia’s angst was coming from. “What did your sister do this time?”
“Gina has decided she wants to give back.” Sophia rolled her eyes.
“To who?” Rosie asked.
Sophia snorted with a toss of her hair. “I don’t think she even knows.”
“Okay” Rosie wasn’t going to look at this like a problem just yet. “So we’ll find her something to do where she can’t get into too much trouble.”
Sophia dropped into a chair and groaned. “It’s too late she already signed on to do some cooking competition. If she wins the charity will get twenty-five thousand dollars. Five if she loses.”
“So she’s guaranteeing them five grand. I’m not seeing the downside yet.” Rosie might not, but she knew it was there.
“It’s going to be televised over a series of weeks, and my father has decided I should watch over her.” Sophia snatched up a piece of pizza. “You can imagine how well that went over.”
“So what was her threat this time? Is she running off to live in the mountains again?” At least Gina’s ultimatums kept them entertained.
“Her idea of the mountains was a chalet with her friends in Aspen, on daddy’s credit.” Sophia laughed.
“What about the time she threatened to cut off all her hair if your father didn’t get her an appointment with Haviar.”
This time Sophia came to her sister’s defense. “She was only twelve.”
Rosie knew that Sophia was always going to be on her sister’s side no matter what happened. Right now she just needed some support.
“Things have gotten progressively worse as she’s gotten older.” And Sophia always bailed her out. “So what’s she holding over your head this time?”
“Nothing. She willingly gave me the contracts to read. Not that I can do anything now, because she already signed them. In a month she’ll be assigned a professional chef as her partner and then we’ll know more.”