by Bette Ford
She quickly went on to say, “I’ve made a point hiding it all this time. I didn’t want you to know I’ve been infatuated with you for years. Your face and strong body have played repeatedly in my dreams. You’re my fantasy man. I’ve imagined you making love to me hundreds of times. Getting to know you before the wedding made it worse.”
“What?” Ralph said in disbelief as he sat down on the arm of the love seat across from her.
“You heard me. And it’s true. That’s why when we were in Atlanta I finally found the courage to tell you I wanted you. Being away also helped. And I decided to take advantage of what felt like a golden opportunity. I found the courage to ask you to be my lover.”
Reading the doubt in his eyes, she whispered, “You don’t believe me, do you?”
“I don’t know what I believe.” He shook his head as if to clear it. “You’ve certainly surprised me. Why are you telling me all this now?”
She released a nervous laugh. “I didn’t have much choice. You walked away. It was now or never.”
He still looked doubtful, confused. He admitted, “I’m not sure I know what to believe. We spent most of the summer together. Not once have you even hinted you felt this way.”
Twenty-eight
“I know. And I was wrong. I should have told you on Sunday night. While you were able to tell me how you felt, I held back. Look what happened! Everything went so horribly wrong.” She threw her hands up in helplessness. “And it was all my fault that you left angry. Ralph, please. It’s time we really talked. I’m so sick of trying to keep it all inside. I can’t do it anymore.”
He stared at her so long, not saying anything, that she came close to panicking. She rushed ahead with, “I should have told you all this when I first asked you to be my lover. I knew you had a right to know, but I was too embarrassed to tell you. I think…no, I know, I was falling in love with you way back when we were planning Brynne and Devin’s engagement party.”
She could tell she’d shocked him. She smiled for the first time since she arrived. “Should I wait for you to catch up?”
“I’m glad one of us finds this amusing,” he growled, clearly frustrated.
“I don’t, not really. I’m just trying to lighten the mood.” She covered her face with her hands for a moment, then dropped them into her lap. “This is so hard. I don’t want you to be angry. I’m really trying to make you understand why I did what I did.”
He folded his arms over his chest. His face closed, not allowing her to guess what he might be thinking. “I’m listening.”
Nodding, she took a deep breath before revealing, “While we were planning the engagement party, I used to wait to call you until it was late. Sometimes it was something I easily could have told you during the day. I liked to turn off all the lights, after the house was quiet, then climb into bed, close my eyes, and concentrate on listening to the sound of your voice. It didn’t matter what we talked about. Ralph, I adored that deep huskiness of your voice. It was as if you were in bed with me. Yours was the last voice I heard. And I’d dream about you…sensuous dreams.”
Afraid to even look at him, she said in a nervous whisper, “I was falling in love with you. It frightened me, yet I didn’t want it to stop. After the engagement party, the calls stopped. And it hurt. I needed to talk to you. I wanted it back. I wanted you back.
“Then we had that surprise trip to Atlanta. And you were there. I had an unexpected opportunity if I had the courage to just ask for what I wanted. Somehow, I did ask.” She took a deep breath. “I was so scared the night I asked you to be my lover. I just knew you were going to turn me down. But you didn’t. I didn’t realize I was in love with you. All I knew was that I wanted to be with you. You…”
Before Vanessa finished, he was in front of her. He pulled her against his hard frame. His kisses were deep and hungry. Vanessa melted, locking her arms around his lean waist. Then suddenly, she was pushing against him, shaking her head. She said, “Let me finish. I need to tell you…all of it.”
He nodded. When he sat back down, he brought her down with him until she sat across his thighs. With his face against her soft throat, he said, “Go ahead. Say it.”
“No, let me up. I’m heavy. Besides, I can’t think with you so close.”
“Don’t ever complain about your size. I adore your curves. When I look at you I see nothing except a beautiful woman. I love you, Vanessa Grant. I love everything about you. And I’m not going to ever let you go, again.”
Vanessa blushed, unable to control her happy tears.
“Don’t cry, sweetheart.”
“These are happy tears,” she said, kissing him.
“Marry me.”
She shook her head no, then instantly felt his entire body stiffen.
“Was that a refusal?” he demanded.
“I love you.” She brushed his lips with hers. “I love you so very much. And I want nothing more than to be your wife.” She let out a breath when she felt him relax beneath her.
“When?”
She moved a caressing hand over his biceps. “Honey, please. We need to talk. I don’t want there to be any more misunderstandings between us. It hurts too much.”
When Ralph placed a finger under her chin, she lifted her face until her eyes met his. What she saw made her heart ache at the depth of love and vulnerability he didn’t try to conceal. She felt as if she were seeing into his heart.
He’d put himself out there, and she could do no less than be completely open with him. “I’ve made so many mistakes this summer. I’ve been so busy taking care of the children and dealing with the twins’ father, plus struggling to handle my fears and doubts while fighting my feelings for you. With the twins’ situation sorted out and the kids back in school, finally I was able to focus on what was important to me. You, my love…only you.”
Through a haze of unexpected tears she let him see into her heart. She wanted Ralph to be her all…her partner…her heart…her mate. If they were going to make it as a couple, there could be no secrets. Vanessa fully accepted what would be their reality. They would do it…all of it…together.
“Happy tears?” he questioned.
“Absolutely.” She smiled back.
They shared a long, gentle kiss.
“I see the love, but I need the words,” he said quietly. “For so long it has only been wishful thinking on my part.”
“I mean it. I am so in love with you, Ralph Prescott. More than I can possibly say.”
He smiled, before whispering, “Good. I’ll need you to tell me often. Get used to it because I’ll never get tired of hearing those magical words.”
“Ralph, I’m sorry I kept you waiting, and it took me so long to tell you how I feel. I let my insecurities that you might not love me enough to commit keep us apart. Never again.”
Gathering her close until her breasts pressed against the plane of his chest, he said close to her ear as his warm breath sent shivers along her skin, “You, my love, are worth the wait. Do you have any idea how much you mean to me? I meant every word when I told you that I haven’t been near another woman since the night of the wedding. What I didn’t tell you is that it was since our first dance at Devin and Brynne’s engagement party.
“The instant I held you close that night, my heart started racing. You not only felt right against me, you fit me perfectly. In that moment I knew I wanted you, more than I’ve ever wanted any woman. I forgot all that stuff I’d been telling myself about you.”
She pressed her lips against the side of his neck and felt his shiver. “What kind of stuff were you telling yourself about me? Be careful, I’m listening closely.”
Ralph’s chuckled throatily. “Oh yeah.”
“Yeah. Go on.”
“I thought you were too much of a good girl for me to get involved with. You were Gavin’s secretary. I knew he and Anna held you in high esteem. And I tried my best to ignore the way your late-night voice on the telephone turned me on,” he teased husk
ily. “Satisfied?”
Vanessa giggled. “No. So tell me. What do you mean, I turned you on?”
Ralph laughed, “You want details?”
“Oh yeah…every single one,” she teased.
Ralph chuckled, kissing her forehead, tightening his arms around her. “Well, I’ve always thought you were cute. Loved those curves, sweet girl, but you were off-limits to me. Until then, I liked the wild, willing, out-there types. I was not about to mess with you.”
“What? You thought I was a virgin, and you were turned off?”
“I knew you were around Anna’s age. So I just assumed you had some experience. You weren’t my type. So I intended to keep my distance, despite that sexy voice of yours.” He chuckled. “But, man, when I felt those dangerous curves, I was instantly hard and ready. Sweet girl, you know you were wearing that dress that night at the party. I could not take my eyes off you all night. You were so beautiful. Not only did you feel right in my arms, you smelled so good.”
“Thank you, sweet man.” She couldn’t stop the smile that came from the inside out. Caressing his cheek, she said, “And I’m glad you didn’t keep your distance.”
“I tried, believe me, I tried. But I couldn’t stay away from you. I was so jealous of any man who danced with you or looked at you too hard. When I got on that plane to Atlanta, all I could think about was keeping Ron Daniels away from you. He wanted you. I planned to make it my business to make sure you didn’t fall for his lame lines and pretty-boy looks.”
“Wow.” She stared at him. “I never, ever, thought of Ron that way.” Caressing his lips, she said, “You were the one I dreamed about, fantasized about. The one I wanted to be my first lover.”
He insisted, “Your only lover!”
Then he rained kisses down her throat. Eyes closed, she began to tremble when he unbuttoned her white silk blouse. He placed kisses down the scented valley between her breasts. Releasing a moan, she looked up into sizzling-hot flames of desire in his dark eyes.
He growled possessively, “Say it, Vanessa.”
Reaching up, she cupped his nape. “I don’t need to say it. You know I didn’t want Ron. He doesn’t even compare to you, my big handsome man. You’re my heart. You’re the only man I want to make love to me…only you. I’m all yours. And you’re all mine. Remember, Ralph Prescott, I don’t believe in sharing.”
Vanessa gasped when he kissed her and swept her up into his arms. He carried her into the dark bedroom. Her arms were locked around his neck. “What are you doing?”
He let her legs go and her thighs brushed against his. His arms were around her, holding on tight. His mouth open and hungry over hers. “Oh, my love,” he whispered as he savored her lips in kiss after kiss. He said huskily, “I need you, beautiful. I need to be inside you, now.”
“Yes–yes, my love, “Vanessa managed to get out.
While he attacked the buttons of her blouse, she did the same with his shirt. When she reached his waist, he pushed the jacket and blouse off her shoulders. Then he started at her waistband and zipper. His hands were unsteady, so what normally only took seconds seemed to take forever. But soon, there was nothing separating them, they stood dark skin to dark skin, trembling with need.
Ralph backed her up to the bed until they came down on it together. His body cushioned her descent. His kisses were hard, insistent. Lost in his sweet magic, Vanessa concentrated on nothing beyond the way he made her feel.
She mumbled a complaint when his mouth left hers, but she was soon moaning in pleasure, as his kisses traveled down the side of her throat to her shoulders until he tenderly squeezed her soft breasts.
Then Ralph kissed and licked his way over the plump globe of each breast. Vanessa whimpered as the pleasure intensified. When he took an aching nipple into his mouth to lick, then suck, it hardened into a taut peak. He didn’t stop there. He smoothed his hand down her stomach to trail his fingers through soft curls covering her feminine mound. Cupping her plump folds, he rhythmically squeezed her softness again and again.
Vanessa was beyond all reason. She stroked down his spine down to his firm buttocks, all the while opening herself even more to him. Her breath fast and uneven, it picked up speed even more when he slid a finger deep inside her wet heat.
“No,” she protested. “I want you inside of me now. Hurry.” When he slid off her, she shook her head vehemently. “Honey, where are you going? You can’t stop now,” she said in disbelief.
His voice rough with desire. “Just give me a second, sweetheart.”
He walked over to his suitcase on the luggage rack. He searched an inside pocket before he returned with a box of condoms.
She watched as he returned to the king-size bed, ripped open the condom, and quickly covered his shaft. One look into his dark eyes told her all she needed to know. He wanted her as much as she wanted him.
She covered his lips with hers, and they both moaned with desire and incomparable need.
“Touch me, sweetness. I need your hands on me,” he whispered.
There was no hesitation on her part. Her only thought was pleasuring him. She eased back until she could stroke his hot, dark skin from the base of his throat, over his chest and nipples. She worried them with her nails until they were pebble hard. He let out a ragged breath as she caressed his ribs and stomach before she stroked the pulsating length of his thick erection. She smiled as he let out a husky groan. She was thrilled by the pleasure and hunger displayed in his eyes. Vanessa’s soft hands stroked him again and again until he called out her name.
Kissing her, he said, “No more, beautiful. It feels too good, and I don’t want to spoil our enjoyment.”
Exchanging hot, tongue-stroking kisses, he kissed his way over her breasts, tonguing each of her aching nipples in turn. Then, kneeling, Ralph teased her moist folds open. He caressed her slowly, repeatedly with the wide crest of his shaft until she was begging him to hurry. Quivering with desire, she tilted her pelvis forward, wanting every hard inch of his shaft. Unable to hold back an instant, he thrust forward. They both groaned from the intense pleasure as he entered her dewy, slick sheath. He groaned her name as he pushed until he completely filled her. Vanessa cried out as she felt his entire length, and instinctively tightened around him.
“Yes, my love…oh yes,” she whispered as she lifted her legs and wrapped them around his waist. He groaned his pleasure as Vanessa closed her eyes, focusing on their closeness. He gave her a tongue-stroking kiss as her muscles caressed him from deep inside. When Ralph pulled back, Vanessa moaned in protest, then he kissed her again and again. He dropped his head, took her hard nipple into his mouth, and sucked as he plunged back in and out. Shivers of need raced along her nerves, and the pleasure continued to mushroom as he repeatedly stroked her. She was unsure if she could contain the enjoyment. As if he sensed that she was holding back, he slid a hand between their bodies to find her feminine nub, and he worried the ultrasensitive peak, again and again. He teased, causing her to tighten even more. Numb with pleasure, as Vanessa’s control crumbled, so did his. He lifted her legs until they rested on his forearms, opening her even more to his persistent strokes.
He called her name, increasing his thrusts, each one harder and deeper than the last. Vanessa screamed his name, losing track of time and place. Her heart pounded wildly in her breasts as she reached an earth-shattering climax. Her strong contraction triggered his own release. Ralph’s arms tightened around her, and his body shook and jerked from his convulsion as he experienced an incredible release that seemed to go on and on. They clung to each other, their sweat-dampened bodies touching from chest to hips, legs intertwined. Ralph was the first to recover as he moved to slide off her, but Vanessa protested, tightening her arms around him. He placed a series of tender kisses over her face and throat, lingering on her kiss-swollen lips.
“No,” she pouted. “I don’t want you to move.”
He chuckled, “Believe me, I don’t want to move, but I’m too heavy. I’m crushin
g you, sweetheart.”
“Never,” she persisted, needing their closeness. She whispered, “You feel so good.”
He kissed her gently. “So do you, my beautiful lady.” Ralph solved the problem when he rolled onto his back, taking Vanessa with him. Their bodies were still connected.
Vanessa sighed when she found herself cradled on his chest, her face tucked beneath his chin. He moved a caressing hand down her back, settling on her bottom, squeezing her again and again.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered.
“Sorry about what?” he quizzed.
When she sniffled, burying her face between his shoulder and neck, he shifted until he could see her eyes. “What is it, beautiful? Are you crying?”
“It’s nothing,” she mumbled, as her tears dampened his skin.
Ralph stroked her back, soothingly moving from her nape to her hips. “No secrets, remember? Don’t tell me those are happy tears. I’m not buying it.”
“It’s not you. It’s me. I was wrong not to believe you when you told me you haven’t been with anyone else. I was so afraid of being hurt. So much so that I compared you to Cummingham. It was a terrible thing to do. You’re a loyal, giving man of your word. Cummingham is self-centered and weak,” she ended in a sob.
Ralph kissed her forehead, wrapping his arms around her as he focused on the beat of their hearts. He used the top sheet to dry her tears. He said close to her ear, “No, my sweetheart. You weren’t wrong. You had a good reason for doubting me. Until that night at the engagement party, all I was looking for was to get laid. Nothing else mattered, not the women, not their dreams. You changed all that. You made me see what was missing in my life…you. I needed you to love me, to be mine.”
He covered her face with gentle kisses. “I’m going to prove it to you that you have nothing to worry about concerning other women. That part of my life is over. I promise you.”