by Mitzi Kelly
He reached over and pushed the throw pillows onto the floor, but he picked up the stuffed rabbit leaning against the headboard and placed it gently on the nightstand. She was touched he hadn’t just tossed it on the floor, evidently remembering it was a gift from her father.
He walked to the window and closed the blinds before returning to the bed and sitting down on the edge. With a purposeful look at her, he removed his boots. “That’s a definite no on the nap.” When he stood, towering over her, her pulse raced at the look in his eyes. He placed his knee on the bed and settled one hand on her thigh before it trailed slowly down to her ankle. He leaned over and removed her heels, his strong hands moving feather-like against her skin.
Her shoes thudded against the floor as he swung his other leg up and over her. Straddling her hips, he reached behind her and lifted her to a sitting position. She lifted her arms to encircle his neck as his hands moved to her hair and removed the clip. His eyes deepened as her thick hair fell over his hands. He lowered his head, and his lips began a tortuous journey that started at her jaw and followed a path down her neck. She felt him working the tiny clasps at the back of her dress, and soon the silky fabric slipped down her shoulders.
She lowered her arms to let the dress fall to her waist, and then raised her arms again to loosen his shirt from his slacks. While she unbuttoned his shirt, his hands fell to her waist and began a tantalizing movement up to her breasts. With one deft move, he unfastened her bra and slid the straps over her shoulders. She shrugged, freeing her arms from the fabric, and then pushed his shirt open so she could slide her hands over his smooth, brawny chest.
The faint light from the bedside lamp cast the room into a romantic wonderland, the lacy ruffles on the canopy providing shelter from the outside world. Slowly, they began to explore each other, the only sound their rapid breathing and the soft rustle of clothing being removed. His shirt landed on the floor, and he cupped her face in his hands. “You are so beautiful,” he breathed as he lowered his head to take her lips in a kiss so soft she almost whimpered.
His hands moved to her breasts, cupping them gently and moving his fingers in a circular motion. His thumbs brushed against her nipples, and bolts of lightning shot through her. Desire so strong she thought she would explode from the tension burst through her, and she reached up to thread her fingers through his hair, forcing him to deepen the kiss. After a few moments, when she was about to beg him for more, he leaned forward, forcing her back onto the pillows. He raised his head and looked at her, his eyes dark, clear pools of sensual awareness as, still kneeling, he slid down her body.
When his legs were astride her knees, he reached forward and placed his hands under her lower back, lifting her slightly so that he could pull her dress over her head. He then reached for her panties and quickly stripped her bare, her clothes landing in a heap next to his shirt. She lay there, completely naked, as he climbed off the bed. The satin comforter felt obscenely erotic next to her bare skin.
He removed the rest of his clothes, his eyes focused on her as he stood tall and proud, and one hundred percent aroused male.
Ginger’s breath caught in her throat. Magnificent seemed like such an inadequate description, but it was the best she could come up with right now. Later, when she was free from the fog of desire, she would think of a more apt description for the incredible perfection of this man. Now, though, she was consumed by the intense need to become one with him, to feel her body pressed close to his as they engaged in the most beautiful dance between man and woman.
She waited, her breath shallow and her eyes heavy with longing. With cat-like grace, Greg lay on his side beside her, pulling her into his arms as he captured her heated lips with his and slowly began to explore her body with his hands. She groaned and opened her mouth to accept his demanding tongue, her hands running over his back. His muscles rippled under her touch, proving he was as affected as she was.
Slipping one hand between their bodies, she encircled his arousal. He shuddered at her touch. “Now,” she whispered. “Now.” She didn’t want more foreplay, and she didn’t want more exploring. What she did want was him.
With a moan, he slid one knee between her thighs, rolling her over onto her back with his body following hers. She opened her legs to wrap them around his hips, inviting him to enter. Lost in a sea of emotion, she clung to him as he began to rock gently back and forth, her desire reaching a feverish point. Her release came suddenly, unexpectedly, and her whole body trembled with feeling. Her entire essence detonated in a brilliant burst of color, shooting out from her body in a spectacular fireworks display before slowly drifting back down to earth.
He gently kissed her lips, and then his movements became faster. His ragged breathing let her know his own release was right on the edge. His hold on her tightened, and a low, guttural moan escaped his lips. His body stilled, and his weight rested on top of her. And that’s when the single tear slipped from her eye. She held on to him tightly, hoping he could feel what she couldn’t say out loud. She loved this man. Completely and without contrition. Whatever might happen to their friendship, whatever changes she might face tomorrow, she would never regret what they had just shared.
She blinked rapidly as their heartbeats slowed to normal. She knew love wasn’t part of the deal. Greg might want a more serious relationship with her, but “forever and ever” was never part of the arrangement.
She wouldn’t burden him with a confession of love, knowing it would scare him away. He’d think she was just like the other women he’d been with who demanded a commitment the moment he showed any interest in them. The tragic thing was, she and Greg had probably become such good friends because she spoke so many times of not wanting anything more from him. Regardless, she would cherish this night forever, and in the future, on days she felt lonely and alone, she would bring back this memory of an incredible night with a very special man.
Greg drew in a deep breath and raised his head, shifting some of his weight by balancing on his elbows. He smiled and looked into her eyes. “Wow,” he whispered.
She grinned. “I second that.”
He kissed her lightly. “That was amazing.”
“I second that, too,” she murmured as he kissed her again. And then her eyes flew open in amazement as she felt him hardening again.
His lips moved to her neck. “When I said vigorous,” he mumbled against her skin, moving to her shoulder, “I meant vigorous.”
****
Ginger was awakened by the feel of a wet tongue on her cheek. You’ve got to be kidding me. Nobody had that much stamina. It wasn’t human. But she was game if Greg was…
With a smile spreading across her face, she pried open one eye and turned her head, wondering how much time they had before the alarm went off. Suddenly, her other eye flew open. Less than two inches from her face was a big black head covered in silky fur, the soft brown eyes pleading with her to wake up.
“Not now, Jack,” she mumbled sleepily. She could kick herself for leaving her bedroom door open last night after she and Greg had made a quick trip to the kitchen for ice cream. Her eyes started to drift closed again, but Jack’s tongue darted out, her nose and cheek receiving an exuberantly wet greeting.
She sighed and reached over to turn off the alarm clock, which unfortunately she wasn’t going to need. Casting a look over her shoulder, she hoped she hadn’t disturbed the reason behind her fatigue. But Greg was sleeping peacefully, a small smile on his lips. He was lying on his stomach, his arms crossed under the pillow where his head rested. The sheet had slipped to his waist, and she allowed herself a moment to admire the splendor of his smooth and sinewy back and shoulders.
Her hands had touched every single inch of his perfect body. She had felt his tremors, heard his moans of ecstasy, and received more pleasure in one night than she had in all her past sexual experiences combined.
A lock of his hair had fallen over his forehead, and she longed to reach out and brush it away, but she was a
fraid her touch would awaken him. He had to be exhausted. They had made love four times, and each time had been more incredible than the time before. Finally, sometime early in the morning, they had crawled out of bed to raid the refrigerator and let Jack outside to do his business. Then, full and sated, they had fallen back into bed where Greg cuddled her gently until they both fell into a deep sleep.
All of a sudden Jack shoved his cold nose in her hand, reminding her she had another male to think about at the moment. “Okay, okay,” she whispered, carefully slipping out of the bed and padding to the bathroom where she emerged a few minutes later wearing her short terry robe. Jack raced down the hall ahead of her, his nails scratching loudly against the floor as he ran for the back door. Wincing at the noise, she quietly closed the bedroom door.
A few minutes later, with a fresh cup of coffee in hand and her dog happily chewing on a biscuit, Ginger pulled a chair into the living room and raised the blinds on the window. The sun should be rising soon, and she wanted to greet this new day head on. This new day where everything had changed.
She sat Indian-style on the chair and sipped her coffee, her thoughts surprisingly calm. She should be frantic, panicked at this turn of events. She’d broken all of her rules, and all within a very short period of time.
Across the street and over the top of her neighbor’s house, the darkness of night began to lighten into differing shades of gray. The old oak trees were still, standing in their magnificent glory as if they too awaited the beginning of a brand-new day. Jack had settled beside her, his big head conveniently located where she could easily pet him.
She had come to San Antonio with her goals and dreams firmly in place. Stay strong and independent, make a fresh start, cleanse her mind and heart from the toxicity of lies and cheating. And then one day, after she was settled in her career and her home was completed, reach out to find the perfect mate, one who held all the characteristics she had painstakingly written down on paper.
Well, she’d leapfrogged over the order of her goals and danced unafraid in the ring of fire. How could she have been so stupid as to think she could have a strictly friendly relationship with Greg? When sparks of awareness crackled every time they were together? Groaning, she lowered her head into her hand. Stupid, stupid, stupid…
She knew the moment Greg walked into the room. Jack’s head turned, his ears perked up, and his tail thumped on the floor. She lifted her head and turned, but she was unprepared for what the sight of him did to her. The light from the bedroom faintly surrounded him in an ethereal glow as he stood with his hands on his hips and his head tilted slightly. He was barefoot, wearing the slacks from last night with the top button casually left undone, and he hadn’t bothered putting on his shirt.
“Good morning,” she said softly.
A slow grin crossed his face as he walked toward her. “Good morning.” His voice was deep and husky, evidence of too little sleep. He stopped in front of her, leaned down, placed both hands on the arms of her chair, and lowered his head. His kiss was gentle and long, and she relished the taste and feel of his lips on hers. She closed her eyes tight, praying the tears forming would not spill over. Her hand reached up and gently curved around the back of his neck, her fingertips brushing against his hair as she burned this moment in her mind.
The final curtain had fallen on their relationship, and her heart was breaking in two.
Chapter Nineteen
Greg straightened and gave Jack a rub on his head. “I’m almost afraid to ask what you two are doing sitting in the dark.”
Ginger gripped her coffee cup tightly to prevent her hands from reaching up and pulling his mouth back down to hers. She swallowed and cleared her throat, not yet willing to destroy this moment. “Well, I think Jack is here just to humor me, but I’m waiting for the sun to come up. There’s coffee in the kitchen. Get a cup and grab a chair. You can join me.”
He raised his eyebrows. “I see. Well, now you’ll have two guys humoring you. Can I turn on a light to pour my coffee?”
She stuck her tongue out at him. “Just make sure you turn it back off.”
“Is this something you do often?” he asked over his shoulder as he made his way to the kitchen, Jack on his heels. “Get up early to watch the sun come up?”
“As often as I can. Did I wake you up?”
“In a roundabout way,” he replied. The kitchen light came on, and she could hear him grabbing a mug from the dishwasher. “I sensed you were no longer in the bed, and I woke up. I guess, even subconsciously, I couldn’t relax without you there.”
She didn’t have a response for that. “Sensed” and “subconsciously” were powerful words, evoking a connection between her and Greg she only wished were true. She turned her head to look out the window again, the gray shade of the night turning into a slight silver-blue color as dawn approached.
She wasn’t going to allow any thoughts on what could have been.
The kitchen light went out. Greg carried in a chair and placed it next to hers. Jack padded in and lay down right in front of them, chewing on yet another dog biscuit. He was making out like a bandit with all the changes to his regular routine.
Greg stretched his long legs out in front of him. With one hand holding his coffee cup, he placed his other arm across her shoulders. “Are we watching for anything other than the sun? UFOs, shooting stars, the man in the moon?”
“Nope.” She smiled. “Just the sun.” As she watched, the first sliver of pink became visible on the horizon. It wouldn’t be long before the sky was ablaze with the bright sunshine of a new day.
They sat together in comfortable silence, and Ginger let her mind replay events that had occurred from the time they first met to now. It had been a fun journey. She’d laughed more in the last few weeks than she had in the last few months combined. She recalled Greg’s patient kindness when he’d helped her rescue Jack, his respectful attitude toward her in the office, the compassion he had for his friends. It was amazing, really, when his early childhood had been devoid of a mother’s love.
She recalled Gerald’s strange comment about Greg’s personality changing after some kind of accident. Well, if he’d changed for the worse, he must have been damn near perfect before. She wanted to know about the accident, to judge for herself how it had affected this incredible man. “Can I ask you something?” she said softly.
“Anything,” he replied, the word coming out garbled in the wide yawn he didn’t bother to hide.
“I heard you were in a serious accident a couple of years ago. What happened? Were you hurt?”
His body tensed beside her. Surprised, she looked at him. She’d noticed that anytime he was upset about something, the muscle in his jaw would become taut. And according to the rock-solid line of his profile, this was no exception. Instantly she regretted asking him about the accident. She was about to apologize, hoping they could return to the sweet harmony of watching the sunrise together, when he turned to look at her, his whole body relaxing on the deep breath he expelled.
“Greg, I’m so sorry—”
“Hush,” he said gently. He removed his arm from the back of her chair and, leaning forward, reached over to enfold her hand in his. “You don’t need to apologize.” Then, after several quiet moments in which he appeared to struggle with how to begin, the story began to tumble out.
“I wasn’t the one in the accident,” he said, his voice deep, gloomy as he stared down at their clasped hands. “It was my fiancée.”
She gasped. “Your…fiancée?”
His fingers tightened around hers, but he didn’t raise his head. “Shandra was on the way to her mother’s house. At least, that’s what I thought. She lost control of her car and crashed into a tree. She died on impact.”
She didn’t trust herself to speak. She wasn’t upset he hadn’t mentioned a fiancée before. He’d told her he’d believed himself to be in love at one time, so that part was not a shock. Yet somebody he’d once cared for had died, and there was n
o doubt it had affected him. Hell, he could barely talk about it.
Was he dealing with guilt because he knew he hadn’t loved his fiancée the way he should have? And had he realized that before—or after—the accident? The nuance of that distinction could play havoc with one’s emotions. Her heart ached for him.
“Greg, I’m so very sorry. I can only imagine how awful that had to have been. There weren’t any other cars involved?”
He ran a hand through his hair. “Thankfully, no. She hadn’t been drinking, and there was no evidence of drugs in her system. The police determined she’d been speeding. They also found her cell phone and discovered she’d been texting at the time of the crash. ‘I’m on my way. Have the wine ready because I’m not sure how much longer I can stand this and—’ I didn’t find out for days what the words meant.”
“Who was she texting?”
He gave a harsh laugh. “Her boyfriend. Seems her fiancé—yours truly—was cramping her style. She was growing tired of pretending to be in love with me.”
At the sound of her gasp, he squeezed her hand. His smile was sad as he continued. “I wasn’t angry at her, but I was pretty disgusted with myself. I had already come to realize I wasn’t in love with Shandra. I knew I couldn’t marry her, but I was stalling until I could find the right time to tell her. I thought she was fragile and that calling it quits would break her heart. I thought she’d had a pretty tough home life, even though I’d met her mother many times and never saw any signs Shandra had been neglected or abused. It never occurred to me she’d been lying the whole time. About her childhood and about being in love with me.
“Anyway,” he said, lifting his head to give her a sardonic smile, “to finish my sad tale, it appears Shandra was planning to be my devoted wife for about a year. Then she would file for divorce and take whatever settlement she got. From what I saw on her computer when I was helping her mother clean out her apartment, she estimated it would be substantial. Then she was going to set up house with this other guy. Not very original, was it?”