Kathy’s brows furrowed. “You’re acting peculiar, have I done something to annoy you? Don’t you want me to go skiing with you?”
He let out a deep sigh, ashamed at his behavior, and cushioned his next words with a softening prelude. “It’s not that Kat, I like spending time with you but…”
“I know, it’s casual, no strings attached. We’ve already agreed on that Shane.”
“I just want you to be clear because when this thing between us has run its course, make no mistake, I will walk away.” It was harsh, but it needed to be said. There had to be no misunderstandings, no regrets, when the time came.
“Until that happens let’s make the most of it and take each day as it comes, okay?”
Her suggestion suited him fine. They were on the same page. Satisfied, he switched the subject. “I’m sorry about your parents. Sarah filled me in, I hope you don’t mind.”
“No, it wasn’t like it was a secret or anything.”
“You must miss your mother heaps.” He reached down and patted her leg. He’d never had the luxury of knowing his own mother, but he was aware of how close Sarah and Phyllis were and imagined Kathy must feel the loss terribly.
She leaned against him and rested her head on his shoulder. “Yes I do, we were good friends as well as mother and daughter, moving here has helped a great deal though.”
“It takes guts to leave everything you know and make a new start.”
“Not really. After she died, I felt smothered by well-meaning friends and too many memories. I had to get away or go crazy.” The sigh she heaved was deep and meaningful.
“What was that for?” he wanted to know.
“Oh sorry, just thinking, you know my biggest regret is my children won’t know her. That’s if I ever have kids.”
“Plenty of time for that.”
“I wish. My doctor back in Louisiana didn’t think so. She warned the earlier I start the better and even then that kids might not be possible without medical intervention, either way there were no guarantees…”
“I’m sure you’ll be fine, things have a way of working themselves out.” He wasn’t proud of the immense relief that washed over him at her admission, but he was off the hook and that made him grin. The chance of Kathy being pregnant was zip. Of course, he was sorry for her predicament. She loved kids and would make a great mom. Somehow it didn’t seem fair she might have trouble conceiving while he could probably father a dozen kids and didn’t want any. But she was way cool with keeping their fling casual, and that’s all that mattered at this point. He cranked up the music and happy as lark in spring followed the road back home. Yes, he congratulated himself as he flicked on the indicator and turned into their apartment building, all was well in his world.
Climbing down from the truck, he walked around to the passenger door and helped Kathy down. “Your place or mine, babe?” he asked as he tucked her under his arm and led the way upstairs.
“Mm that depends, do you want to be cozy, or do you want to play?”
“You have to ask?” He grinned following her drift. He had the king/playground-sized bed while she had the double/no-room-to-move cozy bed.
Once inside the apartment, he followed Kathy into the bedroom where she was already starting to strip.
“You haven’t forgotten that I’m leaving in the morning?”
“No, I haven’t forgotten.”
“You never mentioned it—I thought it might have slipped your mind.”
“I didn’t want to think about it, a week’s a long time.”
“I’ll be back before you know it,” he assured her. “But come here Kat and I’ll give you something to remember me by.” Pulling her into his arms, he kissed her like there was no tomorrow.
Chapter 9
Kathy unlocked her apartment and made straight for the kitchen. She was confused and could do with a hot cup of tea. She’d caught her usual bus home from work but got off at the grocery store to buy milk. That’s when the strangest thing happened.
It was weird really. As the bus pulled away from the curb, she was positive she’d glimpsed Ian Roberts standing in front of the Real Estate office across the street. She would have laid money on it and could have sworn he saw her too, but he didn’t respond to her wave. By the time the lights changed and she’d crossed over, he was nowhere to be seen. True, he’d been behaving odd before she’d left for Coronado, but Liz had explained that away as him just being concerned. And at the Greyhound station they’d parted as friends, so if he was in town, why wouldn’t he contact her?
Kathy was still puzzling over the incident when she placed her cup on the coffee table and flopped onto the living room couch. The sigh she expelled was profound as she pushed all thoughts of Ian Roberts aside, picked up her hot tea, and ran a critical eye over her apartment instead.
It was smaller and quite a contrast to Shane’s in more than just size. One word that sprang to mind was quaint. Drab was another more apt one. The soft green corduroy fabric covering the couch was worn in places and showing its age. The rug adorning the living room floor was shabby, and the walls were overdue for a new coat of paint. A typical furnished rental with not much appeal, but she’d needed somewhere in a hurry, and the place had been spotless and the building well maintained. What clinched the deal though, was the convenience of location. Except for the few photographs in her bedroom, the apartment was unchanged. Not knowing how long she’d be staying, she hadn’t made it her own; she’d also been strapped for cash at the time. She’d relinquished her full-time job to care for her mother, that, and the funeral costs, had eaten a huge chunk into her savings.
Kathy picked up the book from the coffee table and commenced reading from where she’d left off two nights ago, but her mind started to drift. Today was Friday, and she was glad it was the end of what had been a hectic week.
Yesterday, on the spur of the moment, Anne and she decided to go to the movies. They were in the school corridor after class discussing what film to see when Len materialized from nowhere. Anne had confided weeks earlier she thought Len was cute, so when he expressed an interest in the film, Kathy took it upon herself to do a bit of matchmaking and invited him along.
After the movie, Len offered to take them for coffee. She declined, but the other pair insisted, as a result it was after midnight before she’d finally crawled into bed. As a consequence she decided to forego her run today and just relax with her feet up and wait for Shane.
Her eyes sparkled as they strayed to the vase of ruby roses on the coffee table that added a splash of color to the otherwise dull room. She’d been thrilled at receiving the first dozen on Monday with his sweet little note.
My bed is cold without you.
Then amazingly, another dozen arrived today. This time the note was more risqué.
Dreaming of you beneath me.
She closed her eyes and visualized Shane. Not only was he gorgeous and exciting, but he was a man of action. True to his word, he’d organized an unlisted phone number, and she’d felt at ease ever since. Even with him being away this last week, she hadn’t been nervous at all, believing the threat had passed.
He was a giant of a man in more ways than one, all hard muscle and sinew, and the way his sapphire eyes twinkled when he gave her one of those quirky little smiles made her go weak at the knees. Just thinking about him had her heart somersaulting, and Kathy pulled up short as the stark realization dawned that her feelings for Shane were more than just casual.
* * * *
Ice had done what Frosty advised and thought long and hard about Kathy while he’d been away, and as a result, he’d geared himself up to end their relationship. He couldn’t think straight when he was with her. She befuddled his mind. It was like he was on a roller coaster and was so dizzy that he didn’t know which way was up. The minute he entered the building though, his preconceived plans bit the dust. He was drawn to her like a bear to honey, and there was no fighting it. He had to see her, have one last night with h
er.
He scaled the stairs two at a time, entered the apartment and made straight for his bedroom where he dumped his duffle bag, snatched up a handful of rubbers from the bedside drawer and stuffed them into his pocket. Tonight he’d sate his passion; tomorrow he’d walk away without a backward glance.
Kathy’s door opened on his first knock and the sight of her pole-axed him, she was so goddamned beautiful and her smile radiant. “Come here babe,” he demanded. Without a moment’s hesitation, she melted into his arms.
“Did you miss me, Kat?”
“Oh yeah.”
“Show me how much,” he invited as he backed her into the apartment and kicked closed the door. Her arms lassoed his neck, her lips parted under his. As he pressed her up against his erection, their kiss turned ravenous. Hell, the way she was sucking on his tongue confirmed he’d made the right decision; she was just as eager for it as he was. He scooped her up and carried her to the bedroom as if she was no heavier than an infant.
Ice put Kathy down near the bed, the instant her feet touched the floor her hands were tugging at his shirt. He helped by pulling it over his head while she tackled the belt and buttons on his pants. Balancing precariously on one leg, he, quick as a wink, toed off his boots and socks. Kathy ripped his pants down to his ankles, and he kicked them aside in one swift movement.
Ice spun her on the spot, wanting her as naked as he was. He unzipped her dress and tossed it onto the chair in the corner. Cobalt eyes swept her from head to toe. What a vision. Flowing chestnut hair, sexy black lace bra and matching thong against creamy skin, curvaceous, the woman was a goddess. All his Christmases rolled into one.
When he took her into his arms it was like she was made just for him, she fit so well. Everything about her made him want her more. The way she leaned into him and rubbed her body against his, it was hard to believe she’d been a virgin mere weeks ago.
“God, you’re beautiful. I’ve thought about this for days. I want to touch you all over,” he murmured against the softness of her neck as his hands ran down her body and slipped the thong from her ass.
“I want to touch you too and show you how much I’ve missed you,” she whispered back.
Ice unclasped her bra and expertly maneuvered her onto the bed. Lowering himself beside her, intent on moving to the next stage, he was taken aback for a moment. It seemed Kathy had ideas of her own and with a firm shove pushed him down and straddled his hips. His shock at her initiative was fleeting though. The feel of her pussy pressing against his lower belly claimed his attention, and his blood heated.
That wasn’t his only reaction as she licked her way up his torso, torturing his nipple with her tongue. God, she turned him on. He could tell she was into him too by the way she scraped her nipples over his chest and by the juices weeping from her pussy. Man, was she hot. He bucked his hips against her as she laved the outside of his neck and nibbled his ear with her perfect ivory teeth.
“I want to taste you,” she whispered.
Geezus, did she mean what he thought she did?
Nah, no way.
When she started planting tantalizing licks and wet kisses all the way down his body, he wasn’t so sure. But when her mouth neared his groin, he was hopeful. His cock reared up and she seized it, curling her fingers around the shaft and entwining them in the thatch of course hair while her other hand began massaging his balls.
Her hand on his cock was sensational, but when she dipped her head and tongued him slowly from root to tip, he was in seventh heaven. A single pearlescent bead appeared on the swollen head. Ice watched in anticipation as Kathy swiped it with her tongue before taking the whole pulsating head between her lips. His breath hitched. But when she began working him with her mouth, he broke out in a cold sweat and groaned. He’d forgotten just how damn good head felt. The velvetiness of her inner cheeks was warm as she sweetly caressed his manhood. She’d never been like this before, he’d always been the instigator of their sex play, but this new aggressive side to her was incredible, and he had to wonder just when the dynamics had changed. He was in a vortex of ecstasy and could hear himself moaning from somewhere on cloud nine when cool air hit him as her mouth released him.
“Are you okay Shane, am I being too rough, do you want me to stop?”
Was she for real? “No babe, you’re doing everything just right,” he assured her and wound his hand through her glorious hair and guided her back to his dick.
*
Kathy had wanted Shane’s homecoming to be special, memorable. She’d been unsure about initiating this, how much pressure to use, the technique, it was after all a man’s most sensitive area.
Her licks were slow and experimental at first, but when the bead jeweled on his penis she lapped it tentatively. To her inexperienced taste buds, he was musky and earthen, wild and primitive, the texture of his shaft silky-soft. He was as hard as granite, and her tactile senses were aroused. She’d taken him into her mouth, and enjoying the new sensation, was lost in the sensuous motion until Shane moaned. Thinking she may have been a little rough, she’d released him at once. But he’d been quick to reassure her and pushed her back to his groin. And aroused by the power that gave her, she took him back into her mouth and began pleasuring him again.
*
Ice took the loving punishment for as long as he could, but when Kathy grazed the tip with her teeth, he almost exploded in her mouth.
“Stop,” he commanded. He was determined that she’d have her pleasure before he had his, and if he didn’t pull back now he’d go over the edge. “But you like it, and I want to make it good for you.”
“Trust me babe, it’s always good for me.” He pulled her up beside him and pushed her onto her back. “But ladies first,” he said, pushing her thighs apart.
His tongue burrowed into her silken petals. She was already aroused from pleasuring him, and that thought excited him. He licked and nipped her heated flesh, and it was only a matter of minutes before she splintered apart.
When her climax subsided, he flipped her over and ran calloused hands across her creamy ass.
“What are you doing?” she asked as he encircled her waist and yanked her to her knees.
“I want to take you from behind,” he explained while sheathing his erection in latex.
“Doggie style?”
“Trust me babe, you’ll like it.”
“I do trust you, Shane. I like everything you do to me.”
Ice preened, nudged her legs wider apart, and gripped her hips. She was raring to go, and he entered her with a smooth thrust.
Kathy clenched him tightly, her inner muscles squeezing him as he rocked against her.
“Harder Shane,” she ordered.
“Okay babe, you got it.” He didn’t have to be told twice. Pistoning his hips, he plowed his length in and out of her body, filling her tight pussy with his thick cock. Her own counter motion to his thrusts slammed her bottom against his groin, pushing him to a higher plane and robbing him of all cognitive thought. His balls slapped noisily against her clit, her frenzied moans spurred him on. “Is this what you want babe?”
“Harder Shane, faster.” Kathy sobbed.
Ice obliged and damn near exploded at her feverish words. He was rough as he pummeled her, but it was what she wanted, what they both craved. Raw lust, at its most primal, radiated, sending them into a sexual frenzy. Both were pumped and sweating. Ice’s animal instinct took over, and he fucked her until a nuclear explosion carried them over into orgasmic bliss.
Geezus.
Shooting stars, brilliant and white exploded in his head. It was like the Fourth of July but more amazing. He collapsed against her replete, emotionally and physically spent.
Rolling onto his side, he cradled her in his arms and kissed the soft part of her neck. Her heart was racing—he could feel it pounding through her breast as he palmed it. She was both an angel and a sex goddess. He raised his hand to stroke her cheek and was shocked to feel the dampness there.
“No Shane, it was just so amazing, that all the emotions started crowding in on me.”
Ice cringed at Kathy’s confession, but vanity prompted his reply. “It was pretty amazing wasn’t it?”
“You were amazing.”
He felt bad, god-awful bad as she beamed up at him. The sex was awesome, the best he’d ever had, but there was never going to be a happily ever after. It didn’t matter that he felt more for her than he had for any other woman, and even though she’d agreed to keep things casual, the fact of the matter was, she was the marrying kind and he wasn’t. The head on his shoulders was urging him to do the honorable thing and end it now, but selfish prick that he was, it was the other head he was listening to, and tomorrow would be soon enough.
“A penny for them.” Kathy snuggled against him.
She was soft and cuddly and curled up like a contented cat, resting her head in the crook of his arm, her warm breath tickling his chest. He’d missed the intimacy between them this last week while he’d been away.
“It can wait till tomorrow,” he said, wiping her tear stained cheek with his thumb.
“Night Shane,” Kathy murmured drowsily and fell asleep almost before the words were out of her mouth. He listened to the sound of her even breathing for a few minutes before easing her out of his arms and padding to the bathroom.
* * * *
Next morning, Ice woke invigorated. He hadn’t slept so well in ages. Kathy lay face down sprawled across the mattress, her hair cascading in disarray across her naked back. So, so sexy. Despite having done it twice more through the night, he wanted to have at her again.
His stomach growled noisily, signaling the fact that they’d missed dinner last night. He was famished, and Kathy would be too. She was sleeping like a baby, and he didn’t have the heart to disturb her yet, so decided to head back to his apartment to shower and change, grab some bacon and eggs, and surprise her with breakfast in bed.
Ice crept out of bed. Sunlight peaking from behind the curtains promised a beautiful day. He tamped down a twinge of misgiving. The team knew he always kept his personal life separate from his professional one, but damn, he’d let his guard down, and Wolf had slipped under the radar and invited Kathy to come skiing with them. So he’d just have to deal with it for one more day. Besides, he had no one to blame for toting her along to Meredith’s party but himself.
Desire Unleashed Page 14
