She smiled as she leaned down and placed a feather-light kiss on his lips. “Thanks for being considerate.”
"For you, always.”
When she tried pulling her hand from his, he didn't release her. Instead he pushed his chair back and pulled her down into his lap. “But that doesn't mean I won't taste my fill,” he murmured, threading his fingers through her hair and then capturing her lips with his. He kissed her long and hard, doing what he'd wanted to do every since she had joined him in the kitchen.
Incredible, he thought moments later, releasing her mouth. The taste of her was incredible and would remain with him for quite some time. It was amazing just how she affected him, how much she suddenly made him think of marriage and babies.
Marriage! Babies!
He swallowed hard. He'd never been able to formulate thoughts of either before but now he did. And only with her. “I could kiss you all day,” he whispered against her moist lips.
"And I can kiss you all day as well,” she whispered softly. “But that won't get rid of the sound of our stomachs growling. We need food.”
He chuckled as she slid out of his lap. “That's true.” He watched as she walked across the room to open the refrigerator to pull out a carton of orange juice, wondering when she would bring up the subject of them getting back together and decided to be patient.
A few moments later, as she sat across from him enjoying breakfast, he decided that he couldn't wait any longer. Patience had never been one of his strong points. He leaned back in his chair looking at her after wolfing down all four of his pancakes and drinking a tall, cold glass of juice. “My mother and my aunt will be ecstatic to know we're back together, Mallory.”
He watched as the fork she'd been using slipped from her fingers. She met his gaze. “We aren't back together, Hunter,” she said softly.
He lifted a gaze wondering why she would think such a thing. “Sure we are. Last night we—”
"Had sex. Plenty of times but still it was sex. How many times have you said that you have sex with women, you do not make love?”
He frowned. “But that was before.”
Now it was her time to lift a brow. “Before what?”
"Before last night.”
Mallory slowly shook her head, confused. “What was so special about last night?”
Smiling, Hunter reached out and tenderly stroked her cheek. “I discovered that I've missed you and want you back in my life.”
Mallory shook her head again. “No, you want me back in your bed.”
"Yeah, that, too, but I want you in my life more than anything. I don't want a woman who'll just be available for me to sleep with. I want to have a committed relationship with you.”
Mallory's eyes widened, clearly shocked. “A committed relationship? Since when? Have you forgotten why we broke up in the first place? I mentioned the word commitment and you hauled ass so fast it left my head spinning.”
He shifted uneasily in his chair, remembering that night. “I've changed.”
"Yeah, right. And you want me to believe that all it took was several romps in bed for you to change your way of thinking? I'm not buying it, Hunter.”
He crossed his arms over his chest. This was clearly not going the way he had figured it would. Six months ago she was the one who was pushing for a committed relationship and now that he was ready it seemed she was no longer interested. “And what will it take for you to buy it?”
"Nothing since I doubt that I will, especially with what's going on with Lewis.”
Confusion settled in Hunter's features. “What does Lewis have to do with us?”
Mallory stood and began gathering up the dishes. “He reminded me that relationships hurt, especially the committed kind. Men are all alike. They can't be trusted.”
Her statement angered Hunter and he quickly stood. “Now wait just a damn minute. I don't appreciate being grouped with other men that way. I make it clear with any woman I date what the score is. But with you things have always been different. Not once did I see other women while we dated, Mallory.” He rubbed a hand over his face. “Hell, I wouldn't have had energy to bed anyone other than you anyway. You were all the woman I needed. How can you even think that I was unfaithful to you while we were together?”
Mallory released a deep sigh. “I'm not accusing you of that,
Hunter. All I'm staying is that at some point in a relationship things can happen, no matter how much the two people loved each other in the beginning. Loss of interest sets in. It happened with my parents and now it's happening with Barbara and Lewis.”
He glared at her. “You don't know that. You're making assumptions and jumping to conclusions.”
She glared right back. “Maybe so, but that doesn't explain why you've had a change of heart all of a sudden, Hunter. Six months ago a committed relationship was the last thing you wanted and now I understand why. I'm buying into what you believe.”
"But I don't want you to buy into it because I don't think that way anymore. Like I said, I've changed.” He could tell from her expression that she didn't believe him. He also knew at that moment there was no point in telling her that he loved her since she probably wouldn't believe that either. He sighed deeply, deciding to use another approach. “If you don't want a serious relationship with me, then what is it that you do want?”
Mallory shrugged as she thought about his question. “What we had before and what we shared last night. I don't want anything serious. I want to be your bed partner on occasion.”
Bed partner? His heart thudded in disappointment. What he'd shared with her last night had been more than that but he decided to hold back from telling her that. He would have to operate under the theory that action spoke louder than words. “Exclusive bed partners?” he asked, crossing his arms over his chest once more.
"Yes, that'll work.”
Maybe it would work for her but it certainly wouldn't work for him. “All right, we can go that route if that's the way you want things to be.”
"It is.”
He nodded. He planned to change her thinking on a lot of things. Given even the slightest opportunity, he intended to show her that no matter what her father or Lewis did, it had no bearing on their relationship. He had to prove that he loved her and she was a woman worth loving and worth being faithful to.
"How about if we go to your place for you to pack a bag,” he said, taking the dishes out of her hands to place them back on the table and then pulling her into his arms.
She tilted her head back to look at him. “Why?”
"I'd like for you to spend the rest of the weekend with me. Say you'll do it.”
His lips came down on hers with a hunger that he knew she felt. Her body began shivering from the thrust of his tongue into her mouth as it swept her breath away. And he knew the feel of his hands squeezing her backside wasn't helping matters. He had Seduction 101 down pat.
"Say you'll stay,” he whispered against her moist lips after breaking off the kiss.
Mallory momentarily closed her eyes as she remembered what they had shared last night. He would give her body possibly a brief reprieve but then he planned to make love to her again.
She reopened her eyes thinking she didn't have a problem with that. Hunter Sloan was a man created for sex and she was overjoyed that she was the woman he wanted in his bed. She might be planning to avoid serious relationships but like she'd told him, she had nothing against being his bed partner since concentrating on the physical and not the emotional was safer.
"Mallory?”
She glanced up at him, knowing he was waiting on her answer. She moved her hand down his chest and then purposely stepped closer. She met his gaze. “Yes, Hunter, I'll spend the rest of the weekend with you.”
8
.
A week later Hunter was sitting in his car in the parking lot of the Federal Building. It was Friday and so far he had shown up here for the last four days and the only thing Lewis Townsend had done for lunc
h was to go to McDonald's or run errands. Either he had ended his supposed fling or this was an off week for him.
Hunter sighed as he rested his head against the seat. He still wasn't as convinced as Mallory that the man was engaging in an affair although his actions that other day had hinted otherwise. For some reason there was something that Hunter felt he was missing, something vital.
He tapped his fingers on the steering wheel, anticipating seeing Mallory again. They had spent time together three times that week and as much as it almost killed him, he hadn't made love to her again. He wanted to prove to her that there was more to their relationship than sex. He had taken her to the movies, to dinner, and they had even gone to a concert. And he was glad he hadn't had anything new to report to her about Lewis. She had had dinner with her sister and brother-in-law two nights ago and according to Mallory, the two appeared to be more in love than ever.
Hunter glanced at his watch. It was way past the noon hour and it appeared that Lewis wouldn't be doing lunch today, which was fine and dandy with Hunter. He had other things on his mind, like doing Mallory. His body was hot and aroused which clearly meant that he had reached his limit.
He picked up his cell phone, clicked it on and punched in her phone number. She answered it on the second ring. “Standish Event Planning. I aim to please.”
He smiled, liking her greeting. “So do I,” he whispered huskily. “How about meeting me at my place in half an hour?”
Without waiting for her to respond he clicked off the phone.
Mallory raised a brow when Hunter opened his front door. “What's that smile for?” she asked when he moved aside for her to come in. Her body was tingling from head to toe and had been ever since his call. Her nipples felt tight and sensitive against her blouse and the deep throb between her legs was enough to make her scream.
She hoped that he had invited her over for a little afternoon delight, which she badly needed. This had been the week from hell. One of her clients, a high society dame, had called on Monday to inform her that her daughter and her fiancé had had a huge argument over the weekend and for the moment the wedding was off. Then she had received a call on Wednesday informing her that it was on again. Then she'd received a call that morning saying it was off again. That meant all her plans were on hold until the couple got things together.
"You seemed frustrated about something,” Hunter said, interrupting her thoughts.
She smiled and walked over to him when he closed the door behind them. The sound of the lock clicking in place sent sensuous chills up her body. She had a feeling they were about to get naughty and naughtiness was something she definitely needed today.
"I was frustrated before I got here,” she said, raking her hands down his chest, toying with the buttons on his shirt with her fingertips. “But I'm depending on you to make sure I'm frustration- free when I leave. And you never did answer my question about what the smile is for.”
"It's for you and the good news I have for you.”
"Which is?”
"I have nothing new to report.”
Mallory nodded. In a way it was good news but it didn't mean just because there was nothing new to report that Lewis hadn't been unfaithful. Hunter must have read her thought because he then said, “The man is innocent until proven guilty.”
She frowned. “And what if he's never proven guilty, Hunter? It'll be hard for me to completely trust him until I know for sure.”
He nodded as he pulled her into his arms. “I didn't invite you here for us to argue, Mallory.”
She had figured as much and had hoped as much as well. She tipped her head back and met his gaze. “And why did you invite me over here?”
"I'm horny.”
A huge smile touched the corners of Mallory's lips. “I like a man who's straight and to the point, Hunter.”
"That's not all I am,” he said, pulling her body closer and letting her feel the hardness of his erection.
"I'm just as bad off as you are,” she whispered, easing her legs apart so the firmness of him could settle comfortably in her middle.
"You're wet?” he asked softly against her lips.
"Practically drenched.”
He smiled. “Exactly the way I want you.”
"And you're exactly the way I want you,” she said, as her hands moved down to his belt, unbuckled it, snapped open his pants and then eased his zipper down. “You've been holding out on me for the last three times we were together, so if you're horny it's your own fault.”
"I was trying to be nice.”
Her smile widened. “Don't you know by now that I prefer naughty to nice?” Her hands slipped into the opening of his pants and his briefs and began stroking him.
"Umm, I'm getting the picture,” he said, barely able to get the words out.
"And I'm getting something else,” she said as her thumb flicked over the hot tip of his shaft and liking the feel of him getting harder in her hands.
"No fair,” Hunter said moments later, almost losing the little bit of control he had, especially when he began inhaling her intimate fragrance. There was nothing like the scent of an aroused woman. A woman ready to spread her legs and mate with her man. And he was definitely ready for that to happen. He had is sued the invitation. It was his bash and he intended to provide the party treats, the fun, and all the excitement.
He took a step back, which meant she had to release him, and he immediately felt the loss of her hands on him. He also felt somewhat lightheaded and unmistakingly aroused. He smiled, wanting to see her naked. “Undress for me, Mallory.”
"Are you sure that's what you want me to do?”
"I'm positive.”
She reached under her skirt to tug her panties down her legs and shimmied out of them. They were black lace. He watched as she kicked them aside. Then she removed her short skirt, which left her completely bare below the waist. He licked his lips when his tongue tingled, wanting the taste of her but deciding his aroused body needed something else right now.
He watched as she removed her blouse to reveal a matching black lace bra. The moment she took it off he felt heat swirl around in his belly. She stood in the middle of his living room stark naked, looking sexy and feminine; provocative. The urge to have her clogged his throat and he quickly began removing his own clothes.
"Come here, baby.” His voice was low and unsteady but it couldn't be helped. He loved this woman to distraction and wanted her equally as much. And his libido kicked up a notch when she didn't waste any time crossing the room to him.
When she came to a stop in front of him, she placed her hands on his shoulders. “What do you want, Hunter?” she asked, moving her hand slowly back and forth across his shoulder blades.
He leaned down, taking his fingers and stroking between her legs. She was right. She was drenched. “I want this,” he said as he gently moved his fingers inside of her when she eased her legs farther apart to accommodate him. He felt her hold on his shoulders tighten and knew she was enjoying the feel of him stroking her. “For starters, I want to take you in my kitchen, on the counter.”
Of all the places they had done it before, his kitchen counter hadn't been one of them. Swallowing hard, she whispered, “The kitchen counter?”
"Yes. I've been fantisizing about getting you on the kitchen counter all week.”
Consuming desire was taking over every part of her body. “And what's stopping you?”
He smiled before swooping her up into his arms. Crossing the room to the kitchen, he didn't stop until he had placed her naked bottom on the edge of the counter. Then he separated her knees, parting her legs and stepping between them, readying things by placing the tip of his erection against her entrance.
Every nerve ending, every sensation in Mallory's body was prepared for what was about to happen. She looked deep into Hunter's eyes, and for this one time, she wanted him to know just how much she cared for him. For a moment it seemed that everything got silent, even the sound of their breathi
ng appeared to have stopped as their gazes locked. The very air between them seemed to sizzle with fierce sexual need as well as with something else. Love. Neither of them blinked and she knew the exact moment he saw love and not lust in her eyes.
"Why didn't you tell me?” he asked in a whisper.
"Would it have mattered, Hunter?”
A deep sigh escaped him when he realized that no, it probably would not have and would have made him put distance between them that much sooner. Realizing what he had almost lost completely, he leaned down and began nibbling the corners of her mouth while he ran his hands along her thighs, making a flood of intense love and desire course through her body. Then his tongue began licking the lining of her lips with a slow, deliberate pace.
"I love you, too, Mallory,” he murmured, moving his hands from her thighs to her belly. “I recently realized just how much. I didn't think you would believe me if I told you, but now that I know how you feel about me, I believe in my heart that things will work out.”
She shook her head, needing to make him see that things couldn't work out for them. A committed relationship wasn't what they needed, no matter how they felt about each other. But all thoughts of debating the issue with him escaped her mind when she felt his shaft pressing against her womanly core, eager to get inside. She shuddered with need when he parted her legs a little more.
And then he stopped teasing her mouth and took it with a fierce hunger that had her moaning. The feel of his tongue tangling with hers sent shock waves all through her body. The sensation of him tasting her mouth with such torrid intensity made a deep groan escape her throat.
The sensations intensified when she felt him pushing himself into her, overwhelming her, possessing her. What little control she had snapped like a rubber band when she felt the hard and thick length of him pushing deeper inside of her, stretching her, finding her wet and hot, her womanly muscles straining for release.
Her breath came out in short gasps and her sensitive breasts were pressed against his bare chest. She clutched his shoulders, her fingers bit deep into his blades as he continued to push forward, taking his hand and pulling her hips as close as he could.
An All Night Man Page 6
