by Lisa Weaver
As he watched the final scraps of fabric cascade to the floor, his eyes greedily soaked up the sight of her naked body illuminated by the warm glow from the flames flickering and dancing behind the glass fireplace screen.
“You’re the most glorious work of art I’ve ever seen,” he murmured reverently.
Suddenly shy, she averted her eyes from the heat in his gaze.
Though he knew there was no way he could turn his back on her now, he felt he had to give her one last chance to walk away. “Are you sure this is what you want?”
“I’m sure,” she insisted. “Surer than I’ve ever been about anything in my entire life. I want this. I want you.”
The words resonated with every wish she’d ever made, every dream she’d ever nurtured, every hope she’d ever harbored.
In that instant, he determined to make all her hopes and dreams and wishes a reality.
Everything else faded into the background. Nothing mattered except grabbing ahold of the moment and making the most of it. He might not ever get a second chance.
∞∞∞∞∞∞∞
As Frank caught her up in his arms and carried her into the bedroom, it was on the tip of Stephanie’s tongue to tell him she was equally as sure they were meant to be. She’d wanted him in her life like this—without barriers, without rules and restrictions, not held back by the boundaries of friendship—for what seemed like forever.
She stanched the words before the thought could escape. She couldn’t risk him bolting before she had a chance to live out her deepest fantasy.
He laid her down gently on the bed and she watched, wide-eyed, as he removed his clothing until nothing stood between them. He had the face of an angel and the body of a highly trained warrior. He was the epitome of sexiness, and tonight he was hers.
But there was one thing on her mind that she needed to share with him before they went any further.
“You should know,” she told him, “that it’s not that I was determined to protect my virginity. It’s that I was waiting for the right man. You’re that man, Frank. I was saving myself for you. But I’m hoping my inexperience won’t disappoint you.”
“Are you kidding me? You’re giving me the most precious of all gifts. How could I possibly be disappointed?”
He deliberately grazed her mouth with his, his gaze glittering hotly, before kissing her tenderly. Reverently. All her fears were swept aside, replaced by sensations so exquisite she was certain she’d self-combust from pleasure.
Excitement stampeded through her veins as the hunger burning in his eyes made his intent clear. He might have pushed her away before, but he wasn’t going to push her away now.
She clung to him, powerless to tear herself away from the magic he was weaving with his brilliant lips and magical hands. They were the hands that had brushed snow off her after they’d crashed into an enormous snow drift on McGivney’s sledding hill as kids; the hands that had pulled her from a furious undercurrent, saving her from drowning; the hands that had wiped tears from her eyes. She’d always known those hands were special. Now they were transporting her to heights of passion she’d never experienced before. With every glide of his fingers against her skin, she fell deeper under the sensual spell he was casting.
She was afraid she’d die from sheer pleasure if he didn’t stop the carnal onslaught, and afraid she’d implode from frustration if he did.
His hands stilled, and her world came to a grinding halt. She gave a little mewl of protest, then grabbed his shoulders to pull him back to her.
“Don’t stop,” she beseeched him, the command breathless and urgent.
She had to know where these amazing sensations he was engendering would lead.
“Don’t worry, Kitten,” he murmured in assurance. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”
It was then she realized he’d only broken away to see to her protection—something she’d forgotten about. His gaze locked with hers, and the intensity of the passion she saw in the heated blue depths scared her for a moment. But this was Frank. He’d always nurtured her. Cherished her. He’d never hurt her. She needed him more than she needed to draw her next breath, and she was sure she’d shatter into a million pieces if he didn’t kiss her again.
But he did—kissed her until she was writhing with need and pleading for him to take possession.
When he finally answered her entreaty and made them one, he eased into her so gently that the initial sting of discomfort at his possession subsided in a heartbeat.
“Ah, Kitten. You’re so perfect. You make me crazy,” he murmured.
She had already arrived at crazy. Nothing she’d ever dreamed of had even come close to the magnificence of this reality. Every glide of his fingers across her bare skin sent shockwaves of pleasure zinging through her. Every thrust of his powerful body sent exquisite waves of ecstasy shooting straight to her core.
Was it possible to self-combust from pleasure?
His clever hands knew exactly where to touch her; they stroked her to mind-numbing frenzy of need. Ripples of pleasure undulated through her until they exploded in a magnificent climax that rocked her to her very soul. As her cries of release mingled with his, she collapsed in his arms, breathless and satiated.
He’d taken everything she’d ever imagined this moment could be and trumped it a million times over.
She knew she was irrevocably changed. She was different. She was his. If the memory of this one night was all she ever had, she’d die content, having experienced the ultimate pinnacle of pleasure in his arms.
“Are you okay?” he asked her tenderly.
“I’m fabulous,” she assured him. “That was amazing. Can we do it again?”
“I’m not sure that would be wise. You’re new to this.”
His words communicated one thing, but his body said another. She’d known beneath his smooth veneer there was a wildness, but she’d never dreamed she’d be the one to tame it. At the moment, the beast was putty in her hands.
“There you go with the coddling again,” she teased. “I think you should be punished for that.”
“What exactly did you have in mind?”
“Let me demonstrate,” she told him cheekily.
And she proceeded to show him.
∞∞∞∞∞∞∞
Frank wondered later, as he cradled Stephanie in his arms, how he could ever have thought he could make love with her—taste her, touch her, feel her spasm in ecstasy beneath him—and remain unchanged?
She’d replaced the darkness in his soul with a flame that was startling in its brilliant purity. She was his now, in every way. And he was swamped with an all-consuming certainty that he could never let her go.
But he would have to.
“Have I told you how amazing you are?” she asked him, smiling sleepily.
“Yes. Several times in the past half hour.” He couldn’t help but chuckle. “If you keep it up, my ego’s going to be too big for both of us to fit in this bed.”
“I’m pretty sure that isn’t your ego,” she giggled.
He teasingly slapped her pert little derriere lightly. “I think it’s time we let my ego rest. You should get some sleep. It will be morning soon.”
“I hope we make more progress tracking down leads to Mendacci’s whereabouts and the identity of the man behind your partner’s murder tomorrow than we have so far this week. We have to go home in a few days, and right now it looks like we’ll be leaving here empty handed.”
“That may be because we’re chasing down the wrong rabbit hole,” he admitted. “I’ve been giving a lot of thought to what you said about Damon. As much as I hate to admit it, you might be right about him. I still haven’t been able to find a single thread of evidence to connect him to any illicit activities. It’s possible he might be innocent.”
“Wait. Can you repeat that? I seem to remember you referring to Damon as a shark. Why the sudden change of heart?”
“I can’t find anything at all that confirms my belief
he was caught up with the men responsible for Pamela’s death. The only thing that still nags at me is that I don’t know why the men holding Pam and I at the warehouse dropped his name. I clearly heard them talking about how their boss was meeting with Damon. That part makes no sense if he isn’t tied to what was going on.”
“Maybe they were discussing a legitimate business transaction. Damon is a respected and highly sought-after financial planner, after all.”
He rubbed his jaw thoughtfully. “Interesting point. You hacked into Damon’s computer system, right?”
“Yeah. I was hoping there would be something there, e-mails, memos, business documents—anything that might prove he was conducting business with Lawrence Mendacci, as Liz’s contact seemed to think he might be. But that was a wash, too.”
“Could you get me a list of his legitimate clients? Maybe there’s a name there that will ring a bell from my money-laundering investigation. There’s still a chance there’s a tie-in here somewhere that will lead us to the man who ordered the attack on Pamela and me.”
“That makes sense. I’ll need to access his computer again. Damon has some guests arriving from the city tomorrow evening—we’ve been invited to a dinner party he’s throwing for them. I’ll plead a headache toward the end of the night and access his computer while he’s busy with his guests.”
“I don’t like the idea, but I don’t have a better strategy, either.”
The edge in his voice betrayed his displeasure with her plan, but he was going to have to accept it. She was going forward with it, with or without his blessing.
Chapter Thirteen
The next morning, having feared Frank would retreat to the safety of the “only friends zone” after the intimacy they’d shared the night before, Stephanie was elated to find he didn’t seem at all inclined to turn tail and run from their newfound connection.
While he took care of some business dealings, she continued her work on Damon’s collection, but the secret she was keeping from Frank poked at her like an annoying splinter. She wanted to guard this wondrous and novel facet of their relationship at all costs, and she knew that meant she needed to stop hiding things from him.
After wrapping up another productive day’s work on the library, she went searching for Frank, prepared to tell him everything. He deserved to know the real reason she’d allowed him to tag along on the assignment.
Frank found her first, the excitement fizzing in his eyes sweeping all thoughts of what she’d planned to tell him aside.
“There you are. I’ve been looking for you. Come with me. I have a surprise for you.”
Taking her hand, he led her down a trail bordered by tall clusters of beach grass. The path ended at the ocean’s edge where a long, slender kayak sat waiting.
Her eyes lit up with excitement. “We’re going kayaking?”
He grinned broadly. “We’re going on an adventure! Damon’s chef prepared a picnic dinner for us, and it’s already packed safely in the kayak’s storage hatch. Go change, grab anything you’d like to bring along on the trip, and meet me back here. There’s another island a couple of miles from this spot that Vanessa says is the perfect place to watch the sunset. We can paddle out to it.”
She happily complied, returning fifteen minutes later dressed for the outing and with her camera in hand.
“This is another first for me,” she told Frank as he helped her into a life jacket. “I’m going to need some pointers.”
“There’s nothing to it,” he assured her. Grabbing the paddles, he handed them to her and explained the various stroking techniques.
When she was comfortable with them, he helped her into the kayak and set the craft afloat.
“I’ll handle the steering and maneuvering,” he assured her. “All you have to do is paddle along with me.”
Soon they were on their way, gliding past the rugged coastline. It was tranquil. Intimate. Peaceful. Taking in the scenery from the vantage point of the craft made her feel small in comparison to the majestic cliffs rising up from the frothy waves, the breadth of the seemingly endless expanse of ocean, and the canopy of blue sky above.
She turned to him, flashing a grateful smile. “Thanks for arranging this. I’m having a fabulous time!”
“I’m glad you’re enjoying it,” he grinned. “You’ve been working hard. You deserve a break, and kayaking is a great way to unwind and explore. Did you know the Eskimos built the first kayaks so they could safely reach food sources in treacherous ocean waters?”
“No, but I’m glad our adventure is warmer.”
Taking out her camera, she captured some beautiful photos of soaring eagles and snapped dozens of shots of sleepy seals napping on an outcropping of rocks. The wild, unspoiled beauty of the magnificent coastline was simply breathtaking.
When they reached their destination, they brought the kayak to shore and found a spot on the island’s sandy beach from which to watch the glory of the sunset as it blushed across the sky.
Stephanie found the magnificence of the scenic locale amazing, but surpassing it all was the man stretched out on the sand beside her. The rasp of a day’s growth of stubble shadowed his strong jaw, only accenting his handsome profile. He wore the rugged look well.
The sunset faded to a dusky glow, but the sand between her toes still held the heat from the caress of the day’s sun. The night air was warm and still, and the ocean beckoned. Giving in to the urge to indulge in a moonlight swim, she stripped down to her bikini and headed for the water.
Frank pulled her into his arms before she could step out into the rolling waves. “You weren’t planning on going anywhere, were you?” he asked as he captured her lips in a long, ardent kiss.
“Mmmm,” she purred when he reluctantly broke away. “I thought a swim would be nice.”
He devoured her with his eyes, his gaze making a heated journey from the top of her head to the tips of her toes. “I have a better idea.”
The air seemed to vibrate with need. “And what would that be, Mr. Ireland?”
“Instead of wasting time telling you, why don’t I just show you?”
Reaching behind her neck, he gently tugged at the ties around her neck, undoing the knot. His eyes darkened with desire as he watched the fabric fall away.
“When we were on the boat the other day, I imagined what it would be like to expose your beautiful breasts to my gaze—and what it would be like to explore them with my hands and my mouth,” he told her huskily.
Heat pulsed through her as his mouth found her pebbled nipples and his hands roved over every inch of skin not covered by fabric. And then his fingers strayed to the barrier of cloth at the apex of her thighs, pushing the offending material aside to explore the treasure hidden there.
“So wet,” he murmured. “So hot. Do you still want to swim, Kitten?”
“Maybe later,” she breathed.
Sweeping her up into his arms, he carried her to shelter of the dunes. The inky blackness of the night enshrouded them. Eager to touch and be touched, she let the sensations ebb and flow, washing over her.
His fingers roved from her ankle upward, tracing teasing circles everywhere they travelled.
His touch was pushing her past the edge of reason. The feel of that electrifying, all-consuming connection had her throbbing with need.
He stripped off his clothing, and her restless hands roved over his body, exploring the silk-over-steel landscape of his broad shoulders and muscular chest before journeying lower. Encircling his length, she stroked him boldly.
He groaned low in his throat. Delighted at the obvious effect she had on him, she smiled in satisfaction. “It seems I may have found the hidden treasure on this island. X marks the spot?” she queried in mock innocence.
Raw emotion flashed across his handsome features as he dispensed with her bikini bottom. His hot gaze swept over her reverently. Worshipfully.
“Gorgeous,” he breathed.
“Make love to me, Frank,” she begged, not ca
ring if the plea sounded urgent. Demanding. She had to have him.
She was dimly aware of him shifting away for a moment; the rustling of foil telling her he’d grabbed protection. A heartbeat later, he was back at her side.
“X marks the spot you said, Ms. Knight?”
“Umm hmm,” she groaned, quivering under his touch as his fingers did wicked things to the territory in question.
And then he was towering over her, his gaze filled with hunger and something else—a vulnerability that took her by surprise. He was always tough and in control. She never thought she’d see him so exposed. Especially not because of her.
With one smooth thrust he filled her. Her body convulsed at the sheer pleasure of their merging. The look in his eyes told her he felt the depth of the connection between them, too. This had to mean more to him than merely satiating a physical need, even if he wasn’t willing to admit it.
The passion flowing between them matched the intense ebb and flow of the powerful ocean waters. Her eager moans were drowned out by the crash of the waves against the nearby cliffs. And then pleasure eclipsed everything else as he sent her spiraling over the edge.
“You’re not supposed to be an expert at this so soon,” he grinned, reaching up to tenderly stroke her face.
“Research,” she told him matter-of-factly.
Wrapped in Frank’s arms, with the glow of fireflies lighting the purple dusk and the sky draped in a gown of sparkly stars, she thought nothing could be more perfect.
“You’re smiling,” he drawled.
“Because I’m incredibly happy. Happier than I’ve ever been in my entire life.”
Because of you, she wanted to add. But that would be going too far, and he’d certainly withdraw from her. This precious time would end. She knew it couldn’t last forever, but she wanted to hoard every incredible second of it for as long as she could.
“I’ll make a campfire and grab our dinner,” he told her.
Soon they were seated by the leaping, crackling flames, enjoying the picnic Damon’s chef had packed for them. There were buttery rolls, a selection of olives and cheeses, crispy fried chicken, potato salad, and a decadently rich chocolate torte.
