Taking the boxes from her, his fingers curled around hers. “It’s done so consider them early birthday presents.”
He watched as a smile tilted the corners of her mouth. “If I recall, your birthday is in ten days, so what am I supposed to get you?”
He stepped closer to her and whispered. “Another date with you will suffice,” he said smiling. “Now are you ready to leave before Tonya decides that two purchases aren’t enough?”
When she nodded, still holding her hand, as well as her packages, he led her to the door.
***
“I’ve never gone parking with a guy before but I used to hear a lot about this place,” Megan said as she smiled over at Tyler. After leaving the Mannings he had asked if she’d ever gone up to Lover’s Peak, where couples used to go and make out. Unfortunately, it was on private land so there had always been the risk of getting caught.
When Tyler didn’t say anything but continued to watch her silently, she decided to keep on talking to ward off her nervousness. The moment he had brought the car to a stop he had turned off the ignition and shifted in his seat and just sat there staring at her. “I heard that Mr. Palmer would scare off any teenagers he would find up here,” she said.
When Tyler still didn’t contribute his two cents she added. “I also heard Mr. and Mrs. Palmer died last year within months of each other. That must have been hard on their son.”
“It was.”
Megan blinked, not believing that Tyler had finally said something. “You still keep in contact with him? I remembered the two of you were good friends in high school.”
“Yes, Keith and I still stay in contact.” He decided not to mention that in a week’s time this particular piece of land, including Lover’s Peak, would belong to him. The only persons who knew about the pending transaction were his family. He didn’t want word to get out until the papers had been signed.
When Tyler became silent again, Megan’s pulse started racing once more. She searched her brain for something they could talk about then remembered something Tonya had mentioned tonight. “Canada,” she said in an almost quiet voice.
After staring silently at her for several long moments he asked in a deep husky tone. “What about it?”
“I understand that you recently went there. How was it?”
She watched as he leaned closer then reached out and cupped her face into his hands. She began drowning in the masculine scent of him as his finger slowly caressed her cheek. “I’ll tell you later. Right now I just want to kiss you,” he whispered, before placing a gentle kiss across her lips.
Gentle was only short-term in Tyler’s mind, because the moment a sigh escaped Megan’s lips, he deepened the kiss and she willingly opened her mouth to his probing tongue. This had to be the most desirable woman he had ever known, he thought, as he continued to make love to her mouth; needing her taste as much as he needed his next breath. But he knew deep down that what he was sharing with her went way beyond the physical. He was falling in love with her all over again and there wasn’t a damn thing he could do about it. Except . . . take her down with him. He was determined to make sure she realized what he had come to grips with earlier today. After all these years they belonged together.
He felt the tips of her nipples hardened against his chest and felt the pounding of her heart as well. The purring sound she was making was more erotic than anything he had ever heard, and he felt his body getting harder by the minute. Deciding that if he kissed her for even a minute longer he would lose control, he slowly pulled away.
“Why did you stop?” she asked in a harsh whisper as a sensuous pout formed on her lips. He wanted to lean over and kiss her again but knew they needed to talk first.
He suddenly sucked in a sharp breath when she reached out and touched him and slowly began tugging at his zipper. Evidently she had remembered his one weakness was her hand touching a certain part of him.
“Are you sure you want to stop?” she whispered softly, leaning over and taking her tongue and tracing the outlines of his lips. Tyler’s heart beat accelerated as a thrill of pleasure shot through him. “No, I’m not sure, but unless you want your first time in the back seat of a car, I suggest you keep your hands to yourself.”
“Umm, if I must,” she said softly, and all the while with deliberate slowness she was easing down his zipper . . . or at least she was trying to. The thought of her actually succeeding in what she was trying to do, which would result in her holding his aroused sex in her hand, was too much to think about.
Tyler shook his head. Megan James was becoming a lot more temptation than he ever thought possible. Heaven help him but he was definitely headed for trouble. “Yes, keep your hands to yourself or I’m taking you home for misbehaving.”
Megan smiled. Evidently his tone of voice wasn’t too convincing. “If that’s what you want.”
No, that wasn’t what he wanted, but he had to make her believe that it was. “Yes, that’s what I want,” he said, taking her hand off of him and guiding it to her lap and placing it there. He stared at her hand resting in her lap for a moment before lowering his gaze to her crossed legs and especially to where her dress ended, showing the dark, smooth flesh of one of her thighs. He was tempted to reach out and stroke her the same as she had wanted to stroke him.
“If you’re not going to let my first time be in the backseat, does that mean you’re going to make sure I do have a first time someplace else?”
Tyler raised his gaze from her legs back to her face. The nymph was grinning. She knew she had him tied in knots and was loving every minute of his torture, but he was determined to make her suffer for it. “If that’s your way of asking if I’ve made some rather important decisions regarding us, then the answer is yes. If your offer is still out there then I intend to be your man.”
She leaned forward and her lips came within inches of his. “The offer is still out there and I definitely want you to be my man, Tyler.”
Damn, he hoped she meant it, because he didn’t intend for there to be another man in her life. Ever. But first Megan needed to understand that for the next two weeks she would have to play by his rules and his rules only.
“I’m glad to hear that,” he said huskily, tempted, very tempted to capture her mouth and feast on her tongue again. Now that he had decided he would make love to her, how was he going to keep his hands off of her until she realized what he felt was more than physical? At this very moment all he could think about was hot bodies, tangled sheets and very busy hands and mouths.
He watched her lips part and deciding, what the hell, since temptation at the moment was too strong, he inched closer and clamped his mouth over hers in demanding possession. This time the kiss went deeper and was more urgent than before. He was becoming totally intoxicated with the flavor of her mouth and the rich, sensuous texture of her tongue. He could stay here and kiss her all night but he knew that eventually kissing wouldn’t be enough.
Slowly, he released her mouth and pulled away. Seeing another pout on her face he closed his eyes momentarily and willed himself to regain control. When he opened his eyes she was watching him and the deep look of desire in her eyes wasn’t helping matters.
“Like I was about to say before I became distracted,” he said in a low, husky voice. “I have certain rules you need to follow.”
He watched her arched brow lift. “Rules?”
He drew in a deep breath and released it slowly before answering. “Yes. For us to make love will be the final step, but before we reach that point there are other things that we need to do.”
She eyed him steadily and at the same time he felt her touch a finger to his thigh, no doubt trying to make him lose control again. “Things like what?”
He reached down and captured her hand in his, deciding to stop her from going any further. “A courtship.”
Now he watched as both of her brows went up. “A courtship?”
He inwardly smiled. Evidently she’d assumed they would meet at a hotel tomorro
w night and just get it on. Well, he had news for her. He had two weeks to prove to her that there was more between them than just the physical. “Yes, a courtship.” He could tell by her expression that she was reasonably confused.
“But why?” she asked, clearly not understanding.
“Because technically we’ve never courted, and I think it should be a prelude to any man and woman sharing a bed. I’m not into one night affairs, Megan. You might have been my first girlfriend but we never got around to doing things most couples did. Now we have a chance to do them and I think that we should. I want to experience things with you, take you places, have fun, and then in the end if you’re sure you still want me physically then – ”
“I’ll still want you,” she quickly said, squashing any notion that she wouldn’t.
“We’ll see.” He met her gaze and held it for a long time. “So, are you willing to play by my rules?”
She nodded. “Yes, if you really want to do this courtship thing.”
“I do.”
Megan told herself not to let the thought that Tyler didn’t want to rush them sleeping together bother her. In a way she guessed she should be glad that he wanted to take the time to do other things with her before they actually slept together. Most men wouldn’t bother. “Are we through talking?”
“Yes, we’re finished.”
The hunger she saw in his eyes made her heart race and heat settle right smack in her middle. “It’s still early yet, and I’m not ready to go home, Tyler.”
Tyler’s hand tightened into fists as he tried not to reach out and haul her across the seat and into his arms. Those were the same words she had spoken to him thirteen years ago. “You’re not?”
“No.”
“Would you like to talk some more then?”
Megan shook her head. “Preferably not.”
Tyler’s heart began hammering wildly in his chest and he felt his body get harder. “Then give me an idea what you want to do.” He flashed a grin when he added. “Excluding going all the way.”
She leaned forward. “Is there such a thing as almost going all the way?”
He nodded. “Yes, that’s what we did on prom night. We came as close as it gets.”
She smiled remembering. She also recalled they had gotten completely naked. But more than anything she remembered how she had come apart in his arms while experiencing her first and only orgasm. Even then Tyler’s brand of foreplay had been out of this world. She didn’t want to think about how it would be now. “Then let’s do it again.”
Thinking that wouldn’t be such a bad idea, he reached out for her a second before his cell phone rang. Giving her an apologetic smile, he answered it.
Megan only heard part of the conversation, but she knew an emergency had come up and she wouldn’t be getting the second orgasm of her life tonight. When he hung up the phone she spoke before he could say anything. “Duty calls, right?”
He nodded regretfully. “Right. There’s an emergency out at the Bailey’s place, so it seems I’ll be taking you on home after all.”
Disappointed, she settled back in her seat and put on her seat belt, thinking there would be a next time. There had to be and she would be ready.
Eight
“Flowers for Megan James.”
Megan stared at the man standing in the doorway. Over the past three days she had gotten flowers every single day. She wondered if Tyler realized that he was plying this courtship thing on a little too thick.
She reached out and took the flowers from the man she remembered as owning a flower shop in town. “Thanks.”
The man rubbed his chin as he studied her. “You must be mighty special to Tyler Savoy. I don’t ever recall him ever doing business with us before, and if he keeps this up, he’ll become one of our best customers.”
She smiled at the man. “Thanks again and here’s your tip.”
“You’re welcome and I’ll see you again tomorrow,” he said, turning to leave like it was a foregone conclusion that he would be delivering more flowers to her. She sighed as she closed the door.
“More flowers, Megan?”
Megan turned around and met Florence Baker’s curious gaze. “Yes, aren’t they beautiful, just like the others?”
Florence chuckled. “Yes. Tyler Savoy has good taste and it seems there’s more on his mind lately than taking care of animals. Thelma ought to be overjoyed.”
Megan frowned. “About what?”
“About the fact that Tyler is evidently interested in you again. From what his grandmother told me the other night at church, the two of you used to be boyfriend and girlfriend some years ago.”
“Yes, but now we’re just friends and nothing more,” Megan said, placing the vase of beautiful cut flowers next to the others on the table after reading the card. The room was filled with a beautiful fragrance.
Florence snorted like she didn’t believe her. “Well, it must be some kind of friendship that makes a man send a woman flowers every day.”
Megan said nothing as she watched Florence leave the room. When Tyler had first mentioned the courtship part of their relationship, she had become hesitant for this very reason. People would start getting ideas about them. They would quickly assume there was more going on than there really was.
She was about to go outside and check on things when the phone rang. She quickly crossed the room and picked it up. “Hello.”
“How’s my girl?”
Megan’s breath caught. Tyler’s greeting was the one he’d always used whenever he saw her years ago. She had been “his girl” and very proud of it.
“I’m doing fine, what about you?”
“I can’t complain. We’re still on for dinner tonight, right?”
She smiled. “Yes and thanks for the flowers again. You shouldn’t have.”
“Maybe, but I wanted to. You’re special.”
“Thanks.” And he was making her feel special. In fact that’s what he wrote each time on the card that accompanied the flowers. You’re special. “I’ll be ready when you get here.”
“Okay, I’ll see you at seven.”
After hanging up the phone, Megan smiled. She couldn’t wait to see him again.
***
“Sounds like you’ve been quite busy today at the Richardson’s place,” Megan said, as she sipped on her wine.
Tyler chuckled. “I have and I appreciate this time when I can relax.”
Megan smiled. He had picked her up exactly at seven and they had driven into D.C. for dinner at B. Smith’s, a restaurant that was located on the east side of Union Station that was simply elegant. The huge room that used to be home to U.S. presidents waiting for their trains was now one of the most successful restaurants in Washington. It was well known that the owner was a former model and a friend to nearly every celebrity you could think of. That was evident in the numerous photographs that lined one section of the restaurant’s wall.
She and Tyler had enjoyed a wonderful dinner of lemon pepper catfish and a very tasty salad. Since they were still full they had both declined desert. Tyler leaned back in his chair and looked at her. “So, what are your plans when you return to California?”
Megan shrugged. Already she was regretting having to leave. This was the longest period of time she had spent in Alexandria over the years and hadn’t realized just how much she’d missed being home. It seemed that every time she went out she would run into someone she’d known. “I’ll have another month before the semester starts and I plan on taking it easy. I enjoyed being home.”
Tyler nodded. “You ever thought of moving back?”
His questioned surprised her, but Megan decided not to tell him she had thought about it that very day. “Why do you ask?”
“Because with your credentials I bet you could get a job teaching at any of the universities around here with no problem. And I’d think your mother would want you living closer to home now that your father and grandfather are gone.”
Megan
smiled. She had thought of that, too. But her mother had Winston now, and she knew he loved her mother very much and would make her happy.
“And then there are the grandkids?”
Megan looked perplexed as she stared at Tyler. “What grandkids?”
“The ones I’m sure you’re going to have one day. At some point your mother would want to see them more often than once a year.”
Megan frowned, wondering where Tyler was going with all of this. “Tyler,” she leaned over the table and whispered. “Let me take care of being a virgin first before you make me a mother.”
He reached out and tucked a strand of her hair back that had fallen in her face and whispered, his voice low and husky. “Umm, that’s not a bad idea.”
She lifted a brow. “What?”
“For me to make you a mother.”
His words caused the ambers that had been smoldering low in her belly all evening to spark into flames and scorch her insides. It had always been her dream to give birth to a son or daughter who had their father’s hazel eyes. Her and Tyler’s babies. And for him to speak her innermost desire out loud almost made her ache for the possibility. “Would you even consider it if I wanted that to happen, Tyler?” she couldn’t help asking. The way his eyes were holding her captive was making all her senses meld together.
Tyler decided now was not the time to let her know that not only had he considered it, he planned to make it happen one day. But she was right. They had to take care of this virginity thing first; however, he wasn’t ready to let the subject rest. “Yes, I’d considered it, but what about your husband?”
She blinked. “What husband?”
“Don’t you plan on ever getting married? Usually baby making is something a husband and wife do together.”
She shrugged. “The same thing can be said about love making. It’s something a husband and wife are supposed to do together, too.”
He nodded. “Yes, that’s true, so what does that mean? Are you suggesting that to do things right we should get married so we can make love and have a baby?” he asked as a smile curled his lips.
ALL HE DESIRES (Voluptuous Woman Series) Page 23
