“Roman!”
At first contact her hips thrust upward, and in doing so, pressed against his mouth. He took the opportunity to lock his mouth to her, delving his greedy tongue deeper, obsessed for more of the warm taste of her. He lapped her up with a hunger he’d never had before for a woman, causing her hips to buck upward again. But then he knew Victoria wasn’t just any woman. She was the woman. The one he wanted to give his name, share his life, bear his babies...
His hands clamped down on her hips to keep her in place as his tongue lapped, licked, penetrated and pillaged. There wasn’t a part of her he didn’t want to know and taste, and he was enjoying the experience thoroughly. From the sound of her moaning out his name, she was enjoying it, as well.
Suddenly her moans turned into a scream and she tightened her hold on his head. Her body seemed to ignite against his lips. He kept his mouth locked to her as she continued her orgasmic meltdown. And he was loving every single moment of her experience.
Satisfied that he had gotten his fill of her taste for now, he raised his head and met her pleasure-filled gaze. His chest swelled knowing that he, and he alone, had put that look there.
Easing off the bed, he moved to grab his jeans off the floor to pull out a condom packet. He was very much aware that Victoria was watching what he was doing as he sheathed himself. He glanced back to where she was lying, totally naked in one sexy pose with her legs still open. He smiled.
Just looking at her there made his shaft throb even more. Yet as he moved back toward the bed, he again wanted her to be certain she was ready for this, because making love to her would definitely change the nature of their relationship. “You still sure about this?” he asked her.
“Yes, I am sure, Roman. No matter what lies in my future, right now you are my present.”
It was on the tip of his tongue to tell her that no matter what her grandmother might have predicted, he was her present and intended to be a part of her future. When she reached out her arms to him, hot desire burned away all thoughts, other than that he wanted to be intimately joined with her.
Unhesitant, he went into her open arms, drawing close as he settled between her legs. He kissed her, loving the warm and delicious taste of her mouth as he straddled his body in place over hers. When he stared down at her, a semblance of wild, raw need passed between them.
He loved her, needed her and wanted her. It would be up to him to show her just how much, because from now on, he knew his body, mind and soul would all be in sync with hers.
When he began easing inside of her, he felt how hot, slick and tight she was. As he moved deeper, stretching her flesh in the process, their gazes held, and he saw the sultry “come on in” smile on her lips. Her sheer acceptance of him, of this, overwhelmed him, and more than anything he wanted to give her a night she would never forget.
Unable to take things slow any longer, he thrust the rest of the way in, going so deep that he was convinced he was inside her womb. The thought made him go still and he loved the way her womanly muscles were holding him in their tight grip. The feel set fire to him, aroused him even more. He began thrusting into her over and over again, loving the sound of her moans and the way she was chanting his name.
He set the pace and she eagerly followed the movements, lifting her hips to meet his every thrust. Raw, primitive need escalated within him, began totally consuming him. His mind went blank of everything except the way being inside of her made him feel. At times, her inner muscles would clench him, lock him to her and make it difficult to pull out, only to thrust hard back in again.
Suddenly, she screamed his name and he felt her body jerk hard, then her legs tightened around his waist and her nails dug deeper into his shoulders. Her orgasm triggered his own. He felt his balls tighten and the need to explode built within him, causing him to throw his head back as a gut-wrenching sound of pleasure escaped from between gritted teeth.
It seemed he kept coming and her body was in tune to keep receiving. She was pure energy in his arms and when one orgasm ended, before either of them could catch their breath, another one began. Nothing like this had ever happened to him before and he was experiencing sensation after sensation that seemed nearly endless.
Roman was convinced at this moment there was not another woman with this much sensuality who walked the face of this earth. Would there always be this much of an orgasmic overload whenever they made love? A feeling so powerful it could literally short-circuit his brain? And cause a desire in him to want to make love to her all day and all night...nonstop?
When he felt their bodies begin winding down in exhaustion and draining of strength, he leaned down and dropped small kisses on her face and throat while shifting his body off hers. Feeling more content than he’d ever felt after making love to a woman, he pulled her close, cradling her body against his. He was convinced she could hear the raggedness of his breathing, as well as feel the racing of his heartbeat. He suspected she had no idea that those beats were a declaration of his love for her.
The last thing he thought when sleep consumed them both was just how perfect she felt in his arms.
* * *
VICTORIA COULD NOT help waking up with a smile on her face, and the feel of her body nestled in strong, warm arms made her smile even more. Last night had been everything she’d dreamed it would be and more. All through the night, Roman had stoked her fire, had explored her with his tongue to the point that she was certain her clit had his name all over it.
The only time they had taken a semblance of a break was when they’d heard the sound of the fireworks. They had paused to look out the porthole in time to see frissons of red light up the sky, giving it a fiery effect. Similar to how they’d been feeling. The sight had been beautiful and the fireworks truly magnificent.
She then thought of the care Roman had given to her last night. After their first time, he had gone into the bathroom, returned with a warm washcloth and gently wiped her body down. The gesture had been personal yet thoughtful. When she mentioned she hadn’t done this since Karl in college, he had warned her that today her body might be a little sore. When she shifted in bed, she saw he was right.
“What are you thinking, sweetheart?”
His term of endearment warmed her from head to toe and she rolled onto her back to gaze up into eyes. “How long have you been awake?”
He reached out and caressed her cheek, and his touch stirred her insides. “Since sunrise.”
She then remembered that he told her the highlight of his day was being on deck to see it every morning. “Sorry you missed seeing it.”
“I didn’t. I could see it through there,” he said, indicating the porthole that was across from the bed. The same one they’d seen the fireworks through last night. “But I hate that you missed it,” he said. “I didn’t want to wake you. But we’ll see it together tomorrow morning.”
Her heart thudded in her chest. Was that his way of saying he intended for her to be here again tomorrow morning? In his bed? Should such an assumption from him bother her? It didn’t. In fact, his words bolstered her thinking that he wanted to share the rest of his time in Catalina Cove with her as much as she wanted to spend those days with him.
“I’m holding you to that, Roman.”
As if satisfied with her answer, he leaned in and gave her a kiss. If it was meant to be a “good morning” kiss, it took a turn and quickly became a “fire up your hormones” kind of kiss. One she totally enjoyed and appreciated. She groaned a protest when he ended it.
“Now tell me what you were thinking about.”
Her heart continued to thud as she asked, “What makes you think I was thinking of anything?”
He smiled down at her. “Because you had been awake for a while.”
There was no way she would tell him what she’d been thinking, so she asked, “And how do you know when I woke up?”
“
Your breathing pattern changed.”
She nodded. He must have been paying close attention to her to notice that. “Then why didn’t you let me know you were awake?”
His smile widened as he gathered her naked body against him, and she settled comfortably in his embrace. “Because I was fighting the urge to be a greedy ass and make love to you again.”
A chuckle escaped her lips. “I would not have thought you to be a greedy ass.”
He leaned in and placed a tender kiss on her lips. “Trust me, I would have been. You, Victoria Madaris, bring out the lustiness in me.”
The thought that she could arouse him thrilled her. “Then maybe I need to learn how to tame your lusty nature.”
“You can certainly try, but my lustiness is something you don’t have to worry about this morning. You’re sore. After last night, there’s no way you’re not.”
“Okay, I admit that I am a little.”
He nodded. “The best thing to do is walk it off. How about going for a walk along the pier this morning? Since today is Sunday, it shouldn’t be crowded. Then we can go to Witherspoon Café for brunch.”
Both sounded good to her. “Only if you take me home after our walk to shower and change clothes.”
“That’s a deal.” And then he leaned in and kissed her.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
TANNER ENTERED EVANS’S GYM on Sunday. He’d read through the gym’s pamphlet to know they didn’t open until noon today. It had been his intention to show up yesterday, but he’d changed his mind at the last minute, deciding not to appear too eager to see Lyric again, although the naked truth was that he was very eager to see her.
Lyric’s mother was not working the front desk. Instead, there was a smiling teenaged girl who looked to be sixteen or seventeen. Her name tag read Liza Evans. Obviously, another family member. A sister, perhaps?
“Good morning,” she greeted.
“Good morning,” he said. Now that he was standing closer, he was certain she was probably Lyric’s sister. She looked like a younger version of Lyric. He wondered if he ever saw Lyric smile if it would be a replica of this one. “I need to sign in.”
“Sure,” she said, handing him the sign-in sheet.
When he handed the clipboard back to her, she glanced at his name and her smile widened. “So you’re Tanner Jamison?”
Obviously, she recognized his name from somewhere. “Yes, I’m Tanner Jamison, and you are...?”
“Liza. Really, it’s Elizabeth, but I prefer being called Liza.”
He extended his hand out to her. “Glad to meet you, Liza. You’re Lyric’s sister?”
“Yes, Lyric’s sister and my parents’ ‘oops’ baby. They didn’t see me coming, and needless to say, I was quite a surprise to everyone.”
He chuckled. “I bet.” He saw that she had a pleasing, bubbly and friendly personality, and thought she should share all three qualities with her sister.
“I’ll handle Mr. Jamison, Liza,” a sharp voice said behind him. He glanced over his shoulder and was not surprised to see Lyric. He blinked. Wow! If he thought she looked beautiful the other times he’d seen her, today she looked totally gorgeous. Sexy, as well. He could blame it on her outfit, which was different from the loose-fitting jogging attire she’d worn Friday. Today she wore a yoga outfit with a sleeveless crop top that showed enough skin to have his heart pounding, and a pair of matching leggings that clearly revealed a small waist and every luscious curve on her body. Unlike the previous time, instead of a ponytail, her curly hair flowed to her shoulders.
He watched her walk toward him with a sexy sway. A model on a runway could not have done it any better. She came to a stop in front of him and he had to fight hard not to slide his gaze from her face to her chest.
“Mr. Jamison.”
“Ms. Evans.”
“If you want to get started, just go through those doors there.”
He nodded. “Do I get to work with you today? To make up for what I didn’t get Friday?” When he saw her frown, he knew being reminded of that day hadn’t made her happy.
Her eyes narrowed. “Lucky for you my two o’clock appointment canceled, so yes, I can give you your hour of training.”
“No, Ms. Evans, it’s lucky for you.”
Her gaze narrowed even more. “Mr. Jamison, I—”
“Remember what Mom said, Lyric,” Liza said, reminding them that they were not alone. He wondered what their mother had said. Obviously, it had been something about him.
He watched Lyric look at her sister and smile. “I’m trying to remember, Liza.” Lyric Evans was actually smiling. He wished he could have snapped a photo of it.
The smile was short-lived. When she looked back at him, her frown was in place again. “You can go ahead and get started on treadmill number eight. By then I’ll have a list of all the other equipment for you to work on today.”
“Thanks, Ms. Evans.” He then walked off. She might not be smiling, but he certainly was.
* * *
LYRIC THOUGHT SHE was losing her mind, or at least evading her grip on reality, and all because of one man. Tanner Jamison. Although she was currently working with a client, she couldn’t help noticing him out the corner of her eye. To say he had the attention of every woman in the gym would be an understatement.
She’d told her parents over dinner Friday night that they needed to rescind his membership because he would be trouble. It was obvious to her that he was a staunch womanizer. A man who thought he could have any woman he wanted.
Unfortunately, her parents were too kind. They said there was no way they would rescind his membership when he hadn’t done anything. In fact, both her parents had met him Friday and thought he was a nice man. Her mother even accused her of being paranoid because of what Westley had done to her, and stressed to her to be nice to Tanner Jamison.
From the moment he’d strolled into where the treadmills were, everyone’s focus had been on Tanner. And the sad thing was, everyone’s attention was still on him after he’d done an hour on the treadmill at top speed like it was nothing. He’d barely broken a sweat. He had moved from the treadmill to the stair-climber and still no sweat. Now he was at the weight bench. Seeing his firm thighs and bare chest while working out on the bench was enough to send any female’s thoughts into overdrive. Even hers.
“So, who is the hottie?”
Lyric glanced over at one of the gym’s regular members, Hattie Grover. “He just signed up.”
“Umm, I would love trying some of him.”
The woman’s bold declaration was not surprising. Hattie was attractive. At least Lyric knew a lot of the men who frequented the gym thought so. She also knew Hattie was looking for hookups. After a nasty divorce, she was against a serious involvement and had confided in Lyric plenty of times she just wanted to enjoy great sex. A part of Lyric wished she could have that same attitude when it came to men. Then she wouldn’t have to worry about another heartbreak.
“I’ll chat with you later, Lyric.”
Then as Lyric watched, Hattie strutted over to use the exercise bike—the one that happened to be across from the weight bench Tanner was using. Refusing to give either Hattie or Tanner any more of her attention, she decided to go relieve Liza at the front desk for a while.
* * *
“MS. EVANS?”
Lyric turned from where she had been wiping down some of the equipment to find Tanner Jamison dressed and ready to leave. He had gone through every piece of equipment on the list she’d given him, not once but twice. He was leaving in good time since the gym would be closing in less than thirty minutes. It was hard to believe he had stayed the entire time. She knew the moment Hattie had given up on him when it became apparent that he obviously wasn’t interested in the hookup the woman wanted.
“Yes?”
“I’m leaving and was wondering
if you’ll be here tomorrow?”
She wondered why he would be interested. “No one will be here tomorrow. Evans’s Gym will be closed for Labor Day.”
“You have plans?”
She wondered what business of it was his if she did? She crossed her arms over her chest, then wished she hadn’t when she noticed his gaze followed the movement and seemed to be zeroed in on her breasts. She was convinced that was why she suddenly felt her nipples harden. “Why would you want to know that, Mr. Jamison?”
A smile curved his lips and she wished it hadn’t. It seemed the air shimmered around that smile. “First of all, I prefer you call me by my first name. I’m Tanner. And I hope I can call you Lyric, which is a pretty name, by the way.”
She had no problem with calling him Tanner and him calling her Lyric since she was on a first-name basis with most of those who came to the gym. “Fine. Now why would you want to know about my plans for tomorrow, Tanner?”
“Because I’d like you to spend Labor Day with me. Call me if you can.”
His statement surprised her and before she could recover from what he’d said, he had placed a business card in her hand, turned and walked out of the gym.
* * *
TANNER ENTERED HIS condo and tossed his duffel bag on the chair. He had gotten a good workout at the gym. Sunday was usually his day to unwind and watch a preseason football game on the tube. However, teaching Lyric Evans a lesson was more important.
Why?
He shrugged off that question as he headed for the kitchen to grab a beer from the refrigerator. Why, of all the thousands of women he’d met in his lifetime, did she get under his skin? At least he had convinced her to call him by his first name and stop sounding so damn formal when she addressed him. He had liked how it sounded when she had said it.
He frowned as he took a slug of his beer, thinking his ever-observant mind suspected something was going on with Lyric Evans. Not only had he seen wariness in her eyes, but he’d also seen mistrust and pain. Had some man hurt her before?
Follow Your Heart--A Novel Page 14
