9781618850676UnchainedMelodyHunter

by Unknown

  “Can I help you, sweetheart?” he asked as he positioned her legs around him, her hips on his thighs and her sweet center right where it should be. “Now, what were you saying about wanting something?” he teased her. He could feel her heat, even through the silky barrier of the water.

  “You. I want you.” Her hands were on his shoulder, her breasts were grazing his chest and she was rubbing the place of her greatest need up and down the length of his throbbing cock.

  “You are insatiable,” he stated almost reverently.

  The packages lay on the bathroom floor forgotten, the waiter had to return with room service and Annalise had never been happier in her life.

  * * * *

  The Viper was headed back to Lost Maples. Annalise was wearing a beautiful new outfit Ethan had went out and bought himself. When they had at last exited the tub, he enjoyed watching her open the surprise he’d brought her. She had been so touched. “Ethan, you didn’t have to buy me clothes.”

  “I take care of what belongs to me.” Her heart turned over at his loving words and the tender emotions she could read in his eyes. The outfit was a linen pantsuit, adorned with intricate handwork. It must have cost a fortune. He had also brought her a new bra and panties—a thong, actually—her first.

  “How did you guess all the sizes right?” she asked as she slipped on the matching sandals.

  “I have had my hands all over you. Don’t you think I’ve been paying attention?”

  “It’s the sweetest thing anyone has ever done for me. But, really, it’s too much—this suite must have cost at least $500 for one night. You must let me pay my share and for these clothes—I do have money, Ethan.”

  “You belong to me and it gives me great pleasure to do things for you. Reach in my pocket, there’s one more thing I couldn’t resist.” He stretched his leg out so she could feel down into his right pants pocket. For a moment, she thought he was trying to start something sexy, but her fingers closed on a strip of leather. “Pull it out, baby, it won’t bite.”

  She did as he asked and gasped when she saw what she held in her hand, a beautiful crystal heart interwoven in an intricately braided leather bracelet. The facets caught the rays of the sun, taking her breath away. “It’s beautiful, Ethan.”

  “I plan on giving you many things, Lise.” He held her gaze, heat flashing from his beautiful eyes. “But, today, I give you my heart.”

  “I’ll take it.” Leaning over the console, she slipped her arms around his neck and hugged him tight. There was no one in the world like Ethan. How could she ever let him go?

  * * * *

  The dogs were overjoyed to see them. There is nothing that can show greater emotion than a miniature dachshund. They spun and bounced and yelped their glee. Bobby hadn’t had classes that day, so he was home. He and Alex came out to welcome them home. Alex watched them warily, anxious to see if there was evidence Annalise had finally been honest with his brother.

  Ethan threw his car keys at Bobby. “Would you wash my car, little brother?” They had come through a small rainstorm on the way back and Ethan was not happy about the water spots.

  “Sure, I know how you are about your car.” Bobby laughed. “Ethan obsesses over this Viper. I dread when it gets the first dent—our brother can’t stand anything he has to be marred by scars or dings.” At Bobby’s innocent words, Alex saw Annalise flinch with pain. He could have shot his brother! Ethan, thankfully, didn’t notice—but he stupidly didn’t dispute Bobby’s tirade.

  “That’s right, Bobby. Once it’s damaged, it’s never the same.”

  Ethan carried her things to her cabin. “I wish you would just move over into the main house and into my room.” He had been urging her to abandon the cabin.

  “No, I need to work on my book—just a little bit at least.” She was still reeling from Ethan’s innocent remarks about his beloved car. “Besides, I have the cabin paid for through the end of next week.”

  “You are not a paying guest, Lise.”

  “I most certainly am. The transaction has already posted on my credit card.”

  “I had the charges reversed.”

  He was so compelling, but she knew she had to maintain some distance, at least for her own sanity. “I wish you hadn’t done that. But, if that’s the way it is I’ll just have to earn my keep”

  He had no idea what she was talking about, but he would soon find out.

  Lise started pitching in. She changed into some comfortable clothes, went out and helped Bobby wash the car. Next, she joined Alex in the kitchen and helped with supper. She helped Ethan carry the trash out to the dumpster and then she helped him clean two of the cabins that had been vacated during the day. She had hoped the labor would calm her nerves and help her think more clearly. Ethan had an entirely different take on the situation. What he saw was a woman who wanted to be a part of his life, a woman who wanted to share in the responsibilities as well as the profits, a woman who would be his helpmate, his companion as well as his lover. Annalise didn’t know it, but she had just convinced all three Stewart brothers she was the next member of their family.

  * * * *

  “The sign stays,” Ethan told Bobby.

  “I just thought it might offend Annalise,” Bobby defended his innocent suggestion they take the welcome sign down and replace it with another.

  “I plan on making the sign true.’ Ethan explained to his brother as they walked back into the main house. They found Alex and Annalise deep in a discussion of the proper way to cook a duck.

  “I still say the secret is the high temperature at the beginning of the cooking process,” Alex argued.

  “You may be right, Alex, but boiling the duck first gets rid of all the extra grease.”

  Ethan was willing to bet Annalise knew what she was talking about.

  “Why don’t we get two ducks and the two of you can have a throw down,” Bobby suggested. He was hungry. The smells coming from the stove were out of this world. Alex and Annalise had collaborated on a big pot of Louisiana seafood gumbo.

  “That smells great.” Ethan went over to stir the pot. He took time to kiss his woman as he walked by her.

  “It’s Annalise’s recipe. She practically lives in Louisiana, you know,” Alex commented slyly, trying to remind his brother when Annalise went home, she would be over five hours away.

  “I can’t wait to taste her cooking.” Ethan hungrily watched Annalise as she put on a pot of water to cook rice. Against her better judgment, Annalise had allowed Ethan to move all of her things into his room. He had set up her a workplace at his desk and surprisingly she made great headway on her book. In two days, she managed to churn out two more chapters.

  “Hey, guys, next Saturday night is our first game of the season. Lise will you come see me play?” The first game of the Longhorns Football Season was always an event in the Stewart Family.

  “I wouldn’t miss it, Bobby,’ she assured him.

  “How about a tailgating party?” Bobby was pushing it to the limit.

  “I’ve never been to one, but I’m game.” Annalise thought it sounded like fun. “What will we have?”

  “Well, at the Stewart tailgate event its beer, BBQ, beer, steaks, beer, sausage and more beer,” Alex explained with a straight face.

  “Do you think we could add a pitcher of margaritas and maybe some homemade chocolate chip cookies?” Lise smiled.

  “That sounds like a good addition to me.” Bobby licked his lips thinking about homemade chocolate chip cookies.

  “Would you like me to make you a batch now?” she asked the youngest Stewart.

  “I sure would.” Bobby readily accepted her offer.

  By the time the pot of rice was done, Annalise had a batch of cookies mixed up and ready to put into the oven. Ethan pitched in and soon the kitchen was filled with the sweet aroma of warm chocolate.

  She sat at the supper table with three men—two whom she adored and one she worshipped. Her heart was so lost to Ethan; she knew s
he would never find it again.

  She had made the call to Dr. Rollins and she had an appointment in Houston two weeks from tomorrow. He had told her a new treatment was available and that he felt he could lessen her scarring dramatically. She dared not hope.

  “How are the plans for the party coming?” Ethan asked a surprised Alex.

  “Well, how’s Friday night?” Annalise looked at Alex squarely, realizing that this was a challenge. He was pushing her hand, wondering if she would still be willing to hand Ethan over to another woman if and when the opportunity arose. She ducked her head, remorse and dread rushing over her. Frankly, she didn’t know what she was going to do. Sometimes it felt as if she would die from the sheer joy of sharing her days and nights with this incredible man.

  “This gumbo is excellent, my love,” Ethan complimented Annalise on her cooking.

  “Did your mother teach you to cook like this?”

  “No, my mother is not much of a cook. It was my Grandmother Evans. She was a Creole from Southern Louisiana, she could cook anything. I spent my summers with her and she taught me a lot of things.” Annalise smiled with the memories.

  “Like what?” Bobby asked.

  “She taught me how to fish.” She caught Ethan’s eye and they remembered the night they first made love and the scar she still bore from the accident with Francine’s hook.

  “There’s some fine fly fishing on the Sabinal,” Alex said. “Ethan, why don’t you take Lise tomorrow? I’ll cover for you here.”

  “How does that sound, sweetie?” He looked at her. “Would you like to go fishing with me?”

  “I would love to.” Annalise was looking at him with such heat, Alex burst out laughing.

  “Why don’t you two get a room?”

  “We have one, thanks.” Ethan held out his hand to her and he led her from the room.

  “Leave the dishes, Alex, I’ll do them later,” Annalise called out from down the hall.

  “Fat chance,” Alex grumbled and got up to clear the table.

  * * * *

  Annalise loved Ethan’s room. It was such a reflection of his tastes. The furniture was massive and made of golden oak and the colors were cream and blue. There was an adjoining bath with a tub and a shower big enough for two. The closet was more than big enough for both of their things. His desk was oversized—like him—and he had a chair big enough for her to curl up in. He had lovingly made a place for her everywhere.

  To a person that is used to sleeping alone, getting used to another person could be a challenge. Unlike most men, Ethan gave her the choice—left or right side of the bed. She had no preference, but she chose the right hand side next to the wall. Having the wall on one side and him on the other made her feel safe. Sleeping in his arms was paradise. But now they weren’t sleeping.

  “Tell me about another of your fantasies,” he urged her.

  Annalise found her writing fascinated Ethan. Sometimes when she was working, he would read one of her books. Twice he stopped her, so worked up she immediately reenacted the sexy scene with him. Now, he was lying next to her looking at her with eyes so big and blue she thought she might drown in them.

  “Well, there is one I’m working on, but it requires a little…uh, restraint.”

  “I’m sorry, but I don’t have a lot of restraint where you’re concerned.”

  She got up, went to the dresser and took out two long scarves. “No, love, you don’t understand. If you will let me, I want to restrain you.” She knelt by him on the bed.

  “Do you want to have your way with me, babe?”

  Annalise leaned over and brushed her lips across his. “More than you can imagine. Now, lay in the middle of the bed for me.”

  He did as she requested. He allowed her to take one muscular arm, stretch it back and secure it with one of the soft scarves. As she crawled over him, manipulating his body, he watched her with a heated gaze. When she was through, he was a sight to behold. The muscles of his shoulders, arms and chest stood out, well defined even in their relaxed state. She patted his chest and sighed. At her careful ministrations, his cock began to fill and distend.

  She left the bed and turned off all the lights, except one in the bathroom and she closed the door so just a sliver of illumination entered the room. She carefully checked the curtains to ensure no light entered there. “Sweetheart, I know you’re shy. But one day, you are going to fulfill my fantasy and let me look at you all I want. I remember how you look, Lise. You have the most glorious body ever given to a member of the female race, why you see fit to hide it is a mystery to me.”

  His words pricked her heart. “One day, maybe. But now, back to my fantasy.” She licked her lips in anticipation and straddled him at his knees. She leaned over him, kissed his lips, his chin and his throat then peppered kisses all over his massive chest. A small groan escaped his lips when she slowly pulled his briefs down his legs until she could free them from his feet. Knowing the light was dim enough only to allow vague images she had decided to take a risk. Keeping his hands restrained would allow her to control what he touched and maybe the darkness would control what he could see. He had asked to do this repeatedly and she could not bear to keep telling him no. She prayed to God this worked.

  Still straddling him, she pulled the cotton eyelet gown over her head and she watched his eyes follow her every move. She knew he expected she was about to either mount him or give him oral sex, but she surprised him. She did place one tender kiss on his manhood and promised herself she would not neglect him long. She leaned up and kissed him on his lips. “Do you want to kiss me, Ethan?”

  “Yes,” he replied hoarsely.

  She gave him several deep, lusty, mind-blowing kisses then rose up and held her breasts near to his lips. “Do you want to kiss me here, Ethan?” He leaned up as far as the restraints would allow and swirled his tongue around one taunt puckered nipple.

  She was driving him mad! He knew he could break the scarves at any time but, truthfully, this was exciting as hell! She was showing him a side of her that, before tonight, he’d only been given glimpses. He kissed as much of her breast as she would allow, before trading sides and tempting him with the other soft, luscious globe. He felt as hard and big as a baseball bat.

  Then, to his delighted surprise, she moved further up his chest until her feminine delight hovered just over his mouth. “Do you want to kiss me here, Ethan?”

  “God, yes,” he groaned. Delicately, she lowered herself not really sure how to proceed. She held on to the headboard and eased herself down until she could feel his tongue begin to caress the folds of her labia. Spears of delight shot through her vagina as he licked and laved. The sensations were absolutely incredible. Her moans of ecstasy broke his control. With very little effort, he broke the restraints and grasped her by the hips forcing her lower so he could kiss her as deeply and completely as he had always wanted to. She had not allowed him this privilege before, so he took full advantage of the uninhibited access he was given. His obvious excitement and the incredible pleasure his lips and tongue were giving her escalated until she began to shake with a huge, deep, strong climax. Mewls of rapture broke from her lips and he pressed on until she was limp and replete with satisfaction. Then with one movement, she was under him and he plunged into her with hungry abandon. He was so excited that in three or four powerful thrusts he had brought himself to climax and tipped her back over the edge. After it was over, he lay on top of her, chest heaving. Normally, he never allowed her to feel his full weight, he was always careful not to crush her, but this time his elation had been at such a level that for a moment he forgot himself.

  She did not complain. Feeling all of him laying on her was the most comforting feeling she had ever experienced. He was heavy with muscle, but the feeling of total possession and belonging to someone, the sense of safety she felt in his arms was overwhelming. Tears glistened in her eyes and one stray tear rolled down her cheek and slid onto his. Sensing the dampness, he jerked upward fearing he
was hurting her.

  “No, please, no.” She pulled him back down on top of her. “You make me feel so safe. Please lay here for just a little while longer.” He lay back down carefully, so afraid he would crush her, yet wanting to give her what she asked.

  “Thank you for letting me kiss you,” he spoke next to her heart, “it excited me so much I lost control.”

  “It was wonderful, but nothing is more fulfilling to me than having you deep inside me. It’s hard to explain to a man how that feels.” He rose up to look at her, cupping her cheek, which was still slightly hot from her intense arousal. “When I think about you, when I get excited, that part of me feels so desperately empty and achy with longing. It’s like a hole in my soul only you can fill and when you begin to push into me…there is this desire to draw more and more of you deeper and deeper.” Her words had succeeded in bringing him back to a rock-hard state. He stopped the flow of words with his lips and it was a good thing that Alex did the dishes, because Annalise forgot all about them.

  * * * *

  The Bigtooth Maples Cecile had raved about lived up to Annalise’s expectations. The colors were brilliant—reds, oranges, yellows, even some touches of raspberry and burgundy. She’d packed them a picnic lunch of sandwiches made with thick slabs of turkey and ham she had roasted herself. The tailgating party Bobby requested would be in a few days and Annalise had helped Alex shop for what to her looked like gargantuous amounts of food. He assured her that the tailgate party would attract additional people, which would attract additional people and so on.

  For their picnic, Annalise made coconut cupcakes and a lobster salad, which reminded her of their night at the Driskill hotel. The longer she stayed with Ethan, the more memories they made together. Little by little, her reservations were being erased; at this point, she could actually see a future with him. The sex was incredible, as she had known it would be. And after she had passed the last hurdle and allowed him to kiss her between her legs and the sky hadn’t fallen, she thought there was a good chance she could stay with him.