“Yes, of course,” Amber said. “That’s how you know him.”
“Nothing like the western slope,” Thunder said. “I love it here, don’t get me wrong. And I’ve seen some wonderful places during my travels, but I always knew when it came time to retire, I’d be back on the slope with the peaches and apple orchards and vineyards. I’m looking into winemaking now.”
Harper raised his eyebrows. “Really? I didn’t know that.”
“Gotta do something to keep busy,” Thunder said. “It drives me crazy to sit around doing nothing.”
“Me too,” Amber said. “I’m always finding something to do on my time off.”
“What do you do, pretty lady?”
“I’m a manicurist.”
“You don’t say? My mother was a manicurist. Small world.”
Not that small. Manicurists were a dime a dozen, but Amber didn’t say that. Instead, she found herself feeling closer to him, wondering if her interest in doing nails came from his mother.
She let out a huff of air and hoped neither of them noticed. She was grasping at straws. She’d decided to learn nails because the vocational high school offered it, and she’d have a skill with which to make a living. She didn’t have some huge dream to be a manicurist. She was good at it, true, but was it her life’s work? No.
If she could do whatever she wanted, she’d ride horses. That was what she loved.
And maybe that was from her father. She smiled.
“You look happy,” Harper said.
Happy? Meeting her real father, finding out her love of horses might have come from him? It sure hadn’t come from her mother. Karen wouldn’t know a horse from a cat. Yes, happy was a nice word. A glowing warmth caressed her skin. For a moment she’d forgotten about her ill-fated meeting with Blake Buchanan earlier.
Damn. Had to think about that.
“I’m doing all right,” she said. She turned back to Thunder Morgan. “Tell me about your place on the slope.”
“It’s a ranch house on about a hundred acres. I don’t need a lot of space for just me and a couple horses and a couple dogs. I have neighbors who care for the animals while I’m away.”
“When do you plan to start making wine?”
“I have to find a vineyard first. There are a couple small ones for sale. I’m looking into it. I have a little nest egg. Bronc bustin’ paid the bills. It didn’t make me rich, that’s for sure, but I can afford a small operation.”
“What kind of wine do you want to make?”
“Red, definitely. I’m partial to Rhone blends. You know—syrah, grenache, mourvedre.”
Amber shook her head. “You’ll have to excuse me. I was telling Harper just yesterday ay that I know absolutely nothing about wine. I like the taste of most of it, though. Especially reds.”
“I have a great little Rhone blend we can try tonight with our steaks,” Harper said, rising. “I’ll get it. And Amber baby, you’ll get your steak blue tonight.”
“You like your steak blue?” Thunder smiled. “A girl who likes her meat still mooing is a girl after my own heart.”
* * *
“I can’t believe you did that,” Amber said after Thunder left, “but I’m glad you did. He’s amazing.”
“And he’s your dad.”
She shook her head. “I wouldn’t have believed it, except for the eyes. I’m a dead ringer for Karen otherwise. But those eyes of his. It was like staring into my own.”
“So, baby, when are you going to tell him?”
“Tell him what? That he’s my dad?” She scoffed. “I think around the fifth of never.”
“You can’t be serious.”
“Of course I am. He’s got a life, Harper. A life that doesn’t include a twenty-two-year-old daughter he never knew he had. He’ll probably think I’m lying. I doubt he even remembers my mother.”
“You said so yourself. The eyes tell all.”
“Yes, but other than the eyes I don’t look a thing like him.”
“There’s DNA testing.”
“I couldn’t ask him to do that.”
“Why not? If he doesn’t believe you, that’s the one way to know for sure. For both of you.”
“He’s such a nice guy. I don’t want to screw up his life.”
“Who says you’ll screw it up? He never married. He’s retired now. He’s all alone. He might welcome the idea of family.”
Would he? Amber’s heart did a flip-flop. It was possible. She sure loved the idea herself. She hadn’t spoken to Karen in over six years. While she finished school, Laura had been her family. Laura’s mother hadn’t been around all that much, and once they’d both graduated, she very nicely told them to get the hell out. At Rachel’s the girls were her family, with Marta as a mother figure.
Marta.
Some mother figure, drugging girls and exploiting them.
Blake Buchanan and those horrible Internet images catapulted into her mind. Her tummy—full of blue rib eye, tomato-and-mozzarella salad, loaded baked potato, and green beans—threatened to betray her.
Escape. She longed for escape. And there sat Harper, his dark eyes smoking, his hair tousled and sexy as usual, smiling with those full pink lips surrounding nearly perfect white teeth. One of his front teeth slightly overlapped the other. A tiny imperfection that made him even sexier. Her heart melted.
He’d done something so wonderful for her tonight. He’d found her father and brought him to her.
So a man wasn’t in her immediate future. At least that’s what she’d thought. Maybe she’d rethink her stance.
He wanted her. Even now, just sitting on the couch, electricity sizzled between them. His finger brushing her forearm sent tiny flames igniting over her whole body.
Her need was more than physical, though. She liked him. Liked how he treated her, liked his openness, his forthrightness, how he’d told her in no uncertain terms he wanted to take her to bed. It was a statement of pure honesty. Who couldn’t respect a man who valued honesty above all else?
She liked his family, liked his place, liked pretty much everything about him. Loved that he’d offered to bring her breakfast this morning.
Loved that he’d brought her father to her.
Loved.
She was falling for Harper Bay.
Damn it.
His arms would be paradise—a whimsical escape from Blake Buchanan and his threats.
How she longed for escape. Escape only Harper could give her.
His deep voice interrupted her racing thoughts. “Don’t you think?”
“Think what?”
“That Thunder might welcome the idea of family at this point in his life?”
His beautiful eyes, crinkling in the corners, ensnared her. “I suppose he might.”
She melted into his arms.
When their lips met, all doubts rinsed from her mind. Her body took over. She wanted to make love with Harper. She would not stop like she had last night.
He traced the outside of her lips with his soft probing tongue. A butterfly kiss. Laura had taught her about that back in high school, after Karen had kicked her out. She’d never experienced one until now.
The kiss warmed her, heated her, turned her into a blistering inferno. Had she not known better she’d have been convinced her skin was glowing red with passion. Harper replaced the tip of his tongue with his teeth, and he nibbled gently over her upper lip, her lower, and sucked the lower lip into his mouth.
Amber sighed. Goosebumps erupted over her flesh. How was it possible to feel so hot yet so cold at one time? A soft moan met her ears.
It took a moment to realize it had come from her own throat.
“I love kissing you, baby,” Harper whispered against her mouth. “You’re so soft and sweet, so responsive.” He parted the seam of her lips with his tongue and eased it inside.
If she’d had any shred of resistance left, his tongue erased it. She bathed herself in the kiss, let it consume her. Her tongue met his with p
assion so powerful she thought she might explode with desire and lust.
They ravaged each other’s mouths. Amber touched Harper’s cheek, and his stubble scraped against her fingers and palm. So masculine, so right. He was so handsome, beautifully sculpted, and she wanted him so much. Her heart beat against her sternum so hard and fast she felt sure he could feel it in his own chest.
And still they kissed. His hands wandered over her shoulders, her arms, until they found her breasts. Her nipples tightened and budded against the fabric of her bra. They ached for his mouth, his tongue.
“Please, Harper, make love to me.”
Had those words come from her mouth? Yes they had, and she meant them with all her soul.
“Oh, baby.” The deep timbre of his voice vibrated over her. “I want you so much.”
He rose and took her hand, led her upstairs to a large master bedroom. A four poster king-size bed draped in a mahogany comforter sat against one wall.
He turned to her, his eyes smoldering. “Are you sure this time?”
Her clit throbbed with each beat of her heart. “I’m sure, Harper. Take me to bed.”
He gently led her to the bed and eased her down upon the silky covers. “You’re so beautiful, Amber.”
Her skin warmed. His words touched her heart, her soul. She knew she was attractive. Those years at Rachel’s had proved that. But to hear it from Harper’s full lips that had already given her so much pleasure was nirvana.
He slowly undressed her, discarded her blouse and her bra, and feasted on her nipples.
Sweet ecstasy. His mouth felt so good on her breasts, so good and so right. Her areolas wrinkled, pushing her nipples out farther, sending tingles to her core.
She’d had some experience—not a lot, but some—but never had she known a man who could drive her as crazy as this one.
“Your breasts are delicious,” he said.
He moved downward and deftly removed her skirt and panties. She started to kick off her mules, but he stopped her.
“Leave them on. You look amazing.”
She wanted to please him, truly she did, but leaving them on reminded her too much of her days at Rachel’s. She didn’t want anything to taint this night. She kicked them off anyway, hoping he wouldn’t notice.
He looked down, frowned slightly, but said nothing.
And into her mind came a single thought. He understood. She knew he did.
He spread her legs and smiled. “I can’t wait to taste you again.”
She tried to stop him, or she at least thought about it. He’d given her so much pleasure this morning that she wanted to please him first.
But when his tongue touched her hard bud, she was lost. He feasted on her folds, her clit, all of her, his stubble grazing over her and making her hotter. She shuddered. Had anything in the world ever felt as good as this?
Her hips rose, thrust against his mouth, urging him to delve deeper into her wetness. Her naked body tingled against his fully clothed one.
“You’re wearing too many clothes, cowboy.”
“Shh,” he said against her, his voice a soft vibration against her slick folds. “I’m busy.”
Far be it from her to bother a busy man. She reached forward, grabbed two fistfuls of his silky hair, and pulled him farther into her heat.
“God, that feels amazing.” When had her voice lowered an octave?
He held her at bay for what seemed like an eternity, until she couldn’t help but shout at him. “Please, you’ve got to let me come!”
He thrust two fingers inside her, and she shattered. Up she flew to the highest peaks of the Rockies. Her entire body throbbed along with her sex, and when she floated downward, his fingers still moved in and out of her, gently now, softly.
So good. So very good.
He lowered his head, but she stopped him. “Oh no, not this time.”
“You didn’t like?” His devilish smile told her he knew otherwise.
“Are you kidding? You’re the most talented man in the world at that.”
“High praise.”
“Indeed. But it’s my turn. There are a few things I’m pretty good at too.”
She pulled him down on the bed and maneuvered on top of him. His erection pulsed against her naked wet sex. How she wanted him. She was ready to yank down his pants and mount him then and there.
But no. She wanted to please him first, as he’d pleased her. She unbuttoned his shirt slowly, all the while trailing light kisses over his neck and chest. His copper coin nipples stuck out through chestnut chest hair. They were turgid, begging to be sucked. She obliged.
“Oh, baby, you have no idea how good that feels.”
She chuckled against his warm flesh. “I think I have a vague concept.”
“I know… I just…my nipples are really sensitive. More so than most guys, I think. At least that’s what women say.”
She let his nipple tumble from her lips and looked up. “You’ve had a lot of women, huh?”
His eyes were heavy, half-lidded. “Not a lot. A few. They’ve all been amazed at how my nipples react.”
“I see.” She placed a soft kiss on one nipple. “They’re delicious, actually.”
“I’m glad, baby, because you can keep doing that forever and I won’t complain.”
“With pleasure.” She sucked and tugged, moving from nipple to nipple and loving every second of it.
Harper squirmed beneath her, his jean-clad erection pushing against her.
She wanted to see him naked. In all his tousled sexy glory. She let his nipple go and rained tiny kisses down his chest, his belly, pausing to lick his belly button. With precision, she unsnapped and unzipped his jeans.
Lord. No underwear.
“Commando? Expecting to get lucky tonight?”
“Just hoping, baby, that’s all.”
His erection sprang free from a nest of brown curls. He was magnificent, large and golden, with a drop of fluid glistening on the head of his cock. She licked it off.
He shuddered beneath her.
“You like that?”
“God, baby, yes. Suck me. Please.”
“Since you said please.” She twirled her tongue around the swollen head and savored the salty masculine flavor. He groaned in pleasure. She warmed, and her own sex throbbed.
Pleasing him pleased her. More than it had with any other man she’d been with.
She continued her assault, trailing her tongue along his length to his base and back up again, teasing and teasing, until she finally lowered her mouth and took all of him to the back of her throat.
“Ah, God, baby,” he groaned. “Yes, take it all.”
She could do this for hours, suck his beautiful cock. She wanted this as much as he did.
Surprising. She’d never enjoyed this aspect of sex much.
Until now.
Until now when she was with a man she truly cared about.
When had she started caring this much? When had she fallen in love?
Don’t go there, Amber.
She resumed her task, loving every delicious moment of it.
“Baby, baby…”
She lifted her head. “Yeah?”
“Nightstand drawer. Condom.”
God, yes. Condom. She wanted him inside her. She grappled in the drawer and retrieved a foil packet. Quickly she ripped it open, sheathed him, climbed atop him, and sank herself onto his hardness.
Had she ever felt so full? So complete?
Slowly she moved up and down, finding his rhythm, letting his own pistoning hips guide her.
“Yeah, baby. God, yeah.” His voice was deep, and his tone seemed to be hugging her, urging her to make love to him. “Fuck me. That’s it.”
Not a word she liked. But he said it so sweetly that it turned her on even more. She wanted to fuck him. She wanted to fuck his brains out. Her whole body felt like a rocket ready to launch.
She moved faster. Her clit rubbed against him as she pumped, and oh, oh…yes
. The orgasm hit her with more force than she was prepared for, and she nearly fell off the bed.
His strong hands steadied her. “That’s right, baby. Come for me. Come.”
The climaxes kept coming and coming. His hips gyrated harder up into her.
“Harper, so many, God…God, yes!”
“Yeah, baby. I’m going to come.” He thrust up into her faster. “Yes, yes, baby.”
As he spilled into her, her orgasms slowed. She fell forward onto his chest, their perspiration mingling into a scent of musky completion. She inhaled against his neck. Mmm. Their own special aroma. Perfect.
“Oh, baby,” he growled. “That was amazing.”
She nodded against his neck. Couldn’t bring herself to speak yet.
“Amber.”
She drew all her strength and sent it to her vocal cords. “Hmm?”
“Stay with me. Spend the night.”
She snuggled against him, already half-asleep.
Chapter Eleven
“Rise and shine.” Harper’s voice cut through Amber’s dream of lovemaking.
She opened her eyes. “Hey. What time is it?”
“Six. I gotta get moving. Ranches don’t run themselves.”
“Yeah. I’m working today too. My first client’s at eight, so I need to go.”
“Time for breakfast?”
“I wish I could. I have to get home and shower and change.”
He grinned. “You could shower here.”
She could…
Images of Harper’s manly body covered in droplets of warm water enticed her, but… “Ha. Then I’d never leave. But I’ll take a rain check on the shower.”
“I’ll hold you to that. Do you have time for a quick cup of coffee?”
“Only if it’s to go. Sorry.”
“Okay. I’ll get you one.” He leaned down and gave her a light kiss on the lips. “Last night was wonderful, baby. Thank you.”
Thank you? No man had ever thanked her for sex before. Should she thank him back?
“Um…you’re welcome?”
He chuckled. “You are priceless, Amber. I never would have thought you were my type, but damn, I love being with you.”
Not his type? Was that an insult? “What do you mean by that?”
Treasuring Amber: The Temptation Saga: Book Five Page 8
