An Ellora’s Cave Romantica Publication
www.ellorascave.com
Ageless Desires
ISBN 9781419920707
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Ageless Desires Copyright © 2009 Tessie Bradford
Edited by Helen Woodall.
Cover art by Syneca.
Electronic book Publication March 2009
The terms Romantica® and Quickies® are registered trademarks of Ellora’s Cave Publishing.
With the exception of quotes used in reviews, this book may not be reproduced or used in whole or in part by any means existing without written permission from the publisher, Ellora’s Cave Publishing, Inc.® 1056 Home Avenue, Akron OH 44310-3502.
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This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the author’s imagination and used fictitiously.
Ageless Desires
Tessie Bradford
Dedication and Acknowledgements
To my husband, Terry, who enthusiastically embraces his position as Head of Research and Development. Without your support I would have never found the courage to follow my dream.
A giant thank you to my daughter, Sarah, for always being there to talk me down from the ledge when panic attacks threaten my resolve.
Thank you to the rest of my family and friends for their unending support and encouragement.
And of course, thank you to my editor Helen for her hard work, guidance and patience throughout this amazing journey.
Chapter One
Kate was trying to focus on what he was saying—she really was! A normally well-functioning woman should not have been having such trouble processing the English language. It was just that tiny flash of metal she kept catching sight of when he formed a word just so. It’s not like it was a new addition or anything, he’d had it for years. Kate had known him for years. Nothing had changed. Nothing, except the fact that last night, that particular piercing had played a prominent role in their marathon session of lovemaking. Too bad it had only been in her dreams.
“Katie, you need to be careful when you look at a guy that way, he might get ideas, you know?” Bryan Phillips adjusted his denim-clad legs that were sprawled comfortably across his desk and laughed. Kate felt the blush run right up her neck.
“Sorry, Bryan, I was thinking about something. What were you saying?”
“I was attempting to talk about the seminar but I’d rather know about the ‘something’.”
Kate ran her hands down her thighs and acted as if her skirt needed fixing immediately in a vain attempt to stall for time. At forty-seven years old, her days of butterflies and nerves should be long gone. At least that’s what she’d been telling herself. But as her heart rate continued to increase and her palms became moist, she had to admit to herself that she had lost all control when it came to her wayward thoughts concerning this friend and co-worker, who just happened to be almost twelve years her junior!
“Get your mind out of the gutter,” she chuckled. “I was riveted by whatever you were just saying.”
She actually hadn’t heard much past the ‘I’m looking forward to a few days away, aren’t you?’ part. Ever since she found out that they were going up north together for a seminar that required a two night stay she’d been daydreaming like a schoolgirl. Getting down and dirty with him in the privacy of her own mind was invigorating, however the reality of traveling with him when her libido was in overdrive was just plain nerve-racking.
“Well, the drive up should be beautiful. Even with living in Michigan my whole life I still love just looking at the fall colors. I remember going to our family cottage when most of the trip was two lane roads and there was no civilization as far as the eye could see.” Oh that was great, Kate inwardly moaned. Maybe she should chat about 8-track tapes and drive-in theaters too.
“Well, why a company is putting on software demos at a hunting camp in the Upper Peninsula in October is beyond me.” Bryan folded his arms behind his head, pulling the fabric of his shirt tightly across his muscular chest.
“Oh, here’s a thought. Maybe it was organized by computer loving hunters? ‘Tis the season you know.”
“All I know is that the company is paying our way and there are only two training sessions that have anything to do with our clients’ needs so we will have plenty of time to commune with nature.” His lazy smile warmed Kate to the soles of her feet.
“That’s just it, Bryan. I can’t figure why we’re going in the first place. Seems a bit like a waste of time to me.”
“You must have talked to Beth about it, right? She made all the arrangements.”
“If you call ‘talking about it’ Beth dropping the materials on my desk on her way out the door, then yes we chatted the whole thing up.” She had no intention of relating how the weird conversation had been.
“Well, I’m not going to look a gift horse in the mouth,” he said as he bounded out from behind his desk. He was standing next to her in a flash and Kate couldn’t help but notice with Bryan at a bit over six feet and with the height of her chair she was at a perfect level to— Oh good lord! She rolled back quickly and stood.
“See you Monday morning bright and early, then.” She tried not to run out of his office. She wasn’t sure if she succeeded.
“You can count on it, sweetheart,” Bryan drawled under his breath as she scurried out the door.
Kate’s pulse was still racing when she sat down behind her desk and started doing her Friday afternoon paper organizing. When had she started thinking about Bryan differently? If she was honest with herself, it wasn’t just last night—but boy that had helped! It had been building slowly over the last few months. They had been taking a few more lunches together and they had been joining other co-workers at the bar more Friday nights of late but Bryan had never acted like anything but a perfect gentleman. Bryan’s friendship was very important to her and she’d be damned if she was going to ruin it because, apparently, she was sex starved.
Kate stopped her futile effort at finishing her work and allowed herself to rehash the strange conversation that she and Beth had recently shared. Beth had strolled into Kate’s office, plopping herself casually into a chair. They were best friends first, business partners second. Beth slid a couple of papers across the desk and simply waited. Kate scanned them briefly.
“And I care about this seminar why?”
“Because you’re going, of course!”
“What would ever give you that idea?”
“The fact that I just made reservations for you maybe?” Beth smiled casually.
Kate looked at the papers again. Granted, the subject matter seemed partially relevant to a few of her clients. But Beth knew that Kate didn’t like to travel for the company. That was one of the many reasons that, after her divorce three years ago, she had sold her part of the company back to Beth. She didn’t want to be in the fast lane anymore. She now worked on a consulting basis only. She picked her own clients and definitely set her own schedule. Curiosity however, made Kate read on.
“The Upper Peninsula, you’
ve got to be kidding, right? I am absolutely not making that long-ass ride to attend a one day seminar! I’d have to go a day early, spend the night, go to the stupid thing, spend the night again and then drive home. Are you crazy?” Kate shook her head in utter disbelief.
“Oh, did I forget to mention that you aren’t attending alone?” Beth paused dramatically before continuing, “Want to know who’s going with you?”
“Were you drinking at lunch?” Kate laughed as she picked up her coffee cup and drained it in one swallow.
“Don’t be ridiculous, I only do that with you.”
“Okay, I’ll bite. Who is going to this event without me?”
“Bryan Phillips.” Beth burst into a giant grin.
The cup slipped from Kate’s fingers to clatter onto the wooden desk. She quickly set it right with shaking hands. Absolutely not, no way, no how, her brain screamed frantically. Hours and hours in a car followed by a hotel and meals and nights and— Oh God she felt dizzy.
“Bryan will pick you up Monday morning at six a.m. You kids have fun now.”
“Don’t you dare walk out of here, Beth,” Kate practically shrieked. “You can’t force me to go, you know.” Kate sounded like a whinny child.
“My name has the CEO after it so, let’s see, yes I think I can.” And with that, she had left Kate’s office.
“Well, I’d look like an idiot if I tried to back out now,” Kate mumbled, turning off her computer and forcing her thoughts back to the present. She knew that somehow, over the next two days, she had better get her mind off Bryan’s overall yumminess and onto all things computer or there could be real trouble on the way.
* * * * *
Bryan glanced over at his passenger. God she was beautiful. Wavy auburn hair softly framed her round face which was dominated by gorgeously large hazel eyes. She was wearing a soft purple sweater that highlighted her ample curves and he actually had to concentrate on not reaching over to touch her. His cock had been rock hard since the moment she had bounded down her front steps, thrown her suitcase and a cooler into the backseat and hopped into his car. Though not particularly chivalrous, he was glad that she had obviously been watching for him and got to his car before he could get out and help. His jeans definitely didn’t hide his condition and he sure as hell didn’t want to scare her off in the first three minutes of the trip. Hopefully, by the time they reached the lodge, he would have himself under some kind of control. Bryan wanted to seduce her, not jump her bones—at least at first.
Kate finally seemed to relax about an hour into their seven-hour drive. The morning had dawned clear and crisp and they had left early enough to get out of the city long before rush hour began. Now, cruising up northbound I-75 and enjoying the scenery, she had settled into a comfortable mix of friendly chatter and companionable silences with him.
“Okay, I’m starving.” Kate reached over and unbuckled her seat belt. She turned, knelt and leaned over into the backseat. “Please don’t crash into anything while I’m unbuckled.”
Bryan swallowed hard and tried not to groan out loud. Her unbelievable ass was displayed proudly mere inches from him and she wanted him to concentrate on the freeway?
“So, what have you got in that cooler, Katie?” His voice came out almost normally.
“I have fruit, ham and cheese croissants, pop, chips and a few other things. What sounds good?”
“Got a restaurant phobia I’m not aware of?”
“Of course not,” she chuckled as she dug deeper in the cooler and came up with two of the sandwiches and pops. “I just thought that if we didn’t have to stop for meals, we would get up north sooner.” Okay, if that didn’t sound questionable… Kate flopped back into her seat just in time to see Bryan cast her a sideways glance.
“It almost sounds like you’re excited to go to this ‘waste of time’ conference, Katie. Or could it just be the prospect of spending quality time with your favorite computer programmer?”
“I, uh, well, I haven’t had time off in a while and I, uh…” Kate couldn’t seem to get her seatbelt re-fastened. Bryan tried not to swerve the car as his excitement level raised another notch. He had never seen Katie this way, acting unsure of herself, even nervous. Hope slammed into him hard. Any chance of waiting to start his full-on seduction ended as his second brain took over.
“Katie, did you have an extra cup of coffee or something this morning? You seem really jumpy for some reason.” Bryan brushed his hand across her thigh on the way to grab his sandwich. He could have sworn he heard her gasp.
The air in the car seemed to suddenly be too thick to draw into her lungs. Kate looked down to where he had touched her to make sure that the sparks she had felt weren’t visible. Unable to stop herself, her eyes darted to his crotch before she looked up at him. Damn if it didn’t look like he was happy to be here.
“See anything you like, Katie?” His voice was barely a whisper but in the confined area, the words seemed to echo and hang in the air.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about, Bryan,” she answered too quickly, while tossing a piece of sandwich into her mouth. She tried to look very interested in the scenery flying by her window.
“Like hell you don’t, lady. You’re making me as horny as a teenager and at the risk of sounding like an arrogant bastard, I’m thinking that you may be having the same thoughts.”
Kate jerked her head to gape in open-mouthed shock. This would be a good time for some snappy retort but none was forthcoming. She hadn’t played this game in so long. Besides the fact that she had married her first love right out of high school, she had been divorced for three years and hadn’t had but a handful of dates in that entire time. The only sexual episodes in her life currently were wet dreams and two impressive dildos that she had ordered a while back from a catalog. Her mind raced in a million directions searching for the right next move. Closing her mouth seemed reasonable.
“Well, I guess silence is better than ‘go to hell, Bryan’.”
Kate fidgeted in her seat. When she fantasized about Bryan she was always so seductive and alluring, always knew the right things to say and do. But now, faced with the stunning reality that this incredible man was attracted to her, she was at a momentary loss.
“Tell me I’m out of line Katie. Tell me that something isn’t different between us. Tell me that I’m just imagining things and I’ll shut up.”
“Bryan, you and I have been friends for years,” she started desperately. “Whatever is going on is making me very uncomfortable and not just a little embarrassed. Let’s just ignore it, okay? Eat your food. I’m too old for this kind of stress.” There, remind him of her advanced years and superior maturity, that should handle things.
“You’re kidding, right?” he laughed uproariously. “That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard. Ignore it…” Bryan let his voice trail off as he put his hand on her knee and slowly began to drag it up her thigh. He stopped when he reached the juncture of her hip. “Last time I checked, Katie, you have a few good years left before you check into the retirement home and you’re one very hot lady.”
“Bryan, seriously,” she breathed as she covered his hand with hers. Her intent was to firmly remove him from touching her person. The outcome was her hesitating, feeling the warmth of his skin under her palm. He gave her a gentle squeeze and then moved their hands together to rest on his thigh. He held her startled gaze as long as was safe at the speed in which they were traveling before he turned back to the road ahead. Kate allowed herself the luxury of his touch for a brief time before common sense kicked in. She suddenly retrieved her digits and folded her hands in her lap.
“Both hands on the wheel, mister. Ten and two o’clock position.”
“There are some other positions that we could try, Katie.”
“Bryan—”
“Now there’s the kissing until breathless position, the rolling around naked position, the various licking positions and my favorite…”
“Bryan, I’m beg
ging…”
“Oh yeah, I forgot the begging position, thanks!”
“That’s not what I was going to say and you know it.” Kate smiled and shook her head. This was kind of fun, in a nerve shattering way. “You’re certainly full of yourself today.”
“I’d rather that you were full of me, Katie.” At her sharp intake of breath he laughed. “That was too easy, hon. I couldn’t resist.”
“Bryan, please, could we change the subject? I’m really not up to this.” She put a warning finger in the air when she saw that he was poised and ready for another snappy reply. “If you’re going to sex up everything that I say this is going to be a very long trip. So I’ll admit that something weird is happening. There, I said it. Let’s not talk about it any more.” Her expression was so pleadingly sincere that he took pity on her, sort of.
“Deal, Katie. For the next few hours we won’t say a word about the fact that we’re both so turned on that we can’t think straight. We will pretend that my cock isn’t so rock hard that it’s painful and we will definitely pretend that I can’t see your beautiful breasts rising and falling with every breath that you take. Oh and let’s pretend that I’m not fantasizing about how wet you are already and what I intend to do to you. That definitely seems like the adult way to handle this situation.”
Kate groaned out loud as she turned up the radio.
Chapter Two
The Manistee Hunting Lodge and Meeting Center was a fascinating blend of rustic charm and high-tech facilities. The brochure that Beth had unceremoniously dropped onto Kate’s desk had not done it justice. Set on over a thousand wooded acres, the main lodge was a sprawling log building boasting a large restaurant, three conference rooms with state of the art computers, hotel rooms on the second floor and various animal heads on every wall. Throughout the property, on well maintained trails, there were a few cabins, apparently for those who desired a bit more privacy. Bryan parked the car and they went into the lodge to check in.
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