by Regina Hart
“Do you want me to read it to you?” She bounced on her toes. His impatience made her want to delay the announcement longer.
“Rose.” His voice was a warning.
“All right. All right.” Rose lowered the printed message, holding out her hand, palm up. “The gist of it is...you won. The city will decline Public Pawn’s request to locate one of its stores in the shelter’s neighborhood.”
“Are you serious?” Donovan stilled. His smile was uncertain.
“Of course I’m serious.” Rose crossed to him, handing over the sheet of paper. “I wouldn’t joke about something like this.”
Donovan read the email himself. A sexy grin curved his full lips and showcased his perfect white teeth. “I can’t believe it.”
“What do you mean, you can’t believe it?” She playfully punched his shoulder. “I can believe it. Our argument was sound and reasoned, so of course, we would prevail. Heroes always do.”
Donovan’s beautiful hazel eyes were bright with joy. It vibrated from him in waves. “If I’m a hero, then so are you. I couldn’t have done this without you.”
“Yes, you could have. You just would’ve had to come out of pocket for the billable hours.”
Donovan threw back his head and laughed, making Rose’s toes curl in her sensible black pumps. “This is fantastic. We have to celebrate.” He crossed the room with long restless strides.
“We can start by calling Cecil Lowell.” Rose turned, keeping track of Donovan.
“Cecil?” Donovan paused, frowning at her. “Why would we call him?”
“He didn’t think we’d win.”
“I think he didn’t want us to win.” A smile chased away Donovan’s confusion. “But that’s all right. Everyone’s entitled to his—or her—opinion.”
An impressive reaction. “You’re a good person, Van. Most people would want to rub this victory in Cecil’s face.”
“Is that what you’d do?”
“Maybe.” Rose shrugged. “Probably.”
Donovan chuckled again, causing the muscles in her lower abdomen to shimmy and shiver. “I need to let the subcommittee, then the board know.”
“I’ll forward the email to you.” Rose crossed to him. “Then you can forward it to them. When the letter arrives in the mail, I’ll keep a copy, then give the original to you.”
“Thank you.” Donovan still sounded dazed.
“Congratulations.”
“To both of us.” Donovan pulled her into his arms.
What he’d intended to be a friendly, congratulatory gesture soon heated into something more. His body was so hot and hard against hers, and his scent was an aphrodisiac.
* * *
Donovan’s head was spinning. He loosened his embrace on Rose and looked down into her chocolate eyes. He read confusion and desire in them.
“Rose.” He heard the yearning in his whisper.
Her eyes continued to search his face. He didn’t know what she was looking for. If he did, he’d give it to her. Anything. Everything. He wanted her that much. But not just for her body, as sexy and desirable as she was. He also was attracted to her heart. It was big enough to share. Her mind was quick and curious, and her laughter gave him a hard-on. He also liked the way she saw him. She thought he was a hero and that made him want to be one.
Donovan lowered his head to kiss her. His movement was slow and deliberate, giving Rose plenty of time to reject him, if that’s what she wanted to do. He prayed that she didn’t. He needed to hold her. Wanted to kiss her. Burned to love her. It was August 20, only four weeks until the reunion. He was running out of time to persuade her to turn their make-believe relationship into their own fairy-tale romance.
“Rose,” he whispered again, right before his lips touched hers.
Heat rushed through his veins. She tasted so sweet. Felt so soft. Smelled so good. Donovan pressed his mouth to hers. He stroked his tongue across the seam of her mouth. Rose’s lips parted, letting him in. He slid his tongue inside, stroking her here, caressing her there. Rose moaned into his mouth. Donovan tightened his embrace. She pressed her body against him and deepened their kiss.
Is she letting me know that she wants me, too? Please, God, let it be yes.
Donovan braced himself, then took a step away from her. He kept his grip on Rose’s slender upper arms and waited for her to open her eyes and focus on him.
“Rose, honey, I want you. But is this what you want?”
Rose raised her hand to cup the side of his face. “Yes, Van, I want to make love with you.” Her voice was slow and clear. There was no mistaking her message.
Donovan closed his eyes as his body shook with desire. Rose braced her hands on his chest and kissed him. Donovan’s muscles contracted. A rush of need swept through him, faster and hotter than anything he’d ever felt before. He’d wanted her for so long and so badly. Without breaking their kiss, Donovan swept her into his arms and carried her up the steps. At the top of the staircase, he turned right into his bedroom. He crossed to the foot of his king-size bed and released Rose’s long legs.
She made quick work of stripping off his green T-shirt. Rose stopped briefly to caress his chest. Her hands were soft and hot against his skin. Donovan reached for her, but she shook her head.
“I want to finish what I started.” She reached for the waistband of his khaki shorts. With her chocolate eyes on his, she lowered the zipper and let his clothing fall to the floor. She stepped back. Her voice was husky. “You’re amazing. Even better than I’d imagined.”
“You pictured me in my underwear?” Donovan gave her a curious smile.
“Maybe.” Rose flushed.
“That makes two of us.” He wished he’d known that. Donovan stepped forward and released the four silver buttons on Rose’s black shirtdress. “Now it’s my turn to see how closely fantasy matches up with reality.”
He had no doubt the reality of her body would blow his fantasy out of the water. He released the belt from her waist and dropped it to the floor. Rose kicked off her pumps. Holding his gaze, she caught the hem of her dress and pulled it over her head. Donovan stilled. He sucked in a breath and held it. Rose had been hiding her more colorful clothing beneath her staid black, brown, gray and bronze outfits.
Donovan’s gaze slid over her matching hot-pink, barely-there lace underwear. He groaned. “No one could have fantasized about this.” He stepped forward. “Rose, you’re gorgeous.”
He took the weight of her right breast in his left hand. He stroked his thumb over her nipple through her lace demicup bra. Rose’s sharp gasp made his body heat. Donovan pulled her into his embrace and kissed her. Hard. He cupped the firm, rounded curves of her bottom and pressed her against his throbbing muscle. With his free hand, he released her bra, letting it drop to the floor. Her bare breasts felt wonderful against his chest. Donovan’s blood was on fire for this woman. She tasted like heaven and felt like paradise. Her scent, vanilla and spice, was making him crazy. He led her to his bed, then fell onto the mattress, pulling her on top of him. They broke apart at the bounce. Rose looked up at him. The steam in her chocolate eyes echoed the heat building inside him.
“Tell me you have condoms.” Her body was so still, waiting for his response.
“I do. Right there.” Donovan jerked his head toward his nightstand. But if he hadn’t had them, he would have driven naked to the store to get them.
Her smile was wicked relief. She moved down his body and removed his underwear, then returned to his erection.
“Your skin is so hot.” Her voice was low as she touched him. She stroked him from root to tip, front and back. “I think you’re ready for me.”
Donovan gritted his teeth against the torturous caress. Watching her touch him as she lay practically naked between his legs, he thought he’d come any second.
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“Come here, temptress.” Donovan reached forward and pulled her on top of him. “We’ll play your game later. Right now, I need you.”
* * *
He needs me. Rose smiled. The desire glowing in his hazel eyes confirmed it. She rolled off Donovan to shed her underwear.
Then he settled his body on top of her. “Am I heavy?”
“Just right.” She brought his head down for a kiss. She loved kissing him. The way he felt. The way he tasted. What he did with his tongue.
Donovan shifted his leg, using it to make room for himself between her thighs.
Rose broke their kiss. “Condom.”
He looked down at her. His eyes were warm with promise. “We’re not there yet.”
Rose frowned. She was damp. Her nipples were hard. How much further was there to go?
Then she felt him reach for her. He held her gaze as her eyes widened. His long, nimble fingers stroked their way into her folds. Rose’s lids lowered as her body filled with pleasure.
Donovan lowered his head to whisper beside her ear. “That’s it. Relax for me, Rose. I need you.”
Oh, my goodness. I hope you always do.
Rose’s legs trembled. She spread them wider, giving Donovan better access to her. She sensed him watching her but didn’t care. Desire flooded her body. With every stroke of his finger, Rose’s muscles tightened, pulling harder and harder, going deeper and deeper. Growing in intensity. Her hips pumped, chasing the craving. Rose’s lips parted in a gasp at the sweet pleasure-pain. Her legs tensed and her muscles stiffened. Then her body burst as pleasure exploded inside and over her. Rose threw her arms around Donovan and held him tight.
“Oh, my.” Rose gasped for breath. “I’m so sorry. I came too quickly. It’s been a little while. I’m so sorry.”
“Don’t apologize.” Donovan laid a finger over her lips. “You were beautiful.”
Donovan shifted down her body. He covered her chest and shoulders with kisses. Over and over he repeated, “So beautiful.” Under his attention, her body began to relax again.
“You’re so beautiful, Rose.”
She gave him a dreamy smile. “And you’re so handsome. And talented. Magic.”
Donovan drew her breast into his mouth. Rose gasped. She cupped the back of his clean-shaven head to urge him closer. He suckled her deeper. Rose dampened. She bit her lower lip as the pleasure intensified. Her legs moved restlessly. Donovan’s teeth grazed her nipple. Her back arched. He stroked her tip with his tongue. Her hips pumped. Donovan released her right breast to minister to the other. Rose squeezed her eyes shut.
“Van, come in me now. Come in me now.” She’d never begged before, but she was willing to now.
“Soon, Rose. I promise you. Soon.” Donovan continued to trail kisses down her torso. He licked her navel and bit the side of her hip.
Rose’s hips lifted. She wanted him in her. She needed to feel him. She had to—
Donovan cupped her hips, rose onto his knees and brought her to his mouth. Rose gasped at the unexpected caress. Donovan’s tongue was rough against her spot as he stroked her. Rose pressed her head back against the pillow—hard—as her body shook with sensation. He kissed her. Licked her. His tongue moved in and around her. Rose clutched the bedsheets in her fists as her body rocked with pleasure. Her nipples hardened, and her thighs tensed. Her blood rushed in her ears. Her body was covered with sweat. Her muscles stretched tight until they burned. She pressed herself harder against him, opening wider. And then it happened. The thunder of completion rolled through her again. Wave upon wave of explosions. Her body shivered, then shook. She grabbed the pillow beside her, pressed it to her face and screamed.
Finally, Rose caught her breath. She removed the pillow from her face. Donovan was seated on the side of the bed, preparing to put on a condom.
“Let me.” Rose rolled to her knees and extended her hand for the packet. Her body was satiated, languid and loved.
“Thanks.” He knelt on the bed in front of her.
“You have amazing self-control.” She unrolled the condom on his erection, using the task to avoid looking into his eyes.
“I wanted to love you.” He buried his fingers in her hair and brought her closer for his kiss.
Amazingly, Rose was becoming aroused. Again. She pulled away from his kiss. “Now let me love you, hardworking man.”
Donovan’s eyes flared with hunger. Rose nudged him onto the mattress, then straddled him. She took her time loving his torso with licks and kisses. A touch here. A nip there. His big body shook between her thighs. From her. She was the focus of his desire. Rose felt sexual and powerful as she’d never felt before.
She straightened and guided him to the entrance to her core. Donovan shut his eyes hard as she slowly lowered herself onto his erection. He felt so good, pushing into her. Rose’s nipples pebbled. Her muscles hummed. What was it about this man that had her on hair-trigger arousal?
Donovan’s big hands gripped her thighs. Rose squeezed and stroked his muscle with her body. She picked up her rhythm and Donovan rocked with her. He panted and pressed his head deeper against his pillow as though struggling to hold on. Rose held him tighter to push him a little closer to the edge. She arched her back, clenching her muscles around him. Then he touched her. All of her senses collected in that one spot where his thumb rubbed her. He shifted his hips to deepen the pressure on her. Rose went wild. Her body convulsed as the climax shot through her. And with three powerful thrusts, Donovan followed.
Rose collapsed onto him, and he held her tight. She heard his heartbeat galloping in his chest. Hers was doing the same. She kissed the spot above his heart, then laid her cheek against his chest. Donovan kissed the top of her head, and then rested.
This was loving. Rose sighed much later as she spooned against Donovan on his king-size bed. She was exhausted. Instead of leaving now, she’d get up early to drive home and dress for work.
She’d never imagined she’d have three orgasms in one night. Perhaps Benjamin had been too sated from those other women to even try. With Benjamin, they’d had foreplay, then they’d had sex and afterward, they’d go to sleep. Rose had been satisfied. But she’d never been loved. Not like this. And she’d never be loved like this again. She pressed her face against her pillow and let the tears flow.
Chapter 12
On Friday afternoon, Donovan’s cell phone buzzed on the desk beside his keyboard. His pulse bounced. Let it be Rose. He’d already left two messages for her. He couldn’t leave a third. But his hopes were crushed when he recognized Cecil’s work phone number on his caller identification. Why was the younger man calling him? Their legal subcommittee had completed their assignment successfully. Donovan was keeping his position as board president. They didn’t have anything more to discuss.
“Van Carroll.” Donovan wanted to keep this short. He had a lot of work to do. And Rose might be trying to call.
“Van. It’s Cecil Lowell.”
“What can I do for you, Cecil?” Donovan prodded the conversation along.
“Listen, I got your email this morning with the, uh, city council’s response. Nice work.”
Other members of the legal subcommittee had responded to the group email. They hadn’t felt a need to call Donovan directly; neither had members of the board. Why had Cecil? “Thanks. But this was a team effort. We all did good work.”
“Yes, it was a team effort.” Cecil’s tone seemed to brighten with that concept. “Everyone worked together to make it happen.”
“That’s right.” Donovan straightened as he prepared to end their conversation. “Thanks for calling, Cecil. I’ve—”
“What would you have done if the board’s majority had voted to allow the pawnshop to move in?”
Donovan swallowed a sigh. His gaze drifted toward his offic
e window. It was another beautiful summer day in Columbus. August was coming to an end, taking the worst of the season’s heat with it. Fall was only a month away. Rose’s law school reunion was even sooner.
His attention returned to Cecil. “If, after reading and discussing the pros and cons of having a pawnshop in the same neighborhood as the shelters, the board had voted in favor of it, I would’ve accepted the board’s decision.”
“That’s the difference between us. If the majority of members had disagreed with me, we’d still be debating the issue.”
Donovan could believe that. Cecil was stubborn to a fault. “I don’t think you would have been president for long.”
Cecil snorted. “You’re probably right. Just like you’re right when you said this was a team effort.”
“Yes, everyone worked together to make our case.” Donovan checked his watch. He needed to wrap up this call. Where was Rose?
“But we couldn’t have accomplished this victory for the shelter without your leadership.” Cecil’s words surprised Donovan.
“Thank you.” He couldn’t think of anything else to say.
“I realized that the day after the board decided to keep you as president.” Cecil chuckled. “You’re a good leader. You listen to other opinions instead of trying to get people to do what you think is best.”
“I appreciate your saying that.” What had gotten into Cecil? He sounded almost mature.
“It’s the truth. I’m sorry for not realizing it sooner.” Cecil paused. “I’m also sorry for the trouble I’ve caused the board.”
“That’s in the past.”
“You’re a damn decent guy, Van. You’re also a lucky one to have such a talented and successful girlfriend. I wish you both the best.”
“Thank you.” Donovan didn’t feel very lucky. He felt like an idiot—or a lovesick teenager. Why wasn’t Rose returning his calls? He didn’t know what else to do. If he didn’t hear from her by the end of today, he’d show up on her doorstep Saturday morning.
