Indiscretions

by Lori Borrill

  Rachel smiled. “I’d like that.”

  “You’re to call me when you get there,” Stefan insisted.

  “I will.” She gave them both hugs and sent them on their way, wrapping up the last of her packing while the chauffeur took her bags to the car.

  Stepping down the stairs and out to the driveway, she noted the stretch limousine her father arranged. Had that really been necessary? Easily, she could have managed with just a car, but she smiled when she realized it was probably his way of trying to cheer her up. Despite all the faults in their relationship, he truly was the one man who would always stick by her no matter how badly she messed up her life, and for that, she’d always appreciate him.

  The driver opened the back door and she slipped inside, raising a brow when she noted not only the fully stocked bar, but some sort of lunch on ice. When she had dinner with her dad two nights ago, he’d noted she’d lost some weight. No doubt, the covered plates contained something to put meat on her bones, but admittedly, she hadn’t had much of an appetite lately. It was something she intended to remedy when she got to Milan.

  “Can I mix you a drink before we go?” the driver asked.

  She shook her head and settled into the seat.

  “If there’s anything you need, you can reach me through the intercom,” he said, before shutting the door and leaving her within the quiet of the large dimly lit space.

  With the windows tinted and privacy screen up, it was like a room fit for meditation, and as the limo pulled away from the driveway, she kicked off her sandals, closed her eyes and started the deep breathing exercises she’d learned from a relaxation therapist. With every breath she took, she visualized exhaling the bits of her past, regrets, embarrassments and unspoken apologies. She sucked in clean air then breathed out more, letting go of the things that left her feeling sad and depressed and opening mental windows for fresh new experiences to come through.

  For over a half hour, she relaxed to the smooth rocking of the moving car, listening to the faint noises of the freeway and letting the calm quiet of the space soothe her tired spirit. And after a while, she’d managed to get herself so relaxed she’d nearly slipped off into sleep.

  But then the limo hit a bump and she happened to glance out the window to see a passing highway sign. She blinked. Not certain she’d seen it correctly she turned and looked out the back window. What the heck?

  She hit the button to the intercom. “Excuse me, but we’re supposed to be going to LAX.”

  “The airport?” the driver asked.

  “Yes. You’re going the wrong way.”

  Great. She only hoped they’d left early enough so that she wouldn’t miss her flight.

  “According to Mr. Winston, there’s been a change of plans,” the man said.

  “What do you mean a change of plans? I’ve got a plane to catch. Where are you taking me?”

  Instead of answering her question, the intercom clicked off and the privacy screen began to roll down. And when it did, Rachel realized that there were two men in the front seat, the driver and—

  He turned around and smiled, hitting her with that big, gorgeous one-two punch that always made her fluttery inside and turned her legs to jelly.

  Marc!

  “Sorry, babe,” he said, grinning from the front seat. “You’re not going to Italy. You’re coming with me.”

  17

  THE LIMOUSINE STOPPED briefly at the side of the road and Marc moved from the front seat to the back, restoring the privacy screen and shutting off the intercom as the driver took off to a destination Rachel could only hope for.

  “What’s going on?” she asked, her voice faint from the air that couldn’t manage to move from her lungs.

  She was afraid to breathe—afraid to blink—for fear that this was all some sort of dream. Maybe that relaxation technique had worked better than she thought. She’d nodded off into a deep sleep and all of this was about to vanish into a cloud of disappointment when she woke up and discovered none of it was real.

  But when Marc scooted next to her, cupped her face and pressed his warm lips to hers, she knew she never could have slept through the swarm of tingles in her stomach.

  This was real.

  He was here.

  And he was kissing her as if everything in the world was right and perfect between them.

  Not asking questions, she gripped a hand to his button-down dress shirt and pulled him close, breathing deeply, melding her tongue with his to soak in everything she’d missed so badly. His scent, his taste, the firm feel of his chest against her fingers, the soft touch of his hair, the rough shave of his chin. She took it all in with hungry greed, not wondering why he was here or what his plans were, but just aching for this to last.

  He moaned and clutched her waist, whispering to her lips words of affection.

  “I’ve missed you,” he uttered between kisses.

  New life boiled through her veins and her heartbeat sped, every stroke of his hands over her body, every eager lap of his tongue, every brush of his lips pulsing warmth through her until she thought she might ignite. And though her thirst for his touch was so dire, questions wouldn’t stop nibbling at her heels, not to mention the feelings she needed to express.

  Pulling away, she touched his chin and whispered, “I’m so sorry. I was so—”

  He held a finger to her lips. “Don’t. We both have things to apologize for. Not now.” Then he yanked her shirt from the waist of her skirt and slipped his hands up under the fabric, touching hot skin to hot skin. “The only thing that needs to be said right now is that I let you get away, and that was a mistake that I’m correcting right now.”

  Squaring those sparkling blue-gray eyes with hers, he studied her closely. “Just tell me you’ll come back.”

  Her smile spread so wide she felt it stretch all the way to her ears. “I don’t want to be anywhere else.”

  He moved off the leather seat and knelt between her legs, pulling her shirt up over her head then going to work on her bra. As he shed the fabric, she unbuttoned his shirt and spread it open, working to lose the barriers so they could come together flesh to flesh.

  His breath was hot against her skin as he kissed a path from the sensitive spot under her ear all the way down to her bare breasts. He did it with speed, but it still felt achingly slow. It had only been two weeks since they’d connected like this, but it seemed like a lifetime. She’d felt lone and hollow without him. Now every slip of his tongue poured a new sense of desire through her, watering her spirit like a wilted flower perking up and reaching toward the sun. She hadn’t thought she’d feel this way again, had thought she’d lost this bone-melting sensation forever. And now that it was back, she wanted all of it and fast.

  As he cupped her breasts and feasted, she reached back and unfastened her skirt, tugging the clothing off her hips until she was bare and exposed for him. It was then that he stopped and studied her, eyeing her body and tracing his gaze with appreciating fingers.

  “You’re the most beautiful creature I’ve ever seen,” he whispered. Then he bent between her legs and pressed his lips to her inner thigh.

  A sharp swirl of tingles sped over her then circled between her legs, bringing a quick pulse to her sex and curling the tips of her toes.

  “I’ve missed this,” he said, nibbling his way toward the apex. “I’ve missed all of you.” And when he brushed his tongue over her clit, she nearly came apart right then.

  “Ohhh,” he groaned. Then he did it again, and this time the long stroke sucked the air from her chest.

  She grabbed onto his shirt and coaxed his mouth up to hers, not wanting to lose herself like this. She wanted his body inside hers, pushing her to the brink while sinking into those steely blue eyes and searching for answers to all the questions that swarmed around her.

  She kissed him deeply and unfastened his belt. “Make love to me,” she urged, and he wasted no time in pulling condoms from his pocket and tossing off his slacks.
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br />   His cock was hard and ready, telling her he’d ached for this as much as she had. And while he sheathed himself, she scooted to the edge of the seat and opened herself to him.

  Slow and smoothly, he slipped inside, restoring her spirit as he filled her. She curved her back to receive him, a warm wave of calm washing over her when he’d gone all the way and his firm hips came to rest against her thighs. And for a long time, he stayed there, holding her face in his hands and staring into her eyes.

  “I love you, Rachel.” He searched her expression as tears swept up from somewhere deep in her chest. “You said you thought you’d loved me. Was that true?”

  The faint curve of his mouth said he already had the answer, but she offered it anyway.

  “I never thought. I always knew.”

  That curve turned into a full gleaming smile. “I’ve got an offer for you, but first you need to know how much you mean to me. And not just like this.” He thrust inside her again, sending another wave over her that sped straight up her spine.

  “I’m getting the picture,” she said, her voice weak as she fought through a wall of thrill, disbelief and physical pleasure.

  He kissed her gently. “I want you back again. And this time, I want you for good.”

  “I’d love that.” She squirmed under the pressure of his erection, the gentle rocking of the limo brushing the base of his shaft against her clit and pushing her close to orgasm even if he hadn’t intended it. “But right now you need to—ohhh.”

  He stroked and stroked, starting a rhythm that she could hardly bear. Her legs trembled as she tried to hold on, to wait for his climax to peak and join with hers, but it was all too much. This surprise reunion, his profession of love and his plans for their future, not to mention the smooth feel of his hard naked body against hers. It all came together to overpower her will, and as he moved and thrust, she exploded into a sea of wet heat and glorious joy.

  The orgasm took quick control, her muscles fisting and pulsing, her hips jerking and her breath reducing to light whispers. It turned the playful warmth in Marc’s eyes to something urgent, and just as the warm blanket of velvet smoothed over her, his gaze clouded over and he lost himself inside her.

  He carried her own release beyond the edge, grunting and yanking her up off the seat and onto his lap, her body impaled on his as he spilled and bucked and came. They wrapped their arms around each other and held on tight, his teeth digging into her shoulder while she cupped his head and held him close. She pumped and thrust, drawing out everything he had to offer, while she basked in the feel of his body joined with hers, his bare chest heaving against her breasts, the light glistening of sweat shimmering over them as the orgasm peaked and then finally calmed.

  And when it was over, they stayed there for a long time, holding each other, kissing and caressing, neither daring to be the first to break the connection they’d restored.

  He brushed his hand across her cheek and laced his fingers through her hair, turning his lips to her ear and whispering, “I love you.”

  The words tightened her throat, and she studied his eyes. “You really mean that.”

  “Yes.”

  “I love you, too. I’ve been so miserable. I’m so sorry for the way I acted.”

  “I deserved it.”

  She tried to object, but he covered her mouth with his and sank in for a long, luxurious kiss. Then he smiled and said, “You and I, we’re right together. We keep each other real, Rachel. I think that’s a good thing. And don’t be mistaken. If you do something that warrants an apology, I’ll demand it. But this time, I was the fool who dismissed everything we shared and let you walk out without so much as a goodbye. I deserved everything I got.”

  “But I can have a temper sometimes.”

  He grinned. “Perfect. I’ve got a thick skull. An occasional jackhammer is exactly what I need.”

  She giggled and began to choke up. None of this seemed real. Any moment, she feared the car would stop, the door would open and a big group of people would stand up and cheer, “You’ve been punk’d!”

  But there was nothing mistaking that look in Marc’s eyes, and it was there that she saw this was real, he really did love her, and the future she’d been so afraid to dream of was actually coming true.

  “So we’re going back to Clearwater Springs?” she asked.

  “Not exactly.” He lifted her up to the seat. “That’s part of the proposition I have for you.”

  Instead of explaining, he grabbed her clothes and handed them to her then got dressed himself, and when they’d both settled back in their seats, he pointed to the two plates that had been sitting on ice.

  “Did you take a peek at those?”

  She shook her head. “I assumed it was lunch.”

  He smiled. “It’s our future.”

  He raised the lid from the first plate to reveal a mound of ripe plump strawberries with long stems. Taking one in his hand, he put an arm around her and held it between them. “This was the life you gave me back at Clearwater Springs, remember?” He brushed the berry over her lips and encouraged her to take a bite. “How did you say it? Sweet, a little tangy, loaded with flavor and color.”

  It tasted delicious, ripe and juicy, but instead of offering her the rest, he ate the last of it himself then nodded in agreement.

  “I would consider that a very satisfying life,” he said. “But you got me thinking about what I’d been doing with my career and whether or not I’d achieved the life I’d really wanted. Like I said, we keep each other real. And I realized that while this is nice…” He tossed the stem on the plate then lifted the lid from the second tray. “I think I’d rather have this.”

  Underneath the second plate was another mound of fat strawberries, but these were dipped in chocolate then drizzled with white chocolate and dotted with chopped pistachios.

  Picking one from the top, he brought it to her lips just like he had the other.

  “This is all that but even better,” he said. “These are coated with a layer of rich luxury, a little nutty.”

  She bit the end and let the smooth chocolate melt on her tongue, and when she’d swallowed the last of the bit, Marc pressed his lips to hers and tasted the essence. “Mmm, sweet and tangy, smooth and salty. Even better, don’t you think?” He gave her the rest of the berry then took one of his own.

  “This is definitely more delicious,” she agreed.

  They sat for a moment, enjoying the treats. She hadn’t noticed that next to the plates, a bottle of champagne sat buried in the ice, and Marc pulled it out and poured them two glasses. She took a sip, all the while waiting for him to explain to her where they were going and what he had in mind, and when he didn’t, she finally asked.

  “So, are you going to tell me how you plan to take your life and dip it in chocolate?”

  “I’m selling my interest in Clearwater Springs.”

  She gaped. “You what?”

  “I’m done having to answer to a board. I’m done working tireless hours cooped up in an office doling out investor reports and worrying about the bottom line. That’s not why I went into the hospitality business.” Then he grinned. “And the best part of it is I seem to have made a pretty healthy profit off my shares.”

  “You have a buyer for your shares?”

  “I have a half dozen of them lined up.” He winked. “You’re looking at a pretty successful businessman.”

  He tapped his glass to hers and took a sip.

  She could only sit and stare. “So what are you going to do?”

  “The question is what are we going to do? And being a pretty significant life decision, I think I should get your input before I commit.”

  “Commit to what?”

  His smile was playfully evil. “You’ll have to wait and see when we get there.”

  She studied him, still surprised by his news but even more touched by the fact that he actually wanted this to be something they did together. She couldn’t remember a time when some
one asked her what she’d like to do with her life. Since she was a teen, her parents had hired agents, lawyers, publicists and personal assistants, all of them constantly chattering in her ear telling her what to do and how to live her life. This was the first time she’d been asked to think for herself. And given this was Marc’s life, too, the gesture meant even more.

  He chuckled and brushed a tear from her cheek. “Don’t worry, we’ll be there soon.”

  She shook her head. “It’s not that. I’m just…happy.”

  “Good. That’s the way I want you to stay.”

  For another hour they kept driving, making easy conversation while Rachel waited in anticipation to see what Marc had planned. She phoned her mother to tell her that her trip to Italy would have to be postponed, and Marc shared with her how he’d conspired with her father to divert her plans. It was just after noon when the limo slowed and came to a stop, and Marc led Rachel out into the warm afternoon and the fragrant scent of summer blooms.

  Ahead of them stood a large two-story stucco building with a red tile roof, shaded by palms, vines and decades old fruit trees. A wide brick path curved up to the colorfully tiled entrance, bordered by lush beds of shrubs, roses and flowers that trickled onto the walkway.

  “Welcome to Longview Manor,” Marc said. “It’s not exactly the scale of Clearwater Springs, but if a man were in the market for something smaller and easier to manage, this would be an enticing prospect.”

  She grinned. “Enticing indeed.”

  Taking her hand, he led her up the path that widened into a large front terrace. Several sets of dark wooden French doors opened to the terrace, and they stepped through the main one into what felt more like an oversize living room than a hotel lobby.

  The scent of coffee and spice greeted her as she entered the space, and as her eyes adjusted to the light, she caught sight of several cozy seating areas bordered by cushy sofas, warm tapestries and elegant area rugs.

  An elderly woman approached wearing a smile that was sincere and welcoming. “Marc, so good to see you.” Marc took her hand and she turned her friendly eyes to Rachel. “You’re Rachel Winston. I’m Helena Longview.”