"Jay, who?" she hedged, buying herself some time by arranging the cushion just so.
"That’d be J. Edwin Farnsworth the third, and if I’m not mistaken, your intended."
Oh, that J. Edwin.
"How did you find out about him?"
"Then you do have a fiancé," he said, his voice flat.
She took the defensive. Really, it was her only option. "I want to know how you found out about Eddie."
"Oh, Eddie is it?" He made exaggerated air quotes around the name. "Well, I asked first. Are you or are you not engaged."
No way to lie out of this one. "Fine. Officially, yes," she admitted but hurried to explain when he removed his arm from around her shoulders. "Realistically, no."
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" His arms crossed defiantly across his massive chest.
"It means that yes, I proposed to Eddie."
He shot to his feet. "You proposed?" His voice boomed as loud as the thunder outside.
She scurried upright to face him, her hands imploring him to understand. "Only because I turned him down two times before."
"Oh well, that explains everything."
She narrowed her eyes at his harsh tone. "Let me finish?"
He uncrossed one arm long enough to make a rolling motion with his hand.
"Molly went missing and I needed to look for her without my parents or anyone finding out. They would have stopped me in a heartbeat."
"Someone should have," he muttered.
Her brows slashed downward but she continued. "My parents weren’t happy when I repeatedly turned down his proposals. I needed to disappear. The only way I could think of to do that was to agree to marry Eddie with the condition that I would go away by myself, paint, one last time before marriage. Mom and Dad were so ecstatic they didn’t argue."
She paced the small space. "My parents aren’t overbearing ogres," she felt the need to explain. "They love me and want what is best for me."
He scoffed. "And that is Eddie?"
"Hey, he’s a nice guy with a stable job, he comes from a prominent family. He could take care of me. To them, that’s what matters."
"What about what matters to you?"
Yeah, what about her? She had always been the dutiful daughter, abiding by her parent’s wishes. But she lied to them and she lied to Eddie.
"I never planned to go through with the wedding," she confessed. "At one time I might have since it would please my folks. And I do like Eddie…as a friend. He made a nice escort to functions I needed to attend. But I just don’t have feelings for him and it wouldn’t be fair to trap either of us in a loveless marriage."
After a weighty pause, Ben returned to the floor and patted the cushion next to him. She eagerly obliged. He settled an arm around her shoulder and she snuggled against his side, all but purring with content. This was why she couldn’t marry Eddie. Ben made her feel things after having only known him a few days that no man had ever made her feel before. She belonged right here in his arms.
"What about you?" She traced a lazy pattern across his chest. "You aren’t secretly married, are you?"
Now it was his turn to stiffen. She pushed back to study his face. "Ben?"
He scratched the corner of his mouth and avoided eye contact. "No."
Her belly clinched. "How come I don’t believe you?"
"Okay, Cliff’s Notes version. We went through the ceremony, said our "I do’s", Daddy found out, had it annulled."
"Expanded version, please."
He looked put out but finally relented. "I was sure Amanda was the one."
She tried to ignore the stab of pain that sentence invoked. Lost in memories, he didn’t even notice her reaction.
"I went to her father and asked for her hand in marriage. She also came from a wealthy family."
No missing his emphasis on the word ‘also’.
"When I told her father that I planned to propose, he laughed in my face, told me that I was an okay enough guy for Amanda to play around with. After all, an FBI agent was a noble profession. But when it came time to wed, she would marry someone from their ilk, someone with the perfect name from the perfect family with the perfect bank account. I wasn’t that man."
Her heart cried out at the injustice. "I’m sorry," she said and meant it.
He laughed ruefully. "It wasn’t your fault."
"What did you say to him?"
"I told him that he was crazy, that Amanda loved me and we would be married. And we were. We eloped to Vegas, had one hell of a honeymoon." He cleared his throat at her dirty look. "As soon as we got home, daddy cut her off. Told her it was either his money or me. She chose the money."
"Oh, Ben." There wasn’t much to say to that.
One shoulder lifted. "It was for the best," he said unconvincingly. "She was beautiful and smart and sexy, but I wasn’t in love with her."
"How do you know?"
Her heartbeat skyrocketed at the look he gave her, his eyes dark with desire.
"I just do."
And then he kissed her.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Ben’s kiss wasn’t gentle this time. It was an all-consuming, I-want-everything-from-you kiss. Rachel returned it with equal abandon.
He groaned and opened his mouth wider over hers, deepening contact. He eased her down to the cushions and covered her body. She squirmed until his erection nestled perfectly against the notch in her thighs. She whimpered and wrapped her legs around his waist. He took the cue and ground his hips against hers.
His lips were both incredibly soft and masterfully powerful. He kissed her with a thoroughness she had never experienced. Their tongues dueled, stroking and sliding until he captured hers and sucked it into his mouth.
She couldn’t take it any longer. She reached between their bodies and ran a hand down his impressive length. He ripped his mouth from hers and groaned against her neck.
"If you don’t stop that, this will be over before it starts," he rasped.
He slid his hands beneath the turtleneck and cupped her breasts. She gasped and arched into his touch. With one expert flip of his fingers, the clasp on her bra parted and he shoved the cotton material aside. Calloused fingers circled her breast and her nipple pebbled. With an impatient sound, he grasped the hem of her shirt and tugged it off. Her bra followed and then his lips replaced his hands.
A low cry tore from her throat. She threaded her hands through his silky hair and anchored his head in place. Her hips moved of their own accord, rubbing against his hard length. He traced her nipple and then nipped with his teeth. A sharp pull of an amazing climax fluttered deep in her womb.
"Please," was all she could manage. She needed him now.
With eager hands, she yanked at his shirt, dying to feel naked skin. He released her nipple with a pop and jerked the shirt over his head. That quickly his mouth was back laving her breasts with loving attention.
She pulled at his shoulders and brought his mouth to hers again. The wet tips of her breasts scraped against the coarse hair on his chest and they both groaned in pleasure. She arched against him rubbing back and forth.
Breaking the kiss, he licked a path down her torso. He tasted each breast briefly before continuing on his pursuit. She gasped when his tongue probed her navel, never realizing how sensitive it was.
His fingers slid beneath the elastic waistband of her leggings and he carefully peeled them down, taking her underwear with them. Absently, he tossed the pants over his shoulder, his hot gaze glued to her naked body.
She had never felt comfortable being completely nude in front of anyone. She was brought up to be refined, modest. Good girls didn’t parade around naked in front of men. But she felt completely at ease with Ben, sexy even. His gaze was reverent, almost worshipful.
"God Rachel, you are the most beautiful thing I have ever seen in my life. I wanted to take time, taste every inch of your body but I don’t think I can wait."
She held out her arms. "Then don’t."
>
With a soft curse, he covered her body and fused his lips to hers. He tongue probed deeply as one hand moved between her thighs. He eased her legs apart and his fingers tested her readiness, finding the unmistakable proof.
"I have to taste you," he said raggedly. Before she could protest, he moved down her body, his wide shoulders forcing her legs far apart. The instant his mouth touched her, her body bucked and she exploded in a powerful climax. He didn’t slow his pace, his tongue licking and probing relentlessly, prolonging her ecstasy. Her hands held his head in place as wave after wave of pleasure coursed through her body.
Fumbling with the zipper on his jeans, he jerked them off. Somehow she roused herself to watch. Lord, he was impressive. He ripped open a small foil packet and quickly sheathed himself. She would have helped, wanted to, but her body was completely limp with exhaustion. She couldn’t even lift her arms to trace his amazing six pack or the muscles that bulged in his arms.
She experienced a small burst of dread that he wouldn’t fit. It had been a long time for her and she wasn’t sure she could accommodate his massive length and width.
He didn’t give her any more time to consider the dynamics as he entered her with one long, deep thrust.
Her previously replete body responded in an instant, another intense climax ripping through her. "Ben." Stars burst into a billion shimmering colors behind her closed lids and she wrapped her arms and legs around him, holding him tight.
"God, I’m not going to last," he groaned hoarsely. "You feel too good baby." He held still inside her as her inner muscles gripped him in a tight glove. The spasms went on forever.
Finally he began moving inside her, slow at first and then his thrusts picked up speed. How her sated body could respond yet again, she had no idea but another climax brewed. He drove into her, his hard, powerful body pounding against her. He slammed into her one last time and threw back his head as he exploded, his neck corded as he ground out his release, her name escaping his lips. She cried out and came with him, her body milking his, extending both of their climaxes.
Ben dropped on top of her with a contented sigh, their bodies still joined. She couldn’t stop a jubilant, satisfied grin. He stirred and pushed to his elbows, sweeping hair away from her face. "What?"
"Thank you."
"No, babe, thank you." He brushed a soft kiss against her lips. "You are amazing."
Her hands found his biceps and she stroked the solid muscles. "I’ve never been amazing before," she admitted, shivering when his lips brushed against the sensitive hollow in her throat.
"And three times? I never would have thought one time was possible, let alone three."
He jerked his head up and frowned. "You’ve never climaxed before?"
"Well sure," she said. "Just never with a man."
He chuckled and traced her bottom lip with his thumb.
"The other men I’ve been with," she didn’t admit it was only two, "didn’t think I was sexy or passionate enough."
She made a sound of protest when he rolled off and moved away. Did she divulge too much information? Did he now see her as sexless and undesirable as the other men? Damn. She wasn’t very good at this.
He removed the used condom and found a tissue in one of the parka pockets to dispose of it. Then he padded back to her. Even in the shadowed darkness, she could make out the details of his chiseled body. He was exquisite.
He eased down to the pillows beside her and then picked her up like she weighed nothing. He draped her across him like a second skin.
"You are a very passionate woman," he said huskily. One hand stroked down her hair, the other traced little circles on her lower back. "If other men didn’t realize that, then they are idiots."
Closing her eyes, she smiled. "You are the only one who could make me feel this way," she whispered, not even sure if she spoke loud enough for him to hear.
Feeling completely happy and satisfied, she fell into a deep sleep.
#
Ben awoke to the stillness of the night. The storm outside had passed, but the one in his gut just started.
Rachel’s naked body swathed him like a warm, luscious blanket. Her sweet breath fanned his neck. She sighed sleepily and burrowed closer.
Just like that he was hard again.
He only dozed for a few minutes, her soft declaration before she fell asleep played over and over in his head. You are the only one who could make me feel this way.
He didn’t want her to care for him because he didn’t want to hurt her when he left. And he would leave.
How could he even think of getting involved with another rich girl?
Amanda had been gorgeous, sophisticated and he was proud to escort her on his arm and show her off around town. He was the envy of every guy. Her betrayal wounded him deeply, but his pride suffered more damage than his heart.
He had a sinking feeling that if Rachel chose money over him, he wouldn’t get over it as easily. Maybe never.
She asked how he knew he hadn’t loved Amanda and until that moment, he always assumed he had. But as soon as the question left her lips, he didn’t even have to think about the answer. He just knew.
Amanda never would have gone to the lengths that Rachel did to find her friend. She certainly never would have allowed herself to be committed to a mental hospital in order to find the truth. Rachel truly was one of a kind.
But he didn’t trust women, especially wealthy ones.
He eyed his watch as she stirred. Just past two in the morning. They had one more building to check and then he had to get her back inside before the first bed check of the morning.
He would rather shove her in his car and drive her far away from here, but that would never fly.
"Rachel, honey?"
"Mmm." She rubbed against him.
He grew impossibly longer and harder.
It took a superhuman effort, but he said, "We need to check one more building and then get you back inside before they find you gone."
Her head lifted, a riot of black curls framing her heart-shaped face. Blinking sleepily, she purred, "I don’t want to move."
He closed his eyes, his body not wanting her to move either. His hard flesh strained towards her, knowing just how hot and tight and welcoming that sweet space between her legs would feel.
Clenching his jaw, he said, "Really, we need to—"
His eyes snapped open as she eased down his body, her tongue tracing a sensual path down his neck, over his Adam’s apple, across his chest. She circled his flat nipples, laved them with her tongue. He shuddered.
Ah what the hell. They had a little time before they absolutely had to leave.
She was so damn sexy, those other men she slept with must have been freaking eunuchs. He frowned. He didn’t want to think about her with another man.
She peeked at him from beneath her lashes as she treated his belly button to the same attention he gave hers earlier. He couldn’t tear his gaze away from her green eyes, sparkling even in the dim interior of the gazebo. But when she encountered his erection and her tongue traced the length, his eyes closed in ecstasy. He groaned, his hips jerking off the pillows when her small hand wrapped around the base and she took him deep in her mouth.
No doubt about it…he’d died and gone to Heaven.
He cupped her head and encouraged her, setting the rhythm. The sensations were excruciatingly intense and all too soon he was close to bursting. He wanted to be inside her when he came.
Sliding his hands under her arms, he hauled her up his body, groaning as she slid along his pulsing flesh. One hand held her head in place as he devoured her mouth, the other fumbled around on the floor for his jeans. He found them, whipped out the other condom - thank goodness he always planned ahead—and tore his mouth away from hers long enough to rip the package open with his teeth.
He continued to kiss her as he rolled it over his pulsing erection. His hand moved between her legs and encountered the wetness that told him she was as ready
as him. Grabbing her hips, he lifted her over him. She reached down and positioned him and then sank onto him. He closed his eyes and groaned.
"Don’t move," he gritted out. He was too close. She shimmied and his jaw clenched. He’d never last. His fingers bit into her hips, holding her in place. Once he felt in more control, he eased his grip.
She smiled seductively and set a slow pace, her head falling back, her hair tickling his thighs. Her arms reached back to steady herself on his thighs, thrusting her beautiful breasts forward. His hands slid up her ribcage and cupped the heavy mounds, measuring their weight in his palms. His thumbs tweaked her nipples and she gasped. Opening her eyes, she smiled seductively and raised her arms over her head.
She looked so sexy with her cheeks flushed, eyes half lidded. He moved one hand down to where their bodies joined and she inhaled sharply. Her rhythm increased, her hips rotating faster and faster. When he felt her first grip of climax, he clutched her hips, flipped her to her back and pounded into her. He made a harsh sound, or maybe she did. He couldn’t tell as they peaked together, he yelling her name, she screaming his. His release tore through him, her inner muscles squeezing every last drop from his depleted body.
He collapsed on top of her, knowing he needed to shift so he wouldn’t crush her but finding no energy to do so.
Ah damn. He’d gone and done it.
He’d fallen in love with another rich girl.
#
The storm cleared, leaving behind an inky sky filled with merrily twinkling stars.
Ben held Rachel’s hand as they dashed to the incinerator, the last building on the list and also the furthest from the Institute. Sticking to the shadows, they crept around to the door of the building with a large metal chimney that even now emitted a thin stream of gray smoke.
Unlike the other two, this structure required both a key and coded entry, presumably so none of the patients could wander inside accidentally and cremate themselves. Peter possessed both since he used the furnace to dispose of garbage from the Institute and the nearby women’s shelter.
Committed Page 21
