Mike made a low sound, almost like a growl. It was very sexy and sent goose bumps racing down her arms. He seemed to be in no hurry, while she was burning with need.
He glided his fingers over the slippery satin, encasing her breasts. The darkness of his hands was a sharp contrast to the paleness of her skin and the delicacy of the material. She loved his hands. They were large and capable, strong yet incredibly gentle. A working man’s hands—calloused and a little rough, which was unbelievably arousing.
Her breathing quickened and her nipples hardened. Annabelle swayed toward him, trying to get closer, but he held her away from him.
He skimmed his hands down her sides and around back to cover her behind. The matching panties were the same pale blue satin and lace, and Mike’s hands slid easily over the fabric as he cupped her ass.
“You are so incredibly sexy.” His voice was low and harsh with need. He put those wonderful large hands to work, shaping and squeezing her bottom. When his fingers skimmed the crease between the tops of her legs and her bottom, she shivered.
Annabelle couldn’t stay still a second longer. She stepped out of the dress that lay bunched at her feet and kicked it aside. She twined her arms around Mike’s neck and buried her fingers in his dark, silky hair. She loved the way it glided through her fingers, caressing her skin.
She ran her fingers through his hair a second time, but didn’t let go. This time she held on and tugged him down so she could reach his mouth. Then she kissed him. She poured every emotion she was experiencing into it—confusion, apprehension, fear and love.
In the darkness of his bedroom, with his arms wrapped tight around her, she finally admitted it to herself. She was falling in love with Mike. It was crazy considering they hadn’t been seeing each other for very long. Their relationship was still new and tentative, and she honestly didn’t expect it to last.
The smartest thing might be to pull back, to try to protect herself emotionally. But Annabelle was tired of playing it safe. She wanted to embrace every moment of their time together and enjoy it for as long as it lasted.
Acknowledgment of that fact brought with it a sense of relief and freedom. She had no idea where their relationship might lead, if it would be permanent or not, but while they were involved she would give it her all. No longer would she hold back for fear of being hurt.
“You take my breath away,” he told her.
Feeling bold, Annabelle reached behind and unhooked her bra. She leaned forward, exposing her cleavage before giving her arms a little shake. The satin slithered down her arms and onto the floor.
Mike’s breathing quickened but he didn’t touch her. His hands were fisted at his sides, but he didn’t reach for her. He was waiting for her to take the lead in their lovemaking.
Annabelle never took her eyes off him as she straightened. Her breasts thrust out in front of her, and his heated gaze devoured them. She skimmed her hands down her sides to her waist, tucked her fingers into the waistband of her panties and gave her hips a little shimmy. Her underwear fell to her ankles. She stepped out and kicked them aside.
She grasped Mike’s hand and led him to the bed.
He followed so closely she felt the brush of his jeans against her behind. She was totally naked and he was still fully dressed.
Mike reached around her and tugged back the covers on the bed. When he straightened, he nuzzled the sensitive skin just behind her ear. “Get in bed, sweetheart,” he urged. She slid onto the cool cotton sheets.
Mike yanked his shirt over his head and let it drop. Annabelle lay on top of the sheets rather than crawling beneath them. She no longer wanted to hide from him. She was proud of the fact that he wanted her. Propping herself on her arms to get a better view of his chest, she was unaware of just how provocative she looked lying there in the middle of Mike’s bed until his nostrils flared and he sucked in a breath.
“You are pure temptation,” he told her. His voice was deeper than normal and washed over her like a caress.
He shucked his jeans, and she was surprised to note he wasn’t wearing any underwear. It made her wonder just how often he went without them. The image made her shiver with delight. Then he stood before her, every muscle tense, naked and fully aroused. It was a sight guaranteed to make any red-blooded woman weak with wanting.
She licked her lips in anticipation. He was all hers for the duration of their affair. There was no doubt in her mind that Mike would see no one else while they were together. Just as he knew that he was the only man in her life.
Mike came down onto the bed beside her, dragged her into his arms and kissed her. And the kiss was ravenous. She tasted desperation, both his and her own. Their tongues dueled. Lips and teeth teased. He nipped his way down her neck, spreading hot kisses on her flesh as he worked his way toward her breasts.
“Tell me you want me,” he murmured as he laved her nipples with his tongue.
“Yes.” Annabelle clutched him to her breast. Wanting more. Needing more.
“Tell me,” Mike ordered. She was wet and ready for him. The time for teasing was over. His fingers delved between her legs and he worked two of them into her slick channel. “Tell me,” he demanded.
Annabelle moaned and widened her legs, urging him to do more, to take more. “I want you. Only you.” That was the truth and something she could easily give him.
She pushed her hips upward, wanting him deeper and harder. He withdrew his fingers and spread her wetness over her clitoris, teasing the sensitive nub.
Mike swore and ripped open the drawer of the bedside table. He grabbed a condom and was sheathed and inside her before she could form a coherent thought. And then she didn’t think at all.
Their lovemaking had been fun and playful. It had been drawn out and intense. But this time it was raw. There was no more foreplay and no more talk. Mike draped her legs over his arms and planted his palms by her shoulders. She was open, exposed and vulnerable.
Then he laid claim to her, body and soul.
Mike thrust deep and then withdrew. He did it again, this time keeping it light and shallow. He continued, varying his rhythm. She was close to coming but he kept her on edge. Every time she was about to climax, he’d change what he was doing.
Annabelle was soon frantic. Mike pulled almost out of her and stopped, holding himself rigid and away from her. “Don’t stop,” she pleaded.
“Tell me what you need.”
“You,” she cried. “I need you.” She almost blurted that she loved him, but fear held her back.
Mike’s control broke. He drove into her so hard and deep he pushed her across the bed with each stroke. The headboard slammed against the wall. He curled his hands around her shoulders to keep her in place.
She dug her fingernails into his back and matched him stroke for stroke. Their bodies were slick with sweat. Her climax slammed into her with the force of a freight train, and she yelled his name.
She was like a leaf floating down a river, buffeted by the current, or in this case by Mike’s passion. He gave one final thrust and went rigid. She felt the ripple of his cock as he came and the heat of his big body as he collapsed beside her.
A short time later, he slowly pulled himself out of her, rolled out of bed, and headed to the bathroom.
Annabelle lay there, letting the air cool her heated flesh. What they had just shared was more than just sex. She had a feeling that Mike had just branded her in the most primitive way possible. And she had done the same to him.
The mattress dipped as Mike settled next to her. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into his arms. Neither of them spoke. What they’d shared was beyond words. They lay in the dark, listening as the sound of the wind rustling the leaves of the aspen trees drifted in through the open window.
Chapter Ten
Annabelle bit her bottom lip as she concentrated on coiling her hair into a neat bun. Sticking the pins in carefully, she peered hard into the mirror, but the image didn’t change. She still looked
the same as she had this morning when she’d dressed for work—ordinary and presentable.
Sighing, she reached for her purse, which she had laid on the vanity in the library bathroom. Her hand shook as she reapplied the light pink lipstick that she had chewed off. Satisfied that the color was where it was supposed to be, she took a deep breath and released it. She tossed her lipstick and brush back into her oversized purse.
Knowing that she wouldn’t have time to go home to change after work, Annabelle had dressed with care this morning. Her skirt was long but was made of lightweight, turquoise blue cotton and swished when she walked. It made her feel young and flirty. She’d topped it with a plain white tank top, but she had one of her sensible white bras underneath it and had covered it with a light cotton cardigan for work.
Feeling daring, she unbuttoned the sweater so the scooped-neck tank top was visible. She had the strap of her purse in her hand when she muttered a curse and dropped it back onto the counter. Before she could talk herself out of it, she pulled her sweater off. But she couldn’t quiet shake the sensible Annabelle. Rather than take the sweater to her office, she stuffed it into her bag. Just in case.
Her shoes were flat with soft soles that made no sound as she left the ladies’ room and hurried toward the front door of the library. Not that it mattered. Everyone was gone for the day and she was there alone. Most of the town would be at the fair tonight. There would be food of all kinds to enjoy and booths where you could try your luck at winning a prize. Charity groups would be selling crafts and homemade items as well as raffle tickets on prizes donated by local businesses. There were carnival rides for the kids, and later tonight a band would entertain the crowd.
Annabelle had never been to a fair with a date before. Back in her hometown, she’d helped out at various charity booths, always watching the fun, but never a part of it. Not this time. For the first time, she was going to the fair to have fun. And if her stomach didn’t calm down, she’d throw up before she even ate a bite of food or had a spin on one of the carnival rides.
She and Mike hadn’t spent a lot of time together since the weekend. He’d had to put in extra hours on one of the job sites a couple of nights, and she’d had to attend a town council meeting on another. He’d dropped by during her lunch hour but it wasn’t the same. She missed sleeping with him. Not just the sex, but the closeness that came after, being able to roll over in the middle of the night and wrap her arms around him.
She had it bad.
He hadn’t pressed her any further about their relationship. She didn’t know if she should be happy or sad about that. She knew she was being foolish to worry so much about what other people thought. Most people were too wrapped up in their own lives to care. And both she and Mike were adults. What did it matter if they were dating?
She closed and locked the door behind her, tugging to make sure the lock had engaged. The walk to the fairgrounds would give her time to calm down. After all, millions of women around the world went on dates every single day. It was no big deal.
Annabelle jumped when she felt a hand on her shoulder. Her foot hit the edge of the library stairs and she started to stumble. Her purse went one way and she went another as she flailed her arms out to try to catch herself.
She didn’t fall, but it wasn’t because of anything she did. Instead she was pulled into a pair of arms that she recognized well. Heart pounding with fear, she let herself sink into Mike’s embrace.
“Are you all right?” She caught the edge of fear in his voice.
Annabelle nodded, her nose rubbing against the soft cotton of the T-shirt he wore. She caught a whiff of his scent and took a deep breath. He smelled like soap, sunshine, and sexy male, and it was more calming than fresh air. “I’m fine.” Mike held her at arm’s length, a frown on his handsome face.
“Are you sure?” Mike stared at her, as if trying to gauge her mood. “I didn’t mean to startle you. I finished work early so we could walk over to the fair together.” He ran his hands up and down her arms, as if to assure himself that she was indeed fine.
“Sure. Yeah. All right.” She could feel the blush stealing up her cheeks. Part of her wanted to run back inside the library, to safety, rather than face a public date. Groaning inwardly, she tried to pull herself together. She was acting like a complete idiot and couldn’t blame it on the near fall, because she hadn’t hit her head. “That would be nice.”
Mike gave her an odd look, but reached out and took her hand in his. “If you’re sure?”
She nodded, but continued to simply stand there until he gave her hand a tug to get her moving. “My purse.” It had landed several feet away on the concrete walkway. Thankfully, nothing had spilled out. Mike retrieved her bag and handed it to her. “Thank you.”
“My pleasure.” He took her hand in his and they went down the stairs. Annabelle’s legs were shaking, partly from her near fall and partly due to Mike’s nearness.
It was a perfect summer evening. The day’s heat still lingered in the air, but Annabelle was comfortable in her cotton outfit. She glanced at Mike out of the corner of her eye. The man looked good enough to eat. But then he always did. He’d obviously gone home after work to shower and change. He was wearing a clean pair of jeans and a plain white T-shirt and filled out both to perfection. She wondered if he was wearing any underwear, and made a note to find out later tonight.
It was a moment Annabelle knew she would remember forever. The feel of the warm air brushing her skin, the sweet scent of freshly mowed grass, and the sound of a bird chirping was etched in her memory for all time. Her hand and Mike’s fit together perfectly, despite the size difference. Sort of like when they made love. She sighed again, contented with the moment. Unfortunately, Mike misunderstood her sigh and started to question her.
“Did something happen at work today?” Mike turned his soulful brown eyes on her and gave her his complete attention as they strolled toward the fairgrounds. The sounds of children shouting and people laughing filled the air. Recorded music was piped over loudspeakers. The delicious aroma of hot dogs, cotton candy and French fries wafted on the light breeze.
Annabelle put away any misgivings she had about this evening. This was her night to enjoy with Mike and she didn’t want to waste it wallowing in her fears. She summoned up her brightest smile and squeezed Mike’s hand. “I’m fine. I’m exactly where I want to be,” she added honestly.
“Me too.” He raised her hand and kissed her fingers, his face solemn. Then he laughed out loud and swung their clasped hands between them, just like a couple of teenage kids on their first date might.
In that moment, Annabelle fell completely and utterly in love. The world continued to move around them, but she felt apart from it. Annabelle realized she had been denying the truth to protect herself. But the fact was, it was too late to worry about giving too much of herself to him. She loved Mike heart and soul. If they were together for a short while or a long time, it didn’t matter. When they parted, the pain would be the same.
That realization was freeing and with it came a new determination. Annabelle was suddenly greedy. She wanted to experience as much as possible in their time together. She wanted every memory they could make, because she knew she would never love another man like she loved Mike. It had taken her thirty years to find him and it had been worth the wait.
“Let’s eat. I’m starving.” Mike let her pull him along behind her, laughing as she hurried to the food concessions.
“I’m hungry too, but I won’t get what I want until later.” The sexy gleam in Mike’s eyes let her know that she was on the menu for later.
Annabelle tossed her head back and laughed out loud. “Feed me first. I have to keep up my strength.” As little as a few weeks ago, such a statement would have been impossible for her. Mike had helped her to grow and open up to life, and she was fast coming to realize that she liked the changes.
Pulling some bills from his pocket, Mike addressed the lone teenage male running the hot
dog stand. “Two hot dogs and two sodas, please.”
The tone was set for the evening. It was everything Annabelle could have wished for and more. Who knew that sharing a container of fries could be an erotic experience? But with Mike feeding her the tasty golden morsels, it was only fair that she lick the salt off his fingers. He’d paid her back in kind when she’d given him a taste of her pretzel.
The rides were the best. Mike wrapped his arm around her as they rode the Ferris wheel and then some other ride with twirling cars. The exhilaration as they spun around was amazing, and she laughed and clapped like a child. If the smile on his face was any indication, Mike was enjoying her enthusiasm.
They strolled the grounds hand in hand and Annabelle knew that people were watching them. Mrs. Casey and Mrs. Johnson smiled and waved from the church charity booth they were manning. Dr. James stopped and spoke to them. The mayor smiled and said hello as he passed by with his wife and two children.
Annabelle usually hated to be the center of attention, yet tonight she felt oddly proud. She and Mike were together and it felt natural and right to be part of a couple.
The sun finally sank and the night sky was filled with the hundreds of twinkling white lights that had been draped over the trees at the edge of the park where the bandstand was located. While the band finished tuning their instruments, the mayor took the stage to thank everyone for coming. He encouraged them to enjoy themselves and to support the various charities and fund-raisers. The speech was short and to the point. Then the music started.
The first song was a fast one, and before Annabelle could even decide if she wanted to attempt it, Mike had spun her out onto the makeshift dance floor. She’d never danced much before, but tonight she felt as though she was floating on air.
Mike kept her close to him, much to the dismay of a group of women who had been giving Annabelle dirty looks all evening, and when the band began to play a slow ballad, Mike just eased her into his arms and kept dancing.
Uncovering Annabelle Page 12
