by Sara Orwig
Crying out, she arched, raising her hips, giving him more access to her while he stroked her intimately, gently at first then with more pressure, his fingers and tongue taking her near the pinnacle. But she didn’t want the pleasure to end.
With a cry she sat up and pushed him back on the bed, moving over him to stroke his manhood, to tease and pleasure him as he had her. She ran her tongue, hot and wet, over him in long, slow strokes until he reached down to lift her back on the bed where he could move between her legs.
She held his hips. “Love me, now, Mike. I want you inside me. I want your hardness, your body and mouth on me.”
“Not yet, darlin’,” he whispered, kissing her throat while his fingers toyed intimately with her and then he moved down to kiss her, his tongue stroking where his fingers just been, making her cry out and spread her legs for him to have total access.
He knelt between her legs, leaning down, his tongue going over her as much as his fingers while she writhed with desire. Her hands drifted over him to grasp his shoulders to draw him to her. “Mike, come here,” she whispered.
He kissed her as he moved up until he stretched out beside her, his hands still toying with her, exciting her, and her hands seeking out and holding his thick rod.
“I can’t wait any longer,” she cried as she straddled him.
“Yes, you can. You wanted me to make love to you for a long time tonight. You told me that, so that’s what we’ll do.” He rolled her over so he was on top, laving her nipples as his roaming fingers found a home in her most intimate place. “Let’s make this last. This is good, Vivian, so good.”
But she couldn’t withstand any more of the tender onslaught. She gripped his shoulders, arching her back and thrusting her hips against him. “Mike, I want you now. I need you inside me. I want to love you and I want you to make love to me.”
He stepped off the bed to get his billfold and took out a packet. In minutes, he knelt between her legs as he put on the condom and lowered himself, easing into her. She gasped, raising her hips for him while she wrapped her long legs around him.
He moved slowly, his hard rod teasing her and heightening her desire with each thrust. She wanted him desperately, wanted more each time he entered her and withdrew, and she moved with his rhythm, arching her back and locking her legs more tightly around him.
“Mike, I want you,” she whispered, running her hands over him. Her eyes were squeezed shut, her whole world was focused on moving with him, on the sensations rocking her. He withdrew slowly and she felt bereft, empty, until he plunged deeply into her and then pumped hard and fast. She kept pace with him as need drove her, until she reached the point of no return. When her release burst over her, she cried out and shuddered. Yet she moved with him, faster than ever, ecstasy streaking through her with each thrust of her hips, her climax shattering, fulfilling needs and dreams. She cried out, turning her head to kiss his shoulder while he pumped frantically and then his climax came.
They slowed, both gasping for breath. She held him tightly as rapture enveloped her, a happiness that she hadn’t felt in a long time. She kissed his jaw, and he turned his head, moving on his side and keeping her with him. She kissed him lightly, showering kisses over his ear. “You sexy man,” she whispered.
He smiled while he toyed with long locks of her hair. “Darlin’, you absolutely hands-down win the prize for being the most sexy possible. I don’t think I can move again.”
“Mike, this is such a special time in my life. Tonight is filled with fun, laughter, red hot sex, dancing, partying, being together, wild pleasure—a heap of fabulous things that all add up to happiness. Tonight was the happiest night I’ve had in so long.”
“Ah, Vivian, this is just a tough time. We all have that. You’ll move on and times will be good again.”
“You’re an optimist, too.”
He shifted slightly to look at her. “What’s this ‘too’ business? What else am I?”
“Definitely, you’re thoroughly an al—”
“—pha male,” he finished for her. “Well, let me tell you, sweetie, you better keep hiring alpha males to run this ranch.”
She twisted to look more closely at him. “You’re not here to stay? Forever?”
He smiled at her. “Let’s not let life intrude. Think about the past hour instead of the future. I could spend the rest of the night thinking about the past hour,” he said, rolling over on his back and placing his hand behind his head, to prop his head up slightly.
She shifted and rested her chin on her palm to look down at him.
“You’re serious. You’re not keeping this job forever.”
“Darlin’. I must not have carried you out of this world tonight. You’re back worrying about the ranch.”
She stared at him a moment and knew her suspicions were correct that he would quit and move on after he had fulfilled what he felt he needed to for Thane. She should be so much more cautious or he would give her another terrible heartbreak on top of losing Thane. She stopped all thoughts of his job or the ranch and instead thought about his kisses and his hands moving on her. She nuzzled his neck. “You’re right,” she said softly. “The last hour has been wonderful. Definitely. And I will think about it over and over because every moment was fabulous, sensuous and exciting.”
“That’s better. That’s good to hear as a matter of fact. That makes me think we might have an encore. In a few more minutes, of course.”
He turned on his side and they gazed at each other. She smiled and he touched the raised corner of her lips lightly with his index finger. “You’re beautiful, Vivian. Absolutely, totally beautiful.”
She loved hearing the compliment and gave him one in return. “Mike, tonight was wonderful. The dinner, the dancing, the loving, the company were everything I wanted, everything I dreamed about and longed for. You’re too sexy for words.”
“Good, darlin’. I want you happy.” He ran his hand over her shoulder, down her back and over her bottom. “You have the softest, smoothest skin in the entire US of A.”
They looked at each other and both smiled. She ran her finger along his jaw, feeling the short bristly stubble. “A sexy man, so rugged, so handsome. You know, you could be a model.”
He laughed. “I don’t think so, but you can keep thinking that. Now in reality, you are the model type. Maybe a few more delightful curves on you than some, thank goodness.” His smile vanished. “It was good, Vivian. A really good night. You’re a wonderful woman.”
She laughed and rose up slightly to brush his cheek with a kiss. “I suppose you’re my knight in shining armor.”
“Oh, no. I’m just a Texas cowboy.” He pulled her into the crook of his arm, tightly pressed against his side. “This is paradise,” he said, and she felt the vibration in his chest when he talked.
“We should talk about you moving in to the main house. You should come check out the suite and make arrangements for help to bring over your things.” She halted his reply with her finger on his lips. “I know, you don’t have much.”
“Vivian, I think we should stick to just talking about tonight, making love, your fabulous body, the past hour, what fun it was to dance tonight, and keep all that other stuff out of the bedroom. We’ll have a whole lot more fun and we won’t get into anything serious, disturbing or worrisome. Do you agree?”
She laughed. “Tell me that again.”
“You heard me and you know what I said.”
“I surely do. We can leave off my fabulous body because you have the fab body, dear sir,” she said, squeezing a bicep. “Oh, my. That makes my heart go pitter-patter.”
“Let me feel and see,” he said, placing his hand lightly on her breast. She laughed and rolled over to look at him.
“By the way, I have a fabulous shower and tub,” she said, pointing past him to her en suite.
“Let’s try them out,” he said, stepping off the bed and leaning over to scoop her up in his arms.
“Oh, my. See, I told you that you have fabulous muscles.”
“You’re a featherweight. Did you know that I haven’t even seen your condo? Not only that, this place has all glass walls and we’re naked. Are we on display for the world?”
“No, we’re not. They can’t see in. We can see out.”
He peered out the window. “If I’m not mistaken, there’s a balcony all around this place.”
“That’s correct. A rather large balcony with a swimming pool.”
He continued to the bathroom.
“Here’s the light switch,” she said, reaching out to the wall and flipping it on.
He looked around a large room with palm trees in pots, a chaise lounge in deep red and purple throw rugs on a marble floor. Along with the recessed lighting she had also switched on music at a control panel and a soft tune emanated from hidden speakers. He carried her over to the raised tub; set high on three steps. It was a large marble bath with gold fixtures. He had a feeling they were real gold.
She punched more buttons and water splashed into the tub. “At this point, I suggest you put me down and I’ll check on the water.”
“How about turning that off and let’s try the shower.”
“Sure,” she said and pointed to a large glassed-in shower at the other side of the bathroom.
They showered together and in minutes he picked her up, stepped out of the spray and let her slide down on his hard manhood while he kissed her. She wrapped her legs around him, moving with him, holding him tightly while his thrusts came hard and fast until they climaxed together. She cried out in ecstasy, holding him tightly, tilting his head up to kiss him. She slid down the length of his body and finally put her feet on the floor. She looked up to see him smile at her as he ran his fingers through her hair, pushing it back from her face.
“You’re marvelous, Vivian. Hot, sexy. Let’s try that shower again.”
“This time let’s make it back to the bed.”
He laughed as they showered together and then dried each other. He picked her up again to carry her to bed, stretching out and holding her close against him.
“I want you in my arms tonight.”
“I’m not arguing with that,” she said, snuggling against him. She was happy and he was right when he said she shouldn’t think beyond the present hour, but it was hard not to. The night had been fabulous, a temporary fix for loneliness and losing Thane, and it would help for a long time. The hot sex they’d shared would drive away some of her demons, be a lasting memory she could pull out that wouldn’t hold so much sadness and longing.
She and Mike weren’t in love with each other. But she had a feeling if he came around as much in the coming months as he had been since he started working for her, she could fall in love with him. He’d told her not to think of the future, but it was impossible not to.
She looked at him and wondered if he was asleep or just lying there holding her.
She didn’t want to fall in love with him because he would never ever return it. He would never get past that damn stubborn view of her fortune. She didn’t even think it was a woman boss that bothered him. It was a woman-billionaire boss. He had been a total gentleman with Marta at the gallery and he hadn’t displayed any dismay when he reported to Vivian on the ranch. He hadn’t even cared this time when she picked up the tab at the club. It was her inheritance that he couldn’t deal with. That and some miguided loyalty to Thane who was gone and would never be part of her life. Thane wanted Mike to take his place. She was beginning to suspect Thane hoped she and Mike would fall in love. Thane loved the ranch and probably thought once Mike was here, he would stay. She was sure he wouldn’t. Also, Thane must not have known how strongly Mike felt about a very wealthy woman. How could someone object to money? She rose up to look at him.
“What?” he asked without opening his eyes.
“I thought you were asleep.”
“Just about.”
“You haven’t even opened your eyes.”
He opened them to look at her. “What are you worrying about?”
“Are you an incredibly light sleeper or were you just lying there with your eyes closed?”
“A little of both. Probably the military life and being in places where you could get killed if you didn’t wake up easily.” He held out his arms and she scooted down against him.
“Mmm, I like this. This is good,” he said quietly, running his hand over her breast.
She inhaled. “I don’t think you’re going back to sleep.”
He turned on his side. “I don’t think so either,” he said in a husky voice. He pulled her closer to kiss her. She slipped one arm around him to hold him close as she shut her eyes and kissed him in return.
It was over two hours later when she lay in the dark trying once again to go to sleep. He was an incredibly light sleeper and if he woke up again, she suspected they would make love once more. Her body ached in places she had forgotten even existed.
What would happen when they returned to the ranch? She guessed life would go right back to like it had been before even if he was just down the hall and no one else was in that wing. Would he treat this night as if it had never happened?
Six
Mike turned to her, placing his palm against her cheek. “What’s worrying you, Vivian? Is it Thane?”
“Thane?” she asked in surprise. “Not at all. Thane’s gone, Mike, and he’s never coming back to me. I keep saying it—he would want me to go on with my life. I know that for certain.”
“You’re right about that,” Mike said, caressing her cheek and then playing with a long lock of her hair. “He would want you to, just as you would want him to if something had happened to you. So what is it?”
“I just don’t understand your attitude about my inheritance.”
There was a long moment of silence.
“If I didn’t have that kind of income and inheritance, you would date me after tonight, wouldn’t you?” she asked.
“I probably would, but there’s no way to think about you without your inheritance because it exists and it isn’t going away. I can’t deal with that, Vivian. Maybe it was because of growing up without much, but there’s no way I can go out with a woman who has inherited millions from her husband and is heir to a man worth billions. I was raised to feel that a man who relies on a woman for money isn’t really a man. Before my aunt divorced my uncle, she offered to give dad money to pay when my youngest brother was born. I can still remember that fight and my dad wouldn’t take a penny. It might not have been smart, but that’s just the way I am.”
She sat up and pulled the sheet up beneath her arms. “I have never known anyone who objected to money.”
“I don’t object to money. I’d be happy to have a bunch, but not from the woman I love. I’d feel like a kept man. I’d feel like I couldn’t be myself, argue about anything. You’ll never understand, because you were born into that and you’ve lived with it all your life. It’s your family and your family money. It has belonged to you since the day you were born.” He tunneled his fingers through his hair and blew out a breath. “You may not be able to understand how I feel but my feelings are real. My dad had strong feelings about it and taught his sons that the man should pay, the man should have the money. Also, his brother married a wealthy woman, and they fought over everything and she was snippy when she would come to our house. She would leave my mom in tears about what a dump we lived in. It was home and we liked it. They finally divorced, but she caused some hard feelings and bad times. As a kid there were times I’ve gone hungry rather than have some woman who wasn’t related, buy my dinner. The year dad died was bad and we did go to bed hungry. I had a teacher who would try to buy
my lunch and I just couldn’t let her do it. That’s just how I was brought up. So, no, we can’t date. I don’t want to fall in love with a woman worth billions. What could I ever buy for you that would thrill you, surprise you? Impossible.”
“Can you hear yourself and what you’re saying?”
“Damn well can and it makes sense to me. I told you to avoid thinking about life back at the ranch and about tomorrow, to just stick with tonight.” He pulled her down on his chest. “Darlin’, don’t you ever get sleepy?”
She sat up again and poked his chest lightly with her finger. “You’re an alpha male who can’t let a woman pay your way. You’re archaic—from another century.”
“Hell yes, I’m old-fashioned. I can’t deal with a woman who is a billionaire when I make a very measly salary in comparison.”
“Are you through?”
“Absolutely.”
“Life is more than money in the bank.”
“It sure as hell isn’t when you’re starving.”
“Don’t give me that. You may have had a tough childhood, but you’ve done well. Not like my dad, no. But you’ve done well and you’re a damn good rancher.”
“Dammit, Vivian. I’m tired of hearing about that. I am what I am. Let’s just go from there and I’ll do what alpha males do. Come here.” He pulled her into his arms and kissed her.
She opened her mouth to object and pushed against his chest, her anger rising, but he tightened his arm around her while his mouth covered her protest and his tongue went deep. Despite his plundering lips, his touch was gentle. He caressed her breast, so lightly, a feather touch that made her tremble, and all her anger disappeared. She moaned in response, wanting his caresses, wanting him as she held his wrist and kept his hand on her breast. She wanted his loving, his hot, passionate kisses that were possessive this time, his sexy tongue stroking hers, touching the corners of her mouth, teasing and tormenting and making her crave him desperately.
