by Sara Orwig
She wrapped her arms around his neck and rubbed her bare breasts against his chest, shifting and straddling him as they both sat in bed and continued to kiss. The conflicting emotions of anger and desire drove her to want to kiss him until he wouldn’t be able to walk away so easily. If he just wasn’t so stubborn, they could have something good together.
She stopped thinking because she was lost in his fiery kiss. Suddenly he rolled her over and he was on top, moving over her and looking down at her. Gone was the anger she’d heard in his voice. His green eyes were dark with lust. He looked at her as if she were the most desirable woman he had ever encountered. Her heart thudded as she looked up at him and felt as if he wanted her more than anyone else on earth.
His hands caressed her breasts lightly, slowly while he shifted, moving down so he could kiss her breasts. His lovemaking was possessive and erotic, driving her wild. “Mike, love me,” she whispered, kissing his throat, stroking his manhood rising up to run her tongue over him.
He turned her, pulling her up to kiss her again—another kiss that melted her.
He entered her then withdrew, teasing, making her want him beyond anything she’d felt earlier. Finally, he eased into her and let go of his iron control and then pumped wildly, each thrust going deeper inside her. She cried out with her climax. And then still driven, she had the second climax with his, gasping and holding him as they both reached ecstasy.
It seemed hours before her heartbeat and her breathing were normal. She clung to him, holding him tightly, wondering if she had made a huge mistake tonight. She didn’t want to fall in love with him and she feared making love to him tonight had just brought her closer to him, made him more important to her.
She needed to go back to the ranch and not see Mike for a while unless she had to for business. Too late for that, she realized. He was moving into her house, on her floor, down the hall from her suite.
He pulled her close against him. “That was fantastic, darlin’. That’s one place we don’t have an argument in the world. You’re incredibly sexy.”
She held him tightly in silence, wondering how much he had captured her heart tonight. She wondered if he would quit working at the ranch when the three months he had promised Thane were up. She knew he wouldn’t go and leave her in the lurch. He’d, stay till she hired someone and he trained the person. Suddenly, she was certain that that was exactly what he would do and probably what he had planned all along. The more she thought about it, the more certain she was that she was right.
Thane was gone. Slade would soon be gone and then Mike would eventually leave, as well. There would be absolutely nothing to hold her at the ranch. Thane’s dad didn’t like the ranch. His grandfather was no longer living. And she and Thane had no children, no heirs. Thane always said he was the only one in his family now who wanted to be a rancher.
Why would she stay on the ranch? She shook her head. The Tumbling T would be filled with memories that would hurt too much.
Mike turned, shifting to look at her. “This has been a special night, Vivian. Come here,” he said, pulling her against his side with his arm around her. “Try to get some sleep. We’ve been awake the entire night and it’s getting so late that we’ll see the sun come up soon. Stop worrying about my attitude. You and I aren’t in love. We’ve had a wonderful time together and that was a gift for me and I hope one for you. I promise you, Vivian, your life will be happy. You’ll never miss me being in it.”
She snuggled against him, holding him tightly, seizing the moment and temporarily letting go of all her worries. For the next hour, she wasn’t going to think about tomorrow or telling him goodbye or anything else except his marvelous body, the feel of his arms around her and this night of loving that had been hot, sexy and joyous. The more she thought about his lovemaking, his hands and mouth and hard muscular body, the more aroused she was until she shifted slightly and ran her tongue along his ear. She heard and felt his deep breath as his arm tightened around her and he caressed her breast.
It took no time to arouse him. After putting on a condom, he lifted her on top of him and eased slowly inside her, filling her. She moaned, relishing his hard rod.
He thrust into her, going faster, until she was wild with passion, riding him as her climax burst with hot pleasure that set her body ablaze. He continued and she could feel another climax coming. This time they moved together and she cried out as rapture spilled over her.
She showered kisses on his throat, his ear, his mouth, holding him and then sliding off him to lie beside him again. He turned on his side, pulling her close and brushing strands of hair away from her face.
“It’s good, Vivian. So very good together.”
When their breathing returned to normal, he picked her up and carried her to the en suite where he ran hot water into the big tub and sank down, holding her on his lap. She wiggled her bottom and he chuckled. “You haven’t had enough yet?”
She twisted to caress and kiss him. “You adorable, sexy man. I still want you to make love to me, but let’s sit here and talk a few minutes then dry off and get back in a bed.”
“That’s a plan because this is a fine moment right now.” He ran his hands over her, covering her breasts and belly, sliding down her legs and up her back. “Every inch of you is sexy, sleek, soft and beautiful and I want to touch you everywhere, to excite you again.”
She leaned back against him while he wrapped both arms around her waist to hold her. “Now relax and tell me about your life. Tell me things I don’t know. Tell me things you want in life,” she said.
“I want you and I want to make love to you for several more hours. As for what I want in life—I can’t think past this night. This is fabulous, Vivian.”
After a few minutes, he stood and stepped out of the tub and helped her up, grabbing a towel to dry her off while she ran another towel over his exciting, masculine body.
“I think the sun has come up, Mike. We haven’t slept at all. It’s Saturday.”
“So it is.”
Tingling, wanting to kiss him, she turned and looked up at him. “I have an appointment at eleven o’clock to take some frames to be repaired.”
“Call them and postpone it. Tell them something urgent has come up. And that’s the truth,” he said, rubbing his thick rod against her thigh while he nibbled her ear.
She turned her head to kiss him as she wound her arm around his neck. “I bet you have to get back, too.”
“Not so, darlin’. I’ll send a text when I get time,” he said, nuzzling her neck. “I want to stay right here in your plush, ritzy condo on top of the world, at least our corner of it, and make love all day long.”
“That is so decadent.”
“You wanted to have a life again. You wanted laughter, sex and fun. Here it is, just waiting for you.”
She laughed. “You’re wicked, Mike Moretti. And you are the most fun I’ve had in a long time. When you put it that way—” She held out both hands. “On one hand, I can get my picture frames fixed. On the other, I can have raging, blazing sex with you.” She twisted to look into his eyes. “I do believe you win out.”
“That makes me feel really important. And sexy. I beat the picture frame repair.”
“Mike, you do better than that,” she said, brushing a light kiss on his mouth.
His smile vanished and desire filled his expression. “I want you as if we haven’t made love ever. I want you now, Vivian.” He picked her up to carry her back to bed, holding her close as he kissed her.
* * *
The sun was low in the western sky when she sat up cross-legged in bed, pulled the sheet beneath her arms and poked his shoulder with her finger. “Listen to me. From the first few minutes we came here after leaving the club last night, we have either been in bed or in the shower or in my tub. It is almost night again. We haven’t eaten and m
y stomach is protesting. This is super-decadent. I haven’t had clothes on since yesterday.”
“I find that an absolutely terrific argument to continue what we’ve been doing. Is there any way to get food up here to you besides dropping a basket on a rope over the balcony?”
“Of course, although it hasn’t come up before. I’m not here a lot and when I am, I’ve planned ahead more than I did this time. I thought we’d be up and out of here by nine this morning. I didn’t realize how lusty and sex-starved you were.”
“I see several choices here—we dress and I take you out to eat. The drawback to that one is for about two hours we will have to wear clothes. I won’t be able to touch you where and when I want to touch you. I won’t be able to kiss you, bathe with you or do fun things with you. Eating with you is way down that list.
“Another choice is to call in and have something delivered. That means clothes for about an hour while we wait for the delivery and going down to get the stuff. Much better choice to my way of thinking.
“Or, send me out. There are hotels around us. For a little extra, I’ll bet I can get an adequate meal in a jiffy and get back here.”
“Remember, you don’t have a car.”
“That doesn’t matter. There are probably two hotels on this block and I’m fast.”
“I’ll bet you are when you think there’s a naked lady waiting in your bed,” she said, smiling at him and he smiled in return.
“I vote for choice three,” he said after feigning serious contemplation. “Now I can come up with a fourth choice, but I don’t think you’ll want it. Just eat tomorrow. To get to stay naked and in bed with you, I can go that route easily.”
“That’s because of your ranger training. You could go until Tuesday if you had to. But for me that choice is out. I haven’t had any ranger training and I’m hungry for some real food.”
“Darlin’, why didn’t you stock the fridge up here?”
“I didn’t think we’d be here long.”
“That is an amazing lack of foresight. Okay, choice number three it is. Send me out. I’m efficient, fast and you get a little bonus or two if I do this.”
She leaned closer. “So what is this wonderful bonus? Am I going to be interested?”
“I think so. I will give you a wonderful, relaxing massage before we have sex.”
She laughed. “You don’t know one thing about giving a massage.”
He grinned. “You have no idea what I all know. Try me and see. I promise you won’t be disappointed.”
“Just go get us something to eat. I’m not particular about what it is. I just want food.”
“Breakfast, lunch or dinner kind of food?”
“I better have a steak so I can keep up my strength. I need it with you. I haven’t been working out every day for the past few years the way you have.”
“You are in absolutely perfect shape, sweetie. You couldn’t be in any better shape.”
She smiled at him. “Thank you.” She held the sheet as she stepped out of bed. “Now, you get going before I faint from hunger.”
“For such a dainty little thing, you have such a big appetite.”
“I’ve been busy,” she teased.
“Well, rest up, darlin’, you’ll be busy when I get back with the steaks.”
“I hope that’s a promise,” she said in a sultry voice, flirting with him and having fun doing it.
He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her—a long, steamy kiss. When he finally stopped, she opened her eyes to find him gazing at her. “That was definitely a promise,” he said in a husky voice. “I’m going to set a speed record for getting you a steak and getting back here.”
She nodded. She wanted him and if he had wanted to go back to bed right now, she wouldn’t have protested. Her night of reckless lovemaking had spilled into another day and she couldn’t be happier. She’d relish it right up until they had to leave.
* * *
The following Thursday, Mike came for dinner and while Francie got the meal ready with Henry’s help, Vivian greeted Mike at the door.
Vivian had spent an hour dressing and changing before she was satisfied with a short-sleeved red linen blouse and slacks with high-heeled sandals. When Mike walked in the door, he gave her his hat and followed her into the study. As he walked toward her, her breathing quickened. He looked more handsome than ever. He wore a white dress shirt under his tan jacket and dark brown slacks with brown boots. His black hair was slightly windblown over his forehead.
“Do you want the house tour now or after dinner?” she asked him.
“Definitely now. I’d hate to get lost in this place.”
“It’s not that big.”
“Would you like a drink before we start the tour?”
“Oh, yeah. That would be nice.” He crossed the room to her. “We’re being mighty formal when you think about the last time we were together. And let me tell you now—you look beautiful.”
She felt her cheeks grow warm. “Thank you for the compliment. As for your greeting—you surely didn’t expect me to throw myself into your arms, did you?”
“I might have hoped. This isn’t a bad substitute,” he said, wrapping his arms around her and leaning forward to brush his lips on hers.
She couldn’t protest. Her heartbeat quickened, even faster than when she’d first seen him come in the door looking so handsome and strong and sexy, reminding her of being naked in his arms.
When he released her, she looked up at him and felt dazed. “Wow. You’ll make me forget dinner and Francie has cooked all afternoon.”
“I’m not going to hurt her feelings, but I’ll tell you, Vivian, I could ditch the best dinner on earth for your kisses.”
“That’s very flattering, Mike. Am I going to be able to let you move into my house? We can’t stay in bed together. We aren’t moving into the same bedroom.”
“I’ll work on that one. I’d like to see these rooms we’re talking about. Beer first, though.”
“I’ll do that, but right now, let’s cover the big news of the day. I imagine you already know it because he said he was going to talk to you next. Slade came by with his resignation.”
“I know. He told me. I’m glad for him, putting any feelings I have aside. His back bothers him and he shouldn’t be doing what he does. He said he gave you a two-week notice.”
“He did. I told him he doesn’t have to wait two weeks. We all will miss him, but you’re right. His family is in south Texas and they want him with them and he wants to go. I think he’ll go a little sooner than two weeks.”
“I told him we’d help him any way we can,” Mike said and she nodded.
“I told him we’d have a party. He said it’s not necessary, but we will. Maybe next Tuesday night if the guys are okay with it. You see what night might be best. We’ll have a barbeque if it’s good weather. Also, congratulations, Mike. You’ll officially become foreman when he leaves and your salary will go up.”
“Thank you,” he said, smiling at her.
“Now I’ll see about our drinks and the tour. I’ll be right back.” She left and in less than a minute she was back, followed by Henry who had a tray with a cold, open beer, a bowl of pretzels and a glass of iced tea. He held out the glass to Vivian and went to Mike.
“Would you like a cold beer?”
“Oh, would I ever. Thanks, Henry. I’d set the pretzels close by, too.”
When they were alone, he sipped his beer, lowered the bottle and looked at her. “Now, I think you were going to show me around before dinner.”
“Then we’ll get to it. The third floor has suites where Henry and Millie live, and Francie lives on that floor, too. Heather and Waldo also live on the third floor. In short, we stay off the third floor. I have a suite on the second floor. Tha
t’s where you’ll be. They don’t come on the second floor. We don’t go to the third floor. Now, in the basement is a wine cellar, a storage area and another library for the kind of papers and stuff that would look junky in the main library.” She stopped when she heard him chuckle. “Why are you laughing?”
“You live in what’s half museum and half hotel. Holy saints, where is an ordinary room?”
“You’re standing in one and there are plenty of ordinary rooms,” she said, thinking his smile and laughter were irresistible. She could detect a faint scent of aftershave and when she looked at his broad shoulders, all she could think about was last weekend and how those shoulders felt beneath her hands when they were both naked.
He looked around. “It’s difficult to think of this as Thane’s home. He was practical and sort of a minimalist.”
“That was his military persona. Otherwise, you’re wrong there. He lived all over the place here. In the gym with an indoor pool. In the ballroom. Even in the indoor tennis court down in the basement.”
He waved her off. “Show me where I’ll sleep and come in and go out, and where you sleep and where I’ll eat. That’s enough of a tour for me.”
“I’m beginning to wonder about you,” she said.
“And what are you wondering?”
“You sound as if you live under a bridge.” She shook her head at him then continued the tour. “You know where the garage is. You can come in the back like you did tonight. We’ll go up these stairs. There’s a back staircase, too and separate elevators to the second and third floors. The elevator’s handy when they move furniture, times like that, but I never take it.” She walked with Mike up the sweeping spiral staircase in the front hall and she stopped in the center of a wide second-floor hallway. “To the right is my suite,” she said, pointing. “To the left will be your suite. Let’s go look. We’ll be the only ones living on this floor.”
