He swallowed before stating bluntly, “You’re fanging for more.”
“Pardon?”
“You’re dying for another slice.”
“Nonsense.”
“Don’t try to pull the wool over my eyes, Cherry. You want another piece, have it. I’m going for piece number six in a minute, and then you can watch number seven go down my gullet right after. No modesty here, love. We’re having dinner, and I can’t abide women who are obviously still hungry pretending they’re not.” He frowned. “I never realized why until my sister told me. Whoever said eating tiny was ladylike is nuts. Cripes, what a load of shit.”
Her sentiments exactly, but still…
He pointed the piece of pizza at her. “You’re scared I’ll judge you for having another slice of pizza. Good God, woman, there are worse things in the world that happen. If you’d been a Christian in Roman times, they’d have fed you to the lions. What’s another piece of pizza in comparison?”
Her sense of humour was tickled. “Not much, really.”
“So have another slice. Have another two. Finish the lot. I don’t care.” He looked seriously at her. “I really don’t care, Cherry.”
And he really didn’t, she could see that. When she took a fourth slice, he caught the attention of the waitress who was coming and lifted his glass. The waitress admirably refrained from sighing, instead placing Cherry’s full glass before her and taking Rick’s empty glass.
“I don’t think you’re in her good books anymore,” she observed when the waitress left.
“Have to ensure my tip places me back at the top of the list, because I love this pizza and I’m going to be coming back here regularly. I’ll want continued good service.”
“Spoken like a true doctor.” Realizing what she’d said, she stopped eating and looked at him through wide eyes. “Oh, I didn’t…I mean…I…I…”
“Of course you meant it,” Rick said calmly. “My mother was a nurse. Trust me, I know what you meant.”
Feeling uncomfortable, Cherry bit her lip.
“Doesn’t stop me planning to boink your brains out, though” he added.
The pizza fell from her hand to her lap. “You what..?”
“I said—”
“No.” Flustered, she held up her hand while fishing on her lap with the other for the pizza. “Don’t repeat it.”
“And because you said what you did, I’m going to prove that as a doctor, I can also give good service.” His eyes gleamed, the green of them dark and deep and full of promise. “Better. The best.”
She was glad she was sitting, because her knees had turned to jelly. “Change the subject.”
“Why? Creaming in your panties?”
“Stop it.”
“You won’t be saying that when I have you under me.”
“Rick!”
“Yeah, you’ll be screaming that out all right.”
“You’re incorrigible.” Caught between laughter and embarrassment, Cherry glanced around frantically, only to find herself looking at a prim elderly woman in the next booth who was looking at them both with a disapproving expression. “Oh shit.”
That earned her an even frostier stare, and she slid a little lower in her seat, her leg rubbing against Rick’s, though she couldn’t care less at that minute. “I am so mortified.”
No help, he was laughing at her openly.
“This is all your fault.” Steadfastly keeping her face turned away from the elderly woman, she felt the warmth in her cheeks and scowled at him.
“Oh sweetheart, I take all the credit.” Chuckling, Rick took the drink from the waitress who had the good manners not to look curiously at Cherry. “And I meant every word.” He swallowed half his drink in several mouthfuls. “Man, that pizza is hot. Spicy. Just the way I like you.” His eyes gleamed as she groaned and then flinched under the elderly woman’s huff of disgust.
There was no way she could continue eating with the elderly woman giving her disapproving looks. Taking pity on her, Rick, still laughing, stood and took her hand, pulling her from the booth with ease. Placing his hand at her back, he steered her down the aisles between the tables. At the counter he paid for their meal while she made her getaway outside.
The cool breeze outside took the heat from her cheeks and she breathed a sigh of relief. Glancing around, she saw several couples approaching, but her attention was diverted when Rick came out of the restaurant and stepped up beside her, his arm moving with easy familiarity around her waist as he tucked her in against his hard side and started them walking.
It was a totally alien sensation for her, and she didn’t quite know how to act.
He leaned down as they walked along, his breath warm against her ear. “You’re so stiff.”
“Am I?”
“I thought that was my department.”
“Oh geez, will you stop that?”
He laughed, his lips brushing her ear. The action was so unexpected that she didn’t know how to respond.
Kiss him back? Turn her head and look up at him? Cuddle closer? She continued to look straight ahead. Lack of experience in dating was showing with humiliating clarity. Who knew dating was so fraught with rules?
“Are you working tomorrow?” Rick queried.
Glad to be back on familiar ground, she nodded. “Late shift.”
“So you’re free in the morning?” There was a definite sound of eagerness in his tone.
“No. I’m supposed to be going around with Maxie to the bridal shops. She’s getting married in about six months, so we’re doing the bridal crawl.”
“Bridal crawl?”
“Like a pub crawl, only the bridesmaids get dragged around from one bridal boutique to the next.”
“What about Maxie’s mum? Isn’t the mother of the bride supposed to go with her?”
Cherry grinned. “Maxie’s getting in first. Her mother is bit overpowering, so Maxie is taking her shopping next month. By then we figure Maxie should have made her mind up and the dress bought.”
A rumble of laughter welled from Rick.
Relaxing, Cherry told him about the upcoming wedding. She didn’t even notice herself leaning in against him. The street lights flicked on and they passed other strolling couples and some families, as well as office people still leaving their offices long after knock-off time.
Rick stopped at an ice cream parlour and talked her into soft serve ice creams. “After all,” he said, “We didn’t finish our pizza.”
“And who’s fault would that be?” she asked dryly.
“Yours,” he returned cheerfully, paying for the ice creams and handing one to her.
“You wish.”
He followed her out onto the street. “You’re the shy one. Me, I could have sat there and eaten the last of the pizza right under the disapproving glare of that old lady, no problems.” Slinging one arm around her shoulder, he nudged her into a slow walk. “She was probably jealous.”
“Your modesty is awe-inspiring.”
“I know. Bask in it.”
Laughing, Cherry licked the ice cream that was already starting to melt.
They walked slowly in companionable silence, and by the time they’d reached the hotel parking lot, they’d both finished their ice creams. Cherry didn’t notice that they were at Rick’s door until he took out his key and unlocked the door. Immediately, she stepped back.
Arching one brow questioningly, he looked at her over his shoulder.
“I need to go.” She smiled and took another step backwards.
His gaze was searching as he turned fully to face her. “It’s still early.”
“It’s…” She glanced at her watch. “Eight o’clock.” Early. Damn. Good. Hell, she didn’t know.
Reaching out, he snagged her wrist in a gentle, but firm, clasp. “Cherry.”
“Yes?”
He laughed suddenly, shaking his head. “You aren’t what I’m used to.”
“You knew that already.” Her stomach was in kn
ots.
“And that’s what I love about you.” He tugged her closer, and God help her, she didn’t resist. His voice lowered. “Stay the night with me.”
Cold and heat combined flushed through her. The heat of desire, of the memory of his hard body surging above her, against her, into her. The cold of fear, her imperfect body bared to his gaze. Fear and desire warred inside her.
Fear won, raising its ugly head and making her cringe inwardly, too scared to allow herself to be exposed to this perfect specimen of manhood. If only I was slim. If only I wasn’t fat. If only I had a decent body. The taunting words prickled through her mind like poison ivy, digging deep and tearing open wounds that bled out doubt, self-consciousness, and the echoes of cruel words she’d heard from as young as she could remember.
She looked up at Rick. So handsome, so strong, a body that was hard and muscled, a man that made most women glance at him twice, even three times.
And he expected her to share her fat, dimply body with him. “I can’t.”
“Can’t?” His arm slid around her waist, drawing her against him, the heat of his body seeping into her chilled one. “Or won’t?” When she looked down, he placed a finger under her chin to angle her head back up so he could study her face.
It took all her strength of will to give him a small smile. “Can’t.”
“Won’t.”
Her smile faltered. “Don’t be silly.”
“Are you scared of me?”
“No.”
“Are you scared to be intimate with me?”
Not for the reason he was thinking. She shook her head.
“Liar.” The word came without anger, but there was a thread of steel in it. That thread of steel was something Cherry was starting to recognize.
It was enough to make her stiffen and start to pull away, only to stop when muffled giggles and hushed words broke the silence. She glanced sideways to see a couple, obviously a little the worse for wear with alcohol, stumble to their room not less than two doors away. The man had his arm around the tall, slender woman, and she was pressed against his side. While he tried to get the key in the door, she giggled and kissed him, her fingers combing through his hair, her long, slim leg twining around his leg. He laughed, his hand on that slender thigh, her back slamming against the door as he turned her. They kissed hard, and even though they weren’t clear in the glow from the overhead veranda lights, it was clear there was a lot of tongue involved in that kissing.
Cherry’s heart bumped uncomfortably as she watched the byplay while in the arms of Rick. A glance up revealed that he, too, was watching, but as though he felt her scrutiny, his gaze swung back down to her.
The raw heat in his eyes made her mouth dry, and she looked away once more in time to see the door swing open behind the couple and they stumbled inside, their laughter abruptly halted by their door shutting.
They were inside and obviously planned a sex session.
Rick’s gaze was till burning a hole through the top of her head, so she took a deep breath that made her breasts push against his hard chest and glanced up once more. His eyes were still hot, desire clear to see. Clear to feel, too, if the hardening length against her belly was anything to go by.
Her insides were like jelly.
“Cherry.” Her name came out in husky tones.
She meant to say “No.” She meant to give an excuse and walk away. She meant to put distance between herself and this intoxicating man. She meant to…but what came out was a whispered, “I don’t know the rules.”
“There are none.” His breath was on her temple.
“I can’t do this.” A shiver went through her as his lips brushed her skin.
Long fingers at the small of her back spread, tugging her even closer. “You can.” Those hands slid down to cup her generous derriere. “You will.” His lips were gliding with excruciating slowness down her cheek.
The heat of his body, his clean, masculine scent, the strength in his arms and the assuredness of his actions made her blood pump faster, sent a thrill of coiled heat through to her womanhood.
She wanted to, God knew she wanted him, but fear still nibbled torturously at her conscience. Lips trembling, she tried to find the words in her scattered thoughts to deny him, to deny herself, but then he kissed her. His lips came down on hers, muffling the words before they could be properly formed, and every thought she’d managed to capture was swept away under the skilled onslaught of his kiss.
Rick kissed her deep, his tongue ravishing her mouth, one of his hands coming up to cup the back of her head, his other hand pressing her into his body, the hardness of his erection a brand against her belly.
Caught up in the drugging kiss, she was only dimly aware of being led into his room, one slow, hazy step at a time. The door shut, and then she was against it, her back to the hard wood and Rick’s knee between her thighs, his hands cupping her cheeks as he kissed her with an almost frightening intensity.
It stirred her blood, made her nerves tingle, and desire curled higher inside her.
That magical mouth slid across to her throat, leaving her gasping for breath as skilful fingers trailed down to cup one breast through the silk of her blouse. The hard palm cupped her, shaped her, pressed gently. Fire flared to life inside her, and she grabbed his shoulders, pressing forward against him, feeling the hardness of his thigh between her softer ones.
“Yes,” he breathed hotly against her throat. “Oh God, yes, Cherry.”
And then that hard palm was under her blouse, seeking and searching and finding her breast, cupping her once more through the lacy bra cup. His fingertips skimmed the edges of the bra, dipping in a little, teasing.
“We need less clothes.” His laugh was rough, low. “A lot less clothes.” He shifted and the light snapped on suddenly, flaring bright in the room. His eyes as he gazed down at her was full of heat, a dark green with carnal knowledge and anticipation.
Cherry froze, feeling like the proverbial deer caught in the headlights.
Rick’s hand went to her waist, smoothing underneath her blouse as he returned to nuzzling her throat, his tongue licking across her pulse.
Desire still churned through her, but… Reaching up, she snapped the light off.
He went still as the room was again plunged into dimness, the only light that of the veranda globe through the open curtains.
Their gasping breaths filled the room.
Finally, he said roughly, “Let me turn on the light.”
“No.” In the dimness she looked him directly in the eyes, seeing their glitter. “Please. No.”
“You have nothing to be ashamed of.” His palms stroked the indent of her waist, sending heat pooling in her loins.
But fear still ruled part of her brain. The part that was still thinking, however sluggishly. “You said – you said there were no rules. So that includes having to have a light on.”
He was silent for so long that her self-consciousness started to rear up, her desire crumbling beneath its onslaught. “This was a mistake. I—” She didn’t get another word out.
Rick took her mouth, his kiss carnal, and the embers of her desire that were still flickering flared to life once more beneath the skill of his hands, the masterfulness of his kiss.
She wanted him. Needed him. But only on her terms, in the dimness where she could feel comfortable, where she could pretend to be someone she wasn’t, someone beautiful and slender. In the dimness she could press up against him, could handle having him stroke and caress her.
Her blouse was slipped over her head, her bra unhooked and drawn from her as Rick kissed her hotly, his mouth ravaging hers, his so-knowing hands stoking the flames of desire higher.
In the dimness she was free to mould her hands to his back, to feel the skin laid over muscle as he moved. She could kiss him back as hotly, letting her inhibitions fly free.
Finding the hem of his t-shirt, she tugged it up, and he lifted his arms to pull it over his head and discard it to
the side. The hardness of his muscle-ribbed abdomen was a delight to her fingers as she danced them lightly over the swells. His shoulders were big in the gloom, looming over her, rounding as he bent low once more, his lips trailing down her throat and lower, skimming across her collarbone, his tongue sweeping into the hollow.
And his hands - dear God, his hands cupped her bare breasts, weighing the generous globes, and she swore he left the imprint of his fingers on her skin. Heat spiralled out from his very touch, her nipples peaking, aching, and she bit off a moan as his thumbs brushed over the tender, hard nubs.
“Don’t hold back,” he ordered huskily, his breath damp on her skin where the curve of her shoulder met the curve of her neck. “Moan for me, baby. Let me know what pleases you.”
Cherry couldn’t think. Everything pleased her. Everything made her shiver with desire, her blood feeling as though it was a river of pure fire going through her, torching her nerves and sensations.
One of his hands brushed along her belly, a long finger dipping into her belly-button and making her suck in a deep breath. His laugh was low, rough with desire.
Desire for her. He couldn’t hide it, it was so clear, and she revelled in it.
Here in the dimness, she revelled in a handsome man’s lust for her. Rick’s lust for her.
Strong fingers hooked into the waistband of her pedal pushers and thrust them downwards, taking her lacy panties on the way. The material pooled at her feet, and she stepped out of them, kicking off her ballet flats at the same time.
Here in the dimness she grew bolder, her own fingers spreading over the smooth swells of his pectorals, her palms gliding across small, male nipples that were already hard. Rick growled his pleasure against her throat.
Moving her hands further down, she glided over the six pack of his stomach and lower. Lower. Caught up in hot desire, she slid her fingers down the front of his jeans and almost immediately she encountered the weeping head of his shaft. She felt the length of him jump against her hand.
“Oh God,” he groaned huskily. “Cherry. Don’t stop. Please don’t stop.” With every word he nipped her shoulder.
Doctor's Delight Page 12
