by Kristi Gold
His gaze wandered down to the light shading between her thighs and every muscle in his body clenched in an effort to maintain control. Overpowering need had him considering parting her legs and sinking inside her. Common sense took hold and told him to focus only on her. To make sure she was more than ready to take the next step.
Regardless that she’d told him not to hold back, he still felt the need to tell her what he intended to do. On that thought, he snaked out of his briefs, stretched out beside her again and pushed her hair back from her ear to whisper, “I want to kiss you. Everywhere.”
She turned her face toward him. “I want you to do that, as long as you let me return the favor.”
Since that request hadn’t totally sent him over the edge, Ford realized he was a lot stronger than he’d believed. He touched his lips to hers and pulled back to study her face. “I want you to do that, but I’m barely hanging on here.”
She gave him a shaky smile. “I understand. Later, then.”
Later worked fine for Ford, and no way would she understand how he felt at that moment. He didn’t understand it himself. But here and now held the most importance. He worked his lips down her body, placing a light kiss on each of her breasts, another above her navel, before he bent her knees and positioned himself between her legs. Sliding his hands beneath her bottom, he lifted her slightly to meet his mouth.
Kerry drew in a sharp breath when he reached his goal, much the same as she had last night. He kept the pull of his lips light, the stroke of his tongue steady until she moved her hips in a telling rhythm. Only then did he slide one finger inside her, determined to feel the surge of her climax. It hit her fast, hit her strong and in turn served to increase the heaviness and strength of Ford’s erection. He couldn’t remember when he’d needed someone so badly. Needed to be inside her. Needed to hold her close to his pounding heart.
In a matter of moments, he would be exactly where he wanted to be, as close to Kerry as he could possibly be. And he inherently knew that by doing so, he could be forever lost in her. To her.
Seven
T rembling, Kerry kept her eyes closed as she tried to recover from the impact of the orgasm. Her mind fought the voyage back to earth, but her body told her she needed more. She was mildly aware of Ford leaving the bed and the sound of tearing paper. She was very aware when he skimmed his taut body up her body. She welcomed his weight. Welcomed his intense kiss. Welcome the feel of every ridge and muscle against her palms as she sent her hands on a journey over his back and bottom.
He slid one hand in her hair and slipped the other between them, nudging her legs apart with his thigh. “Look at me, sweetheart.”
Sweetheart. At one time she might have found that archaic, but not with Ford. Such a simple endearment said with a world of emotion. She opened her eyes to his beautiful face illuminated by the light of day and the heat of desire. His eyes were bright and oh, so blue and he kept them fixed on her eyes as he pushed inside her. She felt no pain, no fear, only fullness. Completeness, as well, both at the place where they were now joined and deep in her heart.
He tipped his head against her shoulder, and she felt a slight shudder running through him.
“Ford?” Her voice sounded unsure, exactly how she felt at the moment.
He raised his head and traced her lips with a fingertip. “You feel so incredible.”
“So do you.” And he did, so very, very good.
He looked concern, and she loved him for that. “Are you sure?”
“Positive.”
“I don’t want to hurt you.”
She could tell by the hard set of his jaw that he was fighting his natural instinct. And Kerry would have none of that. “You won’t hurt me.” She ran her tongue along the seam of his lips. “So don’t hold back.”
Those simple words unleashed something inside of Ford that both thrilled and excited Kerry. He moved inside her slowly at first, then harder and wilder. Touched her everywhere, including the place that his mouth had so tenderly manipulated only moments before.
She relished every sensation—the power of his body in motion, the feel of his hair-roughened legs entwined with hers, the strength of his broad back beneath her palms, his whispered words of praise so soft at her ear. The way it should be, she recognized, a mutual joining with a seductive and skillful man. A man who didn’t know the meaning of brute force but instead knew how to treat a woman.
Then one sensation overtook all others, the onset of another release bearing down upon her. She lost track of place and time until the steady pulse began to subside. Ford tensed in her arms and muttered an oath that Kerry considered the most sexy thing she’d ever heard leave a man’s mouth. His breath rode out on a long hiss, followed by a low groan. He claimed her mouth with a drugging kiss, his hands still in motion over her body, and hers roving over his. They remained that way for a long time, kissing and touching and holding on to each other, as if they couldn’t quite get enough of the contact. Kerry wondered if she would ever get enough of him.
Still joined to her body, Ford smiled, both his dimples and eyes shining. “Damn, that was great,” he muttered, bringing about Kerry’s laugh.
“I have to agree,” she said.
“No regrets?”
She palmed his jaw. “None at all. Thank you.”
“No. Thank you.”
They kissed some more, touched some more until Ford finally rolled onto his side with Kerry still securely in his arms. She kept her head nestled against his chest until she heard his breathing grow steady and deep. That sound, along with the solid beat of his heart, lulled her into sleep. She didn’t know how long she’d been out when she awoke to find Ford had flipped onto his belly, his face turned toward her.
Kerry grabbed the opportunity to take in all the little details, beginning with his features now slack in sleep, his brown lashes fanning below his closed lids, the deep bow of his lips and the tiny cleft in his chin. She studied his arm covered in golden hair contrasting with his tanned skin, his large hand spanning the pillow next to his face. She visually scanned his back, broad and bronzed, and kept going right down his spine to his incredible butt. Incredible bronzed butt. He had absolutely no tan line at all. Anywhere.
Somehow, someway, the man maintained an allover tan. Kerry seriously doubted it was product-enhanced, because it looked too natural. She supposed he might drive a tractor in the nude, but that seemed highly unlikely. Yet the vision caused a giggle to bubble up in her throat and threaten to explode into a laugh. Before that occurred, she decided to take a shower and let him sleep a while longer.
Kerry made quick work in the bath, hoping the hotel hair dryer didn’t wake Ford. But when she left the room, she discovered he hadn’t moved an inch. After checking the clock, she realized she probably should wake him. Otherwise they would be late for their dinner in Napa.
Perched on the edge of the bed in a lush terry robe provided by the hotel, Kerry watched Ford again while she ran a brush through her hair. When she cleared her throat and he still didn’t rouse, she patted his bare bottom and said, “Time to get up, Farmer Ford.”
His eyes drifted open and he came fully awake with a grin. “You smell good.” His voice was grainy and gruff and so patently sexy that Kerry considered shedding the robe and forgetting about everything but him.
“And you sleep very soundly,” she said.
He rolled onto his back, totally secure in his nudity, and ran a palm down his torso, from chest to belly. Even though Kerry should be totally satisfied and sexually sated, she felt the familiar stirrings of wet heat between her thighs, sensations she had denied for too long. She certainly couldn’t deny them now. If they had more time, she just might suggest they do something about her need, and Ford’s, which had grown very obvious right before her eyes.
His grin deepened as he slid his hand lower as if to taunt her. “Something else is coming awake.”
Kerry pushed off the bed and stood. “I see that.” Boy, did she.
<
br /> Crooking his finger at her, he said, “Why don’t you come over here and give me a good-afternoon kiss.”
As tempting as that sounded, she didn’t dare. Not if they intended to get on the road soon. “I’m thinking you should probably go shower before we keep Caroline waiting.”
He laced his hands behind his neck and bent one leg at the knee. “I’m thinking we should be fashionably late.”
She waved the brush at him as her heart rate did double time. “Now, now. That would be rude.”
He glanced down and so did Kerry. “Considering my current state, I’m liable to embarrass both of us, unless we do something about it pretty soon.”
Kerry considered his words, and although she was sorely tempted, she decided she would find the time to help him out when they had more time. “The quicker we learn about Anna Sheridan, the quicker we can plan what to do next. And the quicker we can get back here and settled in for the night.”
Ford stared at the ceiling. “You’re right. I can’t forget about Grant or why I’m in San Francisco.”
Kerry hated that she’d reminded him of that. Hated that his uncle’s arrest was the only reason he was there and that after it was resolved he’d be gone again. “I left you a towel, so have fun with your shower.”
He turned his blue eyes on her again. “I’d have more fun if you’d join me.”
Again, temptation came calling, but logic won out. “We can do that later. Otherwise we will be late.”
Following a sigh, Ford climbed out of the bed and thankfully headed to the bath. If he’d taken one step toward her, Kerry’s resolve would have weakened and they might never leave the hotel room.
She watched him walk away, all the while admiring his muscled bottom flexing with each step, still intrigued by his allover tan. Before he closed the bathroom door, she said, “Ford, you don’t have any tan lines.”
He turned, one large hand braced on the jamb. “No, ma’am, I don’t.”
She crossed her legs against another rush of heat when her gaze drifted down the stream of hair below his navel and didn’t stop there. After forcing her gaze back to his face, she asked, “Care to explain?”
He smiled again. “There’s something to be said for a pool and a privacy fence after coming in from the field at lunchtime. You just strip down, dive in, then lie around for an hour or so and daydream.”
“What do you daydream about?”
“Nothing much, but I guarantee when I go back I’ll be having some really nice ones about you.”
With that he closed the door and left Kerry alone with another reminder of his imminent departure. She allowed herself a private daydream, one that involved living a simple life surrounded by simple people. Spending lazy days and endless nights with a gorgeous guy who was anything but simple. Never again having to worry about locking doors or dealing with big-city hassles.
And that seemed about as probable to Kerry Roarke as having a future with Ford Ashton.
When they arrived at The Vines, a housekeeper showed Ford and Kerry to the living room where they found Caroline waiting. She rose from a black chair and gave him a brief hug. “I’m glad you’re here.”
“Caroline, this is Kerry Roarke,” he said. “She’s been helping me out with details about the murder.” Helping him out with a lot more.
If Caroline was at all surprised by Kerry’s presence, Ford couldn’t tell from her relaxed smile. “Welcome to The Vines, Kerry.”
Kerry took the hand Caroline offered for a polite shake. “Thank you for having me here.” She looked around the room with an awed expression. “This is a beautiful place. Millie would love all the antiques.”
“Millie is Kerry’s landlady,” Ford offered.
“Well, let’s make ourselves comfortable,” Caroline said, indicating a striped couch while she took a nearby chair.
Ford and Kerry sat on the sofa, keeping a decent berth between them. When he noticed Kerry wringing her hands, he fought the urge to take them into his hands to calm her nerves. Not a good idea. The less Caroline knew about their relationship, the better.
Caroline picked up a bottle of white wine from an ice bucket set out on the coffee table separating them and held it up. “Would either of you like a glass? It’s one of our best Chardonnays.”
Ford waved off the offer. “None for me. No offense, but I’m not much of a wine drinker.”
“Would you prefer something else, Ford?” she asked.
Yeah, whiskey straight up from the bottle. “No, thanks. I’m driving.”
“I’d love some wine,” Kerry said.
She looked like she could use a drink, Ford decided. Or two or three. Maybe he shouldn’t have brought her here, and he wasn’t really sure why he’d thought that necessary. Easy. He didn’t want to be away from her for any length of time.
Caroline poured a glass for Kerry, handed it to her and then took one for herself. She leaned back in the chair, looking every bit the refined lady, not a blond hair out of place or a single wrinkle in her pink suit. Kerry wore the clothes she had on from work, the skirt and blouse he’d gladly removed and would be glad to remove again later. With his jeans, boots and polo, he was definitely underdressed.
Caroline took a sip of her wine, then rested her hand on the arm of the chair. “You mentioned on the phone you had something you needed to ask me, Ford?”
He crossed one leg over the other and tried to loosen up. “Yeah. It’s about Anna Sheridan.”
“What about her?”
“I need to know what you know about her relationship with Grant.”
Caroline frowned. “Why?”
“Because Grant sent a letter to me through Edgar Kent this morning. He mentioned her. In fact, he asked me to come here and tell her he’s going to be okay.”
Caroline took a small sip of the wine, keeping a firm grip on the glass. “I suppose they’re only friends.”
Ford wouldn’t bet on that, considering Caroline’s lack of conviction. “You didn’t notice anything other than friendship going on between them?”
She leaned forward and topped off her glass. “To be honest with you, I’ve been distracted lately. My daughter Mercedes is having a few problems.”
“Anything serious?” Ford asked.
“Boyfriend problems. It seems hers has suddenly disappeared. But that’s the least of your worries. Are you suggesting that perhaps Anna and Grant were having some sort of tryst?”
Ford ran a hand over his jaw. “I don’t know about that, but I find it kind of strange he asked about her. He’s usually pretty guarded about that sort of thing.”
Caroline raised a finely arched eyebrow. “You mean women?”
“Yeah. And the tone of the letter makes me wonder if he’s protecting her in some way. Maybe she’s got something to do with Spencer’s murder.”
Caroline toyed with the pearls at her throat. “I can’t imagine Anna would be involved in anything like that. Granted, she did try to confront Spencer at the estate and encountered Lilah, poor girl, and never got in to see him. That’s how she ended up here with little Jack. She had nowhere else to go and frankly, she was afraid someone would hurt the baby after she started getting some threats on his life.”
“Threats?” Kerry asked, the first word she’d spoken since they’d gotten past the pleasantries.
“Yes, and that’s never been solved, but they’ve ended now.”
As far as Ford was concerned, everything about this situation was growing more bizarre by the minute. “I’m guessing Spencer never claimed Jack.”
“Of course not. Why would he bother?”
No reason to bother at all, Ford thought. “I need to talk to Anna. I have to know if she’s hiding something.”
“She’s here, as far as I know,” Caroline said. “She’s staying at the cottage by the lake.”
Ford stood. “You two have a nice visit. Hopefully this won’t take too long.”
When he felt a hand on his shoulder, Ford turned to see Kerr
y standing beside him. “Why don’t you let me handle this, Ford?”
“Why would you want to do that?”
“I did meet her the time she came into Ashton-Lattimer, so I’m not a total stranger. I’m also a woman. If you charge in there and toss out presumed allegations based on theory, she’s not going to talk to you.”
Although she didn’t say it, Ford knew exactly what Kerry was thinking. He’d nearly screwed up their relationship because of his preconceived notions about her. “Okay. I’ll go with you.”
“That’s not necessary. I can give you a full report later.” She turned to Caroline. “Mrs. Sheppard, the wine is wonderful. I would love to have another glass on my return, if that’s okay.”
“Of course it is, dear.” Caroline stood and gestured toward the opening of the room. “Just go left and after you exit the rear of the house, follow the path to the right that leads to the cottage. If you have trouble, I’ll have my husband escort you. He should be coming in at any moment for dinner.”
“I have a good sense of direction, so I’m sure I’ll find it without any problem. And please don’t wait dinner on me. This could take a while.”
Ford watched Kerry walk out, feeling somewhat powerless even though he trusted her to do whatever she could to aid Grant’s cause. He also felt somewhat guilty when he realized he’d been following the movement of her hips in that skirt. Clearing his throat, he sat back down and said, “I think I’ll have that drink now. Do you have any bourbon?”
“I certainly do.” Caroline rose gracefully and walked to a decanter set atop some kind of a bureau across the room. “Ice?” she asked after she poured a highball glass full of the amber liquid.
“Nope. Straight up.”
Caroline crossed the room, handed him the tumbler and this time sat beside him. “Kerry seems like a lovely girl. I’m not surprised Spencer hired her.”
Ford took a long draw off the drink and welcomed the liquor burning down his throat. “He hired her, but he didn’t have an affair with her.”
