Champagne Girl

by Diana Palmer

  She arched her throat, her eyes half closed, lazy. She linked her hands around his neck and swayed back against his arms. “Like it?”

  “Fire,” he whispered roughly. “Fire, Kit, and you’re more flammable than you might think.”

  “Then burn me,” she whispered back, going up on tiptoe to tempt his hard mouth. Her heart throbbed in her chest; her knees felt weak as she experienced the hardness of his lean body against hers. “Burn me, Matthew.”

  “Oh, God…!” he ground out. His mouth opened as it took hers in a kiss that should have been violent and wasn’t. It was a tender taking, a shivery seduction of lips against tender lips, and his mouth trembled with the hunger it aroused in him.

  She caught her breath, feeling sensations she’d never experienced before, not even with Matt. Her fingers tangled in the fabric of his denim shirt, holding on as her body began to shudder where it felt the hot imprint of his muscles.

  “Open your mouth, baby,” he whispered shakily as he moved her closer.

  She did, feeling his tongue enter her, her eyes closing as the magic worked and the fires burned. Vaguely, she felt his arms contracting hungrily, grinding her against his aroused body, but her mind was in flames. She reached up and clung to him, her teeth nibbling at his hard mouth, her tongue fencing with his in an intimacy that defied restraint. She moaned, a sound like a whispered scream, and he lifted his head to look at her.

  “I’ve never heard that before,” he whispered as he brushed her mouth again with his. “Haven’t I aroused you before this?”

  “Wh-what?” She tried to think, but it was all she could do to speak.

  “That sweet little sound you made,” he murmured against her searching lips. “Women make it in passion, when they make love with men and the feeling breaks through. And sometimes, when men do this to them.…” His hand moved, his fingers seeking out the hard tip of her breast and teasing around it in a tender searching that brought the sound again.

  She looked up at him in a fever. There were too many clothes between them. She wanted to lie down with him and touch his skin. Feel him touching hers. Kissing it. His mouth on her bareness…

  “Oh, no,” he whispered, laughing softly as he read the thought in her eyes. “No, not here. I don’t want an audience.”

  “Audience?” she echoed, arching to the subtle magic his fingers were working on her body. “Matt…” she moaned, straining to hold that exquisite touch.

  He brushed soft kisses against her nose. “Is this what you’re trying so hard to make me do?” he asked tenderly, and eased her head gently against his shoulder. His hand lifted, and he turned his eyes downward and watched as his fingers slid inside her blouse, into the deep V neck, and traced patterns on her bare skin.

  “Low…lower,” she whispered shamelessly, on fire for him.

  His breath came as quickly as her own. He held her eyes. “Here?” he breathed, as she felt his fingers searching for the hardness.

  She trembled and gasped as he found it, and he watched her face go hot with the tiny consummation. His hand flattened against her breast, taking the hard nipple into his moist palm, molding her while she clung to him and bit her lip to keep from crying out.

  “Kit,” he whispered achingly. He bent and put his mouth slowly on hers and, teasing her lips apart, tasted the heady mint of her breath. His hand squeezed and she made a sound that stiffened his taut body, that sent his free hand low on her spine to grind her hips into his.

  Her mouth opened under the hunger of his, and she reached up and clung to him, glorying in the blatant message his body was relaying to her as he bruised her body into his in a slow, hungry rhythm.

  She felt him shudder and pressed closer, trembling the length of her body, aching in places she’d never realized were so sensitive, moaning as she longed for something to end the anguished pleasure that was so new and unbearable.…

  “No!” He caught her arms and thrust her roughly away from him. “No!” he said hoarsely. He shuddered again, his face unrecognizable in passion, dark and black-eyed and rigid with unsatisfied hunger.

  “Matt?” she whispered, staring up at him with her red, swollen mouth parted, tempting, her arms half lifted, her eyes yielding already.

  With a harsh groan, he turned away, pressing his hands against the desk, leaning on them for support, his body in a stiff arch. “Get me a whiskey, Kit,” he said in a voice thick with pain.

  She stood there for a second, trying to get her mind back. She could hardly wobble over to the bar to do as he asked, her legs were trembling so. She poured a measure of whiskey into a shot glass, spilling some of it, and impulsively took a sip. It was hot in her throat, but she got it down and felt it steadying her.

  She carried the glass to Matt, and when he didn’t take it, she set it on the desk between his outstretched hands.

  He took deep, ragged breaths, and Kit began to realize what was wrong with him. Her face went beet red as she remembered what they’d been doing, remembered the effect she could have on his body.

  “I’m sorry,” she whispered.

  He straightened and picked up the whiskey, draining it in a single swallow. His face was pale and strained, and he looked violent. It was a full minute before he turned toward her.

  “I won’t die,” he said when he saw the concern in her eyes. “You threw me off balance, that’s all. You’ve seen it happen before,” he reminded her.

  “Yes. But not like that.” Her gaze lowered to his shuddering chest.

  “Not even with Hal?” he asked with a harsh laugh. “Poor boy.”

  “I don’t feel like this with Hal,” she blurted out, compounding the problem.

  “Love without lust? How puritan,” he scoffed. He jerked out a cigarette and lit it. “From now on, keep your attempts at seduction for your victim, Kit, and keep away from me, will you? As you’ve just seen, I’m pretty vulnerable.”

  She knew he hated admitting that. Her eyes searched his. “I’m just as vulnerable,” she reminded him. “It wasn’t just you.”

  “I realize that. But I’m no more inclined toward marriage than Hal seems to be,” he added coldly. “On the other hand, I’m old-fashioned enough that I’d marry you if we made love, so save us both a lot of heartache and practice your wiles elsewhere.”

  “I thought you believed I’d already succeeded,” she probed.

  He searched her blushing face. “Kit, I’m not a virgin. I can recognize experience. You don’t have it. Not in the way I mean.”

  “Ah, one of those experts who can recognize innocence with a look?” she teased.

  “People who’ve had sex can control their hungers a little easier,” he said tautly.

  Her eyebrows arched. “Are you a virgin, too? You didn’t seem that much in control to me.”

  He took a sharp breath. “Catherine…!”

  She smiled at him, more confident now than she’d ever been before. Layne evidently wasn’t giving him all he needed, or why would he have been so hungry? That gave her hope.

  “Next time, I’ll be more careful with you, darling,” she whispered. “But right now, I have to get back to work.”

  He didn’t seem to have a reply. He puffed on his cigarette while she went back to her computer and picked up where she’d left off.

  She glanced up at him with an impish grin. “Feeling better?” she murmured.

  “Not a lot, no,” he returned. His chest rose and fell heavily as he smoked, and his eyes went over her. “You’ve grown up with a vengeance, haven’t you?”

  “It happens to the best of us.” She glanced at him meaningfully. “Convinced now that I can handle myself in New York? If you aren’t, I’ll prove it to you by the time we have the barbecue.”

  His face clouded over. “How? By seducing Hal and me?”

  “Hal won’t let me seduce him.” She sighed, darting a look up at him. “But you might.”

  His eyes flashed at her, and despite himself, he smiled. “Think so?”

  �
��Look out,” she warned softly. “I’m dangerous.”

  He held up the empty whiskey glass. “So I’ve seen. But there’s something you’d better remember.”

  “Oh? What?”

  He put the glass down and leaned over her, enveloping her in his spicy cologne. “I’m dangerous, too.” He broke her mouth open under his, but before she could drown in the sweet pleasure, he lifted his head and, with a wink, went out the door.

  Chapter Nine

  Betty was delighted with her daughter’s new look. She raved about it when Catherine came home that night.

  “You look so different, darling,” she exclaimed, smiling at her only child.

  “I grew up,” Catherine replied, bending to kiss her mother’s soft cheek.

  “Not quite,” Matt murmured as he strode past them toward the study.

  “Matthew!” Catherine grumbled, glaring after him.

  “And I remember the last time you called me that,” he returned, grinning at her. “Do you?”

  She did, and her mother’s eyebrows arched at the red blush in Catherine’s cheeks.

  “I do wish I understood what’s going on around here.” Betty sighed.

  The front door opened and Hal came in, grimy and grease stained and smiling from ear to ear. “I’m home!” he called.

  “Wonderful!” Catherine greeted him. “Shall I call the minister now, or do you want to wash up first?”

  Hal stared at her. “Now, Catherine…”

  “I owe it to you to make an honest man of you,” she told him. “Now, let’s see, it can’t be until after the barbecue, or Matt would never forgive us.”

  “Damned straight,” Matt shouted from the den.

  “But it will have to be before I leave for New York,” she continued, frowning thoughtfully.

  “You can forget New York,” Matt called. “There are enough professional troublemakers up there without Texas imports.”

  “I will not forget it,” she returned. “The whole point of my going to work for you was to prove that I can take care of myself.”

  “You haven’t yet,” he said.

  She glared toward his study. “Will you please stop interrupting. I’m trying to set a wedding date in here.”

  “Sure, honey. I’ll be your flower girl,” Matt promised.

  Betty burst out laughing and winked at Hal, who still wasn’t sure whether to laugh or cry.

  “Will you wear a pink taffeta dress, Matt, dear?” Catherine baited.

  “If you marry Hal, I will.”

  Hal tried unsuccessfully to smother a grin. “Oh, Catherine,” he chuckled. “It would almost be worth my freedom to see Matt in pink taffeta.”

  “Hal, I’m delighted to hear you say that,” Catherine said with a smile. “Now, when do we set the date?”

  “On your fifty-sixth birthday. I promise.” He held his hand over his heart.

  “Well,” she said, pretending to consider his offer.

  Hal came closer, and brushed a brotherly kiss against her forehead. “Forgive me,” he said gently. “I’ve learned my lesson. And for what it’s worth, I’m sorry.”

  She searched his dark eyes consideringly. “It’s a little late for that.”

  “Do you think so?” he murmured, glancing deliberately toward the den. “I’m not so sure.”

  “Anyway,” she said changing the subject and turning away, “I don’t have time to marry you now, Hal. I’m going to be too busy. Matt, I called the caterer, and I’ve got the invitations ready to address. Angel and I will start on them tomorrow.”

  “Okay, honey,” he replied.

  “I’d better get cleaned up for dinner.”

  “Annie’s waiting to bring in the first course,” Betty told everyone, “so let’s hurry.”

  The doorbell rang as Hal went upstairs, and Betty opened the door to let Jerry and Barrie come in.

  “Hello, everyone, I hope we’re not intruding,” Barrie said, flashing a blue-eyed smile at them, “but we have news.”

  “Big news,” Jerry agreed with a grin at his redheaded wife.

  “This sounds serious,” Catherine said, staring at them. She glanced at Barrie. “Are you expecting?”

  “Yes!” Barrie answered, clasping her hands in front of her. “Oh, I’m so excited, I don’t know what to do. I’ve waited so long, and Jerry finally agreed— Catherine, how different you look! I love your hair!”

  “Thank you,” came the demure reply. “But tell us about you. When is it due?”

  “Tomorrow,” Barrie said dreamily.

  Catherine looked at her flat stomach with wide, unblinking eyes. “Tomorrow?”

  “Tomorrow?” Betty echoed with the same astonished look.

  Barrie grimaced when she saw where all the eyes were staring. “Not that!” she burst out. “My goodness, not a baby! My herd of cattle!”

  Catherine turned away, shaking her head. “I don’t believe this. She comes in talking about exciting big news—we think it’s a baby, and it’s cattle!”

  “She wouldn’t get that excited over a baby.” Jerry sighed, putting an arm around his petite wife. “But Lord, she does love cattle, and I made this great deal on a small herd of purebred Santa Gertrudis.”

  “Santa Gertrudis!” Matt came storming out of his office. “Like hell you’re running Santa Gertrudis next to my purebred Herefords!”

  “Now, Matt,” Barrie said quickly, “I’ve got good fences.”

  “I’ve seen bulls that can get through a six-foot fence,” he returned. “I don’t want my purebred cows mixing with other strains—you’ll ruin my breeding program!”

  “I told you,” Jerry groaned.

  Barrie smiled at Matt, blinking her big blue eyes. “Now, Matt, I won’t put them anywhere near your stock.

  Why, I’ve rented some land six miles away, just to keep my cattle on.”

  “You have?” Jerry asked.

  “I have,” Barrie said smugly. She grinned at her husband. “I told you I’d have all my bases covered. Jack Halston is renting me his bottoms.”

  “Bottoms.” Matt sighed. “Honey, the first flash flood will take out your whole investment.”

  “There’s some high ground nearby,” she said. “I checked. It will work out just fine. I’m so excited! My own herd!”

  “Some herd.” Jerry chuckled. “Six cows and a bull.”

  “It’s a start,” she returned. She lifted her head and sniffed. “Steak! Country-fried steak and mashed potatoes. Oh, my, are we in time for supper? Is there enough? I’m just starved!”

  “As usual,” Annie observed, bustling to the table with platters of food. “Yes, there’s enough. Come on before I chuck it out the back door.”

  Conversation for the rest of the evening centered on Barrie’s cattle. Even Hal seemed to be excited for her. He took time to share his own news about his first day on the job.

  “I’m doing fine, Keogh says. He’s going to let me run a lap on Saturday on the track. I can hardly wait,” he said fervently.

  “Just make sure there aren’t any embankments nearby,” Matt murmured with a wink, leaning back with a brandy in his lean hand.

  “Oh, I’ll watch myself from now on, for sure,” Hal promised. He glanced at Catherine with a smile.

  “Stop leering at me, if you please,” Catherine said huffily. “Just because I seduced you once is no reason to expect it from now on.”

  “Will you stop telling people you’ve seduced me!” Hal burst out as Barrie and Jerry gaped at him. “It isn’t true!”

  “You told Matt I did,” she said, taking a shot in the dark as she remembered the telephone call at the office the night Matt came back from Dallas.

  “I lied,” Hal grumbled, glancing at Matt. “It was a practical joke, and I’ll be the first to admit it backfired. I was out for revenge, but I’m the one who got kicked. I surrender, Catherine.”

  “It’s no use,” she said wistfully. “I’m just not in the mood tonight. I have a headache.”

  “Wi
ll you quit that!” Hal moaned.

  Matt was watching with curious dark eyes. He studied Catherine quietly, intently, as he sipped his brandy.

  She glanced at him, then turned away. Well, he needn’t think that anything had really changed just because she’d made Hal admit the truth. She knew Matt wanted her, but there were still Layne and Matt’s obsession with freedom. She’d only wanted to clear the slate, she told herself. But deep inside, she wondered what Matt would do now—if he’d do anything.

  Matt didn’t say another word until Barrie and Jerry had gone home and Hal had gone up to bed. Betty was doing embroidery, and Matt got up and announced that he was going to sit on the porch swing, and asked wouldn’t Catherine like some air?

  She would, she agreed, but as she said good-night to Betty and followed him outside, it was with apprehension.

  As it turned out, she didn’t have any reason to worry. Because he seemed to have more important things on his mind than romance under the stars.

  “Sit down, honey. I won’t bite,” he said wickedly when she hesitated.

  She plopped down beside him and felt his long legs rock the swing into a rhythmic, creaking motion. Nearby, crickets sang, and from far in the distance came the sound of cars going along the highway. With a sigh, Catherine leaned her head back against Matt’s muscular arm and closed her eyes.

  “How did you know what Hal said to me that night?” he asked after a while.

  “I didn’t. I took a lucky shot.”

  “He has a vindictive streak a mile wide,” he remarked.

  “Yes, but it’s just as well,” she said lazily, opening her eyes to smile up at his shadowed face. “You’d only have seduced me and hated yourself.”

  “Think so?” he murmured, glancing down at her.

  “I know so. Sex isn’t a good basis for a relationship. I may be green, but I know that much.”

  His fingers toyed with her hair. “I’m not sure I like it this short,” he remarked.

  “They’ll like it in New York,” she assured him.

  “You’re still determined that you want to go?”

  “Yes,” she lied, suddenly unsure about her answer.

  He lit a cigarette and took a long draw from it. “Don’t you like working with Angel and the other girls?”