by Opal Carew
He could tell the instant she woke up … and stiffened in his arms.
“Good morning, Jessica.” His lips brushed the top of her head.
“Good morning, Mr. Ranier.”
* * *
Dane’s arm tightened around Jessica’s waist and she felt herself rolled back, then she gazed up at Dane Ranier, him gazing down at her in turn, his large, masculine body covering hers.
“Not Mr. Ranier. Call me Dane.” His deep blue eyes bored into her, demanding acquiescence.
Her breath caught and she nodded. “Dane,” she said breathlessly.
Then his lips brushed hers. Coaxingly. Until, with her heart pumping erratically, hers moved, too, as she was swept away by his sublime tenderness. His tongue swept into her mouth and she opened, welcoming him. Wanting him to devour her in this loving onslaught.
He deepened his kiss and her arms slid around him, pulling him closer, wanting to eliminate any distance between them, wanting to absorb him into her body. Her need for him grew so intense, she thought she’d die from the ache in her heart.
Then his lips slipped away and she wanted to protest, but he kissed along her cheek, then nuzzled the base of her neck, sending tingles of joy flooding through her.
He eased back and gazed at her body. Her breasts swelled and her nipples elongated. He smiled and stroked a finger down the middle her chest, between her breasts, then over one mound to the tight nipple at its peak. When he touched it, ever so gently, she gasped. He leaned forward and licked the hard nub, then gently took it in his mouth and drew on it lightly. The exquisiteness of his touch made her want to weep. His tongue swirled over it and she arched forward, needing to be even closer to him. Needing to be completely possessed by him.
“Oh, Dane. I need you.”
He drew back his head and his simmering navy eyes caught on hers. She could see a depth of longing there she’d never seen before.
“I need you, too,” he murmured.
His hand stroked down her belly toward his swollen, rock-hard cock, then she felt his hardness press against her. She widened her legs, opening for him. His mesmerizing gaze holding hers captive, he pressed into her. His masculine member, so thick and hard, filled her in an exquisitely slow glide forward. Her body opened for him, welcoming him.
Once he totally filled her, she clung to him, holding him close, nearly gasping for air.
This felt so right. It was nothing like the thrilling, highly erotic lovemaking they usually enjoyed. This was deep and poignant. Leaving her vulnerable and open.
With his gaze still holding her captive, he began to move, his big member sliding back, then slowly propelling forward again. Filling her with his thick, hard length. Filling her with a joy that threatened to overwhelm her. She could feel tears well in her eyes.
She said nothing, but she knew her eyes laid bare her soul. Oh, God, she loved this man. He had to see it.
She moaned and her eyelids fluttered closed as he glided deep. She squeezed him as he withdrew and then he pushed inside again. Her whole body thrummed with vibrant pleasure.
“Dane, yes.” She tightened her arms around him as he drove into her a little faster, but still excruciatingly slower than she wanted. Until the buildup started, and the pleasure turned to joy. Then blissful sensations shuddered through her.
She sucked in a breath, hovering on the edge. “Dane, I’m going to—”
But his lips covered hers, preventing the words, as he thrust again, flinging her to ecstasy. She moaned into his mouth and it was as if he swallowed her joy, then jerked tight against her, groaning his own release.
But he kept driving into her, faster now, driving her pleasure higher. Extending her orgasm until she lost track of time. With a sense of wonder, she rode the wave of sensation, gasping and moaning until reality faded away.
* * *
Dane stared at the prone, still body of Jessica below him. The woman had fainted in his arms. He’d heard of such a thing, but never experienced it before.
His cock was still deep inside her and he so wanted to stay that way with her snuggled close against him, but it didn’t seem right. He drew away, his member sliding from the warmth and comfort of her body, and he sat on the bed beside her and stroked her cheek.
“Jessica, are you all right?”
Her eyelids fluttered open and she gazed at him. Oh, God, the warmth in those eyes—that was there now and had been during their intense lovemaking—told him more than he wanted to know. More than he could allow.
Those open, expressive green eyes of hers radiated with love. A love he felt burning in his own chest.
A love he couldn’t allow.
* * *
As soon as Jessica woke up, she felt the absence of Dane’s body next to hers. After their poignant lovemaking earlier this morning—when she’d fainted, no less—Dane had wrapped her in his arms until she’d fallen asleep again, cozy in the protective cocoon of his embrace.
Her stomach quivered at the thought of what had happened between them. Could it be that Dane was falling in love with her? Was she falling in love with him? But this wasn’t supposed to happen. She’d only wanted a physical thing. No commitments. No feelings getting in the way.
After what Storm had put her through, she wasn’t ready to get involved again so soon. And, oh, God, she still had to deal with Storm when she got home. He seemed to want to pick up where they’d left off and she couldn’t just ignore him. How was he going to react when he found out she was involved with Dane?
She pushed aside the covers and stood up, then showered and towel dried her hair. After brushing it out, she slipped on the terry cloth robe the hotel supplied and walked from the bedroom to the main area of the suite. Dane sat at the table reading a newspaper, a thermos jug of coffee in front of him.
Even though she couldn’t see his face, the sight of him set her heart thumping. Maybe she hadn’t wanted to fall in love with him, but this morning had been wonderful. She’d felt so cherished and … loved. Maybe this wasn’t a bad thing after all.
“Good morning, Dane.”
He lowered his newspaper and folded it, then set it on the table. “What happened to calling me Mr. Ranier?”
She smiled. “Yes, Mr. Ranier.”
She gazed at him, remembering the warmth of his arms around her, the passion of his kisses this morning, and she wanted to leap into his arms again.
He sat there impeccably dressed in his suit and tie, and she wore only the terry cloth robe, with nothing underneath. She could just open this robe and stand before him, and he would doubtlessly order her to her knees to take care of his body’s natural reaction.
She walked to his side and rested her hand on his shoulder, needing to touch him.
“Maybe we should talk about what happened this morning,” she ventured.
His gaze locked on hers, flat and expressionless. The way he’d look at an employee. In fact, with a harsh glint, as if she’d displeased him in some way.
She drew her hand away and walked around the table, then drew in a calming breath as she sat across the table from him.
He shrugged. “There’s nothing to talk about.”
She gazed at him over the thermal jug as she poured coffee into her cup. “What happened this morning was different than what we’ve done before. It was … I don’t know … deeper. I think we should talk about how our relationship is changing.”
He leaned forward. “Jessica, I’m your boss. You’re my assistant. We have a sexual relationship but it’s a no-strings-attached affair that either one of us can walk away from any time we wish. What more is there to discuss?”
Her heart stammered at his cold words.
“Unfortunately, the change of setting seems to have blurred the line for you, but let me remind you what you originally proposed. This is a physical relationship only.” His gaze slid down her body and lingered at the tie at her waist. “If you’d like to drop that robe and fuck right now, I’m happy to oblige, but don’t read anything more into it th
an shared sexual release.”
Her hand slipped to the front of her robe and she had to stop herself from pulling it tighter around her.
He glanced at his watch. “In fact, we’re running short of time. Go to your room and get packed, then meet me back here. You’ve got twenty minutes.”
“Packed? But I thought we were here until the end of the week?”
Dane’s lawyers were flying in today to join him while they finalized the details of the contract negotiations.
“I am. You, on the other hand, are going back to the office. I’ve arranged a driver to take you to the airport, then someone to meet you at the other end.”
* * *
Jessica climbed aboard the private jet and slumped onto the buttery-soft leather seat. The steward helped her settle in by stowing her briefcase and purse in a compartment, and instructed her to buckle up once the pilot was ready to be underway.
She spent the flight staring at her tablet, trying to review her list of goals for the week and determine how to spend the rest of the day once she got back to the office, but her head ached with the effort. She knew that if she put it aside, however, thoughts of Dane and his rejection would overwhelm her.
“Would you like something to drink?” the friendly young steward asked.
She returned his warm smile. “It’s tempting, but I have to go into the office when we land.”
“That doesn’t stop most of our passengers.” His smile broadened.
“But most of them are executives.”
“True, I guess they don’t have to worry about their boss getting on their case.”
She frowned at the reminder of her boss and how he’d rejected her.
“You know, a glass of wine won’t hurt, and it might help that headache.”
“How did you know?” She gazed at the young man and realized he was quite attractive. And he was flirting with her.
He shrugged. “You seem stressed and you were rubbing your temples.”
“Well, maybe I’ll just go directly after the problem and take a pain killer if you have one.”
“Of course.” He disappeared for a moment, then returned with two caplets in a small cup along with a glass of water.
She took the pills and spent the next hour chatting with him. Her headache diminished and his conversation helped the time speed by. When they finally landed, she said good-bye with a smile and headed across the tarmac to the terminal. Once inside, she glanced around, wondering where to find her ride.
“Welcome back.”
She started at the sound of Storm’s voice behind her. She turned to see his smiling face. She wasn’t sure she’d ever get used to seeing him in a tailored suit rather than the tattered jeans and tank tops she was used to.
He took her briefcase and then pressed his hand to the small of her back. She had to remind herself this was not the Storm she knew. This was Rafe Ranier.
“This way.” He guided her through the crowded airport terminal and then outside to the waiting limo.
“You’re who Dane sent to pick me up?”
His eyebrow arched. Damn, she’d used his brother’s first name again. What was wrong with her?
She settled into the cozy seat and Rafe settled in beside her. The limo moved into the airport traffic.
“Have a good flight?” Rafe asked.
“Fine.” She glanced out the window, gazing at the sunlight glinting on the cars traveling beside them, her thumb gliding over the worry stone in her pocket.
She knew he would take this opportunity to open up their past and discuss why he’d left—he’d already tried to before she’d left for Chicago—but she wished he wouldn’t do it right now.
“I’d like to talk to you about something important,” he said.
“Please, not now,” she said, continuing to stare out the window. But the quaver in her voice betrayed her.
“Jess, what’s wrong?”
His gentle hand on her shoulder was her undoing. Tears welled in her eyes and she tried to blink them back, but didn’t quite succeed.
“I’m so sorry, sweetheart. I know I let you down when I left—”
She waved him away. “It’s not that. It’s…”
He cupped her chin and turned her to face him. When he saw the two small tears that had escaped down her cheek, his face etched with concern.
“Did Dane do something? Did he make a pass at you?”
She shook her head. “No. It’s just been a really exhausting trip, that’s all. Just really exhausting.”
Her throat closed up and she couldn’t manage anything more. And she didn’t know what she’d say if she could. What had Dane done, anyway? Reminded her what their relationship actually was. She was his employee and they shared a purely physical relationship. Exactly what she’d told him she wanted.
But now … what did she want?
“Come here.” Rafe folded her into his arms and held her.
She rested her head against his broad chest and let the comfort of his arms lull her.
She knew she shouldn’t be taking comfort from him. He was her ex-lover. The man who had broken her heart. But despite that, he was a good man, and right now, she needed this.
He stroked her hair and she closed her eyes, letting the warmth and protectiveness of his body, paired with the relaxing motion of the vehicle, calm her.
She felt his lips on her forehead.
“Jess, we’re here.”
She opened her eyes and realized she’d dozed off. Self-consciously, she drew away from him. The driver opened her door, and she stepped out of the limo, and then glanced around at the unfamiliar surroundings.
“This isn’t the office.”
“That’s true.” Rafe pressed his hand to the small of her back again and guided her to the glass doors of the towering building in front of them.
Oh, damn, did he expect her to accompany him to a client meeting? He was her boss, too, and it was still workday hours. A doorman opened the door for them and as soon as she stepped inside, she could tell this was a residence. And a very posh one at that.
The lobby was light and airy, with leather couches and chairs forming sitting areas. Light filled the space, reflecting off cream-colored marble walls and floor. One section of the wall was covered in stacked slate, a nice contrast to the shiny surfaces. The ceilings were off-white, with crossed beams to give architectural detail and tall floral arrangements sat atop low cabinets in insets along the marble wall.
“Where are we?” she asked as Rafe guided her into the elevator.
“This is my place.”
Her chest tightened and if the door hadn’t already closed, she would have lurched forward.
“Do you mean you own the building?”
“I mean, this is where I live.”
She shook her head. “Rafe, I—”
He gently grasped her shoulders. “Jess, I just want to talk to you, and this is not a conversation I want to have in the office.” He tipped her chin up. “Okay?”
She stared at his intense, blue eyes and compressed her lips, then nodded.
The elevator doors opened, then they walked down a short hall and he unlocked an elegant mahogany door. She stepped out to a bright, spacious penthouse. The dark hardwood floors gleamed in the sunlight cascading in from the huge windows. His furniture was beige leather and dark wood. Bright accents of red, orange, and yellow threaded throughout the living area in the form of accent cushions, artwork and flowering plants, adding warmth and flare to the space.
“This is where you live?” It was huge and beautiful and clearly expensive.
She couldn’t imagine the Storm she knew strolling in here in his jeans and worn leather jacket, tossing his backpack onto the entryway floor, then relaxing in one of the easy chairs. Before he’d moved in with her in Bakersfield, he’d been sharing a small apartment with another guy in the band. His room had had only a mattress on the floor, and they’d had a card table and folding chairs in the kitchen, and a secondha
nd couch and coffee table in the living room.
“I bought it three years ago, but I’ve been away for over a year.” He shrugged. “But, yeah, this is home.”
She nodded. “Why did you leave? To come to Bakersfield, I mean.” She remembered Dane telling her that their relationship had always been strained after a falling out over a woman, but she wanted to hear Storm’s interpretation for herself. “Why would anyone leave all this?”
He shrugged. “The question is, why I didn’t leave sooner. My father was a controlling man. He controlled everyone and everything around him and I hated it. But that’s also the reason I didn’t leave.” He paced across the room. “He programmed me to do as I was told. To live the life I was told to live. To follow someone else’s dream. And if I tried to stand up to him…” His hands clenched into fists, his jaw tight. “When I was a kid, he beat me into submission. When I was older, he threatened me in other ways.”
Shock vaulted through her at his admission. “That’s awful.”
How could a father be so cruel?
He sat down on the leather couch facing a big fireplace and she settled beside him.
“After he died, I realized that I didn’t have to do that anymore. There was no reason I couldn’t be who I wanted to be.”
“So you left and became Storm.”
He nodded. “When I was a kid, a friend of mine had a guitar and he taught me a few chords. I asked my father if I could take guitar lessons and when he said no, I made an excuse to stay after school and took lessons anyway. But when my guitar teacher ran into my parents and told them I had talent, my father found where I’d hidden my guitar and nearly smashed my head in with it. Fortunately, I have good reflexes and it smashed against a wall instead. See, he didn’t want me to let anything as trivial as music get in the way of the grand plans he had for me and Dane running Ranier Industries. Even simple guitar lessons set him off because they didn’t have a place in his carefully laid plans.”
“I take it you taught yourself.”
“I figured out a way. I couldn’t let him steal everything that mattered to me.” He sighed. “But I didn’t bring you here to talk about my childhood.”
She nodded. “I know.”
