His firm hand guided them to the rhythm of the band playing. Annie was hesitant at first but fell easily into the motion. The song was slow with a slinky beat that the body couldn’t help but respond to.
After a few moments, she leaned in and placed her head on his shoulder. Nate closed his eyes, hugging her closer and changing their motion to a subtle shifting of weight on his feet.
It felt so good to just hold her.
He leaned down to plant a kiss in the silky strands of her hair and breathed in deeply, letting the warm, seductive scent of her fill his senses. It was eerily familiar, like a distant memory he couldn’t quite place and yet its name rested stubbornly on the tip of his tongue.
Annie was so soft in his arms. She fit there perfectly, as though her body had been made for him. It was the most comfortable feeling in the world, like slipping into a warm bath. He let himself submerge in the sensation.
Soon, the rest of the dancers, the musicians...even the room itself faded into nothingness. It was just Nate and Annie in each other’s arms. Why did it feel as though he’d never held her like this before?
Perhaps because he hadn’t. Yes, he’d made love to her. He’d explored every inch of her body. But never truly held her. Not like this. Annie was like a hummingbird, always flitting from one flower to the next. She was beautiful to look at, but you couldn’t hold her. If you tried, she would vanish again. He’d learned that lesson the hard way.
Annie sighed, nestling deeper into his chest.
Nate’s jaw tightened at the small cooing sound she made into his lapel. It was the same contented sound she made as she fell asleep. He remembered it in that instant. It had been so long since he’d heard it and at the same time, like yesterday that he’d made love to her.
The last night they were together she’d curled into a ball and had fallen asleep while he was in the shower. When he returned, he’d stood for a good half hour watching her sleep. He’d been mesmerized by her loveliness, her well-fortified facade wiped away by sleep. Her coal-black lashes had fluttered gently against her flushed cheeks, her kiss-swollen lips mouthing sleepy, confused words into her pillowcase.
His heart had nearly burst with pride when he realized she was his.
Nate had almost woken her up to make love to her again. If he’d known how quickly she would vanish from his life, he would’ve. He’d thought, foolishly, that he had all the time in the world to be with her and so had let her sleep.
Perhaps tonight he would make up for lost time and pick up where they’d left off.
He shouldn’t have gone there. The instant heat flooded his groin, his body going from relaxed to uptight like the flick of a switch.
Annie noticed the sudden change as his body tensed, lifting her head to look at him with concern worrying her deep blue eyes. “What’s wrong?”
The ballad came to an end, another upbeat song on its heels. People came and went on the dance floor, but Nate held them both in place. A slight shift of his body pressed the hard length of him against her stomach. “Nothing,” Nate said with a wicked grin.
Annie’s eyes grew wide before her lips twisted into a knowing smile. “I think we should go upstairs and do something about that.”
* * *
Annie couldn’t move fast enough. They said no goodbyes as they made their way through the crowd and slipped out of the lounge. As the private elevator doors enclosed them, she turned to him, expecting him to devour her the moment they were finally alone.
Instead, Nate stuffed his hands in his pockets, leaning casually against the opposite wall. Despite his relaxed stance, his entire body was tense, his jaw flexed. His gaze penetrated her as it raked from top to bottom, but he didn’t make a move except for a hard swallow that traveled down his throat to the buttoned collar of his tuxedo.
She’d forgotten how controlled he was. His gratification had always come from taking his time and enjoying every delicious second. Annie could never understand it. She was burning up for wanting him. She could feel the warmth between her thighs, the painful hardening of her nipples as her breasts tightened with desire. Her every nerve ached for the touch he denied.
She glanced down at the control panel. They still had fifteen floors to go. She couldn’t wait that long. In one quick motion, Annie smacked the emergency button, bringing the elevator to a shaky, abrupt stop. Nate adjusted his footing but didn’t argue with her.
She looked him straight in the eye as she reached behind her neck and unfastened the halter of her dress. It was the only thing that held the dress on, so with a quick shimmy of her hips, the slinky blue fabric pooled to the floor. She stepped out of it, her eyes never leaving his dark gaze.
“Nate?” Gabe’s voice barked at them from the two-way radio on Nate’s belt.
Nate unclipped the radio, his gaze still fixed on Annie. “Yes?”
“We’ve got a report your elevator has stopped in between the tenth and eleventh floors.”
His lips twisted in amusement as he pressed the button to respond. “That is correct.”
There was a long silence before Gabe spoke again. “Okay, then. Radio if you need assistance.”
“Will do.” Nate turned the radio off and tossed it to the floor with a loud clank.
With the interruption behind them, Annie crossed the floor in two long strides and stopped just short of pressing her rock-hard nipples into his chest. He watched her, one hand still buried in his pocket, the other perched on his hip. She took a ragged breath and stared into the tensed muscles of his neck and jaw as they twitched beneath the skin. She ran her fingertip along the line of this throat, stopping at his collar.
Then she spoke. “Touch me, Nate. Don’t make me wait any longer.”
It was all that needed to be said. Nate’s arms wrapped around her in an instant, pulling the full length of her body against him. His lips dipped down to brush against hers with a featherlight touch that sent a shiver of desire to the base of her spine.
“I want you,” he whispered against her skin.
Annie answered with her lips, standing on her toes to reach up and capture his mouth. The kiss was tender at first, soothing the ache for a moment before the fire raged anew. Her fingers weaved into the blond curls at his neck, tugging him closer, but knowing he could never be close enough.
Nate’s hands slid down her bare back, letting one dip lower to cup one lace-covered cheek. With a gentle squeeze, his hand continued down her silk-covered thigh to behind her knee, hitching her leg up to wrap around his waist.
Annie groaned as the new angle brought his erection into direct contact with her moist, aching sex. The sensation was overwhelming, and she knew it was just the beginning. Her mouth moved hard against his, her hands clawing at his tuxedo coat in a frenzy until he let it slip to the floor.
Her fingers were at his collar, undoing his shirt and thanking the heavens he wasn’t wearing a tie for her to deal with. With his chest bare, she ran her hands over it, marveling at the hardened muscles she remembered. She let them dip lower and lower until the tips slid beneath the waist of his pants. She brushed the skin there, eliciting a groan and a sudden start as Nate grabbed her hand.
In one quick movement, he spun them around as though they were still on the dance floor. Now Annie was the one pinned against the wall, Nate pressing the length of his entire body against her. The brass was cold against her bare back, but she didn’t care. It did little to soothe the fire that ran through her veins.
Nate’s lips traveled from her jawline to her ear before moving slowly down her neck to the hollow of her throat. A tingle of anticipation coursed along her spine, her body shuddering at the searing caress of his mouth on her sensitive skin.
Annie tugged off his shirt and threw it to the floor. She wanted to keep her eyes open, to drink in the breathtaking sight of Nate, but she just couldn’t.
His mouth had traveled to the swell of her breasts. As he took one tight peach nipple into his mouth, her head flew back, her eyes closing on their own.
“Oh, Nate,” she cried out, her fingers running through his golden curls, clutching his head and pulling him closer.
Oh, how she remembered this feeling. She’d suppressed the memory of it all these years, fearing she’d weaken and come back. Annie was addicted to him, addicted to how he could make her feel. As his hands and mouth slid over her skin, the craving burst to the surface once again.
Nate got down onto his knees, his lips nipping at her tensed stomach, his tongue circling her navel and dipping lower. Every muscle in her body tightened into knots when his hands brushed over the edge of her lace panties. She let go of his head to grip the railing and brace herself.
The panties came down inch by inch, the anticipation making her crazy until he eased up one leg, then the next, to cast them to the side. She was left wearing only her stockings and heels. Annie couldn’t open her eyes. She was exposed, her trembling, aching body on display for him. If she looked at him, she might give herself away. She couldn’t let him know just how badly she really wanted this. How long it had been...
His hands traveled from her ankles up the length of her silky stockings. Her legs trembled as he moved higher, his touch blazing a trail across her skin. She clutched the railing with all her might, her eyes squeezed shut, her bottom lip clamped between her teeth.
With gentle pressure, he eased her thighs apart, exposing her to the cool air before his warm breath tickled her skin. His fingers danced lazy circles up her thighs, teasing her hip bones. Annie swallowed hard, her breath caught in her chest as she waited.
Nate did not disappoint. He tasted her, drawing a strained cry from her throat with its sudden attack. It was followed by a second, then a more lingering caress that was nearly enough to undo her. He must’ve sensed it because he paused, giving her time to recover, then continued his erotic assault on her body.
Annie cried out again, her hips straining to reach for him. “Nathan, please,” she panted. She wanted him. Needed him. After three long years without his touch she didn’t want to wait another second to have him again.
“Please...what...Annie?” With each pause, his tongue flicked over her.
“I want you inside me, Nate. Now, please.” Annie opened her eyes when the cold air tickled her skin.
He had moved to the other side of the elevator, undoing his belt and slipping out of his pants. He wasn’t looking down at his hands, though. He was looking at her. Devouring her with his eyes. Annie could see him mentally planning, the chess player in him working on his next move.
She really didn’t care what he did next as long as she was covered by his massive warmth. He was just so beautiful. His body was even better than she remembered, as though he’d spent the lonely nights since she’d left in the hotel gym. Every inch of his body looked chiseled from stone, the kind of male perfection that the great artists of the Renaissance struggled to capture.
In one last move, his pants and briefs slid to the floor. Instantly, he was as exposed as she was, his desire just as obvious as it thrust proudly at her. Annie’s breath caught in her throat. Her lips were suddenly dry, forcing her to snake her tongue across them.
Nate stepped out of his clothes and slowly walked back to her. Without a word, he circled his arms around her waist and lifted her up. She wrapped her legs around him and held his shoulders to keep her steady as he slowly lowered her onto him. He groaned, low and loud, as he was buried deep inside her.
They stood there, nearly still for a moment as they savored the sensation. It had been so long. She couldn’t explain the feeling, but somehow it was so much more than just the physical pleasure of sex. There was a connection there that had never been broken. It had never wavered.
Nate eased her back against the wall, his hands cupping the swell of her bottom. His fingertips dug into her ample flesh. Slowly, agonizingly so, he withdrew and thrust forward, beginning an easy rhythm.
Annie clung to him, her face buried in his neck as he moved. With every movement, he went deeper and thrust harder, driving her closer and closer to the edge. His breath was hot and ragged in her ear, mingling with soft whispers she couldn’t quite understand over her own cries.
She was nearly there, aching to go over the precipice, yet hesitant to let all this go. Her teeth gritted tight, her nails digging into his flexing shoulder blades. “Not yet,” she panted. Annie wasn’t ready to stop. She hadn’t had enough of him yet.
She couldn’t resist Nate. The rush of her addiction pumped through her veins, and the fears from her past slipped into her mind. This was why she had stayed so far away. She knew she wasn’t strong enough. She couldn’t deny him her body when it was all she wanted to give him.
Nate was not deterred by her apparent refusal. He widened his stance, gripping her with almost crushing strength to thrust in short, quick movements that left her no choice in the matter. The pressure built up, washing over her like a tidal wave. She was swept up in it, overwhelmed by the sensations she had deprived herself of for so long.
“Yes,” Nate hissed into her ear, coaxing her release as he held her thrashing body tight against him. When she stilled, softening in his arms from exhaustion, he moved quickly, shouting out her name with his last few thrusts.
Exhausted, he eased her back against the wall, resting her bottom on the railing. It was cold, but Annie didn’t care. Her whole body was throbbing, her skin feverish and slick with sweat.
Nate propped his elbows on the wall beside her and leaned against it to breathe, his body still cradled between her trembling thighs. “That—” he spoke between rapid breaths “—was worth the wait, but let’s not go another three years before we do it again.” His dark eyes studied her face for a moment before he lifted her up off the railing. With her wrapped around him, he reached over to hit the button and let the elevator continue up to his suite.
Seven
Annie wasn’t certain how the first day of the tournament would go. She was used to playing on her own terms. Free to indulge her superstitious rituals without personal distractions. This mess was the opposite of how she liked to work.
For one, she got almost no sleep. She and Nate had made love until her muscles gave out and she simply couldn’t do anything but collapse onto the bed. When she finally did sleep, it was like a minicoma until Nate shook her shoulder and told her she had to get up.
It felt odd to wake up in Nate’s bed with him beside her. Strangely comforting and familiar. She didn’t remember this feeling from before. Then there had only been the panic of knowing she was married. Today she was still married, but that didn’t seem to bother her as much.
It was an interesting and unsettling development. She’d sat up in bed and watched him disappear down the hall in nothing but pajama pants. Almost immediately her body was ready for more of him, but she knew now was the time to focus. She had a big day ahead of her.
Before she could go downstairs, she had to get briefed by Gabe for the tenth time. She also had to get wired. That experience itself was uncomfortable enough, even with Nate’s warm hands under her blouse to distract her. The head of security had said several important things after that, but all she knew was that the tape that secured the wires pulled at her skin and itched something fierce. She still hadn’t adjusted to the idea of having Gabe listening in to her conversations all day. Same team or no, every word out of her mouth was subject to his scrutiny and she didn’t like having to worry about it on top of everything else.
Add all that onto the pressure of scoping out her fellow players and she was completely unprepared to play poker. With the way she felt, she might just choke and get eliminated before she could fulfill her end of the bargain with Nate. What would his price be then?
Annie settled into her assigned s
eat and eyed Gordon Barker. He was three seats down. Gabe had arranged for her to share a table with him today because he was on their short list of suspects. She’d heard a rumor or two about him over the years, but they’d never been as loud as the ones about someone like Eddie Walker. If he was involved in some elaborate scheme, he was smart enough to keep it quiet.
Personally, Annie hadn’t had a lot of experience playing with him, so she wasn’t sure either way. As the tournament started, she decided to spend the first few hands focused on her game and building her chips. Once she had a healthy cushion above the other players, she would feel more comfortable breaking her focus to watch Gordon. She had to play well if she was going to be successful in any of this.
As the lunch break approached, Annie was pleased with how the day had gone. A few players had been eliminated. Gordon was still playing, but she’d seen nothing suspicious and she hadn’t lost any hands to him. He was probably another name she could cross off the list, but she wasn’t about to rule him out yet. If she was too good at her job, soon there wouldn’t be anyone but Eddie on Nate’s radar. Toppling him would not only be difficult, but destructive. Tessa would not be happy if she found out Annie had sent her boyfriend to jail.
When the tournament stopped for lunch, she grabbed her food and went to sit down beside the Captain. She figured he was probably her safest bet for company. He wasn’t much for gossip. With any luck, she could attempt to make conversation and dig for information as required, but he wouldn’t deliver anything but another one of his long-winded Navy stories. It was the perfect choice.
“Afternoon, Mrs. Reed. How’s your game going today?”
Annie smiled and shrugged. “Too early to tell.”
“Don’t let yourself get distracted by thoughts of that handsome husband of yours. You two seem to be enjoying this second honeymoon of sorts, but it can mess with your game. It’s no coincidence that every time I won the championship, I was between marriages.”
BACK IN HER HUSBAND'S BED Page 8
