by Sara Orwig
When he stopped, she cried out, wanting more, consumed by the need he had created. Hunger for him tore at her. She clutched his waist as he stood and looked at her, smoothing her hair away from her face with one hand and caressing her breast with the other. “What do you want, Lara?” he whispered. “Tell me.”
“You are driving me wild and you know it. Oh, please,” she said, all inhibitions gone, melted away by his hot loving. “Put your hand back on me,” she whispered, caressing his throbbing rod.
He pulled her close to kiss her, a devastating kiss where his tongue thrust deeply and slowly, then withdrew, repeating the thrusts with deliberation, imitating the sex act. Clutching his shoulders, she dug her fingers into his back.
His leg pushed between hers, a roughness against her smooth folds, and she gasped. “Ride me, Lara,” he whispered in her ear, his warm breath tickling her as his tongue followed the curve of her ear.
She clung to him, knowing she was wanton and not caring. He had driven her mad with his mouth and fingers, and now the exquisite pressure of his leg between hers was taking her to a brink. Her hips thrust wildly while he kissed her again hard. She closed her hand around his manhood, stroking him, but barely aware of what she was doing. All her being focused now on needs created by his leg between hers.
“You like that, Lara?” he whispered, and then kissed her again.
She couldn’t answer, but gasped for breath as the need for a climax tore at her. She clutched at him and cried out.
“That’s it! Ahh, Lara,” he exclaimed. “I want to drive you wild.”
She barely heard him. Her pulse roared and she was caught by a power that she couldn’t control. While her hips gyrated on him, he increased the pressure of his leg between her thighs.
Release exploded in her, lights playing behind her closed eyelids.
“Sweet,” he whispered against her mouth and put his fingers where his leg had been, building another storm. Urgency drove her as frantically as before until she burst over the brink.
“I want you, Eli!” she gasped, standing on tiptoe and pulling his head up to kiss him. His strong arms banded her tightly, holding her softness against his hard strength. She felt his hot erection pressing against her stomach. Framing his face with her hands, she tore her lips from his. “I want you inside me,” she whispered, and his chest expanded as he inhaled deeply. His head dipped to kiss her again while his hands cupped her full breasts.
His thumbs circled her nipples slowly, tantalizing touches that fanned desire until it was white-hot. She knelt, looking up at him briefly, drinking in the sight of this ruggedly handsome man who went after what he wanted with all of his concentration. His thighs were hard, his stomach ridged with muscles.
She caressed his manhood, touching him with her tongue, circling the velvet tip and then finally taking him in her mouth.
He groaned and his fingers wound tightly in her hair while she sucked and kissed him and stroked him with her tongue. Her hand went between his legs to caress him, cupping him and touching sensitive skin.
Within seconds he yanked her up to kiss her passionately and then picked her up into his arms.
“It’s never been like this,” she whispered, astounded at the fireworks he set off in her.
Closing her eyes again, she wound her arms around his neck. He walked to the bedroom and placed her on the bed to roll her over on her stomach.
He moved to her feet, spreading her legs apart. She twisted around, wanting her hands and mouth on him. “Eli—”
“Shh, Lara. Let me kiss you,” he said, running his hands along the inside of her legs. His tongue followed. She clutched the bed and closed her eyes, bombarded again by sensations that fanned raging fires.
He moved higher between her legs and his fingers slipped over her bottom, lingering while his tongue stroked the inside of her thigh until she spread her legs wide. Aching for him, she tried to turn over, but his hand in the small of her back held her gently.
“Wait, Lara. Let me learn what you like. Do you like this?” he said, his tongue dawdled along the inside of her thigh. “Do you?” he persisted while he continued to caress and kiss her.
“Yes!” she cried. He was nipping now, the faint stubble of his beard tickling her bottom. Then he shifted, letting her roll over. He moved between her legs and placed her hands high over her head. Then he drew his fingers down over her palms, her arms, down over her underarms to her breasts.
By this time she was straining toward him, and he circled one nipple with his fingers while he leaned down to take her other nipple into his mouth, biting slightly, just enough to make her gasp with pleasure.
Lara had never known desire as she did now. She wanted him with an overwhelming, consuming need that drove all else from her mind. All she could think about was Eli.
“I want you, Eli!” she cried. “I want you inside me!”
“I’ll get protection,” he promised, stepping off the bed and taking his billfold from his trousers to get out a packet. She put her hands behind her head to watch him, his male body creating sensual anticipation. As he approached the bed, she reached out to caress his hip.
He leaned forward to kiss her and then moved between her legs. He was virile and rugged, tanned to his waist from days in the sun. He lowered himself, and she wrapped her long legs around him, pulling him to her to kiss him while she ran her hand down his smooth back and over his hard buttocks.
He entered her slowly, withdrawing and then sliding into her again. She arched and tightened her legs. “Eli,” she urged, “I want you.”
“Lara,” he murmured and filled her, hot and hard. He kissed her again as she thrust her hips and they moved together.
She knew he was exerting control, holding back to love her longer, but she thought she would come apart if she didn’t reach a climax soon. She slid her hands down to his buttocks and pulled him more tightly to her. In minutes she could tell that his control was slipping away. Then it was gone, and he pumped hard and fast.
She burst with release. Clinging to him, she continued to move her hips while he still was thrusting, and in seconds urgency built in her again.
Moving with him, ecstasy once again exploded in her. Her cries were muffled by his kisses as he shuddered with satisfaction. While his thrusts slowed, they both gasped for breath. She could feel that his pounding heart was racing as fast as hers.
Kissing him, Lara held him tightly. Her legs were locked around him as she slid her hands up and down his back slowly, moving them lower over his bare buttocks, wanting to put her hands everywhere on his marvelous body.
This spellbinding, rugged man had whisked her away for one enchanted night that she would always remember. She knew she had to go back to her ordinary life, but right now, a Prince Charming—with some rough edges, but nonetheless, Prince Charming—had loved her right out of her mind. And she suspected she had taken him along with her.
He turned to shower light kisses on her temple, stroking her hair from her face, and then he rolled onto his side, keeping her close so he could look at her.
“What you do to me is awesome,” he said, studying her with such a solemn expression she wondered what was really running through his mind.
“It’s mutual,” she whispered, feathering her fingers along his jaw, delighting in touching him and loving the intimacy they were sharing.
“You melted my bones. I’m jelly now.”
She poked his chest with her forefinger. “You don’t feel like jelly,” she said, and he grinned.
“Believe me, I am. If the hotel catches on fire, you may have to carry me out.”
She laughed. “If the hotel catches on fire now, we’re both in trouble. I’m not sure I can find all my clothes.”
“They’re here. I remember taking them off you,” he said, his voice dropping a notch. He met her gaze and she wondered what he was thinking as she gazed into his unfathomable green eyes. He combed her hair away from her face and propped his head on his hand, leanin
g on his elbow to look down at her. Locks of his brown hair fell over his forehead, and the stubble of his beard faintly showed.
“You’re beautiful, Lara,” he said.
Her heart thudded with his compliment, and she ran her fingers along his strong shoulder. “Thank you. I’m glad you think so, but at this moment, it’s the sex talking.”
“No. At this moment I’m seeing more clearly than ever. Desire is temporarily banked and I can take an objective look. I’m also becoming aware that I have a stomach. We didn’t drink the wine or eat the appetizers or drink our champagne. I’m ready for room service and I’d like to sink my teeth into—” he paused and looked down to draw his fingers over the rise of her breast.
“Into what?” she asked breathlessly.
He leaned down to nuzzle her neck, awakening new tingles in her. He shifted, tracing kisses lower on her stomach. Then he raised his head and slid off the bed. He bent over to pick her up in his arms.
When he did, Lara wrapped her arms around his neck. “We’re going somewhere?” she asked, amused and curious.
“I think it’s time for a shower, and then we can study the menu and decide what we want and order it up.”
“Suppose what I want is a tall, dark, handsome man?” she asked.
He arched one dark eyebrow. “I don’t know where I’ll find him, and I can tell you now, I’m not interested in looking for another guy for you.”
“You’re handsome. All right then, a tall, dark, sexy man. How’s that?”
He grinned. “Hopefully I can conjure up that man.”
“We’ll see what you can conjure up,” she said in a suggestive drawl, and he smiled.
They entered a large black marble bathroom with a huge tub and gold fixtures. He carried Lara to the shower and stepped inside, setting her on her feet.
“We’re doing this together?” she asked.
“Absolutely,” he replied. “I’m ready. Are you?”
She felt his arousal against her stomach. Her gaze roamed down the length of him. “I’ll say you’re ready!”
His gaze glowed with pinpoints of steaming desire. “Why don’t we do something about it?”
“I’d say I’m ready, too,” she whispered, her voice fading. She scooted closer, slipped her arm around his neck and stood on tiptoe to kiss him. His arm banded her waist and he held her tightly.
Urgency tore at them as if desire hadn’t been surfeited only a short time ago. Eli wanted her with a need that shocked him. He should be satisfied. Just minutes ago he didn’t think he could move a muscle. Now desire enveloped him, stronger than ever. He framed her face with his hands. She was beautiful, with rosy skin, a smattering of freckles across her nose and that riotous mass of auburn hair shot through with brighter red strands.
He cupped her full breasts with both hands and stroked her nipples with his thumbs. Her intense responses to his lovemaking set him on fire, and he had never been so turned on by a woman’s kisses.
When the water was on, he handed her soap, and they soaped each other slowly. His hands meandered over her while her every gasp heightened his need.
They rinsed, touching and rubbing together as he turned her. His manhood stroked her bare bottom, and his hands played over her breasts. Then he shut off the water and reached for a thick terry towel, drying her leisurely, rubbing the towel lightly between her legs while he watched her. He saw the searing longing in her brown eyes, and then she squeezed her eyes closed, her hands clutching his upper arms while she moaned with pleasure.
“Just a minute,” he said, hurrying to get his billfold and get protection. He was back quickly and when he entered the bathroom, she was pulling on a white terry robe furnished by the hotel.
He put on the condom and then embraced her and pushed aside the robe.
As he kissed her, he picked her up. When she wrapped her long legs around him, he spread his feet to brace himself, lowering her body slowly on his swollen rod. He felt her surround him and knew he’d be unable to keep the control he had the first time. Her tongue flicked in his ear, driving him to thrust deeper.
“I want you to come again,” he whispered. “I want to love you all night long and make you wild because of the way you respond to me,” he added, and she turned her head to kiss him madly.
When he plunged again and again into her softness, she took him to paradise. He shook with satisfaction as he climaxed. She cried out with pleasure at the same time, reaching her own release.
He sagged back against the wall and in minutes let her slide to her feet.
“What you do to me is sinful,” he whispered. “Deliciously sinful,” he added. He stepped back into the shower, taking her with him, and they showered again, soaping each other.
“Do you think this is wise?” Lara asked. “We might not ever get out of this bathroom if we keep up this routine.”
“There’s nothing routine about it,” he answered in a deep voice. He dropped a kiss on her shoulder before he gently soaped her. In minutes she stepped out to dry and put on her robe again and hurried to the sitting room.
He joined her in his robe, getting fresh glasses and pouring them chilled champagne to replace the almost untouched drinks he had poured earlier. He pulled out a chair, sat down and caught her wrist to draw her down on his lap.
“Now we can study the room service menu and decide what we want to order,” he said, picking up a menu. She held one side while he held the other and they decided on steaks. Eli ordered, set down the phone and pushed open her robe.
“The cook said it’ll be forty minutes before our dinner will be ready and delivered. I know how to make that time fly,” Eli said, cupping her breast and caressing her nipple.
She inhaled, leaned forward as if she were going to kiss him, but then she halted only inches from his face. “You’re insatiable.”
“I think we both are,” he replied. “And I love it.” He wound his fingers in her hair and pulled her to him to kiss her while he felt her hands tugging at his robe to open it and explore him with her hands.
Eli thought he was hungry, but when their steak dinners came, after a few bites, all he wanted was to carry her back to bed. And he noticed her appetite was lagging, too. In minutes he gave up on food and stood to pull her into his arms.
It was a night of wild passion, but finally exhaustion was upon them. He pulled her close in his arms, relishing her softness, entangling his legs with hers. He dozed a moment and then stirred, stroking her silky hair that fell over his shoulder. “Lara,” he murmured totally relaxed, barely able to put words together. “You’ve ruined me,” he drawled.
“You loved it,” she replied, and he chuckled, falling asleep.
Lara settled closer against him, tangling her fingers in his chest hair and smiling. She had loved every minute with him. What would tomorrow be like? She told herself not to expect him to pursue knowing her.
One-night stands weren’t her style, yet from the way he had talked, they weren’t his, either.
Soon enough she would know, she thought and snuggled close. His arm tightened around her and she twisted to look at him but saw he slept. Contented, she closed her eyes and drifted into dreams about Eli.
Lara awakened, momentarily disoriented as she stared at an unfamiliar ceiling. The bedroom was bathed in morning light. Then she became aware of a warm body beside her. She turned to look at Eli. His arm was wrapped around her waist and he held her close against him. His leg was over hers. Locks of his brown hair tumbled over his forehead and his chest expanded with each deep breath.
Tantalizing, fantastic memories tumbled in on her. She wanted to lean down and brush a kiss across his mouth. She slipped out of bed and pulled on the white robe. As she did, she knocked Eli’s billfold off the table. She bent to retrieve it. It had fallen open, and she realized that she had never learned Eli’s full name. Last night passion had been paramount.
She glanced at his picture, looked at his name and froze.
Three
&n
bsp; L ara leaned down to make certain she had read the name correctly. Eli Ashton! There it was in black-and-white and no doubt about it.
Aghast, she stared as the name Ashton leaped up at her.
When she looked back at the man sleeping in the bed, opposing emotions tore at her. He had been fantastic and appealing and sexy.
An Ashton! The last person on earth she would want to go out with, much less know on an intimate basis.
And now it all fell together so easily—why hadn’t she seen it? She had been blinded by physical attraction that had overruled all else.
An Ashton! Tall, green eyes—but the world was filled with green-eyed people. She thought of Trace—brown hair, green eyes, but other than those two features, Eli and Trace hardly resembled each other.
Eli Ashton. She didn’t know which Ashton family he belonged to—son, nephew, another family. It didn’t matter which one of Spencer’s offspring it was. Eli was an Ashton and she’d guess he was Spencer’s son. He had the Ashton family traits—love of women, expecting to have his way, total confidence in himself.
Who was he? She knew Spencer had another wife before Lilah and he’d had children by her. A few months ago the news had broken that there had been a wife even before that, a first marriage to a woman in Nebraska that made the second marriage illegitimate. Which family did Eli belong to? The Nebraska Ashtons or the Ashtons who owned Louret Vineyards? Then she remembered that he was a winemaker.
Eli Ashton was from Louret Vineyards! Lara wanted to gnash her teeth, but she reassured herself that she wouldn’t see him ever again. The two California Ashton families had nothing to do with each other.
Or they never had until recently. Her mother told her that two of Spencer’s daughters from his earlier marriage had come to Ashton Estate to talk to Megan, Paige and Charlotte Ashton to make overtures of peace between the two families. Spencer’s wife, Lilah, had thrown them out, so that probably had made the rift between the families even bigger.
