Satisfaction: The Collection

by Tori Scott

  Gray took a deep breath. "Whoa there, sweetheart. It took us fifteen years to get here. Let’s take the time to enjoy the ride.

  She protested when he pulled her hands from around his neck, but rather than stepping away, he swept her into his arms and headed for the bathroom.

  "What are you doing? I’m too heavy to be carried. Put me down. " He did, right in the middle of the huge, round Jacuzzi tub.

  "You’re light as cotton candy. Now, where’s that ridiculously expensive bubble bath I ordered?" Gray glanced around, obviously looking for a bottle. Cara picked up the ball of pressed powder and handed it to him.

  "This is bubble bath?"

  "That is the best bubble bath on the planet. Just drop it in the water and you’ll have bubbles that would impress Audrey Hepburn."

  "If you say so." He turned the faucet on full force, making her yelp when the water hit her legs. "Gray! Wait until I get my shoes off, at least."

  He dropped the ball into the water. "Better hurry."

  She scrambled to get out of the tub before the water soaked her tennis shoes. As she slipped them off her feet, she wondered if he expected her to strip out of her clothes as well.

  Gray didn’t stay to watch. He left the room as soon as he had the water at the proper temperature. "Enjoy."

  A bit disappointed, she stripped and climbed into the tub. And she did enjoy it, for the few minutes he left her alone. Five minutes later he returned, wearing nothing but a towel.

  With a flourish worthy of a fake French waiter in an exclusive New York bistro, Gray presented Cara with a tray loaded with strawberries, chocolates, and two glasses of chilled champagne.

  Cara slowly licked her lips, sending his blood rushing south until he was so hard he hurt. Her gaze slid down his body, her eyes widening when they encountered the tented towel. She grinned, and he grinned back. "See anything you like, mademoiselle?"

  "Oui, monsieur, many things."

  "Your wish is my command. What would you like?"

  She eyed him up and down before her gaze settled on the tray. "A glass of champagne, a chocolate, and a strawberry."

  He waited a moment, hoping.

  "And you," she whispered.

  "If you’re not ready to see me in my thirty-year-old birthday suit, you’d better close your eyes."

  Grateful for the thick layer of bubbles that hid everything but her head and shoulders from his piercing gaze, Cara closed her eyes as he dropped the towel and climbed into the water. She wanted to see him naked, but first she wanted a chance to get comfortable in their new roles. They’d been friends for so long she’d almost forgotten how intense their relationship had once been.

  Bubbles tickled her chin as he settled into the tub. Goosebumps popped up on her leg when his foot trailed along it. She opened her eyes to find him studying her. She wiped self-consciously at her chin to clear off the stray bubbles and gave him a weak grin. "I can’t believe we’re naked in the same tub. If only my mother could see us now."

  He shook his head. "No, that’s not something I want to think about. Me and you, naked, and your mother in the same conversation is not a good thing."

  "I can’t believe we’re actually doing this."

  Grey scooped a pile of bubbles into his hand and piled them on top of her head. "Honey, we’re not really doing anything…yet."

  It was the way he said yet that got to her. It left her with absolutely no doubt that he’d rather be testing out those thousand thread count sheets than soaking in the tub. But damn, this was the most decadent bubble bath she’d ever experienced. She’d have to send a thank you gift to the woman who'd recommended it.

  "Where did you find this stuff?" Grey asked, as though he’d read her mind.

  "It’s from a company called Lush. Lives up to its name, doesn’t it?" She slid down in the water until the bubbles covered her chin, then shot back up when her foot connected with Grey’s crotch. "Um, sorry."

  "About what?"

  She tried to think of something to say. "Oh, never mind. You’re really getting a kick out of making me uncomfortable, aren’t you?"

  He scooted forward and rested his elbows on her knees. "Tonight is not about making you uncomfortable. It’s about making dreams and wishes and promises come true."

  It was exactly like she’d dreamed, just like she’d confided to Reggie that she longed for.

  She sat straight up in the tub. "Reggie put you up to this, didn’t she? I’m going to wring her scrawny little size two neck!"

  Gray didn’t answer. He was too busy staring at her chest. She’d totally forgotten she was naked. She slid back under the bubbles. "I should have known it was too good to be true."

  "It’s not. She just helped me pick out your birthday present. I told her what I wanted..."

  "And she took it from there. That’s why I’m going to wring her neck. I told her that in confidence."

  "And she told me in confidence."

  "Fine, I’ll settle things with Reggie later. It so happens I know a few of her secrets, too."

  Gray grinned. "I tell you what. You tell me Reggie’s secrets, I’ll tell Sam, and we’ll all know everything about each other."

  "That might work, but you’d have to tell me Sam’s secrets so I can tell Reggie."

  "Done." He paused. "Does Sam have secrets?"

  Cara laughed. She couldn’t help it. She wanted to be angry, but Gray wouldn’t let her. He knew how to cajole her out of a bad mood.

  She leaned back and closed her eyes. The warm water lulled her into complete relaxation. She would have fallen asleep if not for an irritating fly. She swatted at it, eyes still closed. Her hand connected with something hard.

  "Ouch!"

  Her eyes snapped open. Gray’s nose was mere inches from her own--and covered with his hand.

  "You pack a pretty good punch, for a girl."

  She leaned forward and kissed the back of his hand. "I’m sorry."

  He pulled his hand away from his face and said, "You hit my nose, not my hand."

  Her lips lightly touched the bridge of his nose and he framed her face with his hands, holding her still as he lifted his head until their lips met. He kissed her slowly, but thoroughly. Not a spot on her lips missed his attention. When his tongue demanded entrance, she let him in.

  He tasted of chocolate, tart strawberry, champagne. His tongue swirled around hers, skimmed across her teeth, explored the inside of her cheeks. His hands were busy as well, trailing up her thigh, over the curve of her hip, under her breast.

  Cara heated from the inside out. As his lips explored her upper body, his hands slid back down her body and under her thighs, lifting her legs until they rested on his. She was open, exposed to his touch. More vulnerable than she’d ever been in her life, but sure in the knowledge that he would never hurt her.

  At least not intentionally.

  But he had hurt her before. When she’d told him her dreams of college and starting her own business, he’d said he understood. But he’d pulled away after that night. They were still friends, but the closeness was gone. She’d missed him.

  "You’re thinking too much again."

  Cara closed her eyes and relaxed. "You’re right. I am. I promise to be totally thoughtless for the rest of the night."

  He chuckled. "You don’t need to go that far. Just stop thinking about should haves. Only think about this moment. About where my fingers are touching you. How it feels. How it will feel when we finally do what we should have done years ago."

  Cara was beginning to think maybe she’d been wrong all those years ago. The feel of his hands on her body, the touch of his lips on her skin--she could have had this all along. If only…

  She shut those thoughts down as quickly as they formed. She’d had a plan, she’d followed it, and it had been a good one. She made a very good living with Satisfaction Guaranteed. She hadn’t ended up pregnant at sixteen. She hadn’t been abandoned by the man she loved.’

  Yet.

  But tonigh
t she wouldn’t think about the past, or the future. For once in her life, she would live for the moment.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Gray studied Cara while her eyes were closed, and she seemed more relaxed than she’d been all evening. Maybe--finally--she was beginning to trust him.

  His fingers seemed to have a mind of their own, sliding almost aimlessly from her ankle to her knee and back again. He was caught up in memories of Cara--at fifteen, breasts just beginning to tent the front of her t-shirt, when she came up out of the river and the once opaque shirt had become totally transparent. He’d forced himself to dive back into the frigid water and stayed there until he could get his body under control.

  Then later, on the bank, he’d tried to tell her how much he loved her and ended up blowing everything. He’d tried to convince her that sex should follow his heart-felt declaration of his feelings. And she’d shot him down.

  Their friendship had changed after that. Gone was the easy conversation, the banter and good-natured teasing. Every word had been charged with meaning, they’d tip toed around each other until finally, in self defense, he’d started dating other girls, girls who gave him their bodies and would have given him their hearts if he’d wanted them.

  But only one heart had ever held any interest for him. Caramia. Heart of Mine. Only mine.

  When his fingers strayed across Cara’s instep, she tried to pull her foot back, reminding him how ticklish she was. Information he filed for later. He let his fingers trail back up her leg, this time moving higher, to mid-thigh before moving down again.

  Cara opened one eye, sighed, and slowly closed it again.

  Gray waited until she relaxed again before moving his fingers higher still. Almost to the top of her thighs, but not quite. Cara stirred, but her eyes remained closed.

  One more stroke of his fingers up her leg until he reached the top, skimming over his ultimate goal to skim down the other leg.

  Goosebumps broke out on her skin.

  Back up with his fingers until, finally, he parted the folds of skin that hid what his fifteen year old self had believed to be the greatest womanly secret he would never get to learn. He used his thumb to lightly caress her, just enough to heighten her senses without bringing her to the edge. Not yet. He had much more planned before he took her to that peak.

  Cara kept her eyes closed, but she drew one knee up, exposing more of her to his view--or would have if not for the mountains of bubbles. The move also strategically placed her foot gently between his legs. Bubbles spilled off her leg and splashed onto the water with a plop. His pulse pounded in his ears. And points farther south.

  Gray took in a deep breath. "Okay, that’s it. Bath time’s over."

  He stood, his erection drawing Cara’s gaze like a pair of Manolo Blahnik’s in Nordstrom’s window. She reached out, grazing him with her fingertips. "Please tell me it’s bedtime," she said.

  Gray took her hand and pulled her up. Bubbles streamed down her body. "Almost." He turned on the shower and took his time rinsing the soap from her body. His hands roamed over her, setting her nerves on fire. He didn’t miss a single spot, from her neck to her toes. Cara was a quivering mess by the time he turned off the spray and grabbed a warm, fluffy towel.

  He paid equal attention to drying her off, bringing her nipples to hard peaks as he rubbed them gently with the towel. He planted a kiss on her belly as he bent down to dry her legs. Cara wished that kiss had gone just a bit lower.

  Once they were both dry and tingling from the drawn-out process, Gray helped Cara into a luxurious bathrobe and led her back into the main room. "Why don’t you try on that negligee thing while I turn on some music?"

  Cara watched his towel-encased backside as he moved away from her and a shiver rolled through her. It really was going to happen. It was eleven-thirty. In another half-hour she would be thirty and the promise made what seemed like a lifetime ago would be fulfilled. She hurried to the closet and pulled the crimson negligee from the hanger.

  With one eye on Gray to be sure his back remained turned, she slipped into the bikini panties before shucking the robe and pulling the top over her head. It was a perfect fit. The silk felt cool against her overheated skin.

  Gray turned toward her and stood there not saying a word. After a few moments, Cara got nervous. Was he disappointed? She tried to stay in shape, but she was no twenty year old athlete. Her breasts were small compared to most of the women he dated. But then again, they didn’t sag either.

  Cara resisted the temptation to dive into the bed and pull the covers to her chin. If Gray didn’t like what he saw, now was the time to find out.

  He took a step toward her and sucked in a breath. "You are so beautiful, Caramia."

  This time when he dropped the towel, Cara looked her fill. "So are you, Gray. So are you."

  They met halfway, each eager to reach the other. Gray brushed a strand of hair from her face and tucked it behind her ear. "Are you sure this is what you want, Cara? Because if it isn’t, as much as I’d hate to do it, I will stop right here and now."

  She reached up and cupped his cheek with one hand, the other sliding around behind his neck. "Yes, this is what I want. This is what I’ve always wanted." She lifted her face to his and he took her mouth, gently at first. As his passion mounted, he increased the pressure of his lips on hers, running his tongue over her bottom lip until she opened and let him inside.

  His tongue explored the sweetness of her mouth, the firmness of her teeth, the strength of her tongue as she mated her tongue with his. She met him thrust for thrust, sometimes receiving, sometimes giving.

  Their hands moved over each other, brushing aside her clothing, running over his bare skin. She cupped his butt in her hands, squeezing as she pulled him closer. Gasping, Gray broke off the kiss and rested his forehead against hers. Cara’s breath was ragged, her body trembling.

  He picked her up and carried her to the bed, holding her with one arm while he yanked the covers off with the other hand. Together they fell onto the mattress, all tangled legs and grasping hands. When Cara reached down and folded her fingers around him, Gray groaned and captured her hand with his, pulling it above her head.

  He caught her other hand as it roamed over his back and brought it over her head as well, holding both of her wrists with one hand. "If you keep moving those pretty hands like that, this will all be over way too soon," he breathed into her ear. He felt Cara smile against his cheek.

  Holding firmly onto her wrists, Gray lowered his head and slid his tongue down her neck, across the swell of her breast, and around one perfect pink nipple. Cara squirmed beneath him. He put one leg over hers to anchor her in place, then gave that nipple his undivided attention. Cara arched her back.

  Gray moved to the other breast and gave it the same treatment until Cara pulled her wrists free and cupped his head, pulling him closer. He’d wanted this to be slow and gentle, a sweet fulfillment of a teenaged promise, but Cara was no longer a teenager and neither was he.

  This was going to be a fully grown up version of his boyhood fantasy, hot and sweaty, hard and fast. Just the way he liked it.

  Cara’d had enough of being restrained. She wanted to be a full participant in this show. She slid her hands down Gray’s back, cupping his muscular backside and arching her body until he had no doubt about what she wanted. Him, inside her. Right now.

  He kissed her lightly and pulled away for a moment. When he returned, he had protection in place. Good Lord. She hadn’t even thought about it. Thank goodness at least one of them could still think.

  But time for thinking was long over. Gray took her on a roller coaster ride of sensation. The feel of his body covering hers, the first time they’d been skin to skin, was more sensuous than she’d ever imagined. He didn’t enter her immediately. For the longest time he lay on top of her, letting her get used to his weight . He kissed her everywhere his mouth could reach.

  And then he was sliding down, his tongue blazing a trail between her bre
asts, across her abdomen, between her legs. Cara threaded her fingers through his hair and held on while he gave her the ride of her life.

  When she shattered, she felt his smile against her skin. He didn’t move until the tremors eased, and then he moved over her, holding his arms straight so that he was inches above her. She wrapped her legs around his hips, pulling his lower body closer. With one smooth motion, he filled her; heart, soul, and body.

  A maelstrom of emotion washed through her. With each thrust of his body, Cara felt closer to Gray than she had to any other person in her life. They were joined, not just in body but on a level she couldn’t explain, even to herself. It was as though he possessed her very soul.

  He moved slowly at first, giving her body time to adjust to his, but she could feel when he reached the breaking point. He lowered himself over her, reaching underneath her body to cup her bottom, pulling her closer, moving faster, harder, deeper. His mouth covered hers and his tongue moved in time with his thrusts. Cara felt the tension in her own body rising, knowing she was going to climax again.

  Gray woke her twice during the night, his body hard and ready. She didn't mind. She couldn't seem to get enough of him now that she'd finally experienced what it really meant to make love to someone. So much more than a college fling or an office affair. This time her heart was involved, and she realized that maybe, with the others, she'd been the one to leave--emotionally, at least.

  ***

  The sun streaming through the open curtains woke Cara from a sound sleep. At first she was disoriented, not sure where she was. A heavy weight across her waist brought her quickly to reality. She turned in Gray’s arms and snuggled against his chest. This was exactly where she wanted to be. Where she wanted to stay, for as long as he would let her. There were no regrets.

  Gray opened his eyes, then kissed the tip of her nose. "Happy Birthday, Cara."

  Ah, and there it was. The reminder that this was all to fulfill an old promise. Now that he’d gotten what he wanted, was this it? Maybe not today, but probably soon. A week, a month from now, he’d find someone prettier, someone sexier. And she would be alone. Again.