by Rita Herron
"I know," Kimberly whispered.
He stared at her breasts, then lower, openly looking his fill as his eyes roamed over her near-nakedness. Heat sizzled between them, almost tangible in the quiet of the elegant room. Her body quivered, aching for his touch and as he caressed her with his eyes, a deep desire rippled through her.
"I want you so much I can't stand it," he said thickly.
"I want you, too," Kimberly whispered.
Silently, his gaze locked to hers with unspoken promises, and his hands found his belt and discarded it. Next came the faint rasp of his zipper and his sleek black trousers slid to the floor.
Kimberly released a deep breath, her body tingling with anticipation as she inhaled his rich, masculine scent and noticed his obvious arousal. He wore black briefs which surprised and delighted her and the muscles in his legs bunched as he stood proudly before her. Then with a look of sheer longing, he dropped his briefs to the floor.
Moisture glistened off his dark skin and his sex swelled beneath her gaze, full and thick. Her body quivering, she dug her fingernails into her palms.
"Don't be shy. I want you to touch me, darlin'," he drawled, that sexy dimple deepening his left cheek.
"And I want you to touch me," Kimberly whispered.
"Oh, I intend to." Austin moved toward her with a predatory gleam in his eye. "I intend to touch you everywhere..." His thumb caressed her chin and he lowered his mouth to her jaw, trailing a dozen kisses down her cheek. "And I intend to taste every delicious inch of you, too."
And taste her he did, Kimberly thought, moments later when her skin tingled all over from his lovemaking. He gently pushed her down on the bed, towering above her as he unfastened the sheer stockings from her garter belt and slid them down her legs.
A low moan rumbled from his throat as he teased her belly with his tongue, then dipped it lower to the insides of her thighs. Whispering erotic words to her, he moved above her, his finger dragging the strap of her camisole down her arm until the creamy flesh of her breasts rose into view. In one fluid motion, he dragged the chemise over her hips, rising above her again to expose her breasts. Her nipples puckered at his blatant sexual perusal, and she shivered as he gently stroked the tips.
Austin's gaze locked with hers, the hunger in his eyes destroying any reservations she'd had, and she threaded her fingers through his hair, drawing his face down so he could suckle her. His mouth closed over the rosy tip of one breast, his hand loving the other, while his lips tortured her with gentle kisses that grew stronger until he was sucking her so strongly she cried out and bucked beneath him.
His hardened arousal pressed into her belly, rubbed against her thighs and she reached for him, stroking his back, desperate for more. But he refused her the pleasure of completion yet. Instead, he moved lower on her body so his head was buried between her breasts.
His hands caressed her back, her bottom, then dipped inside the edges of her panties to find her damp and hot, aching for him. She arched her hips forward, moaning in delight when his fingers probed her and sank inside her. His lips trailed to her other breast where he planted hot kisses, whispering sweet, heady words as he blew gently on her nipple.
Then his tongue made a foray down her stomach, over her navel, and lower. He edged her panties aside and tasted her heat, moaning and urging her to ecstasy with his tongue and erotic words that she'd never imagined a man saying to her.
Tension built with every touch, every flick of his tongue, every movement of his hands and mouth until she felt the edge of her restraint slipping.
"I want you," she whispered fiercely, cupping his jaw and trying to pull him upward. "I want you inside me, Austin," she whispered.
With a groan, he dug his hands into her hair, teasing her with his sex. "I'm going to make love to you all night," he said roughly. "And then again in the dark hours of the morning. Over and over and over."
"Yes," Kimberly whispered, urging him to follow through on his promises.
Then he moved away from her slightly, and Kimberly felt momentarily bereft until she realized he was digging a condom from his pants pocket. He ripped open the packet and slid the protection on, then came at her with a fierceness that spiked her desire to a feverpitch.
"I can't wait any longer, Kimberly." His mouth swept over hers and his hands cupped her buttocks, pulling her closer to his arousal. “I need you.”
Then he drove his tongue inside her mouth, filling her with it, as he stripped her panties, parted her legs and thrust inside her. "I want you now," he whispered hoarsely.
He plunged deeper, deeper, deeper in a motion so hot and urgent it took her breath away. Surrendering to her body's need for release, she clutched his back, dug her fingernails into his flesh, and met his tongue with her own hungry cries.
The last thing she thought as her passion exploded was that she loved him.
* * *
Austin loved her.
And he was sinking into heaven in her arms.
A wave of euphoria engulfed him, and he climaxed a second after Kimberly. He stroked her hair, her shoulders, kissed her neck, her jaw, her mouth, everywhere, wanting her to know how much their lovemaking meant to him.
But he’d said the words at the church and she hadn’t replied. Did her silence mean she didn’t return his feelings?
Hell. He would change that, he thought, with the same firm determination he'd used to approach everything else in life. He wanted Kimberly Turner. Tonight, tomorrow night, and every night thereafter.
And he was going to win her over, even if it meant loving her until she could no longer think of another man.
He smiled at the possibility, then gently eased himself off her. His arms trembled as he pulled her into his embrace, but she curled into his body, snuggling her head into the crook of his arm as if she belonged to him and always would.
"That was wonderful, darlin'." Austin stroked the hair from her cheeks, then heaved a breath, almost laughing at how winded he sounded.
But his body's reaction was nothing compared to the emotional upheaval in his head. He'd never meant to fall for Kimberly, but making love to her had sealed the bond, had now brought him closer to her than he'd ever felt to a woman.
Hoping she felt the same way, he kissed her temple, murmuring sweet words of nonsense. Then he traced his finger along her cheek, but he felt moisture, and his heart jerked to a painful stop. Afraid he’d hurt her, he pulled back and looked into her eyes. Tears glistened on her russet eyelashes and her lip quivered as she gazed up at him.
Damn. A mistake. Her soft creamy cheeks were pink and chafed from his lovemaking, making him want her all over again.
"What's wrong?" he asked, barely able to speak for the emotions crowding his throat.
She shook her head and he stopped the movement, catching her chin with his thumb. "Did I hurt you?" he whispered.
She shook her head again. "No." Her fingers tangled in the matte of hair on his chest, and his pulse accelerated again, his body already starting to twitch with arousal. "It was just so special," she said softly. "I... I've never felt so close to anyone."
He forced himself not to think of the number of men Kimberly might have been with and focused on the surge of male pride that tightened his muscles.
The arousal that had begun moments earlier surged into full-blown excitement. But he didn't want to rush her, so he brushed his lips across her temple and gently dried her tears. "I love being here with you like this, Kimberly."
She bit down on her lip and he wondered if he'd said something wrong again. Pillow talk never had been his specialty, and he wished now he'd learned how to master the talent better. But if words couldn't win Kimberly, he would at least tell her what he thought with his caresses.
And his body. And he did, magically, time and time again all through the night.
Finally they slept and when they awakened in the early hours of the morning, he loved her all over again. When his climax came swift and hard, it emotionally drained him. Kimberly
rolled over and brushed the hair from her eyes, her sated smile intoxicating.
"Wow," he said in a raspy voice. "You're going to kill me, woman."
Kimberly giggled and pressed her finger over his lips, then kissed him with a tenderness that melted him. "Thank you for the most wonderful night of my life."
Austin yanked her bare bottom into the juncture of his muscular thighs. "Thank you, darlin'." His hand skated across her smooth stomach, then stilled. He'd been so caught up in their love-making he hadn't noticed she wasn't wearing her bellybutton ring. And the tattoo... he hadn't seen it either.
Yet he'd seen every sweet, luscious inch of her.
He nuzzled her neck. "What happened to your bellybutton ring and your tattoo?" he asked, kissing her ear.
Kimberly tensed in his arms, and he narrowed his eyes.
"The tattoo was a rub-on," she whispered. "And I really don't have a pierced bellybutton. The ring was one of those fake ones. You know, the clamp-on kind."
He winced, thinking even a fake one sounded painful. "You don't need them, you know," he said huskily. "You're the sexiest woman I've ever met just the way you are."
Kimberly blinked back tears. You 're the sexiest woman I've ever met, just the way you are. She hoped he would say that when he discovered who she really was and that she'd been lying to him all along.
"You know something?" Austin whispered.
"What?"
"I'm hungry." As if on call, his stomach growled. "For food this time," he added with a chuckle.
"We could check out that picnic basket."
"I'm game." Austin slid from the covers, walked over to the dresser completely naked and scrounged through the contents. Kimberly watched, mesmerized by his finely toned muscles, bronzed skin, and dark body hair. He had the finest, sexiest butt she'd ever seen on a man.
"You're staring," he said in a low voice.
Kimberly's gaze swung to his and she blushed. "Sorry."
He shook his head and grinned, then brought the basket to the bed. "You don't have to be sorry." He tilted his head and kissed her. "Don't you know what it does to me when you look at me like that?"
"No, what?" she asked innocently, already noticing his sex growing hard.
"You're wicked," he teased. "And if you keep looking at me like that, this picnic will have to wait."
"I can't help it," Kimberly said seriously. "I don't think I could ever get tired of looking at you." She closed her hand over his erection. "Or touching you."
Austin's dark eyes narrowed as his sex pulsed in her hand. Then he placed the tray on the floor beside the bed. The picnic basket followed, and it was much later in the morning when they finally spread the contents on the bed and devoured its contents.
* * *
Austin fed Kimberly a grape, another wave of heat suffusing him as she sucked the fruit between her lips. Here in this romantic haven with just the two of them, hungry for each other and eager to please, he felt as if anything was possible. Even that their hurried fake wedding could turn into a real marriage.
If only they didn’t have to leave this room.
But worries nagged at the back of his head and he glanced at the clock, knowing the day was slipping away and they had to start their trip back to Atlanta. Bright sunlight streamed through the sheer curtains and the afternoon heat seeped into the room. Then Kimberly licked a piece of chocolate off her lips and he groaned.
"I suppose we should shower," he said, meaning they needed to get dressed and leave.
Kimberly's blue eyes danced. "That sounds like a perfect idea to me." She rose, her lovely breasts swaying, her soft curves inviting him to follow as she sauntered to the bathroom.
Although she'd seemed slightly shy at the beginning of their lovemaking, she'd grown bolder and more wanton with each hour. Her enthusiasm was killing him, but what a way to go. Just one more time, he promised himself as he followed her into the bathroom and stepped beneath the steamy shower spray. One more time and they would return to reality.
* * *
Just one more time, Kimberly promised herself as she let Austin soap her body and bring her to the edge of ecstasy with his fingers.
One more time and they would return to reality.
She gave him the same pleasure, taking great care to wash his back and legs and stroke the sensitive places she'd discovered during the night Then he lifted her and she impaled him, and she cried out in sweet pleasure.
God, she wished their lovemaking never had to end.
But the afternoon sun was a stark reminder of reality as they dried off and searched through the suitcase his family had packed to find suitable clothes. April had packed her a teal sundress with spaghetti straps, so she bypassed the bra, and slipped it over her head, thankful it was cool.
"You look fantastic," Austin said with a low whistle. "Of course, I like you better without clothes."
His dimple creased and Kimberly’s heart lodged in her throat. Maybe she should tell him that she wasn't Marci now, before they went back to his parents to get their things, before they drove back to Atlanta.
"We'd better hurry and run by the house, pick up our luggage, and say good-bye to my folks before we head home."
"Sure," Kimberly said, repacking her bag. She hung the beautiful wedding dress on a padded hanger, her throat tight at the memory of her wedding night.
She would tell him on the drive home. After all, she didn’t want to upset him before they saw his parents.
Surely, with hours to kill, she could make him understand why she'd lied to him, and that the feelings she had for him were real. That is, if he was still talking to her when she admitted she and Marci had pulled a twin switch.
Maybe she could talk to Marci, and Marci could explain and she wouldn't lose Austin.
Marci!
Her stomach knotted as she remembered that she still hadn't talked to her sister. She glanced at the clock in sheer panic. It was already three o'clock. Anything could have happened at the center by now.
She said a silent prayer that Marci had received her message, canceled her appointments and covered for her at work. But the uneasiness in her grew to a sick churning feeling as she and Austin drove back to his parents. Not only was she afraid she was going to lose the man she loved, but she'd worked so hard to get the children's center up and going that she was afraid she might lose it, too.
Memories of the last time Marci had filled in for her crowded her mind. The inspector for the building had shown up and Marci had confused him with a repairman and pointed out every flaw in the house. Then she'd accidentally misplaced a file that had almost gotten their insurance canceled. As if that hadn't been bad enough, she'd flirted with the social worker who'd come to counsel one of the troubled boys.
Sure, Marci had claimed the man hadn’t looked married. And he hadn't been wearing a ring. But the man had insisted that Marci, whom he'd thought was her, was flighty and undependable.
Kimberly had almost been fired.
An impending sense of dread clenched her chest. Yep, if Marci had botched things up as badly as she had the last time Kimberly had left her in charge, she might return home and find she'd lost her job, the center—everything she'd ever cared about. She glanced sideways at Austin.
And that included the man sitting beside her.
The man she’d married and loved with all her heart.
The man who might hate her when he discovered she was not the woman he thought he’d made his wife.
Chapter 11
Austin gulped, stunned by the woman in front of him. She looked exactly like the woman he'd spent the weekend with, except that woman was inside wearing short shorts and a bellybutton ring. Wasn't she? "Kimberly?"
She nodded, her voice low. "Yes, I'm Kimberly."
He narrowed his eyes. She sure sounded like his Kimberly.
"Did you talk to Marci already? Did she tell you—"
He cut her off, realization dawning. There were two Marci's—no, one Marci and another
woman who had told him she was Marci but to call her Kimberly.
They were twins.
His temper rising, he grabbed her arm and practically dragged her back inside.
"Austin, you're hurting me," the woman named Kimberly said when they stopped inside the restaurant.
He saw how tightly he was holding her arm and released her immediately, appalled at his own behavior. "I'm sorry. I—"
"Please let me explain about this weekend," she said softly.
Her fingers touched him, and he looked into her eyes and saw the tenderness he remembered so well—the tenderness that had melted his heart. Totally baffled at his reaction, he backed away, his eyes zeroing in on her left hand. The hand that was wearing a wedding ring exactly like the one he had given his wife.
The woman who had lied to him from the moment she’d climbed in his car.
Sweat beaded on his upper lip, and he studied her pale face. Those liquid blue eyes seemed to be pleading with him to listen, but he was so confused his head was spinning.
Then the Marci wearing short shorts and the bellybutton ring suddenly appeared beside the one wearing his wedding ring and a sharp pain ripped through his chest. Staggering sideways, he wiped his sweating forehead, his mind racing.
They were identical all right.
"Marci," Kimberly screeched. "I've been trying to call you."
The sisters exchanged furtive looks, then turned to him. He felt as if he was seeing mirror images of the same person.
"What's going on, sis?" Marci asked, her bracelets jangling.
Kimberly gave him a beseeching look, then glanced at her twin. "I tried to reach you, Marci. I wanted to fill you in about Austin—"
He snapped out of his confused state, his anger surging forward. "You wanted to tell her that you pulled off the charade," he said, his voice tight.
Marci, no, the twin he'd married, Kimberly, bit down on her bottom lip. "Austin, I know how this must look to you, but it's simple, really—"
He nodded. "Yes, it is. You lied to me."
"What difference does it make?" Marci stormed. "You were lying to your family. You paid for a fiancée and you got one."
