Coincidences: #3 Diana & Anya

by Diroll-Nichols, Karen

  An hour later the SUV was packed and the studio mostly empty.

  “Tell Marie to have it cleaned and donate anything left here, alright, Lewis? I won’t be coming back,” Diana said with a firm nod.

  “Very good, Miss. My wife was most pleased with the painting you gave me,” he said as they walked with the last carton to the car.

  “I’m glad, Lewis. Paintings should have happy places, just like people.”

  Gideon put his hands on her waist and lifted her to the seat.

  Diana groaned and sunk down in the seat. Long held breath breaking free in a whoosh.

  “Relieved?”

  “You’ve no idea,” Diana said softly. “Now I just have to figure out what to do with this stuff until I can go through it.”

  “The garage for now.”

  “Your garage? Are you sure you’ve room? That would be….intrusive of me,” Diana said, slipping from excitement to uncertainty.

  “I think I can handle it,” Gideon said with a chuckle. “Looks like another storm is headed this way. We might beat it to the house,” he mentioned casually, dark clusters of storm clouds in his mirror.

  Diana laid her hand on his knee. An innocent enough gesture until she began running one edged fingernail along the seam of his inner thigh. Gideon felt his body tighten and shot a glance over only to receive an innocent smile and daintily fluttered lashes. He shifted in the seat a little. Each time her fingernail made the slow, tantalizing trail along his thigh, her trail went a little higher, a little closer to his crotch.

  Gideon swore he heard a soft giggle when his growl broke free.

  “A problem, Gideon?”

  “You are a wicked little city girl.”

  “Your jeans appear a slight bit…snug…”

  Gideon pulled the SUV beneath the extra wide carport he’d had built over the front of the house. They hadn’t beat the rain. He was growling as Diana slid to the ground, her case dangling from one hand as she sauntered toward the front door.

  “There is something wonderfully empowering about storms,” she breathed, inhaling the fresh rain scent. A startled yelp left her lips when he gripped her fingers and tugged her inside the house, her case taken and dropped to the chair and her back against the closed door.

  Gideon brought his hands up, framing her face and staring for a few seconds into the teasing, laughing blue eyes. He felt her hands on the edge of his shirt, pulling it from his jeans and stroking her warm hands over his flesh at the same time his mouth captured hers in a long, hungry kiss.

  “You started this, city girl,” Gideon’s voice shook with the desire she was capable of creating in him. A glance, a touch…the passion they created between them was unbelievable.

  “Someone told me I could be me,” Diana whispered against his mouth, her soft mew of pleasure as his kiss traveled over her throat, to the soft flesh of her neck. His hands moved heavily over her breasts, fingers easily disposing of the belt at her waist before he dropped to one knee and untied her boots. He pulled hers free before kicking his own off.

  “You…are the only one I want, Diana,” Gideon pressed his body against hers, barely room between them for her to wrestle with the snap and zipper of his jeans. His hand opened the tiny buttons down the front of her dress, shoving the sides apart and bending to suckle the pert nipple, first one and then the other.

  “Oh, Gideon…” Her breath caught at the flood of sensations, his knee pressed between her thighs, her hips thrusting demandingly for that wonderful feeling he was building within her. “Yes…please…” Her hands shoved inside his jeans, pushing them off his hips, two palms stroking over the hard, hot male.

  Gideon knew he was losing his sanity when one of her legs rose to touch his waist, her hands moving aside her panties and guiding him to the damp, hot opening. He did nothing to stop the hunger packed groan when her fingers spread herself open, drawing her hot moisture out and over the sensitive head of him before positioning him against her. His body reacted, teeth nipped at her breast and her hands speared the hair on his head, clinging to him with a wild shudder. He thrust upward at the same time she rotated and moved to meet him, pulling him deep inside her.

  Diana’s head went against the door, breathing ragged as the spiraling sensations pulsed with each repeated thrust. When his fingers moved lower to stroke over the swollen nub at the same time his mouth ravaged her nipple, she gave into the explosion rampaging through her. His name was ripped from her with a deep, husky cry, her other leg rising to give him full access.

  Gideon moved his hands to her behind, lifting her and thrusting forward when the cascading ripples surrounded him, stroking and hungrily pulling him with her. Her scent was heady, intoxicating. Her desire enough to fuel more than just his male ego. Thunder rivaled the uninhibited male shout, his knees shook even as his muscles clenched and erupted passionately. He turned them slightly, sinking to the wide stairs and holding her almost painfully close.

  Diana listened to his sweet whispers with a soft, contented smile. Her tongue out and tasting the aftermath of their passion on his throat where her face lay buried. She inhaled his scent, felt his body slowly relaxing. His feet were anchored on the floor, holding them as his body laid back on the stairs.

  “We have a perfectly good bed upstairs…” Gideon opened one eye, his smile crooked as he took in the open front of her dress, the definitely askew lacy bra and the glowing tenderness on the face of the woman on his lap. He sighed. Somehow he knew it wouldn’t matter where they were when the passion struck.

  “Hmm…you’re blaming me for this, aren’t you?”

  “Wicked little city girl,” he whispered, his hand on her neck and pulling her down for his kiss.

  “Yep…that’s me,” she agreed with a wink, giggling when he winced as she carefully separated them. “I think I need a shower…then I’ll dig out some new clothes from those boxes and unload the car,” She declared, hastily putting herself right before going outside to the car.

  Gideon groaned and was glad he couldn’t see himself stretched out on the staircase right now. He knew he wore an extremely satisfied expression, one that said he was happy. He wandered to the bathroom, straightened his clothes and went to help unload the car.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Diana sorted a lot of the boxes, putting painting items in one and clothes neatly folded in another. The weather man claimed a nice, after storm cool day tomorrow, so she found a perfect little shirt dress done in a quiet soft green with buttons down the front. They’d been spending the days hiking and exploring the new property; she did some drawing and painting and found tons of little animals to sketch. Gideon read or worked on his outline.

  Gideon raised his head, blinking at the clock on the nightstand. It was after eight. And he was still in bed. Alone. But he did smell food.

  Diana stood near the huge array of windows to the south, staring into the bright sunshine. She heard his footsteps and smiled to herself. His arms came around her from behind, his kiss soft on her neck.

  “Thanks for breakfast,” Gideon stepped back when she moved.

  “I like cooking…but we do need to make a market stop.” She sat up on the stool, watching him. “I sent your secret coffee recipe to Jane…she was most happy to get it. I’d never have thought of a touch of spices in it when you grind the beans.”

  “We can go shopping later.”

  “I’m going down to the waterfall and sketch for a bit,” Diana moved to get her case and the thick quilt she’d folded. “I checked the weather…no storms today. You said you were going to check on the fencing.”

  “Hmm…I did, didn’t I?” But he hastily finished the eggs and toast and was waiting at the front door when she came down the stairs. “I’ll do the work stuff in the afternoon. I feel like a morning hike.”

  “Hmm….amazing how that happens. I’m not sure which of us is a worse corrupter of the other, Gideon,” Diana let him take the quilt from her hands.

  “I have to be honest a
nd withdraw from the vote.”

  “Guilt, huh?” Diana chuckled taking his hand once they were on the path down to the waterfall.

  “There are some things a man should never admit, and a weakness is one of them,” Gideon came to an abrupt halt, bouncing off the immobile blonde. “Diana?” His gaze immediately swept the area.

  “Shhhh…” She gestured to the small fawn wandering behind its mother several feet off to the side.

  His hands moved to her waist, his mouth down to gently nip along the soft flesh of her throat. “My sweet little city girl,” he whispered, his body absorbing the mild shudder of her body. “Hmmm…you make such delightful, erotic little sounds…”

  “There’s some kind of…of nerve or something there,” she said, continuing their walk. “And your beard feels really nice…and it’s connected to other bits that react when you touch things like you do…then all the bits get together and I can’t think straight.”

  Gideon burst out laughing. “Thank you for explaining all that technical girl stuff to me. I had no idea of my powers.”

  “Wretch.” Diana looked over the area flooded with sunshine, took the quilt from him and spread it on the ground. She reached into her case and pulled her camera out, wandering off along the edge of the waterfall and snapping off pictures. Pretty, bright little flowers grew along the water’s edge. Silvery fish had sunshine glistening off them in the large pool of water at the bottom. Satisfied, she turned to find him leaning on his elbow watching her. Grinning, she quickly snapped off a few photos before he scowled.

  “You are rugged and handsome…a wonderful photographic subject,” she told him as she walked towards him.

  Gideon’s scowl deepened as the sunshine struck her dress in just the right way. The fabric wasn’t very thick. In fact, when the sun hit it just right, he was positive…

  “I’ve been had,” he murmured when she dropped the camera into her case and crawled toward him over the quilt.

  “You are such an easy mark,” Diana purred softly.

  “You seem to have forgotten something…under that dress…”

  Diana feigned surprise, leaning on her elbow at his side. She reached out and took his hand, placing it on her knee and drawing it beneath the fabric.

  “Are you sure? I think you’d better check and make certain…perhaps we should notify someone just in case they’re found…” A delicate shiver ran through her as his hand found the bare flesh of her behind with a squeeze. “Hmm…you seem to be right, Gideon…now I wonder where they could have got to?”

  “Wicked girl,” Gideon laughed at the innocence and sensual grace in her features. “You’re beautiful…”

  “Hmm…I think I’m losing interest in drawing today…”

  “Here?” Gideon pulled his palm back swiftly when he heard footfalls echoing in the woods. “This is pretty public, Diana…”

  “You’re inhibited?” Her palms went to his shoulders, pressing him back onto the quilt and half laying across his body. Soft, delicate palm slid beneath his shirt, nails raking through the light smattering of dark hair on his chest before trailing around the waistband of his jeans. She pressed her palm over the awakened male outline pushing for release in more ways than one.

  “I am not interested in entertaining voyeurs,” he growled, backing away as if her hands were on fire.

  Diana rolled to her back and laughed brightly. “Gideon…we’re alone out here.”

  “We are not alone,” He declared, standing up and swearing loudly. He snatched up her case and grabbed her hand to pull her to her feet. “You’re going to make me nuts,” he lifted the quilt and shook it out at the same time striding with her in tow back up the path.

  “Hey! Where are we going?” Diana didn’t try and pull away. “And you call me a city girl…”

  “I’ll put up the tent. At least we have a little privacy then,” his voice was a low warning at her continued giggle. They reached the parked car. Gideon dropped the quilt, set her case on top and opened the backseat of the car. “C'mere, city girl,” he lifted her onto the seat, joining her with the door wide.

  “What…?” Diana let him position her on his lap on the wide, comfortable back seat of the SUV. “Hmmmm…I’ve never…”

  “Us country boys are inventive,” Gideon opened the buttons of her dress, groaning when he discovered that panties weren’t the only piece of clothing she’d left off. It wasn’t so very difficult to surrender to her seduction. Both his palms cupped a breast, his mouth moving hungrily from one to the other. More of those soft, pleased mews broke from her lips. The sounds were incredibly erotic and arousing.

  Diana pulled his shirt from his jeans, opened the front and shoved it off his shoulders. She loved the feel of him. Warm and sexy, her hands traveled down over his flat stomach and fumbled with the button of his jeans. It popped free and she proceeded to push the zipper down, dragging her nails along the length of his erection.

  She felt all the erotic sensations coursing and colliding, his thumbs wreaking havoc with her nipples that were directly connected to the hot moisture gathering between her thighs.

  “Gideon!” Diana’s back arched, her voice and breathing ragged.

  His hands moved to her waist, lifting her to the edge of his knees while he made short work of tugging the jeans out of the way. Eighteen years old, his mind shouted with excitement and anticipation. Diana slid back against him, rotating her hips and sliding along the hard length of him. She was a magical, erotic vision, his hand stroking the nub between them while she positioned herself above him.

  His breath was pulled out of him as she thrust herself down on him, freezing in place for a long few seconds while she adjusted to him. His mouth went to one breast when she began moving, slowly, side to side.

  Diana put her palms on his face, lifting his mouth and slowly, seductively kissing her way over his eyes, his cheeks and onto his lips. At the same time her hips rotated and pivoted erotically. She continued the slow, methodical love making until the cascading eruptions began to take control. Her head went back, lips parted and breathing jagged. She felt his strong hands on her hips. Holding her, moving her and thrusting deeply inside her until his shout echoed in the spring morning. His hands moved, arms circling her and hugging her possessively against him, his lips moving over her shoulder.

  “Diana…my sweet Diana…”

  “That was amazing,” she breathed with a contented mew. “Absolutely decadent.”

  “Lady, you are incredible,” Gideon loosened his arms enough to peer into the sweetly glowing face flushed with passion.

  “Oh, no…it’s us…definitely us…there is something magical and combustible,” she traced a soft line around his mouth. “You’re sexy and smart and you’re inside my head…I think that’s the secret. I’ve never been able to talk about so many topics and…and be taken seriously.”

  “Marry me.” Gideon wondered about his timing, the small gasp she offered followed by her head shaking slowly. “Diana…”

  “Gideon…I’m not…”

  “We…you and I…are not the idiots pushed on you by your father. I am not those fools,” Gideon said pointedly, holding her tightly in place.

  “I know you’re not them…believe me, I know…” She swallowed hard.

  “Think about it…please?” Gideon slowly released her, letting her slide out of the car, shaking her dress into place before lifting her case and heading for the house. She stopped a second later and turned to walk back to him.

  “I will think about it,” she promised, one hand up and her finger pointing. “You are giving me a ride to the lodge. I have tons of things to do before tomorrow night and you’re a serious distraction, Gideon Adams. Then, you will pick me up tomorrow about four and we’ll shoot across ninety to the gallery.”

  “Bossy little thing,” he murmured, quickly adjusting his jeans and jumping from inside the car.

  “I’ll be right back,” she said with a nod, striding away with his proposal in her mind
. And in her heart. Diana went to the bedroom. She had to admit, she had easily begun to think of it as their bedroom. Their bed. There was a sense of belonging in this house, with this man that she’d never known before. She felt cherished; safe and valued.

  She had put the clothing from the boxes in the closet and pulled a pair of jeans out and a light sweater before stepping into the shower. It was incredible how open all her senses felt. She wanted to paint and draw and cook! She wanted to shop and fill the kitchen and the house with delicious scents. She wanted to be working on her painting, waiting for him to come striding through the front door from his job.

  It was that smile that Gideon saw glowing on her face as she came down the stairs.

  “Keep your phone on, okay?” Gideon walked to her, slipping his phone into his pocket. “I’ll be out checking the people installing the fencing. I saw some of the posts already in the ground when we were out walking yesterday.”

  “Okay…I’ll be at the lodge,” Diana stopped at the car door, looking at him for a long, long minute. He looked over his shoulder, a puzzled frown on his face when he met her eyes.

  “Diana?”

  “Hmm…” she suddenly blinked, shook her head and pulled the car door wide, his hands on her waist to lift her to the seat. “Oh, just thinking…”

  “Nervous about the showing?”

  “The…no…well, yes…a little…I’ve made the decision not to go back to the estate,” she said softly as he drove. “If it flops…I guess I could be a waitress. I know a country boy with a weakness for a well-served meal,” she teased casually.

  “It won’t flop,” he said confidently, his fingers wrapped tightly around hers.

  “Where did you live before…” her hand waved to the house they just left. “Before the house?”

  “I have an apartment in Seattle. I’m slowly getting it empty…I was making progress until I met up with this wicked city girl,” Gideon loved listening to her giggle. Light, tinkling sound that fit the woodland nymph sitting beside him.