Thrill Me

by Susan Mallery

  Inside, the catering staff was setting up for dinner. There were dozens of round tables. Crystal and silverware gleamed in the lights strung across the ceiling. The sweet smell of flowers mingled with the faint smoky scent of a smoldering grill.

  He crossed the tent and went out the other side to where chairs had been set up in the shade of a grove of trees. There were two sections on either side of a center aisle. Ribbons and flowers framed the area. A woman played a harp while guests found their seats.

  Del saw Eddie and Gladys and headed their way. The irreverent old ladies were exactly what he needed to forget about Aidan and whatever bug he had up his ass. Del didn’t want to fight—not today. Tomorrow they could take it up, but for now, a good guy was marrying a great girl. They should stop and celebrate that.

  It didn’t take long for the rest of the guests to take their seats. The music changed to something slow and romantic. Zane took his place by the minister, his brother, Chase, next to him.

  Maya appeared at the back of the grove of trees. Del about fell out of his chair when he saw her. She’d joked about her dress and having to get all fancy, but he hadn’t expected her to look like a goddess.

  She’d put up her blond hair into some complicated swirl of curls and swoops. Her dress was pale blue, long and with a deep V. The top of it had a crisscrossy thing going on and seemed to hug every curve. He was torn between wanting her and needing to throw his suit jacket over her shoulders so no one else could see her.

  She walked slowly, a small bouquet of flowers in her hand. As she passed him, he caught sight of the dress from behind. It was cut low with straps that made an X and these drape things down the side. He was sure it was stylish and he liked how it looked on her but mostly what he was thinking was there was no way she was wearing a bra.

  It was the wrong thing to fixate on during a wedding. Only a sleaze dog would be imagining taking that dress off her as the bride came down the aisle. Del half expected lightning to strike, and when it didn’t, he knew he was damned lucky.

  The ceremony passed in a blur of vows and the exchange of rings. Del kept his attention on Maya, who was obviously moved by the sight of her friend marrying Zane. After the bride and groom were pronounced husband and wife, they hugged Maya and Chase before walking down the center aisle together.

  “That was so beautiful,” Eddie said, clutching Del’s arm. “They’re a beautiful couple.”

  “Who are going to have sex tonight,” Gladys added from Del’s other side.

  “They’re having sex every night,” Eddie responded with a cackle. “If you had Zane in your bed, you’d be doing it all the time, too.”

  “Good point.”

  Del extracted himself from the septuagenarians. “And that’s my cue to excuse myself. Ladies, it’s been a pleasure.”

  Eddie pouted. “We’re old. No one wants to do it with us anymore. The least you can do is let us talk about it.”

  Del held up both hands in a gesture of surrender. “I’m not stopping you at all. I encourage you to talk about it.”

  Gladys grinned. “Just not with you here?”

  “You’re too much for me.”

  “Chicken.”

  “Absolutely.”

  He kissed them both on the cheek, then went to find Maya.

  She was with the rest of the wedding party. They were taking pictures. He stood by the trees and watched the posing. In the background, a guy with a video camera recorded everything.

  Del wandered closer and thought about the composition of the shot. The eye line looked good. There would be an establishing shot—probably a picture of the wedding invitation, or the veil or something to show the viewers were about to watch a wedding video.

  He turned his attention back to Maya, who was laughing at something Zane said. Why hadn’t she married? She was beautiful, talented, funny, easy to be with. He was surprised some guy hadn’t snapped her up.

  She turned from Zane and saw him. Her smile widened, as if she was happy to see him. Something hit him hard in the gut. Wanting, he acknowledged, but there was something else. A deeper sensation he was in no mood to analyze. Instead, he stayed where he was and watched them take the rest of the pictures.

  When they were done, Maya walked toward him. She had trouble on the uneven ground and when she reached him, she grabbed his arm, then stepped out of her heels.

  “These do not work on grass,” she said with a laugh. “In case you had any transvestite tendencies.”

  “Not so far.”

  He took the bouquet from her and dropped it to the ground, then put his hands on her hips and drew her against him.

  They were in relative privacy in the grove of trees. People were all around them, but no one was that close. The music had started, and judging by the scent of steaks filling the air, the barbecue was going. Which meant the guests would be moving toward the tent. Better for him, he thought as he lowered his head and kissed her.

  Maya raised her chin and met him more than halfway. Her lips were soft and yielding, clinging to his. She wrapped her arms around his neck.

  He settled his mouth more firmly on hers. She tasted of mint and champagne, and her lips parted before he asked. He moved his tongue against hers, feeling the heat, the electricity. They’d always been good together, he thought hazily. Well matched. Time away from each other hadn’t changed that.

  Wanting poured through him. Blood rushed to his groin with a predictable result. He moved his hands from her hips to her rear, sliding across the slick material of her dress. She nestled closer, relaxing into him, as if trusting him with all she was.

  In the distance a bell rang. It was an insistent sound. She sighed against his mouth.

  “They’re calling us to dinner.”

  “You hungry?”

  She chuckled. “Yes, and exactly the way you mean. But there’s a head table and we’re both at it. Someone’s bound to notice two empty spots.”

  “Damn.”

  She stared into his eyes. “My thoughts exactly.” Her mouth turned up. “It’s the dress, isn’t it? I knew it would make you hot.”

  He touched her cheek. “It’s not the dress.”

  Her pupils dilated. “You say the sweetest things.”

  He kissed her lightly, then dropped to one knee and collected her ridiculous heels. “You want to go barefoot?” he asked.

  “It seems like the best plan.”

  He grabbed the flowers and rose. She took the bouquet. He held her shoes in one hand and rested the other on the small of her back.

  “Shall we?”

  * * *

  DINNER PASSED IN a blur. Despite the steaks done to perfection and the delicious side dishes, Maya didn’t eat much. She was too aware of Del sitting next to her. Every now and then he would touch her. A brush of his fingers against her bare arm. His thigh pressing against hers.

  She and Chase had written a toast together. She joined the teen to give it, then stood with Del as Zane and Phoebe stepped into the center of the room for the first dance. Once the chorus began, the DJ invited everyone to join them.

  Del surprised her by pulling her into his arms. They swayed together, the other guests around them fading to the background.

  She liked being in his arms, she thought. Maybe it was the lingering effects of the kiss or the champagne she’d been drinking, but all of this felt good. Right.

  They moved easily together. When the song ended, they were by the back of the tent, so slipping outside was simple. Without discussing a destination, they walked toward the barn. Halfway there, Del pulled her against him again, but this time he didn’t have dancing in mind.

  She stepped into his embrace and leaned into his kiss. His mouth was warm as it claimed hers. She swept her tongue against his. Their kiss deepened.

  Her breas
ts nestled against his chest, as if seeking comfort. The night was cool, the stars bright. She felt the prickly softness of the grass beneath her bare feet. Del was the only solid object in a world that started to spin. She hung on, letting need blend with memories. She knew how they’d been so long ago. What would they be like together now?

  She wanted to find out. She wanted to know it was just as good. She tilted her hips forward and let her belly come in contact with the hardness of his erection. All that for her? Talk about getting lucky.

  A burst of soft laughter came from the other side of the barn. She jumped. Del drew back a little, but kept his arms around her.

  “Seems like we’re not the only ones thinking a little privacy would be a good thing,” he murmured, his voice low and husky.

  She moved her hands from his shoulders to his wrists. “Follow me,” she said, taking his hand in hers.

  She led him out of the barn to the back door of the main house. A few lights had been left on, but most of the rooms were dark. She took the back stairs, remembering exactly how many steps until they reached the main landing, then drawing him down the hallway to her high school bedroom.

  Her windows faced away from the tent. Even so, she made sure the curtains were pulled before she turned on the table lamp. Del stood next to one of the two beds, his gaze intense.

  Desire tightened the lines of his face. He looked like a man who wanted a woman. Lucky for her, that woman was her.

  They stared at each other for several seconds. She thought he might ask if she was sure or wanted to have some other bit of conversation. Instead, he crossed to her and reached for the zipper on the side of her dress and drew it down.

  She raised her eyebrows. “How did you know where that was?”

  “I’ve been studying your dress all night.”

  “A man with a plan.”

  “I have more than a plan.”

  He pulled down the straps of her dress. The entire gown slid to the floor and pooled at her feet. Underneath she had on a thong and nothing else.

  The room was silent except for the sound of his sharp intake of air. His muscles went tense and she watched as his already-large erection flexed.

  “Where’s Chase’s room?”

  The question had her blinking. “Ah, across the hall, two doors down.”

  Del was moving before she’d finished speaking. When he was gone, she hesitated, not sure what to do. Fortunately he was back less than twenty seconds later, a box of condoms in his hand.

  She grinned. “Like I said, a man with a plan.”

  It was the last thing she said for quite a while.

  There was the sigh when he crossed to her and cupped her breasts in his large hands as he kissed her. The little moan when he broke the kiss so he could bend over and lick her nipples. The gasp when he swept her up in his arms and lowered her onto one of the beds.

  It was the same bed they’d made love in ten years ago, she thought hazily. The bed where she’d lost her virginity that weekend Zane had taken Chase to some science competition.

  Everything was different now, she thought, watching Del kick off his shoes. They were both older. Neither of them frightened, inexperienced teenagers. His shirt and trousers hit the floor, then his socks and briefs followed. She got a quick glimpse of his erection as he slid onto the bed and pulled her close.

  He shifted her onto her back and kissed her. His tongue pursued and she allowed herself to be delightfully caught. They enjoyed the age-old dance of soon-to-be lovers, exploring, touching, feeling, but with the added benefit of having been there before.

  When he lowered his head to take her nipple in his mouth, she knew how it was going to feel. Anticipation sharpened the sensation. As he sucked, need spiraled to her belly, then lower, causing her to swell and dampen. He moved between her breasts, back and forth, taking his time, as if they had nowhere else to be.

  She wanted him, wanted this, wanted what would happen when he entered her. But she also needed time to stretch until this moment went on without ending. She didn’t want to think about tomorrow or even later. There was just now.

  She pushed on his shoulder, urging him to lie back, then leaned over him, so she could decide what happened next. Undeterred, Del cupped her breasts as she explored his shoulders, his chest. She ran her fingers down his belly and captured his penis in her right hand.

  “You’re playing with fire,” he teased.

  “Is that what we’re calling it?”

  He grinned. “You keep doing that, you can call it anything you’d like.”

  She paused to put a condom on him, then he moved his hands to her hips and urged her to straddle him. She braced herself with her hands on either side of his broad shoulders. He moved his hand between her legs and rested his thumb against the very heart of her. Then he began to stroke her swollen, hungry center.

  He circled, slowly at first, before increasing the speed. She tried to stay in her head, to not get lost in what he was doing. But it was impossible. Everything felt too good. Need spiraled, taking her closer and closer to her ultimate destination. She wasn’t ready and tried to hold back. If only...

  She made the mistake of sinking down. Just a little but it was enough. His erection filled her and she was lost. Lost in the feeling of being stretched in the best way possible. Lost in the easy way they fit together and how good it was when she raised and then lowered herself again.

  His touch on her clit never changed. He kept pace with her growing desire and up-and-down movements. His breathing matched hers. Their thighs tensed.

  She moved a little faster, wondering if it could be better, then had to gasp as fiery pleasure shot through her. It was going to be too much, she thought frantically. Too good, too soon. She wasn’t ready. She needed this to last longer.

  Her head warred with the rest of her body and quickly lost the battle. Soon she couldn’t think, couldn’t do anything but raise and lower herself, moving closer and closer to the pinnacle of her release. Faster, she thought, feeling that familiar promise barely out of reach. She was almost there.

  Up and down, his thumb in place, rubbing in time with his thrusts. The end was inevitable. The only questions was—

  “Del!”

  She gasped his name as her climax rocketed through her. Every cell in her body cried out as she came. His free hand clamped onto her hip and held her in place as he thrust in deep, and she lost herself.

  When they had both finished, he pulled her close and held her.

  “Maya.”

  Her name was a breath. An exhale. The sound cut through her, opening her until she was completely bare to him in every way possible. With that vulnerability came a truth so sharp it finished the job of separating her from the facade she’d been hiding behind for the past ten years.

  The reason she hadn’t fallen for anyone else, the reason she’d never found love, was because she couldn’t. Del had claimed her heart and to the best of her knowledge he’d never given it back.

  She was, after all this time, still in love with him.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  THE NEXT MORNING, Maya avoided looking at herself in the bathroom mirror. While it made putting on makeup somewhat complicated, she was terrified of what she would see in her eyes. She tried to tell herself it wasn’t as if there was a reader board proclaiming in bright letters “I’m in love with Del.” At least she hoped there wasn’t. In the end, the need to apply mascara defeated self-preservation. She sucked in a breath and stared at her reflection.

  Except for looking a little tired, no doubt due to not getting home until after two in the morning and then being unable to sleep, she seemed to be the same. There was no telltale expression of guilt or confusion. No newly formed I love Del–shaped birthmark. She’d escaped unscathed.

  At least on the outside.
<
br />   The inside was a totally different matter. To be honest, she had no idea what had happened. Or when. She couldn’t believe she’d been in love with Del for the past ten years and hadn’t known. That was impossible to imagine. She’d been happy. Living her life. Having a career. Surely she would have noticed ongoing unrequited love. Which meant what? That lingering feelings had just...lingered? That Del sparks had been smoldering this whole time, waiting to be brought to life?

  Too many questions and not enough answers, she told herself as she collected her bag and headed out of the house. She paused to water her geraniums, then walked briskly to Brew-haha. Coffee was the obvious first step. Then maybe a thorough list or two would help her clear her mind.

  She was in love with Del. The thought repeated itself in time with her steps. They’d made love in her old bed, and it had happened.

  Okay, she was pretty sure the act of doing it hadn’t caused her to fall for him. The sex had been great, but without magical powers. But the intimacy had caused the revelation. Even more confusing was what to do now.

  She told herself she didn’t have to do anything. She could continue with her regularly scheduled life and pretend nothing was different. Under the right circumstances, denial was perfectly healthy. Actually that made the most sense. Del was only going to be in town for a few more weeks. When he was gone, she would revisit what had happened and figure it out. But until then, she was going to stick her head in the sand and make like an ostrich.

  Twenty minutes later, she had taken the first sip of life-giving coffee. She was still deciding what to do next when she saw Elaine walking Sophie toward the park.

  Maya waved at her friend, then hurried toward her.

  “You’re up early,” she said, hugging her. “How are you feeling?”

  Elaine smiled at her. “The same as I was when you called me yesterday morning to check on me. Good. Tired, but getting through.”

  Maya bent down to greet Sophie. The beagle wiggled to get close for pats, her happy tail wagging.

  “We decided a walk would be good for us,” Elaine said. “Want to join us?”