by Belle Ami
“When Papa got sick, it all began to fall apart. Everything changed.” Miles paused to take a sip of wine and clear his throat. “Losing the auto shop was the last nail in his coffin. He died not long after, a defeated man. Ellen, my mother, was never the same. I guess it was loneliness that drove her to drink. Anyway, it took less than a year for her to follow him to the grave.
“My mother’s sister took us in. She tried to do her best for us, but she had a family of her own, and money was scarce. Her husband didn’t need two more mouths to feed. I was glad to get away from him; I never liked the way he looked at Karolin. I guess I was pretty angry and difficult, because when I took a sucker punch at him and landed it, he’d had enough and turned me in as a juvenile delinquent. Karolin and I ended up in an orphanage for two years.
“During those two years, I made up my mind that I was going to be rich one day and that Karolin and I would never do without. I worked my ass off through school. First junior college, and then, with a special recommendation from an alumnus—a builder named Daniel Rand, who I worked summers for—I was awarded a free ride to finish at the University of Pennsylvania. It was only a few years later, after Daniel died suddenly, that I found out he had personally paid my tuition. I owe everything to him, and I never got to say thank you.”
Miles paused with a sigh as he turned the wine glass in his hand, remembering. “I rode that train straight through my MBA, while Karolin waited tables to keep us fed. After Penn, I got a great job with a hedge fund in New York, where I learned everything there was to learn from a true master trader. When the money started to roll in, I made Karolin go back to school and get her BA.
“It took a couple of years to build up a base of investors who would follow me wherever I went. When the opportunity arose to strike out on my own, I never looked back. I’d been searching for something unique—companies that were poised to try new technologies that were cleaner and more efficient and might make the world a better place. I figured a little altruism wouldn’t hurt; I expected to make a lot of money anyway. The time was ripe for green energy and eco-friendly companies; I guess I was just at the right place at the right time.”
Adelia’s eyes glittered in the candlelight; her cheek rested on her hand as she listened intently. “What about the horses? How did that come into play?”
“I never could forget how devastated Karolin had been when she had to give up that pony. When I bought Green Way Farms in New Hope and gave Karolin carte blanche to build a breeding and training facility, I knew that I’d kept my promise. The hedge fund and the venture-capital fund gave us all of it: the farm, the horses, the yacht, the travel, the keys to the kingdom. I’ve attained everything I ever dreamed of—except that one person to share it all with.”
He raised his glass to his lips as he stared intently at her. “Maybe you are that someone?”
Adelia reached across the table and took his hand, smiling. “Maybe.”
“Excuse me,” the waiter interrupted, forcing their hands apart. He placed a sizzling pan with an artisan pizza in front of them.
“Enough talk about me. I’m starving!”
“Me too!”
It was a warm night with hardly a breeze. Several fires still seared the land, but most predictions were that they would soon be under control. The suspected arsonist was still on the loose, but the authorities were closing in. The crescent moon hung in the sky as Miles put the top down on the Porsche and shifted into gear.
“Where to, Princess?”
“Back to my castle, of course.”
“Your wish is my command.”
Adelia removed the hairpins and shook her hair loose, resting her head against the headrest. The roar of the engine and the whip of air through the open vehicle precluded any serious conversation. She felt content just to be in the moment. Miles maneuvered the Porsche as seamlessly as he seemed to do everything he put his hand to. He had rolled up the sleeves on his blue-and-white-striped shirt, and she could see his forearms and hands were sheathed with black hair, which she found terribly sexy. Her eyes wandered to his profile; the straight nose and prominent chin that jutted out angularly from his jaw line suggested strength of character. She also observed in the determination of his face the possibility of cruelty, which somehow only enhanced her attraction to him. She sensed from his sanitized telling of his traumatic childhood that there were deep scars and secrets that had hardened him. It occurred to her that his cold detachment was a challenge that would likely attract women to him like moths to a flame.
Sensing her eyes, Miles turned and smiled. He shifted into fifth gear, freeing his right hand, which he placed lightly on the silk that covered her thigh. Adelia closed her eyes to better concentrate on his touch. She hoped he wouldn’t notice the effect he was having on her. Her attempt to feign sleep was a success. The food, wine, and motion of the car lulled her into dreamland. She was still sleeping when Miles pulled the Porsche into her circular driveway and cut the engine. He leaned over to wake Sleeping Beauty with a kiss.
She woke with a start. “Miles, I’m sorry I slept through the entire ride home.”
“No worries, Princess.”
“I never asked you where you were staying. This place is so far from everything.”
“Oh, don’t worry about me; I’ll find some place to lay my head.”
“No, I can’t have you driving around all night. We’re adults; I trust you. Please stay. We have a guest suite. Really, I insist.”
“I’m not going to argue. That’d be great.”
Miles grabbed his overnight bag and followed her into the house. She noticed that the lights were on above the barn in Lucas’s apartment. The thought of having to explain herself to Lucas embarrassed her. She reminded herself that she was an adult and owed no one an explanation for her actions.
“Would you like anything?” she asked.
“I’d love a vodka on the rocks. It was a long drive back, and my copilot fell asleep.”
Miles dropped his bag and sat on the couch while Adelia went to the bar and made them each a drink. When she returned to the couch, they both sipped gingerly at the vodka, their bodies not quite touching.
“You know; I talked a lot about myself tonight. I’d love to hear a little about the beautiful Adelia Lindstrom.”
Adelia took a sip of the vodka. “Me? I’ve not led nearly as exciting a life as you have. I’m a sheltered, indulged only child of two very successful people. I don’t think my parents intended me to devote my life to horses, but that’s how it turned out. The horses somehow made up for a lonely childhood. They gave me wings to fly. I probably would’ve been content to do nothing else but ride, but my parents shipped me off to Cornell and made me get the veterinary degree. Besides their careers, everything they did was for me. I know I was lucky to have them as long as I did—” She paused with emotion, took another sip of the vodka, and wrinkled her nose as she fought back tears. “I just miss them so much.”
“Believe me, no one understands the tragedy of losing one’s parents better than I do. It’s something you never get over.”
Hearing Miles confess his vulnerability affected her deeply. Adelia felt her heart open up to him.
Miles turned to her, took the drink out of her hand, and placed both drinks on the table. He leaned over and pulled her to him, his plush mouth covering hers. He parted her lips with his tongue, and she opened like a flower to the sun. Her heart pounded in her chest, and she sighed with pleasure as he kissed her ear with warm heat. “I’ve wanted you from the first moment I laid eyes on you, baby,” he whispered. “I want you right now, but…” He stopped and let go of her.
Her eyes flew open. “But what?”
He finished his drink and stood. “I think we should wait. Why don’t you show me where my room is?”
She was agitated. “You’re right. It’s late, and I’m tired.”
5:00 a.m.
Adelia had tossed and turned half the night, thinking about Miles and what had or had not transpired between them. He had turned her on and left her with her engine running. Now he slept peacefully in the guest room while she was left to contemplate what exactly had happened. She was nonplussed as to why he didn’t make love to her. She wanted him to, and she was certain that he wanted to. It didn’t bother her that it was a first date and completely out of character for her. She had never known anyone like him, and she wanted him. In the early dawn, exhaustion finally claimed her.
It was easy to understand why she didn’t hear him enter her bedroom or feel him slip beneath the covers, naked. She was dreaming of him when she felt his kisses on her thigh and his tongue lapping at her like a cat with a bowl of milk. She woke in ecstasy, her body aflame with desire. It was as if he knew her body better than she did. She nearly begged him to stop, so intense was the climax rushing through her in waves of sensation.
“I couldn’t sleep. All I could think about was making love to you,” he whispered. “I’m so hot for you. That first climax was a gift. The next one will be for both of us.”
Before she could reclaim her breath, he was on top of her. She was wet, and his swollen penis slipped easily inside of her.
“Oh, yes…don’t move,” he murmured as he kissed her hungrily, sucking at her lips. “I want to watch you.” With deep, rhythmical thrusts, he moved in and out of her as she lay in a state of blissful immobility. So intense was her pleasure that she shyly kept her eyes closed, afraid he would see just how much he controlled her response. It was slow and methodical, his way of prolonging the pleasure. Riding her as if she were a wave to the shore, he waited for her to crest. “Open your eyes,” he demanded, balancing himself on his elbows. “I want you to look at me when you cum.”
Her eyes blinked open, and her lips parted. She could hardly breathe, so exquisite was the stimulation. His slow, deliberate motions rocked her body in mini-seizures that escalated each time he plunged inside of her.
“Breathe,” he said, as he sank deeper inside of her. “How do you feel, baby? Tell me what you feel. Do you want more? You have to tell me what you like. I want to satisfy you.”
Adelia took a deep breath, hoping to still her heart. “Yes, I want more. I’ve never felt anything like this. Don’t stop!”
He had asked her not to move, but her body demanded it. Besides, she was not so easily dominated, and she began to rock, meeting his thrusts with a powerful response. Their bodies were slick with sweat from the intensity of their lovemaking.
“I love how you make me feel,” she panted huskily.
He growled, “I want to give you the best orgasm you’ve ever had.” He nearly pulled out of her as he prepared for a final assault.
“You’re beautiful,” she sighed, taking the opportunity to admire him. Having only seen him dressed, this was the first time she could see and appreciate the contours of his tensed muscles and the definition of his abs.
He quickened his shallow thrusts, his point of contact aimed at her swollen clit.
Licking her lips, she pulled him into her arms, and he slid deeper within her as she wrapped her legs tightly around him. The fire of her passionate response inflamed his cock, and Miles was no longer able to control the inevitable. His deep, penetrating thrusts became a rapid drilling. Adelia moaned in anticipation of his explosion inside of her. They came together, crying out and gasping for air. She could feel him ejaculate as she continued to move beneath him. Their explosive orgasms gave rise to a thousand tiny tremors reverberating throughout their bodies. She lay sated in a dreamy state, and he rested, spent, within her. She stroked his hair and pressed her lips into his neck. Up close, she could see the beginnings of gray at his temples. He was the sexiest man she had ever known.
She wanted it to begin again immediately, but cautioned herself not to be greedy. Instead, she questioned, “How did you know that I wouldn’t scream for you to get out of my bed?”
Lifting his body up on his elbows, he kissed her eyes, her nose, her forehead, and finally nibbled at her ear. “I knew last night, but I wanted it to be perfect. Besides, spending the whole night thinking about making love to you was such a turn on.” He nuzzled her, which reminded her of one of her beloved horses.
Adelia sighed. “It was perfect, and it definitely was a turn on!”
“I’m glad you liked it, Princess! I can’t wait to do it again, but I’m feeling pangs of indescribable hunger. So what does a guy have to do to get some breakfast around this place?” He slid out of her, and she instantly felt the void and emptiness.
Reaching for her hand, he pulled her from the bed into his arms and kissed her. An electrical charge passed between them. “You’d better make me some food, before my hunger for you is reawakened.”
“Hmmm, I feel it growing right now,” she giggled, wriggling free of his arms. She grabbed her silk robe and disappeared toward the kitchen. “Coffee, eggs, bacon, and toast, coming up!” She wondered at her own carefree behavior. It seemed that in one evening she had transitioned from girlhood to adulthood. The way Miles treated her made her feel like a woman, not a girl.
Left alone, Miles picked up his cell phone to check for messages. He hit redial as he walked to the sliding-glass doors and stared out across the endless acreage that spanned to the mountains. He waited for the voice on the other end to pick up. “Hi! Yes, it went fine. I’d say we’re making excellent progress…” He listened to the reply with a cruel smile curling his lips. “What do you want me to say, that I didn’t enjoy it? Remember, this was your idea, not mine!…We’ll talk later…Ciao!”
He shimmied into his pants and followed the aroma of sizzling bacon to the kitchen, where Adelia was plating their breakfast. Coming up behind her, he encircled her with his arms. “Smells scrumptious, and so do you!”
She twirled in his arms, her back arching as she pressed against him. “You’d better not start something you can’t finish,” she teased.
“Oh, I’ll finish it all right, but when you least expect it.”
“I’m counting on it,” she flirted.
Miles ate his breakfast like a man who had gone without food for a week. She relished watching him sop up the yolks with his toast. She began to realize that everything he did, he did with passion and focus; even the simple act of eating was a sensuous pleasure. She suddenly felt grateful to Karolin for introducing her to Miles. It made her appreciate just how lonely and isolated she had been since her parents’ deaths.
The new lovers talked about the upcoming Grand Prix in the Hamptons. Miles said that one of their horses would be competing in several classes and that he and Karolin were going. Miles’s mind worked like quicksilver, following a logical course that usually led to the fulfillment of his desire. Why should Adelia fly commercial when she could fly on his private jet with Karolin a week from Tuesday? Karolin was visiting with friends in Beverly Hills and the timing couldn’t be better. He had to fly to New York tomorrow and would arrive in the Hamptons the following Friday. It was a perfectly natural opportunity for them to get to know each other.
“We’ll have a terrific weekend, and I’ll get to spend it with the winner of the Hampton Classic!”
Adelia’s eyes sparkled, and her laughter was uninhibited; she could not contain her joy. She loved that Miles took it for granted that they were a “we” and that she would win the most important competition of her life. She kissed him seductively. “I’m going to take a shower.”
She closed her eyes and leaned her head back as the steamy, hot spray pulsed over her. She had never enjoyed a shower so much—every fiber of her being felt alive. The glass-enclosed stall was fogged up, and she was unaware that Miles had soundlessly entered the bathroom.
He watched her through the steamy glass, his cock growing hard as he ran his hand down the length of it. He hadn’t had time to truly appreciate t
he beautiful creature before him. Now, as he watched her turn beneath the spray, he could see the long legs that disappeared into narrow hips and the tiny waist that curved upward to perky, full breasts. The firm, round buttocks were inviting, and he hardened further thinking about entering her from behind. When his arousal became a demand that must be satisfied, he slipped into the shower, startling her. Before she could protest, his tongue was deep in her mouth, his cock pressed possessively against her. She groaned in response to the intensity of his passion. Demanding fulfillment, he picked her up and entered her with a single thrust. “I told you I would fuck you when you least expected it.”
She moaned and wrapped her legs around him as he pinned her to the wall. There was nothing slow or deliberate about his lovemaking this time. Holding her butt cheeks in his hands, he pummeled her rapidly, groaning with each plunge. “Fuck, you are so hot!” The shower spray drenched them and filled her mouth with water as he continued to hammer her. He was voracious in his hunger for her, and she panted like an animal in heat until, with a final thrust, he brought her to a screaming climax as he exploded within her. It wasn’t the water that she was drowning in—it was pleasure. Spent, he released her, and they both sank to the floor. For the longest time she rested against his chest while the water drummed against them.
Adelia had never experienced anything like this man, and she felt invisibly bound with sexual appetency. The thought of not seeing him for more than a week seemed impossible. She wondered at her insatiable desire for him.
