Initially when they’d started off, she’d been nervous and stiff sitting behind him, but as he navigated the stretch of road ahead she eventually relaxed against his back, and the hands he’d tucked around his waist loosened their death grip.
After a while he found an alcove off the side of the road that had a perfect view of the lake, and he pulled over onto the gravelly area.
“So, what did you think?” he asked once they’d dismounted and removed their helmets, watching as she shook her silky hair, then combed through the strands with her fingers.
Energized after the ride, she turned toward him, a dazzling, exuberant smile on her face. “That was amazing!”
Her vivacious response was exactly what Connor had been hoping for. “Good, I’m glad.” He extended his hand to her. “Come on, let’s go sit down by the lake.”
Without hesitating, she slipped her fingers into his, their cool fingers intertwining intimately. It was a simple, uncomplicated gesture, but it was one of those small things that Connor appreciated and savored, because it felt like an expression of Rebecca’s faith in him. Or so he’d like to think.
With only the shimmering moonlight guiding them, Connor led the way down a grassy knoll to a cluster of large boulders near the edge of the lake. He sat down on top of one of the bigger rocks and helped Rebecca up beside him. They were no longer holding hands, and he missed that warmth and connection.
“So, why do I get the impression that you haven’t had a whole lot of fun and adventure in your life?” Connor asked.
She tipped her head at him, amusement glimmering in her eyes. “Not all of us can afford the kind of fun you can.”
“I’m not necessarily talking about material things,” he said, and unzipped his leather jacket so he could enjoy the cool evening temperature. “I’ve known you for three years now, and you’ve always come across as so reserved, so completely opposite to your sister’s lively, outgoing personality.”
She lifted a brow. “So, are you saying I’m a snob?”
Beneath her teasing tone Connor detected a sensitive, guarded emotion he didn’t fully understand. “No, you’ve never come across as a snob,” he said, trying to find the right words to get his point across. “You’re just so much more serious than your sister.”
“Celeste is also six years younger than I am,” she replied, as if that alone explained their contrasting dispositions.
Six years also separated him and Rebecca, Connor knew, and refused to let her use that as a defense with her sister, or as a way to distance herself from him. “I don’t think the differences in your personalities have anything to do with age.”
Her chin jutted out in opposition. “It has everything to do with me being older than Celeste.”
“Why, because it makes you so much more mature?” he asked, rolling out the last word in a humorous attempt to lighten the mood between them.
The corner of her mouth twitched with a smile, giving him what he’d been after, but it didn’t completely erase the unease in her gaze. “Let’s just say that I had to grow up fast.”
Now they were getting somewhere. Beyond the superficial to the emotional, which was exactly what he wanted. “Why?” he asked, low and soft.
She looked out at the silver cast of moonlight spilling across the lake, and he prayed that she wouldn’t shut him out now that he’d finally managed to scale one of those walls of hers. His gut told him that her reasons were key to Rebecca and who she was, and why she was so guarded. And he needed to know exactly what he was up against.
After a silent minute passed, she spoke. “My mother passed away when I was sixteen and Celeste was ten. It was hard enough trying to deal with the adjustment of my mother’s death, who was a stay-at-home mom, but my father’s job required him to travel often and he was gone more than he was home, even after she passed away.”
“That couldn’t have been easy for you and your sister.”
“No, it wasn’t.” She drew her knees up and wrapped her arms around her legs, her gaze still focused on the gently rippling water. “Our neighbor at the time, Mrs. Sedgewick, stayed with us while my father was out of town, but I automatically took over the responsibilities at home that my mother used to take care of: cooking, cleaning, shopping, that sort of stuff.”
“And taking care of Celeste,” he added, already getting a clear view of Rebecca’s abnormal childhood. So much responsibility for someone so young.
“Yes.” She met his gaze and smiled, and there wasn’t the slightest glimmer of regret in her expression for what she’d sacrificed during her teenage years. “In a lot of ways I became a mother figure for her. Our situation was difficult enough with my mother being gone and our father always out of town, and the last thing I wanted was for Celeste to feel insecure, to feel like she didn’t have someone in her life she could count on. And because my sister was all I really had, it was easy to focus all my attention on her.”
He had a sister, as well, and knew just how strong those sibling bonds could be. “She’s very lucky to have you.”
“We’re lucky to have one another,” she corrected emphatically. “Especially since my father didn’t provide much in the way of emotional support or even financial security.”
He frowned, surprised by that comment. He knew their father had passed away of a heart attack years ago, but Rebecca’s remark seemed to apply to their lives right before he passed away. “How do you mean?” he asked curiously.
Again, she hesitated, as if realizing that she’d said too much. Again, he waited calmly and quietly for her to confide in him.
“I always thought that my father had a decent paying job,” she finally said. “I never knew how much he actually made, but we lived in a nice house in a good neighborhood, and my father drove a BMW Coupe. We had the big-screen TV, a pool and spa in the backyard, and a computer with all the bells and whistles on it, which cost a fortune at the time. Any new electronic gadget that came out, he had to have, too, and he didn’t think twice about his spending sprees.”
A gentle gust of breeze threaded through her hair, and she absently brushed a stray strand off her smooth cheek before continuing. “Anyway, after my mother passed away, whenever my father had to go out of town he gave me some cash to buy groceries and whatever Celeste and I needed for school, such as supplies, clothes and shoes. I learned to be frugal and thrifty with what he gave me, which was often barely enough, because I hated asking for more, and I always wanted to make sure that I took care of Celeste’s needs.” She shrugged, her shoulders shifting beneath her fleece jacket. “I never needed much myself.”
Or she’d just learned to do without, he thought, seeing just how incredibly selfless she’d been. It was just another reason for him to fall hard for this woman.
“What I didn’t realize until much later was that my father had a spending problem, and he charged everything on credit cards but never paid off the balance. So, over time he’d accumulated a huge debt that was nearly impossible to pay off. And, eventually, that led to him having to file for bankruptcy. We even lost the house we were living in.”
Rebecca swallowed hard, feeling the old flare of resentment and pain swell within her, and she struggled to keep that anger toward her father’s irresponsible actions from rising to the surface. “Celeste didn’t take the news as hard as I did, but I was absolutely devastated by the loss. It was the only home that Celeste and I had ever known, and suddenly it was gone, along with most everything inside. And it never should have happened.”
Compassion etched Connor’s masculine features. “I’m sorry you had to go through that, Rebecca.”
She was touched by his sincerity, yet a part of her was too aware that he had the potential of being every bit as frivolous with his spending as her own father had been. “It was a very valuable lesson to learn, even at such a young age. Losing everything like that taught me the value of saving money and being financially secure. I don’t ever want to be in that kind of situation again.”
He nodded in understanding. “You gave up so much to raise your sister, even after your father’s death.”
She dropped her head back and stared up at the clear sky, and its scattering of a thousand brilliant stars. “I’d do it again in a heartbeat.”
“I don’t doubt that for one second.” The gentle caress of his fingers along her cheek made her turn to look at him again, and then he asked, “But what about you, Rebecca?”
Uncertain about what he meant, she blinked at him in confusion. “What about me?”
“You’ve done a phenomenal job taking care of your sister, but now that she’s getting married and starting a life of her own with Greg, what about your life?”
How could the man be so perceptive? It was as if he knew what a difficult time she was having letting her sister go, not that she was going to admit it out loud to him. “My life is good.”
“As good as you want it to be?”
His dark brown stare was direct and unwavering, making her feel as though he could see all the way to her soul. It was an unnerving sensation, especially since he was the first man that she’d so openly and honestly shared her past with. “Nobody’s life is perfect.”
“True,” he agreed. “But maybe it’s time for you to think about what you want for a change, and go for it.”
Go for it. There was that phrase again, tempting her to give into her deepest desires, which seemed intrinsically linked to this man. Heart, body, and soul.
That frightening thought shook her up inside, but she refused to let her fears override what she longed for the most. “For this moment, and this weekend, I want you,” she said, then gave into the impulse to lean toward Connor, place her hand on the soft cotton T-shirt covering his chest, and kiss him.
His mouth was incredibly warm and soft against hers, and when his lips gradually parted she was the one who initiated the kind of deeper, hotter kiss she craved. Tongues touched and mated, and as each slow kiss melded into another, a knot of pure, sensual need tightened in her belly, and lower.
His clean, male scent filled her senses, and beneath her hand she could feel the rapid beat of his heart, which matched her own. Her breasts swelled, her nipples tightened, and before long her entire body hungered for so much more. Like throwing caution and modesty to the wind and making love to Connor right out here in the open.
It was Connor who eventually ended the kiss, then pressed his forehead against hers. “It’s getting late,” he said, his voice gruff with arousal. “We should head back to the hotel.”
She managed a nod, grateful that at least Connor was able to think straight. A soft bed would be so much more comfortable than the hard ground or maneuvering around on a rock. “Okay.”
The ride back to the resort seemed to take twice as long. Once they arrived at the hotel, Connor dropped her off at the side entrance where he’d originally picked her up, then went to park his motorcycle.
She entered the hotel alone, wondering if this was the end of their night together since Connor hadn’t mentioned anything about seeing her in a few minutes, or even later. Obviously, he was respecting her request that they keep their relationship discreet and not be seen together in public. Or maybe she’d scared him off by giving him a glimpse of her dysfunctional past.
Uncertain what to do, Rebecca let herself into her room and headed toward the bedroom as she unzipped and shrugged off her fleece jacket. A smile curved her mouth when she caught sight of an unwrapped gift that had been left on her pillow. Last night she’d found chocolate-covered strawberries, and upon closer inspection she realized that this present was equally tempting, and made her come to the quick conclusion that her evening with Connor wasn’t over after all. Not if she didn’t want it to be.
She picked up the jar of Sinfully Sweet chocolate body paint, her mind already tumbling with wicked, erotic scenarios. Tied around the lid was a big red bow and two small paint brushes, along with a note card that read Do you dare? in Connor’s handwriting.
For once in her life she didn’t think twice, or analyze her answer-just went with feminine instincts and desires.
Yes, she dared.
4
AS SOON AS Connor opened the door to his room, a surge of anticipation rippled through Rebecca, and her fingers tightened around the jar of chocolate sauce in her hand. She’d never been one of those women that had seduction down to an art form, but there was something about this man that made her feel wanton and decidedly naughty.
She fingered the tip of the paint brushes and shivered as she imagined the feathery sensation of those soft bristles gliding across her bare skin. “I’m not much of an artist, but if you don’t mind me being an amateur, then I’m more than willing to give it a try.”
The grin that pulled up the corners of his mouth was blatantly sexual, and all male. “I don’t think that chocolate body paint requires you to be a perfectionist. In fact, in my opinion, the messier the better, because the best part is licking everything clean.”
She wasn’t about to argue with that. “Sounds like fun to me.”
“I was hoping you’d feel that way.” Taking her hand, he pulled her inside his room, closed and locked the door, then led the way toward the bedroom.
It appeared that after their conversation earlier at the lake, idle chit-chat wasn’t necessary. They both knew what they wanted-one another-and neither of them cared to waste time with small talk. Not when there was a perfectly good jar of Sinfully Sweet chocolate sauce waiting to be used.
Once they were in his bedroom, Connor turned on the light next to the bed, then stripped off his T-shirt and tossed it aside. Even though he’d been half-naked last night while they’d made out on the couch, Rebecca’s mouth went dry once again as she took in his sculpted body and thought about all the different ways she wanted to paint on him. His chest alone made one heck of an inspiring canvas.
“I get to paint first,” she said, breathlessly.
“You can go first, but I want both our clothes off because they’re just going to get in the way.”
He took the jar and brushes from her hand and set them on the nightstand next to a few foil packets he must have put there in preparation for tonight’s tryst. Then, he started unbuttoning her blouse.
It took the two of them less than a minute to undress down to their underwear, and for the moment Rebecca was grateful for that teeny bit of coverage-on both of them. Without it, she had a feeling that this first time together would be over before they even had the chance to enjoy the paint. She was already shaking from the heated caresses of Connor’s hands skimming along her curves as he’d stripped off her top, bra, and jeans.
Much to her own delight, there was no mistaking how aroused Connor was, either. His solid erection pressed against his snug briefs, long and thick. She licked her lips as she envisioned that part of him covered in delicious chocolate, and heard him groan.
She raised her gaze to his face, stunned by the intensity of his expression. It was a powerful, exhilarating sensation knowing that just one glance and a lick of the lips could inflame him so much. But she understood exactly what he was feeling, because one seductive look from him had the ability to make her melt inside, too.
Anxious to indulge in the shameless fantasies dancing in her head, she pressed her fingertips to his chest and gave him a light push backwards. “Lie down on the bed for me,” she said huskily.
He did as she asked, stretching his long, lean body in the middle of the mattress, and she didn’t hesitate to crawl up onto the bed after him and straddle his hips. She’d never been so bold and presumptuous with a man before, but the heat and desire darkening Connor’s eyes, along with the hard shaft pressing against her bottom, urged her to be as uninhibited as she wanted.
Reaching for the jar of body paint, she opened the lid, and the heady chocolate aroma unfurled a deeper hunger within her. With a provocative smile on her lips she dipped one of the brushes into the sauce and playfully swiped it across his chest, painting squiggly lines
here and there before swirling the soft bristled tip around his nipples.
Connor sucked in a deep breath, and his hands clenched her thighs as she continued on, painting along the concave of his belly, and the cute indentation of his navel. When he was sufficiently covered in chocolate sauce, she leaned down and tasted him, using her lips, teeth and long, slow laps of her tongue to savor the sweet, delectable flavor of Connor dipped in rich, smooth chocolate.
“Ummm,” she murmured against his hard stomach. “You taste a hundred times better than those strawberries.”
The only response he could manage was a deep, throaty grunt.
Smiling, she swirled her tongue into his belly button, and nibbled along his lower abdomen until she reached the waistband of his briefs. Wanting them gone, she easily pulled his underwear down his legs and off, then directed her full attention to his jutting erection.
Mesmerized by the sight of that breathtakingly masculine part of him, she dabbed a finger in the chocolate sauce and circled the head of his penis with a light caress that made his sex jerk in surprise. Enjoying his reaction, she scooped up more of the body paint, took him in her chocolate-coated hand, and stroked the entire length of his shaft-once, twice, before lowering her head and taking him in her mouth to finish the job.
Chocolate had never tasted so good, so erotic and tempting. And she couldn’t get enough.
She drew him in deep, reveling in his low, rumbling groan of pleasure and the way he tangled his fingers in her hair. She licked at him leisurely, nibbled gently, and teased him with long, suctioning swirls of her tongue that had his hips rising off the bed and his entire body tensing with the onslaught of a pulsing orgasm.
“Not yet,” he rasped before she could send him over the edge. In an amazingly coordinated movement he reared up, pushed her back onto the mattress, and swung a leg over her hips so that he was now straddling her.
Sinfully Sweet Page 5
