“You-You’re thinking about that right now?” Darcy asked.
“I’ve pretty much been thinking about that 24 hours a day since I saw you at the candy shop,” he admitted with a boyish grin.
And before that? Darcy wondered if he’d thought about her at all in the past five years. Had he stared at the ceiling, trying to sleep at night, with thoughts of her running through his brain? Had he caught the scent of her perfume in the air and remembered the way she’d kissed him, or seen her in a crowd and followed until he realized it wasn’t her? Had he been obsessed with the memory of her?
“I have a job to do here,” she said. “My father is coming in at the end of the week to do a walk-through and I have a million things to finish before then.”
“But I bet not one of them is as much fun as I am,” Kel said. He leaned over the table and caught her chin with his thumb, tipping her face up to his. His lips touched hers softly, his tongue barely grazing the crease in her lips.
God, why did his kiss have such a profound effect on her? She ought to be able to resist him if she wanted to. After all, she knew he’d spent years honing his talents on a string of other women. For Kel Martin, she was just one more in a long line of females to tumble.
So what was wrong with that? As long as she kept herself from becoming emotionally involved, Darcy could have a fabulous week with him. Ending each day in his arms, in his bed would be sheer decadence-something that even a fifty-pound box of chocolates could never match. And didn’t she deserve a little pleasure in her life?
“I have to go to work,” Darcy said. “I’ll see you tonight and let you know what I’ve decided.”
“I’ll be waiting,” Kel called as she walked away.
DARCY GLANCED over at the clock, then kicked back from the edge of the pool. Midnight. She’d spent the entire day thinking about Kel and nothing she did could distract her mind from what they’d shared the night before.
An afternoon business meeting in San Francisco had occupied her time but she’d barely been able to focus on the architect’s plans for the new wing of the spa. Instead, she’d thought about what she’d be doing later that evening, running the possible sexual scenarios over and over in her head.
She’d expected to return by dinner, in plenty of time to discuss the terms of her decision with Kel. But a conference call with her father had delayed her for hours. Darcy had finally pulled into the parking garage at eleven, exhausted yet filled with a nervous anticipation.
A quick check of the computer brought up Kel’s itinerary for the day. After breakfast, he’d played 18 holes of golf, then had two beers in the bar along with a late lunch. At four p.m., he’d enjoyed a deep-tissue massage with Cynda, then bought some toiletries at the hotel gift shop. He’d made two phone calls to his home phone in San Francisco and watched an action movie on pay-per-view before ordering room service-a steak and baked potato with apple pie for dessert. He’d also left three messages on her voice mail and a note at the front desk.
Darcy floated on her back and stared up at the ceiling of the pool house. The reflection from the underwater lights swirled in a soothing pattern above her and she tipped her head back and closed her eyes. Swimming always exhausted her. Whenever she found herself facing a sleepless night, when her mind was plagued with business worries, she’d come to the pool and swim laps until her head cleared and her body relaxed.
Resisting Kel Martin was what really worried her. The temptation to go to his room was almost overwhelming. She’d sat in her office for fifteen minutes considering her choices. Take a swim, try to sleep or sneak up to Kel’s suite and see if they might be able to enjoy a repeat of yesterday’s activities.
Darcy stroked to the far end of the pool where a huge glass wall overlooked the grounds. Outside, a full moon hung low over the horizon and a chilly winter wind buffeted the high pines. As she made a neat kick turn, her gaze caught sight of a figure strolling across the wide stone terrace outside. Probably one of the maintenance staff, she thought as she started another lap.
But when she returned to that end of the pool again, she saw Kel standing on the deck. He was dressed in an old T-shirt and a faded pair of jeans that hung low on his hips. His feet were bare and his hair tousled, as if he’d just crawled out of bed.
“The pool is closed,” she said, grabbing onto the edge and tucking her knees to her chest.
He raked his hand through his hair. “I couldn’t sleep. Too many things on my mind.”
“How did you know where to find me?”
“The front desk clerk said you sometimes swim here late at night. I thought I’d give it a shot.”
Darcy’s hair was plastered to her forehead and she submerged once more and brushed it from her eyes. She watched as Kel’s eyes drifted from her face to her chest.
“When you retire from baseball, you ought to consider a career as a private investigator,” she said.
“Maybe so.” He squatted in front of her, his elbows resting on his knees. “I need to find something to do with myself pretty quick.” He shook his head, a rueful smile twisting his lips. “I’m pretty much done with baseball.”
His words were so thoughtful, so direct, that Darcy felt as if she had been offered a glimpse of the real Kel Martin for the very first time. “How do you feel about that?”
He shrugged. “I’m not sure yet. You’re the first person I’ve told. I was supposed to have surgery in the post-season and I just didn’t do it.”
“Why not?”
“Another shoulder operation, a year of rehab, all for a chance at another year or two at most. If the arm didn’t come back, I’d probably bounce around the league. I was thinking, instead, maybe I should get a start on the rest of my life.”
“Isn’t baseball your life?”
Kel shook his head. “I thought so, but I know better now. I’ve had a good run. My arm has lasted longer than 95% of the guys in the league.”
“Will you miss it?”
“It’s not real-the money, the fame, the women. I knew it wasn’t real from the start, but the past few years it was starting to feel…like normal life and that scared me.”
“And what will you do now?”
“The things all guys do sooner or later. Marriage, a family.” He chuckled softly. “But right now, I’m thinking about taking a swim.”
He stood, then reached down for the hem of his T-shirt and tugged it over his head. Darcy couldn’t help but stare. He really did have a beautiful body, lean yet muscular, his wide shoulders tapering to a narrow waist. Her gaze followed a light trail of hair that began at his collarbone and disappeared beneath the waistband of his jeans.
“It’s not like people won’t remember you,” she said, searching for anything to distract her from a careful study of his crotch. “You-you pitched a no-hitter, a perfect game. People will remember that.”
“I didn’t realize you followed my career.”
Darcy’s smile faded as she pushed away from the edge of the pool, swimming to the middle. “You were all over the papers. It was kind of hard to miss.”
“You followed my career,” he repeated.
“What if I did?”
“I like that,” he said. “I like knowing that you thought about me once or twice in the five years we were apart.”
“More than once or twice,” she admitted.
“Me, too,” he said. “I thought about you quite a bit.”
She watched him from the water as he unzipped his jeans and skimmed them down over his hips and knees. She’d expected boxers, but he hadn’t bothered with underwear. “You-you didn’t bring a suit,” she stuttered, stating the obvious.
“I wasn’t planning to swim,” Kel said, standing naked in front of her. “I understand the whole theory of skinny-dipping is that everyone takes their clothes off.”
Darcy shook her head. “Oh, no. I run this hotel. If someone walked in and found me in the pool, naked, with a naked man, the staff would never stop talking about it. If you
come in, I’m getting out.”
Kel stepped to the edge of the pool and dove neatly into the water, swimming to the center. He came up in front of her, grabbing her waist as he did. Darcy screamed and tried to kick away from him, but Kel held tight.
“I can’t seem to get enough of you,” he said, gently tugging down one strap of her tank suit and dropping a kiss on her shoulder. “Why is that?”
“You’re seriously demented?”
He captured her mouth and plunged his tongue inside in a lightning-quick assault. “I think it’s all the chocolate I’ve been eating,” he said, his mouth now trailing up her neck to her ear. “Have you been eating chocolate? Because you taste delicious.”
“I may have had a few pieces,” she admitted.
He tugged the other strap down and her tank suit gaped in the front, exposing the tops of her breasts. Kel tugged a bit harder and the suit was suddenly around her waist. “That’s much better,” he said.
Darcy stared at him for a long moment. Why did she even bother fighting him? All her resolve just disappeared the moment he touched her. With a resigned smile, she skimmed the suit down over her hips, then kicked it off. “Satisfied?”
“Not yet, but I will be,” he teased. “And so will you.”
“What are you going to do with me?”
Kel yanked her naked body against his, his eyes fixed on hers. “I missed you today.”
Darcy moaned softly, tipping her head to the side. “Why do you insist on torturing me?”
“Because you seem to enjoy it so much,” Kel said. He drew back, then traced the shape of her lower lip with his finger. “You do enjoy it, don’t you, Darcy?”
She hesitated for a moment as Kel waited for her answer. He needed to know she wanted him as much as he wanted her. But was she ready to admit that? He cupped her face in his hands and kissed her, his tongue invading her mouth as his fingers wove through her hair.
“Tell me you want me,” he murmured against her lips. “I want to hear you say it.”
“I want you,” Darcy said, dragging her mouth across his. Her body conformed to his as he pulled her legs up around his waist, his erection brushing against her suggestively. They bobbed in the water, kissing and touching, Darcy marveling at the slippery feel of their naked bodies touching underwater.
“If we do this here, one of us will end up drowned,” he said.
Darcy unwrapped her legs from his waist. “Then come with me,” she murmured. She swam to the end of the pool and climbed the steps to the deck, turning to face him as she did, unfazed by her nakedness.
A stack of fluffy white towels, embroidered with a gold “D,” sat in a nearby basket and Darcy grabbed one and wrapped it around her body. Then she turned back and watched as Kel followed her.
The sight of his shaft, hard and ready, sent a thrill racing through her. He was hers tonight, to enjoy for as long as she wished. Darcy picked up a towel and took it to him, slowly rubbing it over his damp skin and kissing the spots that she’d dried.
Kel closed his eyes, enjoying her little seduction, and for the first time, Darcy realized the power she held over him. Yes, he could seduce her, but she could just as easily seduce him. She slipped the towel around his neck and pulled him into another kiss, his desire pressing against her belly, hot and hard.
Darcy reached down and touched him, and Kel sucked in a sharp breath. Then, she stepped away from him and walked toward the spa. She could be a tease if she wanted to and Darcy wanted to return a little bit of the torment he’d lavished on her.
Each of the marble-lined steam showers were like small rooms, shower heads on three of the four walls with a low bench against one side. Darcy dropped her towel, then stepped inside and turned on the water, adjusting the temperature. A moment later, Kel joined her, grabbing her waist and pressing her back against the wall.
They stood under the rainfall of water, kissing, laughing, exploring each other’s bodies slowly and deliberately. Darcy ran her fingers over the scar at his shoulder, then kissed it, as if that could somehow make it better.
“You are so beautiful,” he murmured. Kel cupped her breast in his hand and then bent and gently sucked on her nipple.
“I’m too small on top.”
He shook his head. His palms covered her breasts, his thumbs teasing at the hard peaks. “You’re perfect exactly the way you are,” he said. “See how we fit?” He straightened and pulled her against him, his hands firm on her hips. “As if we were made for each other.”
“I’m sure there are other women in this world who fit,” Darcy said, reaching around and placing her hands over his.
“Not like you,” he murmured. “Not like you.” He reached down and slipped his finger inside her. “See,” he whispered. “Perfect.”
Darcy held her breath as he slid in and out of her, teasing her closer to her release. But this wasn’t going to be about her, at least not yet. She drew his hand away and wrapped it around her neck. “I think it’s time I torture you for a change.”
“Please do,” he said, holding his hands up in mock surrender.
She pressed a kiss to his mouth, then trailed her lips lower and lower, down his chest to his belly, dropping kisses on his wet skin as she went. Then, kneeling in front of him, she slowly took him into her mouth. Kel groaned, furrowing his fingers through her wet hair in an attempt to control her.
The water seemed to heighten the experience, her palms sliding over his flat belly and narrow hips as she drew him in and out of her mouth, her fingertips exploring every hard angle and rippled muscle. As she brought him closer, with a hand to her head he urged her to slow her pace. But Darcy needed his surrender, wanted to feel it and taste it. Finally, with a frustrated growl, he bent down and drew her to her feet.
“We can’t stay here,” he said in a ragged voice. “We don’t have a condom.”
“We don’t need one,” Darcy replied.
He caught her gaze, confused. “Are you sure?”
“I’ll take care of you,” she said, her hand drifting back down over his abs to his belly.
“But I want to be inside you,” he said.
“You will be. Just close your eyes.”
He did as he was told and Darcy slowly began to stroke him. “How do I feel?” she murmured. “Tell me.”
“Oh, God,” Kel moaned. “I can’t do this.”
“You can,” Darcy urged. “Just tell me.”
He paused for a long moment. “You’re warm…and wet. And so tight.” He held his breath. “It’s like I’m part of you. You’re all around me…and it feels so…incredible.” His voice drifted off as he surrendered to her touch. Darcy listened to the clues his body gave her, his quickened breathing, his tense grip on her shoulders.
“I want you to come with me,” he murmured, reaching down to touch her between her legs. He drew his finger along the soft folds of her sex.
Darcy smiled and nuzzled his chest, slowing her pace so that she might catch up. It felt so good to touch him, to share her body with him, to enjoy his body without any fears or hesitation. With Kel, sex was so simple, just passion and lust and desire and nothing more. She didn’t have to think about her past or about her future. For now, he was hers and she’d have him whenever she wanted.
They climaxed together, shuddering into each other’s touch until they were both completely spent. Then Kel gently drew her back beneath the shower and washed them both. Darcy was so relaxed that she could barely stand and leaned on him lazily, her arms wrapped around his neck.
“Take me to bed,” she said.
He wrapped her in one of the thick terrycloth robes that hung beside each steam shower, then grabbed one for himself. They walked back through the pool house, Kel grabbing up his clothes and retrieving his room key from the pocket of his jeans. Before they got to the lobby, he drew the hood of Darcy’s robe up over her head to hide her from any curious staff members that they might encounter.
Darcy was too relaxed to worry about anyth
ing but crawling into Kel’s bed and falling asleep in his arms. They rode up the elevator snuggled together, her nose buried in the soft dusting of hair on his chest. And when they reached his room, he helped her out of the robe, then tucked her into his bed.
They could have made love. Instead, they talked, lying in each other’s arms and learning all the little details of childhood adventures and first loves and silly embarrassments. But with every detail that Kel gave her, she felt as if she knew it already.
She’d known him, in her heart, since the very first time they’d met. And everything that he told her now was simply confirmation of the man that she knew him to be-a man that she might not ever stop wanting.
4
“AS YOU CAN see, the kitchen needs a bit of updating. New cabinets and appliances could do wonders. But the layout is good, nice and spacious.”
“I don’t do much cooking,” Kel said as he strolled to the sink. He turned on the faucet to check the water pressure then turned it off. A window over the sink opened onto the view of Crystal Lake and the long lawn that led down to the water.
“Is there a pier down there?” he asked.
The real estate agent nodded. “There’s also an old boathouse, original to the property. And there’s a Victorian gazebo just beyond the trees that is just lovely.”
Kel smiled. “Are the neighbors quiet?”
“Most of these homes have been in the families for years,” she said. “The neighbors on both sides are retired. I suppose you’re looking for a bit more action?”
Kel shook his head. He’d had enough action. If he decided to retire, he wanted a place where he could be himself, where people wouldn’t constantly be staring or requesting autographs or asking him to recount their favorite moments in Giants baseball. And a place where he could have a boat and do a little fishing. He could have that here.
“I think I’ll fit right in.” He pointed out the window. “I’m just going to walk down to the lake. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
“You have one hundred feet of frontage,” she said. “There’s also a sandy beach. And there’s a nice little flagstone terrace they’ve built down there.”
Sinfully Sweet Page 20
