I hope so.
Instead, he reached for the lamp on the nightstand and turned it off. Hiding her disappointment, she closed her eyes when he went into the bathroom. Couldn’t see anything anyway. Trying to predict the man’s actions was an impossible task. He kept her on her toes, well, at the moment, her back.
The doorknob squeaked, and she opened her eyes again to light from the bathroom spilling into the bedroom until he flipped the switch. Greg rounded the canopy bed to enter it on the other side. Feigning sleep, she closed her eyes, uncertain what was expected of her in such a foreign situation.
“Roll onto your side.”
Which way—toward him or away?
A gentle nudge indicated he wanted her to face away from him. Good. Less intimidating—not that she could see much of his face in the dim light. She’d let him continue to call the shots.
His hand stroked her bare arm softly, raising thrill bumps in the wake of his fingertips rather than calming her nerves. If he expected her to sleep, he could think again. This was no way to make that happen.
“Relax. Close your eyes.” His soothing voice lulled her into following his instructions. “That’s it. Let everything go. You’re safe now. No one is going to hurt you.”
She drew a deep breath and released it slowly. Until Greg, she hadn’t had anyone take care of her since before Mrs. Foster passed. He’d been there for her from the night she’d fallen from the ladder and throughout the many weeks of recuperation that followed. Maybe she wasn’t the only reason he’d returned to the inn, but Tillie had to admit he’d been very attentive to her needs the entire time.
“I want you to picture yourself on a warm summer morning out in your herb garden snipping off a few sprigs of rosemary or thyme for the delicious meal you’re preparing for us later.”
But you won’t be here in the summer.
“What has you tensing up?”
“Um, the weeds in my garden.”
He chuckled as if he knew she wasn’t being honest. “Okay, let’s move to another image. How about flying high in your swing, not a care in the world? The wind is blowing your loosened hair.” He lifted her hair from the pillow, sending tingles across her scalp, and released it to slip through his fingers and fall over her shoulder and back until she shivered from the delicious sensation. She loved having her hair played with, not that anyone had since Mrs. Foster had fixed it before taking her to church on Saturdays or Sundays as a child.
“Mmm.”
At her moan of encouragement—bordering on ecstasy—he buried his fingers in her hair and massaged her scalp. Stress ebbed from her body, and she sighed. Greg’s hand focused more on her hair, so why had he set off a throbbing at the apex of her thighs?
Wanting to face him, she started to flip onto her back, but he stopped her with a hand to her shoulder. “I’m going to take care of you, Tillie. After what you’ve been through tonight, it’s understandable you’d be tense, but I know something that will totally relax you. Let me do this for you. I don’t expect or want anything in return. Tonight is all about you—restoring your body and mind—and giving you pleasure.”
Certain that they could work out whatever needed fixing in their relationship, she nodded. She wanted to surrender fully, trusting him not to take more than she wanted to give.
His hand stroked up and down her bare arm before moving around her waist and pulling her against the hard planes of his body. Did he want to relieve mental stress or the physical kind building between her legs? An answer of sorts came when he cupped her breast, only making her tense up in surprise.
Her chest burned before she remembered to take a breath. He kneaded her flesh and rolled a nipple between his finger and thumb. The already erect peak swelled even more in his hand.
Unfamiliar sensations built up, electrical impulses zinging between her breasts and her—“Greg!” she begged, unsure if she wanted him to stop or to do much, much more.
“Yes, sweetheart?” How could he sound so calm and matter-of-fact?
“Are you trying to drive me crazy or help me fall sleep?”
“I’m trying to relax you.”
“It’s not working.”
He chuckled, a sound coming from deep in his chest because she felt the vibration to her core. “Give it time.” He continued to touch her with only one hand, running it in a sweeping motion from her waist to her hip. When he began tugging at the gown, moving it upward in slow, methodical motions, she lifted her hips to aid him. He might think her wanton, but she didn’t care. She wanted whatever stress relief he intended to dish out.
Her heart beat so loudly the sound of blood whooshed in her ears; she didn’t know if he spoke any other words. She ought to stop him now, but what if she never experienced this with him?
When the hem reached her hips, his hand stroked her bare thigh, upward to—
“Are we missing something again, Miss Tillie?”
She groaned with embarrassment. “I don’t wear panties to bed. Too confining.”
“For an old-fashioned woman, you’re full of surprises, aren’t you?”
She heard the suppressed laughter in his voice, which made her a little giddy. “I guess you’ll have to find out.” Where had that teasing tone come from? She’d been laid bare tonight. What else could she possibly have to hide? She’d always been an open book.
“I’ve always enjoyed a challenge.” He pressed a kiss to her shoulder blade. “First, tell me if any places on your body are off-limits to my hand.”
She shook her head, although it seemed a little late to ask.
“Answer me out loud so there aren’t any misunderstandings.”
“No. Nothing is off-limits to you, although I reserve the right to change my mind.”
“Fair enough.” She heard the smile in his voice.
His hand swept up under the gown and across her belly, bypassing the place she’d expected him to home in on. Wanting to give him better access to her throbbing core, she rolled onto her back. Her eyes had adjusted to the lighting, and she could make out his eyes and the smile she’d known was there. His head rested in the palm of his free hand while he leaned on his elbow as though gazing down at her on a picnic blanket.
“Any place off-limits to my lips?”
Her heart thudded to a stop momentarily then raced away. “No.” The word stuck in her throat, and she repeated it to make sure he didn’t stop what he was doing.
His head lowered to her face, and he took her lips with his, tenderly, tentatively at first. Tension mounted as his hand moved to her thigh again, spreading her legs open for him. Her hips bucked upward involuntarily, and her cheeks flushed in embarrassment. Her body had a mind of its own—and knew exactly what it wanted.
Was she ready for this? Whatever this was. She had no clue, but intended to see how far he’d go with his unorthodox relaxation technique. So far, she was wound tighter now than when he started, but the promise of release convinced her to see if this could work.
She giggled against his lips, and he pulled away.
“What’s so funny? I’m trying to be serious here.”
“Sorry. Please, don’t let me stop you. I’m sure it’s only a case of nerves.”
His lips nuzzled the valley between her neck and shoulder, and the smile left her face. Oh dear God! That feels so good! Turning her head more to give him better access, she moaned. He knew all the places that set her body on fire for him.
He separated the fabric at the vee neckline, her breasts remaining covered by the tight-fitting, sheer panels. His lips trailed over her shoulder and breast as though she wore nothing at all, licking and kissing along the way. He cupped her breast and took the chiffon-covered nipple into his mouth. Tillie arched her back and gasped.
His hand moved from her pelvis to her other shoulder as he pressed her down on the mattress. His delicious mouth released her. “Lie still. Hold onto the spindles in the headboard.” He sounded like a drill sergeant.
She responded appropria
tely. “Yes, sir.”
The vibration of his chuckle reverberated against her breast as he gently bit her swollen peak. She groaned as sparks of electricity shot through her breast, up her neck, and into her jaw, but she tried her damnedest not to move. Had some other woman been instructed to hold onto the spindles like this in the past, resulting in the one being broken?
His hand crept downward over her gown to her bare thigh and between her legs. It took every ounce of willpower she could muster to keep from positioning her hips closer to his hand. Instead, she waited for him to touch her while her stomach twisted into knots of anticipation. His fingertips drew circles on her inner thigh, mimicking the motion she wanted him to do to another part of her body—and soon. Between his mouth, teeth, and his magic hand, she was losing the ability to think rationally.
Ever so slowly, his fingertips inched closer…closer…until at last he brushed them lightly over her curls.
Don’t you dare move! She didn’t want him to stop until she exploded, which wouldn’t take long at this point.
But rational thought did break into her thoughts. She wouldn’t repeat the mistakes of the other women in her family. She stayed his hand with her own. “I’m not on anything.”
He pulled away from her breast, not immediately letting go of her nipple, which stretched until he released it with a plop. “I thought we’d already established that that’s not a problem. Tonight isn’t about me coming inside you. It’s about me taking care of your needs.”
“Oh.” She couldn’t hide her disappointment, despite the fact that’s what she said she wanted. Her mind was in turmoil and her body under siege.
“Not that I won’t want to make love with you one day, but for now, my only intention is to give you a screaming orgasm—or two. So stop worrying.”
“Okay.” She couldn’t string two words together to save her soul at the moment. Wait, yes, she could. “Thank you.” No man had ever made her feel so cherished before in her life.
“Scream for me when you come. Don’t leave me guessing.”
He was so certain she’d be able to reach that point. Tillie didn’t want to doubt his abilities, but decided to prepare him for certain failure. “I’m sorry, but I don’t think I’m able to—”
Her words became muffled as he pressed his lips against hers, his tongue delving inside forcefully, mimicking the lovemaking she hoped they would be able to enjoy one day. She no longer dreaded sex as she once had. Not with Greg, anyway. His fingers parted her folds before one dove between her cleft and brought moisture up to her throbbing core.
Yes!
He continued kissing her as his finger made infuriatingly slow circles around and around the bundle of nerves until she reached up to grab the sides of his head to let her tongue explore his mouth, not wanting him to stop too soon. Her next moan buried itself in his mouth as she tasted him—minty. More sexiness than one man deserved.
All mine.
The thought caught her off guard, but in this moment, she truly felt that he belonged to her. She’d fight to keep him.
Their tongues tangoed until he pulled away. “I appreciate your enthusiasm, but where are your hands supposed to be?”
Every time he ordered her to do this or that, she only became more turned on. She didn’t like his bossiness outside the bedroom, but could definitely get used to it in here.
She released his head and clasped her hands on the spindles above her head, away from temptation. For now.
Once more, his mouth and hand moved to bring her to the peak of excitement, her entire body thrumming, begging for release. Not being in control of when she would come only heightened her desire that much more. She’d never have prolonged the gratification with her own hand—but that waned in comparison.
Her mind receded as he bombarded her senses. When he stopped putting pressure against her pulsating nubbin, she screamed in frustration. He only chuckled before his finger slid downward and entered her as his thumb worked its magic on her sex.
“Yes! Don’t stop! Oh God!”
Thank God her hands were occupied or she’d give in and pull him on top of her and take this where she wanted to go. The tension mounted until her hips rose off the mattress as she screamed her release.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Greg watched her face as his finger entered her. Her eyes closed as her teeth latched onto her lower lip, as if biting back words. She’d kept her hands where he’d told her to, giving her the chance to fully experience the orgasm without worrying about pleasing him.
Not that he wasn’t rock-hard for her.
She was so tight around his finger. He tried not to think about how she’d feel around his…
Her eyes opened wide as she locked her gaze on his.
“Let yourself go, sweetheart.”
She stared at him as he coaxed the climax from her, but in the final moments, her eyes closed, and she screamed.
He must be grinning like a Cheshire cat for bringing her off. He’d been uncertain as to whether he could after what she’d been through tonight, but her responsiveness and trust made him feel like a hero.
Maybe he hadn’t been here to protect her when she needed him, but he sure as hell could take care of her afterward.
Damn, Tillie was the sexiest woman he’d ever been with, perhaps because she wasn’t aware how much her naiveté mixed with a touch of sex kitten turned him on. Her seeming inexperience left the promise of many more nights discovering what her body responded to.
“That was…amazing…” Her eyes opened. “Thank you.”
He bent his head toward her and kissed her on the lips, not wanting to ignite another firestorm in her—or him—nor wanting to analyze what just happened. A chaste goodnight kiss. “Get some sleep now.”
Her forehead wrinkled with worry.
“Being able to do that for you and to spend the night with you in my arms is all I need right now.”
“But I—”
He pressed his finger to her lips. “Shh. Close your eyes and lie on your side so I can spoon up against you.”
She didn’t move until he gave her a nudge. “I feel selfish for leaving you—”
“Tillie. Go to sleep.” Before I change my mind.
He placed a kiss on her shoulder through the sheer fabric, her skin beneath his lips warm and sweet. Yanking the hem down over her knees, he closed the space between them, grabbing a pillow and tucking it in front of his arousal rather than against her round… Don’t go there. He wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her to him, knowing sleep would be elusive for him tonight.
After a while, her breathing slowed. At least one of them could catch a few winks. He’d hoped to take her mind off what had happened downstairs and apparently had succeeded.
What would happen tomorrow? Where did they go from here? He closed his eyes, relaxing for the first time in days.
Sunlight streamed into the bedroom from the window across the room, and Greg blinked his eyes. How had he managed to fall asleep? He glanced at his watch. Eight-twelve. Tillie probably hadn’t slept this late in ages, but she’d not fallen asleep until nearly five-thirty. He’d continue to hold her to let her catch a few more hours of sleep; then he’d take her out to breakfast.
“Greg?” she whispered.
So much for letting her sleep in. “Yes?”
She scooted onto her back and smiled up at him. “I’ve been lying here for ages waiting for you to wake up. But I didn’t want to disturb your sleep.”
Too late for that.
He shook his head with a grin. Always worrying about everyone else. “You should be sleeping.”
She reached up and stroked the stubble on his cheek. “I slept more soundly than I have in ages, thanks to…you.” Her cheeks grew rosy. “I thought I’d be up all night reliving that horrific moment in my dining room, but I didn’t even dream about it.” She grinned. “Your relaxation methods were wonderfully distracting.”
“Good. There’s more where that came
from.”
Tillie smiled and glanced away. “I should get up and start breakfast.” When she moved to rise, he pressed her shoulder against the mattress.
He brushed the hair from her forehead and captured her attention once more. “We’re going out. I’m taking care of you today, but you know I can’t cook.”
“I don’t mind at all. It’s what I do best.”
“Tillie, where’s the best place to eat around here—after your kitchen?”
“Mammy’s in Bardstown, but it’s not necessary. I could have it ready in thirty minutes, faster than it would take us to drive there and wait for our food.”
“Humor me on this—but before we get dressed, there’s something I want to talk with you about.” She furrowed her brows and cocked her head. Might as well blurt it out. “I think you need a change of scenery for a while.”
“Okay, okay,” she said, grinning. “I’ll go out with you to breakfast if it’s that important to you.”
Time to say what he’d come here to tell her.
* * *
Tillie followed the hostess to a booth near the fireplace. After ordering, Tillie met Greg’s gaze over her coffee mug. Her heart pounded as if she was in mile twenty-six of a marathon. The trauma of last night was over. This morning, she wanted to know why he’d returned.
“Thank you again for everything, Greg. You can’t begin to know how much it meant for me to have you with me last night.”
He took a sip of his black coffee. The lines around his eyes were evidence of all the sleep he’d lost. And soon she’d have four guests staying at the inn.
“About why I came back.”
“I was going to ask that next.” She grinned before growing serious again. “You couldn’t have known Mark would break in last night.”
He shook his head. “I’ve been miserable without you, Tillie. And knowing that it was all my fault only made matters worse. If I’d come out and told you what I’d been looking for, I might not have lost you.”
She wasn’t so sure she’d have accepted his explanation given her own fears, but after the way he’d taken care of her last night, not only that incredible orgasm but the tenderness with which he’d taken care of her and held her in his arms for hours, she needed to make her own confession to him.
Jesse's Hideout (Bluegrass Spirits 1) Page 29
