Highly Compromised Position

by Sara Orwig

  His gray eyes were filled with unmistakable desire. He could melt her with a look, and she wanted to kiss him as badly as she wanted him to kiss her.

  “I’ve waited all day to be alone again with you,” she said, going to him and winding her arms around his neck. While he gazed down at her, he placed his hands on her waist.

  “Thank you for the roses,” she said. “They’re beautiful.”

  “There are things I’ve been wanting to tell you,” he said. “It hasn’t been the time or place, but your kidnapping was a realization for me.” He brushed her hair away from her face and then held her shoulders, and she waited in silence for whatever he had to say to her.

  “When I saw you tumble out of the car, I couldn’t breathe. My heart stopped and everything in me froze. I was terrified for you.”

  “And—” she started, but he put his finger on her lips.

  “When I was waiting to see you at the hospital, while they checked you over, I had time to think. I realized that I’m in love with you, Rose. Deeply, forever, I’ll always love you.”

  Her heart thudded and she leaned toward him. “Tom!” she exclaimed while her heart missed beats. She started to lean closer to kiss him, but his hands held her away as he gazed solemnly into her eyes.

  “Rose, listen to me. I would say this to you if you weren’t pregnant.”

  Surprised, she looked intently at him. “I don’t think—”

  “Shh. I love you. Period. The end of conversation.” As he reached into his pocket and withdrew a small black box, her pulse leaped.

  “Hold out your hand,” he said.

  With her heartbeat racing, she did what he asked. He put the box in her hand. “I want you to marry me, Rose.” He framed her face with his hands. “I know now what I want, and it’s you forever.”

  Joy filled her. “This doesn’t have anything to do with my pregnancy?”

  “Nothing,” he said. “I need you in my life always. Don’t I act like a man in love?”

  “Yes, I guess you do,” she admitted.

  “I’ve thought about it and I know what I want.”

  While her heart raced, she knew the moment had come to make a decision. She looked into his gray eyes and wanted him with all her being. “Yes, I’ll marry you! I’ll marry you tomorrow if you want!” she cried, pulling his head down to kiss him, seeing the flare of surprise in his gaze that was gone instantly, replaced by scalding need.

  The ring box fell from her hands, but she barely noticed dropping it. He pulled her close into his embrace as he leaned over her. His kiss awakened all her senses and set her on fire. In a lifetime she knew she would never get enough of him.

  Joy shook her. In a rush she fumbled to loosen his clothing. Urgency tore at her and she wanted to pour out her feelings completely, wanting to love him for hours.

  He yanked off his black sweater and then pulled hers over her head. The heat of the flames was warm on her skin but nothing compared to the scalding need that Tom’s kisses stirred.

  Tracing the bulge of well-sculpted muscles, Rose ran her fingers over his chest before sliding her hands down across his flat stomach. Desiring him more than ever, she swiftly unbuckled his belt and trousers and pushed them away. He stepped out of his socks and shoes and kicked aside his trousers as she eased down his briefs. She inhaled, looking at his male perfection.

  “Rose, I love you,” he whispered and slipped off her skirt. She stood in the lacy black bra and panties while his hands roamed over her and she tingled all over.

  “You’re beautiful, Rose,” he said, peeling away her undergarments and leaning down to cup her breast and take a nipple in his mouth. His tongue drew hot, lazy circles while his other hand slid over her to caress and torment her.

  “Tom, I want you,” she cried.

  He eased her gently to the floor, kissing and caressing her. His hands floated over her body, touching, an exquisite torment that made her writhe with need and cling to him. She took his manhood in hand to kiss him, stroking him with her tongue until he gasped and pushed her down again, moving between her legs.

  As he gazed at her, he looked magnificent, and her heart pounded fiercely. “Come here. I love you,” she said and saw something flicker in the depths of his eyes.

  “Ah, Rose, you’re mine,” he said with such desire and satisfaction in his voice, her passion heightened.

  He lowered himself, filling her slowly, hot and hard, then withdrawing to thrust slowly into her again. While her pulse roared in her ears, she locked her long legs around him and clutched his firm buttocks to draw him closer, wanting him desperately, finally letting go and loving him without reservations, knowing she was in love.

  They moved together and she cried out when her release came.

  “I love you, Rose,” he said, grinding out the words. Sweat poured off him and he let go, reaching his climax.

  She could feel his heart pounding and his breath was as ragged as hers. Joy consumed her that all barriers between them were gone. When she ran her hands over his back, he turned them both and wrapped his arms around her to hold her close.

  “I love you now and always,” he declared. “I can’t say it enough times.”

  “I think I have a ring around here somewhere, don’t I?” she asked and he rolled away and sat up. He lay back down on his side and put a small box on her bare stomach. Then his fingers trailed lightly over her breast.

  She caught his hand to kiss him before picking up the black box. Her heart thudded when she raised the lid of the box and looked at a magnificent, sparkling diamond that took her breath.

  “Tom, this is gorgeous!”

  “It’s only a token for what I feel for you. I love you forever, Rose,” he said.

  She ran her fingers along his jaw. “We don’t have to wait. I know I’m in love and I probably have been longer than you have.”

  “I think I have since that first meeting at the hotel swimming pool.”

  She wrinkled her nose at him. “I don’t believe that. I definitely don’t believe in love at first sight—”

  “Don’t you now?” he quizzed, his gray eyes twinkling as he leaned down to nuzzle her neck.

  She laughed and pushed him away slightly. “You’ll tickle me.”

  He took the ring to slide it onto her finger. “I’d like to marry as soon as you’re willing.”

  “We can get married right away. I don’t need a big wedding, and with all that’s going on right now, a large wedding might be dangerous.”

  “I know you want to be with your family, but Connor is here to protect them. I’d like to get you away from all this for a couple of weeks.”

  She thought about two weeks alone with Tom without having to look over her shoulder almost every minute. “That would be wonderful,” she said.

  “I’ll take you any place you want to go.”

  “I’d prefer to be close enough to get home quickly if we had to. Too many bad things have happened to be around the world away from everyone.”

  “Close it is. How about something warm and tropical?”

  “Tom, my family,” she exclaimed and sat up. “Let’s go tell them now! They’ll be overjoyed.” She began gathering up clothes. He caught her arm and turned her to him while he smiled at her.

  “You’re not marrying me just to make your family happy, are you?”

  Dropping her clothes, she wrapped her arms around his neck and stood on tiptoe. “What do you think?” she asked and then kissed him long and passionately, pouring out all the love and joy she felt.

  Epilogue

  In the morning on the last Saturday in November, Rose was at their church in Royal. Dressed in a knee-length white silk dress with long sleeves, she bubbled with excitement. As her heart raced with eagerness, she stood in the foyer of the church’s small chapel to watch Nita walk down the aisle ahead of her. Nita was dressed in blue silk with blue flowers in her hair. Rose’s gaze went to Tom and her heart thudded.

  Lucas Devlin stood next to Tom, b
ut her gaze was only on Tom. Wearing a black suit, he looked more handsome today than ever, and she couldn’t stop looking at him.

  “It’s time,” Will said to Rose and wrapped her arm in his. She stood on tiptoe to kiss his cheek.

  “Thanks, Daddy,” she said, feeling close now to both Will and Nita. He smiled at her and patted her hand.

  They walked down the aisle together, but she barely knew what was happening or saw anything except Tom. Then Will placed her hand in Tom’s and they turned to repeat their vows.

  She felt she was drowning in his gray gaze that blazed with love. She suspected she might be glowing with happiness.

  Finally they were man and wife. Tom gave her a brief kiss and held her arm as they rushed back up the aisle.

  After pictures, they drove to the farm for a reception that was larger than the wedding that had been only for family. The Windcroft house filled with people, and she was separated from Tom, greeted by friends and a constant stream of well-wishers.

  “I’m so happy for you,” Nita said, hugging her.

  “You’ve been good to me,” Rose said, and Nita shrugged away the remark. “Thanks, Nita, for everything you’ve done.”

  “Sure. I wanted to do it.”

  “Nita, I’m sorry for things when we were growing up. I have to admit, I was jealous of you and your relationship with Daddy.”

  “Forget it, Rose. That was kid stuff. Doesn’t matter now.”

  She looked into Nita’s eyes. “Maybe I’ve grown up some,” Rose said. “All of you have been so good to me.”

  “You’d do the same for me. Stop worrying about the past and enjoy your wedding day.”

  Rose looked across the crowded living room, trying to spot Tom. Sunlight streamed through the long windows and bouquets of roses and fall flowers gave a sweet scent to the air. Tall and easy to find, Tom stood talking to a group of his friends.

  “Rose.” When a feminine voice said her name, Rose turned to see petite, blond Christine Thorne, Jake’s wife. “You’re a beautiful bride,” Christine said.

  “You are,” Melissa Mason joined them.

  “Thanks, Melissa,” Rose said, smiling at the green-eyed news anchor who had interviewed her about the truce.

  “Rose, you look beautiful,” Alison Hartman said. Rose greeted the tall, slim woman with lustrous dark brown eyes.

  “Thanks, Alli.”

  “When you get back from your honeymoon, we’ll all have to get together,” Melissa said. “Course, Alli, you and Nita and Christine see each other fairly often because you’ve been friends for so long.”

  “Now with our Texas Cattleman’s Club guys so close, I’m sure we’ll all see each other more,” Nita said.

  “Rose, where did you and Tom meet?” Alli asked.

  As she related meeting Tom at a business conference, her gaze went across the room again to Tom, who stood talking to his friends, and she longed to be alone with him.

  Tom turned his head to look at Rose. He winked at her and a moment was shared when everyone around them was closed out. She pursed her lips as if giving him a kiss and then turned back to the women surrounding her.

  Across the room Tom moved restlessly. He wanted to get Rose and leave. Glancing at her again, he thought about when she had appeared to walk down the aisle to him. She had never looked prettier. Her black hair had been shiny and the white silk had clung to her curves and left her long legs bare from the knees down. Her violet eyes had been sparkling and filled with happiness. Love had blessed them and fulfilled one of his lifelong dreams for a family of his own.

  He wanted her to himself and every minute he had to wait seemed forever. He tried to turn his attention to the men around him.

  “I’ll guard the place while you two are gone,” Connor said.

  “The others will help if you need them, you know that,” Tom said, speaking for his friends and seeing them nod. “After Rose’s kidnapping, I want to get her away for a couple of weeks. If you need us back here before that time is up, just call. We can fly right back.”

  “I think Malcolm’s death raised more questions than it solved. Our killer is still out there,” Gavin said solemnly. His brown eyes were full of worry and he gazed slowly around the crowd. “I know there’s no killer in this bunch, but it must be someone close. It has to be someone who knows the layout of the horse farm.”

  For a moment all of them were silent. “There are so many people who have been to the farm,” Tom said. “People board their horses here or come out to buy a horse. There is a world of people who know the layout.”

  “That’s one of our problems,” Gavin said.

  “At least you’ll get Rose out of danger temporarily,” Logan remarked. “There are still people who think she knows the whereabouts of the treasure.”

  “I’d like to take all that back. I hate to think about her in danger,” Tom said. “How I wish we’d never tried that ploy.”

  “When word gets around everywhere about your marriage, someone might begin to put it together that there wasn’t actually an end to the truce,” Logan added.

  “When you two get back, we should have a party to celebrate Jake’s victory as Royal’s new mayor,” Mark suggested.

  “Let’s wait until we catch the killer to celebrate,” Jake said. “Thanks, guys, for all the support you gave me. Gretchen barely speaks to me and if looks could kill, I would be done for.”

  “You beat her in a landslide. She didn’t even come close, which serves her right for such a negative campaign,” Gavin said. “So now, Mr. Mayor, you have to face the fact that your constituency may hold a killer. We have to catch whoever is behind all the trouble.”

  “No leads on Malcolm?” Tom asked.

  “We’re waiting for the results of the lab work,” Gavin replied.

  “Well, guys, as fascinating as all this is, I’m going to see if I can whisk my bride away from this charming company,” Tom said. “See you when we get back.”

  “He’s anxious,” Jake teased.

  “As if those of you who are newlyweds weren’t just as eager to get away,” Tom said, grinning and breaking loose from his friends. He turned and crossed the living room, speaking to people, stopping to chat briefly when someone asked him a question.

  Rose could see him working his way across the room and she excused herself from the group she was with so she could find Will and Jane.

  “I think we’re going now and I wanted to tell you two goodbye,” she said, giving Jane a hug.

  “Take care of yourself. I’m so happy for you,” Jane said.

  “Thanks, Jane.” She turned to Will. “You be careful while I’m gone.”

  “Don’t worry. Jane won’t let me out of her sight now unless I’m with Nita or Connor.”

  “I’m glad. And I’m glad you’re off the crutches,” Rose said as Tom walked up and put his arm around her shoulders.

  “I’m stealing my bride,” he said and leaned forward to brush Jane’s cheek with a kiss. “Both of you be careful while we’re gone.” He shook Will’s hand. “We’ll keep in touch, sir.”

  “You two be careful,” Will said. “Frankly I’m glad you’re getting Rose away from here for a time. Maybe they’ll catch the killer before you get back.”

  “We’ll hope so.” Tom looked down at her. “Ready?”

  “Yes,” she said, taking his hand and giving Will and Jane one last smile. As she rushed through the kitchen with Tom and across the back porch, she heard a racket behind them.

  “Here everyone comes!” Tom said. “Hurry!” They rushed to his waiting car as guests ran outside to let loose a barrage of balloons. Laughing, Tom sped down the drive.

  “Tom, your car’s painted Just Married and has a string of balloons and tin cans tied to the back.”

  “We’ll switch cars at the gate. I have another car parked there, and Uncle Lucas will pick this one up.”

  Tom pulled her as close as he could with a seat belt holding her in place. “At last I’m getting you al
l to myself.”

  They drove to the airstrip at Royal and in minutes were on a private plane. It was midafternoon when they landed at Cozumel and drove to the villa on the beach that Tom had rented. The moment they stepped inside the door, he dropped their bags and turned to take her into his arms to kiss her.

  “Finally we’re alone in our house for this next week and I have you all to myself.”

  She raked her fingers through his black hair. “My handsome husband. You are a sweet-talking charmer, Tom Devlin!”

  “Thank heaven you think so and thank heaven we didn’t have to wait that year to marry.” She laughed as he nuzzled her neck and showered kisses along her throat.

  He straightened up to look at her, framing her face with his hands. “You’re the most beautiful woman in the world today. You absolutely took my breath when you walked down the aisle.”

  Rose’s heart thudded with his compliments, and the look in his gray eyes left no doubts how badly he wanted her.

  “I’m the luckiest man on earth, Rose. I love you.”

  She wound her arms around his neck and pulled his head down to kiss him long and thoroughly. She raised her head. “Tom, sometime we should start talking about baby names.”

  “In a few days we will,” he said, his fingers twisting loose the small pearl buttons down the back of her dress. “Rose, you’ve made me the happiest man in the world. Happy and lucky.” He raised his head to look at her solemnly. “I have you and our baby.”

  “I know I’m the happy one. Our own family. And someday, a brother or sister for this baby. We’ve never talked about that.”

  “We will—”

  “A few days from now!” she finished for him, laughing with him, and then his head came down and he kissed her passionately.

  As Rose wound her arms tightly around his neck, happiness coursed through her. This was the happiest moment of her life, but she knew there would be many more wonderful moments that she would get to share with him, the man she would love as long as she lived.

  ISBN: 978-1-4268-7409-3

  Highly Compromised Position