by Lavada Dee
Her grandmother laughed. “Sorry, I don’t control my dreams.”
Back in her room, Nadia sobered. She needed to get back to New York. To her life and the business. Things were changing. She was changing, losing sight of goals she’d held on to her entire life. Nadia shook her head, knowing that what scared her more than anything was that for the first time in, well, ever, she was happy. Truly happy.
She paced across the room. Her instincts screamed. If she didn’t get out of here, now, everything she’d worked for would be lost. Nadia thought about her grandmother. What part did Nona play in what was happening to her? Could she have orchestrated this stay over? Was her grandmother trying to get her away from the business? Why would she? Nadia shrugged the thought away. She would know more when she got back home. And that would be sooner, rather than later. First thing in the morning, she was going to have a heart-to-heart with her grandmother. If she didn’t feel up to driving, and no more fooling around with it, then Nadia would have her grandmother call her friend to stay here with her until she could fly. Either way, Nadia was going to start for home tomorrow.
With a clear plan, Nadia took out her suitcase and started packing. She would get hers done, so that all she would have was Nona’s in the morning. Now, all that remained was to purge Tyrell from her thoughts and life. She glanced at her watch. Eleven o’clock. It was later than she thought. He would be here soon. Her heart gave a jump, and excitement surged through her. She put her hand over her heart and sat down on the bed. Why not take tonight? If she followed the course she had set for herself, the next step would be marriage. One that would benefit LaMar Marketing, one that would be devoid of passion. Tyrell could give her the stuff of dreams, of fantasy, and she would be a fool to deny herself.
A soft knock at the door had her heart beating faster. She unlatched the chain and opened the door.
“You didn’t look to see who was at the door? A dangerous thing to do.”
“I knew it would be you.”
“Still, you should be sure. The world isn’t safe, and even here things can happen.” He moved into the room as he spoke.
“I am usually careful.” She took a step back. He was too close.
Tyrell tensed. Something felt wrong. Nadia kept her head down, not making eye contact with him. She looked nervous, but it was something more. She was aroused, that he knew by the sound of blood pumping through her veins. So what?
“Come here.” He held out his arms, and she moved into them. “What’s wrong?”
She didn’t say anything, but her arms wrapped around his neck, pressing their bodies together. He tilted his head back so he could see her. When she didn’t look at him, he reached up and took her arms from around his neck, then moved with her to the sofa. Sitting, he pulled her down on his lap. When he felt her weight, his body hardened and he closed his eyes to focus himself. Finally trusting his voice he said, “Okay, we talk. Tell me. What are you thinking?”
“I need to go home.”
“You are home. I know you feel what I’m feeling.” He smiled, then continued. “Maybe not as strongly, but…”
She put her fingers over his mouth. This time she let her gaze lock with his. He could see his reflection in her eyes, and a sadness. He swallowed. “You’re scaring me.”
“We have tonight,” she whispered.
“And, you know that won’t be enough. Honey, a lifetime won’t be enough.”
She shook her head and tried to move off his lap, but he put his hands on her waist, stopping her. “Don’t. Stay here and talk to me. Why do you say you have to go home?”
He watched emotions war across her face. He had about given up on her saying any more to him when, with a sigh, she said, “We’ve talked about this before. We come from two different worlds. If I don’t take my place in the business, if I don’t produce an heir, then I will have failed.”
“Failed who? I got the impression from your grandmother that she doesn’t expect you to follow in her footsteps. But if it’s what you want, you can work from here. It sounds like LaMar Marketing has good staff, and there is your father…”
She moved off his lap and this time he let her. Her close proximity was driving him crazy.
Nadia moved to the end of the bed, and sat back down. “You may be right about Nona. Lately, she hasn’t been the grandmother and business magnate I’m used to. But my father will be disappointed if I don’t do what I was born to do.”
Tyrell felt his jaw tense. What the hell? This kind of thinking was archaic. Was it from her father, the school she had been raised in, or—and this, he realized, was a very real possibility—from herself? “Are you so very sure? Is keeping the business in the family what your father wants? From what I picked up from your grandmother tonight, it’s very possible he may want to sell it. Retire, and—“
“No.” The word was almost a cry, and it brought Tyrell up short. He stood and started toward her, but she slid back on the bed. She looked terrified. Why? Surely she knew he would never hurt her.
“I don’t want to talk about this. You don’t know anything about my life. Or anything about me.”
He held up his hand to stop her. “I know you. I know you want me as much as I want you. I know that neither of us will be complete if you do this.”
She ducked her head, then in a soft voice repeated, “We have tonight.”
Tyrell drew in his breath. It would take less than a second to give in, but if he did could he watch her leave? Finally, he shook his head. “It won’t be enough. If you don’t want to be with me, belong to me, then one night will only make separation harder.”
When he turned toward the door, she came off the bed. “Don’t go.”
He closed his eyes, and called on all the control within him. He was in the hall with the door closed behind him, when he heard a sob. He gritted his teeth, and made himself walk away. Emptiness washed through him. It was going to be a long night, and a long life.
Chapter 17
When Tyrell got back to his apartment, he reached for the keypad, but stopped. The last thing he wanted to do was go into those empty rooms. The hall seemed to close in on him. Within seconds he was down the stairs and outside. Winds lashed the trees along the lake. He lifted his head, and let his senses loose. A storm was moving in, and from the smell, he knew it would herald the beginning of winter weather with a spectacular show of nature.
He put his head down, and headed for the path along the lake. When he got a few yards down he turned back, and looked up at Nadia’s window. If he called her with his mind, would she come to him? If he took what she offered, and what he wanted, would it ease the loneliness? Would a physical joining prove that his wolf form had it wrong? Maybe Nadia wasn’t meant for him. Maybe it was just his libido. After all, it had been a while, and then there’d been the horrible period when he wasn’t sure that part of him wasn’t lost to the injuries he’d sustained.
At the thought, his groin tightened and sweet pain moved through him. Maybe. He again looked at the window. When Nadia stepped out on the windswept balcony, and her gaze met his, he knew fate had again intervened, and given him an answer. It was dark. He shouldn’t have been able to make eye contact. He wouldn’t have been able to with any other mortal. With sure knowledge, he knew tonight he’d take—and give. He would know then, and so would Nadia. If she still left him, he would deal with it, but to not take what the fates bestowed was foolishness.
Letting his feelings reign over his intellect, he was at the stairs, and then her door, in a matter of seconds.
He raised his hand to knock, but it opened. He could hear her heart beating in time to his. Silently, she came into his arms. He took her mouth with his, and walked her back into the room. Pulling away enough to shut the door and pull the chain across, he resumed his conquest. His breathing quickened, and excitement raged through him when he heard her breath do the same. “I…”
Words escaped him, and when Nadia put her fingers to his lips, he knew he didn’t n
eed them. In the short time he had been gone, she had taken a quick shower and had put on one of the hotel robes. “You were expecting me to come back?”
“I was hoping you would.”
“Ah, I’m a fool. I shouldn’t have left in the first place.”
“But this way I had time for a shower.” Bantering talk. She wasn’t going to say anything more about leaving, and he wasn’t so big a fool that he was going to open the subject.
He let his gaze hold hers. What he saw in her eyes made his heart beat even faster. She might not say it, might not want to hear it, but there was love. The angst of earlier disappeared. She was his. There would be a forever, even if it took longer than he wanted. He wasn’t a patient man, but some things you had to push your limits for.
Her arms wound around his neck, and she lifted her mouth to his. He held back, teasing her with light kisses that left them both wanting. Finally, with a moan, he molded her to him and deepened the kiss. She was inexperienced, and he rejoiced at the idea of teaching her the beauty of love, of becoming one.
He liked that she wasn’t silent, that mews of pleasure escaped as he mated his tongue with hers. She tasted faintly of mint. She had brushed her teeth when she showered. His, no doubt, had a taste of tequila, and maybe lime. Pleasant and earthy, it mingled with the scent of both their arousals. Not for the first time he gloried in advanced senses that allowed him to experience more than a mortal man.
She pressed closer, and he lifted her up to him. “Wrap your legs around my waist.”
When she did what he asked, he caught his breath. She was naked under the robe, he could feel her heat through his jeans. Jeans that felt like they were strangling him. Thank heavens the bed was handy. He doubted he would make it down a hall. Pushing the robe off her shoulders, his lips lingered at the pulse point in her throat. He savored the feel of her heartbeat, then trailed kisses along her shoulder, and finally down a high, firm breast.
“You make me feel like I’ve never felt before. I want you now, and for always.”
If what he’d just said registered, she was accepting it, because she didn’t shy away from him at the “always.” With renewed confidence, he moved his lips down her breast, still teasing. She grabbed his head, holding it firmly in place. He felt some of his control give way as he drew her nipple into his mouth and sucked. He felt more give way when she pulled him over her, and again wound her legs around his hips.
He took a breath, and tried to slow down. He wanted this to be good for her, though he doubted it would be equal to what he felt. Her scent told him she was ready, but he didn’t want to take the chance. He drew back. Her mew of protest almost had him reconsidering.
“Shh, let me love you.”
“I feel loved already.”
At her innocent reply, he chuckled. He felt ten feet tall, and full of testosterone. He sucked in his breath. He could, and would, go slow. He had purposely kept his clothes on, but now pulled away and stood up.
Nadia’s eyes followed him as he took off his shirt. He sucked in his breath at what he saw in them. Hunger, love. He was so damn hard.
At some point, before he arrived, she’d turned on the bedroom lamp. Tyrell hesitated. Would he scare her? Take it slow.
He heard her take a deep breath. Then the whispered words, “You’re beautiful.”
He hadn’t thought he could feel more aroused, but her reaction to his naked body proved him wrong. His mind was barely functioning, from somewhere he reached for his wits enough to pull her to her feet and rip the spread and quilt back.
Standing, with her pressed to his side, he could feel her soft flesh welcoming him. A deep moan escaped as he again took her mouth with his. As one they moved to the bed. “I don’t want to hurt you…”
She didn’t respond with words. Instead she ran her hands over his shoulders. He gave her room and felt her hands move down his chest. She hesitated, and he waited for her to continue her exploration.
“Touch me,” he whispered.
Tyrell felt her tremble, and the scent of her arousal reached him. Slow. His mind echoed the word. He needed to remember her innocence.
He took her hand and pressed it against his erection. For a second she let it rest there, and then she closed it around him. Immediately he was at the exploding point. Slow, he reminded himself. He had to make sure she was ready.
He took her hand from his shaft and, turning it palm up, strung open mouthed kisses over it.
“Ahhh,” she breathed.
Tyrell moved his free hand over her hip. He sensed that she was ready, but he had to make sure. Cupping her, he felt her moist heat. “You are so sweet.” He wanted to taste her, savor all he knew he would find, but it would have to wait. The need to join with her had become beyond unbearable.
In answer, she pushed against him. Instantly he complied with her unspoken reply, and entered paradise. When he felt the barrier, he stopped to let her adjust to him. Again she made that little sound that drove him nuts.
“Don’t stop.”
Was she kidding? Like he could. “Try to relax.” Damn, he didn’t have any experience with virgins. But being her first, being the only one, was a high beyond description. He felt a tremble pass through her, and started to draw away when she took the initiative, tightening her legs around his waist, and raised up to complete their joining.
His mind left off functioning, and his body took over. He was experienced, but nothing had prepared him for this, for her. Passion, all for him. He felt the sensual vortex that had been hovering around them pull at him and with a low growl, he let it suck him in.
* * * *
“Wow.” Nadia breathed out the word when Tyrell rolled to the side, taking his weight off her. Not that she’d noticed the weight, as he’d taken most of it with his powerful arms. She laid her head on his bare chest, noting her mouth was just an inch or so from his nipple. On impulse she let her tongue flick out and lick it.
He jerked and a growl escaped. “You’re going to get into trouble doing that.”
Trouble? She was lying naked, her legs entwined with an over-the-top sexy man. How could anything she did get her in more trouble than that? With a smile, she did it again. This time, she elicited a roaring laugh.
“You are making me crazy.” He tipped her chin up with his fingers, and dove his tongue into a kiss that had her again wanting more. Then he pulled her against him, letting her feel how hard he was for her. In kind, she threw her leg over his hip, letting him feel her heat.
With a moan, Tyrell broke the kiss. “It would be so easy to slide back into heaven, but as it is, you’re going to be sore.” He pulled back so she could see his eyes, and what she saw had her heart racing. “I don’t want you to have any regrets.” He looked at her, and she felt herself drawing even closer to his soul. Then he whispered. “If you do, I think it will kill me.”
With his words, he had laid himself open to her and Nadia felt humbled. Untangling her legs, she moved up so that she could look down on him, and in that second, she knew she was lost. She loved him, was in love with him, and her heart felt torn in two, knowing that all they had was tonight.
She didn’t know how he did it, but again he read her mind. “Don’t go there. We have forever.”
“I have to go home.” The words came out on a sob. She moved away and was out of the bed before he could react.
Safely in the bathroom, Nadia readied herself for his anger. When it didn’t come, she gave way to an emptiness that moments ago she wouldn’t have believed possible. Then she heard his voice, talking to someone.
She was running bath water when he came through the unlocked door. “I need to leave.”
“Leave?” Her mind didn’t register what he said until she looked at his face. His expression was tense, and almost predatory.
“The sheriff called. A father and his young son are in trouble. There isn’t another pilot available. Milton took off for Spokane this afternoon with the intention of dropping off his wife at her sis
ter’s, and heading straight back. But there is an accident blocking traffic, and he won’t get through for at least an hour.” Tyrell pulled on his clothes while he spoke.
Dressed, he picked up the phone. “You ready?” he barked into it. Then less abrupt, “Call down to the coffee shop and have a thermos with lots of flavored creamer made up. They are going to be cold, and will need something with sugar in it.”
By the time Tyrell hung up, Nadia had turned the water off and was slipping into her clothes. She glanced up at him. “I’ll go with you.”
He shook his head, a look of disbelief that she’d want to on his face.
She stomped her foot, seating her shoe a little better on her foot. When she looked up he was still staring at her.
“You can’t come with me. For one thing, it’s too dangerous. This storm is turning into a real bitch, and up in the mountains it will be a lot worse.”
“Where are they?”
“Can’t talk, I have to go.” The concern in his voice took out any sting of rejection.
Ignoring his refusal of her offer, Nadia grabbed a jacket out of the closet and hurried behind him. “If it’s just you and Devon, you will need me. Like you said, I’m stronger than I look.” She paused, then added, “Or act.”
Tyrell stopped with his hand on the door handle. He knew she was right, she could tell by the way he tensed. Pressing her advantage, she moved closer to the door. “You know I’m right. If we get to the airport and you don’t need me, I’ll wait there and man the coffee or radio or whatever.”
Turning, he put both hands on her shoulders. “You don’t have warm enough clothing.”
“I do. Nona and I were driving cross country so I took the precaution of packing for winter weather.”
Again, he paused. Then with a growl, turned back to the door. “Okay, but you do what I tell you. No argument, got it?”
She nodded.
“I need to get my gear. You get into the warmest clothing you have, and meet me in the lobby.”
