She took a deep, anxious breath and shook her head. “I want to do this,” she told him.
He laughed softly, then laced his fingers through hers. “How about if we go get a drink and sit outside, just talk for a while. If you still want this, then it will happen. But how about if we just…have a nice, relaxing afternoon together?” he suggested.
Roxanne looked up into his dark eyes. “You’re such a nice man.”
He chuckled again. “There are a few of us out there,” and he tugged her hand inside the house. There was a tidy mudroom with lots of hooks for people to hang hats and coats. Denver got pretty cold during the winter months and Roxanne knew that this space would be ideal for kids to dump their book bags and boots before going into the kitchen.
His kitchen was spacious and beautiful and she admired the Spanish style décor, delighting in the small details. He had top of the line appliances, dark granite countertops, and a massive fridge, which he pulled open, grabbing a bottle of white wine and a beer. “Come on, gorgeous,” he teased, tilting his head towards the back doors. “Let’s relax.”
She followed him, more than slightly ashamed. “I’m sorry,” she whispered to him.
“For what?” he asked, leading her towards a small sitting area shaded by a big tree. The cushions of the outdoor furniture were thick and soft, and an open fire pit stood in the center of the space. This area looked like something out of a magazine.
“I’m the one who demanded sex and now…” she sighed, shaking her head as he poured some wine into a glass, handing it to her.
“Relax, Roxanne. We’ll get there. Maybe not today. But eventually. Sex is supposed to be fun. Not something to stress about.”
“Still…” she started to say, only to feel Abe’s lips against hers. When he lifted his head again, she sighed. “Isn’t there a name for women like me?”
“No!” he asserted forcefully. “You’re not a tease, honey. You’re a woman who is working through a lot. Give yourself a break. Besides,” he leaned forward again, brushing his lips lightly against hers, “I like spending time with you.”
“Even though I was horrible to you since your first day at work?”
He shrugged and they sat down on the big, soft sofa under the shade. “I kinda liked it,” he admitted. “You were so ferocious! Besides, the other women in the surgical area are a bit of a pain in the ass. I can’t tell you how many cups of coffee I’ve had to pour down the sink!”
Roxanne blinked at him for a moment, then covered her mouth in a pointless attempt to stop the laughter from bursting out of her. “You didn’t!”
He nodded. “I drink one, maybe two cups of coffee a day, Roxy. Not six or seven. I’d never get any sleep if I drank every cup they brought me.”
“Well, I know you don’t purposely encourage them, but you always thank them so nicely when they offer it to you.”
“I’ll toss it back in their faces from now on,” he promised.
“Don’t you dare!” she yelped, horrified. But then she shook her head. “You wouldn’t do that anyway.”
“Oh, don’t doubt me. I get a bit sick of it, especially when I’m trying to focus on my patient and they’re trying to flirt. It’s distracting.”
“I’ll make a rule that there is no more coffee allowed in the surgical units.” Then grinned, thinking about how quickly the nurses would rebel. Doctors too!
He pulled her closer, wrapping his arms around her so that she was snuggled against his chest. Roxanne sighed, sipping her wine as she smiled at how comfortable this was. They discussed work and the various co-workers, their hobbies, and how they released the stress of working in a hospital.
The whole time, Roxanne was aware of Abe’s arms and his hands, especially his thumb. That sensuous thumb slid against her skin, causing shock waves of tingling awareness to zing her over and over again. Every time he moved his hand, that thumb rubbed a new spot and she was almost moaning as the need snuck up on her, higher and higher.
Then she felt his lips on her neck. Just a soft brush at first. But then he moved to another place and another. She was vaguely aware that the sun was setting and their conversation had shifted to silence. She was tense, waiting for his next touch, whimpering if he didn’t touch her fast enough. Roxanne was unaware of her own hands gripping his legs just above the knee.
When his right hand slid under her shirt, pressing his palm against her stomach, she sighed with relief, her head falling back against his shoulder. Which only gave him more space to taunt her as he found additional spots along her neck and ear that were eager for his teasing kisses.
“Tell me to stop if I do anything that you don’t like,” he whispered, his voice husky with desire.
“Don’t stop,” she whispered back, almost afraid to move for fear that he would stop.
His hand slid against her stomach, circling higher and higher. Roxanne held her breath, waiting for that moment when his fingers finally moved higher. Higher!
“Abe!” she gasped when his fingers finally cupped her breast. It felt more amazing than before! “Oh, please don’t stop!”
His other hand moved higher as well, cupping her other breast and, at the same moment, his thumbs rubbed up against her already tight, hard nipples. She gasped, arching into his touch. Thankfully, he didn’t stop, his thumbs moving back and forth over her nipples until she thought she might explode!
“I’m going to take your shirt off, Roxy,” he warned as he shifted their bodies. But all he did was pull the soft, cotton material up and over her head, dumping it onto the stone patio beside the couch, then pulled her against him so that her back was leaning into his chest. Then his hands were back, his fingers moving over her stomach and up her ribs. When he moved too slowly, she took his wrists and moved his hands higher, placing them over her breasts.
“Yes!” she murmured when his thumbs continued to torment her nipples. Then one of those magical thumbs moved underneath the cotton of her bra, pushing the material aside and she just about climaxed. Hissing through her teeth, her hands slapped against his hands, stopping the movement before she embarrassed herself.
“You don’t like it?”
She groaned. “I think I like it too much!”
“There’s no such thing.”
Roxy wetted her lips, glancing at him over her shoulder. “I might…ummm…”
He understood what she was trying to say. “Just let it happen. Nothing that we do together is wrong, Roxy.”
She looked into his eyes as his thumbs continued stroking her nipples. Roxy shook her head, her hands tightening on his knees as her desire climbed higher and higher. But before she could reach that peak, she stopped, pulling away from his hands.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
She turned, her body practically vibrating with the need for that beautiful release, but she shook her head. “I don’t want…to…like that,” she told him. “I want you,” she admitted.
Abe was still for a long moment and Roxy was struck by the sudden fear that he’d reject her. But the heat in his eyes told her that he wanted the same thing. So when he shifted, moving over her so that she was laying on the couch now, she knew that he was going to make love to her.
“Anything you want, Roxy,” he promised.
His hands moved to her back, flicking the clasp of her bra so that it opened. He pulled the material away and dumped it with her tee shirt. “You’re so beautiful, Roxy,” he told her, his eyes drinking in the sight of her bare breasts.
“Would you mind…” she bit her lip and nodded to his shirt. “Taking off your shirt?”
“My pleasure,” he replied then used one hand to pull at the neckline of his shirt over his head to land with her clothes. “Better?”
“Yes!” she sighed, her eyes moving over his shoulders and chest, fascinated by the ripples along his body. “Can I touch you?”
“I’d love it,” he groaned, but moved to her jeans, releasing the snap before tugging them all the way off. Her cotton p
anties followed, then Abe stood up and pushed his own jeans off and boxers off, standing in front of her naked and powerfully erect. He grabbed his jeans and pulled a condom from a back pocket, rolling it down his shaft as he watched her.
“Are you sure?” he asked as he moved over her once more, pressing his hips between her legs.
“Yes!” she whispered, feeling the roughness of his thighs on the softer skin of her legs. “I’m very sure.”
“Good,” he replied, then kiss her again. At the same time, Roxy felt his fingers against her legs, sliding along the skin. It felt so wonderful and strange! She wanted more, but before she could say anything, his fingers teased her. She gasped, and his mouth absorbed the sound over hers and she dug her nails into his shoulders. As one long, talented finger slid slowly into her heat, she shivered, arching her hips against his hand.
“More!” she begged as she felt his finger move inside of her.
Abe pressed his finger in deeper, feeling the slick muscles, closing his eyes as the need to bury himself in that heat almost overwhelmed him. “Slow,” he reminded himself.
“I don’t want to go slowly,” she gasped, her hips rocking against his hand. “Please, Abe. Don’t make me beg.”
He could have pointed out that she was already begging, but he doubted she’d find it as amusing as he did. Although, nothing was amusing right now. He was in pain, trying to help ease her into making love.
But when he heard her whimper again, he couldn’t hold back any longer. Pulling his hand away, he shifted so that his erection poised at her opening. With a gentle push, he was inside of her, but pulled back when he felt resistance. Pressing deeper and deeper, Abe watched her features, using her body’s responses as an indicator that he might be hurting her.
Another thrust and he was fully embedded into her heat. He felt only a slight jerk as he broke through, watching her face the whole time, aching to be gentle with her. “Are you okay?’ he asked, looking down at her as he desperately clung to his control, holding still while she shifted her hips against him, adjusting to his invasion.
“Yes!” she replied with that sexy, breathy voice, as she rolled her hips. “Please!” she moaned and Abe gritted his teeth. “I know that there’s more.”
He laughed harshly, then shook his head to clear the haze of lust. Thrusting into her gently, he pressed again and again, feeling her muscles contract around him. “You feel amazing, love,” and he continued thrusting. Faster and faster, feeling her body tighten. He watched her features as well and knew the exact moment when she was going to burst into a climax. He didn’t relent, helping her with every thrust, wanting to give this to her. He might die in the process, but that was okay.
“Just give in to it, Roxy,” he coaxed. And then it happened. He could feel it in her body, in the way her fingers tightened on his shoulders and her legs around his waist. But more than anything, he felt it as her inner muscles tightened around his shaft, pulling him in deeper and tighter and, even as he tried to hold back, to make it better for her, the way she felt in the throes of her climax made his efforts impossible! Her scream of bliss was the last thing he heard as he tumbled over into an orgasm so strong and powerful, he couldn’t even breathe!
A long time later, Abe lifted his weight off of her and looked down. “Are you okay?” he asked, worried that he’d hurt her.
Every part of him relaxed when she simply smiled dreamily up at him. “Yeah,” she whispered. “I’m more than okay.”
Relief flooded him as he leaned down to gently kiss her swollen lips. “I’ll be right back,” he promised. He went to the bathroom and cleaned up, coming back to find that she’d already pulled on her underwear. “Not so fast,” he told her, pulling the clothes right back off. “We’re not finished.” And he lifted her into his arms, carrying her up the stairs to his bedroom. Kicking the door closed, he laid her gently on the bed. “Now, let’s try that again, but with a few variations on the basic theme.”
Roxanne laughed, but lifted her arms to welcome his “variations”.
Chapter 7
Monday. Roxanne didn’t want to go into the office today. She wanted to drive over to Abe’s house and curl up with him. He’d tried to convince him to stay with him last night, but she’d been adamant that they get a good night’s sleep.
She hadn’t! Slept, that is. She no longer had Abe’s arms around her and she felt…lonely. All her adult life, she’d lived alone, pushing herself harder to be the best, to work harder and better than anyone else.
So, instead of driving over to Abe’s house and begging him for just a hug, she did the next best thing. She stopped by the bakery that she always passed on her way to the hospital. Stepping into “Tasty Tarts and Treats”, Roxanne inhaled the fresh smells of baked bread and sweets, feeling almost drunk on the sugar.
“Hi there!” a chipper, friendly voice called out.
Roxanne opened her eyes and looked behind the counter. “Um…hello,” she replied.
“What can I get you today? You look like you could use a donut,” the woman behind the counter looked like a contemporary version of an elf. She was friendly and vivacious and, a week ago might have intimidated Roxanne like no one’s business! But she felt like a new woman these days. New and free and…stronger!
“Um…I was just...” she smiled sheepishly, drawn in by the friendly, gamin smile. “What do you suggest?”
The woman laughed, obviously someone who loved her job. The woman’s nametag read “Joyelle”; Roxanne thought she was delightful.
“How about some delicious blueberry scones?” she suggested. “I just pulled them out of the oven so the butter inside of the layers is still hot and amazing! I get the blueberries from this farm in Maine. The colder temperatures in that area produce the absolute best blueberries! They are firm and sweet, which is really essential. It’s not like making blueberry muffins!” she explained with an enthusiasm that boggled Roxanne. Joyelle took a blueberry scone out of the display case and cut off a corner, offering it to Roxanne.
“Tell me that these aren’t the best scones ever!” she demanded.
Roxanne popped the small bit into her mouth, “Wow!” she sighed.
“See?!” Joyelle laughed. “Everyone thinks that the trick to making great scones is to freeze the butter and then grate it into the mixture. But they are wrong!” she asserted with finality. “The trick is to chill the cream until it is almost frozen, then melt the butter until right before it separates.” She grabbed a box and started loading blueberry scones into it. “Then you mix the hot butter and the very cold cream –and you really have to use cream, not just milk – then the butter actually freezes, like magic, but it’s already combined into the cream mixture! Then, when I pour the cream and butter into the dry ingredients, the result is the most amazingly scones you will ever have in your life!” She laughed and her joy was more than slightly infectious. “As soon as the scones come out of the oven, I drizzle the icing on top so the sweetness melts into the scones.” She slid the box of a dozen blueberry scones across the countertop and rang up the price. “Trust me, you’ll be back for more!”
Roxanne handed over the cash, laughing with delight at the woman. “I definitely will be back, Joyelle,” she promised, taking the box and waving to the friendly baker.
Roxanne walked out of the bakery, thinking the woman was absolutely delightful when a deep, grumpy voice stopped her in her tracks.
“She talked your ear off, didn’t she?” The man was huge, even taller than Abe, and intimidating.
The man was handsome, but nearly as enticing as Abe, although a strangely angry version. He shot Roxanne a look that seemed to understand, and yet, he still looked at the door to the bakery before shaking his head with…something. Roxanne wasn’t sure what.
“She talks to everyone!” And then he was gone, heading back into the shop he’d emerged from. Roxanne recognized the name. It was the place that Abe had mentioned yesterday during their picnic, Wild Custom Rides. Huh! Small wor
ld, she thought deciding to mention meeting the owner. Apparently, Abe was good friends with him. She couldn’t remember his name, but thought it might be something like Ace or Jace or…something like that. Roxanne was sure that the guy who had just grumbled about Joyelle’s friendliness wasn’t the owner of the shop. Abe had mentioned that the owner was a good guy, great to hang out with.
Twenty minutes later, Roxy walked through the staff entrance of the hospital with a smile and a spring to her step, dropping off the box of blueberry scones in the small kitchen reserved for surgical staff members. She felt good this morning. Really good! Yesterday had been one of the most magical days of her life and she couldn’t wait to see Abe, maybe share a secret smile with him. Yes, she was a bit worried that he might reveal their intimate relationship to others in the hospital, but…she hoped that he wouldn’t.
Something came back to her at that moment. Abe had mentioned that he had a rule about not dating anyone from the hospital. She stopped and one of the doctors behind her grumbled as she walked around Roxanne.
“Sorry,” Roxanne called out, then started forward again. Abe’s words floated through her mind again and again, making her re-evaluate how she would approach him when she saw him today. Glancing up at the surgical schedule, she noticed that he wasn’t scheduled for any surgeries today. Immediately, her heart plummeted.
But, she thought with good mood reasserting itself, she’d see him in the hallways. Roxy…wait, when had she started to think of herself as Roxy? She hated that name, didn’t she?
Not really. Not after Abe had said her name in the throes of passion. Every time he climaxed in her arms, he said her name and sparks of joy had shot through her.
So yeah, maybe the nickname was growing on her.
Regardless, Roxy knew that she’d have to be respectful of Abe’s desire not to let the hospital staff, especially the surgical teams, know that she and he were…dating? Lovers? Did one afternoon and one night make them lovers?
Over Heated (On the Wild Side Book 3) Page 8
