God, if the scene in the closet was any indication, they would be completely compatible in bed. She could already imagine what it would feel like to have Reagan’s hands…and mouth…on her. So much so that she contemplated stealing Reagan away early, before the dance even came to an end. Would it be less conspicuous then?

  “Feel like a dance?”

  She turned, smiling at her father. “You’ve been dancing the night away already. Having a good time?”

  “Surprisingly so, yes,” he said. “You?”

  “Yes.”

  He glanced across the room, and she followed it, seeing his gaze land on Reagan. “You haven’t danced together lately,” he noted.

  “No.”

  “I hope your mother didn’t say anything to you.”

  “No. I haven’t spoken to her,” she said. “Why? Was she appalled?”

  He nodded with a slight smile. “I told her you had the best-looking date here.”

  “Well, she’s holding out hope for Doug still, I think.” She leaned closer, touching his shoulder with her own. “Are you and Mother okay?”

  He seemed surprised by her question. “We’re…the same,” he said evasively.

  “None of my business?”

  He took a deep breath. “When this is all over with, maybe it’s time you and I had a talk,” he said. “I sometimes forget that you’re all grown up.”

  She nodded, knowing from his statement that things were not okay with her parents.

  “Anyway, I’ve got some business changes I’d like to run by you. This thing with Murray…well, it’s got me thinking.”

  “Changes?”

  But he shook his head. “We’ll talk when we get back to Denver. Nothing to worry about, Shelby.” He smiled. “Now…how about that dance?”

  * * *

  Reagan turned in her chair to get a better view of the dance floor. Shelby was with her father this time. Much better than when she’d had to watch Shelby with Duke, of all people. At least Dougie had kept his distance. Of course, so had she. After what had happened in the supply closet, she didn’t dare take a chance with another close encounter.

  “You’re staring.”

  She pulled her eyes from Shelby, smiling at her mother. “Caught me,” she said.

  “I’d say.” Her mother leaned closer. “That dress is beautiful on her. She’s a striking woman.” She paused. “All of your cousins are fawning over her.”

  “So I’ve seen. I thought Duke was going to hyperventilate when they danced.”

  Her mother smiled as she patted her knee affectionately. “Well, I’ve seen her watching you too,” she said quietly.

  “Mom…”

  “Oh, I’m not trying to get into your business, Reagan. Just making an observation.” She laughed lightly. “And in case you need some motherly advice, don’t be shy with this one.”

  “I told you, she’s out of my league,” Reagan said.

  “Nonsense. There is no league, Reagan. We’re all just people.”

  It sounded simple, but was it really? Shelby had said once that she didn’t really trust her dates, always wondering if they were more interested in the money than her. Did she think the same of Reagan? No. No, she couldn’t possibly. For one thing, they had become friends. Reagan didn’t care how much money she had. That was never a consideration when she’d bared her soul to Shelby, sharing all her dark secrets. They were just two people, learning to trust, learning to care.

  We’re all just people.

  She turned to her mother. “I like her. It’s been a long time since I’ve been…emotionally close to someone.”

  “I know. And I like her too.”

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  There was no sign of Reagan as Shelby made her way through the ballroom, scanning the faces of the remaining guests. The DJ had already packed up, and the kitchen staff was removing the food items that remained. She snatched up a small sandwich before they took the last tray, then grabbed another bottle of water from Zach. Stephanie and Josh were still dancing, even though the only music was the return of Christmas carols. Stephanie spotted her and waved her over.

  “What a magical night,” Stephanie said as she held onto Josh. “I love this man.”

  “I should hope so. You’re going to marry him very soon,” she said with a smile at Josh.

  “Where’s Reagan?” he asked.

  “I don’t know. I was actually looking for her,” she said.

  Stephanie pointed her finger at her. “And you say there’s nothing going on.”

  “There’s not,” she said. “But I’m tired. I’m going to head up to my suite. Are you about ready to call it a night too?”

  “Mother says we have to stay until all the guests leave. But I am ready for bed,” she said with a wink at Josh.

  “I’m sure you are.” She looked around, seeing Josh’s mother. “I think I’ll say a quick goodnight to your parents, then head up. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  “Okay. Goodnight,” Josh said.

  “Night, sis,” Stephanie called as she walked away. “We’ve got a lunch date tomorrow, don’t forget.”

  Damn. Yes, she had forgotten. Her mother wanted them to go out to lunch with her bridge club ladies.

  She smiled as she approached Margie Bryant, who was chatting with another woman. “Sorry to interrupt,” she said politely. “Did you have a nice evening?”

  “Oh, it was fun, yes. Shelby, this is Dora Ellis, my sister. They got here today.”

  “Pleased to meet you. I hope the storm didn’t delay you,” she said.

  “Nice to meet you too. No, we live up in Casper, so we’re used to driving in the snow,” she said.

  “Good.” Shelby turned to Margie. “I’m heading up to my room. Did Reagan sneak out earlier?”

  “Not too long ago. She said she was ready to get into some comfortable clothes.” She laughed. “I don’t blame her. I helped her dress, and the tuxedo was a bit cumbersome.”

  She nodded. “Yes, I’m ready to get out of this dress and these heels too.” She smiled. “Well, goodnight ladies.”

  “Goodnight, Shelby.”

  She steered clear of her mother and headed to the door, feeling a little disappointed—and confused—that Reagan had slipped out without a word to her. Maybe Reagan had changed her mind. Maybe spending the night together was no longer appealing to her.

  She frowned. Or maybe her mother said something to her. Shelby wouldn’t put it past her. Her disappointment morphed into frustration at that thought, and she pushed the button for the elevator several times. When it arrived, it was empty. She got in, riding up to her floor alone, feeling a bit lonely, which was odd for her. She was used to spending her nights alone.

  Of course, that was before Reagan and before a rather intense make-out session in the supply closet. She smiled wryly as the elevator came to a quiet halt. It seemed she was frustrated in more ways than one.

  She walked down the hallway to her corner suite, pausing when she spotted a familiar figure leaning casually against the wall. Reagan was dressed in jeans and a sweatshirt, looking more like the Reagan she’d first met. While she loved the tux on her and would even echo her father’s words—she looked dashing—she thought she preferred her this way. So she walked on, meeting Reagan’s tentative smile with one of her own.

  “I’m really glad to see you,” she said. “You look nice. Comfortable.”

  Reagan pushed off the wall, meeting her at her door. “My feet hurt in those shoes.”

  Shelby laughed. “I know what you mean. I can’t wait to get out of these heels.”

  Their eyes met and the smile left Reagan’s face. “Am I being…presumptuous? I mean—”

  “No.” Shelby moved closer, resting her hand on Reagan’s hip. “In fact, I was terribly disappointed when I couldn’t find you down there,” she said. She leaned forward, kissing Reagan lightly on the lips. “I’d really like to continue what we started earlier,” she said, her voice not much more than a whisper. She saw Reagan swallow nervously.

  “Yes. Me too.”

  “Good.” She unlocked the door and pushed it open. She found Reagan’s nervousness to be endearing, and she took her hand, tugging her inside. She closed and locked the door, leaving them standing in the muted light of the lamp she’d left on. “Would you like a brandy? Or cognac?” she offered.

  Reagan shook her head slowly, a smile forming on her handsome face. “What I’d like is to get you out of that dress.”

  Shelby smiled too and moved closer but not close enough to touch. “You simply amaze me,” she said.

  Reagan arched an eyebrow questioningly. “Why’s that?”

  “One minute, nervous and tense, as if you’re about to run. The next, confident and charming with no sign of panic.”

  Reagan took a step closer, leaving them only inches apart. “Yes. Nervous and scared,” Reagan said quietly.

  It was Shelby’s turn to raise an eyebrow. “Why?”

  “I told you, it’s been a while. I’m not sure what to expect. I’m not sure what you—”

  Shelby stopped her with a gentle finger to her lips. “I want to make love with you, Reagan. I don’t want empty—emotionless—sex. I like you. I’m attracted to you. And I think you feel the same.” She moved the few inches necessary for them to touch. “You said earlier that you were tired of the emptiness. I want to make love tonight. I want you to stay with me and wake up with me in the morning.” She met her eyes, holding them, seeing the doubt disappear. “Will you stay with me tonight, Reagan? Because I’m tired of the emptiness too.”

  * * *

  Reagan told herself there was nothing to be nervous about. Shelby was a woman like any other. Yet…she wasn’t. She felt almost mesmerized by her as she stood still, watching as Shelby’s strapless dress slid slowly down her body. She’d seen her naked—at the spa. But not like this. At the spa, Shelby had been playing…teasing. There wasn’t this fire in her eyes then…an ice-blue fire that nearly had her trembling. Trembling with want…with desire…with fear. Fear of what, she had no idea. Fear that she’d forgotten how to make love? Fear that Shelby would find her lacking?

  Before she could contemplate that, Shelby’s hands were pulling her sweatshirt up and over her head, then urgent fingers went to the button of her jeans. But Shelby only unbuttoned them, she didn’t push them down. Instead, a lazy hand ran up her belly, between her breasts, then back down again.

  Relax, her mind screamed seconds before Shelby uttered that very same word.

  “Your skin…so soft, warm,” Shelby murmured.

  Reagan stood still as Shelby leaned closer, her lips nibbling gently at her neck, causing all sorts of sensations that were completely foreign to her. God, had it really been that long that she’d forgotten what it was like to make love?

  “It’s okay to touch me.”

  Reagan laughed quietly. “I feel like a virgin,” she admitted.

  Shelby’s mouth touched the corner of her lips, then moved across her cheek to her ear. “We can go as slow as you need. We’ve got all night.”

  But something about Shelby’s words, the gentleness of them, the barest of touches against her ear…the sound of a heartbeat stirred her to life. She turned her head, finding Shelby’s mouth. The once-gentle kiss turned heated in seconds and her subtle fear faded away. Shelby recognized the change, it seemed, for her fingers went to the zipper of her jeans, lowering it in one motion before slipping both hands inside to push them and her panties down.

  Then Shelby drew her to the bed, down beside her. Reagan let her gaze travel over Shelby’s body, lingering on her breasts, then lower. She was…she was simply exquisite. Reagan was certain she’d never been with anyone this beautiful before. She reached out to touch Shelby, her hand following the same path her eyes had moments before.

  “Beautiful,” she whispered, giving voice to her thoughts. She leaned down, kissing Shelby again, slowly at first, then harder as they shifted, Shelby lying back, urging Reagan on top of her. Their breasts touched, then their hips as Reagan settled between her thighs, moaning as Shelby thrust up to meet her.

  She pulled her mouth from Shelby’s, her breath coming quickly as her hand moved to Shelby’s breast, her fingers tracing her nipple, feeling it harden beneath her touch. Shelby’s hands were on her back, sliding up and down slowly, urging Reagan ever closer with each pass.

  She shifted again, her thigh pressed hard against Shelby, feeling her wetness as it dampened her skin. Shelby’s legs parted even further, and she cupped Reagan’s hips, pulling her more firmly against her, rocking slightly against her thigh.

  She lowered her head, capturing Shelby’s nipple with her mouth, sucking gently on it, then more forcefully as Shelby moaned with pleasure. Fingers in her hair held her there, and Reagan nearly devoured her as she moved to her other breast.

  * * *

  “Oh…sweet Jesus,” Shelby murmured as Reagan’s hot mouth closed over her breast. She could no longer stifle her moans as Reagan’s tongue flicked against her nipple, making it swell even more. She held Reagan’s head, pressing her down hard, urging her to take more. Reagan did, then pulled away slightly, her lips closing over her nipple now, suckling it, causing desire to flow through her at an alarming rate. She arched her hips, thinking crazily that she was about to have an orgasm simply from Reagan’s mouth on her breasts.

  Then Reagan pulled away entirely from her breast, her mouth coming back to hers, her tongue sliding wetly against her own. Shelby opened her mouth, taking Reagan’s tongue inside, sucking it, all the while trying to hold on to her sanity. She couldn’t remember another time when she’d been so wildly aroused from a kiss.

  When Reagan’s mouth went back to her breast, blood pounded in her ears and she couldn’t breathe. Only when Reagan’s hand moved between their bodies, when Reagan’s fingers found her wetness, did her breath come back to her. She was trembling in anticipation and she opened her legs even wider, giving Reagan room. Her breath hissed between her teeth at Reagan’s first touch.

  “Oh…God…yes,” she murmured, her hips rising up as Reagan’s fingers pushed through her wetness, filling her.

  “Tell me what you like,” Reagan whispered. “Do you want me inside, like this? Or…like this?” she asked as her fingers found her clit, rubbing against it in a circular motion.

  Shelby jerked from the contact, panting now as her hips pushed against Reagan’s fingers. She couldn’t believe how close she was to orgasm and she gripped Reagan’s waist with both hands.

  “Don’t you dare stop,” she breathed.

  But Reagan took her hand away. “Not yet. You said you wanted foreplay, remember?”

  Shelby growled in frustration, opening her eyes, meeting Reagan’s. Her breathing was ragged, but she managed a smile.

  “If you don’t finish this right now, I’ll—”

  “You’ll what?” Reagan asked as she kissed her, her tongue shoving into her mouth.

  Shelby moaned around the kiss, her hands moving against Reagan’s back, then lower, cupping her, pulling her up hard against her again.

  “Please, Reagan,” she whispered against her mouth. “I’m so close.”

  “I know you are. I could feel you tremble when I touched you,” Reagan whispered back.

  “Okay…so I’m begging you.”

  She felt Reagan smile against her breast. She smiled too, wondering when the last time was she’d been on the verge of an orgasm and paused to have a conversation about it. But her smile vanished as Reagan’s hand returned to her, her fingers sliding over her clit only briefly before once again filling her.

  This time, Reagan didn’t stop and Shelby lost herself in her desire, her mouth opening, taking in Reagan’s tongue again, wrapping her own around it. There was no slow buildup, no wave to ride in. Her orgasm blasted through her like an explosion, seemingly shredding her body into thousands of tiny pieces. She screamed out loudly, gripping tightly around Reagan’s waist to hold on, feeling as if she was falling even though she was lying down.

  She felt dizzy…and embarrassed. God, she never screamed like that. She braced herself as Reagan’s fingers withdrew from inside her, then she moaned as Regan’s hand pressed hard against her clit, squeezing out the last of her orgasm.

  She finally relaxed back against the bed. Her heart was still pounding, and she took several deep breaths, trying to slow her racing pulse.

  “Paybacks are hell,” she murmured, her eyes still closed. Reagan’s quiet laugh caused her to smile. “You think I’m kidding.”

  Reagan lay down beside her and pulled her into her arms. Shelby buried her face against her neck, breathing in the scent of her. Her lips moved, nipping against her skin, moving up to find her mouth. It was a gentle kiss this time, slow and sensuous, making her desire flame all over again.

  She rolled them over, holding Reagan down beneath her. She raised her eyebrows teasingly as she smiled.

  “My turn.”

  Chapter Thirty

  “You’re killing me.”

  Shelby left her breast and went back to her mouth. “Do you give up?”

  “You’re evil,” she said, her mouth twitching in a smile. “Pure evil.”

  Shelby’s tongue swirled around her nipple once again, and she raised her hips, trying to find contact, but Shelby avoided her.

  “I’m dying. Please…”

  “Do you give up?” Shelby whispered as her hand slipped between her legs, teasing.

  “God…yes. I give up. You win.” Reagan looked at Shelby through half-opened eyes, seeing the sensuous smile on her face. “Please…I’m dying,” she said again.

  Shelby leaned down, kissing her slowly on the lips. “I’m sure no one has died from foreplay.”

  “I don’t want to be the first.”

  Shelby smiled against her lips. “I told you…paybacks.”

 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22