Mr. Scandalous, page 10
“Then you better get busy.”
“Hold on a minute. My seat belt is still buckled.”
She hadn’t even noticed the poke of cool metal in her side. She was too caught up in the magic. She moved away from him, rolling over the gear shift and settling back into her seat while he fumbled with the belt.
Her body pulsed and burned, alive with need and desire.
“Hurry! Hurry!” Before she lost her courage. Before she started thinking about worst-case scenarios.
Don’t think. Don’t think. Just feel.
Gritting her teeth, she followed her own advice, focusing on her body’s response to the mad, ravaging rush.
She thought she would split right into two pieces, so desperate was the heaviness blooming within her. Along with undoing the seat belt, Alec stopped to free his shaft, unsheathing the proud, large erection from his gym shorts.
“Condom?” she asked, barely able to speak against the riptide of heat blasting through her veins.
“Glove compartment.”
Frantically she yanked open the glove compartment and searched for the condom. She was about to cry out in despair and then she found the small foil packet. She let out a sigh of relief and passed it to him.
He fumbled with the packet and dropping it before successfully getting it opened and the rubber rolled into place.
“Come here, vixen.” He tugged her back into his lap.
This time, she straddled him, her knees digging into the plush leather seat on either side of his thick, masculine thighs.
She pushed her hands up under his basketball jersey, anxious to feel his muscled chest beneath her splayed palms and cuddled his neck.
They kissed, harder this time with sharp nips and hungry nibbles instead of soft strokes and gentle caresses. Then when he broke the kiss to suckle one of her nipples through the material of her body stocking, she just about came undone.
His throbbing member was behind her, pressed flush against her bottom and straining hard. If she didn’t have him soon, she would lose it.
He sucked harder at her nipple. His hands were wrapped tight around her waist. She threw back her head, arched her back and accidentally honked the car horn.
Neither one of them noticed or cared. They were lost. Swept away.
She was slick and wet. With one hand he felt for the opening in the body stocking. For one precarious moment, she froze, wondering if he might feel the scar or if his entry into that seldom-used place might hurt her. But in the fading light, between their clothing, he seemed to notice nothing amiss and when he lifted her up and eased her onto his shaft, she slid right down with ease.
A perfect match. A perfect fit.
His body didn’t hurt a bit. In fact, the sensitive rubbing was quite erotic. He bucked his hips driving himself hard into her. His desperate desire was at once startling and liberating. They were wild as two beasts, blinded by need.
She clawed at his shoulders.
He tugged gently on her hair.
She pressed her forehead flat against his and stared down into his face until her eyes crossed.
Alec kissed her as he was making love to her. She surrendered to the rhythm, to the friction. They sparked off each other. She eagerly parried his thrusts.
It seemed his hands and lips were everywhere. Her eyelids, her cheek, the curve of her spine. Eden’s blood pounded, swelling in her temples like the crescendo of a classical symphony, Alec, Alec, Alec.
Harder, faster, deeper he penetrated, rocking himself up into her.
Yes. Yes. She was close. So very close to having her first orgasm with a partner. It was sublime, primitive and all-encompassing, this intimate union of their bodies.
“Eden,” he gasped in a strangled voice. “I’m coming. I’m sorry...I don’t...”
The tide of his orgasm snatched the words from his mouth. He shuddered into her and gave a rough, masculine cry. Even though she lost her own climax, the fact that she’d reduced him to such elemental quivering filled her with contentment. She stayed astride him, feeling his erection diminish.
His head slipped back against the seat. His hands, which had been holding her in place over his erection, relaxed. His eyes shuttered closed and his breathing escaped in tight, air-hungry gasps.
Then he reached up a hand, cupped the back of her head in his palm and brought her face down to his. He kissed her. Softly, sweetly, with deep appreciation and a rapt sense of wonder.
“That was absolutely incredible. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” she said, suddenly shy now that the intensity was waning.
“I’m sorry I came too soon but give me a few minutes to recover and we’ll try again.”
“Okay.”
They gazed into each other’s eyes.
“I need to move,” she whispered. “I’m getting a cramp in my leg.”
“All right.”
She slid off him, rolled over the gearshift and collapsed into the passenger seat. She readjusted her clothes while he dealt with the aftermath of their lovemaking.
“If you want,” he said, his eyes soft with a sated gleam. “I can take care of you right now.” He inched a hand toward the hem of her skirt.
“Uh, it’s okay.” Swiftly she crossed her legs, warding off his hand.
It was a little late to get panicky, but when she thought of his fingers skimming her down there, without the pressure of desire distracting him, she feared he would feel her scars.
You have to let him see them sometime.
Not now. Not yet. Not in a sports car beside the lake.
Before she had time to come up with an excuse for why she didn’t want him to finger her to orgasm, a blast from a police car siren and the strobe of red and blue lights had them both jumping.
“Holy crap,” Eden said. “Busted. My old man’s gonna have a fit.”
Alec grinned at her. “Still playing the game?”
Yes. Playing the game gave her back the control that had scattered into fear when he had reached for her most private place.
“Well, well, well,” the burly middle-aged trooper said as he strolled over to the driver’s side of the Ferrari. “If it isn’t Alec Ramsey, up to his old tricks.”
Chapter Eleven
Dreamily, Alec gazed out the window of his office at the city below, his mind stuck on Eden. No matter how hard he tried to focus on work, he couldn’t pry his thoughts off Saturday night and the free-for-all in the front seat of his Ferrari.
Or the way he’d let her down again.
Alec cringed. What was the matter with him? No woman had ever pushed him beyond the limits of his control. He hadn’t satisfied her, and he felt like a greedy jerk. Getting his while leaving her hanging. If the trooper hadn’t shown up when he did, Alec would have made certain Eden had an orgasm.
She had readily forgiven him for coming too quickly, but he couldn’t forgive or excuse himself. When he’d dropped her off at Wickedly Wonderful, instead of her home at her insistence, Eden had leaned down and whispered in his ear, “Be prepared for Tuesday night, because I’m going to rock your world.”
As if she hadn’t already.
Alec propped his elbows on his desk and sank his chin into his upturned palms.
It sounded cliched, but honestly he had never met a woman like Eden. He recalled every little thing about her. The velvet of her skin, the rasp of her moans, the gentle curve of her neck, the spark of passion in her eyes, the rich, earthy scent of her arousal. And no woman had ever responded to his touch in quite the same way she did.
Magically, she dissolved at the slightest brush of his hand. Alluringly, she unfurled when his tongue grazed her lips. Temptingly, she surrendered all hesitation when his body joined hers.
Her appetites matched his own, a rarefied trait, indeed. Her life force was a thing of heart-stopping beauty. She was luminescent in her womanly glow and powerful in her sexuality. She made him feel like the sexiest creature on the face of the earth.
And he had gone and spoiled it all by losing self-control.
Dammit!
Alec slammed a fist on his desk. Even though his premature climax was a compliment to her skill and desirability, he couldn’t believe he’d been unable to forgo his own pleasure for her sake.
He was a selfish, greedy jerk and he was appalled at himself. He based his reputation on treating women right. In the pages of his book, and on his social media platforms he extolled the virtues of extended foreplay and making sure your partner was sated before taking your own release.
He’d never had a problem like this. He was ashamed of himself and determined to rectify things. Tomorrow night would be all about her. Whatever she wanted, he would give it to her. He would be her sex slave and she his queen. No arguments allowed.
Agitatedly he tapped his foot against the leg of his desk and plowed his hands through his hair. He was so lost in thought that at first he didn’t hear Randy come into his office. It wasn’t until his best friend plopped down on the love seat and heaved a deep sigh that Alec looked up.
Randy’s eyes were blood-shot, his hair mussed as if he’d been repeatedly raking his hands through it, his clothes rumpled, and his shoulders slumped.
“Hey, man. You look awful. What’s up?” Alec asked.
“I feel worse.”
“You sick? If you’re sick, stay away from me.” Alec raised his palms to ward off any germs Randy might be harboring. “I’m seeing Eden tomorrow night and I want to be in tip-top shape.”
Randy pulled a hand down his face and shook his head. “It’s Jill.”
“Is she sick?”
“She’s called off the wedding.” Randy’s voice cracked and there was no mistaking the unshed tears.
That brittle, heartbreaking noise brought Alec up short. He’d never seen his friend meltdown emotionally. Not even when he’d broken his ankle skydiving. Not even when Randy had been forced to put down his fourteen-year-old Labrador retriever.
Alec got up from his desk and walked over to sit beside him on the love seat. He lightly punched his shoulder to comfort his distraught buddy the only way he knew how. They sat there staring morosely at each other for a long moment.
“What happened?” Alec asked. Seeing his friend looking so torn up knifed him hard in the gut.
“I don’t know. All Jill said was that maybe we needed to take a breather and reevaluate our relationship. She doesn’t want to see me or talk to me for at least two weeks. What the hell does this mean?” Randy shot him a baleful glance.
Helplessly Alec shook his head. “Women. Who can figure ’em?”
“Do you think she’s cheating on me?”
“Of course not.” He didn’t know whether Jill was being faithful or not, but he didn’t want to feed Randy’s upset.
“I love her, man. I mean serious, stone cold love her. It’s ripping my heart out that she won’t even discuss the problem with me. I guess I’m just a typical, clueless guy, because I didn’t even know there was a problem. I thought everything was great between us.”
“When did this happen?”
“Saturday night. After we’d left the wedding shower.”
Alec grunted and got to his feet. It certainly didn’t sound optimistic. To think Randy had waited twenty-eight years to find his true love and now this. It made no sense. His heart gave a strange jerk of disappointment.
Alec shoved his hands in his pockets. This was exactly why he avoided permanent relationships—too much opportunity for heartache.
“I’m losing her, and I don’t even know what I’ve done wrong.”
“You’ll work it out.”
Randy shook his head. “I’m beginning to think you and your uncle Mac were right all along. Marriage—the ties that bind and gag.”
“We weren’t right. Love is crucial. Love is what life’s all about.”
“Huh?” Randy’s eyes bugged.
What? Where in the hell had that come from? Of course marriage was a ball and chain around your neck. Love ensnared you in a stranglehold and sucked the life right out of you. Hadn’t he witnessed his father’s slow descent? Hadn’t he enjoyed the delicious fruits of singledom for a blissful twenty-eight years? Hadn’t bachelorhood provided him with an excellent way to make a living?
Why tempt fate? Why mess with perfection? Why fix it if it ain’t broke?
His life was good. Very good. So why did he suddenly feel antsy and claustrophobic? Why did he have a powerful desire to go dive off a cliff with a parachute just to prove he was alive and kicking?
You’re just trying to make Randy feel better. Don’t panic.
Alec clamped Randy on the shoulder. “Obviously, Jill’s just got cold feet. She loves you. I’ve never doubted that.”
“Really?” Randy looked hopeful. “You honestly think so?”
“You guys will work this out. Count on it. Just give her breathing room.”
“Thanks.” Randy managed a small smile. “You’re probably right.”
Alec forced a smile of his own. For his best friend’s sake, he prayed it was true.
The wind chimes over the door tinkled and Eden glanced up to see Jill Fincher standing at the threshold of Wickedly Wonderful. Her eyes widened as she gazed around the room, taking it all in.
“Hello, Jill.” Eden put down the staple gun she’d been wielding, creating a new basket she’d dubbed the Thrill of the Chase. She was surprised to see the bride-to-be in her store.
“Hi,” Jill said shyly.
“Come on in.” Eden moved from around the counter to motioned Jill on into the store.
“Is this a bad time?” Jill gnawed her bottom lip and gestured at the door with a hand. “Because if this is a bad time, I can come back later.”
“Nonsense. I’m at your disposal. What can I do for you?”
Jill took a deep breath and eyed a large vibrator on display at a chin-level shelf. “Um...er... this is sort of difficult.”
“Whatever you tell me will go no further,” Eden promised.
Jill blew out her held breath. “I’d like you to teach me how to be sexy.”
“What?”
Jill looked so earnest that Eden almost broke out laughing.
“Please. I really, really need your help. One look at the basket you created for m-my honeymoon...” Jill hiccuped and then burst into tears.
Eden rushed over. “What is it? What’s wrong? Did you totally hate the basket?”
“No!” Jill wailed. “That’s the problem. I loved it.”
“So why are you crying? I didn’t mean to make you cry.”
“Eden, it was uncanny how you captured the essence of my relationship with Randy, and you don’t even know me. And then when that tea leaf reader at the shower said something was missing in my life...” She broke off again, overcome with emotion.
“Come.” Eden took Jill’s hand and guided her to the back of the store. She pulled out a chair from the table. “Have a seat.”
Jill sat at the worktable covered in scraps of material—satin, lace, feathers, silk—along with two glue guns, Gorilla tape, and a stapler.
Eden went to the fridge she kept stocked with beverages and took out two bottles of iced tea. She passed it to the tearful woman and kept one for herself.
“Have something cold to drink, calm down and then you can explain what this is all about.”
“Thank you.”
Nodding, Jill sipped her drink for a few minutes while Eden sat opposite her. She was flattered that Jill had come seeking advice, but she had no idea what had upset her so.
“I postponed the wedding,” Jill said.”
“Oh my gosh, that’s drastic.”
“I told Randy I needed time to think.”
“Wow, are things that serious?”
“Deadly. I’ve been miserable for weeks and didn’t know how to bring it up to Randy, but the wedding shower pushed me over the edge.”
“You can’t take the tea leaf reading seriously. It didn’t mean a thing.”
You can’t cage the wind. The words Madame Xavier had spoken to her flitted through Eden’s head. She was good at giving advice but not too hot at taking it. If she were being honest, she would admit she’d been upset by the tea leaf reading, too.
“Madame Xavier was right.” Jill picked at a fuzz ball on her sweater. “Something is missing.”
“Do you love Randy?”
“Oh yes, very much.”
“And he loves you?”
“I don’t doubt his devotion for a moment.”
“So what’s the problem?”
Jill took a deep breath. “You heard Sarah say Randy and I are committed to a second virginity. We’d planned on waiting for our wedding night to have sex for the first time with each other.”
“Uh-huh.”
“Well, that’s not the whole truth.”
Eden grinned. “You two have been having sex.”
“No!” Jill’s hand went to her throat. “I mean we’ve been playing around some, sure…”
Images of how she and Alec had been playing around popped into her head and she had to struggle hard not to grin.
“But here’s the thing. This isn’t a second virginity for me. I actually am a virgin.”
“What’s so bad about that?”
“Randy doesn’t know.”
“So tell him.”
“I can’t.”
“Why not?”
Jill kneaded her forehead with two fingers. “Randy’s had so much experience with women, and here I am a twenty-six-year-old virgin. Won’t he think something’s wrong with me?”
“Why would he think that?”
“It’s freakish, being a virgin in your mid-twenties, but I was waiting until I found the right guy and fell in love. And then Randy wanted to do this second virginity thing to prove to me that his old lifestyle was behind him.”
“But that’s a good thing. It shows how serious he is about marriage.”
“I know, but now I’m feeling I haven’t lived enough. That I need a few notches on my bedpost, too, so when I’m an old lady in a rocking chair I don’t think back and regret not having explored my sexuality a more. I hate being so inexperienced.”
