Still Mr. And Mrs. Read online

With her hand, she swept a spaghetti strap off one arm and then the other until the sparkling concoction lay in a pool of sequins at her feet.

  “What are you trying to do, Reb? Seduce me?” His voice was low and tempting, luring her closer. “Because it’s working. Ever since I saw you swimming topless in this pool you’ve had me wound up in knots. There’s no place for me to go.”

  Her pulse doubled.

  “I won’t ask you to make any promises you can’t keep.”

  She stepped out of the dress and stood before him in black silk panties, lacy stockings and her high-heeled shoes.

  She placed her palms on his broad shoulders and gently eased him into a sitting position on the chaise lounge. She moved closer, nudging one leg between his thighs. His arousal was clear to see. She propped her other leg on the cushion of the chair.

  Slowly she unhooked the lacy edge of her stocking from the garter, and rolled it down an inch.

  “Take it off, Gabe,” she instructed huskily. “Undress me.”

  He swallowed hard. “Looks like you’ve already done that.”

  His words were as hot as she felt.

  “Not completely,” she purred.

  He ran both palms up her silky leg, resting at the top of her thigh. She could feel the subtle strength of his fingers, the tenderness she knew he possessed. His touch on her sensitive flesh burned.

  He leaned closer, lightly placing small kisses on the exposed inside portion of her thigh.

  Rebecca let her head roll back, feeling the arc of electricity spark inside her with each brush of his fingertips, with each kiss.

  “How’s this?” His voice betrayed how aroused he was.

  She pressed her fingers into his shoulder muscles, making him groan. “You’re doing just fine.”

  He rolled the silk stocking down a couple of inches, stopping only to kiss and taste her trembling flesh. His tongue lightly traced a circular path, moving up, then down. “You taste as wonderful as you look.” He slipped her sandal off, then the stocking.

  “Gabe.” She struggled for the words as she arched her hips toward him.

  “Ah, darling,” Gabe whispered, “you move me.”

  Lifting her other leg, he rolled the stocking down a couple of inches only to follow the same path with his tongue.

  “That’s the idea,” she said in a shaky breath as her eyes fluttered shut. “I want to move mountains for you, Gabe.”

  After stepping out of her last shoe and stocking, she removed the silk tie around his neck and tossed it over his jacket.

  There was a tingling in the pit of her stomach as she caught his fevered gaze. She unbuttoned each button of his shirt, pulling the fine cotton broadcloth from the waistband of his pants.

  She ran her hands underneath the collar of his shirt, marveling at the smooth, hard flesh of his muscled back and his shoulders.

  She smiled to herself when he trembled under her fingers as she removed his shirt, which landed on top of the tie and jacket.

  “Reb.”

  “Yes, darling?” she murmured sweetly.

  He drew her closer to him, so close the very core of her was just a warm breath away.

  “You know we’re not going to stop tonight.” He rested his hands on her waist, squeezing gently.

  “I know. That was the idea.”

  He gave a little chuckle. “Now that doesn’t surprise me.”

  Fear surfaced in her. If he rejected her now, she didn’t know what she would do. For a moment she couldn’t talk. “Is it working? The seduction part, I mean?”

  “Try and stop me.” His voice was deeper than normal, and the steamy air around them seemed to rise a few degrees.

  She leaned over to the large platter of fruit on top of a table next to them, her breasts coming dangerously close to his face.

  He growled low in his throat.

  She selected a sliced orange and took a bite, letting a drop of juice drip down her bottom lip. Then she licked the juice away.

  “I was hoping you’d say that.”

  “Just as long as you know that there is no turning back.”

  “I’m a big girl now.”

  “I know.”

  She placed the fruit to his lips and gently squeezed the rind, causing juice to trickle down his mouth.

  She felt him tense as she moved closer. She licked the juice from his lips, letting her tongue linger over his lips, tasting the tangy fruit, tasting him.

  He took the orange from her. “I can do better than that.”

  She arched her brows. “Then show me.”

  He started at the base of her throat where her pulse beat wildly, drawing the sweet, sticky fruit down her chest, giving a little squeeze when he circled her breasts.

  Goose bumps sprang across her skin.

  He pulled her to him, capturing one nipple between his lips. He rolled his tongue over the rosy, hard peak with tantalizing possessiveness. His tongue caressed one sensitive swollen nipple, then the other.

  She moaned, aching with hunger and wild with desire.

  His tongue was light and painfully teasing as he made a path down her taut stomach to the swell of her hips.

  He squeezed the remaining juice over the black silk of her panties, soaking her until a trail of orange juice ran down her inner thigh.

  Rebecca let out a small whimper.

  He paused to kiss her stomach, licking away the sticky juice. He mumbled words she couldn’t understand while his fingers hooked inside her silken panties, jerking her to him.

  She arched her back.

  His tongue, warm and moist, touched her through the thin fabric, causing her to suck in a sharp breath.

  He kissed her again, and she could have sworn he burned the black silk and lace clear off her body.

  He moaned, drawing the lacy material down to her knees and off. “This isn’t going to stop, Reb. I can’t … stop.”

  “Don’t stop. Please, Gabe, don’t.”

  His tongue sank into her, licking and moving with light circular motions, sending jolts of pure ecstasy through her.

  Gabe couldn’t think about anything but Reb. He’d forgotten how incredible it was being with her like this, and every muscle in his body tightened with need for her. Never had he felt so alive.

  Her eyes were shut, her neck arched, and her lips were parted and moist.

  He could see the pulse at the base of her throat, beating wildly, making him ache for her even more.

  With each caress her breathing became more erratic.

  Watching her build to her climax was the most sensuous thing he’d ever experienced in his life.

  He moved his mouth over her most sensitive flesh, making her tremble. He could feel his arousal burning hotter and hotter, straining for release.

  He tasted the sweetness of the orange against her skin. He relished her. And she was the sweetest thing he’d ever tasted.

  She shivered. She was so delicate, so feminine.

  And his … for the moment.

  “Ah, Gabe, I—” She stiffened, and a soft groan escaped her. Her eyes shot open, and their gazes met in a hot, feverish stare.

  “Reb?”

  His mouth throbbed.

  And she throbbed, quivered and shook in one quick spasm against his mouth as her release took her.

  “Oh, my … Gabe,” she sobbed and laughed at the same time as her body went limp against him, the weight of her pressing them down on the chaise lounge. “I can’t remember it ever being so … intense. What you do to me, I can’t explain.”

  He took in her flushed face, the rosy dew across her chest. She was beautiful. And she was his. “I never underestimated you, Reb,” he said on a ragged whisper.

  “And I’ll never underestimate you.” She snuggled closer.

  Naked chest pressed against naked chest.

  She guided his hand to her. She arched her back, drawing him closer, inviting him.

  He put one finger into her, and found she was moist, hot, filled with wanting h
im.

  “Reb, sweet, Reb.” He sucked in a deep breath. “So wonderful.”

  He kissed her lips, tasting faint traces of the orange that lingered on her tongue.

  She groaned her surrender as he deepened the kiss.

  He quickly moved his mouth from her lips to her ear while his hands explored the softer parts of her body.

  The only thing he could hear was the pounding of his heart.

  Warm night air hit his legs and lower portion of his body as he realized Reb had opened his pants.

  With a quick movement, she pushed his pants down over his hips, to his knees, and then she dropped his pants to the ground. The rest of his clothing followed.

  Shock registered then quickly disappeared as the tips of her breasts touched him once more. She kissed his chest, nipping gently as the excruciating tension inside him built stronger and stronger until he thought he was going to explode.

  He felt fear rise in his throat, mixed with the raw urge to be one with her.

  All of a sudden he found it almost impossible to breathe, to move, and he knew that he was still in love with her. So much, in fact, that he would give her the child she wanted.

  He willed himself to lift his head, to gaze at her.

  Her hair, which at the beginning of the evening had been artfully piled on top of her head, now hung in riotous curls around her shoulders and face.

  In one quick movement, he swung her underneath him. He grasped both of her hands in his, raised them over her head and held her there. He gently kneed her legs apart and settled between her.

  He ran his tongue from her ear to the side of her temple, kissing her lightly, cherishing her more than words could ever express.

  “Gabe.”

  Flames of sensation washed over him at the sound of her voice saying his name. Never before had the mere mention of his name affected him so deeply.

  He looked at her and saw the loving invitation of wanting in her eyes.

  “Now, Gabe. Please. I can’t wait anymore.” She offered herself to him, as she always had in the past. Nothing was held back. She was open and filled with love.

  Longing welled inside him. He wanted her too.

  He came to her, gliding into her tight warmth.

  Tiny tremors rippled along his spine, burying deep inside his heart and soul.

  She moaned. The sound between ecstasy and longing was heaven to his ears.

  The soft moonlight caressed her face, and her slight smile was enough to make him tremble inside.

  Soft strands of her hair brushed across his forearm as she moved. She grasped his thighs to pull him closer to her.

  “Easy, love. It’s been a long time for me. But I’d swear you feel like it’s your first time.”

  “It is my first time with you again,” she said in a breathless voice. “It’s always been only you.”

  Gabe’s heart soared. He kissed her lips, pushing a little deeper into her.

  Their slow strokes became bolder, quicker, and they moved together as one soul, one heart, giving and taking with each movement.

  “Gabe, I want more,” she gasped.

  “More?”

  “Yes, please, don’t stop.”

  “Baby, you’re more than I could ever handle. I, ah, I don’t think—”

  “Just love me, Gabe.” She crushed her lips to his, their tongues tasting, licking, sucking desperately with need.

  With each thrust his concentration faltered. He was lost.

  He clenched his teeth together, forcing his release to hold on for one minute longer.

  One second longer.

  Then he couldn’t think anymore as the tremors of his release took over.

  He grabbed her tightly in his arms, letting out a groan and feeling totally out of breath. He kissed the side of her temple, drawing the scent of her perfume deep inside his lungs.

  She didn’t say a word.

  “Let me hold you for a moment,” he said.

  He shifted his weight off of her and drew her close to his chest and into the safety of his warm embrace. He wanted to keep her if only for a few minutes, in a way that was his and his alone, no matter how wrong they were for each other.

  As their breathing settled, he clung to her for a few moments longer.

  She rolled over, angling her hips against him in the most provocative way.

  If she kept this up, he thought, there’d be more than holding and touching.

  There would be more memories to be made and to be cherished. Their lovemaking would lead to other passionate moments of making love, which would lead to other commitments and hopes of a reconciliation.

  And more broken hearts.

  He frowned as he felt the warmth of her skin, and the deep, regular breaths she took.

  It was then that he noticed that she had drifted into a light, easy sleep.

  He swore to himself. He felt like a bastard. Now what?

  NINE

  Rebecca’s dream jarred her awake the next morning.

  She opened her eyes. Gray peeked through the partially closed shutters, telling her that dawn was about an hour away.

  The dream she’d been having wasn’t particularly a good one, but it didn’t matter. She knew Gabe was gone without even turning over.

  Her chest tightened. The silence that ran through the small bedroom was almost deafening.

  Slowly, she sat up, pulling the sheet to her chin. She stared, nearly hypnotized, at the far wall, feeling her insides crumble into a heap as she tried to ignore the hurt that pierced her heart. After all, what more could she do?

  Gabe was gone. But that was what she had expected, even though she had hoped for the opposite.

  She’d hoped she would wake up to him still lying beside her, that he’d make love to her all over again.

  Gabe still hadn’t let her inside his heart, she realized. His pulling away from her was proof enough. Their relationship was going nowhere.

  With a heavy sigh she crawled out of bed, walked into the bathroom and turned on the shower.

  One thing was certain, last night wouldn’t happen again, she thought, looking at her rumpled appearance in the steamy mirror. She’d give him all the space he needed. Let him make all the moves.

  She wasn’t going to let him see how much he hurt her.

  After all, turnabout was fair play.

  Wasn’t it?

  “Gabriel Stewart, you haven’t heard a word I’ve said.” Evelyn stirred another spoonful of sugar into her tea.

  “You’ve been in that stupid daze ever since you sat down this morning.”

  “I see you’re in a good mood too,” he commented dryly, thankful that he and Evelyn were the only ones left in the main house, the others having left early for a round of golf. He wasn’t up to carrying on a civil conversation with anyone.

  His head was pounding, and his stomach wouldn’t stop churning. The promise he’d made to himself about keeping his distance from Reb had been all but destroyed in one incredible, passionate night.

  A night he’d probably regret for the rest of his life.

  Almost as much as he’d treasure its memory.

  He stared at the mug of hot coffee he cradled in his hands, hands that had sweetly caressed his wife just a few short hours before.

  “You look awful. Rough night?”

  “Keep going, Evelyn,” Gabe warned, hoping she’d drop the subject.

  “Well you didn’t stay long enough at the party to have a hangover,” Evelyn continued, her sharp comments grating on his nerves.

  Evelyn took a sip of her tea. “Besides, I know what you look like when you do have a hangover. And that’s not what I’m seeing right now.”

  Evelyn leaned closer. “She turned you down, didn’t she?”

  Gabe shoved his coffee aside. “You know, Evelyn, one of these days I’m going to disown you.”

  Evelyn laughed. “Disown me? Hah, you’ve got that one turned around. I should disown you for being the stubborn jackass you are.”
<
br />   “You don’t know when to quit, do you?”

  “Oh, my dear boy. I can read you so clearly. You’re stuck and don’t know what to do. That beautiful granddaughter-in-law of mine has finally gotten the best of you, and you can’t handle it.”

  She waved Hines to her side. “I’d like a mimosa.” She challenged Gabe with her steely glare.

  “Evelyn,” Gabe warned.

  “And don’t lecture me about drinking this early in the day,” she told him. “I think a celebration is in order and a mimosa sounds good.”

  Before Gabe could utter a smart retort, Rebecca walked into the garden room.

  “Morning, everyone.” Her voice was velvet-edged and husky.

  Her body gently brushed against his shoulder as she passed him, leaving behind a light scent of jasmine and freshly washed hair.

  His gaze traveled up her tanned legs and the soft lavender bicycle pants she was wearing.

  She poured herself a cup of coffee and stirred in a little cream.

  He watched her every movement, her every breath as the memories of what it was like to be loved by her drifted through his mind.

  His head pounded harder. Good Lord, he didn’t need this.

  Actually the truth was, he didn’t want to get hurt. The fear that Reb would leave him again ate at his insides. He couldn’t make her happy and though he wished it was just a sex thing between them, he knew in his heart it was much, much more.

  He didn’t want to think about it or the fact that more heartache was sure to follow if he didn’t set the record straight.

  Rebecca smiled as she sat next to him, giving him a better chance to watch her.

  She appeared calm, rested and even a little bit cool. Perhaps a little too cool. Which wasn’t what he was expecting.

  “Sleep okay?” she asked. She took a leisurely sip from her mug.

  She had her hair pulled up in a loose ponytail, a few unbound tendrils falling down the back of her neck.

  His gaze wandered up her neck, to her ear, to her face and lips.

  “Fine. How about you?” he asked, feeling his control slip a notch.

  He waited for any sort of reaction on her part. A smile, a touch of her hand on his.

  Anything.

  She sat as still as a doll, staring contentedly into her mug of coffee.

  The muscles in his forearm hardened beneath the sleeves of his royal-blue polo shirt. He wanted to touch the tender spot under her ear with his tongue and assail her with his kisses.