After dark, p.16
After Dark, page 16
“It’s not idle curiosity, Taylor. What happened is between us just as much as the man who created this problem is keeping us apart.”
Taylor knew he was right. Nevertheless it was not easy for her to say, “He was interested in one thing. Getting me into bed. When he succeeded it was over. He had done what he set out to do. End of story.”
But it wasn’t over for her. It had colored all her relationships with men for years. “And since him?” he persisted.
She dropped her head. “I haven’t wanted to be with anyone else after that. I’m twenty-eight, but my experience with men is limited. I’m sorry.”
“You have nothing to apologize for.” He wanted to punch someone, preferably Adams. He said, “I’m sorry he hurt you that way.”
“I’m over it.”
“No. He made it nearly impossible for you to give your trust to another man.” He kissed her gently. “Thanks for telling me.”
Taylor nodded, then yawned. Quickly covering her face with her hands, she said, “Sorry, it’s not the company.” She snuggled even closer to him. She was just so comfortable and it had been a long day.
He smiled. “I’m not offended. It’s late. Let’s go to bed.” He felt her relaxed body instantly stiffen. “I’m not suggesting that we do anything more than sleep.”
Taylor stared into his eyes, slowly recognizing that if he had wanted to take advantage of the situation, he could have done so when she invited his attention. He had been nothing but thoughtful.
“Okay.” She tried to smile but failed. She had butterflies in her stomach when she slid off his lap and reached back to take his hand.
“That’s it?” he asked, easily coming to his full height.
“Mmm,” she murmured intent on pulling him along.
“I’ll get the lights,” he said. He blew all the candles out, but he waited until she had crossed the room and had begun folding back the spread and blankets before he switched off the lights. He’d kept his focus on what he was doing and not on the movement of her soft voluptuous body. “Would you like the patio doors open to let in some fresh air?”
She shrugged. “Doesn’t matter. You decide.”
Donald left them open. He couldn’t have what he preferred. And it didn’t have a thing to do with fresh air. When he crossed to the bed, Taylor was there the covers nearly up to her chin.
He turned out the bedside lamp before he unzipped his slacks and pulled them down his long legs. He did not remove his black silk bikini briefs. He was grateful for the darkness. He was not trying to hide his body from her, but trying to hide hers from him. It would be enough to feel her softness against him, for he refused to be denied that small pleasure.
“Comfortable?” she whispered from her side of the bed.
“Not quite. But I’ll live,” he grumbled.
“What’s wrong?”
“Besides the bed being too short?” He knew perfectly well that his oversized bed in the family’s suite next door had been designed for his body. None of that mattered because Taylor was here and that was where he wanted to be. “You’re too far away.”
He let out a long sigh when she moved until her head was cushioned on his shoulder and her soft breasts pillowed on his chest. One of her thighs rested against his.
“Mmm, that’s much better. Are you okay?”
Her racing heart gradually slowed as she closed her eyes concentrating on the warmth of his large male body. She relaxed even more as his stroking hand smoothed over her back.
“Sweetness?”
“Yes,” she murmured, sleepily. Taylor wiggled until she was just where she wanted to be, her body cushioned perfectly by his. Gradually, as the breeze fluttered gently over them, she slept.
Donald wasn’t quite so lucky. His relentless need rode him hard. Yet, he was so relieved that she was exactly where he wanted her, he was not about to complain. Suddenly, he recognized that he wanted her like this each and every night. Slowly, he let that, realization sink inside his being. He closed his eyes savoring the comforting warmth of her being in his arms.
But the aching need did not ease, it kept him wide wake. After a time he gave up trying. He quietly eased out of the bed, careful not to wake her. As much as he hated it he knew if he didn’t eliminate the pulsating desire, he would be up all night. Turning on the shower full blast he let the cold spray soak his hair, his long frame. He groaned, not from the discomfort, but the persistence. He stayed where he was until when he finally left the shower his teeth were chattering—but his hunger had eased so that he could sleep with her in his arms.
Chapter Thirteen
When Taylor woke the next morning, the bedroom was bright with sunshine. She stretched, well rested, then looked expectantly to the pillow beside hers. It was empty, but there was a note on it. She picked it up, but hugged the pillow to herself, inhaling deeply before she flushed as she realized that she was searching for his smell. She had no idea how long he’d been gone, but she missed him.
Had she ever spent a more exciting night? She blushed, realizing how much she enjoyed sleeping in his arms. She adored everything about him from his smell, to the feel of his supple dark brown skin, to his muscular strength. He was so beautifully male. She laughed. She had no idea she would enjoy sleeping with him so much.
Curious, she read that he hadn’t wanted to wake her, but he asked her to join him and his family for breakfast when she was ready. Taylor smoothed the note out, then hurried out of bed.
She dressed in navy slacks and a peach short-sleeved shell. After curling her hair, she added a touch of bronze lipstick to her mouth and a touch of mascara, before she left the suite. She didn’t allow herself to question why she was so eager to see Donald.
Her knock was answered by one of his nieces. “Hi, come on in. Everyone is in the kitchen.” Sissy showed her the way.
Taylor was surprised to find Donald manning the breakfast grill with spatula in hand. “Morning,” she smiled, somewhat nervously.
He grinned when she entered the kitchen. “Hey, sleepyhead. Hungry?” His dark eyes moved slowly over her. He forced his eyes away from her lush breasts and pretty mouth.
Everyone was seated around the breakfast table and exchanged greetings, making room for her.
“Something smells good. You look like you know what you’re doing.”
The others looked at her as if she dropped a bomb. Taylor blushed.
Donald chuckled, coming over to place a full plate in front of her. It was filled with pancakes, sausages and scrambled eggs. He didn’t leave until he had also placed a soft kiss on her lips.
“Donald’s the cook in the family,” Megan volunteered, holding up her plate for another helping of pancakes.
“Yeah. Uncle Don makes the best ribs,” Kimmy said around a mouth full of food.
“Kimmy. You know better than to talk with food in your mouth,” her mother reminded.
“I like his potato salad,” Sissy added, refusing to be left out of the conversation.
Taylor’s eyes went wide. “Aren’t you something.” Her twinkling eyes locked with his.
Carl was watching his brother. He shook his head. Donald had it bad.
The brothers didn’t have a chance to talk until the afternoon. The ladies had gone into town to shop and the guys indulged themselves in a few rounds of golf.
“Are you sure about this, bro?”
Donald looked sharply at Carl, recognizing the note of concern. He didn’t have to explain; Donald knew what he was getting at.
“Yeah. I’m sure why?”
“You haven’t known her long. Why don’t you give it some time? There’s no rush, is there? Hell, man, she didn’t even know you cook.”
Donald shrugged. “She knows now.”
“Seems to me that you’re already in over your head. Give it time. Time to decide her motives. Don’t let the sex blind you.”
“It’s more than sex,” he said bluntly. They could be good together. No, better than good, if she gave them a chance. “I care about her.”
Carl didn’t want to see his baby brother hurt. He knew how the fame, the wealth, left Donald vulnerable to all kinds of scavengers, especially the sleek, beautiful variety. “How do you know you can trust her?”
Donald knew his brother spoke out of concern, but also knew he was wrong. Taylor didn’t expect anything from him. She was reluctant to get deeply involved with him.
“Carl, I know what I’m doing. Taylor isn’t asking for anything. I’ve been pursuing her, not the other way around. She’s not even sure she can trust me. I want her more than she wants me.”
Carl wasn’t sure about the truth of that statement, but he was wise enough not to point it out.
“Hey, what’s the hold up?” Jess asked eyeing them from the green.
Later that day, as Carl watched Donald approach Taylor, he knew that his brother had no idea the kind of heartache that could very well come his way if things with her did not go his way. He was vulnerable and didn’t even realize it. Women considered him fair game. They more often than not saw the income not the man. Carl could only hope that Taylor was different.
“Enjoying yourself?” Donald said into her ear as he joined her in the shallow end of the pool where she was playing volleyball with his nieces and sister and sister-in-law.
“Oh, yes. The weather is simply wonderful and so is your family.” She especially liked Megan. She was so easy to talk to.
Her smile had him thoroughly enchanted, hating every second of the day that they had been apart. This weekend was not working out as he had planned. He had hoped to have her all to himself.
“What you need is a little height on your team,” he boasted, knowing what he needed was a taste of her sweet mouth. His keen gaze devoured her generous curves in a black one-piece suit, cut high at the thigh.
“Oh no! That is not fair!” Megan complained, yelling for her husband to come and join them. He had been comfortably relaxing beside the pool.
“That will never do. Carl!” Margie called.
Soon it became apparent that the grownups were having more fun than the kids. Shouts and laughter and giggles filled the air. Taylor was exhausted by the time they called a halt and went to change for dinner. It turned out to be a real family affair, with aunts, uncles and cousins included as they grilled salmon steaks beside the pool.
“Get enough to eat?” he asked quietly, close to her ear.
Taylor laughed. “I’d say.”
Although Donald had not been far away all evening, she couldn’t help wishing that she didn’t have to share him with the others.
He laced his hand with hers. “Come on. Let’s go walk off some of this food.”
“Where are you two off to?” his sister asked. Her husband and older brother both looked at her in disbelief. “What?” she demanded.
Jess eyed his wife’s soft mouth. He gave her a hard kiss, asking, “Has it been that long, baby?”
Megan could not help the blush that rose in her pretty brown cheeks.
“Later…” Donald called after them. He pulled her along with him.
“Hey. What is the rush?”
“Sorry, sweetheart. I love my family, but I’m about ready to toss all of them in the pool.”
“Why is that?” she giggled.
“You know why,” he said impatiently. His idea of a walk was around the outside of the hotel, through the lobby, and straight toward the door of her suite.
“Donald!”
His eyes were on her mouth. “Open the door, Taylor.”
She was laughing so much she could hardly turn the key in the lock. Donald took over. His patience was nonexistent.
“What are you doing?” He was right behind her. “Stop!” she shrieked as he was stalking her. “Donald!” She raced across the room. “Will you stop!” She was laughing so hard, her side was beginning to hurt.
Donald had no intention of stopping until he had her where he wanted her. He grabbed her by the waist and lifted her off her feet. They came down on the overstuffed sofa together with Taylor on top of him. She was giggling so much that he still couldn’t kiss her. But it didn’t matter, nothing mattered but finally having her in his arms.
“You are terrible. Some walk!”
Chuckling, he said, “I’d had it with sharing you. I’m all for you getting to know the family, later. This was supposed to be our time. We’ve barely had two minutes alone all day. One tiny good morning kiss was all I got.”
Taylor crooned in her throat. “You poor neglected baby.” She placed a soft kiss on his throat. “I’m so sorry.”
“And well you should be,” he scoffed, angling himself so that he could cuddle her cheek. His eyes lingered on her tantalizing lips. He licked her mouth, before pulling her fleshy bottom lip into his mouth to suckle. “I need you,” he admitted in a gruff whisper.
She sighed, loving the feel of him and wanting nothing more than to be right where she was, against his wide chest. She, too, had been unable to think of little else but Donald and the wonderful night they had shared. She was as eager to be alone with him as he was to be with her.
“Mmm, you are so sweet, so sweet…” he whispered. She was so warm and incredibly soft. She fit perfectly in his arms. “Adams didn’t have the brains God gave a toad. He had no idea what a treasure he lost.”
Having always considered it the other way around, Taylor decided she liked his interpretation better. “Donald...” she whispered his name with longing, shivering in response to the heat of his forging tongue.
Taylor was all woman and she belonged to him. He had no intention of letting her go. When she opened her mouth, giving him full access, he groaned deep in his throat. He gathered her as close as he could. Her lush breasts were cushioned on the wide expanse of his chest. There was too damn much material separating them. He wanted her bare, open to his hands…to his mouth, to his throbbing shaft.
Taylor was dazed by the heat of his kisses, each deeper and wetter than the last one. She moaned in protest when his mouth left hers. She’d pulled his shirt free of his jeans in order to caress his back and shoulders. His skin was supple, like velvet over steel.
Donald unbuttoned her blouse and didn’t pause until he had unclasped her bra and her softness filled his hands. He nearly lost his head. She was so exquisitely lush.
“Taylor…baby, I knew you would be like this, wonderfully soft, beautiful.” He dropped his head, licking his way across a brown, full globe until he reached the dark brown nipple. He laved the aching peak until it stood out hard and sweet as a plump raisin, only then did he suck it.
She nearly screamed from the attention as the red-hot flames of desire flared along her nerve endings pooling in that womanly center between her legs. She whimpered deep in her throat causing quivers to race down his spine and he intensified the suction as his caressing hand squeezed her other breast.
She managed to gasp his name, unwittingly rubbing her aching mound against the hard muscle of his thigh.
“Is it good, sweetness?” he asked, his voice hoarse with desire.
He took his time ignoring his body’s demands that he hurry, the elemental relentless urge to bury himself inside her sweet heat. He had waited too long to have her…to taste her. Taylor was a shivering mass of raw pleasure when he turned his hot mouth to her other breast. He laved the pebble-hard tip before applying the intense suction they both enjoyed.
She said his name, crossing her legs and squeezing her thighs in an attempt to ease the emptiness deep inside. It hadn’t been like this before. That time with Alex could not compare to being with Donald. She had never known that a man could relish a woman’s breasts the way Donald was enjoying hers. When she was close to sobbing her enjoyment, he lifted his head and looked deep into her eyes.
“Tell me. Tell me if you want me as much as I want you.” When she would have nodded her agreement to whatever he asked, he clarified. “I’m asking if you are ready to take me inside your body?” He couldn’t make himself any clearer. He didn’t think he could turn back once he had felt her wet heat.
Taylor caressed his cheek, her mouth sweet against his. “I want you.”
She would not have believed it if she hadn’t witnessed it. She let out a whoop quickly covering her mouth with her hand as he lifted her into his arms and held her against his chest.
“Have you lost your mind? Put me down before you hurt something.”
Donald ignored her protest as he crossed to the bedroom. Closing the door with his foot, he said, “Sweetness, I bench press 250 to 300 pounds. You’re a lightweight.”
When they came down on the bed together, his weight pressing her into the mattress, his mouth claimed hers over and over again. When she recovered her senses she was as bare as the clay she was born. He had systematically stripped her. Some of her clothes were on the bed, some on the floor, some even on the chair. He was still fully dressed.
“No,” he said when she would have covered herself with the sheet. His hungry gaze stroked her entire caramel-colored length. “You’re beautiful.”
Taylor blushed, her eves on him. “Hurry...I need you.”
He stood beside the bed and began to undress. He handled his clothes with as little regard as he had handled hers. She watched his every movement, mesmerized by the beauty of his body. When he unzipped his jeans and shoved them down his hips and legs, then kicked them away, she swallowed a gasp. His briefs were next. She did gasp aloud then. His sex jutted powerfully as he approached the bed.
At his knowing smile she blushed again. He knew she was fascinated by that very male part of him. His long body was an endless play of finely tuned muscle over a teakwood brown frame.
He was a warrior. For tonight he was her warrior. His tremendous power tempered by tenderness. His rich ebony eyes drank in the lush beauty of her long curvy body.
“Tell me. Tell me how much you want me.” He growled the demand deep in his throat, his voice as heavy as his sex with need. The flare of his wide African nostrils and the set of his generous mouth spoke of an unyielding intent.
