A Night to Remember (12 page)

“Joshua, I—” She tried to sit up, to shift away, but he held her in place.

“Shhh, I won't hurt you,” he said coaxingly. “I promise I'll stop if you don't like it. Just try to relax. And trust me, Eleanor. Trust me.”

After a slight hesitation he continued licking her, circling slowly with the tip of his tongue around the tender nub of her pleasure. Tension curled up tight inside her, hot and urgent. Her breath came in short, gasping pants. He slid his hands beneath her bottom and tilted her forward.

The need inside her spiraled out of control, and her body arched up off the bed. It broke suddenly and she cried out. Joshua held her tightly, lightly stroking her flanks as her body shuddered its release.

Completly sated, Eleanor lay relaxed and slightly dazed against the soft cushions. Joshua shifted off the small bed and she let out a cry of protest at the loss of his solid warmth.

He returned quickly, however, standing above her, his eyes darkened with desire, gleaming down at her. She glanced over his beautiful body, hard and taut, and with a grateful blush realized he had donned a condom.

Eleanor lifted her arms to welcome him. Joshua moved between her spread legs, bending her knees back to angle her body to fit perfectly with his.

He gave her a wolfish smile before leaning over her. Gently he kissed her forehead, nose, and lips. Then with infinite tenderness he joined their bodies.

Eleanor cried out softly. She turned her head into his shoulder and nipped at the solid, warm flesh.

“Am I hurting you?” Joshua's voice was tight.

“No.” Eleanor trembled. His body was shuddering with the force of his need, but she could tell he was holding himself in check.

He slid deeper and deeper inside her. Eleanor felt her body stretching to accommodate him. She exhaled slowly, forcing her muscles to relax.

He fondled her breasts, then reached down between their bodies and caressed her softly.

“Better?” he whispered hoarsely.

“Hmmm,” she muttered, too involved in the glorious sensations to speak.

He moved inside her, slow and deliberate. She lifted her hips to get closer and he increased the pace, surging into her.

Her hands gripped the corded muscles of his upper arms, clenching and unclenching frantically as the tension within her started building again . . . higher . . . higher. Her heart raced and the blood pounded through her veins, the pressure so intense it almost became pain.

He froze for a second, then shuddered violently. She could feel the movement of his body deep within her, the pulsing of his release.

Her arms tightened around him. Her own pleasure was quickly forgotten as she became caught in the wonder of experiencing Joshua's orgasm. It was incredible. She whispered his name and felt tears fill her eyes.

Spent, he collapsed on top of her. His weight crushed her, but she loved the feel of having him draped over her like a blanket. Their bodies were still joined and she reveled in the physical bond, the closeness they still shared.

I love you, she thought, realizing with sadness that it was the truth. She was in love with him. But there was no time to savor, to indulge in this miraculous feeling, for reality quickly followed truth.

An ache assaulted Eleanor, the feeling so brutal she tightened her embrace and held onto Joshua with a near-death grip.

It was unlikely they had any future together. Their lives were too different, their expectations polar opposites. She had known that before the weekend started, and everything that occurred since, from the private plane ride to the glittering party tonight, merely confirmed that fact.

She didn't belong here, could never really fit in, feel comfortable.

Yet perhaps the most difficult truth of all to acknowledge was that when this magical weekend ended, and their time together was over, she would still love him.

 

 

Joshua lay back on the pillows. It was a close fit on the small bed, but he enjoyed the cozy arrangement. Somehow it felt right, having Eleanor snuggled so close to him, warming his body pleasantly. Outside, yet inside, too.

His gaze roamed her serene face. She was sleeping soundly, had been for the past hour. Gently he smoothed the few damp strands of hair from her temples. Her complexion was flushed, almost glowing. And it had nothing to do with her slight sunburn. With a smile that was pure male ego he took credit for the glow on that skin.

They had been good together. Better than good. Still, Joshua hadn't realized he would care so much, would
feel
so much. Not just physically, but emotionally.

Her shy hesitation, her initial nerves, had brought out the protective side of his nature and added a dimension to their lovemaking he had never before experienced. In the past he had always favored tough, aggressive women. The type that just might come up and grab your crotch, in case you didn't exactly understand what they wanted.

But now he discovered he could appreciate, even admire a completely different sort of woman. A woman like Eleanor. Less aggressive, less take-charge, a bit unsure, yet smart and competent. Gentler. Kinder. It was a nice change. It was the type of change he had never even considered until now. Yet he knew it was right for him.

He picked up a tendril of her hair and rubbed it between his fingers. Eleanor stirred, moaned, and snuggled deeper into the cushions. Joshua wondered briefly what thoughts were swirling through her brain. Even in sleep she seemed pensive.

Was she thinking about their future? He certainly had been. Exactly where did they go from here? There were some large problems looming on the horizon, specifically their working relationship. Even though Eleanor didn't work directly with him, she was an employee in his firm and there were some very strict rules governing company relationships.

And that was what they had—a relationship. He hadn't known her long, but he had established a closer, more honest connection with Eleanor than he had with other women he had dated for months. In this instance he readily accepted that quality, rather than quantity, was the key.

What about Eleanor? What did she want from him? Expect from him? He was astute enough to realize from the comments she constantly tossed out with comic delight that deep down inside she believed they were all wrong for each other.

Two days ago he would have agreed with her. Completely. But now he knew differently. He
felt
differently. That was clearly the first hurdle he needed to jump. Convincing Eleanor to take a chance on investing in a solid, meaningful, lasting commitment to him wouldn't be simple or necessarily easy, but well worth the challenge.

Eleanor opened her eyes sleepily and glanced around. He knew the exact moment she realized where she was by the startled look that came over her face. Followed briefly by a quick flash of pain.
Now what the hell was that all about?

“What time is it?” she asked groggily.

“Nearly one
A.M.
”

“Oh.” She shifted and sat up, clutching a large pillow to her breasts. “Do you think the party is still going on?”

“Probably,” he replied distractedly, his mind wandering, worrying over that look of distress. Did she have regrets? Had he hurt her in some way? Disappointed her?

The thought rankled him and he gave her a penetrating look. He knew he had brought her pleasure, but had he made her happy? It suddenly seemed very important to know that he had.

“Are you all right, Eleanor?”

She turned to him, looking mystified. “Y-yes. Of course. It was incredible. You were incredible.” She blinked and her cheeks bloomed with color. “Are you all right, Joshua?”

“Never better.” He gave a shaky laugh. She had caused him to practically lose all control, physically and emotionally. Even now he was amazed that he'd kept his head long enough to slip a condom on at the last moment to protect her.

“We should probably return to the house before anyone notices we've been gone.” She frowned down at the rug. “Can you help me find my clothing?”

Her simple request wounded him. She seemed very anxious to leave. Besides, he didn't have the heart to tell her that by this time surely his father and Rosemary would have noticed their prolonged absence, along with any other guests who might have been interested in speaking to them.

“What's the rush?” He took one of her hands and brought it to his mouth. Tenderly he nibbled on the fingertips. “I was hoping we could stay here for a while. Would you mind?”

She leaned toward him. The intensity of her expression was making him hard. Again. Joshua reached out and tugged at the large pillow she had tucked under her chin to hide her nudity. Surprised, she let it go. His gaze slid over her breasts and down the length of her body. Man, she was a pretty sight. Slowly he reached out, cupping her breasts. His fingers tested their firmness, his thumb teased one sensitive nipple.

“Are you tired?” he asked.

“Aren't you?” she questioned breathlessly.

“No.” He dipped his head and kissed her tender nipple.

She moaned. The long, whimpering sound brought his body to life and it tightened with need. What extraordinary power she possessed. Amazing.

 

 

It was nearly dawn when they left the summerhouse. They walked silently together through the wet grass, his arm thrown possessively around her shoulders. The party was long over. The terraced patios had already been cleared of any dirty plates and glasses.

The extra outdoor seating and tables had been removed, the citronella torches lit to keep the bugs away had been extinguished. All that remained were the strings of tiny white lights wrapped in the trees nearest the patio, twinkling like newly formed stars.

Joshua was pleased for Eleanor's sake that they encountered no one on the way. No overnight guests, no servants or, God forbid, his father or Rosemary. Explanations might have caused her embarrassment and he didn't want any negative memories to mar the perfection of their first night together.

When they arrived at her bedroom door, Joshua kissed her softly, gently on the lips and, despite the early morning hour, whispered a gentle good night.

Only then did he finally relinquish her from his possessive embrace.

Eleanor wiggled her toes on the bottom of the slippery porcelain tub, shutting her eyes as the steam rose all around her. Fifteen minutes ago she had pulled the bath curtain closed, adjusted the shower setting, and turned it up full blast. Her fingers were starting to wrinkle, along with other parts of her anatomy, yet it felt too heavenly to leave.

The water beat hot and steady against her neck, shoulders and back, soothing her joints and muscles. Turning 180 degrees, she let the spray hit her rump and upper thighs, acknowledging with a sly smile that she was aching in places she hadn't even realized existed until Joshua had shown her last night.

Memories of their incredible night and early morning together surfaced. One for the record books, absolutely. At least her record book. Deep down Eleanor had always suspected there was another facet of her personality buried inside her. That uninhibited side that longed only for the chance to show itself, without fear of retribution.

A small part of her would always be grateful to Joshua for helping her discover that part of herself and setting it free, even as the stronger, more dominant side of her practical self whispered it might have been a mistake. A huge mistake.

Still, the tension of the last few days had finally vanished when she had stretched out in her bed early this morning, with her head nestled against her pillow. Miraculously she had slept, a deep and dreamless sleep, yet awakened to a new reality. Her relationship with Joshua had taken yet another bizarre turn.

The thought filled her with a sense of melancholy along with a certain wistfulness. Maybe it would have been better to have kept it all a rich fantasy, to have dreamt of the possibility of experiencing a physical relationship with Joshua rather than actually succumbing to the passion. For now that she knew the truth—that the experience had completely eclipsed the expectation—it would be difficult to accept its loss.

She held no illusions about the future. She knew this weekend was a glitch in the reality of her life. A stolen moment, to be savored as a memory, remembered with joy and perhaps a touch of sadness.

She had quivered at his touch, had trembled at the feel of his flesh joined to hers. He had tantalized her with his kisses, had melted her with his sweet endearments and tender murmurs of encouragement. Again and again he had driven her to the brink of pleasure before finally working his magic upon her and granting her blissful release.

A wave of heat went through Eleanor that had nothing to do with the temperature of the water. Even now, hours later, she still felt bathed in some strange afterglow of satisfaction. And yet, she could not deny the feeling that it would be nice to stay in the warm, moist cocoon of the shower, instead of going downstairs to face Joshua and perhaps several strangers, who were house guests.

Morning-afters were a tricky affair. Fortunately, there hadn't been too many of those in Eleanor's life, but she had listened sympathetically to more than one girlfriend recount some horrendous experience. What made matters difficult this morning was the potential audience. Being a guest in someone's home denied her, and Joshua, the opportunity to slip graciously away if they so desired.

With a resigned sigh, Eleanor shut off the water and reached for a towel, drying herself briskly. She needed to vanquish these troubling thoughts. Self-recrimination was such an unattractive, unproductive emotion. Somehow she must find the inner strength to resist its allure.

When Eleanor finally made an appearance in the dining room, Joshua was nowhere to be found.
All that fretting for nothing!
There were a few house guests milling around the table, enjoying the delicious brunch that had been prepared, talking together with ease and familiarity.

Rosemary and Warren were also absent, taking a group of guests on a horseback-riding expedition, explained a maid. Eleanor lacked the courage to ask if Joshua was with them.

Instead, she hesitantly joined the group eating brunch. After exchanging polite greetings, she took a seat at one end of the polished mahogany table and was promptly ignored. There were very limited efforts to include her in the conversation, though Eleanor freely admitted she had little to contribute. The discussion swirled around her, sounding almost like a foreign language. It was the talk of people she had never heard of and places she had only read about.

She felt awkward and a bit shy, once again the outsider. It was an enlightening, though not altogether pleasant realization to discover that it was a far lonelier feeling to be ignored while in a crowd than when you were off by yourself.

Deciding against the rich cheese crêpes and luscious pecan waffles, Eleanor instead gratefully accepted a cup of hot tea from a pretty blond-haired maid. At least she was friendly and appeared genuinely eager to please. Needing something to do while she finished her toast, Eleanor started observing the various maids in the room and made another startling discovery. Exactly how many servants were employed here? It seemed as though she never saw the same workers twice.

She left the table the moment her tea was gone. Not surprisingly, no one seemed to take even a passing interest in her departure. Returning to her bedroom held no appeal, so she slipped quietly out to the back terrace.

It was close to noon, the perfect time to do some exploring. After pausing a moment to get her bearings, Eleanor deliberately chose a direction that led away from the sea, but also away from the summerhouse. She soon discovered a landscape of incredible formal gardens and eagerly followed the worn path, winding her way around the carefully tended fragrant blossoms.

After a while the trail began to slope upward, and when she came to the last row of boxwood hedges, Eleanor could not only smell, but see the ocean. She lifted her eyes toward the brilliant blue sky and spotted Joshua in the distance.

He was perched atop a high, sandy dune, his face angled out toward the water. A noisy flock of gulls seemed to have captured his attention as they swooped and soared, taking turns diving into the sea. The prevailing impression of strength and power Joshua exuded was softened slightly by the contrast of his casual pose.

Still, Eleanor staggered to a halt. She frowned, measuring him. Maybe she should turn around. Joshua looked so unapproachable and solitary. Surely she must be intruding on his privacy. And that was absolutely the last thing she wanted. To be an intrusion.

He turned his head sharply. Eleanor froze. She was too far away to read his expression, to see what his reaction was to her unexpected appearance. But he raised his arm and waved.

“Eleanor!” Her name drifted on the wind, floating down to her. She tried to tell herself it was only a call of recognition, of acknowledgement, but Joshua waved his arm again, clearly beckoning her.

She moistened her dry lips and plunged forward. Yet as she drew nearer, a sense of uneasiness persisted. Along with a strange feeling of connection. Even in the stark reality of daylight, she could still view him in a romantic haze. Goodness, she really must be in love with him.

She tucked a stray wisp of hair behind her ear and tried to prepare herself for just about anything. She knew that their lovemaking last night would forever change their relationship, but didn't have much of a clue as to how exactly it would be altered.

Joshua held out his hand. Clamping down firmly on the flutters in her stomach, she slid her fingers into his strength.

“Hello, Eleanor,” he said softly after he had pulled her up to his side.

She felt a rush of warmth and desire go through her. It seemed like months rather than hours since they had been tightly locked in a passionate embrace. “Hello, Joshua.” She took a deep, steadying breath. “Have you been out here long? It sure looks like it is going to be another beautiful day, doesn't it?”

“It's nearly perfect. I came out here to clear my head about an hour ago. I'm finding it hard to leave. It's the type of day that makes you want to lay around by the pool, relaxing in the sun, with a drink in one hand and a magazine in the other.”

“Sounds ideal.” Eleanor laughed. “Where do I sign up?”

Joshua frowned. “Regretfully we won't be able to stay and indulge ourselves today. A minor crisis at the office needs to be dealt with quickly. I've been on the phone most of the morning, hoping to settle it long-distance. But I'm not making any headway.”

She felt Joshua place his hand on her arm. “I've called a meeting for eight
A.M.
tomorrow and I'll need time to prepare for it. Would you mind if we left late this afternoon?”

Her throat went dry. Was it true? Or was he just looking for an excuse to get away from her? Anxiously, Eleanor studied his face for any signs of his inner emotions, but the look he cast her was indecipherable. It remained quiet and she realized he was waiting for her answer.

“I can be ready to go anytime.” She gave a shaky laugh. “I just came along for the ride, remember?”

“You've done far more than that, Eleanor.”

Unable to meet his eyes, she turned away, staring blindly at the ocean. How desperately she wanted to believe that statement.

Joshua let out an impatient sigh and glanced at his wristwatch. “I'd better get back up to the house. I'm expecting an important fax. It should be here by now.”

A heavy somberness fell over her. She was hoping they would at least have time for a final walk on the beach together. “What time do you want to leave?”

“No later than four.”

“I'll be ready.” She smiled fleetingly. The air between them felt thick with unspoken words. For a moment she thought he might kiss her, but he only smiled and turned away.

Battling her disappointment, Eleanor lifted her arm to shield her eyes from the bright sun. She watched him jog across the sand, up the hill and disappear through the tall boxwood hedge, taking a small bit of comfort in the fact that she had managed to save some of her dignity.

Seconds ticked away. Eleanor remained where she was, still staring off in the direction Joshua had vanished. Already the distance between them was starting, and she admitted that it was more than just a physical separation. Up until that moment she hadn't wanted to admit that she had been entertaining a subtle fantasy of becoming an important part of Joshua's life.

She turned away and blinked her eyes. Sadly she knew there was nothing she could do to prevent the inevitable separation.

Was there?

 

 

Joshua hunched over his papers, trying unsuccessfully to concentrate on the work set in front of him. His fax had arrived, his computer was fired up and ready to go, but he was having great difficulty stringing any coherent thoughts together.

A shout, followed by a female giggle, then a splash reached his ears. These distractions were wreaking havoc with the numbers he was trying to crunch and ruining an already unhappy mood. He had deliberately chosen not to work in his bedroom, since it was directly over several terraced patios and near the pool.

He figured by barricading himself in a little-used third-floor study he would avoid most of the outside distractions. But it hadn't helped. The noise still found him, and even worse, he felt like a kid stuck inside doing his homework while everyone else got to play outside and have fun.

Was there truly no peace and quiet to be found within this sixty-five-room house? Anywhere?

Another shout, followed by the deep rumble of male laughter, had Joshua standing on his feet and pacing the room. How could anybody hear himself think with all that racket going on? For the life of him, he couldn't understand how his father put up with all this nonsense.

Sure, his dad was retired now, but Joshua remembered when he was growing up there were often guests at the house. Large groups of thirty and forty people, staying for a round of weekend parties and social events.

As a child he never realized the significance of those gatherings. Powerful, influential men in government and politics were entertained within these walls, but Joshua's only concern had been if anyone had brought a child or two along. If he was lucky, the youngsters were close enough in age to play with him.

Those events hadn't been purely social. There had been business conducted during those house parties. Important, significant deals had been struck that added to the growth and stature of the family business and to the personal fortune of the Barton family.

Joshua rubbed his tired eyes. Maybe he should call upon a few of the old family friends to lend him a hand now. Because if he didn't start working on a solution to this latest crisis immediately, there might not be much of a family business left.

A knock sounded at the door. Eleanor? The thought brought a rush of elation. Eagerly Joshua yanked open the door.

His father stood on the other side. “Another fax came for you,” Warren Barton said gruffly. “None of the servants could find you, but I had a suspicion that if you were working you were probably up here.”

“Thanks.” Startled, Joshua accepted the document, realizing that his father was probably the only person in the world who could catch him so completely off-guard. “Do you want to come in?”

“I don't want to intrude,” Warren replied, standing stiffly in the doorway.

Joshua let out a mocking laugh. “You'd only be intruding if I was getting anything accomplished. Trust me, that's not the case. Please, Dad, come in.”

“Well, maybe for a few minutes. Rosemary's expecting me to help her settle some last-minute details for tonight's dinner.”

Joshua's grin faded. “I don't want to disrupt your schedule.”

“Rosemary can wait,” Warren said in an almost gentle tone. He stepped into the room and glanced over at the desk where Joshua had spread out his papers. “So what's the problem? A deal go south?”