All I Ever Wanted (22 page)

* * *

Naomi drifted on a soft cloud of contentment and happiness. She smiled without opening her eyes, enjoying the feather-light brushes against her skin. Half asleep, she snuggled deeper into the covers and came against the muscled warmth of another person. Before fear could choke her, she remembered the night before and finally realized Richard was kissing her awake.

Angling her head up, she smiled. Last night had been beautiful. She was glad she’d trusted Richard. “Good morning.”

“Now it is.” He kissed her again. “I was beginning to think I’d have to take drastic measures to wake you up.”

“I’m sorry. I haven’t been sleeping well lately.” She started to rise, blushed, and caught the sheet when it began to slide over her naked breasts.

“Why?” he asked, tilting her chin up.

For just a moment, she thought of evading. “Because I had shut you out of my life. I was miserable and so was Kayla.”

He kissed her. “I’m here now and I’m not going anywhere.”

Perhaps in time he would, but he was here now and that’s what mattered. She smiled up at him. “You want breakfast?”

“You. Just you.” He rolled over on top of her, his hands stroking her body, his lips nibbling on her skin. “You’re more incredible than my fantasies and I have a very active imagination.”

Naomi’s breath shuddered out of her as his hand swept over her stomach, going lower. “Y-you touch me and I for-forget to think.”

“Then don’t. Just close your eyes and enjoy.” His mouth drifted over her body with incredible tenderness before closing over her breast and taking the turgid peak between his teeth and tongue to lave and suckle as his hand trailed down her stomach to her woman’s softness.

She moaned deep in her throat, her hips lifting against his hand. She was so responsive, so giving, and his. His mouth and hands paid homage to her exquisite body.

He sheathed himself, then lifted her hips with his hands and entered. The fit and feel were mind-blowing. He gritted his teeth to maintain control. She twisted beneath him, her nails biting into his shoulder. He stared down into her face, taking immense pleasure on seeing her eyes glazed with desire.

She wrapped her legs around him and he was lost. He flexed his hips, moving in and out of her, taking her, and being taken in return.

Pleasure engulfed her. It came in waves, her body riding on a crest of ecstasy. Each stroke took her higher and higher. She strained closer, her hips lifting to meet his. She wanted to give him as much pleasure as he was giving her.

She felt the coiling of her body, tried to hold back, but she was helpless against the orgasm that swept through her like a tidal wave. She spasmed, her hips lifting as he plunged into her one last time before he was riding with her as the wave took them both over and under.

He held her to him. Each time they made love it was more amazing than the last. She was all that he ever wanted. She snuggled against him, kissing his shoulder.

He nuzzled her cheek, rolled over so she was draped on top of him, and nipped her shoulder. “I can’t get enough of you.”

She shivered. Every place he touched was sensitized to him, craved more. She hadn’t known her body could want this way. She realized she was naked, the sheet kicked off the bed, and she was too content to care. She felt a peace she’d never experienced before and it was all due to the man holding her so tenderly. “Now I know why the Grayson women are always so happy.”

“The right woman can put a smile on a man’s face and keep it there.”

Her head lifted to study his face. He was so handsome—gorgeous, actually—and he wanted her. Unpopular, mistake-driven Naomi. He looked as happy as she felt, and she was responsible. She felt powerful for the first time in her life. “I think they’d agree that it’s the right man.”

Chuckling, he picked her up. “Let’s discuss it in the shower, and then I’m cooking you breakfast.”

* * *

“This is delicious.” Naomi cut into her omelet stuffed with ham and oozing with cheese.

“Some men who aren’t chefs can cook.” He smiled at her and sipped his coffee.

“I know that.” She leaned back in her seat, her face intense the way it became when she was trying to find the right words. “It’s just that a man has never cooked just for me.”

He frowned and sat his mug down. “Surely your father cooked sometimes?”

She shook her head. “My mother was a stay-at-home mom. I never saw Daddy cook a single dish. I’m not sure Mama would have let him. She took pride in a spotless house, balanced meals, and a happy husband.”

Richard heard himself ask, “And what about a happy daughter?”

A shadow crossed her face. “My parents tried, but I was an oddity to them. I preferred to curl up with a good book rather than go out or be on a sports team. My mother was captain of her tennis team in college, and my father loved basketball and coached at the college level. They neither loved nor understood me.”

Instantly he was out of his chair, kneeling by her side and taking her shivering hand. His heart ached for her. Her ex wasn’t the only one he wanted a moment with. “I’m sorry.”

Her smile trembled. “I’m over it now.”

No, she wasn’t. The happiness in her eyes was gone. She deserved love, needed it, and he was going to make sure she received so much there’d never be any doubt how much she was loved.

The phone on the counter rang. “Kayla.” Naomi shot out of her chair to grab the phone. “Hello. Hi, Carol. Is Kayla still having fun?”

Richard eased back in his chair, noting Naomi kept her back to him. It could be a coincidence, but his gut was telling him that wasn’t the case.

“Yes, thank you. I’ll be on my way to get her.” Naomi hung up the phone and slowly turned to face him. “I have to go get Kayla.”

He studied her, noted that her gaze kept slipping away. The world had intruded, and she was probably embarrassed. “I don’t suppose I could drive you?”

Arms straight, she linked her fingers together. “You’d look at me the way you’re looking at me now and they’d know.”

“Are you ashamed or concerned?” he asked.

“Neither.” She unlinked her hands, but she didn’t move away from the counter. “I just don’t want to be the subject of gossip. The mother is the PTA president. Another teacher’s child was invited as well. I don’t want Kayla to hear things about us she doesn’t understand.”

He wasn’t sure it wasn’t more than that. Pushing her now, when she had to pick up Kayla, wasn’t the time. “All right. I’ll be at the ranch if you want to come by once you pick her up.”

Finally, she smiled and came to him, dropping a kiss on his mouth before straightening. “I think it’s a safe bet to say you’ll see us this afternoon.”

* * *

Richard was worried. Making love with Naomi had, as he’d told her, far exceeded his fantasies. It was astonishing. Even now, hours later, he’d just stop at times and shake his head in wonder. Good thing the horses didn’t mind his strange behavior as he cleaned the stalls and put in fresh hay.

Yet intimacy hadn’t brought him and Naomi closer as he’d hoped. She trusted him with her body, but he wanted more. He wanted to be there for her to comfort her, help her fight her problems, share her life. Despite the wonderful night together, she still held back.

She still thought she couldn’t let him into her heart and life, and keep her independence. She only had to look at Catherine—or Sierra, for that matter—to know that marriage to the right person made life richer, fuller. Sure some marriages failed, but others succeeded and flourished. His parents were immensely happy. His mother loved his father, but she didn’t put up with any of his “foolishness,” as she called it. His father might act tough, but he’d bend over backward to keep Mama happy.

“Richard, are you in here?”

“Dr. Richard?”

Hearing Naomi and Kayla call him, he propped the pitchfork on the wall of the stall and stepped out. Mother and daughter were silhouetted at the opening of the barn. He’d seen few sights that were prettier. Certainly none that made his heart race, made him glad to be alive.

“You’re just in time to help clean stalls.”

“We found you!” Kayla cried and ran to meet him.

He scooped her up. “You have a good time at the sleepover?”

“Yes, sir. We played games and ate pizza and hot dogs and soda.” She looked back at her mother. “When my birthday comes, I want to have my friends over and do the same thing.”

Richard turned his attention to Naomi. The happy smile on her face made him breathe easier. “Hey.”

“Hey yourself.”

He wanted to kiss her. He saw the desire in her eyes. He simply held out his hand to her, and when she took it, he pulled her closer. He intended a simple brush of his mouth against her cheek, but apparently she had the same thought because her head turned at the same time, their lips met, clung. He inhaled her sigh; his tongue touched hers, tasted the sweetness. He fought to lift his head and finally won.

He stared down into her face, soft and warm, then saw her eyes widened in alarm. He simply turned to look at Kayla’s wide-eyed stare. Looked like they had some explaining to do.

“You kissed Mama.”

“Yes, when a man and a woman like each other, they kiss,” Richard explained.

Kayla’s face scrunched up. “Rose’s mommy and daddy kissed like that last night. Are you going to be my daddy now?”

Naomi was too stunned to speak. Her heart clenched at the hope in Kayla’s eyes. She wanted a daddy so much. Just the thought of marriage made Naomi’s stomach tense. How could she have forgotten for an instant and kissed Richard in front of Kayla? She was trying to find the words when Richard released her and stood Kayla on her feet. He knelt in front of her.

“I bet Rose’s mommy and daddy went out on a lot of dates before they ever talked about getting married,” Richard said. “Do you know what a date is?”

“No, sir.”

“Well, a date is when a boy and girl, or a man or a woman, go out together, just the two of them to get to know each other better,” he explained. “It can be to the movies, to dinner, or just a walk.”

Kayla looked at her mother, and then at Richard. “Children don’t get to go?”

Richard hugged her. “Sometimes, but sometimes they go by themselves. Your mother and I had our first date last night while you were at the sleepover.”

Naomi’s face heated. She barely kept from squirming.

“You did?”

Naomi finally found her voice. “Dating doesn’t mean getting married.”

“But if you or your mother need me for anything like the show-and-tell or to help get the house ready, or anything else, I’d be there,” he said.

“Did you and Mama have fun?” Clearly, Kayla wasn’t ready to let the dating go.

“The best time ever,” Richard said.

“I wore the dress I showed you.” At that, Richard glanced up at Naomi with a knowing look, and her body quickened.

“She was beautiful. We went to dinner and then to see Phoenix’s art showing.”

“I went with her to look for a dress,” Kayla said. “Are you going on another date?”

Richard curved his arm around Kayla’s waist and looked up at Naomi. “This is our second date.”

Kayla frowned. “But I’m here.”

He picked Kayla up with one arm and curved the other around Naomi’s waist. “Which means, I’m a lucky guy to have two beautiful women for a date. I might even grill us burgers and hot dogs after we go for a ride.”

“Mama’s not very good at riding.”

Since it was the truth and Kayla said it with a smile and appeared all right now, Naomi didn’t take offense. “You and Richard can show me again what I’m doing wrong.”

Kayla grinned. “I’m going to like my first date.”

Naomi hugged Kayla and thought, just as she’d liked her first date with Richard. She was a fortunate woman.

* * *

A little after nine that night, Richard followed Naomi in his truck to her apartment. They’d had a fun day. Somehow it was better than the ones they’d spent together before. He thought it was because Naomi wasn’t as wary of him and he didn’t have to keep reminding himself not to get too close, not to look at her as if he could eat her alive. They were both probably more relaxed. Kayla must have sensed it as well, because she’d been as lively and as playful as he’d ever seen her.

Naomi had done only marginally better with her riding skills. She never seemed to be able to completely loosen up on the horse, whereas Kayla was a natural. She had good instincts about animals and people. She was going to grow up to be a strong woman just as Sierra had predicted.

Kayla wanted him for a father. Just the thought made Richard proud, his heart joyful. They’d both have to work on Naomi. He had to park a short distance away. By the time he got to her car, she was reaching in the backseat for Kayla.

“Let me have her. You get the door.” Picking her and Teddy up, he followed Naomi inside her apartment and to Kayla’s bedroom.

“She should have a bath after riding and playing all afternoon, but I’m not sure she’d wake up enough.” Naomi turned back the covers of the bed.

“Then do what my mother used to do, wash her face and hands and leave the rest until the morning.” Placing Kayla on the bed, Richard slipped off her tennis shoes and socks, and placed Teddy beside her.

“Your mother is a smart woman. I’ll be out shortly. There’s soft drinks and iced tea in the refrigerator.”

“I’m good. I’ll go channel-surf on the TV.”

Leaving the bedroom, he picked up the controls of the TV and sat on the sofa. He wasn’t interested in watching TV, but it would make things less awkward for both of them. He wasn’t sure how Naomi felt about them making love with Kayla in the apartment. He wouldn’t dream of spending the night, but even given that concession, he figured it was too soon for that to happen. Kayla had awakened to find him there in the past, but it had been innocent.

“She’s all tucked in.”

He looked up to see Naomi across the room. Ten feet away, and it might as well have been ten miles. She was nervous, and probably thinking he wouldn’t understand she wanted him to leave. One day she’d realize he’d always do what was best for her and Kayla, and always put their welfare first.

He shut the TV off and came to his feet. “I’ll pick you and Kayla up around two.” They were going on his and Kayla’s “second” date to the Children’s Museum. Neither of them wanted her to feel left out because they were dating.