Feel the Heat: A Contemporary Romance Anthology (23 page)

T
he next day
dawned bright and beautiful and Meg was in awe of the sight of the sun rising over the ocean. She’d seen the ocean all weekend, but the dark clouds and misting rain had obscured her view of the truly breathtaking scene. Today, the bright blue sky seemed dull in contrast to the crystal clear azure water. Excited beyond words, she ran back to the bed and jumped on top of her new lover.

“Hey.” Rob protested grumpily when she pulled the covers off his naked body. Drooling at the sight, Meg tried to still her heated thoughts by picking up her pillow and pummeling Rob awake.

“The sun is out. No more rain. Let’s go swim in the ocean.”

Joining in her obvious delight, he grabbed his own pillow, holding it in front of him like a shield.

“The ocean is overrated. Let’s stay in bed.” With that, he pulled her beneath him, straddling her thighs with his own.

“Rob,” she whined as he lowered his lips to hers. He kissed her until she forgot about the ocean and the sunshine. Hell, she was struggling to recall her own name.

“Now that’s a much better way to wake up.”

“With all our practice, I bet we’d be shoo-ins at the kissing contest.” She struggled to gather her wits about her. His kiss should be registered as a lethal weapon.

“Mmm,” he murmured, “but only a few minutes with your lips and I’m powerless to stop myself from stripping all your clothes off. How do you feel about public nudity?”

“I suppose we’ll have to limit our kisses to private places.”

“That’s my girl,” he answered. “Just so you know, I’m incredibly jealous. I want to keep your scrumptious curves all to myself.”

“Scrumptious, huh?” she asked with a laugh. “Are you sure you aren’t a bit farsighted, Mr. Mason?”

She watched a strange look cross his face before he shuttered the emotion away.

He surprised her by pulling away and rising from the bed. “I believe I promised my girl a swim in the ocean. Why don’t you put on your swimsuit and we’ll head out?”

She swallowed back a curse. “My swimsuit is in my luggage, which I don’t have. Damn it!”

“Actually, your luggage arrived very early this morning. It’s in your bedroom.”

She squealed with delight, dashing across the living room to her room. “I won’t be a minute.”

* * *

R
ob smiled at her enthusiasm
, pleased by how quickly Meg could get ready for her day. Used to women who took hours to shower, dress, primp, and do God only knew what else, he found Meg’s ability to prepare herself in fifteen minutes amazing.

Pulling on his swim trunks and T-shirt, he reviewed his plan for the day. He’d arranged to have his yacht docked nearby, where he and Meg would have a romantic breakfast. Then he would take her on a cruise around the island, stopping for a swim in the ocean, maybe even some waterskiing, and hopefully, sometime during the day, he would manage to confess the truth about his identity. He was being a coward, but by confining her on a boat, she wouldn’t be able to escape. Not one of his more brilliant plans, but for now, it was all he had. Time was running out.

G
iggling
, Meg nearly tripped getting off the elevator. Rob wrapped a steadying arm around her waist.

“Careful, teach.” As they reached the door to the penthouse, he surprised her by leaning down to kiss her. She could taste the wine they’d shared on the boat on his tongue as it swept into her mouth, enticing her to play. She ran her fingers through his dark hair as his hands traveled around her waist, rubbing lightly, seductively over her back.

Only with Rob had she ever felt so carefree and happy. She’d spent her entire life working. In high school she’d held down a part-time job to help with the bills while studying non-stop to earn good enough grades to get a scholarship. Unable to afford the cost of living on campus, she’d spent her college years driving the forty-five minutes home every night to care for her dying grandmother and then her ailing mother.

This time with Rob in a tropical paradise was healing parts of her she didn’t know were injured. She laughed and joked with ease. The Meg she was at home would never have consented to spend a weekend with a virtual stranger. Hell, her at-home persona wouldn’t have agreed to share the room platonically. She’d lived a lifetime in this single weekend and it saddened her to think about her return to the real world.

Rob noticed her quiet pensiveness. “Hey, why the long face?”

“I was just thinking about leaving tomorrow. Rob, if I don’t remember to say it, the past three days have been the best of my life. I will never forget everything you’ve done to make them so special.”

“We still have tonight and tomorrow morning, Meg. Let’s not waste that time worrying about the end.”

No doubt, Rob was used to short-term relationships, but her heart was aching at the thought of never seeing him again. Shaking off her unwanted concerns, she beat down practical Meg and brought out the new version, the Meg who lived for the moment.

Rob unlocked the door. She started to walk in, but he stopped her, tugging at her elbow. “Before we go in, I should warn you that I intend to fuck you senseless.”

She laughed, despite the effect his words were having on her body. Every moment in his presence only strengthened her desire for him. No sooner did he leave her body, then she literally had to stop herself from begging him to come back in.

Reaching up, she placed her palm on his cheek, his five o’clock shadow tickling her fingers. “Thank God.” She stood on tiptoe to place her own devastating kiss on his lips.

They continued kissing as they stepped into the room. Rob shut and locked the door. Turning, he leaned her against the door, lifting her legs.

“Wrap them around my waist.” His voice took on a commanding tone and Meg’s passion ignited. She pulled him closer, her fingernails digging into his bare shoulders. His lips left hers burning a path across her face, nipping lightly at her ear, before drifting down her neck. His teeth and tongue devoured everything they touched. She loved these moments, right before he took her, when she sensed he wanted her every bit as much as she desired him.

He gathered her hands in his one of his own, pulling them above her head, holding her still for his assault. It was clear he meant to direct their passion again. With his free hand, he pulled her bathing suit to one side. Meg sensed he would rip it off if he could. His fingers plunged roughly into her wet pussy and she reveled in his lack of finesse. Rob was always so in control, but she preferred this wild man to the suave Rob she’d grown accustomed to.

“Please,” she whimpered as his fingers tormented her. Two fingers became three and Meg couldn’t stop the climax attacking her with devastating speed. She cried out as the orgasm ripped through her and her cries broke what little control Rob had. She gasped as he pushed into her. Over and over, he came into her—hard and fast. The banging of her back on the door only vaguely made its way to her ears as she reveled in the feelings he was producing in her body.

“More.”

His cock took on a life of its own pounding inside her as she clenched around him, demanding he fill her, stay with her, never leave her. The strength of her orgasm shocked her to the core, considering the first had been powerful. Then he joined her, both of them shouting together.

She was so happy she couldn’t conceive of him not feeling the same way, which was why his first word left her so perplexed.

“Fuck.”

Opening her eyes, she saw him looking at her, not angry, but chagrined.

“Rob?”

“Are you on the pill?”

At his question, she understood why he was so upset. In their frantic rush to fuck each other, they’d forgotten the condom. Her stomach dropped to her feet as all the blood left her face.

“I’ll take that as a no.”

“They make me nauseous,” she added pitifully. “Oh, Rob, I’m so sorry.”

“
You’re
sorry?” His tone one she couldn’t quite understand.

“I’m sure it will be all right.” Despite her calm words, she knew it wouldn’t be. After all, she’d been conceived during her mother’s one night of youthful indiscretion.

“I’m glad you’re so sure.”

She felt as though she’d been sunk into quicksand up to her neck. Her body was going into a full-scale panic attack—her arms and legs refusing to move. This was why practical Meg existed. Reliable, boring Meg would never have made such a mistake.

“I have to get out of here.” She willed her paralyzed body to move, but before she could take a step, Rob picked her up and carried her to the couch, settling her securely on his lap.

“I’m the one who’s sorry, Meg.” He tucked her head in the crook of his neck, resting his cheek on the top of her head. She felt her body give way to fear as she began to shake. “Oh no, sweetheart, please. Please don’t worry. You aren’t alone and you never will be. I would never leave you to deal with this by yourself.”

“My father—”

“Was a bastard,” Rob finished for her. “And he clearly doesn’t know what he missed. Who in their right mind wouldn’t want you? You’re perfect.”

His kind words went a long way to soothing her, yet she couldn’t help but ask the question pounding inside her brain. “If I’m pregnant?”

“If you are, we’ll deal with it. Together. I meant what I said. You aren’t alone. I promise.” Bending down, he sealed his vow with a gentle kiss that was nearly her undoing.

* * *

A
s he kissed her
, Rob foolishly prayed his sperm would succeed. He’d started several times today to tell her the truth about his identity, but she had taken such delight in the day, he couldn’t bring himself to ruin it for her. Her enthusiasm when she realized they were going out on the water had been priceless. Rob wished he could give her the world on a silver platter.

His plan to come clean hadn’t been successful and now he’d failed her again by forgetting to use protection. And, as if that wasn’t bad enough, he was silently hoping she was carrying his baby because for the first time in his life, Rob Madison was faced with the very real possibility he might not get something he wanted. And as selfish as it sounded, he was willing to do anything to keep her. He wanted her—not just for this weekend—but forever. However, money wouldn’t buy Meg Williams.

He had to tell her the truth. As he felt her hands in his hair, he realized he couldn’t make any more excuses. Meg deserved the truth. Shaking himself for his uncharacteristic cowardice, he took a steadying breath. He was Rob Madison, for God’s sake. He never shirked from a challenge and he certainly never backed down from something that he wanted.

“Meg.” His next words were interrupted by a knock on the door. Rob cursed the timing. He was tempted to ignore it until another sounded. “I suppose I should answer that.”

“Okay.” Her voice was still a bit shaky. Rob longed to continue holding her. “While you do, I’ll slip into my room and take a shower. I must look like a wreck.” She ran her hand through her tangled curls.

“You look gorgeous. Meg?” He lifted her face up to his. “I meant what I said. Everything will be fine.”

The grateful smile she graced him with had him kicking himself again. She didn’t deserve his continued deception. He’d get rid of their unwanted company and show her how much she’d come to mean to him. “Put on something pretty and I’ll take you out for a nice dinner. Maybe we can stroll Lover’s Lane afterwards.”

She nodded then walked to her room, shutting the door softly behind her.

Another knock, louder than the first two, came and Rob called out impatiently, “I’m coming.”

“Finally!” A shrill, familiar voice chided him as he opened the door. Rob barely had time to step aside before being run over by Shelly Thompson-Rhodes, her beleaguered husband, Seth, and her sister Tara.

“Shelly. What are you doing here?”

“What kind of greeting is that for your dearest friend in the world?”

Rob attempted, yet suspected he failed, to paste on a pleased smile. Truth be told, Shelly was his oldest friend, although old was not a term that would ever cross her lips. Shelly’s parents and his own had been friends forever. Rob knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, their hopes were dashed when Shelly chose to marry Seth Rhodes, a prominent neurosurgeon, rather than him.