Hidden Desires (11 page)

“Rachel, tell me to leave.”

His voice was hoarse, and she saw his Adam’s apple bob as he swallowed. The hard ridge of his arousal pressed against her belly and she fought the urge to reach down and touch him.

The tension in the air crackled as he repeated his words. “Tell me to leave,” he said with a groan.

“Before I do something we’ll both regret.”

Regret. God, how many regrets did she have in her life? Too many.

Being with Travis was one thing she didn’t ever want to regret.

“Stay.”

It was merely a whisper, but that one word hung and echoed in the air like Sunday church bells. She’d done it. She’d released the final link of the chain around her heart with that one word.

She was letting him in.

“Are you sure?” His dark eyes pierced her face, and a range of emotion danced in them. Need.

Hunger. Hesitance.

“I’m sure.”

With a strangled groan, he grabbed her face with both hands and angled his mouth over hers. She should have been frightened by the overwhelming greediness of his kiss, but she wasn’t. Instead, she parted her lips and allowed his tongue entrance into her mouth. A whimper escaped her throat as his tongue swirled over hers, as it explored and devoured. Her entire body grew weak, limp, as she held on to him for dear life.

“A bed. We need a bed.” His voice was gruff as he shot from the couch and scooped her into his arms as if she weighed no more than a feather.

And then, as though he’d navigated her apartment a thousand times before, he carried her down the darkened hallway into her bedroom.

“Wow.”

Travis paused in the doorway and took in the sight of the dimly lit room. Her bedroom was a little too much, she knew that. Red velvet curtains, a big cedar bed with a heavy satin and lace bedspread. Silk sheets. It looked like it had come straight off the set of an adult film, but extravagant as it was, she’d always felt happiest when surrounded by sensual fabrics.

“Too much lace and satin?” she quipped, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment.

Travis walked over to the bed and gently placed her on top of it. “Nope. You can never have enough lace and satin,” he murmured, his eyes glittering as he stood over her.

She managed a small grin. “Good, because there’s a lot more under my clothes.” She couldn’t believe she’d said that. When she’d slipped into the flimsy bra and panties Suzanna had forced her to design, she’d never expected Travis would actually see them. She’d known he was coming over, had even suspected a kiss or two, but she hadn’t planned on going to bed with him.

But things never worked out according to plan, did they? Because as she lay back on her soft bed, the only thing she planned was having Travis naked and inside her.

“Clothes are really overrated, aren’t they?” he said glibly, sitting at the edge of the bed.

Rachel stared up at his eyes and nearly moaned at the blatant hunger she saw in them.

He leaned down and ran his hand over the line of buttons down her shirt. Her breath hitched as his finger clasped over the top button, popping it open. With steady hands, he slowly went down the line until her shirt fell open.

When she saw his eyes narrow at the emerald-green, barely there bra she wore, pleasure sizzled through her. God, how many times had she told herself she didn’t want a man admiring her body? How many times had she told herself sex was nothing but a cheap and tawdry act? Plenty of times, that’s how many.

So why did her heart flutter at the thought of being appealing to Travis?

“You’re beautiful,” he muttered.

She felt so vulnerable as she lay there, as he ran his thumb over the swell of each breast. Yet she didn’t tell him to stop. Instead, she arched her back so that her breasts pressed against his hand.

He motioned for her to sit up, and she did, letting him pull the shirt off her shoulders. Then he reached for the waistband of her slacks and pulled them off her body in one swift motion.

He groaned. “Are you trying to kill me?”

Travis’s reaction to her erotic lingerie made her suddenly grateful that she’d allowed Suzanna to talk her into this. The tiny panties clung to the triangle of her thighs, the spaghetti-thin straps struggling to hold them up. It would take no effort for Travis to rip those flimsy panties off her, and Rachel flushed at the thought. Not only that, but the wisp of cream-colored lace stitched over the satiny green fabric of her bra scraped against her nipples, making her wonder if Travis’s mouth would feel just as delicious. Every inch of her body sizzled with anticipation.

“Do you like?” she murmured, running her hands over the bra.

He groaned again. “I more than like. Are all your designs this…nice?” She shrugged. “No. This came from my private collection.”

He grinned knowingly. “You designed it for me, didn’t you?” Heat scorched her cheeks. “Maybe.”

“Maybe?”

“Yes.”

He nodded. “Good.”

The conversation came to a quick end as he slid onto the bed and kissed her. His long, hard body felt so nice against hers, so damn right, and she wanted it to remain there forever. She wanted to feel his thigh pressed against her leg, his chest against her breasts, and his lips to remain permanently against hers.

She twined her arms around his neck and ran her fingers through his dark hair. “Travis,” she murmured, but the sound was muffled against his mouth.

She wanted to tell him to undress. Wanted to order him to touch her. To slide inside her.

But Travis had other ideas.

“Seduce me.”

She met his gaze. “What?”

Travis propped his arms behind his head and leaned against his hands. “Rachel, I told you I’d prove I want more than your body.”

“And how is me seducing you going to prove it?”

“Because I don’t want you to think I’m trying to take something from you. I only want to give. So, the way I see it, this is your show, sweetheart. Take what you want.” His sexy offer both tempted and frightened her. She’d never seduced a man, never even thought it possible. Men were happy enough to lead, to take what they wanted out of sex and the woman’s needs be damned. At least, that’s what she’d always believed. Seeing Travis lying there on his back, telling her to take him, made her realize that perhaps sex was more than a one-sided activity.

“I can wait all night, you know.”

She heard the teasing in his voice and suddenly felt bold. “What if I want you to wait all night?” she teased back.

He never blinked. “Then I would.”

With a small smile, she moved her hands to his shirt and began unbuttoning it as slowly as he’d unbuttoned hers. When she heard his sharp intake of breath as she ran her palm over his defined pectorals, she quickened her pace. Seconds later, his shirt was on the bedroom floor, and she finally got to feast her eyes on his chest. She knew it would look like this. Smooth. Hard. Just the right amount of dark hair feathered over his sinewy skin. Rippled abdominal muscles and trim hips.

Just perfect.

She kissed his left nipple, slowly swirling her tongue over the small nub.

Travis groaned. “Want some advice?”

She lifted her head at the sound of his husky voice. “Advise away.”

“Taking is great and all, but taking too long is likely to make me explode.” Pleasure fluttered in her belly. “What if I want you to explode?” she asked, drifting her hand lower and sweeping it over his evident arousal.

His features creased as he choked out, “I’d prefer we exploded together.”

“Me too.”

She swiftly unbuckled his belt and pushed his pants down his legs. Not bothering to take the time to admire the delicious way he looked in his black boxer-briefs, she simply ripped them off. And nearly gasped.

Seeing the widening of her eyes, he gave a low chuckle. “Trust me, it’ll fit.” He grinned. “And thanks for the unspoken compliment.”

She rolled her eyes at his arrogant tone. “A little pleased with ourselves, aren’t we?”

“Yep.”

She moved to straddle him again then stifled a moan as she felt his honeyed tip brush over the silk of her panties. Her panties. “Oh, I forgot,” she said with a blush, and quickly shimmied out of the annoying things. She reached for the clasp of her bra, but he reached out and covered her hand with his.

“Leave it on.”

She stared at him. In her experience, a man wanted a woman naked and there was no other way around it. “What?”

Travis gave an impish smile. “I told you, I like satin and lace.”

“Do you have a condom?” she suddenly asked, feeling awkward.

He nodded and reached for the pants she’d tossed aside. He pulled out a foil packet from the front pocket and, before she could blink, he’d opened it and slid the condom over his thick cock. The size of him made her mouth go dry. God, he was big. And it had been a very long time since she’d had sex.

“How long has it been for you?” he murmured, as if reading her mind.

“Four years,” she admitted.

Travis let out a soft whistle. “Shit, that’s like a century in man years.” Rachel couldn’t help a laugh. “Is it a turn-off for you? Want me to stop?”

“Fuck no. It’s a turn-
on
, imagining how freaking tight you’re going to feel.” The huskiness of her voice surprised her as she said, “How about we stop imagining?” Without letting him reply, she impaled herself on his erection. They both gasped, and Travis let out a soft expletive. “Oh God,” he groaned. “You really are tight.” And he was huge, his cock throbbing inside her, filling every inch of her. Rachel nearly passed out from the sheer pleasure of it, unable to move for a moment. But then she looked into his brown eyes, blazing with lust, and suddenly
not
moving became impossible, With a soft moan, she began to ride him, grinding herself against him, as pleasure thundered through her body like a herd of wild horses.

“Oh my God,” she squeezed out, groaning at each hard thrust. “Why does this feel so good?” Travis laughed and gripped her hips with his warm hands. “That’s how it’s supposed to feel, sweetheart.”

But it hadn’t felt like that before, not for her anyway. Sliding over him, Rachel basked in the new sensations, the thread of bliss coiling in her belly, circling her breasts, stealing her breath. When Travis reached up and cupped her breasts, she moaned again, leaning into his touch, gasping when he pinched her nipples with his fingers.

“Yes,” she breathed. “Keep doing that.”

“At your service,” he murmured, continuing to fondle her.

She rode him hard, fast. His features creased, making her wonder if she was hurting him, but when she tried to slow the pace, his fingers dug into her hips, urging her to continue. So she did. Keeping up the rough, hurried pace, until an orgasm seized her belly and exploded through her body. Shuddering from the overwhelming sensations, she collapsed on his chest, moaning against his feverish skin. The ripples of ecstasy didn’t ebb, they only intensified when she felt Travis twitch inside her when she heard his low groan and felt him let go. His hands squeezed her ass hard as he came, the pleasure in his eyes so intense she almost climaxed again.

A few long, breathless moments later, he wrapped his arms around her sweat-soaked back and pulled her tightly against his warm body. Then he pressed a kiss to her head and murmured, “Thank you.” Chapter Eight

Rachel spent the night entwined in Travis’s arms, enveloped in his embrace as his breath warmed her shoulder and his touch warmed her heart. She’d never spent an entire night with a man. She’d never even allowed a man in her bed. Her bed was her sanctuary. The one place the outside world couldn’t touch, and, until Travis, she’d never let anyone that far into her private world.

She thought about the only other man she’d been involved with. Paul, who’d always ushered her out of his apartment after their lovemaking, claiming he preferred sleeping alone. That hadn’t really bothered her, though, as she could never imagine sitting across from Paul at the kitchen table the morning after, sipping coffee the way she and Travis did now. It would have been unthinkable to do that with anyone.

Until Travis. As she studied him, his dark hair tousled from sex and sleep, his eyes sleepy but sated, everything about the situation felt right.

Travis belonged here, and for the first time in her life, she knew it all the way through her soul.

He set the big mug on the table, leaned over and folded his arms over his chest, his dress shirt still open. Rachel gazed at the firm muscles that teased through the folds, remembering how that chest felt pressed against her back, those arms wrapped around her waist. A twinge of heat returned between her thighs, and she wondered how many times they’d have to make love before she could look at his body without growing wet.

“What are you thinking about?” he asked, his mouth curved in a crooked smile.

“You. Us. Last night.” A thought suddenly flew into her head, making her shift awkwardly. “Can I ask you something?”

“Ask me anything.”

“Did you…were you and Carrie…did you ever have sex?” she finally blurted out.

Travis shook his head instantly. “No. We didn’t. Never even got close to it.” Regret flickered in his eyes. “Does it bother you, that I dated Carrie?”

“No,” she admitted. “Does it bother you?”

Another shake of the head. “Carrie and I…it wasn’t a relationship, just two kids hanging out for a few months.” His mouth curved slightly. “You and I, on the other hand…” Rachel’s pulse raced. He didn’t finish the sentence, but she knew where it led. Did he want a relationship? Did
she
?

She opened her mouth to speak, but wasn’t sure exactly what to say. Her jaw bobbed as she struggled with the words, but the sound of the telephone relieved her dilemma. She rose from the table and picked up the receiver to hear the voice of her mother’s neighbor.

“Rachel, it’s Wilma Sanders.”

A chill doused the heat in her veins. Wilma never made social calls, which meant Rachel was about to start her day with some sort of trouble from home. What was it going to be, another one of her mother’s battles with a temporary boyfriend? Was her mother passed out on the lawn, or had she driven her car through someone’s geraniums again?