Love With A Younger Man (3 page)

“Not really…distant cousins.”

“Oh, you…” I nearly clocked him. I must admit, I did have a slice of the pizza even though Richard ate most of it. I’d succumbed to the tantalizing smell.

I was about to throw away the last two pieces when Richard stopped me. “Hey, where are you going with that?”

“To the garbage.”

“Don’t you dare, lady!”

“You can’t be still hungry.”

“I’m not.”

“So, what are you saving it for?”

“Breakfast.”

“Breakfast?” I looked at him as if he were crazy.

“Of course! Cold pizza is terrific for breakfast.”

“Richard!”

“Okay, okay, you can have one, too.”

I shook my head and rolled my eyes toward heaven.

He laughed and took me into his arms. “You’re even sexy with pizza sauce on your nose.”

“I don’t have sauce on my nose.”

“There is now,” he said, dabbing my nose with a saucy finger.

“You’re incorrigible.”

“And you’re gorgeous,” he replied, licking the sauce off my nose before kissing me.

Within moments, his playfulness became serious, and our lips met with a newly ignited passion. It wouldn’t be long before we’d leave the world behind. His kisses were intoxicating and left me craving more. His lips left mine to nibble at my earlobe before slowly searing a path down my neck and shoulders. They found their way back up and recaptured mine.

I wanted to feel his hard body against mine. Obviously, he felt the same way because he swept everything off the table and pushed me down on top of it. As he rained kisses on my mouth, face, and neck, he opened my blouse and eased the lacy cup of my bra aside so he could kiss my unencumbered breasts. Electricity began to arc through me, awakening every neuron in my body. His other hand reached under my skirt, and his fingers slipped into my panties. The passion rising in me was becoming so hot, I thought I might dissolve with all the pleasure. With restless hands, I opened his pants and freed his hardened member. We’d both long decided to dispense with protection as we were both clean and I was on the pill. Richard removed his fingers and practically ripped off my panties. A moment later, he was inside me and pumping. I arched my back and rose to meet him, grabbing on to the ends of the table.

It only took a few moments of frenzied thrusting for the both of us to come in an explosion of fiery sensation. Richard collapsed on top of me, and I held him against my breasts while our vitals slowed to normal. We both sounded like broken engines, sputtering and gasping for breath. I couldn’t believe I’d actually made love on a wooden kitchen table and hadn’t gotten a splinter. The thought of doing that with Geoffrey nearly made me giggle. His idea of making love was by appointment on a comfortable bed with a thick mattress.

Richard stepped out of his slacks and scooped me up into his arms. He nuzzled my neck as he carried me into the bedroom. He smelled of pizza sauce—good enough to eat. I fell back down on the bed and pulled him down with me. Then, I straddled him. All’s fair when it comes to love, I thought, as I lowered myself down onto his already reawakened love stick.

***

The following morning, a loud knocking woke us from a deep, well-earned sleep.

“Who the hell is that? It’s Sunday morning, for God’s sake,” Richard murmured into the back of my head.

“You’d better go answer before your neighbors call the cops.”

He grumbled something under his breath as he swung his long legs over to the side of the bed. He got off the bed and grabbed a pair of jeans. Just watching him pull them on over those gorgeous white buns stirred my juices.

“Hurry back.”

With the bedroom door left open, I was able to hear clearly everything that was being said in the living room. God, how I wished I hadn’t.

“What are you guys doing here?”

I heard a deep voice reply, “It’s a beautiful day. I thought you might like to go to the putting range with us.”

“Can’t. Got company.”

“The redhead with the big boobs from upstairs? You finally got a piece of her?” asked another voice, oozing with admiration.

“No. Amber.”

“Who—don’t tell me? The waitress from Sundays, right?” the same voice concluded.

“No. The tall, sexy woman from The Slow Dancer.”

“The old lady from the bar?” a third voice asked, in a tone dripping with disbelief.

“Yes.”

“You’re kidding, right?” the first voice replied.

“Nope. No joke.”

“We only made a bet for that one night. You didn’t have to have an affair with the old broad, for Christ sakes!” the same voice said.

When I heard that, I suddenly felt sick to my stomach. There it was—the truth. The only reason Richard came home with me that night was to win a stinking bet!
It was just
a bet
echoed in my head. I shook my head, as if I could shake it out. All I was to him was some stupid wager. That meant the basis of our entire relationship was a lie. Knowing that, how could I believe a single thing he said? Besides, even if he were telling the truth that he actually wanted and loved me, who knew how long it would be before he tired of me? Just listening to the guys he hung out with, it wouldn’t be long before he ended up dumping me.

I felt the walls closing in on me and had to get out of there. I grabbed my clothes and hastily dressed. A moment later, Richard walked back into the bedroom. When he saw me fully clothed and pulling on my shoes, a look of confusion filled his face.

“Where are you going?”

“Home.”

“Why? What’s wrong, Amber?”

Obviously, he had no idea that I’d heard the entire conversation he’d just had with his buddies.

“At this point, it might be a lot easier to tell you what’s right.”

“What are you—you overheard us talking, didn’t you?”

“Every last damning word.”

“Our relationship may have started out as a bet, but I do love you, and I’m beyond happy I took the dare.”

“If I believe that, you’ll be selling me a bridge next!”

“You know that’s not so,” he said, reaching for me.

“Tell that to someone who doesn’t sell real estate for a living,” I said, pushing him out of the way as I headed toward the door. I grabbed my purse and slammed the door behind me just as my pent-up tears began to sluice down my face. Even though I knew I was doing the right thing, I still felt as if I were throwing away the best thing that had ever happened to me. I couldn’t have been any more miserable. I loved Richard with my entire being. I never knew the extent to which I could love a man before him. But I was tough. I could get through this. Hadn’t I pulled myself through worse things?

I reached the elevator and punched the button to go down. As I waited, I pulled out my cell phone to call for a taxi.

“Why did you run out on me?” Richard said behind me.

Afraid to meet his eyes, I half-turned to face him, trying to act strong. Too bad my heart was working on its own game plan and had accelerated at the sound of his voice, causing me to have this terrible desire to rush back into his loving arms.

“It’s the best thing,” I said, trying to keep the raw emotion from my voice.

“How can you say that? I thought we had something others would kill for.”

“All based on a lie.”

“Initially. But I would have gone over to talk to you even if they hadn’t dared me to. I fell in love with you at first sight.”

I turned away, trying to drown out his words and control my tears. Too bad it was all a losing battle.

“Amber, can a kiss lie? Can’t you tell how I feel about you by my touch?” he asked. I couldn’t face him. I knew I’d be lost if I looked into his sexy blue eyes.

Richard grabbed my shoulders and spun me around to face him. “Look at me! Tell me you don’t love me. If you can honestly do that, I’ll walk away.”

I couldn’t miss the emotion in his voice and slowly lifted my head. I gazed into his deep blue eyes. They were sad and misty. I tried to speak, but nothing came out, giving him hope.

“You love me, too. I know you do. Give me the chance to prove my love. If it doesn’t work out after,” he stuck out his bottom lip in thought, “let’s say in about fifty years or so, you’re free to move on.”

I threw my arms about his neck. “Oh, Richard, I do love you so.”

“Then marry me—tomorrow. The hell with long engagements!”

I nodded yes, and he hungrily covered my lips with his. Inadvertently, I’d hit the dial button on the phone and the taxi dispatcher answered. Richard heard the voice and said, “We won’t need a taxi now. Sorry.” He closed the phone and whispered, “Now where were we?”

An apartment door opened and a white-haired old lady with a shopping cart in tow emerged. When she saw us kissing, she said, “Ew, get a room.”

I glanced at her, noticing that she hadn’t really hidden her eyes through the spread fingers of her hands. I got the feeling she was ogling Richard. Who could blame her?

We kissed our way back into his apartment and closed the door behind us. As I ran my hands down his broad back and gently stroked his handsome face, I wondered how I could have found the strength to walk away from Richard and leave behind the love we shared. He was right about one thing: our love was indeed special. It was the kind that people seek, but only a few find. When he held me in his arms, I felt like the most beautiful woman in the world. He had the power to make me feel so alive. All he had to do was touch me, and I could feel my blood coursing through my veins awakening all my senses that had lain dormant for way too long.

Richard swept me up, as if I were weightless, into his strong arms and carried me back into his bedroom. He set me down on the bed and dropped down next to me. He merely looked at me for one long moment, kissing me with only his eyes. “If only you knew how much I adored you, lady…”

I ran my hand down the side of his face. “I think I do.”

Then, his lips covered mine. The kiss was slow and thoughtful, but powerful enough to send shivers of desire racing through my body. I never wanted a man as much as I wanted Richard. I gave myself freely to the passion that was quickly building between us.

Suddenly, my clothing had become a restraint. I undressed quickly as Richard slid off his jeans. I welcomed him into my body and was soon lost in the hot tide of passion that raged through us both—abandoning myself to a whirl of sensation that finally exploded in uncontrollable pleasure.

Lying in bed afterwards, Richard took ten years from my life when he said, “We can’t get married tomorrow.”

As crazy as it may seem, the first thing that went through my mind was that he’d changed his. Speechless and terribly hurt, I turned and shot him a blank stare.

When he saw the look on my face, he exclaimed, “Babe, just empty whatever’s going through that beautiful head of yours, right now!”

I exhaled audibly. I hadn’t even realized I was holding my breath.

“What I meant to say, was that I don’t want to get hitched in front of a Justice of the Peace. I’m going to be the happiest guy in the world when I marry you, and I want a real wedding where all our friends can see and share my happiness.”

“Is that what you really want?” I asked.

He bent down and kissed me. “More than anything, baby.”

***

The following day, when I got to the office, Eve was already there talking to Ray Johnson, the real estate agent who’d been hired a few months before me. He was a nice guy who dressed well in expensive, tailored suits. His features, which looked as if they’d been sculpted from granite, gave him a rugged, outdoorsy look, which the ladies found most appealing. Aside from being charming, he spoke in a soft baritone, which helped him sound sincere. Although he was married with three kids, I often thought he and Eve had something going on. It was just a feeling I had, nothing substantial. Since it wasn’t my business, I kept those feelings to myself.

I dropped my purse into my desk drawer and went over to the coffeemaker to pour myself a cup. Still radiating with happiness, I walked over to Ray’s desk.

“Good morning!” I blurted out.

“Well, aren’t you the happy camper this morning,” Ray said.

“Win Lotto?” asked Eve.

I laughed and gave my usual reply. “Don’t you have to play to win?”

“Okay, so it’s not Lotto. What gives?” asked Ray.

“I’m getting married!”

“Geoffrey finally got some sense knocked into that stupid head of his?” Ray said.

“That’ll never happen,” replied Eve coolly.

“It’s Richard, the corporate lawyer. I know I’ve mentioned him to you, Ray.”

“Oh, yeah, I remember now. Congratulations.”

“When’s the big day?” Eve asked.

“We didn’t pick one yet. Still in the planning stage.”

“Well, let us know so we can clear our schedules,” Eve said, as she put her arms around me and gave me a hug. “I’m so happy for you, hon.”

“Thanks. What’s going on in the realty world?”

During the next forty minutes, Eve brought us up-to-date on some new listings that had just come on the market. Ray gave us a rundown on the progress he’d made in trying to sell a house on Belvedere Drive. It was in a swanky neighborhood and would bring in a pretty penny. I didn’t have much to report. I’d made some appointments for the afternoon, but I had nothing new on the market.

My phone rang, and I walked over to my desk to answer it. “Black Diamond Realty. Amber Martin speaking. How may I help you?”

“So you’re calling yourself Amber Martin now,” a man’s raspy voice said, immediately turning my blood to ice. I knew that voice. How could I ever forget it? It had haunted my dreams for years and still did from time to time. How did he find me?

“What do you want?”

“Is that how a loving daughter speaks to her father?”

“Father? Don’t make me laugh. You don’t know the meaning of the word. I have nothing to say to you,” I said and was about to slam down the phone.

“Don’t hang up—at least, not before we do plans for lunch,” he said and began to laugh at his own joke.

“I brought lunch,” I deadpanned.

“Don’t you want to see your dear old man?”