Not What It Seems (Escape to Alaska Trilogy) (12 page)

“Please promise me that that is the last refill. You’re in no shape to drive me home, and I won’t be able to read the numbers on the phone to call a cab.” Cassidy shifted on the couch, snuggling farther into its softness.

The leather warmed her entire body, the wine soothed her fretful mind, and she even felt a little drowsy. Why had she worried? She’d never felt so relaxed on a date.

“Stay the night if you prefer. Take your pick of the five guest rooms.” Clayton stood, wavered on his feet and then headed for the sound system.

What exactly were Clayton’s intentions? she wondered. But her date had mentioned guest bedrooms, hadn’t he? She’d clearly read too much into his comment. A soft waltz played from every corner of the room through hidden speakers, and Cassidy recognized the singer as Seal.

“Would you like to dance?” Clayton reached out, grabbed her hand, and hoisted her to her feet before she could answer.

“All right. I guess I’m dancing.” Cassidy staggered slightly. But Clayton wrapped her in his arms and tucked her against his body. Together, they swayed in time to the music.

“Is this your concept of dancing?” Cassidy leaned back and looked her dance partner in the eye. “We haven’t moved off this spot.”

“My secret method. This way I won’t step on your toes.” Clayton nuzzled her neck.

“Brilliant strategy.” Cassidy hummed along with the music, and her arms encircled his neck of their own volition. “But you’ll never be invited to participate on Dancing with the Stars.

“Nope. Not a star.”

One song led to another and then another.

Cassidy lost track of time and conscious thought, savoring Clayton’s hard muscular body pressed against her own softness. They fit together like a hand and a glove. And she soon became aware of his obvious physical attraction to her.

This can’t be happening, she thought. She wasn’t certain she even liked him. Why would the universe complicate her life by instigating a physical attraction between them? Nothing will ever come of it, she warned herself.

Clayton’s fingers slowly crept up her spine and then skimmed down her sides creating goose bumps on her goose bumps. Normally, the very thought of such a thing would send Cassidy into a fit of squeals, claiming ticklishness and ordering him to cease it immediately.

She silently prayed he would never stop.

Suddenly, Clayton stilled. The waltz could have stopped several minutes ago for all she knew. She’d been totally lost in the moment. When she looked deep into his eyes, she saw the passion and longing she’d stirred in him. And something she didn’t expect. Was he actually frightened of the feelings she’d aroused in him?

“We never toured the master bedroom before dinner. Would you like a tour now?”

Cassidy blinked to clear her vision. She’d definitely drunk way too much wine. Was she reading more into his question than he intended? Surely, he wasn’t suggesting they spend the night together. Or was he?

Clayton released her, and she stepped back out of his embrace. Suddenly, the room chilled by at least a dozen degrees. She missed his warmth, the feel of his body against hers. She felt protected in his arms.

“Okay.” Cassidy shocked herself, knowing what inevitably would happen.

“Are you certain?” Clayton’s hand captured her chin and then he leaned forward and gently kissed her lips.

She almost melted into a puddle at his feet.

When the kiss ended, Cassidy opened her eyes, certain she’d be blinded by the sparks she’d felt exploding around them. The darkened room was lit solely by moonlight streaming through the picture window. But she clearly discerned the tender expression on his face.

“We won’t do anything, Cassidy, unless…” Clayton pulled her toward him, held her tightly in his arms. She pressed her cheek against his chest, felt his heart beating a steady tattoo like a military drum at sunset.

Cassidy reached for his hand and led him toward the staircase.

Chapter 11

When they reached the staircase’s bottom step, Clayton unexpectedly halted. Cassidy whirled around. Had her sudden aggressiveness turned him off?

“What?” she whispered.

Six months had passed since she’d made love with a man, long before she’d even dated Jonathan Ward. She missed that special connection with another human being. Despite an innocent daydream or two she’d never seriously considered making love with Clayton Morrison. Until a minute ago. But now that the opportunity presented itself, she realized that if he changed his mind, she’d actually be disappointed.

“I have a better idea.” He brushed her forehead with a kiss. “Follow me.”

Clayton led her through the darkened house, like a blind person who’d counted and memorized the required number of steps. In a minute, they stood beside the pool. The surface of the water sparkled as moonlight streamed in through the overhead windows. The humid air stole her breath.

“Are we swimming? Or have you decided upon drowning as the best means to rid yourself of me?” Cassidy teetered on her bare feet.

“What better way to sober up than with a swim? If you spend the night, I insist you arrive at the decision with a clear head.” Clayton trailed his hands down her arms and captured her hands in his.

“I didn’t bring a bathing suit.” Cassidy tilted her head.

“And mine is way upstairs in my room.” Clayton’s fingers brushed his chin as he pretended to ponder their dilemma. “Whatever shall we do?”

“Are you suggesting we skinny dip?” Cassidy smiled, and an embarrassing wine-induced giggle escaped her lips.

“A moonlight skinny dip? You’re absolutely brilliant.” Clayton winked and then started unbuttoning his shirt.

“Please allow me.” Cassidy grabbed a handful of white cotton and pulled him closer. While her fingers busied themselves with his buttons, he unzipped the back of her dress. Her job completed, she dragged the shirt off his broad shoulders and down his muscular arms. Her dress slid down her slim body and circled her ankles on the cement.

Clayton whistled softly when his eyes moved to her lacy cherry-red Victoria’s Secret bra and panty set. She stood before him, barefoot and naked except for her underwear.

“Cassidy Du Pont. If I’d known what lay hidden under that dress all night…”

“Dinner would have burnt to a crisp in the oven?” Cassidy smiled.

“Something along those lines.” Clayton swept her up in his arms.

Cassidy leaned closer, anticipating his kiss. Instead, he tossed her into the pool’s deep end.

Cassidy’s arms and legs flayed as she flew through the air, and she screamed until her head descended below the water. She surfaced seconds later, her eyes blazing. “What if I couldn’t swim?”

“I would have dived in after you.” Clayton shed his socks and trousers and stood before her in his designer silk underwear.

“A boxer man.” Cassidy nodded her approval.

Clayton leapt off the pool edge, tucked into a cannonball position. When he hit the surface, he displaced an enormous quantity of water splashing Cassidy in the face.

“You rotten…” Cassidy dove beneath the surface and swam underwater until she faced Clayton. The wine relaxed her inhibitions and released her playful side. As he treaded water, she swiftly pulled his boxers down around his ankles, unexpectedly coming face to face with his impressive manhood unaffected by the still-warm, solar-heated pool water. She quickly surfaced again, feeling herself blush.

Clayton tossed his boxers onto the lip of the pool, and then he dove underwater.

Cassidy lost sight of him under the clear blue water. And then she felt the tug on her bra strap. She realized it was hopeless; he’d have her naked one way or another. She slipped the bra off her shoulders and wiggled out of her panties. Both landed on the side of the pool beside his boxers.

Cassidy dove under the surface, feeling like a carefree college student again. She’d attempted a lot of new things while attending law school, including skinny dipping at a private graduation pool party at Harvard. But she’d drawn the line at drugs. While a few of her fellow students indulged, using recreational drugs contradicted her personal belief system and her respect for the law. And she refused to relinquish control of her faculties to anything or anyone.

Alcohol was another matter, she thought, and drinking wine to excess with Clayton had felt right. Suddenly recalling her evening with Randy Rock, would she regret that decision in the morning?

Clayton popped up beside her and wiped the water from his eyes. “Hey, beautiful, would you like to race to the other end of the pool?” And then he encircled her in his arms.

They stared deeply into each other’s eyes. Time stood still.

Cassidy wrapped her arms around his neck. She didn’t dare breathe for fear of breaking the magical moment. And then he kissed her, and Mother Nature took over.

Making love underwater required a certain degree of skill, and having drunk two and a half bottles of wine, they collectively thought better of it. Drowning would certainly put a damper on the evening.

Clayton swept her up in his arms, carried her up the cement steps out of the pool, and set her down on a double-sized lounger. He explored her body, licking water droplets off her skin as he progressed from head to toe. Touching her. Tasting her. She closed her eyes and lay naked and unabashed in his arms.

And then she turned on her side and moved her hands across his corded muscular chest. She popped one of his nipples into her mouth, and heard his rapid intake of breath.

“Damn.” Clayton met her eyes. “My supply of protection is upstairs in the night stand.” His expression conveyed his frustration at having lost the moment.

Cassidy smiled and winked at him. “Race you.” And then she leapt off the lounger and ran toward the pool room door.

Clayton streaked ahead—they were both naked as the day they were born—leading the way to the second floor. Cassidy wobbled slightly from the wine, but arrived at the master bedroom door only a second after him, breathless from her sprint.

A king-sized mahogany bed monopolized the room, accompanied by matching night stands and a six-drawer dresser. Pale blue walls and brown-toned bedding provided a calming effect. A chaise longue stood in one corner beside the largest window, and she caught a glimpse of the ensuite through the open door.

Clayton whipped the bed coverings aside and dug in the night stand. She excused herself and slipped into the ensuite for a moment, discreetly closing the door.

When she returned, Clayton lay on his side on the bed, his head resting in his hand, propped up on one elbow. He crooked his finger, motioned for her to join him. She raced across the room and jumped onto the bed. He caught her in his arms and pinned her under him.

“Get off me!” She shouted.

Clayton froze. “Did you change your mind?” he whispered, his face as pale as the sheets. He rolled off her and sat on the edge of the bed, his feet hanging over the side.

“Oh, no. You’re just heavy. I would never change my mind now.” Cassidy reached her hand out to him. “Come here. Lie down.”

Clayton blew out his breath, swung his feet onto the bed and drew her against him. “You frightened me for a moment. If you’d changed your mind, stopping now may have killed me.”

“I want…I need…” Cassidy whispered, blushing. “It’s been…”

“I know.” Clayton kissed the top of her head. “It’s been awhile for me, too.”

Cassidy couldn’t meet his eyes, suspecting the moment felt equally awkward for him. And then he straddled her middle and tickled her silly. She screamed and laughed until tears rolled down her cheeks. “Uncle! Uncle!” she shouted in surrender.

Immediately his hands stilled, and he looked deep into her eyes while one hand caressed her breast. “God, you’re beautiful.” He dipped his head and suckled one nipple and then the other until Cassidy groaned with pleasure.

Clayton slid down her body, lay alongside her on the bed. And then he leaned forward, wrapped his arm around her waist and kissed her deeply. His tongue parted her lips, demanding entry. Their tongues danced a sensual rumba in her mouth, and Cassidy rode on a wave of desire she’d never experienced before.

His fingers searched and found her most sensitive places while he continued to kiss her, deeply, completely. Cassidy feared she’d burst into flames, perish in the scorching heat they’d generated together. She’d never experienced lovemaking like this with anyone before. Clayton sent her soaring to unknown heights. She’d never descend to earth again.

And then he stopped, met her eyes. “Last chance to change your mind.”

“Are you crazy?” she gasped, breathless, heart pounding. “We’re both beyond reconsidering the wisdom of this.” She searched his eyes and saw the burning passion she’d ignited in him. A groan escaped her, and she reached for his throbbing manhood, caressed him with gentle hands.

“There’ll be no regrets?” he asked while he slipped a condom on.

“Not a one.”

Clayton lowered his body onto hers, and she welcomed him, needed his weight to anchor her to earth. She guided him inside the core of her being and rode the wave of desire they created. Another moan escaped her, and he quickened his movements.

Was the buzzing in her head the result of the wine or from the passion that totally enveloped her? Clayton drove into her, demanding but gentle. She wrapped her legs and arms around his body, and then she gasped when her world exploded in a blinding kaleidoscope of colors.

The first time led to the second. And then a third.

Later, Cassidy snuggled under the thick duvet, wrapped safely in Clayton’s arms. For the first time in months she luxuriated in how she felt: relaxed, spent, and wonderfully content with life. She was at peace, body and soul, with the world.

Within seconds, she drifted off to sleep.

****

The next morning, Cassidy cracked open one eye. Brilliant sunlight streamed through the windows, blinding her. Rumpled covers on the other side of the bed were the only evidence she hadn’t slept alone.

“What have I done?” she whispered, throwing one arm across her eyes.