Secrets and Seductions (12 page)

His warm breath whispered against her ear. “You don’t have to.” He pulled back a fraction, such a small distance, yet it felt a vast and lonely gulf. She didn’t want to be lonely. Not tonight.

She offered him a tentative smile. “Oh, yes I do.” The tips of her fingers grazed along his unshaven jaw. “No more talking, Mac. Kiss me.”

“Can’t say I don’t do what I’m told.” His voice was thick and heavy, a sensual reverberation. Then he kissed her. Deeper. Longer. Joyful kisses that had her clinging to him and never wanting to let go. Kisses that left her breathless, feathering goose bumps along her spine.

Mac’s urgency matched hers low down, in a place where such feelings had long been stifled.

And still he kissed her, her cheeks, her eyelids, dotting butterfly-soft kisses along her jaw. A heavy sigh slid from her lips, her body relaxing as never before. She wanted them to go on forever.

But then he stopped.

Drugged by his lovemaking, she lifted her lashes, curious as to why he’d stopped.

In their passion, her robe had fallen open. His desire-filled eyes stared at her nakedness. He leaned forward and brushed a kiss across one nipple.

“Heaven,” she whispered with a throaty sigh.

“Sweetheart, we haven’t even started yet.”

That thought stirred Leah. “I want to touch you.” Her request surprised her. It had been so long.

Mac dropped his hands to his sides. “Be my guest.”

She didn’t hesitate, and raising a hand, she touched him, oh so softly at first, trailing her index finger across a pectoral muscle, circling one nipple, then the other.

His breath hissed, the sound exciting her, the knowledge she could turn him on powerful. As if her hands had their own will, she continued her exploration, reveling in the texture of the dark hair that caressed his tanned skin.

“Leah?” His shattered gasp drew her from her task, and her mouth went dry. “As much as I want to make love with you right now, here, we need a semblance of privacy, sweetheart.” His gentle words captured her, both emotionally, and physically. It made everything all right. Being in his arms felt good, natural. It had been a long time since sensuality had been part of her life, and she’d never experienced this sense of power. “I can read your body, Leah.” His hands slipped beneath her robe, skimming her length, up, down, all over. She reveled in the sensation of skin against skin.

Her robe fell to the floor, pooling at her feet. Heart thudding, excitement tingling to the tips of her fingers and toes, she stood naked in front of him.

“Let’s not wait.”

He scooped her up and cradled her in his arms. Several long strides later, they were in his bedroom. This was it. No turning back. With reverence, he lay her down on the bed, and for one heartbeat he simply stood there, staring at her.

Leah cocked her head, and her bubbling laughter echoed around the room. “Are you inspecting the goods?”

A twinkle spirited across his eyes. “Looks mighty fine to me.”

“Glad you think so, but it doesn’t seem fair that you’re clothed and I’m not.”

“Easily remedied.” And he shrugged his pajama bottoms off in double quick time, kicking them aside to stand in all his naked glory before her.

Hallelujah
. Leah’s cheeks flushed, and she raised one brow. “Very nice.”

“Looking is fun, sweetheart, but enough of talk.”

Mac joined her on the bed, raining kisses from her mouth, down the curve of her throat, sucking one pebble-hard nipple, then the other. Leah arched, aware of his body against hers, his arousal. She reached for him, trailing the tip of a finger along its length, and felt his shudder.

“Sweetheart! You talked of heaven. This is paradise. Now it’s my turn.” Leveling his weight on his hands either side of her, he teased his tongue down each rib, circling across her belly, heading lower.

Leah was lost to Mac’s touch. Her eyes shuttered as his tongue delved amid the tiny curls at her apex, and he sucked her sweet bud. Her legs parted, and he hooked each over his shoulder, then dipped his mouth to her wetness.

Oh dear God. This surely had to be that heaven he talked of. Her body arched as Mac’s mouth suckled her over and over until her orgasm burst.

This moment had been so different from what she had expected, from what had happened before. “Oh, Mac.” And for that, Leah felt not only relief, but joy. Joy that it had been with him.

“Are you…”

She cut him off. “Fine. It was beautiful.”

“You, Leah. You were beautiful.”

Her mouth curved into a tiny smile. Beautiful. No one had ever called her beautiful. Not even Curtis.

For a fleeting moment, a wash of guilt splashed across her heart. Then she looked at Mac. The man. So different from his cold-hearted brother.

She reached for his arousal and wrapped her hands around it. “I think it’s time we got down to business, don’t you think?” She laughed and gave him a wink.

Leah couldn’t believe she’d said such a thing, acted so brazenly. But it felt good. Natural.

“Absolutely.” Mac reached for a condom from the bedside cabinet and sheathed himself expertly.

Leah’s eyes widened. The thought of protection hadn’t even crossed her mind, her body too hot and her need too strong. Oh Lordy! What was wrong with her?

She was beyond thinking, that’s what.

She smiled and lifted her arms in a welcoming gesture, waiting for the heaviness of his body against hers. Thankfully, he obliged.

Nothing mattered except Mac holding her. She scraped the tips of her nails down the length of his back and felt his shudder against her, a testament to his heightened state.

“So beautiful. So perfect,” he murmured as he dotted sweet kisses along her throat.

Leah wasn’t sure she really heard him. Her body and brain didn’t seem connected, the renewed coiled tension of a burgeoning release her only focus. Mac’s mouth silenced any reply as he kissed her over and over till her body craved a breath. Yet still she wanted more of him, the feel of his hardness inside her, branding her, addictive as any drug.

In turn, he suckled at each nipple once more, then he fulfilled her dreams. He slipped inside her, full and potent, their coming together so total, with an urgency that burned deep, until release came in an explosive burst as Mac reached orgasm, and she followed a moment later.

A breathless Mac whispered against her ear, “Open your eyes, Leah. Open them for me, so I can see your soul.”

His request shocked her, scared her.

Should she? Could she? Dare she?

Holding her breath, she fluttered her eyelids open and then was held instantly by exactly what she knew to be mirrored in hers.

True desire. Mac’s desire.

She had just made love to Mac.

Made love
.

Two silent words that held her spellbound.

Mac’s chest heaved, and his heart thudded a frenetic dance. He dragged in oxygen, desperate to quiet not only his ragged breathing but also the condemnation screaming inside his brain.

What the hell had he done?

Succumbed to pleasure. That’s what.

And he was damned, because now he knew irrefutably he’d never be able to walk away. Or look into Leah’s eyes and be able to say no, or not remember this very moment.

Part of him chastised his stupidity for letting his libido rule his brain, while the other part, the part fired by simply looking at Leah, desired her again. And again. Would his lust for her ever be quenched?

Sensuality colored every inch of her face. She wanted him just as much as he wanted her, and who was he to deny them both?

But did he trust her? Or himself?

She lay facing him, a drop of perspiration balanced above her top lip. All he could focus on was that droplet. He wanted to lick it. Taste it. Taste her again. Oh, sweet Jesus, he was a goner.

She tilted her head a fraction. “You’re staring.”

“Hard not to after such a great entrée.”

Her brow creased, but that single crystal bead stayed exactly where it was and tempted him beyond redemption.

He cursed silently. He was beyond redeeming. What would she say or do if she knew he wouldn’t give up, that custody papers were ready and waiting? All he had to do was sign them.

“Food?” She chuckled with mock horror. “You’re thinking of food.”

Mac exhaled a steadying breath.
Keep cool. Keep quiet
. “I’m thinking of a different kind of food,” he said and leaned in, giving in to temptation, the need to brush his lips across hers far too strong. Finally, he licked at that little bead of pleasure. He trailed a finger down her heated cheek, and her trembling response confirmed what he knew to be true. “There’s a color in your eyes, the darkest green that fires every time I kiss you, touch you. Did you know that?”

Her lips parted.

“See,” he said, “you want me to kiss you.”

She laughed at that, a sweet tinkling sound of pure joy. It delighted him. It was good she smiled, and laughed; it touched a piece of him he had buried a long time ago, forgotten was ever there.

“You’re very sure of yourself, Mac Grainger.”

“I’m sure of your response,” he countered, followed by a caress from her nape and inching down between her breasts, then lower. He got the exact reaction he wanted.

Her eyes closed tight as his fingers traveled lower. He cupped her wetness, enjoyed the feel of her shivers beneath his hand. “See. Told you so. There’s no use fighting it. Neither of us can.”

Heavy lids opened. “Ah…but two can play this game.” And with the softest of touches, her fingers wrapped around his penis.

Mac tensed, unable to stifle a shuddering groan. “Who said it was a game? I’m deadly serious. Mind you, I’ll play with you anytime.”

“Glad to hear it. Now…” She whipped her hand from beneath the bed covers where it had been doing devilishly sinful things to his anatomy, then propped herself up on one elbow and splayed it on his chest. “Lie back, sir, and think of England.”

“I can think of far more exciting things to think about.”

“Oh, I’m sure you can. So let me see if those
things
can match this.” And with a tiny push, the woman he had earmarked as cold and calculating did those very exciting things to him she promised, starting with his mouth and working her way down, all in a slow motion that nearly sent him over the edge.

“Oh no you don’t,” she said more than once. “Not yet.” Then she’d change tactic, teasing another part of him to distraction where he craved release. When he thought he would explode, she suddenly stopped. “Playtime’s over,” she said.

Mac heaved a relieved sigh. “’Bout time. You trying to kill me?”

“Perhaps.” She angled herself over him, and he slid into her. They were one. Her thighs tightened around his hips, holding him to her as he thrust deeper into her core.

Sun-drenched russet curls fell in a glorious tangle across her pearlescent skin. His fingers tangled with them. “Lady Godiva,” he murmured as he brushed aside a silken veil to cup one breast.

She bent and kissed him, taking from him more than he realized he had to offer, drawing his hips from the bed as his thrusts became rampant, blatantly ready for release. She took all of him. Suddenly, a rippling peal of pleasure flew from her lips, and her body spasmed, one orgasm following another until his release joined hers.

This wasn’t meant to be happening. This total release.
Making love.

Leah slumped forward, her breasts cradled against his chest, the fall of her hair hiding her eyes.

No, don’t hide them, he wanted to say. He wanted to see her eyes, her soul, see if she felt the same as he had—for the second time.

He felt good. More than that: total.

But there was one thing her luxurious hair could not hide—her smile.

Trouble was, seeing that, his conscience kicked into overdrive. How could he destroy that smile and remind her they’d forgotten protection?

Chapter Seven

As if she carried a built-in alarm clock, Leah woke with the first rays of dawn. For a moment, her hazy vision matched the inaction in her brain.

“Morning, sleepyhead.”

A gasp hit the back of her throat, and she bolted upright. Mac lay beside her, the sheet barely covering anything. In fact, all he wore was a smile that did weirdly wonderful things to her the moment she saw it.

“Nice to know I can take your breath away.”

“What are you doing here?”

Unlinking muscled arms from behind his head, he pushed himself up on one elbow, angling his unclad body toward her. “I seem to remember this is my bedroom.”

“Your…” Oh, dear Lord. A bold and brassy heat raced at breakneck speed to the tips of her toes. Her brain may not have woken, but her hormones reacted with unbridled abandon to the man lying beside her. She scooted back on the king-size bed until she rested at the very edge.

His shadowed gaze slid from her face, downward and then farther. She followed it.

The sheet had unfortunately not moved with her, and to his obvious delight, her breasts were bared. She yanked it back in place.

“Spoilsport.”

She snorted and waved a single hand at him as if swatting at a fly. “You need to go.” Cover up. Get dressed. Anything, but lie there beautifully naked.

“Me? Why?”

“Because…” Every single word seemed to tangle with her tongue. Nothing made sense. She wanted him gone, but her body wanted him right where he was, beside her, with her. “I need to get up, get showered. Charlee…”

“Is sound asleep. I checked on her a while back.”

“You did?” Surprise and delight warmed Leah. Curtis never offered to check on his daughter.

“Sure, sleeping like a baby,” he reiterated. “But you’re awake, and it’s still early and got me thinking we could have a lazy morning together.”

Leah hitched the sheet a few inches higher, and Mac’s mouth quirked up at one corner.

Tanned skin, muscled to perfection. Adonis came to mind. Good grief, she’d had sex with Adonis.

No, not sex. Made love with him.

Eyes that had turned from the darkest of chocolate to almost ebony sparkled with the light of diamonds at her, his mouth, so beautiful that she wanted to kiss it right now, curved at the corners. He turned on his side so he faced her, and the sheet slipped completely off.