Tempting Grace (12 page)
Authors: Anne Rainey
Jackson wrapped his other arm around her middle as her orgasm continued, holding her snug against him. After they both caught their breath, he cupped her face and forced to look at him. “No woman has ever made me lose control so easily.” He pressed his lips to hers, soft and easy, before coaxing her lips open.
When she sighed and let him in, he sucked at her tongue, dying for a taste of her, aching to make the moment last forever. Slowly, he lifted his lips from hers.
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Tempting Grace
She let out a shaky breath, then said, “I have no control with you. You speak and I melt. You smile and butterflies fill my stomach. You steal a woman’s sanity and it’s really not fair.” He grinned down at her. “Then we’re on equal ground here,
pet
, because it’s the same for me.” Neither of them said another word. They simply lingered in the tub until the water turned cold, enjoying the moment. As they toweled off, Jackson waited for Grace to say something, anything, about her feelings. To give him at least a hint at what she felt for him. As she started to dress for the conference, his frustration won out. He snatched her blouse out of her hand and held it above her head. “Whoa, that’s it?
You don’t have anything to say?”
Her brows shot upward. “What do you mean?”
“Don’t play with me,” he gritted out. “You know what I’m talking about. We just shared something incredible and you’re going to go into work mode without a backward glance?” She pushed her hair behind her ear. “I loved what we did, you know that. It was wonderful, but I don’t know what more you want from me.”
Jackson took her chin in his palm and forced her to meet his gaze. “I want a relationship with you. I want to belong to you and I want you to belong to me. I won’t accept anything less.” She placed her hand against his cheek, her expression one of concern. “I’m not sure it’s smart, but I think I’m falling for you.” He started to lay his own feelings on the line, but she placed two fingers against his lips, forestalling any declarations of love everlasting.
“You should know that I didn’t want to care about you. I tried really hard not to, in fact. You aren’t the type to settle down. I’ve seen you with other women. You don’t stay with a woman for more than a few months. I’m not interested in being dumped once the newness wears off. If you can’t offer me more than a short term sexfest, then we end things now and be glad for what we had.” She took a deep breath and went on. “After the car accident, when I was told I’d have a hard time bringing a baby to full term, I sort of convinced myself I didn’t have much to offer a man. I’m still uncertain. There are a lot of
ifs
involved there, but I do know that I’m tired of worrying about what may never be.” Jackson took her head in the palms of his hands. “First of all, if we have kids, great. If not, that’s okay too. Giving birth doesn’t make you more of a woman in my estimation. Second, I’ve not had a serious relationship because the only woman who could ever fill that spot is standing in front of me. I’ve watched you for over a year. We’ve been driving each other crazy dancing around the issue, but the truth is, I don’t think either of us was ready. I love you, Gracie. You and only you. I’m too damned old for you, and you deserve someone who can be sweet and gentle, but I won’t give you up. This isn’t a sexfest. Although that does sound intriguing.” She elbowed him in the ribs, and he chuckled. “Seriously, baby, this is the real deal.”
Jackson was horrified when Grace’s soft blue eyes welled up. He’d rather lie on a bed of nails than watch Grace cry. “This is the real deal for me too,” she admitted shyly.
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Anne Rainey
He swiped at a tear that trickled down her cheek and whispered, “Good. Now, let’s get this damned conference out of the way so we can get back here and play with that rope a little more.” Her cheeks turned pink. “You want to bind me again?” Jackson reached around and smacked her ass, causing her to yelp, before handing her blouse back to her. “There’s twenty-five feet of rope there, pet, I can do a lot of tying with that much.” She went up on her toes and whispered, “You are so depraved.” Their lips touched, and suddenly the conference was forgotten again.
68
Epilogue
Three weeks later…
“Merrick, I’m not turning in my expenses, and if you suggest it one more time, I’m going to blow a gasket. I didn’t do a lick of work the entire time I was in Vegas. It was more or less a vacation.” Grace was getting good and tired of having this conversation. From the time they’d arrived back in Ohio, Merrick had been all questions. When she’d finally relented and told him that Jackson and she were now an item, he’d started threatening Jackson to within an inch of his life if he so much as made her sad.
Now he wouldn’t let up about reimbursing her for the Vegas trip.
“You aren’t taking advantage of me if I want to pay for the damned trip, so turn in your expenses.”
“She won’t change her mind, trust me. I should know.” Grace pivoted on her heel to find Jackson lounging against Merrick’s office door, a devilish grin on his handsome face. His tan pants and black polo shirt showed off his muscular body. Her mouth watered as she remembered how they’d started out the day. She’d woken in Jackson’s bed, his mouth between her thighs. She’d reciprocated, of course.
“Earth to Grace.”
She turned at the sound of her cousin’s annoyed voice. “What?” Merrick waved her out of his office. “Go, it’s no use trying to talk to you when you have that glazed-over look in your eyes.”
Jackson stepped forward and wrapped an arm around her waist. “Ready to go home?” She nodded. “I just need to grab my purse. I’ll meet you by the elevators.” She started to move away, but he was faster. His head descended, their lips met. It was too brief, and Grace badly needed more.
“Tease,” she muttered as she stalked from the office, his chuckle trailing after her.
As she approached her desk, one of the other female employees came up to her. Marty was it? No, Marly. She’d never cared much for the other woman. Her catty gossiping in the break room had grated on her nerves more than once.
“So, you and Jackson have been pretty hot and heavy for…what? Three weeks now?” Grace had no idea where this conversation was leading, but knowing Marly, it wasn’t going to make her happy. “Uh, yeah, I guess.” Grace took her purse off the back of her chair and turned toward the woman.
“So, that means you have about a week left before he boots you out of his bed.”
Anne Rainey
Ah, here it came. Envy, and it was never pretty. “You think?” The woman looked down her nose at her. Grace had never actually seen someone physically do that, but Marly was quite capable, considering she was six-foot-three. “He never keeps a woman longer than a month,” she sneered. “Hope you didn’t give up your apartment. You’ll probably need it again soon, hun.” Grace stepped forward and gave her anger free rein. “Be very careful what you say about Jackson. I don’t much care for people who trash my family.”
Marly stepped back. “He’s not even close to being your family.” Grace stepped forward again, noting the way Marly paled. “He’s mine, remember that. I protect my own.”
“No need to get nasty. I’m just giving you a friendly warning. It’s no skin off my nose if you don’t heed it.”
She stomped off, leaving Grace in a predicament. She could clock the bitch, but then that wouldn’t be very professional. Or she could do the adult thing and let it go.
“She’s not worth it, baby.”
The deep baritone behind her had her pussy throbbing. She turned to find Jackson standing several feet away, his hands in his pockets. She couldn’t read his expression. Had he heard the woman’s caustic remarks? “She deserved a black eye for what she said about you.” Jackson closed the distance separating them and took her in his arms. “I love you, Gracie. I’m not getting tired of you. Give me about fifty years and maybe that’ll change, but I highly doubt it will even then.”
“And I love you,” she said on a sigh as she wrapped her arms around his neck. “Now, let’s go home.
It’s my turn with the rope.”
“Uh, baby, I thought we talked about that.”
Grace let her hand travel down his back to cup his ass. “Chicken?” His grin lit her on fire. “Bring it on,
pet
.” 70
About the Author
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Look for these titles by Anne Rainey
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Haley’s Cabin
Touching Lace
Tasting Candy
Burn
Turbulent Passions
Taking Chloe
The only way to keep what he has…is to surrender everything.
Taking Chloe
© 2009 Anne Rainey
Vaughn Series, Book 3
Merrick Vaughn couldn’t be happier with this life. His business is jumping and his marriage to the love of his life is about as good as it gets. At least, that’s what he thinks…until Chloe announces she wants to separate.
Stunned doesn’t begin to cover it, but it quickly becomes clear that’s she’s dead serious. And if he doesn’t take action, as in now, he’s going to lose the only woman he’s over loved.
The last thing Chloe wants is a divorce, but she can’t go on living with a virtual stranger who spends all his time—and hers—behind a desk. It’s tearing her apart, and taking a break to sort out her thoughts seems her only recourse.
Then Merrick offers a wicked proposition: go to Hawaii with him for one week’s vacation. After that, if he hasn’t successfully changed her mind, he’ll let her go. No questions asked. There’s only one caveat.
She must agree to give him complete control.
Chloe’s intrigued and scared. One week in paradise might bring them closer—or be their ultimate undoing.
Enjoy the following excerpt for
Taking Chloe:
“Because I want to, damn it, that’s why.”
Chloe rolled her eyes at Merrick’s reason for wanting to shower with her. “It would be faster if you’d just let me finish.”
“I’m not leaving, so deal with it.”
“We’re never going to get to dinner if you don’t leave, Merrick.”
“Fuck dinner. I want to wash you, so scoot over. Besides, let’s not forget the deal. I’m in charge.”
“Yes, you’re in charge…of our fun. This is a shower.”
“And a shower can be mighty fun.”
Chloe wasn’t sure why she continued to resist. As husband and wife they’d showered together hundreds of times. This time it seemed so different, as if it were the first time. A virgin on prom night would be less jumpy, for crying out loud!
“Fine, but if we don’t make our reservations, don’t blame me.” His grin was one of pure male arrogance. “Duly noted.” Chloe tried not to drool when Merrick yanked his shirt off and tossed it to the bathroom floor. As he undid the fly of his jeans and slid them and his black boxers down his powerful thighs, she gave up on
maintaining control all together. God, he was gorgeous. His muscled behind faced her, and if she leaned toward him a few inches, she could take a bite out of his delicious flesh. He straightened and turned toward her. His cock was huge. As she watched, it seemed to get even bigger. As her gaze snared his, he grinned.
She lit up like a Christmas tree.
“Those pretty eyes are devouring me right now, babe.” She pushed her wet hair behind her shoulder and tried not to let his sweet, hard body get to her…too much. “I can’t help if I like what I see.”
“I like what I see, too. A lot,” he growled.
He stepped into the tub with her. Chloe moved to the side to give him room. He was twice her size and he took up most of the tub. Not that she was complaining. She couldn’t remember the last time her husband had taken the time to shower with her. Too long. Much too long.
“You’re so beautiful, Chloe. Inside and out.”
His words and the sincerity behind them filled her heart with warmth. “You haven’t told me that for a very long time. It’s nice to hear compliments from you.” He slid the backs of his fingers down her wet arm, leaving little goose bumps in his wake. “You make me want to slay dragons and shower you with diamonds,” he murmured. “I’m sorry I’ve been so wrapped up in work. I need to explain about that, but first I want to show you how much I’ve missed you. May I?” He’d melted her completely. She’d become a useless puddle of pudding at his feet.
“Yes,” she capitulated, “I think I’d like that very much.” He placed two fingers against her lips. “Shh, it’s okay, baby. We’re going to take our time, go real slow. I have a need to experience my wife to the fullest tonight.” She removed his fingers and asked, “What about dinner?” She didn’t really care about food, but she should at least ask, for his sake.
“Screw dinner,” he muttered.
As his mouth came crashing down on hers, Chloe fell against him, relishing the sensation of her nipples against the solid wall of his chest. At once he was everywhere, his arms sturdy and protective around her. He cupped her ass in his palms, lifted and pulled her tighter against his lethal strength. His hands squeezed, and she laughed. “Merrick, that tickles!”
“I know. Thought I’d forgotten, huh?”
Chloe feared he’d forgotten a lot of things about her, but she didn’t want to reveal so much of her inner turmoil. “Well, you must admit it’s not your typical ticklish spot.”
“There’s not a damn thing typical about your ass, Chloe. It’s sexy as hell.” He squeezed her flesh again, and she let loose a string of giggles. “When you giggle like that it turns me on like you wouldn’t believe.”
She liked the thought of Merrick turned on because of her. “What else turns you on?” she prompted.
“The cleft in your chin,” he easily answered. His tongue came out and touched the little indentation.
Her body flooded with liquid heat.
