TIS THE SEASON...FOR ROMANCE (WESTMORELAND/MASTERS/JEFFERIES) (10 page)

He watched as she pulled in a deep breath before easing the last piece of barrier down his body. She then stood back and studied every inch of him and he wondered if she knew the trail of her eyes was like a heated brand.

“Now for protection, babe,” he said and leaned down to pull a condom packet from his pants pocket and proceeded to sheath himself. From her curious expression he assumed she’d never watched a man put on a condom over his erection before.

“Now it’s my turn,” he said, and without wasting time he went for her pull-over sweater and quickly removed it from her. Her bra was a piece of cake and when he saw her shapely breasts he weakened in the knees. She was beautiful.

Removing her slacks took no time at all and he liked how she coordinated the color of her bra with her panties. To him seeing her in baby blue lingerie was sexy as hell.

Barbara watched the way Rick was studying her breasts and hoped he found them satisfactory. Her breasts were small, always had been and Ron used to complain that maybe she should consider implants but she hadn’t.

“Your breasts are perfect.”

She blinked. It was as if Rick had known what she was thinking. Ron had never told her she had perfect breasts. “Thank you.”

And then his gaze traveled down her stomach and paused at the juncture of her thighs. She knew a lot of women were into all those different kind of wax jobs. She’d tried it once at Ron’s urging and hadn’t cared for the end result. She suddenly thought about how many times and just how often she had tried being the kind of woman Ron preferred. But he’d never asked her what kind of man she might have preferred in the bedroom. It made her realize just how selfish he’d been to only think about his own wants and needs. In the end nothing had kept him faithful.

“You’re frowning, Barbara.”

She met his eyes. “Sorry.”

“Only positive thoughts between us are allowed.”

“Okay.”

He then reached out and took her hand and led her over to the bed.

* * *

Rick intended to go slow so that Barbara could savor everything he was doing to her. He began touching her all over, getting her acquainted with the heat in his hands. And when they stretched out together on the huge bed, his mouth went for hers and kissed her hungrily.

When he broke off the kiss and lowered his mouth to her breasts he took a swollen peak into his mouth. Sensations ripped through him and from the sound of her moan, they’d ripped through her also. What he’d told her earlier was true. Her breasts were perfect. Not too large and not too small. They were just right.

And when he had lavished attention on one breast he then went for the other. He liked the taste of her breasts but knew he wanted to sample another taste as well. He shifted his body to ease down a little to begin nibbling on her stomach.

He then decided to move lower and when his head was right there, between her thighs he couldn’t resist kissing her there. He could tell by her sharp intake of breath that this sort of intimate foreplay was one she wasn’t use to and if he sensed it was something she didn’t like, he would stop.

He knew the moment his tongue slid between her womanly folds that she would like it. The moan that slipped from between her lips and the way she easily opened her legs wider was one sign.

Rick delved deeper and enjoyed her taste. He wrapped his arms around her thighs and she instinctively tilted her hips toward his hungry mouth. He took his time and feasted on her properly, liking the sounds of the moans she made and the way she grasped his head to hold him to her.

And when he knew she was mere seconds from an explosion, he pulled his mouth away and eased his body over her. Their gazes held as he slowly entered her and nearly exploded right then when she arched her back and lifted her hips to receive all of him.

Reaching up she entwined her arms around his neck and leaned her head up to trace his lips with the tip of her tongue. Something inside him snapped and he began thrusting in and out of her and each time he went in, he somehow managed to go deeper and deeper.

And when he heard her scream his name and felt her muscles clench him tighter, he came in a rush, giving her all he had and knowing that if he had a choice, he would remain inside her forever.

* * *

“You okay, babe?”

Barbara’s body felt drained but she managed to lift her head to meet Rick’s gaze. “Yes, although I might never be able to walk again.”

He chuckled. “You’ll walk.”

She snuggled closer to him, breathed in his scent as well as that of sex. Usually after they’d made love Ron would get up and go into the bathroom. There was no cuddle time and no time to absorb in afterglow. She liked lying here and being held in Rick’s arms.

“Have you made any plans for Thanksgiving?” She thought this was just as good a time to ask.

“No. Usually Antron flies in and we try and find some restaurant around here that’s opened. Neither one of us inherited culinary skills worth a damn. I can handle something simple like what we did that Sunday for brunch, but I wouldn’t try tackling anything like Thanksgiving dinner.”

Barbara chuckled. “Well, I’d love to invite the two of you to Thanksgiving dinner with me and my family. My sister and I usually rotate and it will be at my place this year.”

“You sure your daughter and sister won’t mind strangers showing up?”

She grinned. “They’d met you before, so you’re not a stranger.”

“Yeah, but when I met them it was all business.”

Barbara smiled. “Now it won’t be business related. Think you can handle that?”

He returned her smile. “Yes, I can handle that.”

He pulled her closer and Barbara automatically cuddled deeper into his arms. Yes, she thought. He could handle that. She had a feeling that Rick Blair could handle just about anything.

Barbara glanced down at her outfit. Rick was taking her out to dinner. She had no idea where they were going afterwards. All he’d said was to wear an outfit suitable for dancing.

During her lunch hour she had gone to the Millenia Mall and bought this dazzling red dress and a pair of Jimmy Choo slingbacks to match. She smiled thinking that even with the shoes 4 1/2 inch heels, she would still have to look up to meet Rick’s gorgeous eyes.

Courtney had dropped by earlier and had given her outfit a thumbs up and said Rick would probably get tongue-tied when he saw her. She sighed deeply as she left the kitchen to enter her living room, while thinking she couldn’t believe just how wonderful her life was going now. Rick was an incredible lover, conversationalist and all around friend.

Often when he would come over to her place or when she would go over to his, they would spend time talking for hours. He would tell her about his days with the FBI and she would discuss several aspects of her job with him. She’d been surprised to learn he had a master’s degree in criminology and that in addition to teaching at the FBI academy, every once and a while he was pulled back in to assist on high profile crime cases.

She smiled when she heard her doorbell, thinking Rick was early. Crossing the room she opened the door and a frown immediately settled on her face. “Ron, what are you doing here?”

Instead of answering, her ex leaned on his walking cane and let out a wolf-whistle. “You look good, Barb. Where are you off to? Is it girls’ night out with you and Peggy?”

“No. So what do you want, Ron?” It bothered her that he assumed that he could drop by without calling first.

“I want to talk to you about something that’s important.”

She glanced down at her watch. “As you can see I’m about to leave in a little while.”

“Surely you can give me at least five minutes.”

She pulled in a deep breath. “Only five minutes.” She moved aside to let him enter and it was then she saw just how profound his limp was. Ron, the man who was known for his soulful strut could barely put one foot in front of the other now.

She couldn’t help wondering what Ron’s visit was about. She hadn’t talked to him in weeks. The last time she’d done so was when he’d called her office and she’d dropped a hint that she had a lunch date. She’d done so mainly because she hadn’t wanted him to think she was somewhere pining for him. Their divorce was final and it would stay that way.

“Barb.”

He recaptured her attention and she saw he had made it to her sofa and sat down. “Ron. What’s the reason for your visit?” she asked in as pleasant a voice as she could muster.

“This house.”

“What about it?”

“I wish you’d reconsider selling it.”

“My plans are final. If you’re interested in buying it you’re free to contact my attorney.”

“Why are you doing it? It’s our home.”

Barbara wanted to laugh at that one but didn’t. “It was our home. Need I remind you that we are divorced?”

“There will always be something special between us, Barb.”

“Don’t get delusional on me, Ron. There is nothing special between us. That ended years ago, which is why you had your other women I imagine.”

He didn’t say anything and then, “You’re acting strange.”

She did laugh at that. “If you mean that I’m no longer easy-going, gullible, and an all forgiving push-over, then I can see why you’d think I’m acting strange. My world no longer revolves around Ronald Andrews.”

“Then who does your life revolves around now, Barb? Is it that detective guy you’re seeing? The one who handled the investigation into my shooting incident? Is he the reason you were so quick to get a divorce?” he snapped.

His words were like a shot of venom into Barbara’s veins. Not only did she see red but her head begin spinning. She left her spot from bracing against the door to come stand in the living room in front of him. It was typical Ron style to blame everything and everyone else on what happened to end their marriage instead of the real deal. “The reason I divorced your ass is because I’d found out you were unfaithful again. You had the damn gall to take your wife and your mistress on vacation and -”

“I never wanted to take Ashira to Hawaii.”

Barbara rolled her eyes. “Of course you didn’t. She twisted your arm or threatened your life,” she said smartly. “And she forced you to leave me in bed all those mornings to catch an elevator to her room and have sex with her. It really doesn’t matter Ron. Things are over between us. We are officially divorced. You’re free to date all those young women out in the open now. You no longer have to sneak around. You can have your whores with my blessings.”

“I don’t want them. I want you.”

“Me! You want me! Damn you, you never wanted me,” she screamed almost to the top of her voice. “You only wanted them and the fool I was I let you make a mockery of our marriage. So hear me out real good Ron. You might want me but I don’t want you. Nor do I still love you.”

She couldn’t believe she was screaming at the top of her lungs. She held her fist tight otherwise, she could actually see herself beating him over the head with his own cane. She was doing what Dr. Banks had tried telling her she needed to do for closure which was to get out her anger.

“And another thing, don’t ever just show up here, Ron. You are not welcome. I’ll be moving after Courtney’s wedding so if you want to move in that’s fine. Just buy me out. Then you’ll be free to move Ashira in here with you.”

“Why don’t you love me anymore? Is it because I’m no longer a whole man?” Ron threw out.

Barbara shook her head. Did he think she could still love him after all he’d done? And why was he looking for sympathy? It was a lost cause because she had none to spare for him. “No, the reason I no longer love you is because you’ve always been a whorish man. I put up with it because I loved you but no more. I don’t love you any longer.” There, she’d said it again and she hoped he got it that time.

“You don’t love me because of him.”

Barbara frowned. He still didn’t get it. The man refused to take accountability for anything. “No, I don’t love you anymore because of you. You and your inability to keep your pants zipped for anyone other than me,” she said, hearing herself screaming again.

“I tried explaining to you that I’m sick. I’m getting treatment for my addiction.”

“Good and I wish you the best in that endeavor. I’m sure that just like I found someone, eventually you will, too. Now if that’s all you have to say, I want you to leave.”

“Does it matter that I still love you?”

“No, it doesn’t matter. You’ll get over it like you got over all those promises you made and never kept about being faithful. I’m sure you have a list of young women you can fall in love with. Try your girl Ashira.”

He looked at the floor and shook his head. “I’m no longer with Ashira. She’s turned off by my limp and cane.”

Barbara shrugged. “That’s not my business. Go down your list. I’m sure there are others you can connect with.”

Ron studied her for a long moment before saying. “Why have you changed?”

She couldn’t help but smile because she knew why. Thanks to Rick she was a self-assured woman who knew what she wanted both in and out of the bedroom. “I changed because I realized you weren’t worth all my misery and grief. I changed because I realized there was a man out there who appreciated me for being me. He’s a man who I can trust. Yes, I’ve changed but then change is good, Ron. Maybe you ought to try it.”