Bachelor Unclaimed (17 page)

“Then we need to invite you out for a visit,” Tyson’s brother Mercury suggested, his gaze roaming her up and down.

“And I think you should stay right here on the East Coast,” Virgil interjected, moving closer to her.

Ainsley’s heartbeat kicked up a notch, not from Virgil’s movement, but from the man she saw coming through the French doors off the balcony. He glanced over at her. The moment their eyes connected, she was swamped by every emotion she’d felt when she’d seen him that first night in Hilton Head. But the deep brown eyes holding hers were intense and unreadable. Was he or wasn’t he glad to see her? She desperately needed some sort of sign.

He then gave her one when his mouth curved in a smile. Releasing a deep sigh of relief, she couldn’t help but smile back. And then he began walking toward her with the same sense of purpose he’d had that first night at the Sparrow.

At the same time, of their own accord, her feet began moving in his direction. “Ainsley? Where are you going?” one of the men asked, but she couldn’t respond. She kept walking toward the one man she’d fallen head over heels in love with, although he didn’t have a clue.

Moments later he was there and they stood facing each other. Neither said anything as if they were deer caught in the headlights of each other’s gazes. But she felt it, the sexual chemistry they seemed to generate so easily between them. And she didn’t have to glance around to know others were watching them, probably feeling it, as well. But he didn’t care that they were the center of attention and neither did she.

What he did next proved that point.

“I miss you so damn much,” he whispered before pulling her into his arms and taking her mouth right then and there. Immediately she felt her beating heart pressed against his chest and moaned when his tongue touched hers in one blazing kiss. He was glad to see her; she would say that with certainty.

“I hate to interrupt, but I take it you two know each other?”

She recognized Virgil Bougard’s voice. Winston reluctantly broke off the kiss, and smoothly wrapped his arms around her waist, bringing her closer to his side. He eyed the five men who’d been holding her attention since she had arrived. “Yes, we know each other and let me go on record here and now by stating that she’s mine.”

A whisper of surprise escaped Ainsley’s lips at the same time a look of total shock appeared on the faces of all five men. “You’re actually placing your personal stamp on a woman?” Virgil asked in disbelief, while Mercury Steele reached out to touch Winston’s forehead to see if perhaps he was running a fever.

Winston waved off Mercury’s reach before he reached up to stroke the side of Ainsley’s cheek tenderly. “Yes, that’s exactly what I’m doing,” he said holding her gaze.

Virgil frowned. “How did this happen?” he asked in a rough tone.

Winston glanced back at Virgil. “Wasn’t looking. Didn’t want it. But it happened. And I don’t regret it did.” Returning his gaze to Ainsley, he said, “Come, let’s leave.”

“She arrived less than fifteen minutes ago,” Tyson said frowning.

“Which means she shared all of your company fifteen minutes too long.” He then turned to Ainsley. “We’ll go find York and Darcy, congratulate them on their first anniversary and then we’re out of here.”

“W, you’re out of the club,” Virgil said in a not-too-happy tone.

He glanced over at him. “I know.”

* * *

“Winston...”

He always enjoyed hearing his name off her lips and tonight was no exception. After bidding good-night to York and Darcy, he hadn’t wasted any time getting Ainsley to the Marriott Marquis in Times Square.

In the privacy of his hotel room, he admitted things to her that he’d wished he’d confessed before. In the cab ride over, she had explained why she hadn’t taken the position of mayor and he’d told her why he hadn’t stopped her from leaving that day.

And at present they were locked in a sensuous embrace making love. As soon as they closed the door behind them, they had begun tearing off each other’s clothes and tumbled onto the bed.

And now he was sliding his body over her parted thighs, while cupping her face with his hands and staring down hard at her. And just to think that at one time he’d been convinced no woman could fill him with this many emotions. No woman could make him want to move heaven and earth for her.

He lowered his head and whispered against her wet lips words he figured he would never again say to a woman. “I love you.”

“Oh, Winston, I love you, too. So much,” she said, wrapping her arms around his neck and tightening her hold. He opened his mouth over hers at the same time he slid between her moist womanly folds, lifting her hips to go deep into her slick heat, all the way to the hilt.

And then he began moving in and out while his hands cupped her bottom low so that his fingers skimmed her inner thighs. He pulled his mouth and his hands away and she moaned out his name as he continued to ride her hard.

Tunneling his fingers through her hair, he held her gaze, knowing this was the woman that was meant to be his, and she was, and he wouldn’t let her go. He would admit the thought of a long-distance romance scared the hell out of him, but he would do it if it came to that. But he’d learned his lesson never to assume that he knew what she wanted. He had been wrong the last time, which meant that maybe, just possibly, she would consider moving to Australia with him.

He lifted his head, arched his back and bucked at the straining of his muscles when he felt his entire body explode. “Ainsley!”

She cried out his name as somehow she opened her legs more and took him in even deeper. He looked down at her, saw her closed eyes and whispered, “Look at me, baby. I want you to look at me and feel the love. I love you and I need you.”

She opened her eyes and locked her gaze with his when another explosion hit them both. Never had he desired a woman so much. Loved one to such a degree that he trembled all over.

A short while later with their naked limbs entwined, he held her in his arms as her head rested on his chest. “I’m leaving the country for a while.”

Ainsley lifted her head to stare at him, certain he could see all the questions in her gaze.

“I’ve been given the opportunity to work in Australia at the Great Barrier Reef.”

“To do more studies on the turtles?” she asked.

“Yes.”

She leaned up as a smile touched her lips, knowing how much he wanted that. “Oh, Winston, that’s great.”

“Yes, but I don’t want to leave you behind.”

She pulled herself up. “Then don’t. Take me with you.”

His gaze widened. “You’d go? Leave your work here and travel with me there? It will be for three years.”

“I don’t care if it will be for thirty years. I can write articles from anywhere and I don’t need that plush office after all. I want to be with you.”

He smiled. “And I want to be with you.” He pulled her back down in his arms. “You know what that means, right?”

She had an idea but wanted him to tell her. “What does it mean?”

“That I want you to be Mrs. Winston Coltrane.”

She chuckled. “Is that a proposal?”

“You bet it is. If you prefer the more traditional on-your-knees kind of proposal, I can do that, as well.”

She shook her head. “No, all I want is your undying love as you’ll have mine.”

“Baby, you got it.” He then eased her up closer over his body, so his mouth could reach hers. “I love you, Ainsley,” he whispered against her moist lips.

“And I love you, too.”

And he captured her mouth and kissed her with a hunger he felt all through his body. This love was meant to be. He had joined the ranks of totally whipped men and he wouldn’t have it any other way.

Epilogue

T
he bright sun beamed down on the couple as they stood before the minister being joined as man and wife.

They were on Barrett Shores on this glorious day in June, in an outdoor wedding with a beautiful view of the ocean in front of them. “I now pronounce you man and wife. Winston, you may kiss your bride.”

Ainsley turned and Winston lifted the veil from her face and leaned in to claim her lips. She knew his kiss would be powerful, shake her to the core and probably be too lusty for the two-hundred guests assembled oceanside.

He finally released her mouth, grinned over at his five godbrothers and gave each a thumbs-up...even Virgil and Zion. They weren’t happy that the Bachelors in Demand Club had dwindled from six members down to two, but they were happy for Winston and she appreciated that. She was counting on them finding their true love like she and Winston had. After all, she was convinced that everyone had a soul mate.

Holding hands she and Winston turned to face their guests as the minister said, “Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you Mr. and Mrs. Winston Coltrane.”

She heard the clapping, cheers, whistles and catcalls. But what she would remember most was Winston pulling her back into his arms and kissing her again. Later tonight before they left for their honeymoon in Ireland, she intended to dance for her husband. She intended to strip for him, as well. But what she really intended to do was be his mate for life.

She gasped when be broke off the kiss and swung her up into his arms to stride away from the beachside wedding party. She was happy, overjoyed and elated with how the day had turned out and was ready to start a new life with the man she loved.

The bachelor that was unclaimed no more.

* * * * *

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ISBN: 9781460303788

Copyright © 2013 by Brenda Streater Jackson

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