Foolish Notions (25 page)

“Where are you going?’
James called after her.

“I think I’ll run home and
check on things there since I’m not needed here. I haven’t
been there in a few days. I need to water the plants and get the
mail.” Where had she put her purse? “My message machine
is probably full. I like to leave a light on . . .” Her words
trailed off as James stepped in front of her, blocking her path to
the door.

“You are needed.” His voice
was pure seduction.

Samantha eyed the door behind James and
then looked back at him. “Marie has turned in for the night.”

“It’s not my mom who needs
you.” He stripped away any pretenses she might have with the
simple statement.

His words melted into her body,
dissolving into warmth that swirled through every fiber of her being.
Had he touched her? God, it felt like he had. She focused. “James,
your mom’s going to be fine—”

He took a step closer. “That’s
not what I need you for.” He eased his fingers into the waist
band of her jeans just below her navel. Gripping the denim, he gave a
gentle tug toward him. The motion brought her body inches from his.
“You know what I need.”

Samantha’s head was drenched with
sensations. The pressure at her waist made her dizzy and did nothing
to alleviate the demands that were rapidly forming inside. She
shifted her weight to accommodate the hand that slid around her
waist. She grasped his wrist, her nails digging into his skin. He was
warm, he was solid, and he was real. This wasn’t one of the
cruel dreams that plagued her too often while she was alone in her
bed.

For the first time in her life Samantha
was truly indecisive. She was compelled to run to the door and escape
any potential harm, but her feet wouldn’t budge. She could feel
apprehension slowly diminish as his penetrating eyes locked on her.

“Tell me you need me, too.”
His gaze shifted from her mouth to her eyes, waiting for a reply.

“We can’t do this.”
Even when she spoke the words she knew she didn’t mean them.
Well, maybe she meant them, but they held no conviction. She didn’t
want to resist this time. She had no energy left to fight him.
Whether she believed it or not, she knew she yearned for this feeling
of pure, unrestrained abandon. She wanted him. She needed him. She
felt a little lightheaded at the discovery.

“We can do anything we want.”
The kiss he placed on her lips was unhurried and infused with
longing. She responded to the kiss just as she had so long ago, but
this kiss was accentuated with an intense hunger that only separation
could create. His tongue probed the unforgettable depths, the taste
drawing out old memories.

“You make all the pain disappear
when you kiss me.” Samantha’s voice was broken as she
spoke against his lips. “You make me forget.”

James held her face firmly in his
hands. “It’s time to forget, Samantha.”

She shook her head as he held it. “I
can’t. I can’t let myself.” She pressed her head
against his and tried to sort out everything she was experiencing.
Her body hadn’t been this alive since the last time he had
touched her, and it felt so good. Her head swirled with confusion and
beautiful sensations. She realized that, in spite of everything,
something inside her needed to be with him. It couldn’t be
denied.

“There’s nothing wrong with
forgetting.” His voice was so gentle it cleared away the chaos
from her mind. When she closed her eyes and tried to focus, she felt
him place a gentle kiss on each of her eyelids. Her hands were
resting on his shoulders; they clenched in uncertainty. She truly
didn’t know what to do. She felt like her heart would stop in
her chest if she didn’t make a decision quickly.

“Open your eyes,” he
insisted. “Don’t think, Angel.” He tilted her head
and kissed her neck. “Just feel.” His words were like
soft feathers against her skin. “Like you used to.” He
worked his way to her lips. “You remember how it used to feel,
don’t you?”

Samantha had played this scene over and
over in her head a thousand times and it had never been this good.
She had thought the memory of how wonderful it was to be with him was
enhanced, because she by no means believed she would be with him ever
again. Now, that she was standing with him, holding him, feeling him,
and tasting him, it was twice as intense as she had ever imagined.
She nipped at his lips in a desperate attempt to reassure herself
that he was real. “How could I forget? How could I ever forget
this?”

James broke the kiss. “Breathe,
Sweetie.” She looked as if she was going to crumble to the
floor. “I don’t want you to collapse.” He leaned in
and placed another kiss on her lips. “At least not until we’re
near my bed.” He took her by the hand and led her up the stairs
and to his room.

She was a vision standing at the foot
of his bed. It seemed fit that she was washed in moonlight, natural
beauty enhancing natural beauty. “You’re beautiful.”

She reached for him. She needed to
touch him. “You used to say stunning.”

“There isn’t a word
suitable to describe you,” he whispered as he lifted her shirt
over her head.

Impatiently, she helped him tug her
pants over her hips. Once she was naked, he laid her on the bed. Half
of her body was still illuminated by the moonlight. He ran his hand
across the goose bumps that had formed when the cool breeze, which
blew in from the window, met with her hot skin. Another dozen
prickles were produced when he brought his lips to her heated flesh.

“What about you?” She
gestured to his clothes.

He arched a brow when he glanced up.
“Not yet.” His head dipped down again and found her
breast ready and waiting for him.

She arched up to meet him. Her words
were a sob of pleasure and pain as she reached for his shirt. “James,
don’t do this to me.” She shuddered as he drew in the
pale pink center of her breast. “This isn’t fair.”
Her entire body sizzled with electricity and she didn’t know
how to deal with it.

“Who said life is fair?”

She felt like she was going to explode
if she didn’t decompress in some way. His fingers were soft
velvet and they whispered over her skin, teasing, taunting,
exploring.

“James . . .” she moaned
his name again before she was able to speak. “Please, it’s
been so long. I need . . . let me just touch you.”

He raised his head and studied her.
“There’s been no one else? This entire time there’s
been no one?”

She could only shake her head. She
should probably be embarrassed, but the ecstasy that was furiously
taking over her body prevented it. Besides, she had never been
embarrassed about anything when it came to James, and she wasn’t
about to start now.

Before he rolled off her, he kissed her
senseless. “I’m yours for the taking. Have your way with
me.”

Her lips turned into a lazy smile and
she almost purred. She was going to enjoy this, every painstaking
step of it. “Then stand.” She wanted to devour him. “I
want you standing.”

He accommodated her.

Samantha started with James’s
shirt, easing it over his torso and arms. She tossed it to the side,
eager to free her hands so she could touch him. Little by little, she
added another article of clothing to the pile. As each piece floated
to the floor, her need for him grew more fervent. She experienced an
uncontrollable force that she had never felt before. Not even the
first time they had made love. Was it the year’s worth of
pent-up sexual frustration that was driving her to the brink?

As she circled him, she was enthralled
by his physique. His body was the essence of maleness. It was
defined, broad, and solid. She couldn’t resist, she allowed her
hand to glide down his back; when it found his tight buttock, it
stopped. The touch was burning hot. When she moved in front of him,
her eyes met his.

James touched her trembling lips.
“What?” Her eyes held a dark yearning he had never seen
before. “You can tell me.” His voice was a rugged
whisper.

Could she? How did she even begin to
put into words the crazy energy she was feeling? Primal hunger, a
woman’s desire, an internal battle with raging hormones, or was
she just sex starved? All she knew was that she didn’t want it
to end. This sexual tension had been sealed deep in her, and now that
it was out she was completely baffled and overwhelmed by it. “I
don’t know where to begin. I don’t want it to end.”
She ran her hand through her hair and tried to still her raging
emotions long enough to speak. “God, I feel like I’m
going to explode. I want you so badly.”

Amusement danced in his eyes. “Let
me help.”

Their bodies were warm and soft when he
pulled her to him in a gentle embrace. He could hear her heart
beating wildly. Her state was borderline reckless. His finger moved
to her chin, tilting it up so he could see her face. “We have
all night. We can take our time.”

She kissed him fanatically. She held
nothing back. She could hold nothing back. “I can’t wait
that long.”

“Sure you can.”

“If you could feel what I’m
feeling you’d know that’s not true.”

“Trust me, I know what you’re
feeling.”

He pulled away, and took his time
looking at her. The smile that touched the corner of his lips was
pure seduction.

Dear God, would she be able to stand
much more? She had to give in to her body’s demands, but that
wasn’t going to happen any time soon with James taking his
sweet time. She felt the hunger for him claw at her insides. “I
want—”

“You’ll get exactly what
you want.”

She ached for some type of release.
“Not if you keep taking your time.”

He chuckled. “You’re so
impatient.” With steady hands James guided her to the bed. Her
eyes were dazed with dark passion when he stretched out beside her.
God she was beautiful, and now, once again, she was his.

James pressed his lips against her neck
for a second time. “Wake up, Angel.” He smiled when she
didn’t budge. Threading the silk tie through his collar, he
instinctively tied it flawlessly. Once finished, he reached toward
the nightstand and took his watch. Putting it on, he looked back at
Samantha. She was lying on her back in the center of his bed looking
completely content. They had made love most of the night. It had been
so powerful it was almost frightening.

There had been a hint of desperation
mixed in with the passion that hadn’t gone unnoticed. It was
like they were making love for the first and last time. He looked
down at her as she stirred. This wouldn’t be the last time they
made love, he promised. He wasn’t going to lose her again.
Their lovemaking had always been powerful; why should it be any
different now? Stop worrying, he told himself.

Remembering his pager on the dresser,
he moved across the room and hooked it to his waist. His car keys
went into one pocket while he put some change into the other. He made
his way back to the bed.

Briefly, he considered and after a
moment he knew the perfect way to get her attention. He slid his hand
under the covers and felt his way to Samantha’s leg. Gliding
his hand over the warm, velvety skin he moved to her inner thigh. He
sat on the edge of the bed and bent to kiss her as the tips of his
fingers sank into soft curls. “Angel.” His words were
quiet as he stroked her.

Her fingers wrapped around the object
that skillfully caused heat to build and spread through her.

“You awake?” James asked,
his voice husky.

Samantha shook her head and squeezed
his hand between her thighs. “I don’t want to wake up.”
She moved against his hand. “You were in my dreams all night.”

James dipped his head and kissed her
again. “I was in more than just your dreams last night.”
He loved the way she looked in the dim light. She summoned images of
calm, dewy mornings spent snuggling under covers. “Angel, don’t
close your eyes again.” He pulled his hand away, knowing that
it was the only way to get her attention.

Samantha’s eyes open suddenly,
but remained dreamy. “Don’t stop.”

James laughed. “I need to go.”

“What time is it?”

“Around five.”

Samantha reached for his hand and
pulled it back to her. “I haven’t woken to a man in over
a year. Don’t leave yet.”

“I have to go.”

“Finish what you started,”
she moaned breathlessly.

He placed kisses on every exposed
surface, whispered endearments in her ear, and drove her to the edge,
all while he finished what he had started. She arched against his
hand and her head rolled to the side, scattering hair across the
pillow. He dropped his free hand into her soft mane and felt the
deep-seated heat that had consumed him all night return. He pulled
away and smiled down at her when she quivered under his hand.
“Better?”

Samantha rolled onto her side, dragging
the covers with her. “It would’ve been better if you were
in here with me.”

“Make sure you’re home
tonight. No yoga.”

Samantha mumbled acknowledgement as she
pulled the covers up around her neck and closed her eyes. “I
thought you said you had to go,” she muttered.

He nuzzled into her neck. “Sure,
now that you have what you want from me you’re sending me
away.” Her breath was still slightly labored. “What comes
around goes around . . . remember that.”

She opened her eyes and grinned. “Yes,
I’ll remember. Did you get any coffee or breakfast yet?”

He shook his head. “Only you.”

“Then what more do you need? You
should be completely satisfied.”

“Never.” He tucked his cell
phone in a pocket and made a mental note that his briefcase was
wedged between the couch and the end table. “Getting enough of
you isn’t possible.” He bent for one final kiss. “I’ll
get something at the office. I have to go or I’ll be late.
Dream about me.”