Do Me Baby (The Beaumont Series) (8 page)

“I guess there’s a first time for everything,” Debra teased, forcing herself to step away from him. It was hard, but she did it. Her body instantly missed his warmth.

“You might find this hard to believe,” Rance began as he leaned against the rail. “But I don’t have a girl in every city, and I don’t seduce females just because I can.”

Reaching up, Debra caressed his cheek, her fingers gentle against the hint of stubble. “Why not?”

“Because when I’m playing ball I need to stay focused, so I don’t get down like that. Women are for the off season.”

She laughed. “Oh, really? It’s like that? You can just turn it off like that?”

“Uh-huh,” he said with a silly smirk on his face. “Seriously. That’s why I’m tryna jump your bones while I still can. Once my doctor releases me, it’s gonna be too late for us.”

Debra dropped the hand to her hip. “And why are you telling me this?”

“I’m telling you because you better try and get some of this while you still can.”

She laughed like a teenager on her first date. It was something about his humor that she found so attractive.

“You never know when to give up, do you?” she replied with a shake of her head.

“Sometimes that can be a good thing.” He gave her a goofy grin that sent both of them into a fit of laughter.

Rance was definitely persistent. “I thought you were a shallow all-about-me kind of guy,” she admitted as she eased away.

“And now?”

“Now… I’m not so sure,” she said. She wasn’t sure about anything anymore. “That’s why I need some time to think.”

He nodded. “Fair enough.”

Reaching down, he took her fingers in his. “Walk with me,” he said and she gazed up at him, searching his eyes, amazed at how quickly he had given in.

Together they walked around the deck. A cool gentle breeze tickled her cheek. Debra gazed up at a sky dotted beautifully with stars hovering high over miles and miles of calm waters.

“Where do you see yourself in five years?” Rance asked, breaking the silence.

She took a moment to think about the question. She hoped to be married with a family by then, otherwise the chances of her ever having any children would be lost. But first it took finding the right man. She stood a better chance of opening two new bakeries. “I hope to have expanded my business by then.”

“What’s it going to take to make that happen?”

“Location is important. Bianca’s a marketing major so she’s always coming up with amazing campaigns and drawing traffic to my store, but in Sheraton Beach it’s all about location. And the place to be is Main Street.”

He tilted his head to look at her. “Yeah, I can see that. Every time I’m in town I always go see my boy Joe, who hooks me up with a new tailor-made suit.”

“Joe’s Suit Shop.” She nodded knowingly. “Everything is there. The best restaurants are on that strip. Favorite shops. The Cornerstone bookstore. It’s just the place to be. If I could move down there I know I could rise to the next level.”

“So what’s stopping you?”

She blew out a frustrated breath. “Well, money for one. That’s prime real estate. It’s rare to find a spot, if you can. Although I just found out Mrs. Frazier is closing Kona Donuts.”

“No shit? I loved that place.”

Debra smiled. “We all do. Her hot donuts are so addictive we started calling them--”

“Sugar crack,” he blurted.

 
“Exactly.” Debra giggled.

“Man, I used to wolf down six of them all at once. Then I’d feel high as hell the rest of the afternoon. Mama used to say, ‘Boy, go sit down somewhere!’ because I was bouncing off the walls.”

“Me too,” Debra agreed, and laughed along with him. “Anyway, she’s getting ready to retire and I hear she’s selling her place. But because so many people want that location, it’s going up for bid.”

“Wow!” he said, starting to understand what her dilemma was. “So are you planning to bid?”

Her steps slowed and Debra nodded her head with a weary look. “Yes, but for what I can afford I’m sure I’m going to be outbid.” She couldn’t hide the frustration from her voice. “My other options are moving my shop to this strip mall in Rehoboth Beach, or even moving to Dover. I’ve seen two great locations with plenty of foot traffic.”

“But I get the feeling that’s not what you want to do?”

She shook her head. “Sheraton Beach is my home. I can’t imagine my business being anywhere else.” She sighed. “But with God all things are possible.”

He stopped walking and smiled. “Mama always says the same thing.”

“You and your mother close?” she asked.

Rance bobbed his head. “Hell, yeah. That’s my girl. I can’t go a week without talking to her. Mama always keeps it real with me, and I like that. I think that’s what’s helped me to stay grounded all these years I’ve been playing basketball. She and my dad don’t miss any of my games.”

Turning, she crossed her arms and looked up at him. The love for his parents was beaming in his eyes. “Maybe I’ll have to give basketball a try and see if it’s anywhere near as exciting as football.”

“Girl, you ain’t get the memo? It’s better.”

She playfully punched him in the arm. “Whatever.”

Taking her hand again, they walked toward the end of the ship where several guests were standing and staring off into the waters.

“What about you and your parents?”

Debra frowned. “My grandmother raised me and my sister. I never knew my father, and Mama was young and too busy partying and chasing men to think about raising us. After my grandmother died I tried to build a closer relationship, but Mama never seemed that interested. So I just left it alone.” She heard the bitterness in her voice. “Some women just aren’t meant to be mamas.”

There was a slight pause. “I get the feeling you’d be a great mother.”

Debra gazed up at him. “Thank you,” she whispered. He was so damn sexy. Rance’s sable eyes, hot and intense, warmed her like a caress. His mouth was inviting whether he was smiling or frowning. She could see the patience in his gaze. He had her wishing all kinds of things that she had no business thinking about. But for once she felt desirable and worthy to have everything that life had to offer. This was her choice. So what if it was just a weekend? She deserved to feel sexy and wanted by a man.

Rance took a deep breath. “Have I told you how sexy you are?”

“Not in the last hour,” she said with a strained laugh. Her nipples ached.

“How about I show you instead?”

He moved in close, then leaned down toward her. Debra tipped her head back, not realizing until they were this close how much taller he was than she. His hands settled at her waist as he drew her in toward him. The instant she felt his body heat her eyelids closed and her lips parted with a sigh.

When his lips brushed over hers Debra felt an electric charge from her lips down to her breasts and to the very core of her body. His breath had the pleasant scent of the cognac he’d drunk after dinner, and the sweet taste of the chocolate cake he’d had for dessert.

The kiss started off slowly and gently, no pressure, no demands. She sensed he was taking his time, trying not to scare her off.

His mouth opened slowly on hers and his skillful tongue slipped inside and another wave of desire rolled over her. The strokes of his tongue were confident and perfect.

Locking his hands behind her back, he dragged Debra closer until they were pressed together, and then his tongue went deeper into her mouth, until her body shook.

His kiss continued to inflame her senses. She felt like she had traveled to a land where there was just Rance. Reaching out for something to steady herself, Debra’s hands brushed over his chest. It was muscular, strong and radiated heat. She could feel it even through the fabric of his shirt.

She didn’t want them to fit the way they did, as if they were meant to be together. But the proof was right in her face, pressed up against her.

Finally, Rance lifted his head and took a deep breath. Her eyelids fluttered open and she looked up at him and gasped at what she saw. There was desire, of course, but something else that she couldn’t quite put her finger on.

“Debbie,” he whispered. He framed her face with his hands and kissed her again.

This time his kisses were less tentative and a lot more persuasive. She quickly found herself caught up in the passion. She went up on her tiptoes so she could savor more of his mouth. More of Rance. She slid her hands under his shirt and up his back while his tongue plunged deeper into her mouth. Shifting, Rance leaned back against the rail until she was fully supported by his weight.

He lifted his head, and she instantly missed his lips pressed against hers.

“Kissing you … I thought it would be enough, but I want more,” he said.

It’s your decision
.

“Let’s go,” she said before she came to her senses and changed her mind. She took his hand and led him downstairs to their cabin. Heart pounding, Debra waited while Rance swiped his key and stepped aside so she could move into the room. Once there, pulse racing heavily, she slipped off her shoes while her eyes traveled over to the bed. If she was going to change her mind, now was the time to put the brakes on things.

Swinging around, she was about to say something … what, she wasn’t sure … but he pressed a finger to her lips.

“Are you sure?” he asked.

It was her choice.
She nodded and noticed that his shoulders sagged with relief.

“Good. Then not a word, Debbie.” Rance flashed a smile. “Unless you’re screaming my name.”

She arched a brow. “Really? You got it like that?”

“You’ll find out. Game on?”

“Bring it on, baby,” she laughed. Only Rance would make sex a competition. Debra made a show of locking her mouth with an imaginary key.

“I love a challenge,” he said, grinning, before he pressed his mouth to hers again. Nothing rough or persuasive. Just a simple peck and a few strokes of his tongue before he began to rain kisses along her cheek and jaw.

In her wildest dreams she had never imagined a man’s mouth being so gentle. Or so damn erotic. His breath heated her skin, the ultra-soft mouth caressed her lips, and his teeth grazed her jaw, causing her to shiver. It was both ticklish and erotic. His fingers slid along her shoulder, and she let her head fall back with a sigh of delight.

Rance lowered the zipper and pulled her dress down. She knew what was coming next. His mouth left hers and trailed kisses along her collarbone and shoulders, only he didn’t pull the dress down quickly. Instead, he lowered it inch by inch, his actions both torturous and wonderful. He inched the dress off so slowly that the motion caressed her now very sensitive breasts.

Once the dress fell to the floor, Debra thought Rance would have captured one of her bare, aching nipples between his teeth. Instead, he took a seat on the couch and continued to gaze at her, his eyes dark and intense.

“Damn, Debra, you are sexy as hell.”

She flushed and knew her face had reddened. She was standing there in nothing but a black thong.

“You into just watching?” she asked.

He grinned at her. “With you, Deb, I’m willing to try just about anything.”

She proudly let Rance look his fill of her voluptuous body. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, and watched her. His eyes blazed as they locked on her breasts, making her nipples tighten even more. Damn, the sexy ballplayer had skills. He had her entire body on fire with just a single appreciative look.

He crooked a finger and ordered. “Come here.” She felt her legs moving forward until she was standing right between his parted thighs. His eyes never left her. In fact, her nipples were now within mere inches of his delicious mouth. But instead of biting down, he reached out and touched her with both hands, softly caressing her breasts, before trailing the curves of her hips and ass as she heard him mumble something under his breath.

“I thought you were supposed to make me moan,” she breathed as her body tightened under his intense gaze.

“I will… later.” Slowly, Rance shook his head. “You have no idea how good you look,” he replied, and licked his lips, causing the muscles to tighten at her gut. “I’m trying to photograph every single one of your assets to memory.”