Chapter Four
Standing in the shadows of Jill's patio that evening, Eric watched as she prepared herself for him, a sweet kind of torture that tested his restraint. She'd taken a fragrant bath, then slowly, methodically, slipped into each sexy piece of lingerie he'd bought for her. Unaware that her lover was spying on her, her movements were sensual and uninhibited as she clasped her bra in place, then shimmied into the panties that would give him direct access to her body when the time came. Sitting on the stool in front of the vanity in her bedroom, she pulled the pale stockings up her slender legs to her thighs, then clasped the lacy band to the garter belt secured low on her hips. She put on a pair of white strappy shoes with a good four-inch spiked heel, adding her own special touch to the tantalizing ensemble.
With her hair a cloud of soft waves around her face and shoulders, and dressed so wantonly, she looked like a centerfold straight out of his fondest teenage fantasies. And he was rock hard with wanting her.
Finally, she secured the pearls around her neck and absently touched one of the luminescent beads. One gleaming strand draped across the full swell of her breasts, and the longer one dipped into the cleavage in between. The tiniest movement rolled the pearls over her nipples like a fluttering caress, teasing them into hard little points that strained against her sheer lace bra. His cock swelled even more with the wicked thoughts filling his mind. Those pearls were going to be the source of immense pleasure for both of them, as was the single lavender rose he'd brought with him.
Last, she slipped into the silk robe, and as soon as she had herself covered and the sash was tightened around her waist, he stepped out of the shadows and through the French doors.
“Hello, Jill.”
She glanced up at him, the instantaneous awareness flickering in her gaze quickly replaced with a cool reserve and a defiant tip of her chin. “I'm glad to see you didn't stand me up tonight.”
He blinked lazily, not at all surprised at her rebellious attitude. He'd expected it, actually, and the annoyance simmering off her pleased him immensely. Obviously, she hadn't been able to blow him off as easily as she would have liked, which meant he affected her more deeply than she'd ever admit out loud.
He also knew her haughty disposition wouldn't last long. She wanted this next fantasy, wanted to be kissed and touched and fucked by him, or else she wouldn't have taken such care getting dressed up in the things he'd sent her.
Slowly, he strolled over to the nightstand, set the long-stemmed rose next to the bed, and sauntered the rest of the way into her bedroom. “The note I sent with the outfit insinuated I'd be here tonight.”
“After not hearing a word from you all weekend,” she stated, crossing her arms over her chest.
He inhaled the floral scent lingering from her steamy bath, and couldn't stop the pleased grin that curved his mouth. “Miss me?”
She gave a dismissive shrug, but the hurt he detected in the depth of her eyes told another story. “After our conversation Friday afternoon, I thought maybe you changed your mind about us.”
He came to a stop in front of where she stood, sobered by the fact that he'd caused her any kind of emotional pain. He'd only meant to give her space, but he'd obviously given her too much time to
think.
“There's not a chance I'd change my mind about us, sweetheart.”
“Then why didn't you come?” She raised a brow, her gaze searching his for answers.
He owed her an explanation, needed to make her understand his reasons for staying away. And being honest with her was all part of the intimacy and trust he needed to establish between them if he wanted their relationship to last beyond a temporary affair. Because for as much as he enjoyed their fantasies, he craved more than hot sex with her. He wanted to see her whenever the urge struck, wanted make her a part of his life in a way he'd never allowed any other woman.
And after their conversation last Friday, at least now he felt better equipped to deal with her fears and insecurities.
Reaching out, he wrapped a loose curl around his finger to maintain some kind of physical connection between them. “Not coming over this weekend was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. And if it makes you feel any better, I did miss you, and thought about you every waking minute,” he said, all the truth. “But after you told me about Jeremy and what effect he had on you and your previous job, you were on the defensive and I know you were comparing that relationship to ours, especially after that comment you made about history repeating itself. I just felt as though you needed time to calm down and want
me
again without a past relationship gone bad getting in our way.”
Her full lower lip puffed out in an adorable pout, but she didn't argue his point. “You could have said something to me.”
“I thought about it, but decided it would have spoiled the anticipation of being together again.” He ran his finger along the collar of the silky robe, and down the lapel to where it crisscrossed at her breasts. “You thought about me all weekend, didn't you? About all the things we did together and what I still want to do to you.”
“Yes.” A tangible shiver coursed through her. “But I don't enjoy feeling like a fool, and that's how I felt waiting up for you every night.”
“I'm sorry, and I promise I'll make it up to you.” He watched her guard drop and her countenance soften and relax. “I think all that buildup of sexual tension is going to make tonight that much more exciting and intense. Are you ready for the fantasy to begin?”
With her nod of assent, he took her hand and guided her over to the side of the bed near the chaise in the corner. Then he took her mouth with his own and kissed her, more than ready to make up for the time they'd lost over the weekend. Grabbing the tie on her robe, he pulled it off and tossed the sash onto the chair behind him for later. Blindly, he parted the silky material, pushed the sleeves down her arms, and let the fabric fall to the floor at her feet. Lifting his head, he looked his fill of her in the sexy outfit he'd bought for her, and when she reached out to grab the hem of his black T-shirt to help him pull it up and off, he caught her wrist and stopped her.
“Turn around and widen your stance,” he told her in a low, rough tone, which was all part of tonight's fantasy. When she did as he instructed and he was looking at the smooth slope of her back and her widespread legs, he added, “Now bend forward and put your arms on the bed.”
She glanced over her shoulder at him, and probably realizing how exposed the position would make her, a glimmer of uncertainty flickered in her gaze. “Ericâ”
“Do it, Jill,” he ordered, forcing her past that initial twinge of modesty. “Or the fantasy ends.”
He'd warned her that he liked to be in control when it came to sex, which served him well as a defense mechanism in keeping a tight rein on his emotional restraint when it came to women. But he'd come to realize that somewhere along the way he'd allowed Jill to threaten that physical discipline of his, which took their affair to a whole new level of desire and passion.
While he'd continue to play those dominant, aggressive games with her, he'd told her their first night together that he'd never hurt herâand meant it. If she truly felt uncomfortable with anything happening between them, he'd given her the security of knowing a simple “no” or “stop” would put an end to the fantasy.
Tonight, she obviously wasn't willing to forgo whatever pleasures he had in mind. She bent at the waist and propped her forearms on the mattress, which thrust her bottom up in carnal invitation. The peekaboo panties she wore framed the glistening folds of her sex, and it took every ounce of his willpower not to drop to his knees and use his tongue to take her to a shattering climax in that provocative position.
Gathering his control, he passed his palm over one rounded cheek and squeezed the firm flesh, which brought him just as much pleasure. “God, you have such a great ass,” he murmured, and heard her moan in response. Positioning himself behind her, he pressed the huge bulge of his erection against her bottom. He could feel her heat and dampness, even through his jeans, and groaned at the perfect fit of their bodies due to the spiked heels she wore.
He splayed his hand low on her spine, and she automatically arched into him to get closer, to feel more heat and friction. “I've dreamed of taking you just like this,” he said, and gyrated his hips against her, knowing the fly of his jeans was grazing her tender flesh, heightening her arousal. “Even right now, I'm so ready for you, and all it would take is unzipping my pants, releasing my cock, and pushing inside you, slow and deep. You wouldn't even have to take off your panties.”
Her deep breathing turned into a fast pant, and her fingers gripped the bedspread in tight fists.
In one smooth motion, he stripped off his T-shirt, then leaned over her, completely covering her from behind with his naked chest and keeping their thighs aligned and her hips pinned to the side of the bed with the weight of his body. He pushed her wavy hair away from the side of her face and glided his lips along her jaw and up to the shell of her ear while his hands slid around her waist in search of more bare flesh. His fingers dipped inside the lace cups of her bra and pulled the stretchy material down, freeing her breasts. He filled his palms with the warm plump flesh, heard her quick intake of breath, and smiled in satisfaction. He could feel the wild beating of her heart, and reveled in her eager response.
“In this position, I could fondle your breasts just like this,” he rasped into her ear as his rolled her tight nipples between his fingers and gently pinched them. “And I can touch your clit at the same time while I pump inside you.” He slid a hand between her legs and followed the lace-edged slit of her panties, knowing even before he touched her she'd be hot and wet. He wasn't disappointed, and easily found that hard kernel of flesh already pulsing with need. “It would only take a few strokes inside your tight body to make me come.”
She tossed her head back, pressed her hips harder against his hand and shuddered, on the verge of her own climax. “Oh, God,
yes.
”
“But that's not what I have in mind for tonight.” He straightened and turned her around to face him again, amused by the dazed, confused look in her eyes. Taking advantage of her compliant state, he pushed her back until she was sitting up on the bed and her legs were draped over the edge. Grasping one ankle, he bent her knee and wedged the spiked heel into the wooden ledge of the bed frame supporting the mattress, then did the same to her other shoe, leaving her in a very wanton, erotic position for him to enjoy.
She frowned up at him, appearing miffed at him again. “You can't leave me like this.”
He laughed, low and deep, since there were many ways to interpret her comment. “Like
how
?”
Her breasts, still bared by the bra bunched beneath the firm swells, quivered as she inhaled an indignant breath. “I was on the edge of an orgasm when you stopped.”
The heady, arousing scent of her warm, female flesh slipped through his senses, tempting him greatly. “Then finish what I started. Touch yourself. Do whatever feels good. Come for me while I watch.”
She thought about that for a few seconds, her gaze lowering to the erection still confined beneath the zipper of his jeans. Then a slow, shameless smile spread across her face. “Only if you'll do the same,” she challenged huskily.
Oh, yeah, he liked that bit of boldness and the unexpected dare she'd tossed right back at him. His blood warmed in his veins, pooled low in his belly, and thickened his groin to the point of pain. It was about time he met a woman who was his match not only intellectually, but sexually as well. And it appeared that Jill knew how to use aggression to her own advantage.
He took in her mussed hair, so soft and crushable, and her skin, flushed with desire. The straps of her bra had fallen down both arms, and she'd braced her hands behind her on the bed, causing her full breasts to thrust forward. Her spread legs, the sexy garter belt, and sinful panties drove him crazy. The silk stockings with the lacy band, the fuck-me shoes . . . hell, the entire package was a man's wet dream come to life.
He knew if he watched her touch herself he'd never make it without giving his body the fierce release it craved. And she'd just presented him with the perfect opportunity to take the initial edge off his own lust in order to make tonight last, because this was just the beginning of his personal fantasy.
“You're on, sweetheart.”
She dampened her bottom lip with her tongue. “Take the rest of your clothes off.”
He did as she commanded, toeing off his shoes, pulling off his socks, and shucking his jeans and briefs until he was in the buff and there was no disguising his desire for her. He dug through the front pockets of his pants, tossed a handful of condoms on the nightstand, and discarded the jeans somewhere on the floor with the rest of his clothes.
She looked from the prophylactics and back to him. “Five of them?” she asked incredulously.
He winked at her, and grinned. “Don't ever underestimate how much I want you. What we don't use tonight, I'm sure we'll put to good use later.”
He reclined back on the chaise, one leg outstretched and the other draped over the side of the chairâgiving her just as intimate a view as he had of her. He settled in more comfortably, liking the way the cool, velvety material felt against his skin. Liked, too, the way her wide-eyed gaze was taking in the long, thick length of his erection in rapt fascination.
Resting one hand behind his head, he flattened his other palm on his belly in a pose that was more casual than he felt. “This is your show,” he murmured, wanting her to take the lead. “You start and give me an incentive to follow.”