In Too Deep (4 page)

A
s Matthew began opening drawers to collect his clothes, he had to keep reminding himself there was a reason he hadn't yet tossed his ex-wife out on her rear end.

When she hadn't opened the bedroom door, he'd figured she had fallen asleep on the balcony. He thought he could be in and out without waking her. But when he'd heard her moan his name, not just once but several times, nothing could have stopped him from going on that balcony.

He had found her stretched on the chaise with her eyes closed, wearing a hot, enticing outfit that barely covered her. Seeing her resting peacefully had tugged at his heart, while her clothing and her words had tugged on another part of his anatomy. He'd stood there, thinking about all the things he'd love to do to her while getting harder as the seconds ticked by.

And he had been tempted to kiss her, to make love to her mouth in a way that would not only leave her breathless but
tottering on the brink of a climax. When she had awakened and looked into his eyes, he had seen a need as keen as any he'd ever known from her. And then she had ruined the moment by reminding him that they were no longer husband and wife, and wouldn't be sharing the same bedroom or bed.

But not for long.

He was looking forward to reminding her just what she'd been missing this past year. And the way he saw it, she was definitely missing something if she was moaning his name in her sleep.

As he pulled the briefs and socks out the drawer and tossed them into the bag on the bed, he glanced to the balcony where Carmen now stood with her back to him, leaning against the rail and gazing out at the ocean again. At that moment, intense emotion touched him and nearly swelled his heart while at the same time slicing it in two.

He had loved her and he had lost her. The latter should not have happened. She should have stuck by him and kept the vows they'd made to each other. But when the going got tough, she got going.

He pushed the drawer closed, deciding to put his plan into action. She had pushed a few of his buttons—now it was time for him to push a couple of hers.

 

Carmen felt Matthew's presence before he'd even made a sound. She felt a unique stimulation of her senses whenever he was near. She had felt it earlier today when he'd entered the tent at the polo match. She'd known he was there. Just like she knew he was here now.

Biting her bottom lip, her fingers gripped tight on the rail as her breathing quickened, her pulse escalated and heat flowed through her. He didn't say anything. She
couldn't stand another second of silence and slowly turned around.

The sun had gone down and dusk had settled in. Behind him she saw the light from the lamp shining in the bedroom but her focus was on him. She studied him, not caring that it was obvious she was doing so. His eyes darkened and she felt his desire. And as she stood there, she couldn't help but relive all the times he had held her in his arms and made love to her.

He had been the most giving of lovers, making sure she enjoyed every sexual moment they'd shared to the fullest. Her body was tingling inside, remembering how it felt to have his mouth to her breasts, or how his lips could trail kisses all over her body, heating her passion to the highest degree. It had been her plan to get him to the boiling point, but she was ashamed to admit he had her there already.

She pulled in a deep breath. “Are you done?”

“Not quite.”

And then he slowly crossed the distance separating them. “I came to say good-night.”

The husky sound of his deep voice sent sensuous shudders running all through her. Total awareness of him slid down her spine. She forced her gaze away from his to look out at the ocean to say something, anything to keep her mind off having her way with him.

“I love it here, Matthew. Thanks for agreeing to let me stay.” She glanced back at him and saw he'd come to stand directly beside her. “You didn't have to, considering the terms of our divorce,” she decided to add.

He stared at her for a moment and then said, “It was the right thing to do. At the very least, we can be friends. I don't want to be your enemy, Carmen.”

His words nearly melted her, but she had to remember that she wanted him to regret the day he began taking her
for granted, to realize that when she'd needed him the most, he hadn't been there for her. She had been alone while grieving their loss.

“What are you thinking about, Carmen?”

She glanced up at him. “Nothing.”

“Maybe I should give you something to think about,” he said softly, in a deep, rich voice. And then he wrapped his arms around her waist and lowered his mouth to hers.

She saw it coming and should have done a number of things to resist, but it would have been a waste of time and effort. Every part of her turned to mush the moment his lips touched hers. When his tongue began mingling with hers, she moaned deep in her throat.

Carmen hadn't known how much she'd missed this until now. She had tried burying herself in her work so she wouldn't think about the loneliness, the lost passion, the feel of being in the arms of the one man who could evoke sensations in her that kept her wet for days.

I miss being with the one man who can make me feel like a woman.

He deepened the kiss and she felt the rush of sexual charge. And when he lowered his arms from her waist to cup her backside, bringing her closer to him, she felt the hardness of his huge erection pressing into her. On its own accord, her body eased in for a closer connection.

Their mouths continued to mate in the only way they knew how, a way they were used to. But regardless of the number of kisses they had shared in the past, she was totally unprepared for this one. She hadn't expected the degree of desire or the depth of longing it evoked, not only within her but within him, as well. She could feel it in the way his tongue dominated her mouth as if trying to reclaim what it once had, and was entitled to. He was not
only taking what she was giving but going beyond and seizing everything else he could.

Then he began slowly grinding his body against her. She felt the hot throb of his erection between her legs as if the fabric of their clothing wasn't a barrier between them. His body rubbing against hers electrified her senses in a way that felt illegal. And how he fit so perfectly between her legs reminded her of just how things had been with them, whether they were standing up or lying down, in a bed or stretched out on top of a table. They'd always made love with an intensity that left them with tremors of pleasure that wouldn't subside for hours.

Everything around her began to swirl wildly, and as his large hands continued to palm the cheeks of her backside, pressing her even closer to him, an ache took over in the pit of her stomach and began spreading through every part of her.

He slowly released her mouth but didn't stop the movement of his body as he brushed kisses across her cheekbones and chin. She pulled in a deep breath and then released a whimpered sound of pleasure from deep in her throat as he licked a path from one corner of her mouth to the other.

Blood rushed through her veins and it took everything within her to keep from begging for more. But nothing could stop the waves of pleasure and the tremors that began to shake her. She closed her eyes and reveled in the sensations rushing through her, bit by glorious bit. And when he began nibbling on her lips and then proceeded to suck those lips into his mouth, she was literally thrown over the edge. She pulled her mouth from his and cried out as intense pleasure shook her to the very core while he continued to grind his body against hers with a rhythm that had her rocking in sensuous satisfaction.

“That's it, sweetheart, let go,” he murmured against her moist lips. “You are totally beautiful when you come for me. So totally beautiful. I miss seeing that.”

And she missed feeling it, she thought, as the orgasm that had ripped into her slowly began receding and returning her to earth after a shuddering release. And when she felt the heat of his tongue lap the perspiration from her brow, she slowly opened her eyes. “Matthew.”

His name was a breathless whisper from her lips. As if he understood, he leaned down and kissed her, tenderly but still with a hunger she could feel as well as a taste she could absorb.

He slowly pulled his mouth away and with a sated mind, she met his eyes. The gaze staring back at her was just as intense and desirous as earlier, making it obvious that although she'd easily managed a climax fully clothed, he'd maintained more control over his aroused state.

“Matthew, let me—”

He placed a finger to her lips to halt whatever she'd been about to say. “Good night, Carmen. Sweet dreams.”

She watched him leave, thinking that thanks to him, her dreams tonight would be the sweetest she'd had in a long time. She had to admit that this was not how she had planned for things to go with Matthew. He had deliberately tapped into one of her weak spots, which was something she hadn't wanted to happen. Was he gloating that he'd gotten the upper hand?

Carmen drew in a deep breath as her body hummed with a satisfied sensation. A flush heated her cheeks when she remembered how he had kissed her into an orgasm; she was feeling completely sated. The chemistry between them was just as it had always been, explosive.

She leaned back against the rail and knew, even though
the sexual release had been just what she needed, she had to regroup her priorities and continue with her plans. Everyone was entitled to get off the track at least once, but the important thing was to get back on. And she was confident that after a good night's sleep, she would be back in control of her senses once again.

P
ulling off his shirt, Matthew headed for the bathroom, needing a shower. A cold one. Just the thought that he had brought Carmen pleasure had nearly pushed him over the edge. While kissing her, he had been overtaken with a raw and urgent hunger. The sensation had been relentless, unyielding, and for him, nearly unbearable.

As soon as his lips had touched hers, the familiarity of being inside her mouth had driven him to deepen the kiss with a frenzy that had astounded him. And each time she had moaned his name, something deep inside him had stirred, threatening to make him lose all control.

It didn't take long after she'd bailed out of their marriage to realize that she was the only woman for him. Any time he held her in his arms, kissed her, made love to her, he'd felt like a man on top of the world, a man who could achieve and succeed in just about anything. He had worked so damn
hard to make her happy and in the end all of his hard work had only made her sad.

He stripped off his clothes, filled with a frustration he was becoming accustomed to and a need he was fighting to ignore. He stepped in the shower and the moment the cold water hit, shocking his body, he knew he was getting what he deserved for letting a golden opportunity go by. But no matter the torment his body was going through, he was determined to stick to his plan, and at the moment he was right on target.

His goal was to build up a need within her, force her to remember how things were between them, and how easily they could stroke each other into one hell of a feverish pitch. And then when she couldn't handle any more, when she was ready to take things to another level, instead of sweeping her off her feet and taking her to the nearest bed like she would expect, he would show her the door.

He stepped out of the shower and was toweling himself dry when he heard his cell phone ring. Wrapping the towel around his middle, he made his way over to the nightstand to pick it up. Caller ID indicated it was his manager, Ryan Manning. “Yes, Ryan?”

“It would have been nice if you'd given me a heads-up that you and Carmen were back together.”

Matthew frowned. “We're not back together.”

“Then how do you explain the photograph the
Wagging Tongue
plans to run of the two of you kissing? Luckily I have a contact over there who thought I'd be interested in seeing it before it went to press. They plan to make it front page news that the two of you have reconciled your differences and are remarrying. The papers hit the stands tomorrow.”

Matthew rolled his eyes. The
Wagging Tongue
was one
of the worst tabloids around. “Carmen and I are divorced, nothing has changed.”

“Then what was that kiss about?”

“It was just a kiss, Ryan, no big deal. People can read into it whatever they want.”

“And what about Candy?”

“What about her?”

“What will she think?”

Matthew drew in a deep breath and said, “Candy and I don't have that kind of relationship, you know that.”

“But the public doesn't know that, and this article will make her look like a jilted lover.”

He had no desire to discuss Candy or their nonexistent bedroom activities. Ryan knew the real deal. Candy was trying to build a certain image in Hollywood, and Matthew had agreed to be Candy's escort to several social functions, but only because he had gotten sick and tired of hanging around the house moping when he wasn't working. Ryan and Candy's agent felt it would be good PR. He'd known the media would make more out of it than there was, but at the time he hadn't given a damn.

“And where is Carmen now?” Ryan asked.

“In bed.” He smiled, imagining the erroneous vision going through his manager's mind.

“Dammit, Matthew, I hope you know what you're doing. Her leaving almost destroyed you.”

A painful silence surrounded him. No one had to remind him of what he'd gone through. “Look, Ryan, I know you mean well, but this is between me and Carmen.”

“And what am I supposed to tell the media when they can't contact you and then call me?”

“Tell them there's no comment. Good night, Ryan.”

Matthew breathed a sigh of relief as he ended the call. Ryan could be a pain in the ass at times, especially when
it came to the images of his clients. But then he could definitely understand the man's concerns. His separation and subsequent divorce from Carmen had left him in a bad way for a while. But that was then and this was now. He could handle things. He could handle her. Pride and the need for self-preservation would keep him from falling under her spell ever again. He felt good knowing that although he'd given her some sexual release, she would still go to bed tonight needing even more. There was no doubt in his mind she would be aching for his touch.

He smiled. This sort of revenge was pretty damn sweet.

 

The next morning Carmen was easing out of bed when her cell phone rang. She reached over and picked it up. The sunlight pouring through the window was promising a beautiful day. “Hello?”

“Girl, I am so happy for you. When I saw that article and picture, I almost cried.”

Carmen recognized the voice of her good friend Rachel Wellesley. Rachel was a makeup artist she'd met on the set of her first movie. The close friendship she and Rachel had developed still existed to this day.

She knew what Rachel was referring to and decided to stop the conversation before her friend went any further. Carmen was well aware that Rachel probably said a special prayer each night before she went to bed that Carmen and Matthew would reunite. Rachel liked taking credit for playing matchmaker and initially getting them together.

“Chill, Rachel, and hold back the tears. No matter what you've heard, seen or read, Matthew and I aren't getting back together.”

There was silence on the other end of the line.

“But what about the kiss that's plastered all over the front page of the
Wagging Tongue
this morning?” Rachel asked, sounding disappointed. “And don't you dare try to convince me it's a photo that's been doctored.”

Carmen didn't say anything as she remembered the kiss and the effect it had on her. “No, it's not a photo that's been doctored, although a part of me wishes that it were. It started when I ran into Ardella Rowe at the polo match yesterday and she mentioned something about Matthew and me being enemies. I firmly denied it and went further, painting a picture of the two of us as friends, regardless of what the tabloids were saying. Well, before I could get the words out of my mouth, Matthew walked into the tent and all eyes were on us. To save face, I greeted him with a kiss on the cheek. Of course he decided to take advantage of the situation by turning a casual kiss into something more.”

“From the photo, it looked pretty damn hot, if you ask me.”

It was. But it was nothing compared to the one they'd shared last night on the balcony. She felt heat rise to her face as she imagined what he'd thought of the fact that she'd climaxed from his kiss.

“You should talk to him, Carmen, and tell him the truth. You know what I think about you not telling him about losing the baby.”

Carmen pulled in a deep breath. Rachel was one of the few people who knew about what had happened that night. When she'd found out about her pregnancy, she'd been so excited she had wanted to share it with someone. Rachel had actually been the one who'd come up with the idea of making a surprise video telling Matthew of her pregnancy.

While curling up in his arms on the sofa in the villa, she
had planned to suggest that they watch a few video pitches for possible projects that directors had sent her. Instead, unbeknownst to him, she would play the video of her first ultrasound, even though the baby was just a tiny speck in a sea of black.

But things hadn't worked out that way.

“Yes, I know how you feel and you know how I feel, as well. Matthew should have been there with me.” He'd always had legitimate excuses why he was late arriving someplace or not able to show up at all because of some last-minute emergency on the set. But for once he should have placed her above everything else, and he hadn't.

Knowing that Rachel would try to make her see Matthew's side of things, reminding her that he had no idea what was going on, she quickly said, “Look, Rachel, let me call you back later. I'm just getting up.”

“Sure. And where's Matthew?”

“I have no idea. We spent the night under the same roof but in different bedrooms, of course. Knowing him, he's probably gone by now. He has this new project here in New York, so I'm sure he's left already to go into the city.”

“The two of you will be living there together all summer?” Rachel asked.

Carmen could hear the excitement in Rachel's voice. She knew it would be a waste of time telling her not to get her hopes up because it wasn't that kind of party. The guest room Matthew was using was on the other side of the house, and considering his schedule, their paths would probably only cross once or twice while they were there.

“Yes, for the most part, but this house is so big I doubt I'll even see him.”

After ending her conversation with Rachel, Carmen got up and went into the bathroom. She planned to go
swimming in the pool and then head down to the beach after breakfast.

Even though things had started off pretty rocky between her and Matthew yesterday, thanks to him she'd slept like a baby last night. An orgasm brought on by Matthew Birmingham never failed her. Whenever she'd had a tension-filled day on the set, he would make love to her to calm her frazzled nerves.

But upon waking her greedy body wanted more. It was as if she'd suddenly developed an addiction to Matthew's touch, a touch she had managed to do without for more than a year but was craving like crazy now.

An intense yearning and longing was rolling around in the pit of her stomach and although she was trying to ignore it, doing such a thing wasn't working. Now that her body recognized the familiarity of his touch, it seemed to have a mind of its own.

She frowned while stripping off her nightgown. She wondered if Matt had deliberately set her up for this—she wouldn't be surprised to discover that he had. He of all people knew how her body could react to him. So, okay, she would admit that he had bested her this round, but she was determined not to lower her guard with him again.