Love's Last Chance (6 page)

Before the situation got worse, Rick raised
his eyebrows, and Dorrie picked up on his signal, taking his hand
and leading him into her bedroom. As soon as the door was shut, he
took her in his arms for a tentative kiss.
He seems unsure of
himself. Not like Rick since the first date or two.
She leaned
into him, relaxing against his firm chest and raised her face to
his.

He captured her mouth with more passion the
second time. The familiarity of his tongue and touch both soothed
Dorrie and excited her. Her breath became ragged as her body
remembered what pleasure lay ahead. He gripped her bottom then slid
his hands up to cup her breasts. Her gasp quickly became a moan as
his fingers squeezed her flesh, seeking her peaks.

“Oh, God, Rick,” she muttered into his
mouth. He backed her slowly toward the bed. When the edge hit the
backs of her knees, they bent, throwing her on her butt. He lost
his balance and tumbled on top of her. They laughed as he quickly
rolled off her, grabbing her and pulling her on top of him. Pushing
up on her hands, she stared down at him.

“I’ve missed you,” he whispered.

Have I missed him? Oh yeah.
Dorrie
shut off her mind and focused on her body. Their positions gave his
hands freedom. He pulled up her skirt and slipped his fingers under
the elastic of her bikinis. They closed over the bare flesh of her
rear end, holding her firmly against him.

She arched her back and pushed all the way
up on her arms. His gaze dropped to the lacing of her bodice.
Raising his head, his teeth were able to tug on the cord holding it
together. He yanked a few times until the bow came undone.

Pressure from her breasts spread the soft
material, allowing them to spring free from the fabric. He bent to
kiss them then flipped her over and went to work on her dress. He
spread the lacing and opened the bodice. When her tempting breasts
were completely bared for his view, he let out a breath.

Her fingers worked the knot of his tie,
loosening it then unbuttoning his shirt. She worked as fast as she
could, but he was way ahead of her. Pushing her straps down trapped
her arms.

“That’s the way I like you. Bare and
helpless,” he chuckled, lowering his head to taste her peak.

Dorrie closed her eyes and gave herself over
to the experience. Rick was an expert lover, and all she had to do
was lie back and enjoy it. Peeking out from slitted lids, she saw
him rip his tie off and toss it on the floor. Soon his shirt and
T-shirt followed. Unable to move her arms up, she bent her head and
ran her lips, then her tongue, along his chest. A smattering of
brown hair tickled her face as she licked him. His groan made her
smile.

“Maybe you need your hands?” He shoved her
bodice down so she could pull her arms through. Her fingertips
repeated the trail her lips had made.
God, he feels good.
Dorrie raised one knee up and rested her foot flat on the bed.

It didn’t take Rick more than a second to
place his hand on her knee and slide it up slowly, tantalizing her.
His fingers curled around her leg muscle and dipped under her
panties to caress her core. She gasped at his touch and moaned into
his chest. Rising up on his knees, he slipped her panties off and
discarded her dress. Then he stood up and dropped his pants and
boxers.

She rose up on her elbow to watch him. He
was fully erect when he shed his clothes, and Dorrie admired him.
He was still a very attractive man with a great body, muscular and
fit, though not muscle-bound. Her gaze traveled every inch as a
smile spread across her face.

“Have I changed much?”

“Still sexy as hell,” she muttered. He
laughed and joined her on the bed.

“You’re beautiful, more beautiful than
ever,” he said, his eyes feasting on her.

“You say the sweetest things. Kiss me.”

He did as she asked, taking her mouth with
boldness and passion. He broke for only a second. “Protected?”

“The pill,” she replied.

He gathered her in his arms, holding her
tight and kissing her. Then, he traveled south to do his magic on
her breasts, while his fingers stroked her core in a gentle, sexy
rhythm. Dorrie was overcome with desire as pressure mounted inside
her. She thrust her hips up to his, asking to be taken.

“Not so fast,” he uttered, then returned to
heating her up beyond endurance. He slipped one finger in her then
another.

“Holy hell, Rick!”

Reaching out, she curled her fingers around
him and squeezed gently.

“If you’re gonna do that,” he began,
removing her hand then getting up on his knees. “I’m going to
substitute this.” He rubbed against her to spread some lubrication
then slipped himself inside.

She gasped as he thrust hard, pushing all
the way in. “Oh my God!”

He slid his hand over her mouth for a
moment. Then, he lowered his lips to hers and pulled out almost all
the way before thrusting in again, hard. Dorrie hooked her leg
around his waist and bucked her hips up. Biting down gently on his
shoulder, she was able to muffle her response enough to keep it
from being heard outside her room.

Rick kept up a steady rhythm until Dorrie
thought she’d lose her mind. Her back arched, and her muscles
clenched, as the tightly wound cord of desire sprang free. Pleasure
rocketed through her veins. She moaned against him and tasted the
saltiness of sweat mixed with the taste of Rick.

Once she climaxed, he increased his pace and
matched her groans, burying his face in her hair to absorb the
sound. He thrust two more times then stopped to enjoy his release.
Lowering himself down on her gently, he kissed her neck.

“Amazing. Awesome, Dorrie.” His warm breath
tickled her, making her smile.
The chemistry is still there.
She clasped her hands together behind his back, hugging him.
I
could do a lot worse than spending my nights like this for the rest
of my life.
She grinned.

When he stretched out, fingers laced behind
his head, she seized the chance and cozied up to him. Resting her
head on his pecs, she sighed.

“I didn’t think that’d ever happen again,”
he admitted.

“Maybe I was a little…hasty, before,” she
said.

They lay on the double bed, sharing a few
moments of silence. Dorrie shut her eyes, assuming Rick would stay
overnight. Before long, he eased her off his chest. She opened to
spy him glancing at his watch. She sat up and cocked her head.

“Early morning meeting.” He tapped his
finger on its face.

She nodded. He dressed quickly as she sat
back with her hands linked behind her head and watched him.
Tricky Ricky or really has a meeting?

“How long will you be here?” he asked as he
folded his tie and put it in his jacket pocket.

“Another two weeks, then one last weekend. I
can finish a little early on Saturday, if you’re—”

“Saturday?” He shook his head. “It’s my
weekend at the Hamptons. Leaving Friday at noon.”

“Oh.”

“The house is full, or I’d invite you.”

“I have to rehearse all weekend, just off at
night.”

“That’s a shame. Maybe one night next
week?”

“Maybe.”

“I’ll call you.” He bent over and kissed
her. Before she could utter a word, he was out of her room and in
the hallway.
Faster than a speeding bullet.
She brushed her
teeth then slipped underneath the sheets and flipped out the light.
The moon taunted her, the silvery light hitting her right in the
eyes. She stared at it.

“So, is he the same? Tricky Ricky?”

Silence greeted her statement.
We’ll see
if he calls. He didn’t sleep with me to get even, did he? Nah. Guys
don’t spend money on dinner to get even. He was into it as much as
I was.
More questions with no answers spoiled her mood. She
closed her eyes and sleep came quickly.

Dorrie awoke with work on her mind. She left
early to take her time walking to the studio, giving her ankle some
gentle exercise. Fortunately, the night’s rest had refreshed her
tendons, and she was ready to dance.

At three o’clock, a knock on the studio door
interrupted the dancing. A man delivered a vase of red roses to
Dorrie. She read the card.

Thanks for a great night.

Love, Rick

Dorrie smiled and endured prying and teasing
from the dancers.

Chaz gave her a knowing look. “From Mr. One
or Mr. Two?”

“Two.”

He wiggled his eyebrows. “Seems someone
scored last night…and I don’t mean on the baseball diamond.”

“Chaz!” Dorrie laughed and cringed at the
same time.

It wasn’t just sex for him.
She
breathed a sigh of relief then refocused on the rehearsal, turning
on the music.

“The hip-hop number. Let’s go,” she hollered
and clapped her hands. The young men and women rose slowly from the
floor and took their places. “Chop, chop! Come on.” Dorrie took her
place in front and put them, including Chaz Duncan, through their
paces.

Vigorous rehearsals continued, stopping
later and later each night. Eating, sleeping and driving the
dancers through routine after routine was Dorrie’s life. At ten
o’clock on Wednesday night, Dorrie was icing her ankle in the
kitchen at the Cunningham’s when Drake wandered in.

“You’re working too hard, Dorrie.”

“I have to make this perfect. We’re shooting
in ten days.”

“You’re going to kill your ankle.”

“This is helping. It has to last.”

“At least until the reunion weekend on Fire
Island?”

“Crap! That’s this weekend, right?”

He nodded.

“Damn.”

“Your dancers will be happy to have two days
off.”

“Two and a half days off. We’re leaving
Friday, right?”

“Yeah. And you’re going out tomorrow night,
right?”

“God, I almost forgot! I’m meeting Archer at
the Philharmonic. I hope I can stay awake.”

“Don’t you think you’re biting off a bit
more than you can chew?”

“I’m squeezing a lot into a short time,
that’s all.”

“Why don’t you cut these guys loose?”

“Oh? And just focus on Johnny Flanagan?”

“Well, sort of…or be open in case someone
new comes along.”

“Someone new? Tell him to take a number.”
She laughed. “I have all the men I can deal with in my life right
now.” She pushed to her feet and dumped the remaining ice in the
sink.

“Thanks for worrying about me, Drake.” She
kissed the top of his head before heading for her room.

Lying in bed, she tried to focus on Archer,
but Rick nagged at her.
He hasn’t called. Said he would three
days ago. Sent flowers then nothing.
Tossing and turning,
unable to get comfortable, Dorrie fell into a fitful rest until
morning.

She awoke late, after a restless night,
feeling cranky. Rushing around to get ready didn’t improve her
mood. Three of the dancers were not on time. Stressed from lack of
sleep, she yelled at them.

The rehearsal didn’t go well. Lifts weren’t
high enough, one dancer stubbed his toe, and concentration was at
an all-time low. Dorrie couldn’t wait for the day to end, so she
could drag herself back to her bed and a deep sleep. Then she
remembered her date with Archer.
Damn!

Although her body was tired, her mind was
intrigued.
Spending more time with Arch can only be good.
Happy anticipation filled her.
He’s so sweet and stuck on me.
He’s just what I need tonight.
The long rehearsal meant she’d
have no time to return to the apartment and would have to dress at
the studio. She had been prepared for that possibility and packed a
few things in her dance bag.

She showered and slipped on a peach
sundress.
An evening at the symphony might be as restful as
sleep.
She smiled at the thought of being with Archer.
He’s
perfect for my bad mood. He’s kind. Takes good care of me.

Her spirits rose when she walked through the
door at Lincoln Center and was greeted by a warm hug and an arm
around her waist. He had spared no expense and purchased terrific
seats close but not too close.

She hoped her outlook would improve and that
she could turn her attention to something other than the movie. But
it was not to be. Dorrie fidgeted through the concert, worried
about taking the weekend off.
Going for three days with no
practice.
Will we pay for it next week, or do the dancers
need a break? Next week will be the last week of rehearsal, then a
week of shooting. I hope Gunther isn’t the supervising
producer.

When the music was over, Archer took her
hand.

“Would you like to go to a coffee shop for a
quick bite then off to bed?” He steered her south.

“To bed?” She sensed the heat in her cheeks
as a small smile played at her lips.

“I mean, you, to your bed…alone. Oh dear.”
His fair skin turned red almost immediately.

Dorrie laughed. “I’m yanking your chain,
Arch. I know what you meant.”

“Heavens! Must you do that? Give me a heart
attack.” He rested his palm on his chest.

“I’d prefer to grab something quick to eat.
I have a lot on my mind.”
Tomorrow I meet Johnny Flanagan again.
Trapped on Fire Island for the weekend with him. And he might not
even talk to me.
She sighed. “Sorry I’m so preoccupied.”

“Of course, my dear. I know the perfect
place. Bernie’s Burgers
.”

“Is there such a place?”

“Would I lie? About three more blocks
south.”

“Let’s go.” She squeezed his hand and moved
closer to him as they strolled west and south, toward Ninth Avenue.
Bernie’s was buzzing, but there was a booth opening up in the back.
Archer escorted Dorrie to the table and slid in opposite her.

Her stomach was jumping around, so she
ordered eggs. Archer had a steak sandwich.