Didn't want to control.
Like now, when her back arched high, to press her closer to what already pressed so hard against her pelvic bone. And her hands. They raced up and down the solid ridge of muscles above her, all the way to the black hair that was so much nicer now that it had grown long enough for her to tangle her fingers into it.
"Are you all right?” Rick murmured into her ear.
"No,” she told him. How could she possibly be all right? She felt like a rocket about to go off.
"Do you want me to stop?"
"No,” she whispered. Then she felt a hand fumbling between her legs and tugging at her panties. “Yes,” she shrieked. “Stop."
"What's wrong?” Rick propped himself up on one elbow.
"Flowers,” Georgina managed to say, her voice brittle and shaky, the single word barely audible. Her eyes searched his, hoping he would be sensitive enough to pick up her fear without her needing to explain.
Rick shook his head slowly. “You really are serious about that?"
She nodded, pushing at his chest, her hands flattened against the hard muscles.
"All right.” He rolled away from her and reached for the jacket he'd tossed over the armrest. He found his cell phone. Punching a button, he raised the phone to his ear. “Emilio
, mi amigo
,” he said into the phone. “I'm glad you're still up. I need a favor."
He turned around and kept his eyes fixed on Georgina. It made her realize he was speaking English for her benefit.
"Those big flower arrangements you have in the lobby? Would you have any to spare? ... Yeah,
amigo
, right now.” Rick looked as tense as a panther stalking its prey. His eyes roamed Georgina's body, making her breath catch in her throat.
"Nah. Your driver's had a long day. Let him go. I'll sort out something else ...
Gracias, amigo. Buenas noches.
” He flicked his wrist to press the button that ended the call. Still watching her, he dialed another number.
"Kelly, how're you doing? ... Listen, I've got an emergency ... I need something brought over from that fancy place on Coronado Island ... Right ... Is there a patrol unit in the neighborhood? ... Okay. No, don't patch me through. I've got Roy's number on speed dial."
He pressed the button again, and dialed a new call. “Roy, you son of a bitch. They let you out on the streets after that cock-up with the two Japanese tourists? ... Yeah, yeah. You don't really think I'm gonna believe that? ... Screw you, too ... Listen, I need a favor. Kelly tells me you're near Coronado Island. Can you pick up something for me? Go to that big hotel and ask for Emilio Ramirez. He's the head of security there. Then cruise up to my place ... What is it? It's flowers ... I swear, I'm not shitting you. It is a goddamn bunch of flowers ... Of course it's for a woman, you asshole. You think I'm gay? ... Third base, fuck you, buddy. Would I be doing this for any less than a home run?"
Then, for the first time during the three telephone conversations, he took his eyes off Georgina and laughed. “No, buddy. Don't bother with the siren and the lights. Nice and easy will do. Call me on my cell when you're at the gate."
Then he pressed a button, and tossed the phone on the table.
"Flowers are on their way,” he said.
Georgina stared at him as her mind shifted through the conversations. Unless she was mistaken, Rick had just delivered her a message, hidden in the bantering exchanges he had so obviously intended her to hear.
I'm a cop. This is the way we talk. Crude. We see women, you included, as sex objects, and I'm not going to pretend otherwise
.
The only bit unclear to her was why he had suddenly switched to talking about baseball. But that wasn't important right now.
Her heart pounded as Rick kneeled on the floor by the sofa and placed one warm hand on her ankle. “Easy,” he murmured, beginning to stroke her leg. “No need to worry. Nothing will happen unless you want to.” He reached higher and higher with each caress, over her knee, and up along her thigh, until the dress bunched around her hips.
Then he ran his fingertips softly over the fabric of her panties, barely touching. When he reached down between her thighs, she whimpered and pushed up against his hand.
"That's it, darling. Just relax. I'm not going to hurt you.” He bent his head and kissed her lips, softly now, while the pressure of his hand grew.
Georgina felt dizzy. The effect of the champagne had started to wear off, but what was happening to her now was far more intoxicating.
She couldn't tell how it came about, but soon her panties were a rumpled scrap of cotton and lace clutched in Rick's hand. He dropped them on the floor, and resumed the feathery touch along her legs. Then he pushed her dress up past her waist, and bent to press his mouth against the sensitive skin just below her breasts.
"Sweet Georgina,” he whispered, raising his head to look into her eyes. “I'm not going to do anything you don't want me to do. All you have to do is speak up, and I'll stop.” Then he went back to kissing her. His lips dragged up the curve of her breast, until they met the hardened nipple. He closed his teeth around it, biting her softly.
She couldn't hold back a scream, such was the exquisite pleasure.
"Hush,” he murmured. “Did that hurt? Do you want me to stop?"
"No,” she cried out. “Don't stop."
"That's it, sweetheart. Enjoy it. Let yourself go."
He moved to her other breast, and then inched down her belly to the top of her thighs. Georgina could hear herself whimpering. It was constant now, almost like she was a frightened kitten trapped up a tree. It embarrassed her to be emitting that kind of sounds, but she didn't know how to make herself stop.
All of a sudden, the cell phone on the table clattered to life. Rick swore and snatched it up. He looked at the display, then pressed a button to connect the call.
"You at the gate?” he growled into the phone.
Then he slanted a glance at Georgina and smiled. “No, you can't come up and be introduced. I'll come down to the gate."
He tossed the phone on the table and bent down to give her a quick kiss. “Where are your keys? I want to lock the door while I'm gone."
"They are in the big china bowl on the hall table."
"I'll only be a couple of minutes.” He kissed her again and sauntered out of the room.
Rick returned less than five minutes later, carrying an enormous arrangement of flowers in various shades of red, orange and yellow. The bouquet was like a glorious burst of flames.
"They are lovely,” Georgina said. “How on earth did they get them in the car?"
"Beats me. Roy says he put them on the roof and drove slowly. That's bullshit. He used the siren and jumped lights. That's the only way he got here so fast."
"Did he really?” Georgina smiled with pleasure. Her flowers were definitely a special delivery.
"Only the best for you.” Rick dropped a kiss on her forehead. “Where do you want these?"
"Can you put them in the kitchen sink? Put some water in first."
Rick disappeared into the kitchen. This is
IT
, Georgina thought as she listened to the running water. She was racing through her deadlines, knocking past them like a champion hurdler.
A few moments later, Rick reappeared without the flowers. “I think we'll be more comfortable in the bedroom.” He scooped her up in his arms. Her heart drummed as he carried her through the hall and lowered her on the bed. Rick remained fully clothed. All she wore was the dress rolled into a wide belt around her waist.
"Are you all right?” he asked, sitting next to her on the edge of the bed. One of his hands drew lazy circles around her breasts.
Georgina looked up at him, and a sudden instinct told her that he was nervous too. “I'm fine,” she said. She reached up and began to unbutton his shirt. Then, flipping over on the bed and pulling up her legs, she kneeled by him and pushed the undone shirt over his shoulders.
First one side. Then the other. Running her hands over the warm skin. Feeling the solid muscles beneath. When the shirt was completely off, she looked at him in awe. She'd never imagined she would loose her virginity to a man like this. Hair and eyes so dark, body so strong and taut.
Rick closed his eyes and savored the sensation of Georgina's hands roaming over his skin.
Christ. He needed a cold shower. He needed to be inside her. He needed to calm down. Otherwise he would last less than a second.
"It's not going to hurt, is it?” Georgina whispered.
"Sweetheart, I'm not going to hurt you. I promised you that."
"But it's supposed to,” she said.
"What?” he frowned at her, not comprehending.
"You know. The first time."
He leapt up as though she'd thrown a bucket of freezing water over him. “You're a virgin!"
"No need to announce it to the neighbors,” Georgina said in an angry whisper.
"You should have told me,” Rick said hotly. “Jesus.” He raked his hands through his hair, staring at her in horror.
"Pray tell me, how exactly was I supposed to tell you. Oh yes.” She raised her voice into a whine and chanted. “Yes Rick, I'll come out to dinner with you, and, by the way, I'm a virgin, but I'm hoping that you'll take care of that.” She dropped her voice back to normal and scowled at him. “Is that what I was supposed to say?"
"Christ, Georgina.” He kept staring at her, unable to look away. “You could have stopped me before we got this far."
"Why?” she snapped. “Why should have I done that?"
"Because it's too great a responsibility."
"Are you telling me that you're afraid to sleep with me?"
Rick tore his gaze away from her. He picked up his shirt and began to pull it over his arms. “I've never been anybody's first before,” he said. “I'd be terrified of hurting you."
"Why are you putting your shirt on?"
Rick lifted his hands, palms up, as though he wanted to ward off some kind of attack from her. “I think we need some time out."
"This is not a bloody management meeting,” Georgina yelled.
"What?"
"Time out. That's a management term. When someone decides a meeting is heading to a wrong direction and needs to refocus."
"That sounds about right,” Rick said.
"Oh, piss off."
"I'm sorry. I think it's better for both of us if I leave now. I'll call you, all right?"
"Coward,” she yelled after him. There was some kind of thud against the bedroom door after he'd closed it behind him. He assumed it was nothing worse than a pillow.
Jesus. He rolled his shoulders as he bolted through the front door and down the stairs. What a close call. A virgin. Georgina had no idea what that did to a man. Gut-wrenching excitement at being the first to possess her, combined with the overwhelming burden of setting a standard that others could never match.
But what really made him scared was all those things he'd said and done. All those soft touches and soothing words.
Tenderness.
Georgina had no idea that he had just shared with her a piece of himself he had never shared with any other woman before.
Had not been able to, because he hadn't known about tenderness until his child had taught him.
When Georgina awoke the following morning she wasn't sure which part of her hurt the worst: her head, her heart, or her pride. She threw her silk robe over her shoulders and trundled into the kitchen, where her access to the sink was blocked by an enormous bouquet of flowers. She hoisted them out of the water and shoved them into a black garbage bag. She'd go down to the basement and dump them in the trash, leaving them right at the top where Rick was bound to see them.
What was she going to do? If Rick wouldn't sleep with her, she'd never complete her project, and failure wasn't an option for Georgina Coleman.
She stalked to the hall, where she retrieved the flowchart out of her briefcase. She studied it for a few quiet moments.
Perhaps it wasn't such a disaster after all. Five milestones achieved in one night. Georgina ticked them off with her fingers to make sure. And she hadn't even done anything to learn about sex. No need. That had been a surprise. Her body knew what to do, even if her brain didn't.
She folded the flowchart and stored it away with renewed determination.
Seductive behavior.
She'd work on that one, until Rick had no choice but to capitulate.
"What's up? You look frazzled,” Annabel said to Georgina on Monday morning.
"I got drunk on Saturday night. I spent most of yesterday huddled up in bed with a terrible hangover."
"Drunk? You?” Annabel said in disbelief. “What on earth brought that about?"
"I was working on my project. Alcohol seemed to speed things along."
Annabel's eyes grew wide. “That stupid project. How did it go?"
Georgina missed their earlier closeness, and decided to sacrifice her dignity. Perhaps a tale of her Saturday night's disaster would break the ice between them.
"It's going brilliantly.” She held up her hand, fingers splayed. “Five milestones in one night."
"What,” Annabel cried. “Did you..."
"Almost.” Georgina bit her lip. It wasn't easy to disclose her intimate failures. “We would have, but Rick panicked when he found out I was a virgin."
"You're a virgin?” Annabel blurted out.
"But surely you knew?"
"No.” Annabel stared at her. “I mean, I knew you were ... inexperienced. I thought, perhaps you'd been in a bad relationship. But I never realized you..."
"Enough,” Georgina said dryly. “I get the drift. I'm a freak."
Annabel reached out to touch her arm. “That's not what I meant."
"Rick certainly freaked out.” Georgina pulled a face.
"What did he do?"
"He bounced off the bed, threw on his clothes, and bolted out of the door."
"Did he say anything?"
"Yes. He said ‘I'll call you'."
Annabel tittered. “You've got to be kidding."
"No.” Georgina shook her head. “I swear, that's what he said."
"What are you going to do?"
"I'm going to do exactly what I planned to do,” Georgina said firmly. “What this project has been about from day one. I'm going to seduce the bastard, even if it means I have to dance naked in front of him in the streets."