Scarlet Fever - Hill Country 2 (15 page)

After the fabric store, he led her down the center of the mall looking for a shoe store.
 

“I can make do.
 
I have ballet slippers.”

“No, we’re going to get some pink shoes, or whatever Cecile is wearing.”
 
His stride was twice as long as hers.

“Silver.
 
Slow down, Alex” She was doing her best to keep up.
 
He stopped, abruptly.
 
“Are you tired?”

“No, your legs are long.
 
I can’t keep up.”
 
It bothered him that she was breathing hard.
 
He slowed down, chastened.
 
He would need to be more careful with her.
 

They found a beautiful pair of silver pumps which cost three times more than they should have.
 
It didn’t matter to Alex.
 
“I feel like a kept woman,” she mumbled.

“Good.
 
Because I plan on keeping you.”

************************

 
Seed pearls.
 
Seed pearls.
 
Seed pearls.
 
Finally, she finished the bridal gown.
 
Cecile’s dress was next.
 
It wasn’t hard to finish.
 
A nip here a tuck there.
 
Her dress was a different matter.
 
She worked on it for two hours.
 
Alex had been forced to spend the afternoon in the field, straightening out one mess after another that Rick LeBeau had made.
 
If he weren’t so preoccupied with Scarlet, he would call LeBeau in for a pointed discussion.
 
When he found his Scarlet, she was curled up on the floor, asleep.
 
He picked her up and laid her on the bed, throwing an afghan over her.
 

“Alex,” Ethan appeared out of nowhere.

“What?”
 
Alex whispered.

“You’ve got company.”
 
Ethan raised his eyebrows as if he were trying to convey panic.

Who in the world?
 
With one more look at his Scarlet, he followed his brother out the door.

Sandy.

He had forgotten all about his off-hand invitation.
 
She was there and she was dressed to kill.
 
Everyone else was standing, watching, and waiting to see what he would do.
 
None of them had really talked about his relationship with Scarlet, but he knew that Annalise was somewhat aware.
 
  
“Hey big boy.”
 
Sandy sauntered up to him and plastered herself to his front.
 
“I’m here.
 
Did you miss me?”
 
She wasn’t shy at all; she wrapped her arms around his neck and was just about to lay one on him, when Alex looked up.
 
Scarlet stood in the doorway.
 
Her eyes were big and wide.
 
It was the same look that she had given him after he had been so cruel to her the first day they met.
 
He froze.
 
She stood there, just a moment, before she turned and walked away.

************************

A few moments later, he found her.
 
She was on the bed, her back to him, very still.
 
Alex crawled in the bed with her, molding himself to her back, completely enclosing her in his arms.
 
To Alex‘s relief, she didn’t pull away.
 
“She’s gone, love.
 
I had forgotten that she was coming.
 
The arrangements were made before you came, sweetheart.”

Scarlet interrupted him, turning in his arms, facing him.
 
“It’s OK.
 
You need to date.
 
You can’t let me stand in your way.
 
What we have is only temporary.
 
In a little over a week, I’ll be gone…”

This time Alex interrupted her.
 
“I don’t want Sandy Moffett.
 
I want you,” He slid down her body, finding her braless breast through her shirt.
 
Taking it in his mouth, he began to suckle, softly.
 
In just a few seconds, he had her squirming with delight.
 
Before she knew it, he had her out of her clothes, flat of her back and he was making himself happy between her legs.

“Alex, I’ve never. . .”
 
Her breathing was erratic, her ability to lay still – gone.
 
He kissed her from knee to thigh, up one side and down the other.
 

“Lord, you are sweet.
 
I can’t wait to taste you.”
 
Scarlet grabbed the bottom sheet with both hands, clutching it in a death grip.
 
His mouth and tongue began doing magical things to her private, pulsating core.
 
He kissed her inner and outer lips, soft kisses that bespoke both desire and devotion.
 
He licked the center of her cleft, making her hips levitate off the bed.
 
Settling on her clitoris, he swirled it with his tongue, lifting the tiny hood.
 
Scarlet’s head flung from side to side, cooing noises slipping from her throat.
 
When he put his lips around the little button and sucked, she thought she’d lose her mind.
 
And when he pushed his tongue deep within her passage; in and out, in and out, he pushed her completely over the edge.
 
As she screamed, he quickly rose up and with a laugh, covered her mouth with his own.
 
Trying in vain to quell her passionate cries before his family heard them.

“Baby, baby.”
 
He crooned.
 
“You liked that, didn’t you?”
 

“Make love to me, Alex.
 
I need you,” she held him close.
 

“Do you want to be on top?” he longed to give her every experience that he possibly could.

“I just want you, it doesn’t matter about the position,” Scarlet held her arms out to him, and he arranged her astraddle of his lap, facing him.
        

“Now lift up,” she held up her hips and he slid into the luscious, slick heart of her.
 
Again, his breath was stolen in shock at how good it felt to be inside of her.
 
It was like coming home after being away for a lifetime.
 
Her sweet breasts were right there for the taking.
 
He took such delight in her; mouth on her nipples, hands at her hips, helping her set a rhythm that would drive them both mad.
 
She held on to his neck, locking her gaze with his, memorizing every feature, stockpiling memories that would get her through the hard days that lay ahead.

When the pleasure became more than they could bear, they gave in to the blinding, pulsing burst of ecstasy.
 
Unwilling to end the moment, he picked her up and placed her on the pillow, then covered her with the soft sheet.
 
“When I came home, you were asleep on the floor, exhausted.
 
You’re trying to do too much.”

She didn’t quibble.
 
Instead, she laid her head on his shoulder and spoke from the heart.
 
“I’m going to miss you so much.”

Now was not the time to tell her of his plans, so he just let her talk.
 
“What are you talking about, babe?”

“I’m going to miss your voice; when you speak low and soft, just to me, telling me things only we can share.
 
I’ll miss your warmth; how solid and strong you are, and how safe I feel holding on to you as if nothing could ever harm me.”
 
He shut his eyes, fingers moving gently through her hair.
 
“And I’ll miss your eyes, how they’re full of laugher and how hooded and passionate they get as you sink deep inside of me.
 
But mostly, I’ll miss you.
 
Alex, I didn’t know there was anybody like you in the world.
 
I thank God that you came into my life.”

He listened.
 
And it took every ounce of restraint that he possessed to not tell her he didn’t intend to be apart from her long enough for her to miss him.

♥ ~
Chapter V
~ ♥

Seven days before the wedding . . . . . .
 

“Can I help you with those?”
 
Bobby had driven up at the same time the gorgeous agent was unloading her car.

“Sure, thanks.”
  
She didn’t quite meet his gaze.
 
That wasn’t right.
 
There was no way she could possibly be shy.
 
Could she?
 
He took the bag of groceries from her arms and another one from the seat of the car.
 

“I thought that if Scarlet could cook, at least I could go get the supplies.
 
So, you’re a senior at UT?”
 
He was so tall.
 
And built.
 
He made her feel small.
 
And nervous.
 

“Yeah, I graduate in May.”
 
His smile was the cutest thing that she’d ever seen.

“Are you planning on a career in football?”
 
It wouldn’t surprise her, he certainly had enough talent.
 

“Who knows?
 
I don’t know if I have the talent or the drive.
 
We’ll have to see what happens.
 
If it doesn’t come to pass, I have other things I can do.
 
I’m talented.”
 

He smiled a wicked smile at her.

“I bet you are.”
 
Cecile could feel the heat rising in her face. She was blushing.
 
God, she was cute when she blushed.
 
He wondered if she would go out with him.
 
They were going to be paired up at the wedding, might as well start now.
 

“What other things can you do?”
 
He let her walk up the steps of the B&B ahead of him, just so he could look at the shapely derriere.
 
Whoops!
 
She glanced back at him and caught him looking.
 
Her face flamed with color.
 

He didn’t apologize.
 
Then he laughed.
 
“My repertoire is vast.”
 
When she gave him an exasperated look, he got serious.
 
“I’ve got a job offer in Dallas at Raley and Sheridan.”

“The engineering firm?”
 
She was impressed.
 
Doubly.
 
She lived in Dallas.

“Yeah.”
 
He held the door for her.
 
She smelled like heaven.
 
“Cecile, would you drive in to Austin with me for a steak?”

The look of surprise on her face said it all.
 
“You want to go out to dinner with me?
 
Why?
 
Don’t you know how old I am?”

“No, not exactly.
 
But whatever age you are, it’s the perfect age, because it sure looks good on you.”
 
They stood and faced one another.
 
“So, is that a yes?”

She couldn’t help it.
 
She smiled.
 
“It’s a yes.”

************************

“Did you know that Alex’s birthday is the day after tomorrow?”
 
Annalise whispered.

“He hasn’t mentioned it.’
 
Scarlet thought as she spoke.
 
His birthday!
 
How perfect!
 
She would get to spend his birthday with him.
 
Her mind whirled.
 
She wanted to give him the world, but since that wasn’t possible, she would give him the next best thing.
 
The sword.