Too Grand for Words (BookStrand Publishing Romance) (16 page)

Her small hand cupped his sac, and her fingers explored him, riding along the length of him. Every move felt more erotic, every lick of her tongue more stimulating than the next. He could barely see through his undiluted passion. She stood for a moment, and let her skirt drop to the floor.

When she ran the tips of her fingers through her own sweet silk then sensually covered his head with it, his body seized with pleasure. The memory of being inside her tore through him.

“I want to taste us together,” she whispered as her tongue lapped at him, and when her lips slid over his shaft again, licking up their sweet mingling silk, it shot him over the edge of the cliff. His body jerked fiercely with the sensation. She sucked on him so hard his shoulders pinned themselves to the back of the couch, his hips arched with a fire that shot through him.

He couldn’t help himself as a groan raced from his throat. He didn’t have an orgasm, he had a seizure as his body erupted in an explosion so violent he thought he would pass out. He convulsed with every soft touch of her lips until his world came into focus. His head was too heavy to lift, and his body felt drained as she gently nursed his receding erection.

“Holy God, woman,” he swore, after his heartbeat began to slow down, and he was sure he still had one. He lifted her to straddle his lap so he could look into her eyes. “You—are in so much trouble.”

“Why?” she cried, trying to escape him. He grasped both her wrists with one hand when she tried to squirm away from him.

Feeling her wetness wiggle against his shaft made his body jolt. “No mercy now,” he growled, drawing her head toward him with his other hand. Pulling her to his chest his hands slipped to her rounded ass. He picked her up and walked straight for the bedroom.

“Think it’s time for you to go home,” she said, as she instinctively wrapped her legs around his hips.

“Not on your life, missy.”

“Nooooo,” she said, laughing at his ridiculous expression.

“Oh yes, I’m gonna make you scream, my little siren,” he taunted, kicking the door to the bedroom closed behind them.

Chapter Nine

They woke to banging at the door.

“Moira, are you there, are you okay?” Mandy and Patti’s voices sang out.

“Uh-oh,” she said.

“Do you want me to hide in the bathroom?” Steven teased, sweeping a curl of hair from her cheek.

“No, that’s quite all right. I’m a consenting adult.”

“Come on in, ladies,” she said, opening the door.

“Holy frig,” Callie said as she scanned the suite. “Jesus, Moira, what happened? And you didn’t even tell us—whoa.” Her words shot out of her mouth tripping on themselves on the way out.

Steven walked out of the bedroom with only his pants sitting low on his hips. His six-pack covering his abdomen drew all the women’s eyes. The two indents of taut muscle from his hips flowed rigid to beneath his low waistband. All four of the girls’ mouths gaped open.

“Ladies, that’s rude,” Moira admonished.

“Hey, Steven,” Mandy said weakly. A huge question grew in her eyes.

“Morning, ladies,” he said with a smile as he walked to the phone to order breakfast. “You girls had breakfast yet?”

“No,” Patti and Sasha said, their eyes stuck to his torso like wet paste on a wool blanket.

All four women grabbed Moira and practically dragged her from the room. They slammed the bedroom door behind them and all four stood gawking at her. Mandy was the first to give her a big hug.

“What’s that for?” Moira asked, peering at her favorite gal. She could always count on Mandy. She was her number-one backup, professional and fun loving. She’d always been a joy to be with and to work with.

“Oh my God—Moira—he is unbelievable. I’m so happy for you,” Sasha gushed as she walked around the enormous bed.

“Well, it’s a bit of a shocker, girls,” she said, sitting on the bed. “And frankly, I’m not sure what this is. If it’s what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas stuff, and I’m sure that’s what it is, I guess I can count myself lucky. Not even the Megabucks jackpot could touch this high.”

“What do you mean?” Patti asked, sitting down beside her on the bed.

“I mean, he’s an extraordinary man, in every way.”

“Whoa,” Callie said, almost breathless. “I can imagine.”

Mandy gave her a sharp glance. “Callie, grow up. What’s wrong, Moira?”

“He’s—well on a scale of one to ten, he’s one of those ten men, and I’m—one of those working types. I feel like an ugly little troll next to him. He’s caviar, and I’m moldy cheese. I don’t really know what to do. I think I should just make an excuse and hang out with you guys.”

“No fuckin’ way,” Patti said. “You’re gonna enjoy every second of this. Why shouldn’t you?” Her head swiveled to inspect the room. “Did he get you this suite?”

“No, that was Vince Laker.”

“You really met Vince Laker? Holy crap. He does run in high circles,” Sasha said, lying back on the bed with her arms outstretched. “I can just imagine what a beautiful night you had. I think I’m jealous.”

“I was just as surprised when I opened the door for the first time.”

“It’s not a room, it’s a mansion,” Callie said, admiring the beautiful decor. “I guess you don’t need a bunkmate.”

“Have you found out what he does for a living yet?” Mandy asked.

She nodded, and then stared out the great window at the beautiful day blooming outside.

“Well, what is it?” Mandy asked.

“He’s a businessman, like he said. He works for a large company, Palm Productions actually.”

“He’s involved in picture making. That’s cool,” Mandy said. “What’s the problem? He likes you. That’s plain to see, we all saw it yesterday. Go with it, Moira, and just let things be for a change. You’re always trying to keep such tight control on everything all the time. Roll with this one. What will be, will be.”

“I’m forty years old. I’m…” She walked to the window to gaze down at the little bodies on the sidewalk far below. “I feel old. I’m not your age. Gravity is starting to have its way with my body, ladies. A man like him needs something extraordinary on his arm, you know. What I’m doing is just ridiculous. There’s no point to it.”

Patti wandered to the window to stand in front of her. “There doesn’t always have to be a point, Moira. There doesn’t always have to be a destination. This time it’s simply a horizon, sail toward it, enjoy it. He obviously likes you. He’s walking around your suite half naked, for Christ’s sake. You’re glowing for the first time ever.” She paused. “It’s about time someone exchanged your ballast water, maybe you won’t be such a bitch at work,” she said, biting down on a laugh.

Then they all laughed hysterically.

Moira threw an arm across Patti’s shoulder and put her head against hers. “Fine, come on, I’ll show you the place.”

* * * *

Moira toured them around the suite and, after being harassed by Callie for the umpteenth time, she promised her she could use her tub for a soak later on.

“And the bar,” Callie added.

“Forget it, squirt,” Moira said, eyeing her. “You drink one bottle and you’re paying for it.”

Steven answered the door, shaking his head.

Her crew had him laughing through most of breakfast. Their conversation quickly ended up back at their work, as it usually did. Moira told them he had been on Franklin Rawlings’s yacht the day it caught fire, and that really piqued their interest.

“Seriously, what’s he like?” Patti asked.

“Pretty much what you would imagine,” he confirmed, taking his last sip of coffee.

“He’s an asshole, isn’t he?” Patti stated.

“You certainly don’t mince words, Patti.” He got up to leave. “Since you ladies are having a day poolside, I guess I’ll get some work done.”

Steven grasped Moira’s hand and pulled her to the door. The women watched intently until he peered over her head and quirked one brow at them. They all swiveled at the same time, giving them a little privacy. Steven pulled her into his arms, and graced her lips with a long, loving kiss.

“Remember me,” he whispered.

Her cheeks flushed with heat. “Remember you? I think I’m going to have your name tattooed on my other cheek.”

An enormous grin broke across his face. “Make sure you spell my name right.” He kissed her once more and said, “I’ll pick you up at six out front.” He cleared his throat. “I don’t think it’s a good idea if I come back up here.”

She pursed her lips, trying to hide a grin.

“Bye, sweetheart.” He kissed her one more time, then the door separated them.

* * * *

He walked toward the elevator feeling like a million bucks, no make that a few billion. As he pushed the button, Vince’s comment came into his mind,
“Think of it as an early gift,”
he’d said. He suddenly understood exactly what he’d meant. The elevator door opened in the lobby, and he let the brunette who’d glued her eyes to him on the ride down, exit first.

He thought about the fact that Moira hadn’t shared who he was with her girls. She could have spilled everything, but she didn’t. He could hear them through the wall. He also heard what Moira said about herself, and it bothered him. She thought she wasn’t his caliber, thought she wasn’t young enough or good enough.

She was beautiful to him, and she’d gone as far as she had wanted to in her career. She was a success in her own right, and she didn’t see the power she held by being a talented writer, always deferring to what she called her real job.

He’d always been driven. It wasn’t easy, but twenty years later, he sat exactly where he wanted. And he knew in his heart there was only one thing missing, and she was having breakfast with her girls upstairs. He felt like he had known her his entire life, not just hours. They had a course and a destination, and it was going to be together.

“Hey, Steven.”

He stopped and turned in his tracks.

“How are the negotiations going with our writer?” Vince asked.

“I told her who I am, and she practically ran away from me. But she took it better than I expected. She’s a true lady.” He ran his hand through his hair.

“So, she hasn’t put things together yet?” Vince asked.

“No, and thanks a lot for the invitation to get me in a shitload of trouble tomorrow night.”

“Hey, you have to be honest with her and let the cards fall, man.”

“How much chance have I got that somebody isn’t going to let it slip.”

“You might get lucky if you can keep her in the pantry all night.”

“Great.”

Vince slapped him on the shoulder. “Don’t worry, I can see the predicament you’re in, but you can talk your way out of anything. She’ll understand.”

“That would mean she would have to trust me, and how is she going to do that when she finds out. Hell, I don’t think I would believe me.”

Vince looked at him with an understanding nod. “She’s the one, isn’t she? You finally met the love of your life and synchronicity has got you by the balls,” he said, laughing. “I’m gonna have fun watching this roll out.”

“Thanks a lot.”

“Hey better you than me, friend. She’s a sweetheart though. I can see that, and a levelheaded woman. I think she’s worth a little challenge.”

* * * *

The girls spent the day slathering on the suntan lotion and floating in the pool. Moira turned on her Kindle, and for a change read someone else’s love story. She liked them. They always had a happy ending, not like her life. Between pressing the next button to flip the page, she watched the beautiful bodies of lanky women sashay around the pool deck. She kept her groans to herself. The thought crossed her mind that these women probably spent all year prepping for their trip to Vegas. They no doubt existed on celery, water, and salsa. Her dietary highlights split themselves between Starbucks coffee and takeout at the local Tim Hortons. Shift work was not kind to anyone.

“More,” Callie said, offering the bottle to her.

“Little girl, you’re so lathered up we’re gonna have to make a pollution report on you the next time you go in that water.”

“More, please,” she said, waving the spray bottle.

“Ucchhhh.” She covered Callie, Patti, and Sasha with a fine sheen of oil.

“So—ah.” Callie sat up expectantly on the edge of her lounger. “Tell me, how good of a lover is he?”

“Ah, Jesus, Callie, can you mind your own business for once!” Patti scolded her.

“Marcus, hey where have you been?” Sasha chided as he covered her eyes with his hands.

“Oh, where haven’t I been? I met this gorgeous woman from Texas last night and whoa mamma.”

“Okay, okay we get the picture,” Mandy said, holding her hand up. “No need for details, grasshopper.”

“I’m telling ya, it was pretty sweet.”

“No details,” they all said at the same time.

“You killjoys, ruin everything. I’m going for a swim. Save that lounger for me.” He pulled his shirt off, tossed it onto the chair and headed for the pool.

“So getting back to our discussion…” Callie raised her eyebrows a couple of times. “Is he what I think he is—a god?”

“Yes, Callie, he is a god,” she admitted.