Essence of Desire (9 page)

He inhaled deeply and knew if he had any sense, any sense at all, he would dispense with this foolishness and leave. For her to pull something this bold and daring meant she was pretty sure of herself…and pretty damn sure of him. And he’d never liked being in that kind of position with a woman where they assumed they knew how he would handle any given situation.

Like this one for instance.

Evidently Roxie assumed him walking in, finding her stark naked and leaning against the vanity in a very relaxed, hot and sexy pose, would make him want to lift her up on the marble countertop and have his way with her.

She was right.

He dropped the second shoe with another thump; let his gaze travel from the heel of that foot all the way up her long legs to the juncture of her thighs. He knew deep down in his gut that at the moment he was powerless to resist her. He was too mesmerized by the beauty of her naked skin, every inch of her enticing flesh. Everything about her was perfect—her small waist, her curves, her stomach, shoulders, every single thing.

He slowly eased up in a standing position to face her and forced his gaze up to her face. So she’d known how he would react, but he wouldn’t give in easily. “Would you like to tell me what this is all about, Roxie?” he asked, trying like hell to hold on to his sanity. Keep his control in check.

“Sure. Like this house I think you, Robert Noble, need a makeover.”

“A makeover?”

“Yes.”

Now he had heard everything. “Why would I need a makeover? Are there certain parts of me you find unsatisfactory?”

She chuckled. “I wouldn’t know since other than your lips I’ve never had the pleasure of sampling anything. The reason I think you need a makeover is because you’re headed to becoming a boring person unless I step in and make changes.”

“A boring person?”

“Yes. You’ve decided you no longer want to be a hot commodity,” she said, looking him up and down. “And I personally think you still have a lot to offer.”

He rubbed his chin as he tried to analyze her, figure out her thought process. Considering how she’d always felt about his and Colt’s womanizing ways, he was surprised she would feel that way. “And my decision to
become boring
, as you put it. Is hurting who, exactly?”

“Any woman out there who wants to enjoy what a man has to offer, but is not looking for, or expecting, happily-ever-after. Some, like me, after giving the marriage thing a whirl, have discovered they can do better by themselves. Less heartache and heartbreak.”

His hand stiffened into a fist at his side and he wished at that moment that he could place that same hand around her ex-husband’s neck for making her feel that way. She had deserved better. “I bet Cinnamon wouldn’t agree with you,” he said in a low and calm voice. “I bet she believes there’s such a thing as forever after.”

She shrugged. “Probably because she’s married to Colt and he has good reason to make sure she does. She’s the best thing to ever happen to him and my brother is no fool.”

“No, but your ex-husband undoubtedly was. If he would have been as smart as Colt, he would have known you were the best thing for him and would have kept you happy.”

She smiled as if his words had touched her deeply. “Thanks, Robert, for saying that.”

Robert felt she didn’t have to thank him because he’d meant every word. Without knowing everything about what had gone on in her marriage, in his heart he truly believed that Roxie had tried being the perfect wife. She had said her ex hadn’t loved her as much as he’d claimed he did. To him that meant she had wasted too much time with a man who didn’t deserve her.

“It’s getting late and I’m tired of talking,” she said, intruding into his thoughts. “Are you going to let me give you a makeover?”

A smile curved his lips. “There’s no way I can’t let you at least try.”

She returned his smile. “Do you doubt my capabilities?”

“Only to the extent that you doubt mine,” he countered.

She lifted an arched brow. “Meaning?”

“A makeover can work both ways. Sounds like you need one just as much as I do.” He pulled loose his necktie and tossed it aside. “So, let’s get this show on the road.”

Roxie frowned, lifting her chin. He was trying to take charge, turn the tables, and she was not going to let him. He was the one who needed the makeover, not her.

She took a couple of steps, crossing the floor to him and placed her hand on his when his fingers went to the buttons on his shirt. “Hands off. I can do this,” she said, and proceeded to take over when he dropped his hands to his side.

What ever cologne he was wearing should be labeled simply as Man since already the scent was getting to her; as well as the fact he was fully aroused. She had noticed the moment he’d seen her naked. Some things a man couldn’t hide and his desire for a woman was at the top of the list.

She slowly eased the buttons free, trying not to rush. She would hate to ruin such a nice designer dress shirt. She knew that he was not a man who would relinquish control easily, and wasn’t surprised when while keeping his hands at his side he leaned down and swiped the side of her face with the tip of his tongue. “Behave,” she scolded.

His husky chuckle sent shivers down her already aroused body. “If you expect me to behave then you don’t know me very well.”

She looked up and met his gaze when she had finished the last button and proceeded to ease the shirt off his shoulders. She did know him very well. And because she knew him she knew exactly what he needed. Today, at this moment, he needed her. But she wasn’t conceited enough not to admit that in her own way, she needed him as well. However, she wouldn’t go so far as to think she was also in need of a complete makeover like him. She liked the way her life was going just fine. Two years without any kind of intimacy was no big deal for her, but going without, for even a month, was probably a big deal for him. For any man. Sex on a regular basis was just part of their nature.

“Now for your socks and shoes,” she said, taking a step back.

He grinned. “No fair. I took off yours.”

“Do as you’re told. I promise to make it worth your while.”

He held her gaze. “And I intend to hold you to that promise.”

Robert sat on the edge of the huge Jacuzzi tub and removed his shoes and socks. He then stood and was at Roxie’s mercy again when her hands went to the waist of his slacks, specifically his zipper.

When she had eased it all the way down, she glanced up at him beneath long lashes and a soft, warm smile on her lips. And at that moment he couldn’t help wondering if she and her ex had ever played any bedroom games like they were doing. If not, what a pity. She seemed to be enjoying herself and he knew that his own enjoyment level was at a tremendous high.

“Nice set of tools, Noble.”

The sound of her voice was sexy. “Glad you think so.” And when she reached her hands past the waistband of his slacks to cup him, he sucked in a deep breath and closed his eyes. Her hands felt good on him. Her fingers were tracing a path up and down the full length of him as if taking stock of his size. And when she fondled his testicles, he almost groaned out loud.

“I’m looking forward to working with these,” he heard her say.

“Glad to hear it,” he murmured deep in his throat.

He reopened his eyes when he felt her tug on his slacks, wanting them off his body. He was happy to oblige and pushed them down his legs and stepped out of them, kicking them aside. Then he was standing in front of her as naked as she was. Not one to waste time, she held out her hands. “This is your makeover, Robert. I want to change your attitude, remind you what you’ve been missing, and how going without just doesn’t cut it for you. It makes you uptight, stoic, boring. I want the old Robert back. I want to be made love to by the old Robert.”

Robert wondered if she knew what she was asking for since she’d never made love with the old Robert before. But he didn’t mind giving her what she thought she wanted and hoped she didn’t have any regrets.

He closed the distance between them and instantly lowered his mouth to hers; kissing her with a hunger that he felt all the way to his bare toes. He felt something else as well. She was pressed against him so tight that he felt the hardness of her nipples pierce his chest, while at the same time his engorged sex was nestling between the warmth of her thighs.

He couldn’t get enough of kissing her and when her hands wrapped around him, held him tight, he was helpless to do anything but lengthen the pleasure. And this was pleasure to the point of madness. The way her tongue was responding to his, interacting in a way that had his groin on fire. He could come just from kissing her.

Not willing to risk that possibility, he broke off the kiss long enough to reach out and cup her breasts in his hands, just moments before taking a budded nipple into his mouth, wrapping around it with his tongue, licking and sucking it like a starved man. Her moan was deep, raw and it elicited deep emotions within him. Emotions he didn’t try to hide. Nor did he want to.

Roxie thought she was going out of her mind. Never had she encountered such sensuous pleasure with a man’s mouth on her. Darrin had been a straight missionary position kind of guy, claiming that was the only way a couple was supposed to make love. Foreplay was done quickly and was over before it even got started. Her one sexual encounter before Darrin hadn’t set off any memorable explosives either and had made her wonder what all the hoopla regarding sex had been about.

Now she knew.

Every man might own a set of tools but not all of them knew how to operate them like this. If Robert could make her feel this way with his mouth on her breasts, she didn’t want to think about how it would be to have him inside of her.

He pulled back and picked up his slacks off the floor. “I got a condom in here somewhere,” he said, going through his pants pocket. He smiled in relief when he pulled out one.

Roxie hadn’t been concerned. If he hadn’t been prepared she was, since she’d known what her plans for him were. She watched, fascinated, as he ripped open the condom pack with his teeth and then rolled the condom onto his thickened body part. She couldn’t help but appreciate the length and size of him.

She opened her mouth to tell him that, but he made a quick move and pulled her to him and captured her mouth again, feasting on her hungrily, more so than before. And then he picked her up and sat her down on the countertop. Widening her legs he slid between them. Cupping her hips, he drew her closer to him and when she was close enough and he was in position, he pushed in, penetrating her, filling her completely and stretching her to the limit.

Being inside of her, flesh to flesh, felt so damn good that he could only take a moment and pause to savor the moment, the feelings, and the emotions that were flowing through him. And he couldn’t stop himself from thinking how right it felt. It struck him at how right it felt. A guttural groaned escaped from Robert’s lips when he felt her inner muscles tighten around him and he threw his head back, feeling pressure reeling inside of him, driving from his mind, any and all thoughts except for those of her and the joining of their bodies.

The curve of her body was perfect for his, a fit like none other, snug, tight, to the hilt. Now to find her erogenous zone. With a skill he had perfected over the years he used the hands cupping her backside to tilt her hips off the countertop, to touch on a spot inside of her that had her moaning out loud.

He smiled.
It was an accurate hit.

And then he began moving, slow at first to make sure each stroke counted and was intensely felt. He stared down at her, could tell from her expression that all kinds of feelings and sensations were pouring through her, the way they were pouring through him, sparking fire throughout every nerve with each thrust.

She grabbed hold of his arms that were planted on both sides of her in an attempt to stay steady while he increased the rhythm, enhanced the pace and deepened the strokes. Time and time again, he would go in all the way, pull out a little, and thrust back in again. Each entry stronger than before. The feel of flesh sliding against flesh, warmth building into heat, and fire building in his limbs, made him shudder deep inside. His muscles within her contracted, while her inner muscles clenched him, refusing to let go, not even an inch.

He stared down at her. Saw the misty glow on her face, the deep darkness in her eyes staring back at him, the lush shape of her mouth and he thought, at that moment, she was insanely beautiful.

He leaned down and kissed her, needing the connection, craving her taste once again. And when his tongue took hold of hers, sucked on it like a starved man, an explosion erupted inside of her. He felt it. He savored it. It consumed him with the same magnitude that it was consuming her, and when her body jerked, was convulsed in spasms, overtaken with pleasure, he held tight, pushed inside her deeper and the same time that she wrapped her legs around him in a grip that couldn’t be denied.

Somehow he was able to sink even deeper and when she moaned his name on a long breathless sigh, he then whispered hers, and together they soared higher and higher. He wasn’t sure if the two of them would ever be able to come back down to earth.