Forever Rain (Rain Will Fall Trilogy #1) (5 page)

“No, we were more, way more than friends. We were lovers. I have not forgotten you, Zoe; I never will.” He lifted my long auburn hair away from my shoulder and placed an open mouth kiss on the exposed area of my skin. His warm lips slowly made their way up my neck. My breath caught in my throat. I bit my bottom lip to hold the moan in that was desperately bubbling to explode from my mouth. I arched my neck to one side giving him better access.

My eyes fluttered shut as I reveled in this moment. With skillful hands rubbing up and down my forearms, I was lost. I wanted his touch. Longed for his kisses again. This raging passion that I’d suppressed for the past 10 years was yearning to be set free. Free to glory in the way my body came alive from his caress and passionate kisses.

“I have a boyfriend,” I blurted out, as if that would make Jordan suddenly disappear from my life again and leave me at peace.

“So I’ve heard.” I turned my head to ask him how he knew about Robert. He must have known that I would question him and quickly filled in the blanks. All the while his mouth continued with soft kisses along my neck and shoulder.

“Look, Zoe, I did not crash your party. I was invited,” his incredible sexy voice purred as he caught my earlobe and sucked gently against my Swarovski crystal chandelier earrings.

“Who invited…David?”

“Yes, David. I had some business with him for the past couple days and he invited me to stay for the party since our last meeting ran later than we thought today.” OK, that was logical, I suppose. Although David knew how I felt about Jordan. I would have to ask him why he would invite someone I never wanted to see again. Like ever!

Liar. My treacherous body was still responding to his menstruation with ardent need that was building inside me like Mount St. Helens before an eruption.

One cognitive thought hit a part of my brain for a few seconds…I was so totally fucked! My eyes flew open at this realization hoping it was not true.

His skillful hands left my arms and traveled down my sides. My gorgeous, flirty dress did little to cover me since it fluttered around my thighs in the night breeze. Taking full advantage of my state of undress, Jordan slid one arm around my waist and his other hand under my dress as he caressed my thigh.

“Happy birthday, lovely Zoe. May all your desires be fulfilled, starting tonight.” He placed his head at the other side of my neck and continued with his lethal kisses that made me all but melt right there at his feet. His assault continued on my other shoulder. He moved both hands right below my breasts but went no further as if waiting for permission to continue.

Of their own volition, my arms slipped around his neck. With my back still facing away from him, the motion pushed my breasts forward. He cupped them both in his hands as their weight settled in his palms.

I trembled at his touch. As if sensing that my defenses were slowly breaking down, he squeezed my nipples through the dress. I couldn’t help it. I moaned and wiggled restlessly in his arms. I wanted more. His hand moved back under my dress as the other held me against him at my waist. He rubbed me at my point of need.

His hand slipped under the flimsy material of my thong. He stopped suddenly with palm open over my aching womanhood.

“Christ, Zoe, you’re killing me, babe. Your beautiful sweetness is bare. I like that.” I was coming undone as he stroked me. My female desire was dripping with juices onto his fingers. He dipped one finger into the slit of my opening and I was lost. Rubbing my body against his, I was unable to understand the unintelligible words coming from my lips.

I was craving his smell, his caress. My body was straining against his. I was lost in a sea of lust. I’ve been here before. With Jordan, only with him. There had been other boyfriends in the past few years, but I found excuses to break off the relationship or they got tired of waiting to get to second base with me.

I refused to let go with anyone else, to give over to the total abandon of this carnal need to be taken. Yes, that’s it. I wanted to be taken by him.

“Jordan, please,” I whispered as my body trashed in his arms. I don’t want him to stop.

“What do you want, my Zoe?” His hands ceased their exploration as he waited for me to respond.

“I…I don’t know…I need…” I was trashing and pleading at him for my release.

“Say it, Zoe. Tell me or I walk away.” Hands with a demanding, masterful touch gripped my waist.

“No!” I bit my lip as I realized I all but shouted at him to leave his hands on my body.

“Say it,” his commanding voice taunted me. We are locked in a battle of wills. I gave in. I didn’t care. My need for him was too great.

“I want to come, Jordy, I want you to make me…” I used the name I used to call him. I heard his sharp intake of breath.

He plunged a long finger into my wet center then slowly pulled back out. Not sure if he would keep his finger there, I placed my hand over his to continue his sweet torture and he did. Adding his thumb to the pleasure, he rubbed it over my clitoris and I was helpless. With reckless abandon I rubbed my ass onto his front and felt his huge erection.

Like palm trees swaying in the breeze, we moved effortlessly against each other and I was coming fast. He added another finger to the deep, sweet torture and increased the tempo. Like a ballerina, I was on my toes gasping and begging for more.

“How long has it been?” he asked. I didn’t pretend to misunderstand his question.

“Since you, Jordy. Only you.” I gasped as he spun me around toward him and leaned me into the fence, his hand never leaving my sweet spot.

“Fuck. I can hardly get two fingers in, Zoe.” He leaned down toward me and I couldn’t wait anymore. I pulled his mouth down to meet mine. We kissed with a reckless passion I did not know existed. He quickly took control of the kiss and pushed his tongue in to conquer mine. His mind-blowing kiss could make any woman forget herself and beg for more, more of his glorious tongue and lips on any part of her body.

With one large hand he cupped my neck and continued with his assault on my mouth while his other hand reclaimed my slick sex. I couldn’t last much longer; it had been too long. His finger glided in and out of me again and again. He lay his forehead against mine.

“That’s it, my Zoe, come for me, babe.” With his words of encouragement, I fell into the sweet abyss that was ours alone. My eyes flew open and met his looking right at me. The soft folds of my sex squeezed frantically on his fingers. The pent-up need and desire for him was so great, I was sobbing and grinding my pussy on his capable hand. I was chanting his name over and over like a mantra not soon to be forgotten.

He placed one hand over my mouth and I couldn’t breathe. The explosion of passion was too great. I bit down with all my might. I needed to scream! To rejoice! My body was dancing with joy and in that moment I was lost. Slowly, I became aware of Jordan holding me against his body.

“Shhh, baby. Je suis revenu pour vous, Zoe. Tu es à moi.” I was not aware of crying, but Jordan was kissing my wet cheeks and murmuring sweet words in a foreign language. I closed my mind from all the thoughts of anger I had built up against him over the past 10 years. For the loss of time and what could have been. I succumbed to the few minutes of pleasure I have dreamt about with him.

“I want more. Please, now.” Frantic with need, I stroked him through his clothing. His desire was evident as I rubbed my hand against his hard erection.

“You need to get back to your party, Zoe, or someone will come looking for you.”

Oh my God. My party! What in all that is holy have I done? I had a boyfriend that has not taken this privilege with me and he was in the tent along with another seventy guests and I was out here doing the unthinkable with…what the fuck!

Ya think? Now you try to reason with this shit. I have been yelling at you. Hussy!
hissed my subconscious voice of reason.

Oh shut the absolute fuck up already!
Was I crazy or did I just use the
F
word with my subconscious? I really needed to pull it together, like now. This man was capable of breaking down my defenses that I had painfully built up during the past 10 years.

Chapter 5

The reality of what happened between us now dawned on me. I needed to leave. Needed to say goodbye to Jordan, again, and get back to my life of normalcy. I’d been dating Robert for the past six months and he was getting serious about us. He mentioned wanting to make a commitment in our relationship and get engaged. Robert was considerate, never imposing himself on me or my time. I was proud of him and his accomplishments as an attorney at a prestigious law firm in Houston.

I pulled at my dress to get it back in some order before returning to the party. Jordan quickly adjusted the back and produced a handkerchief to blot my face and forehead of perspiration then tied it around his left hand.

“Oh God, Jordan, this cannot happen again. I had quite a bit of alcohol tonight and I’m not thinking logically. I…um, this was not in my plans at all.” I was embarrassed at what I’d allowed Jordan to do with me. I blatantly responded to his every advance. Quickly walking across the lawn, Jordan guided me toward the front door of the house.

I pulled my arm out of his grasp, and all but ran up to the door, furious that I made a fool of myself with such behavior when I should have insisted he leave. Jordan came to an abrupt halt, grasped me around my waists and stood in front of me.

“Should we go at it again, Zoe? Or will you blame your response on the alcohol once again?” My pulse accelerated as I glanced up at him. There was a dangerous glint in his eyes and I knew better than to deny what he just said.

“Go inside and freshen up your makeup then go back to the party.” Ever the gracious gentleman, he opened the door and I stepped inside. “Please tell David something came up and I had to leave but will be in touch soon.” My eyes flew up to his. His eyebrows cocked and a wicked smile touched the corner of his lips.

My face suffused with warmth as I blushed all the way to my hairline. I ran across the opulent marble foyer of the magnificent home and made my way upstairs to my room. My racing heartbeat would shatter a cardiogram machine right about now. I heard the front door close.

Quickly I made my way to the bathroom and restored some order to my appearance.

Returning to the party tent was nerve racking. I was calmer now but guilty for my disappearance and lack of self-control with Jordan. Thankfully the party was still in full swing. Everyone was occupied with drinks and…well, almost everyone.

“Hi, birthday girl. So you decided to rejoin in your festivities.” Mia sauntered toward me. Her shoulder length blonde hair was perfectly styled and blue eyes blinked mischievously at me. She pushed a dirty martini in my hand and took a sip of hers.

“So, do tell all the gory details of why the dashing Jordan Dawson showed up at your party and why you did not tell me you had invited him? By the way, you better calm the hell down. You look guilty as sin.” Leave it to Mia to miss absolutely nothing. Locking our elbows together, we walked through the crowd of friends to the back of the tent.

“You can thank me later for covering your lovely ass too. I took your boyfriend on the dance floor and all but forced him to have a couple more drinks. I swear to God, keeping the man engaged in a conversation is a full time job.” Mia, ever the socialite, continued to hug and kiss the people around us with easy banter while she talked and made sure I knew that I owed her, big time.

Not a fan of my boyfriend, she continued on with the many reasons why we were wrong for one another. “Really, Zoe, like he has nothing interesting to contribute to a conversation if it does not have to do with work or law, a courtroom, or his mother. And by the way, how many people understand his legal jargon in a regular conversation? I mean…”

I cut her conversation off about Robert. It never gets us anywhere. “OK…I get it already, but he is good for me and I am so not talking about this right now.” I smiled at my friends that were still partying and tried to put the Jordan incident in the back of my mind. Like way back into the part that is like amnesia.

“…for the advice, Robert.” I caught the last part of David and Robert’s conversation but did not miss the guilty look on David’s face. He avoided my dagger-throwing stare at him and he quickly made his way to my sister’s side to claim her in a dance.

“There you are, lovely.” Robert put a doting hand on my arm. “I had the most enlightening conversations with your friends tonight.” Grateful that he did not say anything of my absence over however long I’d been gone. I leaned into him for a hug.

Try as I may, I couldn’t seem to put Jordan out of my mind. I was scrambling to follow the conversation around me by pasting a smile on my face and nodding my head in agreement. Well, there is no damn way I will see him again. My life was perfect as it is, thank you very much. I’d worked too many long hours, sleep deprived, exhausted from troubleshooting and worrying about keeping my nursing agency afloat…I was just plain worn out, but apart from all that I was doing fine, just fine! The last thing I needed was a disruption like Jordan Dawson in my life.

“Darling, I think I will turn in now.” Aunt Suzette gave me a hug. “It was a great party, dear. As always, Jenna has pulled off another beautiful event.”

“Yes, Suzette, that’s a good idea. It’s almost midnight and this week has been most taxing. Why, I was just telling Zoe about what a dreadful week it has been for mother.”
Oh God! He had? What was wrong with his mother now?
My eyes flew up to Mia’s hoping that she was following the conversation. With a smirk on her face, I see that she had been.

“So sorry to hear about your mom not adapting well to her new medication and routine, Robert.” The look on my face was of pure relief as I listened keenly now to what was going on with Mrs. Royden. “I am sure that Zoe will get a full report from your mother’s nurse next week.” I cleared my throat and mentally kicked myself for allowing Jordan to divert my attention from my almost fiancé.

“I will speak with her nurse on Monday,” I said.