His Unbearable Desire 1 (4 page)

“What are you doing with him?” she said.

“I was just talking and being friendly. He’s a Huntington you know.”

“Yes I am well aware of who he is,” Rose said coldly, “he’s in the news every week with a different bimbo on his arm. You know what my policies are with regards to fraternizing with the guests. You’re here to do a job and I expect you to do that. He and his kind come to these weddings looking for a free pass, and I do not want you to end up as just his passing fancy for the weekend. Now help me with these.”

Ana helped her restock the bar and carry a few things out. She felt scolded like a child, and it seemed unfair because she had never given her aunt any reason to think that she would be irresponsible. Still, she had to admit that a few fleeting thoughts had ran through her mind. There was something about Colton that seized her soul. It was something she had never felt before, something primal, something instinctual…something wild.

The party continued and Ana divided her time between serving at the bar and helping her aunt carry through more supplies. In the meantime she looked around the hall to catch another glimpse of Colton but he seemed to have disappeared. The crowd was thick and everywhere she looked there was a different face, but not the one she wanted to see. She had hoped that he would come back and order another drink but that proved not to be the case. She hated the idea that she would never see him again because she knew there was something between them.

She took a short break and stepped outside for some warm air. The night was cool and it was quite a contrast to the day, where everything had been drenched in golden sun. Now the full moon was casting a silvery glow over the lakeside retreat. Glittering stars hung against the inky black backdrop as a mystical aura surged through her. She strolled away from the noises of the party and went into quiet seclusion, somehow part of her hoped that she would see some fairies or pixies dancing in the moonlight.

She walked around by the lake’s edge. In the distance she could hear voices as people went off to their cabins. It was getting late but the party was still in full swing and most of the guests remained in there. She sighed as she walked along but then she stopped. Ahead of her in a small copse stood Colton. The moonlight bathed him and he looked up at it. His hands were clenched by his side and his hair hung down for his head was tilted up. There was a raw energy about him that made her hair stand on end, and she remained motionless, paralyzed. It felt as though she was intruding on an intimate moment almost as if she had discovered two lovers in a forbidden embrace.

She didn’t know whether to retreat or disturb him. In the end the decision was made for her. She leaned against a tree and disturbed some of the bramble. It fell and she gasped at the noise. Colton turned around and snarled at her. Her heart raced as he turned and strode towards her. Her mind screamed at her to run but she was transfixed by him.

Colton came up to her and she found herself grabbing the tree for protection. She gulped and her stomach swam with nerves. Colton didn’t say a word. Ana tried to but nothing would come out of her mouth. He gripped her shoulders tightly, so tightly that pain began to blur with pleasure. Moonlight danced in his eyes but there was something else lurking in them too, a primal darkness that overwhelms them both.

Before she had a chance to do anything he leans in and kissed her firmly. His burning lips pressed against her and he drew her body into him. His arms wrapped around her body, one hand went into the small of her back and the other pulled away her ponytail and let her hair fall down around her shoulders.

He held the back of her head as their tongues danced. Her eyes closed as she surrendered to the passion, and he held her curves tightly against his muscular body. As they kissed he growled a little, and it was music to Ana’s ears. She started to moan and her own arms curled around his neck and fondled his thick mane of hair. She felt all his heat and passion threatening to consume her.

Ana moaned his name, but then he withdrew. He looked at her strangely, stroked her cheek, and then ran off into the words. Ana was shaken and had to lean against the tree for her knees were buckling under the force of his pleasure. She looked into the distance only to see his shadowy figure disappear into the night, wondering what on earth possessed him to act in that manner.

After the arousal died down she sullenly walked back to the main building, excited about her interlude but disappointed that it didn’t lead to anything more. She wondered whether this was a game to him or whether he was harboring a dark secret, but she supposed that she would simply have to wait until the following day to find out.

Chapter 5

Ana’s night was restless for she was haunted by the kiss from earlier. She remembered how his stubble had scratched against her face and how the heat of his body had scorched her. Even just thinking about it made her feel alive, and her heart was racing. Out the window she looked towards the woods and wondered if he was still out there, prowling around in the darkness of the night.

He was different than anyone else she had ever met. Never before had she felt such an instant attraction to someone and she knew that whatever he asked her to do, she would do it. He had an effortless confidence as though the whole world was simply there for his amusement and he hadn’t even had to speak outside for her to give herself to him. The sharp growls echoed in her ear, further evidence of a hidden passion that was yearning to be unleashed.

Had it been just a product of the mystical moonlight or was there something deeper there, a more primal connection? She had no idea but she couldn’t wait to find out. All through the night she tossed and turned, unable to stop thinking of the surge of passion she felt when gripped in his arms. While she was with him it felt like anything could happen and she would let anything happen.

They were strangers and yet there was also a trust there, something as she looked into his eyes told her that she would be kept safe. She ran her hands up and down her arms. As they reached her shoulders she felt the marks that his fingers had left on her, and she smiled, she wanted more, she wanted him to ravish her and show her what true passion was.

Eventually she was able to sleep but he even infested her dreams, and that was when she realized something profound. She awoke with a start and leaned up on her elbows. How could she have been so stupid? She couldn’t believe that it had taken her so long to realize the obvious, undeniable truth. He was the man from her fantasies. The tall, striding, muscular figure that had excited her since before she could remember, the image that had been burned into her fantasies was
him
.

She gasped and wondered how it was possible. Was it just a trick of the mind? She wanted to admit that because it would have been easier to handle. She couldn’t deny that the man of her dreams had been made real, and he had already left his mark upon her skin.

Throughout the morning her excitement grew. She badly wanted to be near him. She pulled on her uniform and this time she put on just that little bit more makeup to accentuate her beauty even further. She thought about what her aunt had said about being just another one of his playthings but she knew it went deeper than that, she knew in her heart that this was something special. She wondered if he had fantasized about her as she had about him, and if their meeting was not some product of random chance but something that had been ordained from a long time ago. Aunt Rose had told her that everyone needed a little bit of magic in their lives and finally Ana had found hers.

The lakeside retreat was tremendously busy as everything geared up for the wedding. Ana looked out at her aunt making final preparations. The arch was the purest white and seemed to glow in the sunshine. Guests slowly filtered through from the cabins and the hotel to take their seats. The groom stood at the top.

To everyone else he was projecting the image of a calm and confident man but from her vantage point Ana could see that he was wringing his hands nervously behind his back. She started to imagine what it would be like if Colton was standing up there and she was the bride. She couldn’t imagine him ever being nervous about anything, he’d probably be leaning against the arch nonchalantly with a glass of whiskey in his hand.

The chattering began to settle and then a recording of organ music began to play as the bride appeared. There were hushed whispers of approval and awe, and even Ana was stunned by the beauty of Seline. She glided down the aisle and she looked like an angel, caught in the sunlight as if the heavens were smiling down upon her. Ana then looked at Bruce, and she hoped that one day she could have someone look at her in the exact same manner as he was looking at his bride, for it was a look of hopelessly devoted love.

Once the ceremony was underway Ana scanned the guests desperately looking for any sign of Colton but she couldn’t see him. She craned her neck to see but to her disappointment he didn’t appear to be present. Once the ceremony was over she went inside to help with the wedding breakfast and to prepare the bar for the party afterwards. Again she tried to find Colton but it was in vain, and she started to panic in case the reason he hadn’t turned up was her. While the guests ate she had a plate of food too but chewed on it mindlessly for her mind was far away.

“Anything wrong?” Cindy asked.

“Oh no, I was just thinking about today. Weddings always make me think, I start to wonder whether I’ll have anything like this one day.”

“Given my luck with men I’m sure I won’t,” Cindy replied with a sad laugh.

“There are so many people out there it makes you wonder how they ever manage to get anything done with all those friends. Surely they can’t actually know each other that well.”

“I guess when you’re in that type of world you just have a lot of people you know and you have to see, probably like having an extended family most of the time.”

“I guess you’re right. Have you spoken to any of them?”

“Not really. Rose doesn’t like us doing that. She says that we should be like part of the scenery. A few of them have been nice though, and I made more from tips last night than I do most of the time,” as she said this she patted her bottom and cocked an eyebrow.

Ana asked her if she remembered Colton but Cindy said she didn’t. Then it was time for them to get back on duty and help clear the plates away so Ana quickly snatched up the rest of the food on her plate and wolfed it down before she went out. While she was collecting the plates she tried to hide her disappointment but evidently she didn’t do a good enough job because a number of guests commented on her solemn disposition. She tried to make light of it but Colton’s absence stung more than she would have liked to admit.

Eventually she stopped bothering to look at people’s faces because it was becoming too frustrating to not see his looking back at her. She knew that what she had felt the previous night had been real so she couldn’t imagine that he had felt something entirely different. It made her question her whole way of thinking. She went back to the bar and started wiping down the surface, and as she swept the cloth over the dark, smooth, wooden surface she sighed and wondered if her aunt had been right. Perhaps Colton had just been wanting a brief midnight interlude and a kiss was all she was going to get.

Still. What a kiss.

Most people were still drinking the wine on their tables and were listening to last few speeches so Ana lost herself in a daydream. She imagined Colton bursting into the bar, interrupting the wedding without any cares, and then pulling her away from the bar. He’d kiss her in front of everyone and take her in his arms, then whisk her away to somewhere she didn’t even know, tear off her clothes and ravish her like she had never been ravished before.

She still knew little of him but that made it even more exciting because there was much to discover, and she knew enough to understand that he could satisfy her in a way no other man could. He was so masculine and tough, he had a wild ferocity about him that was almost animalistic and it made her tingle even just thinking about it. She wished that she had been more ardent the previous night and had chased after him.

In her mind she had chased him to a secluded part of the wood and made him stop. He turned and looked at her with those steely eyes of his, and before she could utter a word he was upon her again, his strong hands clawing at her, urgently trying to get through her clothes to her soft, supple skin as if his life depended on it. She leaned her head back and gave him her neck. He sunk his teeth into her flesh and held her body, squeezing her curves as his hot breath washed over her in the stillness of the night.

He’d growl again as she felt his erection pressing against her and she’d reach down, peeling off his clothes to unleash the bulge that was straining to get out. Their mouths would lock as they explored each other with their hands and he’d lower her to the ground, totally in control. He’d grab a fistful of long, dark hair and hold on tightly, yanking her head back as he came up behind her and she felt the heat of his body enter her. Her chest heaved and her skin became flushed, and she almost gasped such was the intensity of the fantasy she was having. Blood thundered through her body and she was almost trembling.  She was so lost in her own world that she didn’t notice a guest standing in front of her, waving his hand in front of her face.

When she was shaken from her dream world she staggered back and placed a hand upon her forehead. The heat of the moment dissipated but she had to take a few deep breaths to compose herself. It felt like her privacy had been invaded, but all the sounds of the party slowly came back to her and she felt ashamed and embarrassed that she had allowed herself to get so carried away in a public arena. She glanced down and wiped her clammy hands on the towel before she looked up to apologize to her guest, when she lost her breath and almost went weak at the knees.

“You…” she said, for at first glance the man standing in front of her was the spitting image of Colton. Her eyelids fluttered.

“Have we met?” he asked, smiling. His piercing blue eyes had a kindness about them and his smile was friendly and easygoing, but when Ana didn’t reply immediately he wore a look of concern.

“No,” Ana said, shaking her head, “I’m sorry I just…I got you mistaken for someone else. What can I get for you?” she asked, trying to not embarrass herself any further than she already had.

He ordered an ice water with a dash of lemon, which Ana found strange because it was an open bar and generally people took advantage of that, but she didn’t comment on it.

“Really, are you okay? You seem to be in a bit of a daze?” he asked as she poured the water and then dropped the lemon in it.

She slid the glass over to him, the icy chill sending a shiver through her body. His resemblance to Colton really was uncanny. He had the same shaggy mane, the square jaw, the piercing blue eyes, but the longer she looked the more she could see the differences between them.

Where Colton was moody and sat with his back to everyone and his shoulders hunched forward this man had an open body, welcoming people to talk to him. He also smiled easily and didn’t wear a scowl. He had the same five o’clock shadow too but he didn’t seem to be as brooding as Colton. He also seemed to be a little older for he had a few creases where Colton didn’t, but this man wore them well.

“Honestly, I’m fine. I guess I’m just a little tired. These events are always busy.”

“I can imagine. Actually it’s refreshing for me to have to work to get a girl’s attention for once. God, that sounds so big-headed of me. Let me start again. I’m Glenn Huntington.” Ana giggled as she admonished herself then stifled a gasp. She introduced herself and they shook hands, he had the same leathery skin and she felt attracted to him as well, then a pang of guilt stabbed at her for moments ago she had been thinking about Colton.

“I think I met your…brother yesterday,” she guessed. Glenn let go of her hand and took a sip of his drink. He nodded and a few locks of thick hair drooped down over his eyes.

“That would explain your reaction when you saw me. He’s not my brother though, he’s my cousin, although we have known each other all our lives and we are bound by blood, for better or worse.” As he said this his voice trailed off but he covered it up by taking another sip of water.

“He was telling me about your family. I had to learn about them in school but I haven’t really heard much about them recently.”

“I’m surprised that Colton even bothered to mention us. Yes, well, times change. We’re still in the boat business. I head it up now and Colton, well, Colton does whatever he feels like.”

“I did notice he doesn’t appear to be here.”

“No. He has little patience for these types of events. I thought he might be able to stick it out for the weekend. Bruce is a dear old friend but I suppose he couldn’t manage it. I’m sure he’ll turn up at some point. He usually comes and goes as he pleases. He will have some explaining to do though, it’s very rude to not attend a wedding when you’ve been invited.”

“They seem happy enough anyway,” Ana said, nodding towards the bride and groom.