Paradise (34 page)

“Well, come on in, darlin’. Don’t stand in the doorway. I don’t bite.” He reddened, as they both recalled a week in
Paradise
when he did bite. Well, not actually bite, more like nip. Her fingers involuntarily flew to her neck. It had faded since Sunday but was still visible above the neckline of the sweater.

Eddie’s eyes followed her hand, and there was no disguising the passion that flared. The fire that had started low in her belly at the sight of him, escalated at his look until it raged out of control. It didn’t matter if she had to crawl, he had to take her back.

“There ain’t nothin’ wrong with this here website. Fran never was good with technology. Looks like you made the trip for nothin’.” JT came around the desk to join Eddie at the counter. “Don’t you have a plane ta catch? You better git goin’.”

“Where are you going?” She should have figured he wasn’t all decked out for a tour of the Okefenokee.

“Ah, JT, can you watch the office? I need to talk to Robbie.” Without waiting for an answer, Eddie came around the counter, picked up her laptop and grasped her elbow. The light, tinkling bell and JT’s belly laughs seemed out of place with the shivers shooting up her spine.

Eddie steered her out of the office, down the hall and up the stairs. The keys clanking against the doorknob lent a surreal mood to the scene. Opening the door, he ushered her inside and slammed it shut.

Her laptop thudded to the floor as his arms came around her. “The door, the couch or the carpet,” he growled. “Take your pick. Fast.”

His mouth crushed down on hers. The starched shirt felt foreign as she slid her hands up his chest. Its crisp, pressed scent mingled with his oh-so-familiar soap. The soft silk tie most definitely provided a new sensation.

She met his kiss with a hunger that had been building since she last walked out that door. Her body molded to his, finding the familiar angles that fit so completely to her curves. He broke the kiss to run his lips down her neck, zeroing in on the love bite.

“Right here. Right now,” was all she could manage while pushing off his jacket. Somehow, her clothes disappeared along with his. Her legs wrapped around him as he lifted her into position, her nails digging into his sleek shoulders. She clung to him burying her face in his corded neck, even as he buried himself in her. There was no need for the passion to build. It was there, raw and unyielding. A few thrusts brought her to
Paradise
.

“I love you, Eddie. I love you. I love you.” She chanted her mantra.

He held her tighter than duct tape. When he threw back his head, his teeth bared in a purely masculine grimace of pleasure, and he pumped his warm seed into her. Squeezing her muscles tightly, she drew every drop from him.

It was a long while before she could release her hold of him and plant her feet on the floor. Resting her head against his familiar chest, she sighed, safe and warm in his arms. Exactly where she belonged.

* * * * *

“You didn’t answer my question,” said Robbie, tunneling her fingers through his chest hair, then smoothing it back down.

Question? What question? All he could remember was a blinding need, an uncontrollable thirst and then her back was against the door and she was his.

He nuzzled her neck, unable to release her. “What didn’t I answer?” he murmured as the scent of lavender invaded his brain.

“I asked where you were going.” She pointed to his suitcase near the couch. “Obviously, you’re going somewhere. Your Samsonite is packed and ready.”

“I’ll have you know,” he grazed his teeth down her jaw. “It’s Gucci not Samsonite. Not quite Louis Vuitton, but there’s a difference you know.” He mimicked their first meeting.

She nipped his neck. “Not funny,” but her tongue, traveling the length of his neck, told him otherwise.

“If you must know, I have a job interview in
Manhattan
at three o’clock. My flight leaves in about an hour.”

She froze in his arms. “Why?”

“Why? Because I’m coming after you.”

“But I won’t be there.”

“That was the point. I wanted to show you I meant it. That it was a done deal.”

She pulled back, searching his face. “But why? You hate
New York
. With good reason. Why would you go back? What about McGraw
Tours
?”

“Look, sometimes you have to give up something you love to get something you love more. I knew the minute you walked out I could give up McGraw Tours, the swamp, anything if it meant that I could have you.”

She smiled up at him. “Some
thing
you love more?”

He leaned down and brushed a kiss across her forehead. “Some
one
that I love with every part of me,” he breathed huskily. “Some
one
that I want to spend the rest of my life with, some
one
that will love me as much as I love her, some
one
--”

She put a finger to his lips. “I love you, but do me a favor. Shut up and kiss me.”

It was his pleasure to comply with her request.

“They’re going to be pissed that I missed the interview,” he said, cuddling her.

“Too bad.” She nibbled his earlobe.

“That’s okay. I’ll tell them the flight was cancelled and go on Monday. When are you moving up there? We need to coordinate so we can find an apartment together.”

“Huh?” Her sensual stroking aroused him from the caressing stage to the ready-for-more stage.

“This is weird. I want to haul you up to my bed, but I’m glued right here until I know you’re mine.” She seemed more intent at playing with his chest than paying attention to his words.

As much as it pained him, he stepped away, holding her at arms length. “Robbie. You understand we’re getting married, right? I can’t do an affair. You’re going to be --”

“You can unpack your bags, Eddie. You’re not moving anywhere and don’t bother rebooking that flight.” She snuggled back into his arms.

“What do you mean?”

Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony interrupted him.

“What the hell…?”

Robbie snapped out of her dream state. She smoothed her hands down his chest and patted his abdomen. “It’s mine.”

Wiggling from his embrace, she reached for her laptop case. When she pulled out her cell phone, he shook his head and crossed to the window. For God sake’s, couldn’t she go five minutes without that damn phone?

He didn’t want to eavesdrop but couldn’t help himself and listened for all he was worth. A steady stream of useless, ahuh’s, I see’s and certainly’s reached his ears. On hearing her phone snap shut, he stared intently out the back window. He would miss this place, the quiet serenity, the camaraderie. No crape myrtle in
Manhattan
. Hell, no trees, no grass. He shrugged.
Central Park
didn’t count.

Soft arms circled his waist seconds before warm palms glided over his nipples. God, how he loved the way she came up behind him, pressing herself to him. She knew exactly how to get his attention.

Her lips grazed his shoulder blade. “You taste good, Eddie. You know, making love on your door is fantastic, but this time, it barely took the edge off. Think we can make it up to our bed? You can unpack tomorrow.”

Caught in her erotic weave, he almost missed the words. “Our bed? Unpack? What are you talking about?”

“Will you be a better lover if I tell you now or later?” Her hands slid from his chest to his shaft, and she continued her sensual massage.

He turned his head, searching for her lips. “Tell me what?” Her tender kiss built a deep need in his groin.

She broke the kiss and smoothed her cheek across his shoulder. “We’re not moving. We’re going to live right here in
Tiny
Town
.”

Blowing a deep breath and hating to end the foreplay, he lifted her hands and turned around. “Say again? I thought you hated this place. What about your job offer? What about your dream of living in
New York
?”

Her smile could have knocked his legs from under him. “Sometimes you have to give up something --”

“Don’t give me that crap. I won’t have you regretting this decision five years from now, wondering if you could have made it there, wishing you’d taken the chance.”

“But I’m not giving up my big chance.” Her eyes sparkled, and she had the distinct look of a kitten that knocked over the cream pitcher.

“Wait a minute. You don’t think we’re going to have one of those commuter marriages, do you? Where you just come home on weekends? That’s not going to happen. I want you in my bed every night, woman.

“Don’t worry about that, Tarzan. I will be in your bed every night. I garan-damn-tee it!” She giggled, stepping close and running her hands up his chest. “Can we go to bed now?”

He clasped her wrists. “Quit fooling around. Tell me what you’re not telling me.” He stepped back, putting some distance between her wiggling pelvis and his over-active groin.

“You were right. I was running away from myself. I’m not my mother. It’s going to take some getting used to, and I may have a rough go of it at first. But, if you’re here, that’s where I’m going to be. I gave myself a good shot of self respect over these last few days. The only one I have to worry about making happy is me. Oh, and you. Can we go to bed now?

“But what about
New York
? What about your dream of living in the
Big City
?”

“That was the interesting thing. Living there was never my dream. I made it my dream when Excelsior changed their offer. Having my own company was what I really always wanted. I had that and I was giving it up because of what someone else wanted me to do.”

“So you didn’t go for the interview?”

“Not exactly. I went. I told them I appreciated their interest in hiring me, but I had no intention of giving up my company, then I pitched my original plan, that they contract their work to me. Can we go to bed now?”

“So, you had everything neatly tied up before you came here? Still close enough to
Atlanta
and
Jacksonville
to get your
Big
City
fix. Contract in hand with a
New York
connection. And a man who’d sacrifice anything to have you.” He knew it shouldn’t annoy him but it did, and he couldn’t keep the irritation from his voice. He released her hands and moved away.

“It does sound perfect when you put it like that, especially the part about the man. But I didn’t know until a few minutes ago about the contract. That was Excelsior that called. They declined my offer. They want to keep the work in house.”

He turned to take her in his arms. “Baby, I’m sorry. I know how much that meant --” Her bright smile stopped him. “What?”

“They still like my work and want to contract with me for creative design. I wouldn’t actually code or create the sites, but I’ll design what they look like and how they work. It’s really the fun part of the job. This is a much better offer. Can we go to bed now?”

God, how he loved this woman. He picked her up and tossed her over his shoulder. “Yeah,” he answered, planting a kiss on her rounded butt. “I think we can go to bed now.”

The End