Seducing His Heart (21 page)

“
Don’t lose an
ounce.”

She shot a skeptical look at him.

“
I like women with meat on
their bones.”

“
Couldn’t tell by your
dating history.”

“
Best way to stay single.
Date women who aren’t marriage-minded and who don’t want to ruin
their stick-thin figures with pregnancies.”

He’s not single. He’s professionally single.
What am I doing here? Why do I find him irresistible?

“
That’s enough talking,”
he said, bringing his mouth down on hers.

Bess’s mind shut off. Her senses ruled. Whit
tasted good. His tongue danced with hers, possessing her mouth as
his body pressed down on her. The hair on his chest tickled her
breasts, making her nipples hard. They pushed into his muscles as
he lowered himself on top of her.

Bess raised her hips until they met his. His
erection hardened as it was sandwiched between them. She reached
for him, running her fingers along the silky skin. He groaned,
burying his face in her neck.

Whit shifted his weight, rolling to the
side, and ran his hand down her chest and over her hip, resting it
on her thigh. He gripped her hard for a moment then loosened his
fingers to slide them to the front. Her body ignited when he
touched her core. Heat grew quickly as he explored .

She smoothed her hands down his back,
pushing her fingertips into his muscles slightly. A whiff of pine
aftershave mixed with his masculine scent teased her nose. Unable
to resist, she closed her lips over his skin, tasting him. The
slightly salty flavor pleased her.

His fingers zeroed in on a sensitive spot.
They were relentless. Heat spiraled through her body, coiling
tension in her center. Bess bucked her hips up. A low chuckle
escaped Whit’s lips as he lifted them from her shoulder. He eased a
finger inside her. Bess thought she’d explode. She searched for
him, but he had moved his erection away.

“
Uh, uh, uh…naughty,
naughty,” he whispered, lowering his lips to her breast, and
slipping a second finger into her.

“
Oh, God, Whit. What are
you waiting for?”

“
You,” he
muttered.

“
No, no, don’t. I want
you, now.”

“
But—”

“
Now!” She dug her nails
into his back.

“
Ow! I see.”

“
I’m ready to—” But he
squashed her words with his mouth. After removing his fingers from
her, he glided them over her slippery flesh. Her hips began to move
rhythmically. He pushed up on his knees and positioned her legs,
resting one on his shoulder. Then, he thrust into her all the
way.

She gasped, clutching his shoulders, her
eyes closing. The pleasure was so intense she was afraid she’d
burst into tears. “Whit,” she mumbled, unable to move.

Passion sailed through her, growing sharper,
more urgent, with every plunge. The heat increased as he pumped
harder and faster. She bit down on his shoulder, moving her hips
with his.

“
Baby, baby, baby,” he
muttered.

Sweat broke out on his back and forehead.
Bess gripped him as the winding up of tension prepared to snap. A
powerful orgasm shot through her like a rocket, stiffening her
muscles hard and long before relaxing them, sending pleasure to
every part of her body. She cried out his name as her hips
undulated.

He upped his speed before uttering a load
groan. Her name flew from his lips as he pounded into her one last
time. Then, his head went limp. He rested his forehead against her
neck as he ground to a halt. His tongue snaked out like a frog’s to
lick her for a second before he pushed up on his hands.

Bess could hardly speak. She’d never had a
climax of such intensity before. He raised his head, and she saw a
warm glow in his eyes. He planted a soft kiss on her lips then her
eyelids and each cheek. “Bess, honey.”

She put her thumb on his lips. She wanted
the glow to last, the spell to be unbroken. She combed his hair off
his forehead with her fingers and arched her back. She kissed him
with all the love in her heart.

Whit rolled off to the side. He stared at
her body, making her shy. She pulled up the sheet.

“
Must you?” He pushed it
down just enough to reveal her breasts.

“
You’re
staring.”

“
Why not? You’re a work of
art.”

Sensing heat in her cheeks, she lowered her
lids, her eyelashes fanning out on her cheeks.

“
The blush is very
becoming.”

“
You mean the blush
becomes Bess?” She fluttered her lashes and giggled.

Whit laughed. “Joke all you want. That was
Earth-shaking.”

She nodded, running her finger down his
smooth cheek.

“
Like it better
shaved?”

“
Like it both
ways.”
I like you any way I can have you.
Not telling you that, though.

Whit propped himself up on his elbows,
freeing his hands. He closed his fingers around her breast. “A good
fit. Just right.”

“
Bigger than a
model’s?”

“
Oh hell yes. Perfect.” He
explored her, rubbing gently against the soft flesh then following
with his lips. “I could stay like this forever,” he
said.

Bess ran her fingers through his hair and
cupped his head. She leaned forward and kissed the dark, shiny
locks, sliding her hand down his neck to his back. “Hold me,” she
whispered, sliding down under the covers.

Whit scooped her into his embrace. “With
pleasure.” He covered them with the sheet and comforter before
tightening his grip.

Bess wound her arms around
him, snuggling her face into his neck and shoulder. The touch of
his bare skin warmed up hers, which had begun to cool. She took a
deep breath, inhaling his masculine scent. She wondered if the
models who’d dated him had loved the way he smelled as much as she
did.
Did they wonder what happened when he
stopped calling? Did they miss him, or did they replace him
first?

“
Happy?” he
asked.

“
Delirious.”

He stroked her hair. Her heartbeat slowed
and peace flowed in her veins while a gentle smile settled on her
face. She felt Whit relax against her. When she closed her eyes,
sleep overtook her.

* * * *

Bess awoke two hours later. She saw Whit’s
arm slung over her waist when she opened her eyes. He shifted,
pulling her closer. The heat from his body kept the bed a perfect
temperature. Comfort enveloped her. She had no desire to get up.
Whit opened his eyes.

“
What time is it?” He
rolled over to face the clock. “Shit. It’s eleven.” He threw down
the covers and swung his legs over the side. “Sorry, but I’ve got
to get to work.”

“
I understand. Better
check on the police in my apartment.” Bess pushed to her feet. Whit
handed her the robe and padded into the bathroom. She heard the
shower running.
Wish I could get in there
with him. No time.

When they were both dressed, they left the
pugs at Whit’s, stopped at her apartment door, and knocked. Officer
Joe answered.

“
Hey, Ms. Cooper. We’ll be
done in here sooner than I thought. Come on in. Don’t touch
anything. You, too, Mr. Bass.”

The place was still a God-awful mess. Bess
glanced around. “What a disaster,” she said, shaking her head. Her
eye picked up a new detail. “Will you look at that?”

Both men looked at her. “What?” Whit
asked.

“
The guy didn’t bother
with Dumpling’s bed. It’s untouched.”

“
Guess he figured whatever
he was looking for wouldn’t be there. Besides, can’t hide anything
in it.”

“
Can I pick up a
toothbrush and some clothes?”

“
I think the team is
finished with the bedroom. I’ll check.”

“
What a mess! It’ll take
you days to get this straightened out.”

“
I’m going to throw it
together and leave. The whole thing creeps me out.”

Whit put his arm around her shoulders. “You
stay with me until you’re comfortable.”

“
Thanks.” She beamed a
smile up at him, and he kissed her.

“
Hey, hey, no PDA,”
Officer Joe joked. “Okay, Ms. Cooper. You can have the bedroom and
bathroom back.”

“
Is it safe for her to
clean up in here?” Whit asked the policeman.

“
She shouldn’t be in here
alone. Even with the doggie, it’s not safe. Maybe in two weeks.
Give us a chance to figure out what happened.”

When Bess’s suitcase was
packed, a couple of reporters stopped them at the door. They fired
questions at Bess. Whit’s station had interviewed her right after
the police had arrived last night. By this time, she figured
publicity couldn’t hurt.
Maybe it will
keep the robber away.

Bess unpacked at Whit’s, and he went off to
work. Then, she did the only thing that gave her peace—she thumbed
through cookbooks for ideas for new recipes.

Her cell buzzed. It was Ned.

“
Are you okay?”

Bess explained everything to him.

“
I’m glad you weren’t
there.”

“
So, are they missing me
terribly and ready to put me back on?” She was only half
kidding.

The silence was uncomfortable.

“
Ned?”

“
Not exactly.”

“
Oh? What does that
mean?”

“
They work fast. They’ve
hired some chick named Jenny. They’re giving her your
show.”

“
Baking with
Jenny
?”

“
No,
In the Kitchen with Jenny
.”

Her chest tightened. She could hardly
breathe.

“
Bess?”

“
I’m here,” she coughed
out.

“
I’m sorry.”

“
That’s what you called to
tell me?”

“
I didn’t think it’d be
fair to have you hanging on, hoping, ya know?”

“
Did they tell you to do
that?”

“
Of course not. If they
found out, I’d get my head handed to me. Didn’t want you
waiting...hoping.”

“
Thanks, Ned.”

“
Maybe you can find
something else?”

“
Yeah, maybe. If I don’t
get murdered by a robber first.” She snorted.

“
Don’t say that. Hey, if
you do, by some miracle, get something, will you call
me?”

“
Still want to work
with
Scandal Woman
?”

“
Hell, yeah. You’re the
best.”

“
So are you.”

Despair descended on her like a thick fog.
She wouldn’t have admitted, even if Ned, or anyone else, had asked
her directly, but she had been hoping this would blow over. She’d
been praying the station would forgive and forget and put her back
on the air. But Ned had squashed that hope with the truth.

Bess became restless. She
pushed up from the sofa and began to pace.
Time to walk the dogs.
She leashed
them, donned a jacket, and headed for Central Park.

She did her best thinking while walking in
the park, usually with Dumpling. The dogs trotted along, stopping
to sniff lampposts from time to time, allowing her to get lost in
thought.

What am I doing with Whit? He said he’s
never getting married, and I’m falling for him. Stupid, stupid
girl. Don’t do it. He’s nice, he’s kind, he’s handsome, he’s a
great lover, best ever, but is that a good reason to get my heart
broken. Do I think I can change him? Can I make an elephant fly?
Why should I try? Listen. Listen to what he’s saying. He doesn’t
want to get married. He doesn’t want children. Believe him and move
on. Find someone else. Or cry your eyes out for months.

Back at Whit’s place, Bess consoled herself
the way she always did, by preparing a fabulous meal. She swiped a
few cooking tools from her kitchen and played country music. She
chopped, sautéed, sliced, and browned all afternoon. When Whit
returned to the apartment, the enticing aromas in the hall would
come from his place, not hers.

She looked up, noticing he’d arrived by the
rush of cool air from the open door.

“
What is that delicious
smell?” He poked his head into the kitchen.

“
Something new. My own
pasta concoction. Lots of fresh veggies, some sausage, over penne.
You like?” She offered him a sample.

“
Wow, almost as delicious
as you,” he said, after swallowing. Bess put the wooden spoon down,
allowing him to pull her close for a hug and a kiss.

“
How was your day?” she
asked, leaving his embrace to retrieve some dishes from the
cabinet.

“
Full of murder, robbery,
assault, and theft. The usual. Except for coming home to
you.”

* * * *

Whit eased his
Bentley
off the Thruway
and turned left on Midland Avenue, heading for Rye’s beach area.
“Remember, there’s no furniture.”

“
None?”

“
Well…hmm. A bed, and a
sofa.”

“
A bed? I should have
known.” She snickered.

Whit pulled off the road into the Midland
School parking lot and put the car in park. “Okay. You wanted to
return the favor?”