Bachelor Unforgiving (15 page)

Although he was no longer lying on top of her, their limbs were still entwined and his arms were thrown over her waist while they faced each other. She was breathing deeply and her eyes were open, but instead of looking at him she was staring beyond him at a painting on her wall.

So far she hadn't said anything. He couldn't help wondering what she was thinking. Did she regret letting him make love to her? Or, like him, was she thinking what they'd shared had been so mind-blowingly perfect, it had left them both at a loss for words?

He continued to lie there and gaze at her. She had to know he was staring yet she wouldn't look at him. That was fine since he needed to get his mind back on track, although that wouldn't be an easy thing to do. Not when he was thinking about how good it was to lie here beside her like this. He'd always enjoyed this, the aftermath, when they would lie naked in each other's arms and savor what they'd done together. They would talk, more times than not, and confess their love for each other. Telling her the first time that he loved her had been hard because he hadn't spoken those words to any woman before. But after he did it, and knowing she was so deserving of his love, the words had flowed easily and had come frequently...especially whenever they made love. For him it had been important that she know he was not confusing love with lust and that he knew the difference.

Tonight had brought back memories of how it felt being inside her, feeling her inner muscles squeeze to clench him and then proceed to milk him dry. She had a way of doing that perfectly, getting every single drop out of him. He had to force back the growl in his throat just thinking about it.

Virgil literally held his breath when Kara shifted her gaze to look at him. He was certain he wasn't mistaken about the look of total sexual fulfillment he saw in her eyes.

He held tight to her gaze and asked, “You okay?”

Instead of answering him, she reached out and caressed the side of his face and smiled softly. Then she finally said, “Yes. I'm okay. I had to take a minute to get myself together. What we did just now felt simply amazing.”

Virgil would have to agree with her and was about to tell her so when she leaned in and placed her mouth over his. He needed this kiss just as much as she apparently did. Possibly even more. And when her tongue entered his mouth he greedily captured it with his own. Their tongues mated for the longest time before she finally lifted her mouth from his.

He was totally aroused all over again and from the way her hands began stroking him, so was she. “I want you again,” he whispered, straddling her body and gazing down into her face.

“And more than anything, Virgil, I want you to want me” was her soft response.

He pushed to the back of his mind the possibility that she meant anything by what she'd said. Instead he turned his entire focus, his full concentration on making love to her again.

Chapter 16

It looks as if Virgil Bougard is trying to turn over a new leaf. About time. He was seen this weekend with his sleeves rolled up at his company's back-to-school charity event. I might be wrong but it looked like he was enjoying himself while giving out those book bags to all those kids. Can we credit his on-again love affair with Kara Goshay for his change of attitude? Stay tuned.

K
ara tossed the newspaper aside to take another sip of her coffee. Thanks to Flo's article in the paper that morning, the strategy to improve Virgil's image was definitely off to a good start. And the photograph of him surrounded by some of the kids who'd attended the book-bag giveaway was priceless. He didn't look like an ordinary executive but, rather, like one who cared. And a part of her truly believed he did. Just like a part of her believed what they'd shared in her bed last week had meant something to him...although from the look of things, he'd run scared again.

Getting out of her chair, she took another sip of her coffee as she walked over to the window in her office and gazed out, remembering that night. After making love two more times they'd dressed and gone downstairs to eat the dinner she'd prepared. By then it was after midnight, but she doubted either of them cared. They had worked up a voracious appetite and the lasagna, tossed salad and strawberry cheesecake had hit the spot. He had offered to help clean up the kitchen but she declined his offer. However, he had refused to leave without helping her clear off the table. That was when he'd mentioned he would be out of town for a few days. Without saying when they would see each other again or whether he'd changed his mind about her moving in with him, he had kissed her goodbye and left.

That had been nearly a week ago, and she hadn't heard from him till an hour ago. Out of the blue he'd called to ask her out to dinner. When she'd informed him that tonight wouldn't be good for her because she was in the process of moving out of her condo, he'd said nothing for a minute before saying he would touch base with her later this week. He hadn't even asked where she would be moving to.

Since there was no doubt in her mind that making love with her had meant more to him than just a roll between the sheets, she believed he was fighting it. She couldn't force from her mind how he'd looked down at her, deep into her eyes, when he'd positioned his body over hers. Although Virgil refused to utter the words of love he'd once said, she had felt his resolve breaking with every stroke into her body. Why did he have to be so stubborn, unforgiving and determined not to put his heart on the line again?

She had taken tomorrow off to get settled into the hotel where she would be staying for the next two weeks. There was a lot on her plate and she hoped she would be too busy to think about Virgil.

* * *

When Virgil pulled into Kara's driveway he saw several lights were still on, including the one in her upstairs bedroom. He had intentionally not contacted her for almost a week, feeling the need to put distance between them. Making love to her had affected him more than he'd figured it would and he'd needed time away from her to screw his head back on right.

But that hadn't stopped him from going to bed each night thinking of her, wanting her and desiring her in a way he could never desire any other woman. It had taken him all those restless and sleepless nights to figure out that even after four years, Kara wasn't out of his system like he thought and making love to her last week had only complicated matters.

He hadn't wanted to remember how good things used to be when they'd been together but he couldn't help doing so. Nor did he want to think about how, after playing several games of tennis with Donovan Steele, he had rushed home to come here. He couldn't hold out any longer. He wanted to see her again. He
needed
to see her again. He wanted to kiss her. Taste her all over. Make love to her again.

He'd suggested they have an affair and although they'd made love, she hadn't consented to his terms. Instead she'd asked a favor of him, one he'd quickly turned down. Now he wasn't sure where they stood and he needed to find out.

No matter what her ultimate decision would be about the affair, they would still have to be seen together in public for a few more weeks. He, more than anyone, would feel the sting of having to be around her and pretend romantic interest in a woman he wanted to take to bed.

At least he'd spoken to his mother earlier today and convinced her to drop the crazy idea of introducing Kara to Dr. Lynwood. Although he could tell his mother had not seen his point, since nothing serious would ever develop between him and Kara again, she'd agreed to leave it alone.

He had left his parents' home somewhat satisfied and had convinced himself all the way to the tennis courts that his visit with his mother had nothing to do with any jealousy he'd felt. He just didn't want to think about Kara with any other man after him. He knew it didn't make sense but since Kara had reentered his life nothing he did seemed to make much sense anymore.

Like the decision he'd made that morning...

It had taken him a while to come around, but he had convinced himself of the merits of having her at his place. That would be a logical move, especially since the two of them were pretending to be exclusive lovers. And he would get what he wanted. Lover's rights. He would go to bed with her and wake up with her. In other words, they would have access to sex whenever they wanted it. And with Kara he had a tendency to want it all the time. He would just have to be diligent in making sure he didn't start thinking with the wrong head. Not the one aching in his jeans at this very moment, but the one attached to his neck. He had to remember that whatever he and Kara shared was short-term and nothing more.

Getting out of the car and closing the door behind him, he headed for her door.

* * *

Kara was on her way down the stairs when she heard the ringing of her doorbell. She didn't have to wonder who was at her door. The deep pounding in her chest gave the identity of her visitor away. Why was Virgil here? To help pack up her things for her move to the hotel? A booty call? The thought of the latter caused a heat to stir in the pit of her stomach. She really should be upset that sex was the only thing to bring him here, but pathetic as it might sound, she wanted to believe that making love to her would eventually come to mean something to him again.

She opened the door and stepped aside for him to enter. “Virgil, how was your trip?”

“Productive.”

She thought he smelled fresh. And when he strolled by she picked up the scent of his aftershave and thought it was a turn-on. Instead of stopping in the foyer, he kept walking to her living room. She followed and saw him staring at her packed luggage.

She went over to the sofa and sat down, crossing her legs. “Any reason you're here?”

He moved his gaze to her, especially to her legs, which were exposed because of the short skirt she was wearing. Every time his eyes moved up and down her body, she could feel the sensual pull between them. “I had wanted to take you to dinner.”

“And I told you what I'd be doing. Didn't you believe me?”

He shoved his hands into his pockets. “Yes, I believed you. In fact I came by to see if you needed my help.”

“No thanks.”

“You sure?”

“Positive.”

Why did he have to stand over there, looking so perfectly male? And why was she looking at his sensuous mouth and recalling how it could take hers, make love to it, mate with it as if it was something he had every right to do?

He walked over to where she sat and he came to a stop right in front of her. She couldn't miss his aroused state. The huge bulge pressing hard against the zipper of his jeans was something that definitely caught her attention. And then he said in a voice that was deep and husky, “I want you.”

She fixed her mouth to tell him the last thing she needed was for him to make a booty call now, but the words couldn't part from her lips. He was still fighting her, battling with emotions. Only someone who'd known him as well as she had could detect the struggle. Even now, he didn't want to want her, but something was driving him to do so anyway.

She knew how Virgil's mind worked. He stood there with his focus directly on her, trying to figure out why he wanted her so much. Why, considering their history, he wanted to strip her naked and make love to her, right where she sat. There was a dark intensity in the depths of his gaze, and the lines around his mouth were deep and drawn. She wondered if he was remembering the night they'd made love, right here in this house, under this roof. Of the time he had dropped to his knees, in the middle of her foyer and tasted her.

Kara was remembering those things and had to believe he was remembering them, as well. She had to believe this wasn't just another booty call but that it was one with a purpose. One that could bring her closer to her goal of cracking through the wall he'd erected around his heart.

She slowly eased from the sofa and stood in front of him, so close their bodies touched. She could feel his hard erection pressing against her middle. Just as she was certain that he could feel the hard buds of her nipples pressing into his chest.

At that moment she decided that although he'd made the booty call, she would be the one to take ownership of it.

“So you think you want me, Virgil?”

From the arch of his brow she knew her question surprised him. Evidently he figured any other woman would take what he'd said without question. In the end he would see she wasn't just any other woman. She was the one who loved him. The one he'd once loved. The one who was fighting hard to regain that love.

“I know I want you, Kara.”

Hearing the words spoken so huskily from his lips should have been enough for her but it wasn't. She was fighting to hear him say different words, words that went deeper than just desire. “I'm glad you want me. Now let me show you just how much I want you.”

She tugged her blouse over her head and shimmied seductively out of her skirt. And before he could catch his next breath, she reached out and whisked his T-shirt over his head.

* * *

Virgil's gaze scanned Kara as she stood there in a skimpy pair of panties. Evidently this was one of those times it suited her since she wasn't wearing a bra. Honestly, she didn't need one. Her breasts were beautiful, firm and full. While he watched, she slid out of her panties.

He was convinced there was not another woman with this much sensuality who walked the face of this earth. Would there always be this sensuous pull between them? One so strong it could create such an intense yearning that it threatened his control? And then there was her gutsiness. It had a way of increasing sexual tension between them to the point where he wanted nothing more than to make love to her all night and most of the next day—nonstop.

She pulled his belt through the loops of his jeans and tossed it aside; however, what made him get harder was when she slowly eased down his zipper. “Take off your jeans, Virgil.”

Virgil had no problem doing what she asked and quickly kicked off his shoes and removed his socks before lowering the jeans down his legs. When he tucked his fingers into the waistband of his briefs to tug them down his legs, as well, she placed her hand on his. “I can manage from here.”

He nodded as he fixed his gaze on the lushness of her mouth, and he couldn't fight the heat that flared inside him when she licked her lips. And when she knelt in front of him and began easing his briefs down, he swore he could feel the floor beneath his feet shift. Awareness of what she was about to do filled his every pore with sexual greed. Even the air he was breathing seemed to thicken.

When she darted her tongue out of her mouth to moisten the head of his erection, it provoked a deep pounding right there in his crotch. He knew the shape and fullness of her lips, knew what her mouth was capable of doing, and he prepared himself for what was to come. No sooner had that thought entered his mind than she opened her mouth and took him all in. His breath caught while his entire body began to sizzle. He reached out and buried his fingers in her hair and released a torturous moan when a surge of hot, sharp sensation rushed through him.

Then she began sucking on him, just the way she'd done in all his dreams. Just the way she used to do when they'd been a couple. Just the way she knew he liked. Desire twisted his gut and every nerve in his body flared with the intensity of what she was doing. He could feel his erection enlarging and throbbing right in her mouth. She didn't let up and at the rate she was going, he would soon shatter into pieces. But he wanted to be inside of her when he did. And he wanted to be looking into her eyes when their bodies joined.

Ignoring her protest, he reached down and pulled her up and together they tumbled to the sofa. To cushion the impact he made sure she landed on top, straddling him.

She glanced down, flashed him a sexy smile and said, “Perfect landing.”

Quickly taking advantage of their positions, she opened her legs wider and lowered her body down onto his shaft. Staring up at her, he gritted his teeth, but that didn't stop the moan from escaping. And when she began riding him, emotions he'd conditioned himself not to feel ripped through him and he grabbed her tight. This wasn't the first time they'd made love on her sofa, but it was the first time they'd done so with her on top.

Every bone in his body quivered with each and every erotic movement of her hips. He felt sexual sensations in every pore, every nerve. When frissons of heat raced up his spine he cupped the back of her head and lowered her mouth down to his. He needed this kiss as much as he needed everything else she was doing to him. The taste of her consumed him while at the same time thickening the blood in his veins.

And when sensations of a magnitude he'd never confronted before seemed to slam into both of them at the same time, they were pushed over the edge together. He had to hold on and maintain balance for the both of them, otherwise they would have tumbled to the floor. She broke her mouth free of his and screamed his name, and the sound seemed to pulverize every bone in his body.