Do Not Disturb (13 page)

Allison moved to the table and filled the glasses.
He was going to discuss this. And she wouldn't let his culinary talents
distract her.

When everyone was settled at the table, Brett
leaned toward Allison. "So, tell us about your day."

The memory of the day at work overtook her
paranoia over the car. "I can't believe I forgot." She dropped her
fork on the plate. "I sent in my thesis. I’ll graduate in December."

"All ready?" Brett captured her hand,
holding it tight. "I thought it was just the draft?"

In her excitement, she forgot the girls and placed
her other hand on Brett's, squeezing back. "Walter told me to sit down and
finish the darned thing so I could concentrate on work. He was sick of hearing
about it. Can you believe it?"

"I believe it. You’re obviously valuable to
him and the company." Brett turned away from her face, but kept her hand
in his. "Looks like I'll have to find something special to cook up on
Saturday night and we can all celebrate the new MBA. How's that sound?"

"Lasagne, Dad. Fix lasagne."

At the sound of Caroline's voice, Allison eased
away from Brett, realizing she’d been holding hands with him in front of the
girls. She lowered her eyes and concentrated on her taco.

"You've got it. Lasagne at our house."

Two tacos later Allison jumped up, taking her
plate with her. "I'll clean up, since I didn't help cook." She
kneeled down, rooting through the bottom cabinets for containers to store the
leftovers.

"Allison."

Brett pulled her off the floor and backed her
against the counter ledge.

She jerked her head to the table, but realized the
girls had left the room.

Placing a finger on her chin, he lifted her face
toward his. "Congratulations, darling." He kissed her lips gently.
"I know this is important to you."

She relaxed against his chest.

He kissed her cheek, then the bottom of her ear.
"You're going to be very successful."

Successful? Oh yes. The Jaguar. "Oh no you
don't. We're alone now and I want to talk to you about that car."

He threw his head back and groaned. "Not the
car again. What is it with the car?"

She poked his chest and lowered her voice.
"How can you think that a car that expensive is just a car?"

"It's not important, Allison. It's just a
thing." A pained look crossed his face.

She recalled his ex-wife and her obsession with
money and shows of success. Did she insist he buy the car? "I know it's
just a thing, Brett, but, it's a very expensive thing." She softened her
tone. "I can't even imagine being able to afford a car like that and you
think nothing of it." She paused, considering her next words carefully.
"Why?"

He rolled his eyes and then closed them.

"Your family is very rich, aren't they?"

"What difference does it make?" He
dropped his arms and started filling the bowls with food.

"It just means we...well, we come from
different worlds."

He whirled around and grasped her shoulders.
"This is our world, Allison. Not what our parents do or how much money
they have." His fingers dug into her arms. "Having money doesn't mean
anything."

"OK." She reached up to loosen his
fingers. "It's not important what our parents do or have." She drew
his fingers to her lips. "We won't talk about money anymore."

He pulled her close. "Let's not worry about
parents anymore either, OK?"

She reached up and traced the lines on his
forehead. "But, I don't want to drive that car. I’m afraid to go over
twenty miles an hour."

A small smile tugged at his lips. "All right,
you can have the Range Rover back." He kissed the top of her head.
"Now, I'm going home and I want you to go to bed early. We both need to be
rested for tomorrow night."

Butterflies rambled free in her stomach.

"One more night, baby." Brett quickly
moved his lips to hers, kissing her deeply. "Just one more night."

"Are you nervous?"

Allison stuck her head out the closet door.
"Nervous? Why did you ask that?"

"Because you've changed clothes three times
since I've been in here." Kelly held up the two dresses flung across the
bed. "And you're still not ready."

Sinking back against the closet door, Allison
dropped her head. Her hands shook and her stomach hopped. Yes, she was nervous.

"And why did you clean up your room so
perfectly, even changing your sheets?"

Her stomach jumped clear to her throat. How had
Kelly noticed that?

"I had some extra time, so I thought I'd do
some chores before the weekend." She slid a maroon silk dress off the
hanger. "You know we're going to be busy this weekend."

This is how adults act? First she and Brett had
snuck around the house kissing in the dark and now she was making up stories to
cover her plans. She stepped into the dress and attempted to adopt a casual
attitude, strolling out of the closet to Kelly.

"Zip me up?"

"I guess that makes sense." Kelly stood
on the bed to reach the hook at the top of her mother's dress.

Allison scooped up the discarded dresses and
headed back to the closet. How did other single mother's do this? Hotels?
Taking another uneven breath, Allison walked back into the bedroom and opened
her jewelry box.

"What time will you be home?"

"We'll come by to pick you up no later than
eleven." She stabbed the earrings at the holes in her ears, grimacing at
her misses.

"That early?" Kelly flopped back on the
bed, throwing aside   the pillows Allison had carefully arranged. "What do
people your age do on a date anyway?"

The shoe Allison reached for with her toe slid
across the carpet as she stumbled. This was tough. How did married couples
separate their lives with their kids from their - she glanced at the now
rumpled bed - their personal life. 

Stuffing her foot in the reluctant shoe, Allison
stood up straight and faced Kelly. "We're going to dinner."

"You're going to eat from six-thirty until
eleven?"

Allison glanced at her bedside clock. Hurry,
Brett. Rescue me. "We may have drink before dinner and walk around
afterwards..."

The phone rang as Allison's voice drifted off.

"It's probably for me." Kelly rolled
over the bedspread, wrinkling it as she went. "Hello."

When the doorbell rang, Allison stared at the
disheveled bed for just a second before leaving the room.

I guess it's not important what the bed looks like
for our first...

#

"You ready to go?" Brett set his coffee
cup on the restaurant table and reached for Allison's hand.

She turned her palm up, allowing her fingers to
curl into Brett's larger hand, but didn't answer.

"You want to go somewhere for a drink?"

She looked up, surprised at the question. Is he
nervous, too? Or does he just realize how anxious I am? His eyes were warm and
inviting.

"What do you want to do?" she asked
softly.

He tugged her hand closer squeezing it gently, his
eyes turning dark gray. "I want to make love to you."

Her heart turned over. "Let's go."

#

He cut off the engine and flipped off the car
lights. Placing a hand behind her head, he kissed her forehead. Next he moved
to her mouth, nibbling on her lips before parting them and kissing her
urgently. His strong passion sent shivers through her body.

”We're going to be very good together, baby."

She could only nod, her nerves slowly being
replaced with desire. When he slipped his hand away and opened his door, she
sank back against the seat.

I really want this man.

She unlocked the front door and reached for a
light, but Brett caught her hand, twirling her to his chest. He pressed her
head against his cheek and whispered huskily. "I'm going to try and be gentle,
Allison. But, I don't know how I'll do it." His fingers pressed into her
back. "I want you and I'm already finding it hard to control myself."

She slanted her head back slightly, running her
hands over his shoulders and around his neck. "I want you, too."

She led him down the hall to her bedroom. Stopping
at the foot of the bed, she kicked off her heels. Brett sat on the edge of the
bed and removed his shoes and socks. When Allison returned from laying her
earrings and watch on her jewelry box, he was standing very still.

"You look nice in a suit.” She placed her
hands on the lapels of his jacket, rubbing her fingers over the dark gray
material. “Better in person than in that fancy corporate brochure." She
shoved the jacket off his shoulders and folded it, laying it on a chair against
the wall.

He nodded, barely breathing as she loosened his
tie and drew it through his collar. Without taking her eyes from his face, she
slung it toward the chair.

His hands, suddenly unleashed, clasped her arms.
"Let me undress you, Allison," he said through clenched teeth. “I’ve
been dreaming about it.”

She dropped her hands to her sides as he reached
around to her back. He slid her zipper down quickly, catching it on the fabric.

"Damn. Turn around."

He leaned down, mumbling as he moved the zipper
slowly back and forth until he accomplished his goal. She stepped out of the
dress as it slid to the carpet.

His hand traced down her back before turning her
around. His eyes ran from her face down her body, taking in the skimpy bra and
panties she’d bought for this night. He ran a fingertip down the straps, over
her breasts, stopping briefly before seizing the edges of her panties with both
hands.

"You look incredibly sexy in these
Allison...but right now...I just want you naked." His eyes bore into hers,
his voice low, a whisper of agony.

He unhooked her bra, letting it drop to the floor
and kissed the top of her thigh as he moved her panties down her legs. Standing
rapidly, he grabbed her head, kissing her urgently as he pulled her body
against his. She could feel his erection beneath the rough fabric of his suit
pants.

"Now, Brett." She began frantically
unbuttoning his shirt. "I want to see you too."

He rapidly undid his cuffs and reached for his
belt.

"No," she whispered, "I'll do
it." She whipped his belt out and dropped it on the floor, unfastened his
pants and drew down the zipper. Pushing down his pants and boxers, she stooped
and dragged them away from his legs.

As she stood up, Brett took one step toward her,
then towed her to the bed. Whipping the covers aside in one movement, he fell
with her to the sheets.

"At last." Brett hugged her tightly.
"We’re finally alone." He rubbed his hand down her head, stopping at
the gold clip at her nape. "May I?"

She nodded.

He unclasped her hair, spreading it over her
shoulders. “I love your hair. It’s so beautiful.” He dipped his face first into
the auburn curls and then moved his lips down her neck to her breast. His
tongue ran a circle around her nipple, before sucking gently.

She pulled his head closer to her body with one
hand and ran her palm down his back with the other, stopping momentarily at his
waist, then inching toward his erection throbbing against her leg. When she
circled him, his hips jerked forward.

"Harder, Allison." His fingers slid down
her stomach and into her wetness. She shivered at his touch. Slowly his
explored, then faster, finding the rhythm suited to her body.

"Tell me what you need. Guide me," Brett
rasped.

She moved her body to position his hand. "That's
it. Yes."

Gasping for air, he moved his lower body away from
Allison's stroking. "Hold off for a minute. I need to slow down."

Dropping her hand to the bed, she gave in to the
feelings coiling inside her at his touch. Would it happen? She thrashed her
head as the tension grew. "Now, Brett, now." She reached for him.

"No. Not until you're ready."

"But..."

"Just relax and enjoy." He slid an arm
under her shoulder, pulling her body closer to his, taking her breast in his
mouth. He teased her nipple with his tongue. Slowly moving his mouth up her
chest, Brett kissed the edge of her ear. "You feel so wonderful in my
arms, Allison. Just knowing how you respond to me...it's incredible."

His words and movements pushed Allison closer to
the edge, but still...not...

"Brett." She clutched his thigh, drawing
his body on top of hers. "Please come inside me. Please."

“Are you sure?”

Maybe if he was inside. She nodded.

He nudged her legs open and plunged inside in one
quick motion. She arched up to meet him, taking him deep into her body, her
breath catching. He stopped his movement. "You all right?"

"Yes, yes. Don't stop."

Lowering his upper body onto his elbows, Brett set
up a motion that felt so...good...

Yes. She felt herself tensing. And thinking. This
was not the time to think, Allison. Concentrate on how good he felt inside
as...he...moved and moved.

His back muscles tightened under her fingertips,
then one last hard thrust and he threw his head back, closing his eyes before
collapsing.

After several heavy breaths, he slipped off to her
side. "Come with me. I want to stay inside."

Leaving her legs around his thighs, they remained
connected.

As his breathing evened, his body relaxed.

Hers was still tense.

Brett tried to hold her close, but eventually
nature took over. "Oh well, I guess we couldn't stay like that
forever." He dropped on his back. "I just don't have the staying
power I had when I was young."

She rolled to face him, running her hand over his
chest. "I'm glad. I don't think my body could take any more...staying
power."

"We'll just have to see about that. Maybe
next time I won't be so excited I can barely control myself."

Walking her fingers down over his waist and over
his hip, circling past a now relaxed part of his body, she appraised the masculine
form lying next to her. "I kind of like having you out of control and
anxious for me."

“Speaking of control.”

Oh no. He could tell. She drew her hand back and
closed her eyes.

“I’m sorry I rushed, baby. I didn’t take enough
time for you.” He ran his hand down her stomach and slid it between her legs.
“I promise I’ll be slower next time. So now let’s...”

She clasped her legs together. “It’s okay, Brett.
It felt good.”

He hesitated and then moved his hand to her chin,
lifting her face. “But not good enough for you. And that makes it not good
enough for me.” He brushed back her hair. “I may act like I’m a teenager half
the time around you, but that’s not how I want to make love to you. It’s about
both of us.”

“Maybe next time.”

“I don’t want to pressure you. I just want to make
love to you. Completely.”

“I...”

“Come here.” He stuffed a pillow behind his head
and pressed her down on his chest. “Talk to me.”

“About what.”

“Let’s see. I know you said you haven’t been with
anyone since James, so...are you just nervous with me?”

She shook her head. “No. I thought I would be. I
mean I was a little nervous, but I really, really wanted to make love to you.”

He finger combed her hair over her shoulder.
“Okay. So you were ready and I was ready. Too ready, maybe for me, but...is
there something you like that I didn’t do?”

“Oh no. It was great. It felt great.”

“It’s all right to tell me if you need something
I’m not doing. It takes time to learn to please each other.”

“I...”

“Allison, did you have orgasms with James?”

Oh god, he was blunt.

“I was very young...and he was my first...we
tried, some...”

“Is that a no?”

She nodded, her cheek rubbing against the hair on
his chest.

“Well just because you weren’t successful with
him, doesn’t mean we won’t be. You’re a very sexy woman.”

Could she?

“I think you need to relax. This is not the time
to be in control, Allison.” He kneaded the muscles in her back. “I know I’m too
laid back for you most of the time, but trust me, this is definitely the time
to be laid back and just let it happen.”

She smiled at his instructions.

“One more question.”

“Yes?”

“I’m assuming from some of the guidance you were
giving me that you do know what will make it happen, so it has happened?”

She gasped at his implications.

“I’m not going to ask for details. Relax.” He held
her tightly against him. “It just helps to know if we’re starting at ground
zero or just at the point where you add a partner to the experience.”

This was way too embarrassing.

“I’ll assume we’re at the partner stage. And that
makes it easier. With just a little education on my part, given by you of
course, we’ll be able to accomplish this together.”

What was she going to do?

“So you just think about what you need, anything
at all, and we’ll have a great time on this project.” He kissed the top of her
head. “You want to start tonight?”

This conversation must end. She glanced over his
chest at the bedside clock.

“It’s getting late.”

“It’s not that late.” He rotated her to her back
and leaned over her, looking into her eyes. “But I think I’ve embarrassed you
enough for one night, so we’ll wait till next time if you want to.” He kissed
the top of her nose. “And I’ll be looking forward to it.” He kissed her cheek.
“This was wonderful, baby.” He kissed her lips. “I haven’t felt this good in a
very, very long time.”

"I guess it didn't matter what the bed looked
like, huh?"

"What?" Brett lifted his head slightly.
"What's wrong with the bed?"