My Heart's Passion (3 page)

“Since when did you take up breaking and entering, little girl?”

Chloe felt the tension seep out of her body.
Samuel.

“Since the keys Mary gave me didn’t fit her damned front door. Since when did you need to use brute force to get a little action?” Chloe felt her breath hitch as laughter rumbled through Samuel’s chest, still firmly pressed up against her breasts.

“I don’t need force, little girl. I merely didn’t want you trying those silly self-defense moves on me, potentially giving me a bruise. Mary has been very vocal in her pride on your self-defense skills.”

Chloe squirmed. If she could just get some sort of leverage…but with her entire lower body twined in Samuel’s and her arms caged in his huge embrace, she didn’t hold out much hope.

“What are you doing here?” he breathed in her ear. The teasing puff of his breath made her heart beat accelerate wildly. Chloe couldn’t tell if she was annoyed or incredibly turned on by the situation.

If the heated blood flowing through her system and the dampness in her panties were any indication, she had a sinking sensation she was more turned on than offended by the heavy press of Samuel’s body.

Unfortunately, much as she would love to shed her clothes and inhibitions, she didn’t think simply having a fling with this man would work, certainly not in the long term. Mary had insisted on merely having one night with Dominic. Nearly a year later they were happily married and expecting their first child.

So much for a one-night stand with a Rutledge man!

Chloe took a deep breath, the one from the bottom of her diaphragm her Tai Chi instructor had taught her a number of years ago. A calming breath.

“I needed a break. Mary offered me the use of her cabin, as she and Dominic are going away for the long weekend. I didn’t realize you’d be sitting inside it waiting for me. May I get up now?”

She couldn’t see Samuel’s expression in the dark, but she could almost feel his puzzlement, the weight of his stare as he looked at her. She dug into her jeans pocket, withdrawing the keys Mary had lent her that had been so useless.

“Here. Mary’s keys. Believe me now?”

Suddenly, Samuel’s large, comforting weight was removed from her body and she simply lay on the bed.

“My apologies. But obviously you got the directions incorrect. This is
my
cabin. Not Dom’s. You must have made a wrong turn at the fork in the road.”

Chloe felt heat rise in her cheeks. What he must think of her! Panting after him like every other bimbo he encountered. Well, she would squash
that
rumor before it could truly begin.

“I…umm…well! I must be off, lots of sleep to catch up on, and it is rather late. Sorry for intruding…”

Wriggling off the bed, she stepped quickly over to where her backpack still lay by the window, scooped it up and turned in what she hoped was the direction of the door.

Before she could take another step, Samuel’s large, lean body blocked her way.

“Hmm…I haven’t been real hospitable, have I?
Sha
me on me. Dom
would
be upset; and Artemais would shake his head in that arrogant way of his. Let me make this up to you for my earlier lack of manners.”

“Oh no, no! Really. If the situations had been reversed and a strange man had crawled through my window I’d have done the same thing. Honestly! I’ll just head back down the road and crash at Mary’s.”

Samuel took a step closer to her, causing her to step backwards. Another step, and she was backed up against the wall.

“Uh, Samuel.”

Very carefully, he leaned both hands against the wall, effectively caging her for the second time this evening.

She could feel the heat in his body—feel it radiating to ensnare her, draw her closer to him. Despite herself, she closed her eyes and breathed the scent of him into her, enjoying the masculine warmth he emitted.

She felt her legs tremble. The desire to give in to temptation and wrap her arms around him, to pull him closer, was immense.

“Samuel, this really won’t work. I didn’t come out here to start some sort of sexual odyssey with you.”

Chloe cringed as he began to nibble his way down her neck, right into that sensitive spot at the juncture of neck and shoulder. Hearing the breathiness in her voice, she cleared her throat and tried again.

“Seriously. I’m here to look at my options. I need some personal time, personal space. I…uh…need to…
ooh
…make plans…”

Chloe gave up trying to speak as Samuel ran his hands up and down her sides, fitting them into the groove of her curves. Just the lightest touch of his hands—even through her jeans and thin sweater—sent electric thrills racing through her.

It was the most bizarre feeling, but she could swear she felt the electric attraction rush between them. It was as if they were connected somehow through their lust and mutual attraction.

“I’ve been thinking of this since the wedding. You were always so careful to not get caught with me alone. Did you really think you could avoid this? Avoid me, little girl?”

Chloe wanted to protest the endearment. Yet he didn’t say “little girl” with contempt or patronizingly. It was said caressingly, as an acknowledgement of the almost ten year difference between their ages.

For a moment she considered pretending uneasiness at the large difference between their ages. From one gasp to the next she discarded the idea. She doubted she could carry off the outraged maiden act. He would undoubtedly know she was quite mature for her age and always preferred company of anyone, male or female, a number of years older than herself.

“I would hardly call twenty-six ‘little’, Samuel.”

“At almost thirty-seven it seems young enough.”

Chloe shivered. His voice was so sexy! Mary had mentioned he sang vocals for their band. She could well understand that voice crooning, beckoning, to females everywhere. Thankfully, it was that thought more than any other that snapped her back to reality.

The thought of the hundreds of other women who had fallen under his spell; the thought of that beautiful voice and sensually caressing hands being used on hordes of other women, was better than a bucket of cold water.

Chloe pulled herself back. Samuel still retained hold of her body, but his lips were thankfully not connected anymore.

“I need to be heading back to Dominic’s cabin. I have to call Mary, leave her a message to say I’ve arrived safely.”

“Call her from here.”

Chloe rolled her eyes and dodged out of his embrace. Samuel was a heady temptation, she needed the fresh air to cool her off.

“Sure. Have
your
number come up on her cell phone’s caller ID. I don’t think so.”

She could feel the weight of Samuel’s stare on her back as she crossed the room to pick up her backpack. Seeing the messed up bed sheets as she passed back by the bed made her blush.

Even though he couldn’t have been asleep for
that
long, as it had only been less than two hours since she had last seen him, she felt that strange sensation of having woken the sleeping wolf in his lair.

Maybe if she could simply get out of here and sort her screaming hormones out, she could start to relax again. Briefly, she wondered if she had packed her vibrator and spare batteries.

As she scooped up her bag, mentally running through what she had packed, and then unpacked, it took a moment for Samuel pulling on a sweater and sneakers to register.

“What are you doing?”

“Putting on sneakers and a sweater. It’s a bit nippy outside.”

“Don’t be stupid, you’re not coming with me.”

Samuel raised an eyebrow cockily.

“Of course I am. Dominic would have my head if I simply let you run wild outside alone. A gentleman always escorts his lady home, or so Artemais and William have always insisted.”

“But—”

“Besides, there’s a shortcut I can show you. It’s not precisely a track, but your car will get through it with no problems if I drive.”

Chloe sighed. Arguing with him would only delay them longer. “And you can walk back by yourself?”

Samuel grinned cheekily. Instead of answering yes or no, he simply stated, “It’s only a little over a mile.”

Satisfied she could withstand any further seduction attempts, Chloe nodded and slung her backpack over her shoulder. She was tired and hated sleeping through the day. If she didn’t get to bed really soon, the dawn would crack before she crawled into bed and sleep would become impossible.

“Then lead on, Macduff.”

“Ooh,
Sha
kespeare. Be careful, little girl, or you might just turn me on.”

Chloe laughed and rolled her eyes, slamming the door shut behind them.

Chapter Three

Chloe cringed at how easily Mary’s keys turned the lock in her
real
front door. Dominic must have fixed the lock after all. Chloe sighed; she could be
such
a moron sometimes. She must be more tired than she realized.

Swinging the door open, she turned around, slightly breathless at the nearness of Samuel and his large body.

“Thanks for the escort. I think I can take it from here.”

Switching on the hall light, she illuminated the foyer and main room. From the front door, she could see the kitchen and living room, and the small hall that led into the bedrooms.

Turning back with a firm smile planted on her face, she looked up to Samuel. He was studying her, his eyes roving over her face as if searching for something. She started mentally reciting French conjugation, determined not to let a speck of the lust she felt show in her eyes.

His deep blue eyes glowed with a heat and hunger. Chloe wondered if French conjugation was enough to keep the insane feelings of lust out of her eyes and mind.

Samuel leaned forward, and planted a soft kiss on her cheek. She felt heat swell up inside her again.
How the hell does he do this to me? One tiny caress and I simply melt inside?

Chloe pressed her lips together, determined not to moan or give herself away in any other way. As he pulled back, she could see the male amusement in his eyes.

“I assume you’ll want to go on some long walks tomorrow morning, to aid your
contemplation
and search, right?”

Frowning at the mental jumps needed to following his reasoning, Chloe simply nodded. “Probably, though not too early as it’s rather close to dawn right now. Why?”

“I’ll come by around breakfast time, lead you around. An unwary little girl could get lost in these big woods. We wouldn’t want a big bad wolf to gobble you all up, now would we?”

Chloe stepped back, so she stood fully inside the cabin.

“The only big bad wolf around these parts is
you
, Mr. Rutledge. I’m not afraid of you, Samuel. Neither am I one of your stupid groupie girls, desperate to fall neatly into the palm of your hand. Sure. Come by tomorrow, or rather today, around nine. We can go on a nice long walk, and then you can leave me alone for the rest of the day. Deal?”

“The rest of the day?” he repeated. Nodding, he conceded to her wishes. “We have a deal. Until later, Chloe.”

With that, he stepped back and Chloe shut the door, resisting the impulse to slam it in his face.

She’d show him! He obviously thought he could seduce her with barely a word or gesture. Well she had much bigger fish to fry this weekend. Handling one horny Rutledge man should be easy when faced with all the things she wanted to organize in her life.

Taking a lovely hot, though damnably brief shower, Chloe breathed deeply in her meditation and calming exercises. The shower more than anything else helped her relax, made it far easier for herself to slip into that sleepy, hazy state. Curling up in the soft guest bed, she left the curtains open, wanting to have the last of the moonlight glow protectively over her as she slept. She wasn’t sure what was so soothing about the moonlight tonight of all nights, but it made her feel protected and loved.

She slept deeply and dreamlessly.

Chapter Four

Friday Midmorning

Samuel leaned over the kitchen counter and tried not to leer at Chloe. In snug-fitting jeans and a brightly patterned sweater, she made a cheerful picture first thing in the morning. She was running a brush through her light brown locks, the early morning sunlight highlighting blonde tresses among the brown.

Samuel found himself captivated by the simple action of her running the brush through her hair. He squashed a slightly disappointed feeling when she pulled back the mass into a ponytail, ending the little show.

“Ready to go walk, little girl?”

Chloe rolled her eyes, causing him to grin. He could tell from her drawn out groans and overreaction that she didn’t
really
object to him calling her “little girl”. She would have decked him, or tried to deck him he consoled himself, if she really had a serious problem with it.

The overreaction, the rolling of her gorgeous eyes, the loud, long sighs were all indications that while she might not enjoy the nickname, she didn’t really want to admit to liking it. Even with the potential to upset her, the reaction he elicited from her every time he called her the endearment tempted him to continue.