Nan Ryan (6 page)

Smiling at her, Johnny turned around, nudged the door open with his shoulder, and carried her into a dimly lit, luxuriant beige boudoir, again kissing her.

Nevada’s glorious love dream continued as Johnny kissed her with exquisite tenderness and slowly lowered her to her feet. Then for a long, tension-filled minute they stood there, not touching, looking only at each other.

When finally Nevada’s eyes lowered from Johnny’s, she was alarmed to find they were standing directly before an oversized bed where sheets of shimmering beige silk had already been turned invitingly down. Her nervous gaze immediately returned to Johnny’s dark face, her large blue eyes questioning, the color high in her cheeks. Johnny, grinning drunkenly down at her, experienced an unfamiliar surge of regard and concern for this bought beauty.

At once he was annoyed with himself. He was allowing her fragile looks to affect him. Her wee size made her appear vulnerable and sweet. That was it; there was nothing more to it. She was, in truth, as jaded and world-wise as he. Matter of fact, this woman who was so small she had to tip her head back to look up at him could probably show him a thing or two.

That happy notion chased away any lingering apprehension and Johnny, grinning drunkenly once more, impatiently jerked the long tails of his white shirt up out of his tight black trousers.

Staring helplessly at the perfect symmetry of his bare sculpted shoulders, his deep muscular chest and long bronzed arms, Nevada gasped when he reached out, wrapped warm fingers around the back of her neck, and gently, commandingly urged her up on tiptoe as he bent to her.

Her hands quite naturally gripped his corded ribs and she found herself pressed to his naked torso. The heat he radiated was almost frightening, as were the hard, ungiving contours of his big lean body. She stood on her toes, clinging to him, turning a deaf ear to the tiny warning bells jangling in her tipsy brain. Instinctively she pressed her satin-covered breasts to his bare chest, marveling at the strange texture and tickle of the crisp chest hair against her sensitive flesh.

But when, in the middle of the smoldering kiss, Johnny reached between their melded bodies and freed her right breast, Nevada drew in a quick, strangled breath. Then gasped into his covering mouth when Johnny pressed her so close her naked breast flattened against him.

She made an attempt to pull away, but Johnny’s arms were like steel around her and his hard, hot chest with its thick crisp hair was delightfully abrasive to her bare breast. The contact was so excitingly pleasing, Nevada instinctively began rubbing her bare, aching breast against him, having no idea what she was doing to Johnny.

He felt his blood pulsing and no longer bothered with trying to slow down the hardening of his groin. The touch of Nevada’s bare breast against his chest gave birth to the kind of raging passion that his body could not deny. The tautened nipple moving in seductive little circles just below his pounding heart made him want to rip the blue satin dress from her tempting curves, swiftly bury himself in her, and attain his release.

He didn’t do it.

Johnny pulled back a little and set Nevada from him. Shaking with emotion, she looked anxiously up at him and frantically pulled at the bodice of her dress. Johnny grinned, caught her hand, drew it to his lips, kissed it, and placed it on his chest. Then pushing the bodice back down, he gently cupped her bare right breast in his hand and rubbed his rough thumb over its aching tip.

Her throat dry, her eyes round, Nevada, blushing, murmured, “Johnny, no.”

“You’re very sweet and beautiful,” he murmured, as his thumb continued to play with her breast.

“Y-you are too, but—”

“May I?” he said, and not waiting for an answer, languidly peeled down the other side of her satin bodice. “What’s this, darlin’?” he asked, seeing and promptly lifting a neatly folded man’s handkerchief that was pressed to the undercurve of her breast.

Blushing more deeply, Nevada reached for it. “My money,” she said. “All the money I have in the world.”

“Well, darlin’, you’ll have more after tonight.” He grinned knowingly.

“I—I … will?” She gave him a puzzled look and holding the handkerchief tightly in one hand, attempted to cover her naked breasts with the other.

Johnny gently took the folded handkerchief from her, tossed it onto the night table, and pulled her back to him. “God, you’re adorable,” he said, drunkenly discerning that she was bent on continuing to play the game, to pretend that this riverboat rendezvous was actually
l’amour
. She was, he slowly decided, as smart as she was desirable. Eight to five said that her “helpless little girl” routine generally gleaned her more money in one night than the rest of the
Gambler’s
girls made in a season. “So sweet,” he said, urging her up against him, his hands locking behind her. “So desirable.”

He kissed her tenderly, then said against her lips, “I want to undress you. I want to hold you naked in my arms. Will you allow me that pleasure, sweetheart?”

“Johnny Roulette!” She gasped, her small body going rigid. “Certainly not!” Then she began to struggle, trying to free herself from his imprisoning arms. “We should go into the other room. Or back downstairs to the tables. Let’s gamble some more.”

“We’ll gamble later,” he said, his voice heavy with desire. “You know what I want, sweet. Give it to me.” He slid his hand down over her bottom, lifted her a little, and pressed her close. And he kissed her again.

Nevada vainly struggled against the intoxication of his kiss and was left so weak and dazed by his masterful mouth, she could only shake her head helplessly when his heated lips finally released hers. Johnny turned her about so that she was facing away from him. His hands shook a little as he went to work on the tiny hooks going down the back of the blue evening gown. When Nevada caught her breath and realized exactly what he was doing, she knew she had to put an end to this madness at once.

There would be plenty of lovely passion-filled nights once they were man and wife. They could wait.

“Johnny, we really should wait until …” She said it softly, sure he would understand.

She tried to step away and found she was caught up in a battle she had no chance of winning. Johnny pulled her back against him so swiftly, she felt all the air leave her body.

“I have waited, baby.” His voice was still low and calm, bat his hands were determined as he pushed the sleeves down her arms and soon the gown’s bodice lay in shimmering folds at her waist.

Nevada trembled, flustered and afraid.

“Ah, baby, don’t,” said Johnny, gently drawing her back against him, putting his arms around her, silently applauding her acting ability. If she was intent on continuing the game, he would allow it. At least for a few more minutes. His chin resting lightly atop her dark head, he said, “It’s all right. All right. I won’t rush you.”

The back of her head resting on his broad, bare chest, Nevada, misunderstanding, closed her eyes and laid her small hands atop his. “Thank you, darling.” She sighed, relieved. Dreamily she added, “After all, we have the rest of our lives.”

“Mm. At least the rest of the night,” said Johnny, kissing her raven hair. He moved his hands from beneath hers and urged her trembling body more fully to his, letting her become thoroughly, aware of his physical condition. His voice was hoarse, whispering into her ear, “Feel what you’ve done to me, darlin’.”

“Johnny!” Growing panicky now, Nevada twisted wildly, desperate to be free.

Pressed against him as she was, her urgent squirming only served to further arouse him.

“Let me, baby,” he murmured and bent to press kisses to the curve of her neck and shoulder while one big hand cupped her breast and the other slid down over her flat belly to cup the satin-covered V between her thighs.

“
Johnnnnny!
” She gasped again, shocked at what his hands were doing and frightened by the heat exploding throughout her body. Catching Johnny totally by surprise, Nevada abruptly threw off his bold hands and made a terrifled dash for the door. She was at the open portal when he caught her.

Grabbing her, Johnny wrapped long fingers tightly around her upper arm, pulled her back inside, slammed the door closed, spun her swiftly about, and pushed her up against it.

“Don’t you think this has gone just about far enough?” he said, a slight edge creeping into his voice.

He gripped the doorframe on either side of her, trapping Nevada inside. He loomed tall and menacing before her, his bare broad chest, only inches from her face, rising and falling rapidly. His handsome features had hardened and a dangerous light now glinted in his black eyes. Nevada swallowed hard, her bare back pressed to the door’s intricately carved surface. Nodding anxiously, she said quickly, “Yes, yes, I do.”

“Good,” he said.

Expecting him to step away and let her go, she stared openmouthed as his hard lips, cruel and punishing, descended to hers. She gave a brief moan of protest before his tongue swept the warm wet recesses of her mouth. In a futile attempt to resist, Nevada stiffened and pushed on his massive chest.

It didn’t work. He was immovable.

The hot, insistent mouth holding hers prisoner was again spreading that all-encompassing heat, and Nevada began to fight herself as well as Johnny. She moved her head from side to side, trying to escape that hot, brazen mouth, and she continued to resist with all her strength until, rankled, Johnny lifted his dark head, grabbed her pummeling hands, and pushed them up over her head.

Pinning them there with one of his, he let his heated gaze slide down to touch her bare, lifted breasts. Speechless, Nevada stared at him, her blue eyes pleading with him to let her go. He didn’t. He bent his dark head and captured a quivering nipple, drawing it into his hot wet mouth.

Nevada shuddered violently and frantically tried to pull her hands free of his. It was impossible. Easily he held her fragile wrists high above her head and continued to feast on her breasts, running his tongue around the stiff little peaks, sucking gently, setting her afire.

Still she struggled, torn between desire and shame. While her flushed body demanded more of the unbelievable pleasure his mouth was causing, her brain told her she must stop this forbidden bliss and flee at once. So Nevada strained against his imprisoning hands and his questing mouth and finally Johnny lifted his head.

“I have,” he said, growing increasingly annoyed, “had just about enough of this charade.”

Uncharacteristically drunk and achingly aroused, Johnny wanted what he was paying for. And he wanted it now. So he curled his long dark fingers into the fabric of the blue satin gown at her waist and forcefully yanked it down, turning a deaf ear to Nevada’s shrieks of outrage. When it lay in a shimmering heap at her feet and Nevada stood there wearing nothing but her lace-trimmed drawers, Johnny leaned down and kissed her mouth.

At first she refused to respond, tried valiantly to turn her head away, but it was hopeless. Then, at last, she thought for sure he had given up when his lips left hers. Baffled, she watched Johnny put his lean forefinger into his mouth and wet it. Immediately his lips were back on hers and, while he kissed her, Johnny’s hand went beneath her lace-trimmed underpants. It swept down over her quivering belly, moved through the raven curls between her thighs, and sought the feminine sweetness that he yearned for and had to have.

With the first touch of his skilled, wet finger on that ultrasensitive flesh, Nevada’s total surrender began. An incredible warmth engulfed her and the will to resist was melted in the intense heat.

She had no idea how long they stood there against that door, her hands above her head while Johnny kissed her, caressed her, and guided her along the seductive path toward total fulfillment. She never knew when Johnny released her hands. Didn’t realize when they fell limply to her sides, then crept up to grasp his rock-hard biceps.

She only knew that she no longer wanted to leave this room, this man, this splendor. While his plundering lips and tongue turned her gasps and moans of objection into gentle sighs of pleasure, and his magical fingers caused a wild new kind of joy to suffuse her entire body, Nevada felt the last traces of logical reasoning slipping away. Her mouth and body and heart were open to this magnificent man in whose arms she would become a complete woman. So while Johnny continued to arouse Nevada with such leisurely devastating expertise, her concern for right and wrong began to seem terribly foolish, as though life’s rules did not apply to the two of them. She loved him. What did it matter if their honeymoon came before the wedding?

Johnny lips finally left hers.

“That’s right, sweet,” he murmured thickly against her throat, his eyes a hot, liquid black. “Don’t fight it.”

He had her totally snared and he knew it. She would give him no more trouble. He kissed her breasts until they were pink and tingling and he deftly finished undressing her. And he told her, in a deep masculine voice, all the forbidden things they were going to do together.

“… keep you naked always, baby … kiss you all over, sweetheart … make love until we’re both exhausted, love …”

Nevada loved every arousing caress of his skilled hands, thrilled to every shocking act he proposed, savored every glorious second of her well-handled sexual awakening.

Immersed in erotic pleasure, she stood there against that door and undulated and sighed and memorized everything about the luxurious showboat bedroom where her heart and her virginity were being offered to the only man who would ever be given either.

The beige silk walls shimmered handsomely in the subdued light from a lone golden wall sconce located directly above the wide bed. A pair of navy velvet chaise lounges sat at right angles to a round table of shiny gold-streaked beige marble. High above the table were two small portholes open to the night. Slatted doors directly opposite the bed led to a spacious bathroom where a beige marble tub with gold fixtures rested atop a pedestal in the center of the room. Carpeted steps led up to the massive tub and around it, on three sides of the room, were tall mirrors in gilt frames.