Paradise (27 page)

Robbie gasped and writhed under his manipulations and sensual coaxing. When the tension became unbearable, he turned her and straddled her across his thighs, holding her poised above him.

“I like it this way,” he growled, guiding her down on his shaft. “Ride me.”

She braced her hands on his chest and he lowered her, savoring the feel of his entrance into her tight, wet channel. His gaze never left her face. Her head dropped back and her eyes closed as she welcomed him into her body. He began with slow solid thrusts, but she soon took control squeezing him with her inner walls.

“Harder, Eddie, harder. Talk to me.”

But he couldn’t. As her climax overtook her, he gave into the power of his own orgasm blinding him to everything except his need for this woman.

Chapter Thirteen

Eddie stood behind her and draped a warm bath towel over her shoulders. “I’ve made love to you on the floor of a tent, the door of my apartment and in a bathtub. Now, I want to try something really kinky.”

She eyed him warily, not sure she was up for any more gymnastics. “Yeah? What did you have in mind?”

“Something really different. I want to make love to you in my bed.”

She smiled. “Sounds really bizarre. Maybe I’m not ready for that much excitement.”

“Oh, you will be.” He nuzzled the back of her neck. “By the time we’re in my bed, you’ll be more than ready,” he promised.

Robbie shivered. She’d heard about people doing this, making love again and again when they couldn’t get enough of each other. Actually, she thought it only happened in steamy novels or X-rated movies. People just couldn’t keep doing it.

The most she’d ever done it was twice with Rick and even then, she hadn’t been as enthusiastic the second time around. But with Eddie, it was a whole different world. They’d just spent an hour in his antique bathtub, and it hadn’t been enough.

He kissed her neck and turned her in his arms. “Oh my God! Oh, babe, I am so sorry. Oh jeez.” He stepped back and stared at her, a shocked expression on his face.

“Now what?” All right, so she wasn’t exactly cover material for the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue, but that was no reason to recoil at the sight of her naked body. He reached for the dimmer switch and flooded the room with light. She followed his eyes and looked down at herself.

“Yikes!” Her breasts and stomach looked like some madman had gone berserk with an electric sander. She suddenly became aware of a stinging on her neck and face. Gingerly, she smoothed her fingertips over them. Rough abrasions greeted her touch.

In the moment it took her to assimilate the clues, Eddie wrapped her tightly in the towel. “I’m so sorry. Oh God. How could I have been so oblivious?”

She couldn’t suppress her laughter. “I guess this is one of the drawbacks of making out with a mountain man. Been a while since you’ve seen a razor?” She leaned back and patted his rough cheek. “Eddie McGraw, you sure do turn a girl inside out. I never noticed you were slicing me to ribbons!”

“I’m so sorry, baby. Just stay there. There must be something in this medicine cabinet we can put on you.”

Rummaging through the cabinet hidden behind a beveled glass mirror over the pedestal sink, he produced a tube of burn cream. Squeezing out a handful, he dabbed it on her stomach abrasions with hesitant fingers. She wasn’t sure if she shivered at his touch or the coolness of the cream.

He worked his way up her body, being especially gentle as he smoothed it on her breasts. Her shoulders were particularly sensitive. Eddie did like to nuzzle. She held up her hair, providing him easier access.

“Wait a minute.” He grabbed a soft terrycloth robe from a hook on the back of the door. “Here, put this on. It will keep the cream out of your hair.” He loosely tied the belt. “Green,” he commented, “like your beautiful eyes.”

He kissed her forehead then moved to the sink. “Just one more thing I need to do,” he said, grabbing a towel and tying it around his hips.

“Let me guess, something to do with burn control?”

He sighed heavily, took out a can of shaving cream and lathered up.

Robbie searched through her backpack and came out with toothbrush and paste. “Move over, Grisly,” she said, bumping him with her hip. “Dental hygiene coming through.”

Eddie marveled at how quickly their erotic escapades turned domestic. They looked like two old married people getting ready for bed. What would it be like married to Robbie?

By now, they would have had dinner, discussed their days, tucked the kids into bed, and be getting ready to fall into each others’ arms for a well-deserved session of lovemaking.

He waited patiently while she rinsed her mouth so he could continue shaving and speculated on how many kids they had -- at least a couple of each, he hoped. She’d make a great soccer mom, taking the kids to practice and games. She’d help them with their homework. Bake cookies…

“Are you all right? You look like you’re back in the swamp waiting for something to bite you.”

He jumped back to the present. “Can you cook?”

“I beg your pardon?”

“Can you cook? I mean, I did all the cooking this week, but that’s part of the deal. Do you know how to cook?”

She leaned against the doorjamb, rubbing lavender scented lotion on her arms. “I know my way around a microwave, if that’s what you mean. Why? Are you hungry? Do you want me to fix you something?”

“No, no. Can you bake cookies?”

“At this hour? Probably not. How about a tuna sandwich or something instead?”

“No, I’m not hungry.” He wasn’t making much sense. After all, she wasn’t privy to his brief fantasy. Still, it would be nice to know if she could bake cookies.

“I guess I’m more tired than I thought.” He sluiced water onto his face and washed the Mountain Man down the drain. “Better?”

She reached out a hand to caress his cheek. “Smooth as a baby’s behind.”

He started. Now why would she use that expression? Was she feeling the same domestic vibes he was?

Robbie stepped back. “You’re looking strange again. I think you need some sleep.”

He led her back through the bedroom to his king sized bed. Bending to kiss her forehead, he dropped his towel and pulled the lapels of her bathrobe together.

“Better keep this on. I don’t want you to get hurt anymore that you are. Now, in you go.”

Following her, he reached over and turned on a small lamp. “It will save you from a stubbed toe if you have to get up.”

Robbie cuddled against his side. This was nice. Much better than her sneaking up on him in a rolling sleeping bag.

* * * * *

The ringing phone jarred Eddie from an erotic dream about his Channel Ten winner. Actually, it was more of a sub-conscious replay of last night than it was a dream. He opened one eye to check the clock. Dammit! Who was calling at 5:48 a.m.?

He checked the caller ID. Shit! He knew exactly who was calling. He’d like to pretend he wasn’t there, but the caller already knew he was. Resigned, he picked up the phone.

“I know there’s a good reason why Robbie Miller’s car is still in our lot. You’re going to tell me you took her over to the Shady Arms Bed & Breakfast, aren’t you? You’re going to tell me that even though you got back in the middle of that storm, you had the good sense to get her a room at the Shady Arms, aren’t you?”

Eddie let his brother continue his tirade. He was building up a good head of steam.

“You’re going to tell me that those shoes and clothes on the back porch were left by some vagrant trying to get out of the rain, aren’t you? Aren’t you!”

Oh, yeah, no doubt about it. Nick was pissed. Better to let him run it out.

Eddie smiled as he spied his robe on the floor, remembering how much fun it was getting it off her. He leaned over and stroked Robbie’s naked back. She didn’t stir. Oh course, they’d been at each other all night. She was probably exhausted. He shook his head. He still hadn’t had enough of her.

“What you are
not
going to tell me is that our Channel Ten contest winner is up in your apartment, are you? You are
not
going to tell me that she’s up there right now in your bed, are you? Are you! Dammit, Eddie, how could you! Let me put it another way, little brother. If she isn’t out of there before Fran comes in, I am not going to be held responsible for your demise.”

Time to set the record straight. “Well hey, Nick, and a good morning to you, too.”

“This isn’t a joke, Eddie. We need her to like us. A cast off, disgruntled female is not going to give us a good review.”

“Calm down. Everything’s going to be all right. Now go away and let me sleep. I’ll talk to you later.”

“You’ll talk to me now, you jerk, or have you forgotten the Jansen sisters? Party of two? Three hour hiking tour over on the north side starting at seven o’clock? Why they always request you is beyond me, but they’re all yours so get your ass down here.”

The phone slammed in his ear, and Eddie hoped they wouldn’t have to replace the extension in the office. He scratched himself and rolled off the bed. Damn. How could life be so great one minute, then suck the next? Yeah, he was scheduled for the Jansen spinsters, but that had been last week. That was before he spent the night in
Paradise
with a sweet little camper. My God, that woman had stamina!

He wandered into the bathroom. The sight of the bathtub jolted him back to last night. Better make it a cold shower. It wouldn’t do to show up in the office with the hard-on that was building. Nick would bust a gasket for sure.

Later, staring into the mirror shaving, he took a good look at himself. So, how did he get her to stay? He drew a blank. Did he want her to stay? He shook his head ruefully. Just what he didn’t want -- a business-woman. Hadn’t he learned his lesson already? He shrugged. The image of her holding little Drew that first day haunted him.

Somewhere between Maisie’s on Monday morning and now, he had fallen in love with the woman. He’d have to make her see that they had the potential for something great, something beyond a fling.

A sickening thought stabbed him. What if she left while he was gone? Dressing quietly, he spied her backpack near the bathroom door. That’s it. Just what he needed.

* * * * *

A side trip after bringing the Jensens back delayed Eddie’s return later than anticipated. He eased the front door open. If Robbie was anywhere near as tired as he was, she’d still be asleep. Never had there been a night like that. He was amazed he was still alive. Hearing a noise in the kitchen, he deposited his packages on the sofa and crept across the room.

Leaning against the doorjamb, he watched Robbie leaf through a copy of Playboy. She sat at his table, still wearing his green robe, a cup of coffee in front of her. The steam rose and he caught a whiff of the hearty aroma.

His imagination wandered to his domestic thoughts of the previous evening. What if she was his wife, waiting for him to get back from work so they could…they could what? Do yard work? Go grocery shopping? Make love? Wait a minute, where were the kids? He wouldn’t want the kids walking in on them. He chuckled.

Get a grip, McGraw, there are no munchkins walking in on anyone.

Robbie turned at the sound. Her smile spread slowly but covered her whole face. “Good morning. It’s still morning, isn’t it?”

He smiled back, moving to squat in front of her chair. “Yeah, it’s still morning,” he replied, huskily, taking her face in both of his hands. He kissed her softly at first but quickly demanded more. She gripped his wrists and held tight while he reacquainted himself with every inch of her mouth.