Vivid Temptation (Touched By You) (9 page)

“We talked about the fun we had when we were young together. And I told him it was okay. I forgave him. And I have, honey. I forgive him. And I’m so sorry about his accident, sorry to hear he’s gone. And more than that, sorry that life didn’t turn out for him as he’d hoped. Sometimes we all do things, make decisions that later we wish we hadn’t. For Nicolas, it was just too late by the time he realized it.”

Natalie hugged her mother, tears streaming down her cheeks. There was nothing to say. It was such a sad story, her mother’s love for her father. “I love you, Mom. You have no idea how much I love you.”

The Ritz-Carlton Montréal in the social center of the city, close to high-end boutiques and galleries, had style and refinement. The elegant hotel attracted celebrities, business travelers, and even heads of state; it was perfect for a celebration.

Natalie was thrilled to visit the French-speaking city for their wedding anniversary. They’d been married a year, and a wonderful one it had been. The joyful occasion of their first anniversary was special. They flew the short distance in the private jet, and Tanner had the pilot sweep low over the College of Valleyfield. In front of the college buildings was a huge waterfall with waters crashing over the side; it was wide and the fall was deep, making the sight very dramatic.

The Ritz had the largest luxury suite in the city, and Tanner reserved it. There was a magnificent garden and amazing floral arrangements throughout the hotel. Natalie’s favorite feature was the heated marble flooring in the master bathroom. Upon arrival, a gold box was delivered to the room. It contained two dozen red roses with a note in Tanner’s handwriting:

To my amazing wife, Happy Anniversary

Natalie was choked up at the gesture, and hugged Tanner until he could barely breathe.

“I’m glad you like them, baby.”

“I love them.” It was going to be a wonderful weekend, one that neither of them would ever forget—Natalie was sure of that.

Late spring in the Canadian province of Quebec was a lovely time of year with pleasant temperatures, so they were able to go outdoors. Tanner hired a limo service to escort them around. During the day they walked around old Montréal, rich in seventeenth- and eighteenth-century old world charm. Once a fortified city, it was now a vibrant area of hotels, boutiques, and restaurants.

Later they drove to Mount Royal Park to enjoy the wooded area at the top and admire the view. The same designer had created Central Park in NYC. There was a small manmade lake, walking paths, and a sculpture garden. At one of the lookout points, Tanner stood behind Natalie with his arms around her. They looked down on the lush park and the city below. The afternoon sun cast an orange glow over the buildings, making the scene like something out of a fantasy.

“Do you know how much I love you?” Tanner squeezed her.

“As much as I love you?”

“More.”

Natalie didn’t see how that could be, but the fact that he thought so meant a lot. That evening they enjoyed cuisine française at an intimate establishment in a historic house; it was like something straight out of the French countryside. The burnished wood floors, exquisite artwork on the walls, white linens, and lace-curtained windows were utterly romantic.

They’d gone back to the room to change. Tanner wore a handsome charcoal gray suit. Natalie wore a cocktail dress. But not just any dress. This was her anniversary and she wanted to be stunning that evening. The red satin dress was one of her own designs; she’d had it made especially for the occasion.

The crisscross bra top showed off her cleavage to best advantage and the body-hugging silhouette was sensual. The hem stopped mid-thigh, and was extended an extra inch with red lace. The back dipped low, suggestively, and the satin fabric gleamed even in low restaurant lighting.

But she thought the shoes were the best feature. The bright red high heels caught attention before anything else. The shoes were elegant, yet just flashy enough, and wearing them, even her walk was sexier. The final touch was a tiny diamond necklace with delicate dangling earrings that glimmered.

Her hair was flowing in soft curls; her makeup was dramatic. When Tanner saw her, Natalie knew the dress and shoes had the effect she’d hoped for. His eyes drifted down her body and back up. The beautiful blue color of his eyes turned deeper and the emotion she saw nearly made her stumble in her flashy high heels.

“You are”—Tanner was at a loss for words for a moment—“quite a temptation.” The way he stood so still, staring at her, Natalie began to feel undressed. She didn’t go to all that trouble not to be able to wear the dress for longer than five minutes. With her husband looking at her that way, they might never make it to dinner.

“Mmm…a temptation.” She batted her eyelashes seductively. “One you must resist just a little longer.” Natalie took his arm and nodded her head toward the door. Inside, desire threatened to be her undoing. She smiled, faking a relaxed attitude she didn’t feel. It wouldn’t take much for Tanner to get this dress off of her, so her only hope was that he would lead her to the car.

The vivid image of Natalie walking toward him in the flaming red dress and sexy heels stayed in Tanner’s mind. Even in the back of the limo, the urge to ravage her burned in his veins. His wife was so stunning, so sexy. How did she do it? Natalie was the most sensual, desirable woman he’d ever met. Yet still she retained an air of innocence that drove him mad.

*****

The chef’s specialty was fish and seafood. Tanner requested a special tasting menu for the evening, each course to be paired with an appropriate wine. He watched his wife eating the fine cuisine and sipping the wine, but could only see what a vision of beauty she was.

The diamonds she wore glittered against her flawless skin. Her thick, dark curls gleamed, begging for him to lose his hands in them. The dress hugged her body, caressing every slender curve. Her softly rounded breasts, peeking out the top, tempted him. Somehow he would make it through dinner. Later, he had plans.

The food was prepared using local produce and fish from the Mediterranean Sea. The wines were imported from France. And the chef, originally from France, served an exquisite dessert of peaches
flambée, which he put the finishing touches on at their table.

Mid-dessert, a violinist came to the table and serenaded them at Tanner’s request. The music was lovely, and if Natalie weren’t already in a romantic mood, that would have put her in one. The musician in a tuxedo played several numbers for them, creating the feel of each song with his talented rendition.

“That was a surprise,” Natalie said.

“I thought you’d like it.”

“Roses, music…what else?” She grinned.

Tanner reached in his coat pocket and withdrew a small package wrapped in silver paper. He held it out to her.

Natalie held the tiny box and looked at Tanner. “Diamonds?” She grinned.

“What? You need more jewelry?” Tanner’s eyes sparkled as he teased her.

“A woman can never have too much jewelry.”

Natalie untied the white ribbon and ripped open the paper. She lifted the lid and looked inside. Puzzled, she pulled out a tiny envelope.

Tanner just grinned.

Opening the envelope, Natalie slid out a picture. It was a home in the country—she could tell by all the trees surrounding it. She looked to Tanner for an explanation.

“Our home.”

“What?”

“I thought our children should have a house with a yard.”

“Yard?
That looks like an entire forest.” Natalie was so moved, she hardly knew what she was saying.

“It’s a wooded area, three ponds, lots of grass.”

“Tanner, I don’t know what to say.”

“But if you’d rather have some new earrings.”

“You are naughty. You’re teasing me. I’m speechless.”

“It’s large enough, I think, and only about a forty-five-minute drive from the city. I know you planned to take some time off when you have the baby, or reduce your work hours at least. There is no reason to be in the heart of Manhattan.”

“It’s perfect. Just perfect. You really outdid yourself on this one.”

“What do you get a woman who has everything?” Tanner chuckled, delighted with his gesture. He held Natalie’s hands in his and kissed her knuckles.

“What do you get a man who has everything?”

Tanner raised his eyebrows.

Natalie opened her purse and took out a small gift. She handed it to Tanner. “Don’t get too excited. It’s not a house. Or a yacht. Or a new Ferrari.”

Tanner winked at her and ripped off the paper. He held a velvet pouch in his hand. Opening it, he lifted out a rose gold watch. “
Ademars Piguet.”

“I saw you drooling over it on one of our shopping outings. I admit it’s not as creative as a house in the country.” Natalie smiled. “I thought it looked sexy on you.”

Tanner turned the limited edition watch over in his hands, feeling the weight and examining the craftsmanship. On the back, he noticed an inscription. Reading it made his eyes tear up. The message—
To the only man I’ll ever love
—was etched into the gold.

He rubbed his fingers over the fine leather band and looked over at Natalie. “It’s a perfect gift. I’ll always treasure it.” His ankle rubbed against hers, and he thought of the red shoes she wore. Maybe he’d let her keep them on—later.

The suite at the Ritz was nearly as big as their home in New York. But Tanner was interested in only one room—the bedroom. The bed was wide and covered in gold and white. Ripping back the covering, he looked at the satin sheets, then at Natalie.

Tonight was special; it was their anniversary. He could still hear the words Natalie whispered in his ear as they sat pressed together in the back of the limo: “I need you deeply. I want you to take me as you never have before.”

Since she’d felt safe to express her needs to him, Tanner was willing to satisfy his wife the way she needed to be satisfied. Loving it as much as she did, the thought of her wanting to submit to him intensified his longing. The joy of dominating was all the more pronounced because of his wife’s pleasure.

Natalie had always been a temptation to him, since the very beginning.
One that he was ill equipped to resist. And in the red dress with the seductive high heels, she knew he didn’t stand a chance. But then, he never did with her. Not from the start.

Since he’d first seen her, there had been a special bond between them. It was as if they were made for each other. He didn’t see it at first; couldn’t admit it. But so strong was the pull between them that there was no way not to give in.

And he wanted to give in. Tanner loved his wife so much he thought his heart would burst sometimes. Now she was his wife; she was his. And the year they’d lived as man and wife had led them further into temptation—the temptation of each other. Now, Natalie having his baby was a lure he intended to succumb to.

Natalie, his beautiful wife, was a vivid temptation. She always had been, and always would be. He’d long since given up any reservations about it. He wanted her. Tanner wanted all of it.
The endless love. The marriage to the woman of his dreams. The baby. All of it. There was no more safety net; no way to go back. He was in all the way. Willingly.

“Come here, baby.”

Natalie stepped over the plush carpet, wobbling a little in her high heels. When she got close to Tanner, he crushed her body against his and kissed her hard. He was fierce and his tongue swept along hers possessively. With his hand in her hair, he angled her head back.

She folded into him, wanting Tanner more than she could express. Submitting, as she’d found out, was not a way to lose herself, but to find herself. Trust and complete love were the only way. Trusting her husband was sexy; it was the path to intense pleasure.

Tanner had already kicked off his shoes and peeled off his socks. His jacket and tie were thrown over a nearby chair. “Undress for me,” he commanded. “But leave the red shoes on.”

Natalie trembled inside, but not from fear. Excitement and delicious anticipation was all she felt. Tanner’s blue eyes blazed as she stalled by removing her earrings and necklace first. Placing them on the nightstand, she turned to look at him.

“Strip. Now.”

She turned to face away and Tanner accommodated by unzipping the bright dress. Natalie slipped it off her shoulders and let it drop to her feet, knowing her husband was watching. She stepped out of it and hooked her thumbs under her red satin thong. Slowly, she pulled it down, bending over intentionally to offer a better view.

Tanner ran his fingertips over her bare ass, and Natalie closed her eyes for a moment. “Continue,” he said sternly.

Natalie undid her bra and let it slide down her arms. She stood very still, balancing in the high heels.

“Turn around.”

Natalie turned, facing him but staring down at the rug. He reached out and put two fingers under her chin, lifting, forcing her gaze to meet his. “You will do as I say.”

There was no need to respond. The look on her face said everything.