What a Woman Wants (29 page)

And then she began moving her body, riding him in a way she could never have done in his dreams. She put everything into it, her hips, thighs, the groans she made, the way she tossed her head back, the rhythm she created. She continued to squeeze her thighs to lock him in, holding him hostage—not that he was going anywhere. She tightened her inner muscles to pull everything out of him, pushing him toward one hell of an orgasm.

He wanted to yell. He wanted to scream. In the end when he felt her body convulse around him, signaling her orgasm, he let out a high-pitched roar, one that nearly shook the windows. But she didn’t stop riding him. She continued to move frantically over him, with him and all in him. Shudder after delicious shudder rammed through him while he groaned out her name the same way she was groaning out his.

And moments later when she literally collapsed on his muscled chest, he held her gently into his arms. Tremors that were still passing through his body made it difficult to breathe, much less speak. But when she finally was able to lift her head and look at him, what he saw in her eyes made him love her that much more.

“Did I bring all the cows home?” she asked so sexy, it nearly stole his next breath.

He smiled. “For now,” he said, forcing the words past his lips. “But I’m sure they’ll wander off again sooner or later.” He planned for her to ride him again at another time—she was definitely good at it.

She smiled. “Good, because I’ve discovered that I like riding you.

They fell asleep
right there on the floor, and when they woke up some time later, they made love again, but that time in a bed. “I think I like the floor better,” Faith whispered, cuddled in Shane’s arms.

A smile touched his lips. “Me, too.”

He then leaned in to kiss her, enjoying her mouth. In fact, he enjoyed everything about her and was a weakling when it came to keeping his hands off her. He just couldn’t do it.

“This might sound rather crazy,” he said, shifting their positions so he could look into her eyes, “especially since we haven’t known each other an awfully long time, but I’ve fallen in love with you.”

His revelation made her feel so good inside, she could barely stand it. She reached up and cupped his face in her hands. “That doesn’t sound crazy at all because I’ve fallen in love with you, too.”

And she had.

Faith knew at that moment that Shane Masters was everything she’d ever wanted. All those years she had waited for Virgil to bring her happiness, and in the end he had only brought her despair. She hadn’t been what he wanted, and he hadn’t been what she needed.

But Shane was everything to her. And this time when he leaned down and kissed her, he filled her with the taste of promises for brighter and better tomorrows.

The four women
walked together along the beach. It was the first time in weeks they’d had a chance to be alone and talk. Everyone was happy when Anna returned from her Fourth of July trip an engaged woman, and the huge diamond ring she wore on her hand was awesome. And when she told them about how the ring had been the one her father had chosen for her mother before his death, it brought tears to the women’s eyes.

Faith, Shannon, and Monique had good news to share with Anna as well. They had come to Hilton Head to have a good time but hadn’t thought it would include meeting men who would change their lives forever. But they had.

The four women agreed to remain in touch and to continue to spend some time together every summer on the island. Their immediate plans were to all meet up again in D.C in January to attend Anna’s wedding.

It was only when they returned to the house that they made a startling discovery. They were sitting around drinking wine as they shared countless photos with Anna of them spending other summers on the island.

“This woman,” Anna said, pointing to a group picture. “Who is she?” she asked quietly, remembering that face.

Faith glanced at the photo. “That’s our friend, Cely. She died earlier this year. She committed suicide.”

Anna nodded. “I know. I was the one on duty in the ER when they brought her in. She was still alive, but barely, and I tried to save her.”

All eyes went to Anna. “You did?” Monique managed to ask in a shaky voice.

Anna nodded. “Yes. I fought like hell, but she refused to fight back. I’d never seen a person more determined to die.”

No one said anything for the longest time, but it was apparent that each was thinking that in a way Cely had touched even Anna’s life. Shannon wiped a tear from her eye before saying, “It’s still a mystery to all of us why she did what she did. Cely loved life too much to give it up. I miss her so damn much.”

“We all do,” Faith said, chiming in. She then turned back to Anna. “You would have liked her. She was truly special.”

“Yes, you would have,” Monique agreed. “But even in death, she’s with us. I’ve felt her presence the entire time I’ve been here.”

“So have I,” Shannon said.

“Me, too,” Faith murmured softly. “She’s the reason we came here this summer, and because of that, she’s the reason we found the men we love.”

“Then I think this calls for a special toast,” Anna said, holding up her glass. “To Cely.”

The other women nodded. “Yes, to Cely,” Faith said, smiling. “For helping us to realize what a woman truly wants.”

The women toasted a friend who was no longer in their midst but who would always remain in their hearts.

Washington, D. C.

January

Three women who
had discovered what they’d wanted just six months earlier stood in the huge church as bridesmaids—three of ten. They smiled as they watched the bride walk down the aisle on the arms of her grandfather, Robert Fuller.

“She is simply beautiful,” Faith whispered to Shannon, who nodded in agreement. She then glanced across the way to the groom, who was also staring at his soon-to-be wife with total awe and love etched in his features. This was a beautiful day for a wedding, and the entrance of the bride had made it doubly so.

Moments later Anna stood beside Zachary as they faced the minister, repeating vows and pledging their lives together. There wasn’t a dry eye left in the church when Zachary and Anna recited their own personal vows they had written to each other.

“I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss your bride, Zachary.” Once the minister said the words, Zach didn’t waste any time doing just that.

A hour or so later at the reception, Faith, Shannon, and Monique looked around for the men in their lives. Monique and Lyle’s wedding was planned for the spring. Shannon and Adam had decided on a June wedding. Faith and Shane were looking forward to a late summer wedding on Hilton Head.

Adam, Shane, and Lyle smiled as they walked toward the women they loved, glad they had been the men these three special women wanted.

A Reading Group Guide

1. Do you feel Faith, Monique, and Shannon were right to feel guilty because they didn’t know that Cely felt like giving up? Should they have known, since they were all close friends for many years?

2. Was Faith justified in keeping Shane at arm’s length because of what she went through with her first marriage?

3. Considering Shannon’s mind-set regarding the type of man she wanted, did Adam handle the situation effectively? Should he have been more or less tolerant? Why?

4. Why do you think it was easy for Monique to fall in love with a man like Lyle after losing “the perfect husband”?

5. Do you think Zack handled the situation with Anna properly, making sure a political career was something she wanted before deciding to run for public office?

6. What did you like most about the book?

7. Which hero was definitely what a woman would want, more so than the others? Why?

8. Do you think Faith and Monique had realistic expectations about what they wanted? Why or why not?

9. Do you think Shannon was wrong in allowing her parents to influence her feelings regarding the type of man she wanted in her future? Would you let your parents influence you?

10. Which of the four women do you think had the most emotional baggage? How did each deal with it?

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