What a Woman Wants (17 page)

Without saying a
word, Zach swept Anna off her feet into his arms. He carried her into the house, grateful that he knew his way around—because with every step he took, his gaze was locked on to hers.

This wasn’t what he’d planned for their time together on Glen-dale Shores, but the moment she looked into his eyes, he saw more than desire shining in their dark depths. He had seen her heart there as well, and when she asked him to make love to her, he’d fought the urge to comply, then and there, right out on the porch.

But he knew he was going to touch her soon, in the privacy of a bedroom. He would join his body with hers and make her his in every way that it was meant to be. There were still some things they had to work out, but confessing their love for each other was an important start. Joining as one in the most intimate way was another.

When he reached the bedroom he’d been using, he placed her on the bed and stood back. “Are you sure?” he asked, his voice low and husky.

She nodded. “Yes, I’m sure. I want you, Zach, but I need to tell you something first.”

“Okay, what is it?” He was staring at her, waiting. And when he saw that whatever she wanted to tell him was important to her and wasn’t easy to say, he went to her and lay down beside her, bracing himself on his elbow. “Whatever it is really doesn’t matter, you know. I love you, and there’s nothing you can say that can erase my love for you, Anna. And you should know by now that you can tell me anything.”

She nodded again. He was right. She had gotten so comfortable with him over the past year. They shared a special kind of friendship. And now it had escalated into a special kind of relationship. But how would he feel about making love to a thirty-four-year-old virgin?

“But this might matter to you,” she said softly, remembering Todd’s words that men didn’t particularly like to be bothered with inexperienced women.

“It won’t, but go ahead and tell me anyway, since you think it does,” he whispered, inching his body closer to her.

Silence fell, and Zach waited patiently for her to speak, rubbing his fingertips across the back of her hand while holding her gaze. Finally, she began talking. “I—I’ve never done this before.”

Zach blinked, then went still. “Are you saying you’ve never been intimate with a man, Anna?”

“Yes. Does it matter?”

He reached out, gently cupped her face and kissed her forehead, thinking,
If you only knew how much it matters.
Somehow he had to explain it to her. He made an attempt to smile, but it wasn’t easy. His entire being was filled with so much love for her.

“Yes, it does matter, Anna, but not the way you think. It matters because to me that means what you’re offering me is yourself. That in itself is truly special, and there must be a reason I was chosen to be the recipient of such a very extraordinary gift. And that’s how I look at it, your virginity, as a gift. It’s a gift that you believe I’m worthy of, and that means a lot to me. For you to have kept yourself celibate for thirty-four years when society dictated otherwise is truly remarkable.”

Touched by his words, Anna leaned forward and met his lips with hers, needing the contact, needing the taste she’d come to know just moments ago. And he obliged her, letting her get acquainted with how to work her way around the insides of his mouth the same way he’d done hers.

Zach closed his eyes and remained still, letting her take the lead, not even following in her wake. He wanted her to feel comfortable with whatever she did to him. He wanted her to know that with them there would be no limitations and no prohibitions. When her tongue insisted that he get involved, he tangled his tongue with hers as a deep and profound quiver shook his entire body.

Opening his eyes, he leaned toward her. He slipped his hands beneath her tank top with a quick flick of his wrist, undid the front fastener to her bra. Her breasts seemed to spring free into his hands, and he ran his thumb over the nipples, concentrating on the hardened tips and hearing her moan deep into his mouth.

He pulled back from her kiss, with an urgent need to taste her breasts. He removed the tank top and bra, tossing them aside before pushing her on her back until he was looming over her. The breasts were firm, well-shaped, delicious looking, and he leaned forward and took a swollen nipple into his mouth. Each lick made her moan deep within her throat.

After tormenting her breasts for a few moments, he traced a path with his tongue down her stomach. When he reached her navel, he pulled back to remove her shorts, leaving her clad in a pair of white lace bikini panties. He thought that he’d never seen such a beautifully shaped woman before in his life, and a degree of posses-siveness surged through him.

“Has anyone ever made love to you here?” he asked, stroking her intimately through the material of her panties.

She shook her head, writhing beneath his touch. “No. Todd, wanted to, but I wouldn’t let him. I wasn’t ready for anything like that.”

His eyes darkened even more with desire. “Do you think you’re ready for something like this now?” he asked softly, his pulse surging.

“Yes,” she whispered.

“And would you let me do it?”

“Yes. I don’t want anyone but you to touch me this way.”

Her words affected him deeply, and he moved over her on his knees to remove her panties. He tossed them aside to join her other pieces of clothing and then he gazed upon her, specifically that area she had decreed he could claim as his.

And he would.

He was getting all his fantasies fulfilled in a way he hadn’t thought possible. “Open your legs some more for me, sweetheart,” he whispered as he continued to stroke her, feeling how wet and ready she was for him. “Once I get started and if you decide you don’t like it, just let me know and I’ll stop.”

“All right.”

He gently gripped her hips and leaned forward, placing a trail of kisses on her tummy and inner thigh. He felt her body beginning to quiver beneath his mouth, and when he moved his mouth lower, he heard a quiet moan escape between her lips.

When his tongue darted out and touched her, savoring a quick taste of her, and then another, she caught hold of his head in her hands to keep his mouth steady.

He glanced up. “You like this already?”

“Yes, I like this already. Do you like doing this?”

“Oh, yeah, baby, I like doing this. Only to you.”

And then he returned his attention to her, tasting the sweet wetness between her legs, absorbing all the sensations he knew she was feeling. For seemingly endless moments he stroked her with his tongue, making love with her this way to let her know just how much she meant to him. And when a climax swept through her, she arched her hips closer to his mouth and called out his name. A long mournful groan followed, and he continued making love to her like that. When he pulled back, she opened her eyes and stared up at him, awestruck.

“Now to put the icing on the cake,” Zach said, getting off the bed to quickly remove his clothes. He took a condom out of his wallet and slipped it on, knowing she was watching everything he did. Moments later he was covering her body with his, placing his huge erection at her wet opening.

He looked down at her. “This may hurt a little.”

“I know. But I want you. I need this and only from you.”

Zach considered her for a moment, saw all the love and trust that filled her eyes. Words weren’t needed between them right now. Instead he slowly began easing inside her, giving her body time to adjust to the fit of him as they connected. When he’d gone to the hilt, he leaned over and kissed her forehead, then her cheeks before claiming her mouth.

Knowing their bodies were merged this way sent sensations spi-raling through them, and slowly his body began rocking into hers, careful not to hurt her. And when another climax hit and she began moving her body frantically beneath his, he began thrusting into her, soaring on a plane so high, he felt the way she was pulling him into her, making love to him.

Wave after wave of pure ecstasy flooded his mind and body, and as the explosion subsided, he shifted so he wouldn’t collapse on top of her and brought her to his side, their joining complete, their bodies still connected.

And as he cradled her in his arms, he felt an inner peace like he’d not felt in a long time. And he knew why. He had connected with his future.

“
Hey, I thought
you didn’t bring your dancing shoes.”

Lyle had a huge grin on his face as he led Monique off the dance floor and back to their table. “Everyone knows how to do the Electric Slide, Nicky.”

She smiled. “Yes, but still, you did real good out there.”

“And you didn’t do so bad yourself.” He glanced around when they sat down. “This is a nice place.”

Monique agreed. “Yes, and what I like the most is that it caters to adults our ages and not the younger crowd.”

Lyle leaned back in his chair, frowning, “You’re making us sound rather old.”

She giggled. “Not old but mature. I consider the thirty-something group as the mature crowd.”

At that moment a slow song began playing, the first for the night, and Lyle glanced over at Monique. “Just what I’ve been waiting for,” he said, standing and offering her his hand.

She took it, refusing to tell him she’d been waiting for it as well. Ever since they had talked at lunch about dancing together, she looked forward to having his body melded to hers.

“You look nice tonight, Nicky.”

“Thanks.” She smiled, pleased he had noticed. Instead of taking a nap as Lyle assumed she had, she’d left the inn and visited that little boutique she’d seen earlier on their stroll. She had decided that the dress she’d packed just wouldn’t work and wanted to purchase a special outfit for tonight.

She hadn’t been absolutely certain about this one, since it was a little more daring than any outfit she’d normally wear, but while in the dressing room trying it on, she could have sworn she heard a little voice sounding a lot like Cely’s saying,
Girl that dress looks good on you so buy it.
She had. And from the looks she was getting, it seemed that Lyle wasn’t the only male appreciating the way the material clung to her hips as well as the generous glimpse of her cleavage every time she made a move.

The moment they were on the dance floor, he pulled her closer to his muscular frame and wrapped his arms around her as they began moving slowly in place. “You smell nice, too, Nicky.”

She glanced up at him and smiled. “Well, aren’t we full of compliments tonight, Dr. Montgomery.”

Lyle looked down at her, returning her smile. “And you deserve each and every one of them.”

He wished he could give her even more compliments but knew he had to be careful not to make it too obvious how very attracted he was to her. Just having her in his arms would suffice for now because he intended for them to share many more slow dances before the night was over.

The moment their bodies had touched, he knew that he would be her only dance partner tonight. If the other men in the establishment had other ideas, then that was too bad. She felt wonderful in his arms and the swell of her breasts pressing against his chest was sending all kind of sensations through his body. Then there was the way her hips rocked against his as they moved to the slow rhythm.

“You mentioned your sister had called,” Monique said.

“Yes, she called the minute we got back to the inn from lunch. She and Connor are flying in the week after the Fourth for a visit.”

“That’s wonderful. I’m sure you’ll be glad to see them.”

The smile at the corners of his lips widened. “Yes, I will. Carrie’s really happy now that she’s married to Connor. He’s just what she needs.”

“And I’m sure she’s probably what he needs as well. It works both ways, you know. What day are they coming in?”

“That Friday, and I would love for you to meet them. And according to Carrie, there’s a possibility Logan, Lance, and Asia might be coming as well.”

Monique gazed up at him with a curious expression on her face. “Is there some special occasion?”

“Umm, nothing special other than my birthday.”

She considered him for a long moment. He’d said it like it was no big deal, and Monique had a feeling that to him it wasn’t. But evidently his family was going to make it a big deal and so would she. “And how do you feel about having another birthday?” she asked.

“Good as opposed to not having one. I feel grateful. Glad to be alive. In my profession you deal with so many who wish, almost too late, that they had done a better job of taking care of their heart.”

She nodded her head. She could definitely believe that.

Their song came to an end, but before they could leave the dance floor, another slow number began playing, so instead of releasing her, Lyle pulled her back into his arms. He was ready to go another round on the dance floor.

“
I had a
wonderful time tonight, Lyle. I can’t recall the last time I had so much fun.”

He glanced down at her. “I’m glad you enjoyed yourself.” When they’d returned to the inn, he walked her to her room and opened the door for her. Being the gentleman that he was, he had asked to go inside to check things out as he’d done earlier that day.

She’d let him lead, following him around the room as he checked in closets and under her bed. She, on the other hand, was checking out something else altogether. Besides his seductive scent, he was wearing a pair of black slacks and a gray shirt. His physical appeal nearly had her panting.

“You’ve been watching too many of those crime shows,” she said sometime later, walking him to the door after his inspection was over.

“Maybe so, but you can’t take unnecessary chances these days.”

She had to agree with him on that. “What time do you want to return to Hilton Head tomorrow?” she asked. Her mind was still back on the dance floor. Each time their bodies had touched, rubbed against each other, she’d felt the hardness of him pressing against her middle. That had been a dead giveaway that friendship hadn’t been the main thing on his mind.

“I’m not in a rush, unless there’s a reason you need to get back early,” he said.

She shook her head and gave him a soft smile. “No, there’s no reason. I talked to Faith and Shannon earlier, before we left to go dancing, and they’re doing fine, holding down the fort. They told me to have a good time tonight and I did. Thanks again.”

He placed the key back in her hand. “You’re welcome. And if you don’t mind, I prefer not leaving until after lunch tomorrow. That way we can sleep in late and enjoy a brunch at one of the restaurants.”

“Sounds like a good plan.” She had a feeling that like her, he wasn’t ready for their weekend together to end.

For the longest time they didn’t say anything, but just stood there staring at each other; then Lyle cleared his voice and said in a husky voice, “I really like this outfit.”

She glanced down at herself. “I thought it would be perfect for tonight.”

“And it was.” What he didn’t tell her was that she looked perfect in the dress and had felt perfect in his arms. Suddenly his heart swelled with love for her. He could hardly stand it—he needed to leave. Now. “I better go before I...” His words drifted off when she licked her top lip with her tongue.

“Before you what?” She glanced into his eyes and saw blatant desire there but wanted him to say it, to spell it out for her.

“Do this.”

And then he reached out and pulled her to him. His kiss was gentle. It was sweet. It took her breath away when he took her mouth now with a hunger that astounded her. It made her realize that the cool, calm, and collected Dr. Lyle Montgomery could be tempted. But then, so could she.

She felt sparks.

She could imagine his skill in the operating room, but it appeared he possessed another skill, one he was applying pretty thick now. Arousal, quick and immediate, caught her, and she felt herself shivering in his arms. This wasn’t an ordinary kiss. This was a kiss of possession, of intent and deep desire.

He slowly broke off the kiss and as if warring with what he’d just done, he took a step back. “Good night, Nicky.”

She sucked in a deep breath to calm her racing pulse. When he opened the door to leave, she said, “Good night, Lyle.”