It Had To Be You

forgotten to pay attention. Had the tires crunched on gravel? She listened hard, but although she couldn't hear any traffic noises, she wasn't absolutely certain whether or not he'd driven her to his house.

'You're going to have to wait here for a couple of minutes while I get a few things settled. I'll be right back, so don't get nervous.' His lips brushed hers. 'Promise me you won't spoil everything by sneaking a peek. That'd be a sign that you don't trust me, and what kind of marriage would we have then?'

'You're really pushing me. You know that, don't you?'

'I know, darlin'.' He nibbled her bottom lip. 'While you're waiting, why don't you just go over all those things I told you I was going to do to you. That way you won't be bored.' His chuckle was definitely diabolical as he slipped his hand under her dress, squeezed her thigh, and then opened his door.

It was an absolutely rotten thing for him to have said, because once he'd planted the idea, she couldn't think of anything else. By the time he returned to the car, she was quivering with sexual anticipation.

She felt a rush of cold air as he opened the door. 'Everything's all taken care of. I'm going to carry you now.' He caught her under her knees only to immediately set her back down on the seat. 'Phoebe, honey, you're still wearing your underwear. I distinctly remember telling you I wanted it off by the time I got back.'

'You did not.'

'I'm sure I did. I guess I'll have to take it off myself.' Sliding his hands under her dress, he pulled off her panty hose and her underpants.

'I'm going to freeze. It's not even twenty degrees.'

'I don't think you'll have to worry too much about freezing. Where in the world did these panties come from?'

'I bought them.'

'They're not much more than two little ribbons and a scrap of silk. Did you give up your industrial strength underwear just for me?'

'Just for you.'

'That's sweet, honey, and I appreciate it. Now slip those high heels back on. I do like the way your legs look in high heels.' As soon as she'd done what he said, he caught her under her knees and swept her out of the car. Her skirt fell free and cold air fanned her naked bottom, which was exposed for the entire world to see.

'Please tell me there aren't a dozen people standing around.'

'Only half a dozen, sweetheart. But they're all too busy adjusting the carburetors on their motorcycles to look.'

She buried her face in his collar and laughed. He was outrageous, impossible, and she was having the best time of her life. But where was he taking her?

He shifted her weight and opened some sort of door. She was relieved to feel warmer air on her bottom as they stepped inside.

'That blindfold still tight?'

'Uh huh.'

'That's good. Don't pay any attention if you hear strange noises.'

'What sort of noises?'

'Drunken laughter. Breaking glass. Jukebox. That sort of thing.'

'I won't give it a thought.'

'And if somebody named Bubba asks you what you're doing here, you just tell him you're with me.'

'I'll do that.'

He began kissing her, and by the time he stopped walking, she realized he'd once again distracted her from paying attention to where they were going. Had they traveled a short distance or a long one? He wasn't breathing hard, but he was in such good physical shape, that didn't mean anything. She couldn't even be certain whether he'd climbed a set of stairs or if they'd stayed on the same level.

'I'm going to set you down now. I don't want to get you too close to the bar. On account of fights breaking out.'

'May I take the blindfold off yet?'

'I'm afraid not, honey. You've still got your clothes on.'

'I have to take my clothes off?'

'I'm sorry, darlin'. I thought you'd figured out how this was going to work.' He removed her coat. 'Don't you worry, though. I'll help you.'

'You're such a gentleman.'

He slipped off her earrings, pulled her sweater over her head, and discarded it. 'Phoebe, honey, I don't want to embarrass you, but did you know you can see right through this?'

'Can you now?'

'I'm afraid so. That means I'm going to have to ask you to stand real still for a minute.'

Through the gossamer-thin silk of her bra, she felt his mouth settle over her nipple. The warm, moist suction sent torrents of excitement raging through her body. His sensual torture continued as he moved his mouth to the other breast, while the nipple he had abandoned pebbled beneath the damp, chilly spot he had left on the silk. Her knees were growing weak, and she wanted him inside her so badly she grasped his shoulders.

'Please… You're making me crazy.'

'Shhh. I'm just getting started here, and, frankly, I expect a little more stamina from you. Maybe you could recite some batting averages or something.'

She laughed and then gasped as he gently nipped her with his teeth. A moment later, her bra fell away, and she was naked from the waist up.

'You are one beautiful woman, sweetheart. Isn't she, boys?'

He definitely needed to be put in his place. She began to lift her arms to remove the blindfold, but he caught her wrists and held them at her sides. 'Not yet, honey. I'm real thirsty.'

Releasing her, he cupped her breasts in his palms. Once again, he began to feast on her nipples, but this time, not even the frail barrier of silk was in his way. He suckled her until she was making soft, mewing sounds.

She reached out, desperate to touch him. At some point he had taken off his own coat, and she slipped her hands under his sweater, sliding them through the mat of hair on his chest to brush his nipples.

He groaned. She felt his touch at her waist, and then the light brush of wool as her skirt fell free. He spoke softly, his voice husky. 'I don't want to scare you, honey, so I'd better tell you exactly what I'm going to do here.'

She wasn't the slightest bit afraid and he knew it, but she decided it would be rude to interrupt.

'I've made a bed for us with our coats, and I'm going to lay you down on it. That's right. Now lean back. That's good; real good. Honey, I don't remember telling you that you could close up your legs like that. Uh-huh, now move that knee up so I can enjoy the view.' His fingers found the sensitive skin of her inner thigh.

'Can I take the blindfold off yet?'

'Oh, I don't think so. No sense in gettin' you all riled up till I'm through with you.'

She was definitely going to get even with him for this. But not until she had enjoyed every second of this exquisite, thrilling seduction.

She heard the rustle of his clothes as he discarded them, and her heart swelled with love. Six months ago she could never have imagined trusting any man enough to let him do this to her, let alone one with Dan's physical strength. Yet she lay here before him naked and open. Even though she had no idea where he had taken her, she had never felt safer and she realized that, along with his love, he had given her freedom from fear.

He lay down beside her on the bed of coats and drew her into his arms. 'I'm going to kiss you a little bit. If you get bored, I can ask the band to play some music or something.'

'I'm definitely not bored.'

She breathed in his clean scent and touched the tip of her tongue to his shoulder. His muscles flexed and she felt his arousal pulsing hard against her thigh. His mouth closed over hers. Their tongues joined and everything else slipped from her mind until she was only aware of sensations. The sound of his groans, the dampness of his skin as he held himself back to pleasure her. His mouth traveled from her breasts to her waist. He kissed the insides of her thighs, then opened her to love her more deeply.

She had no idea when she lost the blindfold. She didn't know whether it had fallen off or one of them had removed it. She was only aware of the roar of blood in her ears, the ecstasy of being joined with this man she loved