giving him easy access, enabling him to ease his long fingers upward, to tease the underside of her breasts.
An urgent pull began between her legs, a steady pulsing that resulted in damp heat she recognized despite being surrounded by water. “Oh, my.”
He groaned in response. “Are you satisfied yet?” he asked, even as he left a damp trail with his mouth, from her lips, across her cheek until he reached her neck and nuzzled insistently.
She’d never be completely sated, not until he was joined deep inside her. “Satisfied with the kiss?” she asked. “Yes. Satisfied, satisfied? No way.” Between kisses, she sucked in a ragged breath. “How about you?”
“Satisfied means you’ve had enough and I’ll never have enough of you.” As he echoed her earlier thoughts, the rough timbre of his voice touched her soul. His words touched her heart.
In response, she reached for the waistband of his trunks and slid her fingertips deep inside, until she touched the coarse line of hair on his stomach and the smooth, wet tip of his penis.
“Aah, Juliette.”
No man had ever said her name with such passion or reverence. And she’d never needed another man as much as she needed this one. She needed him deep inside her, filling her, easing the ache and emptiness. She pressed her palm down more firmly, then cupped his rigid shaft in her hand, learning his hardness and length, his velvety softness.
Behind her, she heard a distinct rustling of bushes, a sound that brought her out of the desirous haze that had surrounded them. Her surroundings became clear, from the empty pool to the shifting of leaves, a similar sound to the one she’d heard earlier. She jerked her hand free and stepped back quickly.
Doug ducked under the water, cooling himself off, she assumed, while hiding from view. A couple passed the outskirts of the pool, hands held tightly, and neither looked Juliette and Doug’s way.
He surfaced and she braced her hands on his shoulders. “That was close,” she said.
“We were closer.”
She inclined her head. “And does that bother you?”
He ran a frustrated hand through his wet hair but didn’t answer.
“Us being intimate and your fantasy…Do they have to be mutually exclusive?” she asked.
He looked into her eyes, his deep blue gaze unwavering. “I’m not sure.”
“But I am. You said you needed to see you could put a woman’s needs before your own. You’ve done that with me. Physically, you walked away when your body would rather have stayed. Emotionally too. You’ve listened to my stories and half answers about my ex-fiance and my family without ever pushing for more.”
He let out a harsh laugh. “It’s not like I’ve bared all to you either.”
She smiled and touched his cheek with her hand. “I’ve told you about my fear of storms and a tree house my dad built. You’ve admitted you were adopted and explained how you were starving on the streets,” she said in a low, soft voice. “That’s hardly comparable.”
“Maybe not. But you listened to everything I said and you understood without passing judgment.” A hesitant yet charming grin edged the corners of his mouth.
“That was easy. I’m interested in you.” Juliette made her way to the edge of the pool, her wet dress heavy and restricting.
“Where are you going?”
After pulling herself out, she wrung out the soaked cotton material. She shivered, surprised the air that had been so hot and sticky earlier, could now cause a chill. Especially when her body was still so overheated and warm. “Back to my room to take a long, hot shower.”
“Sounds good.” His eyes dilated and she knew he had the same longings she did, both of them sharing a steamy enclosed shower together.
And she wanted it to happen. Desperately. But she also knew about waiting for the right time and now wasn’t it. He obviously wanted her, but his fantasy was keeping them apart. She looked around for her sandals and saw them floating in the pool. She shrugged, knowing they were a lost cause anyway. “Right now you need space. Time to think. But when I catch up with you later, you should know one thing.”
“And what would that be?”
She met his gaze, hoping her heart and her desire were there for him to see. “Our fantasies
He swallowed hard, his throat moving upward with the force of the movement. “Yes?”
“You won’t be unsatisfied either.” Before she could blush or tremble or exhibit anything else that would betray her nervousness, she turned and left him alone in the pool.
Alone, unsatisfied and wanting her. But if she had her way, they wouldn’t be apart for much longer.
DOUG WATCHED her sassy retreat. He wondered if she realized her outward bravado hadn’t fooled him a bit. She was learning boldness as she went along. The closer they became, the more sure of herself she grew. He was glad to know he had a hand in something good in her life.
He took her sandals in one hand and lifted them out of the water. Her laughter when he’d pulled her in still rung bright and cheerful in his ear. She’d been a good sport and they’d had fun. He’d laughed at first, and was aroused the entire time.
Doug hefted himself out of the pool and made his way back to his room. He spent the day reading the paper on the terrace and generally making himself scarce while he digested his situation. His life. His feelings.
Feelings for Juliette. There was no denying her impact. Like a comet, she’d hurtled into his life and, if he never saw her again, he’d never forget the view or its effect on him. Without a doubt, she redeemed him, something he hadn’t realized he’d needed. But he’d been a one-track, career-minded nearly lost soul before meeting her. He hadn’t thought of anyone’s feelings when it came to a story. Except his father’s, Doug thought wryly. And the irony wasn’t lost on him. Ted Houston had a bigger heart than anyone Doug had ever met. It had taken Juliette to make Doug realize he wanted to be like his old man in more ways than being a journalist.
Juliette. She’d enabled him to forget all the trouble in his life, even if just for brief moments in time. She’d allowed him to feel more than guilt, pain and concern over his father’s health and his own personal agenda. More than mere arousal, although the stimulation was carnal and strong and wouldn’t abate anytime soon.
And she’d obviously made it her mission to seduce him. She believed if they slept together, he wouldn’t be doing so at her expense, but at her pleasure.
His heartbeat tripled and his pulse kicked into high gear. She was as persuasive as she was beautiful. In the pool, he hadn’t been able to keep his hands off her, despite his self-imposed promise. And for the first time since laying eyes on Juliette Stanton, he didn’t care one bit. Why? He slammed his hand against the bed in his room. Why? Could it be because he was falling in love with his Runaway Bride?
Doug jerked back, reeling as if he’d been hit over the head with a sledgehammer, though a sledgehammer would probably be more subtle. His past relationships had fallen so far short of love, he figured he wouldn’t know the emotion if it bit him. But here he was contemplating the possibility. A complication he’d never anticipated, but should have.
He couldn’t pin down the moment she’d become a part of his life. He’d been subconsciously studying her each time he’d seen a picture of Juliette and Stuart Barnes, or Juliette and her father, the senator. He’d admired her even then.
He’d been blindsided in Secret Fantasy’s lobby a few short days ago. And he’d been putting her feelings, emotions and needs before his own from the minute they’d been introduced. He rubbed a hand over his eyes. So was he falling in love? He had no idea, but he couldn’t deny his feelings were strong.
And he hadn’t a clue how to handle the emotions or what they meant for his personal or professional future.
A knock sounded at his terrace door. As if he’d summoned her, he turned to see Juliette. She stood by the closed screen, appearing fresh in her lemon-yellow, loose flowing skirt, camisole and blouse. She was obviously nervous, twisting her hands together, then clenching and unclenching her fists. She couldn’t hide her emotions and he loved…Doug coughed. He loved that about her.
He waved her inside. She walked in and slid the screen door shut behind her. “Hi.”
“Hi, yourself.” He rose from the bed, wondering if her timing had been heaven-sent. To force him to face his feelings before he could go into denial.
