Читать книгу Fool's Gold Collection Part 1 - Susan Mallery - Страница 14

CHARITY HADN’T MEANT to kiss Josh back. He was obviously annoyed about something and as much as she would like to think it had to do with her spending time with Robert, she wasn’t to the point of being willing to fool herself. So resisting his pushy kiss was the smartest reaction.

If only, she thought, straining to get closer, to deepen the kiss. Passion erupted with a fury that left her shaken and weak in every sense of the word. There was something about this man—all it took was the promise of a touch and she lost control. She needed his body with an intensity that frightened her. Now, with his mouth on hers, his hands roaming down her back to her hips, she found herself perilously close to begging. More. She needed more.

She angled her head and met him stroke for stroke. His tongue ignited need, fueling the melting. Her skin seemed ultrasensitive, making her aware of every stroke, each caress as he rubbed her arms, then settled his hands on her waist. Her breasts were heavy and aching. Between her legs, she was already wet and swollen. Ready. Desperately ready.

In case he hadn’t figured that out, she closed the millimeter or two separating them, pressing her body against his. He was strong and broad, but what interested her the most was the thick ridge that settled against her belly. The physical proof he wanted her, too.

He drew back enough to kiss along her jaw before dropping to her neck. Open-mouthed kisses sent shivers of delight racing through her.

Maybe he’d had as many women as people claimed. Maybe this was a hideous mistake. Either way, she knew she’d never felt such heat before. Such surging hunger. To make sure he got the message, she drew his hands to her breasts.

As his palms cupped her curves and his skilled fingers teased her tight and sensitive nipples, their eyes locked. She saw an answering fire in his, a desire that eased any concern she had about whether he was just being polite.

As if answering the unspoken question, he grabbed her hand and drew her toward his hotel room door. His key was out, then they were inside before she had time to think. A good thing, she told herself. Thinking was highly overrated.

The second the door closed behind him, he had her up against the wall. He leaned in close and claimed her mouth again. At the same time, he tugged at the knot holding her wrapped shirt, then jerked it open. He half pulled off the fabric, then reached for her bra. It took mere seconds for him to bare her breasts.

Then his hands were on her skin, touching, teasing, rubbing his fingers against her nipples. Pleasure shot through her. She clamped down on his tongue and sucked. He groaned. When she released him, he nipped her bottom lip before dropping his head to her breasts and drawing deeply on her left nipple.

She felt the pull all the way to her belly. Every inch of her burned. Her muscles tensed. She touched everywhere she could reach—his broad back, his arms, then lower, pressing her palm against his erection. He retaliated by slipping a hand between her thighs. Now it was her turn to groan.

His searching fingers found her very center. He pushed her bikini panties aside and moved his fingers over that part of her—the bundle of nerves already quivering in anticipation. She was so ready, so swollen, that it only took a few quick strokes to steal her breath and make her cling to him. Then he shifted, pressing his fingers inside her and using his thumb to rub her to near ecstasy.

She couldn’t catch her breath, she thought, torn between the way his mouth moved on her breasts and the way his fingers moved between her legs. Couldn’t think, couldn’t do anything but feel the waves of pleasure building inside of her.

She had to hang on to him to stay upright, to concentrate on her balance. He straightened and kissed her mouth, claiming her with a passion that pushed her closer to the edge.

Then she felt it. The telltale hum that began deep inside her, the warning clenching that her orgasm was nearly there, practically a sure thing. And just as she braced herself for the release she knew was going to be incredible, Josh stopped.

She stared at him, unable to believe what was happening. His hands reached between them and she realized he was unfastening his jeans. Before she could join in and help, he’d freed his thick erection. She quickly pushed her panties to the ground and stepped out of them. He grabbed her around the hips and boosted her up, so she was pressed against the wall, her body settling onto his arousal.

This was impossible, she thought frantically. She’d never done anything like this. She couldn’t touch the ground, she was completely dependent on him supporting her. There was no way she could relax enough to—

He moved inside of her. He pushed in hard, thrusting up and back, filling her. His body rubbed against her, teasing her swollen parts even as he pleasured her from the inside. She wrapped her legs around his hips, her arms around his neck and hung on for the ride.

It didn’t take long. She’d been so close that in a dozen or so thrusts, she wasn’t thinking anymore. She was feeling how he stretched her, savoring every aroused nerve ending quiver, giving herself over to the promise that any second now she would explode.

She came with a cry, her body shuddering, drawing him in deeper. She lost herself in the pleasure. He pushed in faster and deeper, taking everything she offered, drawing out her release until she was too weak to do much more than lean into him. Then he was shuddering, as well, going still, his hot breath fanning her cheek.

They stayed like that far longer than she would have thought possible. When she was sure he had to be ready to collapse from holding her, he slowly slipped back, gently lowering her legs to the floor. When she’d regained her footing, Charity did her best to straighten only to find she was still a little wobbly. Josh grabbed her around the waist.

“You okay?” he asked.

Okay? How could she be okay? She’d just had incredible up-against-the-wall sex with a man she barely knew. Something she never did. She’d run a background check on the last guy she’d slept with, and that had been after three months of serious dating. What did she really know about Josh except he was probably going to break her heart?

“The question wasn’t supposed to be that hard.”

“Sorry,” she glanced into his eyes, then away. “I was thinking.”

“Dangerous, especially now.”

She tried standing on her own again and managed to stay upright. The shoes weren’t helping, so she stepped out of them, which lowered her about three inches. Her right sandal landed on top of her panties.

Physical balance wasn’t her only issue, she thought. Her head was spinning. What the hell had just happened? Not that she needed that question answered. Maybe the better issue was why. Why hadn’t she stopped to think?

He gently touched her cheek. “Are you okay?” he asked again.

She nodded, figuring he wouldn’t want to know the truth. Second thoughts didn’t begin to cover her emotional freefall. Thirty-eighth thoughts were more like it. She’d had sex with Josh. Willingly. Wildly. In those moments, in his arms, she’d been someone else.

Or the person she was always meant to be, a little voice in her head whispered.

No way, she told herself. No. That wasn’t it.

She shook her head to clear her thoughts. Her shirt was still tucked into her skirt, but was hanging back down over her butt. Her bra was somewhere on the floor. It only took him a few seconds to look decent again, but she had a tougher road. Rather than risk struggling, she pulled up her shirt and reknotted it, figuring she would deal with the bra and panties later. When she was leaving.

Unless she was supposed to leave now.

She’d never been one for casual sex and honestly, she didn’t know the rules.

“I know what you’re thinking,” he said, his hazel-green eyes staring deeply into her own.

“I doubt that.” He would have to be beyond psychic to make it through the maze that was her mind.

“I don’t do this every day,” he told her. “The rumors, the things people say, they’re not true.”

“They’re mostly true,” she said. “The first week I was here, I saw that woman waiting in your room. I haven’t seen her around town, so I figure you imported her.”

“No. I didn’t ask her to be there. Hell, I didn’t know her. She got someone in housekeeping to let her in.”

Information she was sure he thought she would find comforting. “Now you’re going to tell me you told her to get dressed and sent her on her way.”

“I did.” When she would have looked away, he touched her chin. “I mean it, Charity.”

The funny thing was, she wanted to believe him. Talk about confusing.

He took her hand and drew her into the room. A single lamp in the corner provided a little light. He flipped on a couple more.

“Can I get you something?” he asked. “Wine? Coffee? Dessert?”

She hesitated. Wine sounded good, but she couldn’t face the thought of one of the room-service people seeing her in Josh’s room, then telling the entire town about it.

He motioned to his left. “I have a private stash.”

She followed the movement.

What he had was a mini-fridge and a small under-the-counter wine refrigerator.

“Something red?”

He grinned. “My favorite color.”

While he picked a wine, she collected her bra and panties, then ducked into the half bath in the corner. By the time she was done straightening and had returned to the living room of his suite, he’d poured them each a glass and turned on the gas fireplace.

“Now you’re going for the romance thing?” she asked. “Isn’t it a little late?”

“You mean because I already got the girl?” He led her to the sofa and settled next to her.

“You got the girl in a bright and shiny new way. You have a lot of upper body strength.”

“I should accept the compliment with a knowing smile,” he said as he put his arm around her. “Instead I’ll tell the truth, which is that it’s all about leverage.”

She winced. “Not sure I wanted to know that.”

“Why?”

She stared at the fire, trying not to enjoy the moment too much. “Not the mechanics. The fact that you have so much experience that you can talk about them. It’s scary.”

He angled toward her, which meant his warm arm wasn’t around her, but he left his hand on her shoulder. “I won’t lie to you. I had a great time when I was in my early twenties. I was a well-known athlete and women were everywhere. I took advantage of that.” He gave her a slow, sexy smile. “It was fun.”

And he was telling her this why? Because it wasn’t making her feel any better.

“I’m not that guy anymore,” he said. “I grew up a long time ago. But people don’t want to believe that. They like the legend and stories that go with that. If I’m still the guy on the poster, then they get glory by association.”

She could almost understand that. “The opposite of the old saying that you can’t be a hero in your hometown?”

“Yeah. I can’t stop being a hero.” He grimaced. “That sounds arrogant. I’m not trying to be a jerk. I’m just saying that’s how it’s been with me for years. This town took care of me. They looked out for me and they feel they’ve earned a piece of me. They like thinking I have a different woman in my room every night because it feeds the story and they like how that story plays.”

She thought about him riding his bike, coming back sweaty and everyone assuming it was because he was out getting lucky.

“It’s not like you want to correct the assumption,” she pointed out. “You don’t tell them differently.”

“I don’t want them to know the truth.”

That he couldn’t ride, she thought. He didn’t want to spoil the fantasy.

“I got divorced about two years ago,” he told her. “I dated a little after that, but nothing came of it. I moved back here, and since then…” Now it was his turn to glance away. “Let’s just say it’s been a hell of a dry spell.”

“Thank you. That makes me feel better. I’ve never been good at being one in a crowd.”

“Me, either.”

“What? There’s no crowd.”

He raised his eyebrows.

“Oh, please. Do not even pretend I’m sleeping with Robert,” she told him. “We’ve had all of three dates. Besides, he’s not my type.”

“That’s not what you were saying earlier.”

“You annoyed me,” she told him. “On purpose. What was I supposed to say?”

“You annoyed me, too.”

“How?”

“You went out with him.”

Oh.

Talk about unexpected. Charity glanced at Josh, then away. She sipped her wine, more for something to do than because she was thirsty. Her confusion faded and she found herself feeling a little gooey inside. Maybe the wild wall sex wasn’t the smartest decision she’d ever made, but maybe it hadn’t been a total mistake.

“I won’t be going out with him again,” she murmured.

“Good.”

She glanced at Josh from under her lashes. “He, ah, has a fondness for the Civil War. One of the bedrooms is devoted to miniature displays of various battles. There are buildings and roads and little tiny trees.”

His mouth twitched. “I’m sure a lot of research goes into making those.”

“I’m sure it does.”

She shifted so she was facing him, tucking her right leg under her. “Don’t take this the wrong way, because I’m not really a sports person.” She paused. “So how good were you?”

He laughed. “I was the best. Ranked number one, and for a couple of years that was against Lance Armstrong. You name a race and I’ve probably won it. I had multimillion-dollar endorsement deals. I still have a couple. I was on the cover of every racing magazine and most sports-related publications. I’ve been in People‘s sexiest issues a couple of times.”

“I read People,” she murmured, knowing she would have looked at his picture as just one of the pretty people who weren’t real. “Now I’m getting scared again.”

“Why?”

“It’s the rock star thing. I never had that fantasy.”

“I can’t play guitar.”

“You know what I mean. The fame. I never wanted any association with someone well known. My life is quiet and I prefer it that way.”

“I’m not famous now.”

“You are, but it’s different here. I told you my mom and I moved around a lot when I was young. All I ever wanted was a place to belong. Roots. Connection. Family. Mostly family. I don’t need to be important to the world. In fact I don’t want that—too much responsibility. But I do want someone to care, if that makes sense.”

“It does.”

THE LAMP BEHIND THEM caught the lighter tones of Charity’s soft brown hair. It played with the side of her face, making her eyes seem larger and more mysterious. She had a look about her, a combination of satisfaction and “what the hell was I thinking?”

Not that Josh had any answers. The sex hadn’t been planned, but it sure had been good. One second he’d been pissed about her date with Robert and how unexpectedly good she’d looked, the next he’d been hell bent for taking anything she offered. He wanted her again, but slower this time. He wanted her in his bed, naked, with all the time in the world to explore her body, touch her soft skin. He wanted to taste her everywhere. He wanted to make her come in a thousand different ways. He wanted to lose himself in her over and over again. So much for being a guy who didn’t ever get involved.

“You have the Hendrixes,” she said. “They’re your family.”

It took him a second to remember what they were talking about. “They’ve always been good to me. Denise wanted a daughter. After three boys she was desperate to try one more time. She really wanted a girl. She got three.”

Charity’s eyes widened. “Must have been a shock.”

“Uh-huh. By the time I moved in, the girls were about three. They were a handful. Still are. Denise was pretty sick after they were born. For a while, the doctors were afraid she wasn’t going to pull through. The boys were scared and there were three babies to worry about. To make the kids feel better, their dad said they could name the triplets.” He grinned.

“That sounds like trouble.”

“Not so bad. They’re Nevada, Montana and Dakota.”

“It could be worse.”

“I heard Oceania was in the running.”

She winced. “Okay, then Montana is a whole lot more mainstream than that.” She looked at him. “You enjoyed living with them.”

“I did.”

“Everyone here has ties,” she said, sounding wistful. “A history.”

Josh swore silently. At times like this, he really hated the position Marsha had put him in. The secret was hers to keep or tell, but the longer she was quiet, the worse it was going to be.

“I think it’s better if no one knows what happened tonight,” he said quickly, to distract her.

Charity’s head snapped up. “What?”

“People will talk, what with you being new and all in town.” He shrugged. “I don’t want anyone to know you’re using me.”

Her mouth dropped open. “Using you?”

“You took advantage of me. Tempted me with your feminine wiles so you could trick me into having sex with you.”

She put her glass of wine on the coffee table and launched herself at him. Fortunately his drink was also safely on the table, so he was able to catch her.

She wiggled and twisted, shrieking, not quite hitting him, but coming close. He wrapped his arms around her and held her still.

“What are you doing?” he asked.

“I’m not sure.”

“Because if you were trying to hurt me, you failed.”

“I know.” She shifted so she could glare at him. “I’m not using you for sex.”

“You didn’t even buy me dinner first.”

She shrieked. “You’re the guy.”

“Great. So you not only took advantage of me, you’re sexist, too.”

“Dammit, Josh.” She shoved at his chest, then dropped her head on his shoulder. “You make me crazy.”

“I do what I can.”

She chuckled. “I’ve never known anyone like you.”

“I get that a lot.”

“I didn’t mean it as a compliment.” She looked up at him again, her expression serious. “About what we did…It would probably be better if we didn’t talk about it. You’re right. I am new in town and while I do believe you’re not the wild man everyone thinks, no one else does.”

“I know.” He cupped her face, then kissed her. “You’re not the type to enjoy being another notch on my bike.”

“I’ve never heard it put quite like that, but it gets the point across.”

As she stared at him, looking both worried and hopeful, he knew she wasn’t trying to be cruel. That in her world, privacy mattered and her reputation was everything. A reputation he could destroy with a casual comment or two.

He’d been living in the public eye for so long, he’d forgotten what anything else was like.

She smiled slowly. “Is there a fan club? I should probably join.”

“I’ll get you an application. The dues are reasonable and you get an autographed picture of me, suitable for framing.”

She laughed. “Really? Is it that bare-butt shower shot?”

“How do you know about that?”

“Sheryl, my assistant, had it as part of her screen saver. I had to ask her to remove it.” She lowered her voice. “It’s not exactly appropriate for a work setting.”

“Probably not. You don’t have to worry. The fan club doesn’t send out the butt shot.”

“Too bad. It was impressive.”

“Yeah?”

“Uh-huh.”

“Good.”

She was stretched out across him, her body nestling against his. Despite his recent release, he could feel the need building up inside of him. Once again, the image of taking things slow, of learning every inch of her body, filled his mind.

But this wasn’t the time. What had happened earlier had been spontaneous. Taking her to his bed would imply more than he was willing to offer right now. He might not know everything about Charity, but he knew she was the type who got involved first. Who gave her heart along with her body. He wasn’t anyone to be trusted with a good woman’s heart.

So as much as he wanted to lower his head and kiss her again, he instead shifted out from under her. He rose, and then pulled her to her feet.

“I’m going to walk you home.”

“I know the way.”

“Maybe, but the streets are dangerous. I don’t want anything to happen to you.”

“My door is about five feet from yours. What could happen?”

“You never know.”

She smiled, then picked up her sandals and her purse. He followed her to the door.

She reached for the handle, then turned back to him. “You’re nothing like I thought.”

“Don’t be telling people that. If anyone asks, I’m a god in bed, remember.”

“Oh, you’re that. It’s just…” She placed her fingers on his cheek. “Someone who’s as famous as you, as successful, as good-looking, could easily be a real jerk. You’re not. You care about people. You understand. I know my opinion doesn’t mean anything, but your ex-wife was really stupid to let you go.”

He’d been given thousands of compliments over the years. Maybe more. Women had praised everything from his looks to his equipment. Most of the time, he’d known they were simply trying to get what they wanted.

Now, as he stared into Charity’s pretty eyes and saw the earnest truth there, he knew she meant what she said.

“Thank you,” he said.

She gave him a quick smile, then opened the door. Seconds later, she was safely in her own room, and he was alone in the hallway. As he walked the few feet back to his room, he realized it had been a very long time since anyone had believed in him. No, that wasn’t true. He’d always had supporters. The only person who mattered who didn’t believe in him was himself.

JOSH SLEPT LIKE A ROCK, woke early and got to his office a little before seven. Eddie arrived at seven-thirty, dressed in her yellow velour track suit, and glared at him.

“This is my quiet time,” she announced. “What are you doing here?”

“Working.” He didn’t bother mentioning it was his office and he employed her. Eddie wouldn’t see the point of the statement.

“You’re never here before eight. You better not make a habit of coming in early.”

He winked at her. “I’ll do my best.”

“Did you at least make coffee?”

He pointed to the pot.

She sighed. “Sometimes, you’re not half bad.”

She poured herself a cup, then returned to her desk. He could still hear her grumbling, probably at him, but ignored the sound. He had needed to focus on the proposal his attorney had sent over. A potential investment in the form of a shopping mall in Las Vegas. When the real estate market bottomed out, a lot of commercial properties went into foreclosure. Now they were available for pennies on the dollar, especially for an investor willing to pay cash.

He reviewed the demographics of the immediate neighborhood, the list of current renters and the retail competition. The corner lot of two busy streets was prime, and if he didn’t like the tenant mix, he could always change it.

“It’s Steve,” Eddie called.

Josh looked up. She was waving her phone at him.

“Steve, your former coach. Tall guy, balding.”

“Thanks. I got it.”

He and Steve hadn’t talked in months. Maybe over a year. Josh hadn’t needed a coach after he retired.

“Morning,” he said when he’d grabbed the phone. “You’re up early.”

“I’m in Florida. It’s practically noon here. How’s it going?”

“Good. And with you?”

Steve grunted. “I’m working with a bunch of kids. A lot of potential but no discipline. They’re like puppies, too easily distracted. A pretty girl in a bikini walks by and they go crashing into each other. It makes me tired.”

Josh leaned back in his chair. “Anyone special?” He meant the riders, not the girl, but knew Steve would figure that out.

“There’s this one guy. Jorge. Poor family, didn’t start riding seriously until high school. He has a lot of catching up to do, but I think he has it.”

“Looking for sponsorship?” Josh had been approached before. So far he hadn’t been willing, but if Steve thought the guy was worth it, he could consider the investment.

“I wasn’t, but let me think about it. You’d want to come see him ride before you decide.”

Josh hadn’t thought that far ahead, although his former coach was right. He would have to fly to Florida before making a decision. Which meant stepping foot back in the world where he’d once been king. Something he’d been avoiding for the past two years.

“But Jorge isn’t why I called,” Steve told him. “It’s about the charity bike race. You heard we lost our corporate sponsor.”

“That’s what happens when the CEO steals the pension fund and runs off with his secretary.”

“Apparently.” Steve sounded frustrated. “You know these races happen all over the country and normally I wouldn’t bother you, but this is different. The proceeds go to support medical research for juvenile diabetes and my sister’s kid has it, so it’s personal. I saw your town was asking for more information, and I figured you were behind that. I wanted to talk to you personally, to do what you could to get them to say yes. Everything is in place. We have a lot of great riders lined up. You’d get to see a lot of friends. And Jorge will be racing, so it would save you a trip. Hell, we’d even let you enter if you wanted to stage a comeback. You were always the best, Josh. No reason to think that’s changed.”

Josh felt as if someone had slugged him in the gut. “I, ah, haven’t been training,” he said, knowing his night rides had kept him in decent shape but nowhere near ready to compete. Assuming he ever could. Hell, at this point, just the thought of it had him shaking like a little girl.

“There’s time,” Steve told him. “You know what to do. If you’re interested. You retired too early, Josh. I know you were shaken by what happened to Frank, but walking away didn’t bring him back.”

“Always the coach.”

“I try. Can you help with the race?”

Josh had been wrestling with his demons for two years now. So far they’d won every round. Maybe it was time for a little payback.

Before he could come up with an easy list of why this was a massive mistake, he said, “I know a few people in town. I can make the race happen.”

“That’s great. I owe you. Anything, Josh. I mean it.” Steve paused. “Are you going to ride?”

No. He couldn’t ride with a five-year-old on a bike with training wheels. There was no way he was ready. If he said yes, he would only humiliate himself in front of the best riders in the sport. Word would spread and everyone would know he was a frightened, broken loser. Not much of a legacy.

“Josh?”

Dammit it all to hell, he thought and held the phone so tightly, he was surprised it didn’t snap. “Sure,” he said, hoping he sounded casual instead of terrified. “I’ll ride.”