Chapter One #2
In the blink of an eye Susan went from thinking about the several pairs of gorgeous stilettoes she had hidden in her luggage, to wondering what he looked like naked.
His arms were strong as they held her tightly against him.
The thighs under her were rock hard along with another extremely important part of his anatomy.
Lust, dark and sweet rushed through her.
Her nipples became hard little beads against her lace bra.
Slippery honey leaked from between her legs as her heartbeat accelerated.
His tongue fought hers for superiority and won as his large hand slipped up her bare thigh and stroked it gently, inches from where she needed it most. Susan was so far gone she never even heard Ty’s discrete cough, but Marcus did, releasing her lips.
Still holding her head in place he stared into her cloudy eyes and felt her tremble.
It was the self-satisfied expression on his face that snapped her out of her hormone induced haze and she pushed his arms away and scurried back onto her side of the seat.
“How much farther?” she demanded, smoothing her skirt and sending Kelsey an apologetic grimace.
Marcus threw his head back and laughed as Ty tried not to smile.
“About another two hours,” Ty replied. “Why don’t we have some breakfast?
” he suggested pulling a picnic hamper out of a side compartment.
Handing Kelsey four plates he unpacked croissants and an assortment of pastries as well as a thermos of coffee.
Several containers held jams, butter, and fresh fruit as well as flavored creamers.
Marcus handed Kelsey a glass of orange juice and poured coffee for him and his brother. Susan held out her glass requesting all champagne this time, but he ignored her and made her another Mimosa.
“What gives?” she asked, peering into her flute with a pout.
“Orange juice is good for you,” Marcus replied. “I told you I believe in eating a healthy diet.”
“Champagne is healthy,” Sue challenged. “It’s made from grapes.”
“Regardless, alcohol is not particularly healthy. Don’t think for a moment, Miss Shaughnessy, that I haven’t noticed your penchant for it. That’s something we will be working on.”
“Funny, I don’t remember that being in the contract,” she drawled, tipping her head to one side.
“I believe alcohol consumption would fall into the ‘health and well-being clause’,” Marcus responded firmly. “I intend to take very good care of you, Red.”
“For some reason that worries me,” Susan admitted with a hiccup.
“It should,” Marcus replied, grinning.
“Will we be stopping at the lodge?” Kelsey asked, nibbling on a pastry.
“Not today,” Ty replied. “I thought it best if we go directly home so you can get settled in. I have to check in with my service and take care of a few matters. After that I’ll show you around the area. I believe Marcus and Susan have some plans of their own,” he grinned, patting Kelsey’s shoulder.
Marcus smiled and Susan squirmed on her seat, trying not to overthink the possibilities.
She wanted this man and truth be told, given the opportunity, she would be in exactly this same position even without the contract.
He kept her on a slow simmer all weekend.
The tiny orgasm he’d given her in the diner with just his kiss and his hot whispered words in her ear was shocking.
Sue was no virgin, nervously waiting to be seduced, yet this man made her feel like a sex-starved wanton.
Granted, it had been a while. A dry spell was how she chose to think of it, but no one had ever been able to reduce her to a quivering mass of need with just his words and a light touch, she thought, trying to control the tremors in her tummy.
Marcus was a powerful man, physically and professionally.
He was used to calling the shots and Susan had a rebellious streak a mile wide.
She had always been impulsive and usually made up her own rules as she went along.
Basically, she was a sensualist. If something looked good, smelled good or felt good, she was all in, savoring every sensation until the last possible moment.
Sue wasn’t very good with the word ‘no’ and she knew it.
With her beauty, charm and quick wit she’d been able to wheedle her way around most of the male gender in one way or another.
If that didn’t work, her temper was often enough to intimidate a large portion of the male population.
Looking at the man beside her, she had some serious doubts regarding how effective her skills would be.
Marcus was dominant and she was about as far from submissive as a girl could get.
Had she been thinking clearly, had he not kissed her and stated his desire for her so unashamedly, she might have been able to make a much more suitable match, someone generous and easily controlled.
Sue didn’t have a lot of experience with men like Marcus.
As a rule she steered clear of bossy men who towered over her.
She much preferred the smaller, less opinionated version, although she seldom kept them around for long.
Happiness was elusive and temporary. No relationship she ever had lasted longer than a few months, apart from her parents and a couple of friends from school that even now she’d lost contact with.
Sue figured she just wasn’t a keeper. She always tried to be the ‘dumper’ rather than the one who was dumped.
If she sensed the inevitable coming she acted quickly and decisively, walking away with her head held high.
Now she was committed to a full year with this man and while her body pulsed in anticipation, her heart trembled in fear.
At the end of a year, he could toss her away like last week’s garbage.
If she wasn’t careful, even the money wouldn’t compensate for that.