The Bare Facts Page 4

  “No. Intimidation wouldn’t work for selling ad campaigns to possible clients.” Dylan handed her a pan to put the slices in.

  “I rest my case,” Haley said as she took a bite of a slice of zucchini.

  “Do you?”

  Dylan studied her silently. “It looks like we both do what needs to be done to get ahead,” he said softly, leaning on the counter toward her.

  “Touché. How far would you go to get ahead?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Would you marry the perfect wife to promote your career?”

  “That’s part of the game, but I would hope that I love the woman I ask to marry me.”

  “So what’s more important? Love or image?”

  “Haley, that’s really hard to say when I don’t have to make that choice. Who knows how someone will act when put into a specific situation.”

  She should stop right now. Why was she bringing up this topic? Why put herself through this? Because she had to make sure that he couldn’t possibly be interested in her. This was a fling. Granted, a calculated fling, but Haley desperately needed to know that there was no way she could be allowed into Dylan’s life. Knowing this would somehow make it easier to deal with.

  Dylan chuckled. “What exactly are you getting at?”

  Haley took a deep breath. “Take me, for example. I think it’s clear that I, the woman from the other side of the river, would never fit in with your high-society friends and co-workers.”

  He looked away and his mouth tightened. “No. You wouldn’t.”

  “So you could possibly damage your career by making the wrong choice.”

  “Yes. You could say that it would be damaging. How much? Who knows?”

  Haley felt an inexplicable lump in her throat at his answer. This is what she needed to hear no matter how much it hurt. “So image is more important.”

  “I guess it is,” he conceded just as the buzzer went off and he began pulling food out of the oven.

  “Haley, why did you ask me to help you with your fantasies? Not that I’m complaining.” He placed the hot dish on top of the stove and transferred the meat to a plate.

  “I asked you because, to tell the truth, I’ve always wondered what happened on graduation night, and somehow I felt cheated that I can’t remember.” She realized that it was the truth.

  He pulled the potatoes out of the oven, walked to the kitchen table and set the dish down on a hot pad. He put his hands on his hips and slid her a sidelong glance. Finally he spoke, his tone soft and seductive. “I wanted to call you.”

  “Why didn’t you?” She picked up the basket of bread and the cooked zucchini on the counter and walked over to the table.

  They sat down and dished out the meal. Dylan took a bite of steak and chewed. When his mouth was empty he spoke, “The way you left made a clear and direct statement.”

  Haley swallowed a bite. “What kind of statement?”

  “When you bolted I thought you wanted to get out of there because you thought you’d made a mistake.”

  “It was a mistake. I let myself get carried away.” Suddenly, she didn’t feel very hungry. She rose to put her dish in the sink, but Dylan was out of his seat and blocked her way.

  He stared down into her eyes. “So you didn’t think about me?”

  Haley was beginning to get nervous about the late hour. It was getting dark and the discussion was getting too personal. She avoided his gaze. “No.”

  “Not ever?”

  “No.” She walked around him and went to the sink to rinse off her plate and set it in the drainer.

  “I think you’re lying.”

  “Dylan, it’s getting late. I’m on a tight deadline.” She didn’t want to have this personal conversation with him. It would be harder and harder to get back to a neutral area. This wasn’t about yearnings and dreams, even though she’d had so many. This was about her goal and she had to keep that uppermost in her mind. Yet, she couldn’t help feeling guilty when she considered how many times she’d thought of Dylan when she’d been dating Sean.

  “Back to business?” he asked, sounding disappointed. He was standing close to her at the sink. He nudged her shoulder and cupped her face, his thumb caressing her cheek. Liquid heat radiated from that soft, insistent touch, seeming to melt her bones. Was she still standing? “Okay, back to business. But I think we should spend the night,” he added softly.

  He pulled her away from the sink and directed her toward the living room and the tantalizing smell of raspberries.

  Haley didn’t like the thought of spending the night in Dylan’s arms. She wasn’t sure what that would do to her heart, although he did know this area, these mountains. “I have to get to work on this column. I think we should leave as soon as we’re finished.” As they reached the fireplace and the throw pillows, his mouth captured hers, dragging her into a deep, drugging vortex.

  “The roads can be treacherous to navigate in the dark,” he said, his lips barely touching hers.

  She’d agree to anything to get him to kiss her again. “If you think that’s best,” she murmured, with her eyes on his mouth. She reached up and traced his bottom lip with her thumb.

  He smiled. “Want some wine?”

  Haley shook her head. This time she wanted to be stone-cold sober and savor every single breath he took, every single caress, every single movement, sensation, sound.

  “Is there anything you need to do? Change clothes? Want me to change clothes?”

  “No, but I do want to undress you.” She’d planned the whole thing out. Undressing a man was provocative and erotic. She could feel the heat of the fireplace; the living room was warm and cozy.

  Grabbing her around the waist, he pulled her hard against him. His touch unleashed a host of needs that had lain dormant inside her until the night he’d kissed her. Now they leaped and twisted, wild with the prospect of freedom. He was hers for a little while.

  “You make me so crazy, I can’t think.”

  “Good,” was her strangled response. Her hands flew to his broad shoulders, the cotton soft beneath her fingers. More than anything she wanted to feel his skin. She hung on to him for support.

  He smiled slow and sexy. She felt as if she’d swallowed a draft of whiskey and the fire was flaring out from her stomach to all her extremities.

  Gently he caressed her face. His chest rose in a long-held sigh, yearning stirred. An impossible need. “Haley.”

  When his mouth touched hers, it was hot and wild, and released a need she’d never felt before with any other man. Haley gasped against his lips, sending an explosive reaction all through her body.

  She ran her fingertips down his throat until she reached the top button of the Henley. She unbuttoned it, exposing his collarbone. When she leaned forward and placed her mouth on his skin, her body clenched. She ran her lips across the hollow of his throat. His skin was so soft there, she lingered, breathing in the enticing scent, a heady combination of cinnamon and hot aroused male.

  She unbuttoned the second button, her mouth delved lower, brushing over the top of his bulging pectoral muscles. His chest expanded as he drew in a sharp breath when she lightly bit him. When he groaned, pleasure surged in her tingling nipples and her woman’s core, as her tongue caressed the area she’d bitten.

  When the third button was released, her hands went to his waist. She grabbed the tail of the shirt. With his help, she pulled it over his head and discarded it. She ran the back of her fingers over his stomach to the snap on his jeans, released the button and cupped her hand over the hardness beneath the zipper, giving him a gentle squeeze. Dylan’s eyes flared as his hips thrust into her hands. She removed her hand and bent down to his boots. She unlaced them quickly, and pulled them off along with his socks.

  When her hand came back to his zipper, he grabbed her wrist. “Just the jeans.” He swallowed hard, closing his eyes briefly. “I don’t know if I can last otherwise.”

  She nodded, unable to speak, wanting t
o see every inch of him, but knowing she had to be patient. As tempting as out-and-out raw sex was, she needed the full fantasy experience. She released the zipper slowly.

  “Dammit, Haley,” he said through clenched teeth. With deliberate tenderness, she caressed his waist, tucking her hands inside the waistband of the jeans, which she pushed to the floor. He leaned over and buried his face in her hair. His chest rose and fell, his hot breath fanned her ear, giving her goose bumps. He stepped out of the jeans, kicking them away.

  When he straightened, and she followed, her palms moved over his hard pectoral muscles, his stiff nipples, up to his broad shoulders and back down. She was enthralled, enraptured, wanting to spend hours just touching him like this.

  She pulled him over to the throw pillows directly in front of the fireplace and sank to her knees on the bearskin rug. He, too, dropped to his knees on the pillows. Dipping her finger into the raspberry sauce, she spread some on his rigid nipples.

  Dylan groaned softly, his head falling back, his eyes closed in pleasure. Haley wanted to make it even better. Leaning forward, she sucked hard on his nipple. Dylan’s moan deepened and he clasped her arms, sliding his big hands up until he had them buried in her hair. His fingers kneaded her scalp as he cried out sharply when she went to his other nipple and bit the tip hard. The raspberries were like an aphrodisiac on her tongue, the sweetness of the berry and the hot wild flavor of Dylan mixing into an overwhelming taste.

  He twisted, pushing his chest hard against her mouth and she suckled him, using her tongue against his rigid nipple.

  She reached for his underwear, but again Dylan caught her wrist.

  Hoarsely, he said, “Don’t. I will be lost.”

  “I never knew…” Haley couldn’t finish the sentence. She was stunned that making love with Dylan would be this wild, this erotic.

  The tantalizing smell of raspberries filled the air, the fire crackled in the hearth and threw heat onto their bodies. They reclined against the plump cushions, tossed haphazardly on the rug.

  He closed his eyes when she leaned forward, her scent a tantalizing mix of fragrant flowers, woman and sin. She brushed her fingertips over his nipple. He groaned softly, waves of sensation running like liquid heat from there to his groin.

  “Oh. I knew,” he growled. “I used to sit behind you in English class and imagine.” He opened his eyes and pulled her across his lap as he reclined against the throw pillows. With a slow seductive slide, he pushed her hair back and exposed the nape of her neck. “I’d wonder what kind of sound you’d make when I kissed you there.” When his mouth touched the soft skin at the back of her neck, she gasped. The sound shocked him in return.

  “What else did you wonder?” she whispered breathlessly as she moved against him.

  “I thought about peeling you out of those tight sweaters, wondering what kind of underwear you had on. Would it be sexy black lace or pretty white cotton?”

  “What did you think, then?”

  “Then? Pretty white cotton.” He pulled her even closer, sending his hands through her unruly hair, cupping her angelic face.

  Settling his mouth firmly over hers, he felt as if he’d come home. Their mouths parted. Dylan was so shocked by his reaction he just stared at her. She smiled and traced his lips with her thumb. He captured her hand and tenderly kissed her palm, then her wrist. Returning to her mouth, he kissed her again, rubbing his lips across hers, reveling in the tartness of the raspberry and the sweetness of her mouth. Haley caught his full lower lip gently in her teeth and worried it with her tongue. By mutual decision they stopped their tentative play and kissed in earnest, lips opening, tongues meshing, bodies straining together.

  “What do you think I’m wearing now?” Her voice was thick with desire.

  “Sexy black lace,” he said as he started to pull the tight-fitting black turtleneck over her head, his voice ragged and tight. When she was free of the garment, one word rushed out. “Wow.” His eyes flew to hers and there was mischief there, erotic dreams and fantasies. “Damn,” he swore softly. “Was I ever wrong. You’re wearing red. Hot, fiery red. You are full of surprises.

  “I used to wonder how the lace would cup your breasts. I used to think about sliding each piece of clothing off your body and kissing every inch.”

  “This is our fantasy, Dylan. You can do anything you want.” Haley stabbed her fingers into his hair until she reached his nape, her touch electric and arousing.

  “Yeah. Right.” He slipped his finger inside the lace of the bra with a slow, teasing touch. Haley closed her eyes, her breath hitching, her hands clutching his shoulders.

  He pushed the bra up over her beautiful rose-tipped breasts and higher. She lay back and stretched her arms above her head. He pushed the scrap of red lace to her wrists and held it there, pinning her to the soft pillows and luxurious rug. His eyes locked on hers as he kneed her legs apart and settled his hips against her. Her hips rose up to meet his in a silent, tormenting dance, sending ripples of clawing pleasure snaking around his vitals.

  Haley felt as if she were melting like chocolate. The tantalizing scent of raspberries teased her senses. Dylan’s essence overwhelmed her reason, took her breath. His dark hair gleamed in the glow of the fire, long, thick eyelashes hiding his dark green eyes. Dylan was all hot, hard male above her, his sultry expression a mask of seductive need. She offered herself totally, opened herself, wound her legs around his hips.

  He pulsated with life and hot desire. Drawing closer, his hand curled around the softness of her breast. Lowering his head, he very gently flicked his tongue over her hardened nipple.

  Heat, scorching heat, like an out-of-control wildfire scalded every pulsating inch of her body. Her nipples throbbed, enticing her to arch her back and thrust more of her into his mouth.

  Dylan moaned deep and long as he took her hungrily like a starved man. A jolt of pleasure raced along her nerve endings with that soft, hoarse moan. He took as much of her as he could fit into his mouth, the hard bud of her nipple feeling erotic beneath the moist warmth of his mouth.

  He left her breasts and trailed his kisses across her belly. Finally letting go of her wrists, he unzipped her jeans. After he peeled her jeans and underclothes off her, he kissed his way up the inside of one leg, nipping, licking, lingering in the tender curve of her knee, then in the even more sensitive crease where thigh met hip.

  Haley rose up, intending to pull him back to her, but he resisted. Gently he pushed on her shoulders, making her lie flat again. Then he reached for the warmed raspberry sauce that sat on the lip of the fireplace.

  He dipped her fingers in the sauce and put each one in his mouth, sucking gently. His gaze, hot and magnetic, caught on hers, his green eyes glittering.

  He dipped his own finger in the sauce and smeared the warmed liquid raspberries on the tips of her breasts with a swirling, intoxicating movement. Haley arched her back at the hot feel of the juice, crying out when Dylan’s sensual mouth joined with the raspberry liquid as he sucked powerfully on her breasts.

  His hands slipped down to her hips. He picked up the container again and poured the warmed liquid over her belly. The sauce pooled there, and he lapped it off her skin.

  He held her captive with his hands on her hips, his breath blowing, warm and teasing, across her groin as he spoke, “Sweet. Haley, you are so sweet.”

  When his mouth moved lower, Haley shifted restlessly. He parted her and kissed her on her most sensitive flesh again and again. They were light, teasing kisses that stole her breath. Sliding his hands beneath her buttocks, he lifted her. With a growl deep in his throat, he settled his mouth fully against her, drinking deep of the sweet, warm honey of her woman’s body, exploring her, caressing her, arousing her with languorous strokes of his tongue.

  Crying out, Haley thrashed with mind-bending pleasure. In her meager experience, this was a forbidden pleasure, one she had allowed no other man. Dylan was taking the liberty, as if he had every right to her body’s most intimate s
ecrets. The idea thrilled her in a way she knew it shouldn’t have, which only added to the excitement. She tangled her fingers in the black silk of his hair. Her hips arched and bucked, twisting for the best angle and optimum contact with his mouth.

  Haley arched up like a strung bow, reaching for the terrifying freedom from the bounds she had been living within. The desire built and swirled with vibrant heat inside her, with fiery coils of sensation. The sensations drew to a sharp, excruciating point that sent waves of pleasure exploding through her as he pushed her over the edge.

  Her inner muscles still pulsed with little tremors as he began to slide his hot, tight-muscled body up over hers. She put her hands on his chest, pushing him back until he was reclining on the pillows.

  Dylan’s pulse leaped when she dipped her hand in the sauce and smeared it on her palms. Unsure of her next move, he gasped uncontrollably when she cupped his erection between her hands, her movement achingly slow. Her face was flushed, gloriously beautiful with her pleasure.

  His back arched; he clenched his teeth and panted through them when she stroked the most unbearably sensitive part of him with the tip of her tongue. Sweet flashes of agony sent tiny spasms through his frame when she took him into her mouth. He began to move, he couldn’t help himself, his hips pressed forward into the rhythmic strokes.

  Dylan pulled her up against him, and Haley eagerly straddled the erotic cradle of his body. She cried out when he surged forward, forcing her onto her back. It took him agonizing moments to slip on protection. Then, with frenzied thrusts, he slipped inside her.

  His mouth moved frantically over hers, demanding more, taking more, catching the soft, wild sounds of her pleasure, and her reaction was like a sweetness that coated his tongue to be savored and jealously guarded.

  The moon rose into the gauzy net of the clouds, and the temperature dropped, but, in the room where they gave themselves to each other, the fire crackled. A soft rosy glow glistened over their naked bodies, moving in perfect harmony.

  Haley, her breath hitching in her throat at each deep thrust, slid her hands over the flexing, sweat-slick muscles of his back. Her fingers stretched over the tight, rounded mounds of his buttocks. She fondled and squeezed, urging him to increase tempo until he was lifting her hips off the rug with each thrust, until they were both nearly frantic with the need for release. As the pleasure sparkled through them, release burst upon them simultaneously.