Her eyes search my face, for what, I’m not sure. “I’m glad I have such an effect on you.”
“I kept thinking about San Francisco, about falling asleep with you in my arms.” I stroke her cheek. “What were you thinking earlier? When you were thinking about me.”
“I was wondering what you were doing.”
“Only that?” I trail gentle kisses along her neck. “You weren’t thinking about my lips on your skin, like this?” She lets out a soft moan and I keep going, retracing the path of my kisses. “Were you thinking about me kissing you, my fingers touching you?” I slide my fingers over her smooth thighs.
“Is that what you were thinking?”
I grin. “Always. All the time. Everywhere.” I slide my hand inside her loose shorts and cup her between her legs. She’s wet, and my fingers slide easily between her folds, stroking gently.
Her responsiveness is incredibly arousing. I find a nipple through the fabric of her top and pull it with my teeth. She moans, and I lift her off the ground and carry her to her bed.
I strip off my clothes while she watches me, waiting. Impatiently, I join her, kissing her all over as I pull off her top.
Her breasts are enchanting, and I give them the attention they deserve. At the same time, I tug her shorts aside and stroke her slickness with my fingers, and when she spreads her legs wider, I slide my fingers inside.
Her eyes flutter closed, her hips moving in time with my fingers. I’m aching to taste her, so I get rid of her shorts then bury my head between her legs.
Her reaction is exquisite. She cries out, her hips undulating, her fingers clutching at my hair. I don’t stop until she’s screaming, her body jerking uncontrollably. I keep working her with my fingers and mouth until the tremors stop. Then, spreading her legs a little more, I position myself and enter her.
I hold her tight, reveling in the sound of my name dropping from her lips in soft moans. Her pleasure is like a drug, egging me on, and I bring her to climax after climax until I can’t hold back anymore. I let go of all my control, losing myself in her heat until my mind shuts down in a shattering release.
Then I hold her in my arms like the treasure she is until we both fall asleep.
Chapter 16
A few weeks ago, having lunch with a beautiful woman on the terrace of a five-star restaurant in Geneva with panoramic views of Lake Geneva spread out below us would likely have ended only one way.
Now, though, even as Madeleine Fortrand, newly widowed and perfectly groomed, makes her availability clear to me across the table, all I can think about is Rachel.
Sweet, beautiful Rachel.
I’m obsessed with her, and she’s mine.
It should make me happy, should give me some sort of satisfaction, but I want something more, something even I can’t define.
“You must think I’m fickle,” Madeline purrs in French, pulling me out of my thoughts. “Changing my mind about selling the hotel. It’s just…it meant so much to my late husband.”
Stifling my snort, I give her a charming smile. Her much older, recently dead husband is very likely the last thing on her mind right now. I want to buy the hotel he left to her. She agreed to sell weeks ago, and now, for some reason, she has changed her mind. “Do you want more money?” I ask in the same language.
She gives me a wounded look. “I’ve already told your lawyer it’s not about the money.”
I s
mile to mask my impatience. I got sick of her giving Alex the runaround and decided to come to her myself. “So what is it you want, Madeleine?”
“It’s not every day a man like you flies across the Atlantic just to change my mind.” She holds my gaze. “Don’t ruin it by talking business.”
I raise an eyebrow. “What would you rather I talked about?”
There’s no mistaking the invitation in her eyes. “I’m sure you can think of something.”
Only slightly amused, I humor her. I want her hotel, and she—she is a bored socialite who wants to be persuaded, charmed, and convinced. I can give her that, but what would she want after? A night or two at the home that’s been scrubbed clean of every memory of her late husband?
Not long ago, depending on my mood, I would have taken her up on her unspoken offer without giving her a single thought afterward. Now, I just want to get my contracts signed so I can leave.
Still, I indulge her throughout lunch. She does most of the talking, and I play the part of a patient, attentive listener.