The Negotiator Read online

  Her heart skipped a beat and then galloped away. Her feet inched forward until she stood less than a foot from him. His arm snaked out and hauled her up against his chest and she gasped.

  She tilted her head back and stared up into his eyes, the blood thumping loudly in her ears. Her world narrowed to his beloved face and all of a sudden, there was no one else, but Andy.

  Slowly, slowly, his head descended and his lips grazed gently across hers. She stood on tiptoe and pressed herself against him, holding onto his shoulders for support. As if a match ignited between them, their passion burst into flame. Andy’s kiss turned deeper and more frantic and she matched him just the same.

  When at last they pulled apart, they were breathing hard. Andy’s eyes glittered with heat and desire and Cally was sure she looked just as needy. Her body throbbed, her lips ached, her breasts were heavy with desire.

  “I want to make love to you, Cally,” Andy whispered hoarsely and waited for her response.

  She dragged in another breath and tried hard to calm her racing heart. Knowing there would be no turning back if she made the next move, she swallowed against the lump of nerves which had lodged itself in her throat.

  She lifted her hand and cupped his cheek and then stood on tiptoe again. She pressed her lips against his and whispered, “I want to make love to you, too.”

  Andy growled low in his throat and then bent and swung her up in his arms. With his long strides eating up the distance, it seemed mere seconds before he leaned down and deposited her gently on his bed.

  “Oops, the towel’s come loose,” he murmured in her ear.

  She blushed and then reached over and ran her hand down the muscular length of his naked thigh. “I don’t think we need the towel.”

  His eyes widened in surprise and he shot her a lascivious grin. A second later, he joined her on the bed. On his hands and knees, he straddled her, with an arm either side of her head. As if in slow motion, he lowered his head. Her mouth parted on a soft sigh. This time, his kiss was as light as butterfly wings and she reveled in its tenderness. He kissed her over and over again, each more passionate than the one before, until both of them were once again breathless.

  Reaching up, she put her arms around his neck and pulled him close against her. The solid hardness of his erection pressed against her belly through her clothes. He sucked in his breath at the contact and she couldn’t help the thrill of satisfaction that surged through her. Emboldened, she reached down and touched him.

  “You have way too many clothes on, woman,” he muttered, his voice husky with need.

  Turning her on her side, he found the zipper of her dress and slid it down as far as it would go. Pushing the thin straps off her shoulders, he touched her skin with fingers that trembled.

  “You’re so beautiful, Cally.” He bent to fasten his mouth over her breast, laving it with his tongue through the fabric of her bra. She moaned in frustration, wanting desperately to feel his tongue on her heated flesh. Reaching around behind, she unfastened the clasp of her bra. She pulled it away and her breasts sprang free.

  His eyes glittered with desire. He bent his head, intent on one of her nipples and she held her breath, anticipating the feel of his lips against her heated skin. His hot wet mouth sucked on the sensitive nub. She gasped. Desire coiled tight within her, pulsing with warmth and need.

  It had been a long time since she’d been with a man, but she couldn’t remember ever feeling so aware of her body. Sex with Stewart had always been fast and furious and laced with massive doses of guilt. She’d never achieved a climax.

  Nothing could compare to the feelings Andy stirred up inside her. Just when she thought she couldn’t take any more, he turned his attention to her other breast. Plunging her fingers into his hair, she held his head. His teeth grazed her nipple. Her clit throbbed with need. She squirmed against him.

  “Easy, sweetheart, easy,” he murmured, levering his body away from her. “We have all day.”

  His lips returned to hers. When his tongue sought entrance, she opened her mouth and let him taste her. His tongue swept inside and he moaned. “Mm, you taste so good. You always taste so good.”

  He pushed her dress further down her hips. She lay back against the pillows and lifted her bottom so he could pull it down over her legs, along with her panties. Once both articles of clothing had been tossed onto the floor, his eyes feasted on her lying there, naked before him.

  He leaned over her and pressed a soft kiss to her lips. His eyes were almost black with desire. His bare chest scraped lightly against her breasts. She drew in a sharp breath and reached up impatiently to pull him down hard against her.

  Her breasts were crushed against the solid wall of his chest. She arched her back, needing to get even closer. The throbbing heat in her center had become almost unbearable. She ached deep in her core.

  As if aware of her need, Andy shifted his weight. Leaning on his elbows, he pressed kisses over her stomach and then kept moving lower. Cally’s breath caught when his tongue poked into her belly button, swirling and tasting her skin. A moment later, his mouth nuzzled her femininity. Despite the aching in her core, she tensed and pressed her legs together.

  “Andy, please!” she gasped. Reaching down, she tried to pull his head away. Undeterred, his tongue pressed against her slit.

  “Please what?” His voice was a low murmur as his tongue continued to work its magic.

  Cally’s face flamed. Turning her head away from him, she tried again. “Please don’t do that.”

  “Do what?” He swirled his tongue lightly over her clit. “That?” He lifted his head briefly to watch her reaction. “Or this?”

  His tongue plunged inside her and she gasped again. Never before had she been caressed so intimately and she fought against the sensations as she tried to regain some sense of propriety.

  “Andy, stop! I don’t think you should—”

  “What? Kiss you like this?” He opened his mouth over the lips of her womanhood and sucked them gently into his mouth.

  “Don’t be embarrassed, Cally. You’re so beautiful. I want to taste every inch of you. There’s nothing to be embarrassed about. Please, let me.”

  His humble request eased her discomfort. Little by little, she let go of her instinctive inhibitions and allowed herself to experience the incredible sensations he created deep inside her.

  As if sensing her acquiescence, he deepened the movements of his tongue. Once again, desire began to build inside her. The rhythmic stroking continued. Her fingers clutched at his hair, but this time in supplication as she silently begged him to put an end to her torment.

  Her hips moved against him. In response, he increased the pressure of his tongue, licking and laving and swirling around her clit until she didn’t think she could stand it another minute.

  “That’s it, sweetheart; that’s it. Come for me, babe, come for me.”

  Andy’s murmured encouragement brought to mind the night before and was all she needed to push her over the edge. Waves of pleasure washed over her. Holding his head tightly in her hands, she cried out in release. Long moments later, as the last pulse of her orgasm receded, she opened her eyes and looked up at him. He leaned over her on his elbows, a look of pure male satisfaction on his face.

  “Aren’t you glad you let me?”

  Heat flooded her face. It was one thing to do it, but to talk about it afterwards? Could she really cope with that?

  “Look at me, Cally,” he commanded softly. He waited until she lifted her reluctant gaze to his. “Don’t be embarrassed by what we do together. I love you. I love every part of you and I want to show you how much.” With tender fingers, he brushed a strand of hair off her forehead. “All the things I do to you are just a way of expressing my love. I hope you can understand that?”

  Her heart beat wildly at his declaration. She held his gaze, reading the honesty and sincerity in his eyes. Taking a deep breath, she kept her eyes locked on his. “I love you too, Andy.” />
  His eyes widened with surprise and his face lit up with happiness. “Show me,” he grinned.

  Though boneless after her orgasm, she pulled herself up slowly from where she lay beneath him. Emboldened by the desire glittering in the depths of his dark eyes, she pushed him gently until he was lying on his back, stretched out before her in all his naked glory. His thick cock sprang up from his groin, surrounded by pubic hair. Her eyes widened in disbelief. Her only experience in that department had been with Stewart and she hadn’t realized until that moment how unimpressively endowed he’d been—either that, or Andy was exceptionally big.

  His well-muscled chest was smooth and tanned and hairless. Leaning over him, she brushed the tips of her breasts over his chest and watched in awe as his nipples puckered. Pressing her breasts more fully against his skin, she heard the quick intake of Andy’s breath. Noticing the strained look on his face, she grinned. “You were the one who told me to show you.”

  His voice was hoarse. “Did I happen to tell you how wicked you are?”

  “Mm, not today.” She gave him a cheeky grin.

  He growled. “As I was saying—”

  She silenced him by flicking her tongue over the hard nub of his nipple, first one then the other. He gasped and his hands clamped over her bare thighs where they straddled his hips, holding her still. The hard evidence of his desire pressed into the softness of her womanhood, still slick from her orgasm. She leaned over again to kiss him.

  “You are a witch,” he murmured. “An enchantress sent to drive me out of my mind.”

  She reveled in his praise and it made her even braver. Wriggling off his hips, she slowly slid down the hard length of his long muscular legs until her mouth hovered over his impressive erection.

  He opened his eyes and stared down at her where she was poised above his hardness.

  “Cally, you’re driving me insane. Please, touch me. Please.”

  His raw need filled her with molten desire. He empowered her and the feeling gave her courage. She fit her hand around the solid, hard length of him. He groaned and she bent forward and hesitantly placed her mouth over the tip of his cock. Remembering how he’d swirled his tongue around her clit, she imitated his moves around the engorged head and then slid her tongue lower. He moaned again and her confidence soared.

  With his shaft now slick, she moved her hand up and down, squeezing and releasing in a rhythmic motion. A few moments later, his hand stole down and covered hers, stilling its movement.

  “No more,” he said hoarsely. “I’m not ready to let this be over.” Drawing her up gently, he pressed her against him, taking her mouth once again with his lips and as their tongues entwined, renewed stirrings of desire warmed her.

  With a swift movement, he flipped her onto her back. He stared down at her, his face hard with need. “God, you’re so beautiful. I have to be inside you.”

  Reaching across her, he fumbled for his wallet and pulled out a condom. Quickly sheathing his erection, he returned to his position between her legs. The tip of his cock pressed against her moist warmth. With a nudge of his thigh, she opened her legs wider and tried not to tense. This was Andy, not Stewart. Andy wouldn’t hurt her. Andy loved her.

  Slowly, he eased inside her, inch by inch. His arms strained from the effort and his jaw clenched. Her muscles stretched to accommodate his unfamiliar proportions. She gasped.

  His eyes immediately filled with concern. “Are you okay? I’m not hurting you, am I?”

  “No,” she breathed. “You’re just so… It feels so different, like you’re filling every part of me.” She blushed and looked away.

  Andy groaned. “God, woman you’re killing me.” He pushed a little harder and all of a sudden, the whole, hard length of him was buried deep inside her.

  She gasped again and concentrated on the feeling of her inner walls enfolding him, his hardness filling her. Slowly, he moved against her until the desire he’d ignited earlier pulsed back to life. Reaching up, she grabbed hold of his shoulders and dragged him down to her so her breasts were pressed tightly against his chest. He continued to thrust inside her slowly, rhythmically. Delicious pressure began to build again until she was close to another orgasm.

  As if sensing it, his movements picked up speed and his thrusts became longer and harder. She brought her legs up and tightened them around his hips, drawing him in even closer. As the first waves of her climax washed over her, her eyes flew wide open. She watched as Andy’s face, which had been tense with concentration, relaxed suddenly as he too shuddered and reached his fulfillment.

  * * *

  It was much later when Cally stretched and opened her eyes. Andy lay quietly beside her, watching her. He smiled, his eyes full of love.

  “Tell me again how much you love me,” she whispered, still overjoyed by the feeling.

  He gathered her close and squeezed her tight. “You’re the first and only woman I’ve ever loved. You’re it. End of story. I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”

  Her mouth fell open in disbelief. She stared at him, confusion warring with hope. “What are you saying? That you want to move in here for good? As in, you want to move into my life and my bed, and live happily ever after?”

  He grinned. “Well, now that I’ve installed an air conditioner, you could always move into my bed.”

  Happiness burst inside her. If Aunt Mary had been alive, she’d be smiling a mile wide. She would wink at Cally and tell her what a good-looking stud she’d managed to capture.

  Andy smiled back at her. “So, what do you say?”

  She frowned. “What do I say?”

  “Yeah, what do you say? Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”

  Her smile couldn’t get any wider. Although she’d be happy to have him in her life on any terms, deep down inside, she was a traditionalist at heart. She believed in marriage and everything that came with it and she couldn’t wait to become Andy’s wife.

  “Yes! Oh Andy—yes!” Throwing her arms around him, she hugged him tight but then spying his frown, pulled back slightly. “What’s the matter? Not having second thoughts already, are you?”

  He smiled. “Not on your life. I was just thinking about Jack and how he’ll take our news.”

  She thought about her son and how well he’d adjusted to Andy and reached for his hand. “I think he’s going to be over the moon,” she whispered.

  His lips met hers in a soft kiss that was full of love and contentment. When he pulled away at last, her breath came fast. His gaze swept over her naked form, pausing with great deliberation on the rosy tips of her nipples.

  “What time does school get out?”

  Cally giggled. “Three o’clock.”

  “Three o’clock,” he muttered and dipped his head to her breast. His warm tongue snuck out and drew one of her nipples deep into his mouth. “Whatever will we do until then?”

  * * *

  “What do you have in here to eat? I’m starving,” Andy grinned as he continued opening and closing kitchen cupboards.

  Fresh from another shower, Cally tightened the cord at the waist of her white terry bathrobe and padded barefoot across the linoleum floor. She reached for the box of Weet-Bix and pushed it toward him with a dry look. “There’s milk in the fridge.”

  “Weet-Bix? That’s all you’re offering me for brunch? Haven’t you noticed I’m a growing boy? And after all the calories I burned off earlier this morning…”

  She shrugged with studied nonchalance. “Take it or leave it.”

  He came over to where she stood and stopped right in front of her. “You’re a hard woman. After all I did for you today.”

  Images of their marathon morning of lovemaking filled her head. She blushed and averted her eyes. Cupping her face in his hands, he lifted her chin until she was looking at him. His thumb stroked her cheek, his eyes warm and loving. Gently, he pushed a strand of wet hair out of her eyes before bending his head to place a soft kiss on her lips.

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nbsp; “How was the shower?” he murmured and pulled her against him.

  She looked up at him and smiled. “It was good. Thanks for letting me go first.”

  He grinned cheekily. “After everything we’ve been through, it was the least I could do.”

  “Oh, you’re impossible!” She brought her hands to her face in an effort to stem the heat. “Do we really have to talk about it? Why can’t we just…you know…do it?”

  Andy burst out laughing and her face flamed hotter. Ducking her head, she tried to wriggle out of his arms, but he was having none of that.

  “I thought you knew? Guys like talking about it almost as much as they like doing it.” Laughter glinted in his eyes. He shrugged. “It’s what we do.”

  Crossing her arms over her chest, Cally did her best not to smile. “Well it’s not what I’m comfortable doing.”

  “Maybe we could work on that,” he murmured. He bent his head and tickled her ear with his tongue. “Mm, you taste so fresh and clean. I think I might have to take you back to bed and get you all dirty again.”

  He nibbled on her neck. She tried to ignore the shivers of desire that coursed through her. He loosened the tie of her bathrobe and a warm hand stole inside to squeeze her naked breast. A long finger flicked over her nipple. It immediately hardened under his attention.

  She sighed in surrender and relaxed in his arms, relishing the feelings he was quickly stirring up deep inside her. After their previous sessions, she was surprised either of them could conjure up the energy for another bout of lovemaking, but it seemed she wasn’t the only one who couldn’t get enough.

  “I think there might be bread in the cupboard. You might be able to make some toast,” she murmured as he worked his way across the top of her breasts, taking little nibbling bites of her skin between his teeth.

  “Mm, what was that?” His lips closed over one of her nipples and drew it into his mouth.

  She gasped. Desire shot through and settled in her core. “I…I said there was… There was toast. You said…ah… You said you were…hungry.”

  “Mm, I’m hungry all right.” He lifted his head and held her eyes, his meaning clear as his gaze dropped to her breasts, watching them as they rose and fell with her erratic breathing. “In fact, I’d nearly say I’m famished.”