TouchofTopaz (7 page)

“I like the view from here,” he drawled, looking pointedly
at her butt.

A burst of laughter escaped her before she could stifle it
and she gave him a mock glare. “I can see I’m not going to get any more work
done in here.” She tossed the sponge onto the side of the tub and straightened.
“We might as well go for a walk now.”

Topaz came toward him, but he didn’t move and continued to
block the entrance to the room. She stopped in front of him, hands on her hips,
and raised an eyebrow in question. Damn, she was hot when she went all
authoritative on him. He could easily picture her giving that same glare to
some supplier and having that person fall all over themselves trying to fix
whatever the problem was.

But he was made of sterner stuff.

“You gotta pay the toll, babe.” He pointed at his lips.

She laughed again and cocked her hip to one side. “Is that
so?”

“Yup.” He enjoyed playing with her, teasing her. She hadn’t
had a lot to laugh about these past months. He liked her smile, the way the
corners of her mouth turned upward, and the sparkle that illuminated her golden
eyes so they appeared to shimmer.

“Hmmm.” She took a step closer to him and pressed her hands
against his chest. She ran them up to his shoulders, teasing his nape with her
fingers.

“Is the toll expensive?” she asked.

“You have no idea.” His voice was lower than normal, arousal
making it deeper, rougher. It took every ounce of strength he had to keep from
kissing her. He wanted her to initiate the kiss.

She went up onto her toes and pulled his head toward her. “I
think I’m up to it,” she whispered just before her mouth touched his.

There was no doubt in his mind she was up to the challenge.
She tasted like mint toothpaste and the faintest hint of coffee. He opened his
mouth over hers and devoured her. He’d eaten breakfast, but he was a starving
man. And only she could sate the hunger inside him.

His tongue tangled with hers as they both stroked and
teased. She moaned and he broke, grabbed her butt in his hands and pulled her
into the cradle of his groin. Her mound pressed against his cock, a perfect
fit.

He groaned and moved against her as they continued to kiss.
With her in his arms, he lost all track of time and place. Whether she knew it
or not, the woman in his arms was everything to him.

He ran his hand up her spine and back down again. She made
little sounds of pleasure that sparked the growing lust within him, setting it
aflame.

It was only when he felt her palms push against him that he
found the strength to pull back from the kiss. She stared up at him and licked
her lips. He groaned, leaned down and licked her lips for her.

A deep shudder went through her. “I think,” she began. “I
think we should probably take that walk now.”

He shook his head to clear it. She wanted to go for a walk.
Now. His body was yelling its denial even as his head told him to suck it up
and get back in the game.

She pushed him aside and eased by him. Heading toward the
bedroom, she glanced over her shoulder. “I think that more than paid the toll.
You can put the rest on my tab for future payment.”

A slow smile broke over his lips as he watched her sashay
into the bedroom. “Yes ma’am,” he whispered under his breath. He’d thought to
tease her, to get her all hot and bothered before they went for their walk.

Well, the idea had partly worked, except
he
was the
one all hot and bothered. Although, he knew the look in her eyes very well and
knew she was feeling the effects of their kiss just as much as he was.

Satisfied he’d set the tone for the day, John sauntered back
to the living room to wait for Topaz.

Chapter Seven

Topaz gave John a sideways glance before looking back at the
path in front of her. Her body still hummed from the kiss they’d shared in the
bathroom. She couldn’t believe she’d been brazen enough to tease him about it.
John brought out a side of her she hadn’t even known existed. She’d never
teased a lover before, or thought about sex as something to laugh about. It was
fun and liberating.

The bright sun warmed her face as they walked. The crisp air
made her face tingle and the light snow covering the ground crunched beneath
her boots. It was the perfect morning for a stroll. Winter was hanging on, but
she could practically smell spring in the air.

The woods were quiet but they weren’t silent. Crows cawed
and a squirrel scampered up the trunk of an oak tree off to their left. In the
distance she could hear the distinct burble of a brook. It was so different
from New York and reminded her of the simpler times of her childhood.

“Not too cold, are you?”

She shook her head. “No, it’s not that cold.” In fact, she
wasn’t even wearing her gloves. They were stuffed in her pockets along with her
hands. She’d wanted to reach out and take John’s hand, but she hadn’t been able
to make herself do it.

It bothered her that she was unable to do such a simple
thing. Why was she so afraid to reach out to him in such a simple way? She’d
had no trouble making love to him last night, or early this morning. Maybe it
was because their lovemaking had happened in the heat of passion. Reaching out
to hold his hand seemed like more of a commitment.

God, could she be any more messed up about her feelings?

She glanced at him again and sighed. John had been quiet
since they left the cabin, the easy humor they’d shared over the kiss in the
bathroom gone. She wondered what was on his mind, but was afraid to ask, not
wanting to ruin the beauty of the moment.

The toe of her boot caught on an exposed root and she started
to fall. She threw her hands out in front to catch herself, but John stopped
her descent before she’d done more than stumble. Her boots looked great on a
stroll down Madison Avenue, not so practical for a walk in the woods.

“I’ve got you.” He helped her stand upright again and
brushed his thumb over her cheek. “All good?”

“Yes.” There was worry in his eyes, but behind it she saw
the familiar flames of desire. His leather jacket crinkled beneath her hands as
she clutched his shoulders. His gaze narrowed and his nostrils flared.

She had no idea what devil inside her made her go up on her
toes and kiss him. It was like baiting a bull with a red cape during a
bullfight. She wanted him to lose control.

At first he stayed as still as a statue, unmoving and unresponsive
to her kiss. Just as embarrassment started to creep in and she began to pull
back, he caught her head between his hands and held her while he devoured her.
His kiss was filled with dark passion, with relentless need. As always, her
body responded readily to his touch.

She wanted him and she wanted him now.

There were no thoughts of tomorrow and what it might bring.
There was only now and the heat that sizzled that arose every time they
touched.

“Topaz.” Her name was a tortured whisper on his lips. His
hand skated down her back to her butt. He lifted her against his erection and
ground his pelvis against her.

She had to touch him, had to feel his hard, hot flesh
beneath her hands. The zipper of his jacket posed no problem and she slid her
hands inside, shoving it down his arms. He released her long enough for her to
push it off. He was wearing a long-sleeved shirt and she simply thrust her
hands beneath it.

His body jerked when her cool hands hit his hot skin. The
man was always so warm, so irresistible to her.

While she’d been busy removing his jacket, he’d opened her
coat and now slipped his hands beneath her turtleneck sweater, finding her
lace-clad breasts. His fingers closed around the mounds and he moaned deep in
his throat. “I love your breasts, so full, so perfect.”

He took a step forward, forcing her to move backward until
her spine connected with the broad trunk of a tree. John leaned down, shoved
her sweater up and covered one nipple with his mouth, sucking on it through the
delicate fabric of her bra. The tight nub stood at attention, the combination
of the heat from his mouth and the cool air on her skin ratcheting her arousal
up a notch.

This was crazy. They were in the middle of the woods and
there was still snow on the ground. Plus, they were out in public. She had no
idea how close they were to other people. Knowing John, not very close. He was
a man who valued his privacy. But still, she wasn’t the type of woman to take
these kinds of chances, to be this wild and impetuous.

He shifted his mouth to her other breast, wringing a moan of
pleasure from her, and she forgot all her objections, all the reasons why this
wasn’t a good idea. Her panties were damp and the familiar longing grew within
her. “John.” She groaned his name as he sucked hard and used his tongue on her
straining nipple.

“Right here. Right now.” He pulled back and yanked down the
zipper of her jeans and tore open the button.

His sense of urgency fired hers and she found herself
agreeing, even helping. She shimmied her hips and he pulled her jeans down
around her knees, taking her panties with them. Cool air hit her bare butt and
her pussy and she shivered.

Her boots prevented her clothing from going down any
farther. John swore and spun her around so she was facing the tree. “Bend
forward.”

A blast of heat beat back the cold when she realized what he
wanted to do. She placed her hands on the rough bark of the tree and leaned
down. Behind her, she could hear the sound of a zipper. Fabric moved over
fabric and then she felt the hard, hot head of his cock pressed against her
opening.

John swore and pulled back. “Condom,” he muttered. She felt
exposed and vulnerable just waiting for him, yet every nerve in her body
tingled in anticipation.

The crinkle of the foil packet sounded extremely loud to her
ears, unnatural amidst the sounds of nature.

“Done,” he muttered. He caught her hips in his hands,
positioned his cock at her opening and pushed inward. There was no pause, no
hesitation as he pushed past her body’s natural resistance until he’d seated
himself to the hilt.

She felt deliciously stretched as he invaded her, giving no
quarter. She squirmed, trying to take him even deeper. It was a tight fit in
this position and there was slight discomfort as her body adjusted to his, but
it hurt so good.

He pulled back until only the tip of his cock was lodged in
her pussy. Then he slammed home again. She arched her back and cried out.

He froze. “Topaz?”

“Again,” she moaned. God, she needed him to fill her, to
drive out all her insecurities and misgivings. All she wanted to do was feel.

His hands tightened around her hips and he drove into her
over and over, pushing them both closer to the edge of oblivion. Around them
the sounds of the forest grew quiet until all she could hear was the sound of
their heavy breathing and the occasional groan of pleasure. He shifted and the
snow scrunched beneath his boots.

She should have been cold, half-naked as she was. But she
was hot, burning with need.

John banded one arm around her waist and reached his free
hand down between her legs. His thumb grazed her clit, setting off a series of
small explosions in her core. She cried out and then caught her breath when he
pulled her away from the tree, so she was standing upright with his cock buried
deep in her pussy.

The position made his cock seem even larger and she wasn’t
sure how he fit inside her. The pressure in her groin grew with each passing
second until she knew she couldn’t hold out any longer.

John held her close, his hips rocking hard against her ass.
His movements were fast and frantic now. She cried out his name and gave
herself over to the explosive orgasm that ripped through her.

He swore under his breath as his arms tightened around her.
His hips jerked and his cock rippled, setting off another round of spasms
within her. Her vision dimmed and she gulped in mouthfuls of cool air. A shiver
snaked down her spine. She suddenly felt the cold air on her bare legs and
butt.

“God almighty, but that got out of hand.” John withdrew
carefully from her. In spite of his effort to be gentle, she flinched. She was
feeling raw, physically and emotionally.

She used one hand to steady herself against the tree and
tried to pull up her clothes with the other. It was harder than it should have
been. Her limbs weren’t responding to her commands. Her legs felt like jelly
and her arms weren’t much better.

“Here. Let me help you.” John tugged her panties and jeans
around her and zipped them shut before pulling her sweater back down. He pulled
the sides of her jacket closed and pulled her into his arms.

She buried her face against his chest and breathed in his
musky, woodsy scent. This man could make her do things that no other could. He
could make her forget herself and her surroundings. He could make her lose
herself in passion. It was crazy. It was addictive. But mostly it was dangerous
to her peace of mind.

“Everything will be okay.” His promise brought tears to his
eyes. She didn’t know how everything would be okay, but she didn’t want to
argue with him. Not now. Time was growing short.

He leaned back and caught her chin with the edge of his
hand. His blue eyes studied her face. She had no idea what he was looking for
or if he found it. He kissed her forehead and stepped back, taking the time to
zip her jacket closed. “Are you too cold to keep walking? Do you want to go
back?”

She jammed her chilled hands into her coat pocket and pulled
out her gloves, slipping them on. “No, I’m okay.” She didn’t want to go inside
just yet, was afraid she’d feel the walls closing in around her if she did.

“The brook isn’t far from here.” He grabbed his jacket and
slipped it on. Then he wrapped an arm around her shoulders and guided her down
the rough trail. Five minutes later they came out at a small, burbling brook. A
large boulder had settled on its side next to the water. John drew her to it
and sat, pulling her down in front of him. He wrapped his arms around her and
urged her to lean back against his chest.

They were silent for several minutes as she waited for him
to speak. She could tell he had something on his mind. The time had come for
them to talk and she knew there would be no putting him off this time. She
braced herself for what was to come.

John felt Topaz stiffen in his arms but he didn’t let her
go, nor did it deter him from what he was about to say. They needed to talk.
Time was running out. Soon they’d both be back to their busy lives and if they
didn’t settle their relationship, he was afraid she could easily slip away from
him.

His body was still humming from the orgasm he’d just had. He
still couldn’t believe he’d stripped her pants down to her knees and taken her
in the middle of the cold woods.
Really smooth there, Knight
.

Still, he couldn’t really regret his impulsive actions.
She’d been right with him all the way, her sweet pussy closing around his dick
and clenching it tight. His cock stirred again, but he ignored it. He’d only
put one condom in his pocket and he’d already used it.

Plus, he was determined to find out why she seemed so
opposed to an actual relationship with him. If he were a less self-assured man
she’d have crushed whatever ego he did have weeks ago.

“Talk to me, sweetheart.” He kept his voice low and neutral.
“Why are you so afraid of what we have together?”

He waited for what seemed like forever, but his patience was
finally rewarded. “You lead such a different life than I do, John. You were in
the military. You’ve done things I could never dream of.”

He stiffened. Was it his past that was keeping them apart?
He’d spent more time in war zones than he wanted to remember, had done things
no man should ever have to do. But he’d done them because they’d needed doing
and he wasn’t ashamed of his actions.

She continued to speak, totally unaware of his internal
turmoil. “I mean, you jump out of planes and blow things up and do all kinds of
death-defying things. The most dangerous thing I’ve ever done is hit an
after-Christmas sale at Macy’s.”

John relaxed slightly. “What does that matter?” He was
totally perplexed and wished he understood exactly what was going on inside her
mind. Women were complicated creatures. Men were much more straightforward and
easy to understand.

She turned in his arms and looked up at him. “What does it
matter?” She was looking at him as though he wasn’t very smart, which might
have been amusing under other circumstances. Now it was frustrating as hell.

“I’ll tell you why it matters,” she continued. “You’ve lived
with adrenaline and adventure your entire life. Even after you left the
military you chose a profession that was filled with more thrills and danger. I
can’t live like that. I’m a homebody. I want security and a man who is content
to stay home with me.”

Topaz paused and fear clouded her eyes. “I wouldn’t be
enough for you, John. Maybe at first, but over time…” She let her words trail
off and he thought his heart might split in two when a lone tear rolled down
her cheek.

He caught the tear on his thumb and wiped it away. “Hey.
That’s just crazy.” He had to make her understand how he felt about her. “I’m
forty years old, sweetheart. I’ve been shot at more time than I care to think
about and bailed out of more than enough airplanes to last me a lifetime. I’m
ready to settle down and live a quieter life.”

She pulled out of his arms and turned, sitting tailor-style
on the rock facing him. “That’s not true. Not really. You’re a professional
bodyguard, John. That means you’ll still be in danger and people might very
well be shooting at you.”