The Billionaire's Masquerade (The Friendship Series) (6 page)

Rachel couldn’t catch her breath! And if she were able to think, she probably wouldn’t care. She just wanted Jack to continue to touch her. His hands had lifted her onto the seat of his truck but then lingered. She shivered as his hands smoothed down her legs, lifting them higher and then she jerked when his hands slid underneath her skirt, moving upwards very slowly. She didn’t want slow! She wanted him to rip her clothes off and make love to her. Never had she wanted anything like this before but if he didn’t move faster, she might just scream out her frustration!

He started to pull away but she grabbed his shoulders, unaware that her eyes were wild with need. “Please don’t stop,” she gasped.

He groaned and bent low to kiss her. “We can’t do this here, Rachel. Give me five minutes and we’ll be back at my place,” he told her urgently, then bent to kiss her again, just to muddle her mind a bit more.

When he pulled away this time, he gently placed her legs so they were forward in the truck then slammed the door, walking quickly around to the driver’s side.

Rachel watched him, her mind whirling with all the crazy things that popped into her head. Now that he wasn’t kissing her or touching her, she could think more clearly and she accepted that she wanted this man. He was somehow different from anyone she’d ever met before. And shockingly, even though she’d met him only earlier today, she was going to go through with this. She’d always thought she’d be in a long term relationship, not necessarily marriage but in love with someone, before she took this monumental step. But no one had ever affected her like Jack did. And she was being daring this weekend. She was stepping out of her comfort zone and doing things that she wouldn’t have dared last year. This was it, she thought as he slid into the driver’s seat. Yes, she was going to make love with Jack. And it was going to be fabulous.

“Are you sure about this?” he asked, pulling her across the cracked leather seat, right back into his arms. “I want you, Rachel, but I want you to be sure.”

She snuggled up against him, her hand reaching out to caress the roughness of his cheek and smiled. “I’m very sure,” she said. It wasn’t love, she accepted. It was desire and it was intoxicating. And for the first time in her life, she understood why other women had sexual flings. She was about to venture into her first and it was with a man who fascinated her beyond words. “Take me away from here, Jack.”

Jack would have corrected her about his name if she hadn’t slipped her hand into his shirt and driven him crazy with need. Those soft, seductive fingers, moving across his chest made his body harden to a painful state. He thought about pulling her hands away so he could focus on driving, but he was loathe to lose her touch for even a moment.

He started the engine, vaguely wondering if it was the car purring or himself. Shifting into gear, he tore out of the parking lot. Thankfully, it was only a five minute drive and he was turning into the back driveway to his house.

“You’re taking me to that cute cottage, aren’t you?” she asked, smiling with eagerness. “From the first moment I saw it, I was wondering what would be inside.”

He thought about laughing but restrained himself. He had a massive house with all the latest technology and grand views of the ocean but this woman wanted to see the tiny cottage he was refurbishing? Priceless!

“The cottage it is,” he told her. Again, he thought about telling her who he was, but again, her hand moved. Onto his thigh! Damn! He wanted to bury himself inside of her and make her as crazy as she was making him.

“Come on, woman,” he growled as he slammed the car into park. He didn’t wait for her to step down, lifting her into his arms and carrying her into the cottage. There wasn’t much inside yet, but thankfully there was a comfortable bed with a quilt that his housekeeper had sewn. She’d even insisted on several pillows, all of which he shoved off of the bed after placing Rachel in the center.

“Now that we’re alone,” he said and leaned over her, holding himself separate with his arms braced on each side of her.

Rachel didn’t want to wait. She was finished waiting and now was a time for action. Her fingers weren’t very adept, but they finally got his shirt undone and her hands smoothed over his skin that, just this morning she’d been desperate to touch and explore. Now, she gave her hands the freedom to go wherever they wanted, smoothing over all those magnificent muscles, learning all of their dips and ridges.

She vaguely felt him pulling and tugging at her own clothes, but she hadn’t realized how efficient he was until he lowered his head to kiss her breast, his lips skimming across the lace of her bra and she cried out, arching upwards so that he would do more than just skim. But then his hand cupped her breast and it still wasn’t enough. “More,” she begged. “Please!”

Emerson watched with fascination as her nipple pebbled in the dim light of the moon coming through the windows. He thought about turning on the light beside the bed, but didn’t want to take a moment away from her.

Rachel’s hands gripped his waist when his mouth nuzzled the lace away from her breast. When his mouth actually captured her already pert nipple, she gasped and tried to wiggle away, the heat too much for her, but Jack wasn’t going to allow that. He did smile though and moved to the other nipple, giving it the same treatment. And Rachel realized that being without his mouth there was strangely worse than being without it. “This is crazy,” she gasped when he gently bit then soothed the tender flesh with his tongue. “Please don’t stop.”

“I doubt an earthquake could stop me now,” he laughed, a deep husky sound that reverberated throughout her body.

His hands had already dispensed with her skirt but deftly removed her lace underwear, leaving on the thigh high stockings.

“I love these,” he told her, nuzzling the lace there on her upper thigh. If I’d know you were wearing these earlier today, I never would have let you get into the car.”

She couldn’t help but laugh, trying to breathe deeply. “I hate pantyhose,” she whispered, bracing herself for whatever he might do next.

“I approve of your distaste,” he came right back and her underwear was suddenly gone, his fingers smoothing over her skin. “You’re like silk.” His fingers teased and tortured. “I’d like to see all of you, Rachel.”

“No, just…”

He laughed, holding her hips in place. “I guess I phrased that incorrectly.” With a firm hand, he moved between her knees, spreading her legs so he had unhindered access to his goal. “I should have said, I
will
see all of you.”

“No,” she whispered again, still trying to squirm away from him but then his fingers touched her there! And she was no longer squirming away. Her body froze, experiencing a man’s touch for the first time. When she felt it again, she unconsciously moved closer, giving him better access. “Oh,” was all she could say.

Emerson wanted to laugh at her reaction, but he was in too much pain and he was too fascinated to stop. He wanted this woman. All of her! And with that in mind, he bent his head, his mouth covering her core and she sat up, gasping with the newest sensation. “Jack!” she cried out.

He was relentless and wouldn’t let her get away from him. From this position, her head was shaking and she gripped his hair, but he still wouldn’t relent. Then he slipped a finger inside of her and she couldn’t stop the insanity. She fell back against the mattress and screamed out as her body seemed to explode into a world of pleasure so intense, she thought she might have passed out.

She’d barely gotten her breathing back under control when his mouth latched onto her breast. “No!” she gasped out, trying to push his head away but he wouldn’t let her. “I can’t!” she begged.

“You can,” he laughed softly, his body moving into place and he gathered her close. After putting on protection, he pushed himself gently inside of her heat. He clenched his eyes closed as he shifted his weight. “You’re so tight!” he groaned. When he pushed his way into her heat, he felt her flinch and froze, realizing what her reaction meant. “Rachel?” he asked, looking at her with confusion but he could barely see her features in the darkness. “Rachel, tell me you aren’t a virgin!”

Rachel shifted, taking him even deeper into her body and she gasped as she felt a fullness that wasn’t quite comfortable. She ran her hands down his arms, moving her body ever so slightly to try and get comfortable but it didn’t work. “I’m not a virgin,” she said honestly.

He pressed his body down against hers, trapping her so she had to be still. “Rachel, you know what I’m asking you.”

She smiled up into his eyes. She couldn’t see them clearly with the dim light, but she could feel the exertion he was enduring as he tried to remain still for her. “I’ve never felt like this before. So please don’t feel guilty. And I’m sorry I didn’t tell you before this moment, but I didn’t really have a chance,” she pointed out.

He sighed, leaning his forehead against hers. “I guess you have a point.”

“And if your current point is to drive me crazy, I think you’ve accomplished your goal,” she teased. “Don’t you want to finish?”

He lifted his head and tried to see her eyes. “You think I’m the only one not finished?” He laughed when her body started shivering with the strain. “Oh, no, my beauty,” he groaned, lifting himself up onto his elbows. “You are coming right along with me,” he told her.

When he shifted his weight, he gritted his teeth as her wet heat surrounded him, clenching him like a glove. Moving ever so slightly, he waited for her reaction, listening to ensure that she was being pleasured. And when he heard her gasp, felt her body clench around his, he knew that she wasn’t going to hold back on him.

He tried to slow down, to make it good for her. But she just felt so good! “Come with me, Rachel!” he growled out when he felt himself getting closer. She shook her head but he wouldn’t let her do that. Reaching down, he pressed his thumb between their bodies, feeling her reaction and knew that she liked that. “That’s it,” he coaxed, watching her face as he glided in and out of her, his thumb moving in the same rhythm. “You’re beautiful.” He couldn’t stop the words, thinking she was stunning as she tried to fight the inevitable. He could feel her body tightening, see her worried eyes and tried to soothe her, but he was too caught up in trying to ensure that she feel everything he was enjoying. “Just let it go,” he soothed. “I’m right here. I won’t let you fall.”

With those words of reassurance, he felt her nails dig into his arms and she exploded one more time. Her throbbing, squeezing release brought him right over the edge as well and he couldn’t control himself, couldn’t hold back any longer. She was just too incredible!

He collapsed on top of her, but had the presence of mind to roll off to the side while they both tried to get their breathing back under control. She felt perfect curled up in his arms, her body relaxed and warm, tingly.

“Is it always like that?” she said in between breaths.

“Hell no,” he groaned, trying to squeeze her but there wasn’t enough energy in his arms for that. Rolling over, he pushed her into the mattress, trying to be careful with her. “No. It hasn’t ever been that intense,” he told her honestly. He bent and kissed her neck and shoulders, trying to soothe her. “You’re beautiful,” he told her again.

She giggled, a combined reaction from his words and his mouth nibbling on her shoulder. “You said that a few minutes ago.”

He sighed and pulled her closer. “It’s true,” he told her. He pulled himself up higher in the bed, stuffing the pillows behind his head. With one arm, he turned on the light and looked down at her. “Okay, so explain now how someone who looks and walks like you has remained a virgin until a few minutes ago.”

Rachel almost laughed at how he lifted her up, positioning her exactly how he wanted her to be. She didn’t mind since it felt too good to be curled up next to him. Her hand wandered over his flat stomach, still finding all those muscles and enormous expanse of tanned skin fascinating. “I guess I never really thought it was worth the effort.”

“And now?”

She grinned and looked up at him. “I thought I’d made my opinion of the activity pretty clear,” she laughed.

He laughed as well, the sound reverberating through her whole body, making her feel special and feminine.

“You’re going to have to give me more of an explanation.”

She shrugged and shifted against him. “It isn’t that big of a deal,” she replied, but couldn’t look him in the eye. “I just never really thought any of the previous men I’d dated were worth the effort.”

“And I fit your criteria?”

She bit her lower lip, wishing he fit all of her criteria. She couldn’t help it. They were from two different worlds and had different goals in life. “I’m here, aren’t I?” she asked, her hand shifting lower to distract him.

Emerson suspected that she was holding something back, but he wasn’t really sure what. And at the moment, he didn’t care. He rolled over so he was on top of her again and proceeded to make love to her in a much slower, more thorough fashion. By the time he was ready to enter her slender, responsive body this time, he was damn sure he knew what was on her mind. And he was in full agreement with her thoughts.

Chapter 3

Rachel sighed as she stared at her computer screen. The week had completely flown by and she’d been so productive, her boss had even pointed out her achievements at the morning staff meeting.

She wished she could figure out what was different but the only thing that had changed was Jack. They’d spent the whole weekend together. It had been magical. They’d eaten out at the various local restaurants, walked along the shoreline and she’d learned a lot about the man. She’d asked so many questions about his ambitions and thought he was amazing.

But now, she wasn’t sure what to think. She was back in Washington, D.C., working hard, getting things done….and all she wanted to do was fly back up to Maine and be with Jack again.

“Congratulations on that CyberOne bid,” one of her co-workers said with his head inside the doorway. “What made you think to recommend that one to your clients?” he asked, stepping in so he was leaning against the doorjamb.