Pepper gave a sigh of relief that at last she was in the sanctuary of Hibiscus House. To her, the evening had been interminable, the steady barrage of questions from both of her parents like swords falling on her head. And Kyle? Lordy, he had been beyond wonderful. Where did someone get that kind of discipline and charm? Too bad their engagement was only a fake.She wondered what on earth he did when he wasn't pretending to be in love with her. No doubt he had women falling all over him. She'd certainly been ready to fight them off today as they did their walking tour of Bayview. No matter the age, they shamelessly let their tongues hang out wherever she took him. So much so that she eagerly let him hold her hand in his as they walked along.Tonight at dinner had been next to unbelievable. Mama had spent half the time waving people over to introduce "Pepper's fiancé" and tell them to watch for the Save the Date postcard. The other half, she joined her husband in giving poor Kyle the
Every part of Pepper's body came alive. Her breasts ached for his touch, the thick fabric of her bra abrading her painfully tight nipples. She was seized with an uncontrollable desire to rip off her clothes and climb up his body, and all he'd done was kiss her. But, damn, that kiss was potent. His tongue was an electric flame in her mouth, generating enough heat to scorch every one of her erogenous zones. She thrust her fingers into the thick chocolate velvet of his hair, holding his head in place, drinking from his mouth as he was feasting from hers.He slid one hand down her spine, fingertips tracing the line before he reached down to cup one cheek of her bottom. Her body tightened, her inner muscles clenching with a sudden desperate need. Breaking the kiss, he slid his lips across her cheek and dropped a light string of kisses along her jawline.Oh god. She wanted him with a sudden, unexpected desperation. For the first time in longer than she could remember, she wanted a man more
In slow motion, Kyle ran the tips of his fingers around the lace edging on her thong, stroking the bare skin of her bottom before sliding his hands to the front. Her legs trembled so much from his touch, she had to dig her fingers into his upper arms to give her support. He teased the seam where hip and thigh joined, stroking lightly, rubbing the flat of his thumbs over the silk covering her mound. Then, as if he could not wait another moment to uncover her completely, he hooked his fingers in the edges of her thong and eased the scrap of nothing down her legs.He devoured her with his gaze, coasting it over every naked inch of her. His nostrils flared as he caught her scent, and the way he licked his lips made her even more turned on. At last, he took a step back, lifted her and, jerking back the covers with one swift movement, placed her gently on the bed. The look he gave her was devouring, as arousing as every touch.She watched through heavy-lidded eyes as he kicked off his shoe
"You're looking chipper this morning." Cilla stood in the kitchen, hands on hips, studying Pepper."Why shouldn't I? I had a good night's sleep.""Really?" A grin teased at Cilla's mouth. "So, after the big dinner last night, you and your so-called fiancé came back here and you hopped into bed. Alone.""Yes." Pepper concentrated on the scones she was plating. "Of course. And what do you mean, 'big' dinner? It was dinner with my folks. That's all.""Oh, please." Cilla flapped a hand at her. "My phone rang off the hook last night, people who wanted all the gory details. Your mama gave a fine performance, fawning all over him while giving him the third degree."Pepper snorted. "You got that right. I have no idea why he didn't run screaming into the night." She sighed. "I have to agree Mama can be a bit much." And wasn't that just stating the obvious.Cilla giggled. "So did she have the date set, the venue booked, and the guest list done by the time dinner was over?"Pepper filled a
"Morning."Cilla was glad she was able to speak. She put the pan from the scones in the sink and turned around, almost afraid of what she would see. Did he regret last night? Well, he wouldn't have greeted her this way if he had, right? Slowly, she turned around. When she did, he was so close to her only a sheet of paper could have slid between them. The same heat she'd seen in his eyes last night was there today, flaming in his melted-chocolate irises.He studied her face for a moment, as if striving to read her state of mind. Then he cradled her cheeks in his palms and lowered his head to press a kiss to her mouth. The contact was even more scorching, if that was possible. He used the tip of his tongue to part her lips, sweeping inside when she did. Her temperature gauge went from zero to one thousand in seconds. How did he do this to her?Everything fell away as she lost herself in the kiss. Every nerve sparked, her blood raced through her veins, and that same pulse low in her co
Kyle wondered if he was having too good a time with his erstwhile fiancée. This was all make-believe, right? He was doing her a favor, helping her out. And helping Pepper was not any kind of hardship, especially after last night. Oh, yeah. Last night. He couldn't remember the last time he'd enjoyed sex as much. Or been as affected by it. The emotional impact of it was throwing him for a loop, something he had been unprepared for. How was it possible that, in less than twenty-four hours, he was falling for a woman he'd just met?Yesterday, Pepper had given him a tour of the little town of Bayview, a town that in spite of himself he found charming and appealing. Today, they'd be out on the water, one of his favorite places to be. He already itched to head to the marina. When he and his brothers were kids, his parents had bought a home on Lake Forth, about ninety minutes from Dallas. All of them were free to use it whenever they wanted. Kyle had a boat he kept there, a boat he hadn't see
The sun had begun to sink below the horizon when Captain Jim brought them back to the dock. They were slightly sunburned and windblown, and pleasantly buzzed from the wine in the excellent picnic basket. Maggie Thornton had outdone herself."Hope you all had a good time," the old man said as he parked the boat neatly in its slip. Kyle leaped down to help secure the ropes."I sure did," he said. Then he looked up at Pepper. "Thank you for another great day.""You're welcome. Glad you enjoyed it." She gave her hand to Kyle so he could help her off the boat."You should take your man to the Lighthouse for dinner," Captain Jim told her."I'm not sure we're fit company for a public place right now," Kyle laughed, indicating their somewhat bedraggled state."You are for that place," Captain Jim told him. "Lots of boaters go there after a day out on the bay.""Then thanks for the suggestion. And thanks again for the trip."He kept his fingers linked with Pepper's as they walked to the
Remembering the way it had felt the night before, Pepper reached out and closed her fingers around it, stroking the soft skin and feeling the steel hardness beneath it. Kyle groaned and clamped his fingers gently around her wrist."I should have said look, don't touch. Damn, Pepper. You see what you do to me? Let's not rush things."She licked her lips again and nodded. What would he think if she told him she'd never made love - had sex, Pepper; but this isn't just sex - in a shower before?He cupped her breasts in his large, warm palms, squeezing them gently then catching her sensitive nipples between thumbs and forefingers. He locked his gaze with hers, desire swirling in the dark-chocolate pools of his eyes as he teased and toyed with her hardened buds. When he bent his head and pulled one pebbled tip into his mouth, sucking deeply, she felt the tug all the way to her core. The pulse between her thighs thundered in response, and she pressed her legs together to contain it.How d