Roses Are Red Read online

  At the close contact, her breath stuttered and her heart rate hammered. When she didn’t move, he brought his hand up to caress the length of her arm. His breath tickled her ear, sending goosebumps flaring across her flesh and making her nipples pebble into hard points.

  “Turn around, Lucy,” he demanded, his voice low and husky.

  She spun about and looked up at him. He was tall—she guessed him to be six foot two—and in such close proximity, he towered over her much shorter five-foot-five frame.

  She licked her bottom lip, a nervous habit, and shivered when he rubbed his thumb over the spot where her tongue had just been.

  “You love licking this lip,” he murmured. “I want to lick it after you.”

  She nodded slightly, then he dipped his head to hers and flicked his tongue lightly across her mouth. A moan escaped her as she slumped against him. He banded his arms around her waist and he held her weight easily.

  She parted her lips, and he plunged his tongue into her mouth, caressing hers with his as he kissed her with such demanding ferocity that it took her breath away, leaving her lightheaded and trembling.

  Alarm bells were ringing in the back of her mind, trying to break through the haze in her brain and telling her that their relationship could get complicated if they took things further. But she wanted him. It was that simple, and that complex.

  He swept one hand from around her waist, down to her backside where he squeezed hard and pulled her hips into his. He pressed his pelvis to hers and thrust against her with sharp little jabs, demonstrating to her what she did to him.

  She moaned low in her throat at the feel of his erection against her stomach. If he was half as big as he felt, then he was very well endowed.

  He pulled away from their kiss and, breathing heavily, he looked down into her upturned face. “You taste so sweet,” he said softly, brushing his thumb across her cheek.

  “I don’t think this is a good idea,” she muttered.

  He cocked his head to one side. “Why do you say that? I happen to think it’s a very good idea and I’ve thought of nothing else since I met you earlier today.”

  “I’m too old for you, Rhett.”

  He hadn’t released her. She remained locked within his embrace and the evidence of his arousal was still very much pressed against her body. And she couldn’t deny that it felt good to be held by him. It had been too long since she’d been in a man’s arms and even longer since the time when a magnificent male specimen like Rhett had been interested in her.

  He leant back a little and gazed down at her intently. “How old is too old, sweetheart?” he asked with a smirk.

  “I’m a forty-five-year-old divorcee with two adult children, Rhett. Hardly ideal girlfriend material, and what would your father think?”

  He chuckled. “Lucy, we’re hardly planning to elope. First, I don’t care about your age, and besides, I don’t consider forty-five old. Secondly, I’m a big boy now and whoever I fuck is my business and no one else’s.”

  Lucy blinked at his blatant crudeness, then blushed fiercely when she realised her faux pas with the girlfriend comment. She struggled in his grasp, desperate to get away, but he only held her tighter.

  “Don’t fight me, Lucy. I know you feel the same way that I do.”

  She turned her head to the side in discomfort.

  He dipped his mouth to her ear and his hot breath whispered against her skin, “I know you want me, baby. Don’t overthink this.”

  What the hell. Why not have some fun with this gorgeous sex-on-legs hunk. They were both adults. Who were they hurting?

  As if hearing her acquiescence, he trailed his lips from her ear down her throat where he sucked the soft flesh just above her shoulder. He bit her there, lightly. Pleasure and pain radiated outwards, forcing a sharp gasp from her. She dipped her head to one side to give him better access to her neck. He swept his mouth in slow circles over her fevered skin until she was clutching him and thrusting her hips against him shamelessly.

  He chuckled against her throat. “I think someone’s getting a little anxious. Do you want me to relieve the ache, baby?”

  “Oh God, yes,” she moaned.

  He inhaled deeply and swept his hands to her backside, pulling her hard against him. “You smell so good. I can’t wait to taste you.”

  Her insides quivered in anticipation of the bliss that his words promised. He pulled away from her, untucked her blouse then spun her around so that her back was to his chest.

  “I saw your garter belt. That was the end of me. I had to have you.” He ran his hands in slow, sensual circles across her stomach then up to her breasts, where he palmed her nipples and caressed the stiff peaks through the lace of her bra. He moved one hand south, across her abdomen and down her thigh until he reached the hem of her skirt.

  Her breath hitched when he dragged the fabric up, keeping one hand at her breast, teasing and squeezing her nipple. His breathing turned choppy and hot at her ear and he inched his hand closer to that sweet spot between her thighs.

  She needed to feel him there, wanted to feel his fingers inside her to relieve the ache at her core that was throbbing relentlessly.

  He knew what he was doing to her. He deliberately drew out the sensations, intentionally teasing her with slow, inexorable hand movements up her inner thigh and around her pubic bone. He traced the outline of her panties, not quite reaching the lips of her sex, and keeping her waiting anxiously with bated breath for that first explosive touch.

  “Please, Rhett,” she begged.

  He brought his other hand down to join the teasing between her legs, sweeping delicious circles on the soft skin of her inner thighs with his hands. All the while, he kissed and nibbled the sensitive flesh below her ear, focusing on that area that did delicious things to her insides. She was so overwhelmed with lust that her panties were drenched and she was breathless with desire.

  “I want you to strip for me,” he demanded hoarsely and stepped away from her. “I need to see you in that sexy lingerie.”

  It took a moment for Lucy to regain her equilibrium. She looked up to see that Rhett had moved to the lounge and was waiting for her to undress. He was cool and composed, but the smouldering lust darkening his eyes told her just how much she affected him. His obvious arousal gave her the confidence she needed to remove her clothes in front of him. She’d never stripped for anyone before, let alone someone as sexy and virile as Rhett, and the prospect fired a hot flame low in her belly.

  She gathered her composure and slowly undid the buttons of her blouse as Rhett moved to an iPod dock in the corner of the suite. The next moment, romantic music filled the room.

  He turned back towards her. “Continue, but keep the lingerie and the shoes.”

  She slipped her blouse off her shoulders and tossed it onto the floor. Next, she undid the back zipper of her skirt.

  She swayed her hips sinuously, moving to the measured tempo and using the melody to calm her nerves. She hooked her thumbs into the waistband and shimmied her skirt down her hips until it pooled at her feet. She stepped out of it and kicked it into the corner.

  Now in nothing but her lingerie, garter belt, hose and high heels, she felt incredibly sexy and powerful. He stalked in her direction with predatory intent until he was in front of her, looking down into her upturned face.

  “Do you realise how hot you look right now?” He pulled each of her bra cups down until her breasts spilled over the top of the underwire and jutted above the black lace. He dipped his head to one breast and suckled a nipple, rolling the tip between his tongue and the roof of his mouth.

  Lucy yelped in pleasure and threw her head back, thrusting her breast harder against him. He sucked a moment longer then trailed his lips across her cleavage to her other breast and bestowed the same delicious treatment on that rosy bud.

  Her knees trembled and she went limp. He wrapped an arm around her back to steady her as he sucked each of her breasts, swirling his tongue around the sen
sitive tips. He scooped her into his arms and carried her over to his desk where he deposited her on the smooth surface then knelt before her. She propped herself up on her elbows so that she could watch him.

  Looking up at her from beneath his lashes, he nudged her knees apart so that they were spread wide before him.

  She thought of her damp panties and her face flushed hotly, but he seemed to be delighted with the fact and slowly ran a finger up her slit and over the lacy fabric.

  “So wet,” he said in awe. He bent his head to inhale deeply. “And you smell delicious.”

  She wriggled her bottom on the hard desk, anxious to finally have him touch her properly. She needed it. His teasing had intensified the ache in her womb to unbearable proportions.

  “I’m going to give you what you want now, baby.” He hooked his thumbs in her panties and slipped them down her hips while she lifted her backside so that he could remove them completely.

  She watched in mounting excitement as he dipped his head to her sex and licked her in one long, slow motion straight through her centre. She groaned and rocked her hips against his mouth. She revelled in the feel of his tongue inside her, probing her. It was exquisite and her inner muscles coiled and tightened in pleasure. He lapped measured, languid circles around her clit then thrust his tongue deep inside, sending violent trembles spiralling outward. When he sucked her clit into his mouth, she shuddered beneath him and the clenching in her core told her she was close. He thrust one finger into her slick channel then another and massaged her inner walls while he nibbled on the sensitive bundle of nerves that was sure to set her off. He removed his mouth and looked up at her from beneath hooded lids as he pressed his thumb to her clit and massaged to the rhythm of his thrusting fingers.

  “Come for me,” he demanded huskily.

  She threw her head back and bucked her hips hard into his hand. Waves of pleasure raced through her and left her gasping for breath. He stroked her through her orgasm, keeping his mouth locked over her centre while he sucked the pulses from her body.

  God, she had never had such an intense orgasm in her life and she was still shaking with the aftershocks when he stood and kissed her gently, running his tongue over her lips so that she could taste herself on him.

  “See how good you taste?” he murmured against her mouth. “I’m going to take you now. I need to be inside you.”

  She whimpered in anticipation and watched him remove his shoes and socks before he pulled a foil packet out of his pocket and tore into it. Then he unbuckled his belt and she helped him push his pants and boxers down his thighs until he could step out of them. She licked her lips and watched him roll the condom down his impressive length. God help her, he was huge. He saw her attention fixed on his cock and he chuckled.

  “Don’t worry, sweetheart. I promise it’ll fit.” He cupped her bottom in both of his hands and lifted her off the desk. He stared into her eyes a moment then he jerked her hips down until she was impaled completely by his hard, thick length.

  He stretched her to capacity and she cried out. God, she didn’t think she had ever felt so full.

  “Fuck, baby. You are so wet and tight,” Rhett groaned in her ear. “I think it’s been a while since someone took you.”

  He lifted her backside to draw out of her then pulled her down onto his cock once more. She couldn’t believe how strong he was. The ease with which he manipulated her body was as though she weighed nothing at all.

  She wrapped her legs around his waist and he spun them around and stalked to the lounge. He pulled out of her slowly then tossed her on her back and loomed over her.

  “Take off your shirt,” she muttered, scrambling to assist him. She was desperate to see his naked chest and have it pressed against hers.

  She gasped in delight at the sight of his powerful torso and couldn’t help but run her hands across his rippling muscles He spread her thighs and pushed his hard length into her, seating himself to the hilt. She moaned as he filled her to capacity. He stilled for a moment, then he started to move, driving in and out of her in smooth lunges. Casting her gaze down his body, she was unsurprised by his sharply defined abdomen, almost mesmerising her as it undulated with his long, slow thrusts. She stared at the junction where their bodies connected and watched, fascinated by his powerful strokes and the defined V of his pelvis.

  “Like what you see, sweetheart?” he hissed between clenched teeth. “I love that you’re watching me fuck you.”

  He reared back and grasped her behind the knees so that he could spread her legs wider and higher to deepen his entry.

  She whimpered in pleasure-pain at his deep thrusts. Her internal muscles started to flutter and spasm, signalling that her release was near.

  “I can tell you’re close, baby. I feel it.” He looked down at her, still grasping her knees and spreading them impossibly wide.

  She bucked under him, frantically trying to reach her peak, then suddenly she was there. She hovered for a blissful moment then tumbled over the abyss, relishing the way her vaginal walls swelled around him as she rocketed into her orgasm.

  “I’m coming with you,” he shouted.

  He thrust hard into her twice more then shuddered as he collapsed on top of her, his breathing heavy and erratic in her ear.

  They lay there quietly for a moment, each catching their breath.

  Rhett rolled off her and got to his feet. “Damn, baby. That was so fucking hot.”

  Lucy couldn’t move. She felt weak and listless, and only capable of slumping on the lounge like a boneless rag doll.

  He chuckled and looked down at her. “I think someone came hard and fast.” Picking her up around the waist, he then settled her on her feet, steadying her when she swayed slightly. “Come on. Let’s grab something to eat.”

  Chapter Four

  Lucy stretched and checked her alarm clock. She had to be at Hunter & Associates at nine a.m. to start the interior design project.

  She couldn’t deny that she was nervous, which came mainly from the fact that she would be in such close proximity to Rhett Hunter. She wasn’t sure how that would work between them.

  Since that fantastic night of wild sex in his office, they’d seen each other two more times, but both occasions had been in the presence of his father and they’d had to maintain a strictly professional approach to each other. That was a week ago.

  Now it was February eleventh and she was due at the office in a little over one hour’s time. She realised that Valentine’s Day was only three days away. For so long she’d tried to studiously ignore the lover’s celebration. It was no easy feat when the stores dripped with romantic merchandise and celebratory advertisements. This year she hoped that the day wouldn’t be so sad and lonely for her.

  She wasn’t sure where things stood between her and Rhett, and that fact was eating at her. Since that scorching-hot night over a week ago, she’d done nothing but fantasise about their time together. Never had she been with a man who had made her feel this way. Even though he was younger than she, it felt as though she was an inexperienced teen and he was teaching her the art of lovemaking. Oh, the things that he could do with his tongue and hands. Not to mention that fantastic cock of his that made her head spin.

  Despite their age difference, he was obviously the more experienced lover. She could kick herself for spending all those years settling for men who worried more about their own pleasure than hers. Not least of which had been her ex-husband. At first the sex had been good between them. But eventually they had been going through the motions for form’s sake, or out of obligation to each other to perform the sexual act. She couldn’t place the blame squarely on her ex-husband’s shoulders, however. She supposed that at some point they had just grown apart, then out of lust, and finally, out of love.

  She sighed and stumbled out of bed and into the bathroom to take her morning wake-up shower.

  Whilst standing under the invigorating spray, she decided that she couldn’t allow her personal feelings
for Rhett to affect her work. She would treat him like any other client and hope that they could act professionally towards each other.

  After her shower, she stood in front of her closet and assessed its contents. She wanted to look proficient but not too conventional. As an interior designer, she felt that she always walked a fine line where her wardrobe was concerned. She liked to add just the right amount of pizzazz to an otherwise conservative look in order to appear both professional and creative, which was a difficult task on some days.

  She decided on a light, floaty floral skirt that fell just above the knee and hot pink pumps with ankle straps. She teamed the skirt and shoes with a plain, fitted, black cotton blazer with three-quarter sleeves. The Weather Channel had predicted that the day would be a scorcher so she opted against wearing her usual garter with pantyhose. She applied light, natural makeup and styled her hair to feather around her face.

  She assessed her reflection in the mirror and was pleased with the result. She felt confident to face the day and any challenges it might throw in her direction.

  * * * *

  Rhett looked at his watch for the second time. Lucy was due in any minute. He had thought about her nonstop since he had met her over a week ago. He was anxious to see her again so that he could determine if he was still in lust with her, or if, after scratching that itch, she was out if his system.

  As if on cue, the subject of his thoughts marched briskly down the hallway. She faltered slightly when she caught sight of him, but recovered quickly and resumed walking in his direction.

  Yes, the verdict was unanimous—he still wanted her. She looked unbelievably hot in pink heels and that flirty skirt. He had to get her alone, and fast. Just the sight of her had his cock hardening and pressing against his suit pants. He spun around and headed back into his office before she reached him.

  Just when he calculated that Lucy was drawing level with his office door, he thrust his arm out and grasped her by the wrist, then he hauled her through the door and into his suite.