Once Upon A Mattress Read online

  ———

  AMELIA KNEW SHE WAS playing a dangerous game, but if Fate was going to send Will to her tonight, she’d get whatever thrills she could out of the situation. Between the pressure of his studies and his preoccupation with Leanne he probably missed the erotic nature of what they were doing as they fooled around with a bed dressed in red satin while the display window curtains were drawn. The rain tapping on the window only added to the sensuous nature of the setting.

  But she really needed his help, she rationalized. She couldn’t have moved the massive white canopied bed by herself, and she honestly had decided it needed to be moved. She just hadn’t pictured watching Will do the job.

  As he lifted, she lusted, shamelessly positioning herself for the best view of muscles bunching and straining to perform the task she’d assigned. The beauty of his body in action made her light-headed with desire. After he’d moved the bed, she inspected the angle with great seriousness and guiltlessly asked him to shift it several inches to the right. Then she had him put it back again. When he broke a sweat and his T-shirt began to adhere to those well-tuned muscles, she closed her eyes and offered a brief prayer of gratitude that he’d decided to come back tonight to retrieve his jacket.

  Leanne would have him soon enough, Amelia rationalized. Before long she would be in New York, far away from the glory of his dark eyes and sculpted physique. She asked him for another adjustment of the bed’s position. As a woman about to be deprived, she deserved this.

  Of course she was also torturing herself with what she couldn’t have, like a kid with her nose pressed to the candy store window. She could almost taste that candy, too. “Another couple of inches more to the left, and that should do it.” She crossed her arms to still the fine trembling that had overtaken her.

  He grinned and wiped his forehead on his sleeve. “If I didn’t know better I’d say you’re enjoying this.”

  Her heart hammered at the sexy quality of that grin. “Of course. Women love to coax men into moving furniture for them. It’s been going on since some female ancestor of mine asked her guy to rearrange a couple of boulders in the cave.” Her guy. That had slipped out. Will was Leanne’s guy, or soon would be. And she needed to end this interlude before more slipups crept into her routine.

  Will moved the bed to the spot she’d indicated, then straightened and rolled his shoulders. “How’s that?” Mighty fine. “Perfect.” Now she’d bid him good-night, and that would be that. The hour of midnight was striking for Cinderella.

  “Want some help putting the new canopy up?”

  She told herself to refuse and finish the job herself with a stepladder. But temptation snared her once again. “Thanks. That would be great. If you’ll take down the white lace one, I’ll get the red satin.”

  She returned to the storeroom and located the box containing the canopy. On her way back to the showroom she noticed his jacket hanging on the wall. Some people said there were no accidents in life. In that case, he’d unconsciously forgotten to take the jacket tonight so that he’d have to come back and see her again. But that made no sense. He hadn’t known she’d be here.

  She sighed. No matter how she twisted things, she couldn’t come up with any evidence that he was the slightest bit interested in her. She walked over to the wall where his jacket hung and slid her hand along the material, but touching his clothing ran a poor second to what she really wanted. Feeling sinful, she took the jacket off the hook. The scent of his aftershave reached out to her, and she held the collar up to her nose and breathed in. Warmth transformed to heat, and heat built into the insistent pressure of need.

  Stop this, she commanded herself. Replacing the jacket on its hook, she carried the canopy box into the showroom and through the door into the display window.

  Will stood with the folded lace canopy cradled in his arms. “Where do you want this?” he asked.

  The sight of a brawny man like Will carefully holding a frothy bundle of lace was an enticing contrast. She wondered what he’d look like holding a baby, his baby. A virile, child-loving man like Will would have children, and some lucky woman would get to be the mother of— Amelia put the brakes on her thoughts. “If you’ll start putting on the new canopy I’ll take the other one back to the storeroom.”

  During the exchange she was very aware of each time his hand brushed hers, but if she hoped that he’d pause, gaze into her eyes and say something significant, she was doomed to disappointment. He handled the whole episode with businesslike efficiency. Back in the storeroom she reboxed the lace canopy and took the opportunity to draw in several long, calming breaths. There. Now she was ready to send him on his way with a smile and a friendly handshake.

  She marched back into the showroom and through the door into the display window. “I really appreciate this, Will. I’m sure you need to be getting home. I can finish up.”

  “I almost have it.” He reached up and positioned the fourth corner of the canopy. “Besides, I owe you this, after all you’ve done for me with the Leanne business.”

  She wished to hell he hadn’t brought that up. “The big day is almost here, isn’t it?”

  “Yep.” He adjusted a flounce on the red silk. At least he had the good grace not to sound as eager as he probably felt. But his mentioning Leanne had sure spoiled the erotic haze she’d been moving in for the past half hour. She was even alert enough to notice that the canopy wasn’t hanging evenly on the rail.

  She moved over next to him and reached up to tug on the material. “This isn’t quite right.”

  “Does it need more over here?” He leaned around her to work the material from the top. “That’s better.” Somehow in the process she became bracketed between his outstretched arms. She basked in his heat, reveled in the scent of healthy male and the sweet sound of his breathing until her knees began to quiver with reaction. But he probably didn’t even know they were practically embracing. “Now, if you’ll just—” She gasped softly as his arm nudged the side of her breast.

  “Just what?”

  There was something new in his voice, something rough-edged and untamed. Heart pounding, she slowly released her hold on the canopy and turned around in the tight space between them. He gripped the canopy rail with both hands, effectively imprisoning her against the bed. She thought he’d excuse himself and back away. He didn’t move. Slowly she lifted her gaze. And forgot to breathe.

  All this time she’d thought he was unaware of her. She’d thought he didn’t feel the electricity, didn’t feel the heat. Didn’t want her.

  She’d been wrong.

  ———

  A MAN COULD ONLY TAKE so much. He’d been maintaining until she invaded his space. And now ...now her mouth was so close ...so full, as if she wanted this. Her eyes were the hot blue of an August sky, and her perfume drifted toward him, making him dizzy. The rain drumming against the window echoed the pounding of his heart. He gripped the rail harder in one last effort to keep control.

  Yet the promise of her drew him closer, and closer still. Her eyes widened, darkened. He waited, heart beating so fast he could barely breathe, for her rejection. It didn’t come. “Time’s up,” he murmured. Still gripping the rail over her head, he closed his eyes and touched his mouth slowly, gently to hers.

  Still he thought she’d pull back. Knew he should. But she didn’t, and he couldn’t. The soft pressure of her lips was too sweet, too new. He lifted his mouth and sought a better angle. She met him halfway, her lips slightly parted.

  His heartbeat throbbing in his ears, he edged her mouth with his tongue, coaxing, exploring, sure that any moment she’d push him away. Instead she clutched his shoulders ...and gave him what he sought.

  With fierce joy he took full possession of her mouth. So lush. So hot. So ready. Amelia. He lifted his head to gaze down at her and saw everything he wanted to see in her dreamy eyes. Keeping one hand on the canopy rail for balance, he wrapped his other arm around her, relishing the sensation of silk warming under his embrace
. He drew her close, delighting in the fullness of her breasts, the narrow span of her waist, the swell of her hips. Her body and his were a perfect fit.

  Still gazing into her eyes, he released his grip on the rail and guided her down to the bed. The mattress at her back must have awakened some caution in her, because she opened her mouth as if to protest. Too late, Amelia. With a smile and a shake of his head, he slipped his arm under her knees. Her shoes fell to the floor as he lifted her completely onto the satin sheet. He followed her down, not giving her his full weight but pinning her to the bed, nonetheless.

  Instinct directed him as he held her motionless and looked deep into her eyes while he combed his fingers through her silky hair. She’d designed a bed for herself and called it Surrender. From the moment she’d told him that, he’d known her fantasy. And maybe, just maybe, she’d let him give it to her.

  He had no illusions the fantasy would last beyond tonight. He wasn’t the man she envisioned spending the rest of her life with. And she might be so embarrassed to have him around after this that she would fire him. He didn’t care. For her this might be an illicit episode never to be repeated, but for him it was the culmination of a dream, and he would have no regrets.

  He watched as indecision clouded her gaze. Then, in a moment so brilliant it took his breath away, the indecision cleared and her eyes grew luminous. With a groan he lowered his mouth to hers.

  He’ d never been met with such hunger. once she’d given herself up to him, she held nothing back, kissing him with the sort of abandon he’d only dreamed of but never expected to find. And at last he acknowledged that Amelia was his ultimate fantasy—contained and prim on the outside, never letting on that on the inside she was a blazing inferno.

  As he unfastened each covered button of her navy blouse, he raised his head to gaze at the tailored garment giving way slowly beneath his fingers. True to his fantasy, the conservative blouse covered navy lace worthy of a centerfold, a delicate garment that cupped and lifted her breasts while barely concealing them. Her quick, excited breaths added to the temptation, and just gazing at her he grew very hard and very needy.

  But rushing to undress her would be the same as ripping open an elegantly wrapped gift. He glanced up and found her watching him, her lips parted and her eyes the color of twilight. As rain continued to batter the window he slipped his finger under the front clasp of her bra. Instead of undoing the clasp, he stroked his finger up and down between her breasts in subtle suggestion. She gasped softly and he took her mouth again, teasing her with his tongue.

  He took his time kissing her, and when he finally lifted his head and opened the catch of her bra, he used such care that the lace cups stayed in place, still supporting her fullness. Slowly he smoothed away the material from one breast, turning the motion into a caress. As his palm slid across her warm, silken skin and encountered her taut nipple, he closed his eyes and sucked in a breath. Trembling with pleasure, he gazed down at her breast cradled in his hand.

  “Please,” she whispered.

  Desire raged through him at her soft request, making him long to wrench the rest of her clothing away and expose every inch of her to his gaze, to his caress. But he had much to gain if he savored each step along the way, if he took the time to burn every sensation into his memory, for he could never expect to be allowed to touch her this way again.

  Churning with anticipation, he leaned down slowly to take what she offered.

  Chapter Seven

  WILL MIGHT BE SHY out of bed, but once in it there was nothing shy about him, Amelia thought. He seemed to read her mind, seemed to understand the secrets buried deep in her soul. Then his mouth found her breast and she lost whatever remained of her reason. “Yes,” she moaned. “Oh, yes.”

  crazy to get her hands on him, too, she tugged his T-shirt from the waistband of his jeans and slid her palms up the muscled expanse of his back. oh, to feel the bunch of those muscles as he continued to pleasure her! She kneaded his warm skin with the ecstasy of a kitten.

  With a soft growl of satisfaction he shifted and took her other breast while he continued to stroke the damp nipple he’d just left. She writhed against the satin sheet, wild with joy to discover that he wanted her, even if he was acting on impulse. She would take whatever Will would give her and be grateful.

  With a leisure that excited and frustrated her at the same time, he kissed his way down the valley between her ribs. The tumult of her heartbeat nearly drowned out the rasp of her skirt zipper, but when he gently tugged at the material, she raised her hips, wanting the skirt gone, wanting everything gone and Will buried deep inside her. She ached for him to be there.

  “Perfect,” he murmured, tracing the outline of her lace garter belt. Then he expertly unfastened the hooks securing one stocking.

  As he rolled the silk down over her bent knee, he followed his progress with nibbling kisses that made the ache inside her almost unbearable. By the time he’d finished with the other stocking, she was molten lava, ready to erupt.

  He tossed her stockings on the floor and returned to kiss her fully on the mouth. Soon, his kiss seemed to say. Very soon. But when she reached for the snap on his jeans, he caught and held her hand.

  His ragged breath mingled with hers as he lifted his lips a fraction from hers. “We can’t.”

  Can’t? Her dazed mind refused to understand. And her body refused to be denied. She struggled against his restraint.

  “I don’t ...have anything with me.” He tightened his grip on her hand.

  Her whimper of disappointment gave away her neediness, and she wished she could take that small, vulnerable sound back. She kept her eyes closed, not wanting to look at him when she felt like such a fool. Of course he wouldn’t be prepared.

  “It’s okay.” He dropped quick, feverish kisses on her lips. “We can’t,” he murmured, sliding his hand down to the drenched triangle of silk still covering her, “but you can.”

  Her eyes flew open and her heart began to pound with a new rhythm.

  He gazed down at her and smiled softly as he slipped his hand beneath the material. His voice was husky. “I wouldn’t start something I didn’t mean to finish.”

  As his fingers tunneled through her damp curls, seeking her heat, she tried to tell him to stop, that it wasn’t fair for only one of them to be satisfied, but for the life of her she couldn’t speak. Her whole body seemed to have liquified, and nothing mattered but his touch. There. There.

  She gasped at the first quiver of release.

  “Surrender, Amelia,” he whispered, kissing her throat, her cheeks, her mouth. “Surrender to me.”

  And surrender she did, giving up everything in one spectacular, cataclysmic moment. She cried out, and he caught the cry against his mouth as he held her tight, absorbing the tremors of her climax. The power of it caught her completely by surprise as wave after wave washed over her, leaving her panting and dazed, but so safe, so warm in the shelter of his arms.

  As she sank back against the bed, cocooned in the bliss of completion, she was oblivious to the world. He had to tell her that someone was knocking on the back door and ask her what to do about it.

  She gazed up at him with a silly smile on her face. “I have absolutely no idea.”

  He smiled back. “It could be the security guard.”

  “Could be.”

  “Both our cars are parked out there. He’ll expect somebody to come to the back door. If we don’t...”

  She touched his cheek. “Are you trying to protect my reputation?”

  “Yeah.” His glance was tender. “How about if I go tell him we’re involved in a complicated floor move?”

  “I think we’re involved in an earth move. At least it did for me.”

  He kissed her, his mouth already wonderfully familiar. “I’m glad.” Gently untangling himself, he climbed off the bed and tucked in his T-shirt as he headed out the door of the window display.

  After he left Amelia’s euphoria lasted about two second
s. Then she covered her face with her hands and moaned softly. What had she done? Had she just stolen Leanne’s secret admirer? Or would he continue with his campaign and go out with Leanne? Was this just “one of those things” that they would both try to forget ever happened?

  Except that she would never forget. With shaking hands, she began to dress herself. My God, she’d allowed herself to be undressed and thoroughly fondled in the front window of her store by an employee who might not be interested in a relationship with her and might have been motivated only by the seductive nature of the moment.

  Or worse yet, maybe she’d looked so needy that he’d thought he’d better cooperate or risk losing his job. She didn’t know if she could face that sort of humiliation. But even if he really was attracted to her, she’d loused up a budding romance between two of her employees and compromised her authority beyond belief.

  Terrible as all that was, however, she could live with it, deal with it somehow. All those horrible possibilities were worth facing in exchange for the glory she’d found in Will’s arms. But she also had to consider that she might never experience that glory again. She didn’t know if she could live with that.

  ———

  WILL STEPPED OUT onto the loading dock to talk to the security guard and hoped the dim light and cold air would minimize his aroused condition. He could smell Amelia’s perfume and knew if anyone came too close they’d figure out he’d recently been very chummy with her. With luck, the wind and rain would take care of that, too, and the security guard wouldn’t get suspicious.

  If the guard had any doubts about Will’s claim that he was helping Amelia with a floor move, he didn’t say so. “Just thought I’d check,” he said, turning up the collar of his slicker. “Thought I heard a cry for help, and after all, that’s my job.”

  “I’m sure Amelia appreciates your alertness,” Will said. “You probably heard her yell when she almost fell off the ladder. Fortunately she caught herself in time.” He knew she’d be mortified if she suspected that the guard had heard her cry out in the moment of climax. Will decided not to tell her exactly what had brought the guard to their door.