Rowena spent the day alternating between aroused and relaxed. They’d had a fantastic day filled with two glorious hours walking and trotting through pastures and a small forest, browsing little shops, talking and laughing so hard her jaws were hurting. He’d bought her a stupid little glass owl. She’d admired it in a shop, the light catching its cute wings and drawing her over to touch. Two minutes later they’d been walking out with the thing in a little bag. It wasn’t important or expensive, but it had made her heart constrict when he’d handed her the bag. It would be a memory of their weekend together. While he wasn’t looking, she’d slipped back into a store and purchased a ridiculously expensive pair of cuff links he’d looked at. All things considered, they were hardly enough, but Rowena wanted to have something to give him when this was all over, something to let him know how important this was for her, how much she appreciated
Shaking slightly, Rowena walked into the bedroom, stood just inside the doorway, and stared down at the huge bed. An unexpected buzz of excitement raced down her spine. Was she going to do this or not? If she was, it was time to commit. No more looking back. No more second-guessing. A huge part of her wished she could talk to Summer about Heath’s request. Her friend would remind her of all the reasons this was good… and probably come up with a brilliant way to get over the embarrassment and kill the butterflies. Rowena didn’t have time to make a phone call, though. Heath would be in here in a minute… In fact, she’d heard the screen door bang shut behind him. Besides, this was something she needed to decide on her own. It was put up or shut up… Grasping the hem of her sweater, Rowena ran the edge through her fingers, took a deep breath, and jerked it off over her head. Her jeans followed as she pushed them over her
Heath shifted on the chair, drawing her attention to the unmistakable ridge of his erection. He was there, right at the end of her bed. So close and yet not nearly close enough.“Heath… I need you…” She breathed in raggedly as she stared back at him, feeling the heat of his body, even if too far away, enfolding her, the warmth wrapping around her like a cloud of comfort. It sent shivers chasing up her spine to realize she had never known anything like this before. At the same time, Rowena realized how swollen her breasts were, the nipples throbbing in longing. Between her thighs, her wet sex pulsed, spilled its precious moisture, and further slickened the plump lips there.“I can smell your desire,” he whispered as he stared back at her with drowsy sensuality. “Hot and sweet. Do you know what that does to me, Rowena?”“What?” Her breathing was rough now, heavy, as she fought to drag in the air to combat the extreme excitement his voice
Rowena’s terrified screams jarred Heath wide awake. He was out of his cabin and halfway to hers before the echo had even died. Barefoot and naked except for the pajama bottoms he’d thrown on, Heath wasted precious seconds fumbling with the extra key to her door. He was in and at Rowena’s side within minutes.“What’s wrong, baby? What happened?” She stood in the center of the living room, the sheet clutched tightly to her body with hands that were far from steady. At least she wasn’t screaming… not anymore.“Nothing… I’m all right… Really… I’m fine.”“Your hands are shaking…”“No, I’m okay.” Her voice was strong, but the smile she tried to give him trembled before she gave up on the effort.“No, sweetheart, you’re not. Tell me, please, what happened?”“I was… I was… having a dream… And then, maybe it became a nightmare of some sort.” Rowena’s skin flushed hot as she tucked the sheet tighter beneath her arms. Heath wasn’t sure if the stain of colo
Heath looked at her. Not just at her body, her breasts, her sex, but the woman she was beneath. She could tell the difference. In his eyes, she saw emotions gathering, like a summer storm. She couldn’t read him, though… She had no idea what he would do. Until Heath stood, bringing their joined hands to rest at the curve of her nape.“If you’re sure…”“Absolutely.” Those butterflies lifted off as soon as she said the word. Rowena knew she would be fine. She knew Heath was going to take care of her and gave her a new life filled with new hopes and dreams. He touched his lips to hers in a kiss that held absolutely no demand. Her own hand fell limp to her side as Heath let go and began massaging the back of her neck. It was delicious, the taste of his mouth and the magic of his hand against her tensed muscles. Oh, God… Yes… Now… It would be fine, now. Rowena opened to him and took what she wanted, tugging the kiss deeper, nipping
“Rowena…” She grabbed Heath’s pajama bottoms and pulled slightly. Heath couldn’t fight her anymore. He definitely couldn’t ignore the desire flooding every square inch of his being. At this precise moment, he couldn’t even remember why it had been so all-fired important to wait to touch her pale, smooth skin. “I want you…” she said, nipping at his ear. “I’m yours to do whatever you want with me…” “Baby, you’re not ready yet…” His voice trailed off as his gaze trekked all over her body before settling between her legs. Rowena took a half-step back, pressed a hand into her fluttering stomach, then eased it down, down, until she settled her fingertips over her clit and rubbed in slow, soft circles. Heath’s gaze latched on, unblinking, transfixed. “Please…” Rowena closed her eyes and tossed her head back, slowly driving herself insane with a teasing touch. Heath ate it up with his stare. “Dammit!” he bellowed as he took a ground-eating step toward her.
After Heath’s amazingly sensual treatment, Rowena didn’t think it possible to become more aroused than she already was. She was wrong. Their contact made Heath’s member throb. Rowena could feel every pulse jammed tight against her own. She was shivering with anticipation. Heath was going to take her on the floor! He grabbed a blanket from the back of the couch, flung it onto the floor beneath them, and stretched them both out on top. It wasn’t much padding for the hard wood beneath but Rowena didn’t care. His mouth latched tight over one of her nipples, sucking hard before laving the tightened nub with his tongue. A string seemed to snap between his mouth and her sex, pulling her hips up off the floor in a search for more. Heath didn’t disappoint. His hand was there, slipping through the folds, rubbing her clit, and sliding home, making her moan. Rearing up, Rowena tore at his pants, pulling them ruthlessly down as far a
He scooped her into his arms and Rowena squealed. Whatever she’d expected it hadn’t been that. Her protests grew louder as Heath headed for the door of the cabin instead of the bed.“Dammit, Heath! Put me down!”“Nope!” “Where are you taking me?”“To my cabin. We’re not staying here.”“I’m naked.”“It’s 2 am. No one’s outsi…” His voice trailed off and his eyebrows slammed together in a frown. Spinning on his heel, he headed back in the direction they’d just come and deposited her gently to the floor.“Grab what you need,” Heath said. “We’ll get the rest in the morning.” She quickly pulled on her negligée, simply because it was on top. He wouldn’t even let her grab some shoes, again insisting on carrying her the few yards to his place. At his cabin, she had a quick look around. One big, open room and a bedroom toward the back. Her focus zeroed in on the large four-poster bed. Heath didn’t disappoint her because that’s exactly where he headed,
Heath pulled her beneath the surface of the lake. His hands trailed up her body from ankle to calf to thigh. One played rogue beneath her bathing suit as he pulled her face to his for an underwater kiss. Surfacing moments later, Rowena was light-headed from lack of oxygen and pleasantly giddy with desire. Her gaze raked the shore, where her family had gathered to enjoy the long holiday weekend. She was glad Heath had talked her into coming, into getting away. While the media frenzy had quickly died down, things were still a little crazy back in Seattle. At least, they no longer had to worry about Steven Lockwood. At the moment, he was rotting in some tiny little prison she hoped to God was very unpleasant. Even with everything that had happened, the man still had the audacity to ask Heath to post bail. He’d delighted in declining. Rowena, on the other hand, had taken advantage of this trip to mend fences with her mother. Thin
An ironic smile touched the corners of her mouth. In more ways than one. She looked up at her friend, pleading. Summer’s eyes narrowed into bright green slits.“You know what? My house, my rules. So, no! I won’t turn it off. Not a chance!” She took the harshness of her words away with a gentle smile. Dropping back onto the pillow stuffed behind her, Rowena rolled her head against the arm of the couch and stared up at the ceiling.“You do realize it’s over between Heath and me, right? I mean, it was only supposed to last for a few days, anyway. What can I say? I was nothing more than a pet project to him. And I don’t want another few days with him just because he feels guilty his father tried to kill me.” A launched throw pillow landed squarely on her chest.“Oh, Rowe… I adore you! You’re the strongest, most determined woman I know but right now, you’re so full of shit. I think you’re just scared to open yourself up and let him in. You’re scared shitless t
Rowena stared at Steven as he was pacing through her living room. Her butt was numb from sitting on the wooden floor for the last several hours, her back was pressed tightly to the wall. It didn’t matter, though... She’d sit here forever if it meant this awful man wouldn’t point that gun at her again. She’d honestly thought her life would end the moment he’d realized Heath had called the police. Steven had stalked across the room, grabbed a handful of her hair, and pressed the hard barrel of the gun to her head. He’d ground it against her skin… the spot still throbbed. But he hadn’t pulled the trigger. Not at her, anyway… Instead, he’d shot several times through the front window. She didn’t think he’d been aiming at the cops, but… The more Rowena watched him, the less certain she was that he could do it. That he could… kill her. Yes, the man had issues, but was he a murderer? A killer? His goal w
Hi, Y'all!!!!! The end of this book is almost near... There are 2 chapters + Epilogue left that I'm going to publish later on or, maybe, tomorrow. Thank you so much for everything... for reading this book, for your gems. I must say I'm a bit disappointed about the comment section of this book. I would've loved to hear from you, to find out more about your thoughts and opinions about this story. Maybe have a few reviews... Nonetheless, thank you kindly for every single thing. I am preparing a new story that I hope to start publishing in a week or so. I'm not a spoiler fan, so I won't give up too many details. All I can say about it is... well, it's going to be a Romance story (as always). Hope to have you by my side in my future adventure. THANK YOU AGAIN! BACI E ABBRACCI (HUGS AND KISSES) Emma
“Just a minute…” Rowena pulled the warm, fuzzy bathrobe tighter around her body and jerked the knot to be sure. The pounding on her front door had been so loud she’d heard it all the way inside her bathroom, despite the closed door. Something about the noise set her spine on edge. She looked through the peephole but didn’t recognize the older man with black hair standing on her porch. “Who is it?” “Rowena? I’m Steven, Heath’s father. I need to talk to you.” Heath’s father? She didn’t even know he had one. He’d mentioned his mother, but never his father. She’d just assumed the man was either dead or not a part of his life. Just more proof that he had never seen her as someone really important. She’d shared the intimate details of her worst experience, but he… well, he hadn’t even mentioned a father living here in the city. Rowena looked back through the peephole again. She did recognize a certain resemblance between the two men.
Heath walked into his house, his stomach still rocking and rolling from that horrible encounter with his father. Steven was such a bastard but he was able to protect the woman who started to mean the world to him. The old bastard asked for 100k… Heath gave him the check so… Rowena’s identity would remain anonymous. It was over… He’d taken his father’s word. He hated to do it but didn’t have much choice. Aside from killing the man where he stood, something Heath wasn’t willing to do, much as he was tempted, he could never be certain.“Rowena? Baby girl, I’m here…” He called gently through the house. It was late, almost two in the morning, and if she had fallen asleep, Heath didn’t want to wake her.
‘A wild ride...’ Rowena turned her focus back to the paper in her hand and continued reading… or trying to.“‘Susan from Seattle is on the line. Let’s find that spark in your love life.’”“‘Dr. Lovejoy, how can I make a man commit? I’ve been dating the same guy for three years now, the sex is fantastic, we practically live together, but he will not propose.’”“‘Susan, I can honestly say this is the question women ask me the most. There’s a simple answer, but unfortunately, no one likes to hear it. Men who want to commit do, the ones who don’t… well, they won’t. There isn’t anything you can do or say. What you need out of the relationship is something he can’t or won’t give you. Get out
They drove back late that afternoon, stopping for a quick bite at a roadside place along the way. Rowena knew their weekend was coming to an end, but she didn’t expect the veneer of peacefulness she had wrapped around herself, thin though it might have been, to break almost the minute they walked through Heath’s front door. The abbreviated tour of his place, punctuated by stolen kisses and a brief bout of groping in the kitchen, came to an abrupt end in the back hallway when Rowena’s heel crunched on shards of broken glass.“Baby, call 911, then get next door.” Heath shoved his cell into her hand as he thrust Rowena unceremoniously out the door. She couldn’t decide whether to be pissed or scared because he hadn’t joined her.&nb
A bolt of lightning ripped open the sky, and the rain poured. They were soaked in minutes, puddles of water collecting in the seats and floorboards of his SUV when they finally made it there. Even as the day darkened and the rain came down, the air around them thickened with humidity… and tension. Rowena’s words hung between them. It was difficult to breathe against the band tightening his chest. He was so far out on a limb here that it wasn’t even funny. Heath didn’t want to return to reality, either. He’d done what she asked… He cured her sexual inhibitions and showed her there was absolutely nothing wrong with her sex drive. And now the thought of her sharing those moments with another man, of him touching her skin, kissing her mouth, sliding home deep inside her bod