Under A Painted Moon Read online

  "What color?” he finally croaked. She smiled coyly, giving him another gentle squeeze.

  "Not white."

  His fingers toyed with one of the snaps on her garter then stopped. His hand slipped lower, one fingertip teasing at her from behind, finding the moisture at the top of her thighs. The ache inside her bloomed, opening and spreading through her. She shifted restlessly against him, opening herself more to him. The hand tightened convulsively then withdrew. Her dress fell back into place.

  He kissed her again, a light brushing of his lips when she craved so much more. When she knew he craved more. The evidence of that pulsed beneath her hand. He tapped her wrist in silent request she release him. She gave the bulge one more pat, bringing that fast, boyish grin to his face, then zipped him back up.

  His hand shook as he handed her a champagne flute.

  Hers shook as she accepted it.

  Thank heavens he was nervous, too. The knowledge steadied her. She hoped that once they made it upstairs, she'd move past being jittery. He lifted his flute.

  "To your new home.” He tapped his glass to hers.

  "To ... us.” She tapped his glass and they sipped together. Barry handed her his champagne.

  "Take these upstairs. I'll lock up and bring everything else."

  Courtney nodded, maneuvering to get a good grip on the glasses and the ice bucket. She was at the top of the stairs when the lights went out below.

  "Hey! Turn the lights back on. I don't know my way around in the dark."

  A wicked chuckle drifted up to her. The sound was pure Barry.

  "I'll show you around in the dark, little girl. You can trust me."

  "Ha. The big, bad wolf told Little Red Riding Hood that, too. Then he tried to eat her.” She could hear him on the stairs behind her. Her eyes had adjusted to the dark and she slipped into the bedroom.

  "I only nibble, babe.” His voice was close to her ear.

  A match flared then the wick of a candle ignited. She stood transfixed as more flames joined the first one, bathing the bedroom in soft, flickering light and shadow. The bed was neatly made, the covers folded down. The wide expanse of sheet waited. Her stomach plunged nervously. She shivered with anticipation.

  Barry straightened, turning to face her. She drained her glass in two healthy swallows. He smiled at her, plucking her glass from her fingers.

  "Do you want more?"

  She shook her head. She'd love more, but she'd wait. Barry tipped his glass, finishing his. Courtney froze, mesmerized by the sight of his neck, the muscles flexing as he swallowed. Her skin prickled again.

  "What?” He looked at her quizzically.

  "Nothing.” She swallowed. There was no way she was going to admit to him what had drawn her sudden interest. He'd flash her that quirky grin and she'd have to pounce on him.

  Only he'd like it too much, and she was just too nervous, which was ridiculous.

  He set the empty glasses on the floor beside the ice bucket then straightened, holding his hand out to her. She took it and he drew her to him, enfolding her in a warm embrace. She could lean on his strength forever. He started to sway, moving them to imaginary music. She sighed.

  "Music would be nice."

  "What song would you like to hear?” His voice was soft, his lips nibbling at her ear. They moved slowly, thigh-to-thigh. She laughed.

  "Are you going to sing it?"

  "No. But...” he spun her around then dipped her. “You could sing it. You've a good voice."

  She slid her arms up around his neck. “Barry."

  His arms tightened around her as their dance ended. His fingers snaked into her hair. She pulled back far enough to look at him. His eyes were shadowed in the candlelight.

  "Close your eyes, love."

  She obeyed without thought. Her heart did a strange little flip then began pounding. His lips touched hers, softly, so softly and sweetly, stealing her breath. She knew then it was his gentleness that would undo her. She wanted to run from him, from anyone who could see her that clearly. But she couldn't.

  His lips moved on hers, no longer gentle. She couldn't fight his demand that she open her lips to him. His tongue teased at hers, taunting her. She thrust into his mouth, shocked at his heat. A drumbeat pulse sprang to life at her center. He backed her to the bed, tumbling them across it.

  His hand slipped under her dress, caressing a long line up her thigh. He drew a shuddering breath as he cupped her bare rump again. His mouth trailed kisses down her neck. She moved restlessly beneath him, suddenly feeling cool air on her damp thighs. Her dress was bunched around her waist, leaving her open and vulnerable to his gaze.

  He rose up, looking at her. His eyes were black in the dim candlelight. He carefully pulled the dress over her head. Need coursed through her, weighting her down to the bed.

  Barry coaxed her up to the pillows, slipping her heels off. He carefully unhooked her stocking, sliding it down. She throbbed almost painfully watching those long fingers trail across her skin.

  He kissed his way back up then slowly peeled off the other stocking. His eyes were riveted to the top of her thighs. Her body pulsed, sending a new welcome down for him. Her hips moved in response. He ran his fingers along the edge of the garter belt, quickly ridding her of the garment.

  His hands skimmed her belly on their way to her bra. The hook was no challenge for him. The bounty of her breasts lay uncovered for him. His gaze locked on hers as he tossed the bra on the floor.

  "You're so lovely, Court. I've pictured you like this so many times.” He swallowed, hard.

  She didn't have an answer for that, but she prayed silently he'd find her every bit as good as his fantasies of her. Filling her own shoes might be difficult.

  He kissed her again, less gently than before. She pulled him down, meeting him halfway. His hands skimmed across her. She wanted to see him naked, to touch him.

  "Take your clothes off,” she said breathlessly. He licked her taut nipple then suckled. A jolt of liquid fire shot to her core. She arched up to him, moaning. It had been so long since anyone had touched her, held her, loved her.

  "Don't stop!"

  "I'm not, babe. I'm not.” He kissed his way along the swell of her beast, to the valley between then suckled her again. His hand cupped her. She pulsed strongly under his touch. His hips jerked against hers, once, then again.

  He pulled away, slipping his shirt over his head without bothering to unbutton it. A fine sheen of sweat covered his torso. He undid his belt then hesitated.

  "I've seen men before."

  "I'm not shy. Honest.” He grinned wolfishly at her. He opened his overnight bag and retrieved a small box. She bit the inside of her lip as he slipped the foil packets under his pillow.

  He straightened, his hands on his waistband. The invitation was there, beckoning. She slipped across the cool sheets and reached for him. She pushed his trousers off his hips, letting them drop to the floor. The thin cotton of his briefs did little to contain his maleness.

  She couldn't look at his face, not when a little voice in her head was gleefully and irreverently repeating the word ‘jackpot’ over and over and over. If she giggled at this moment, he'd never understand. She willed the voice to silence. She'd give it opportunity to gloat later.

  Very carefully, she hooked two fingers over the edge of his briefs and pulled them down. His erection sprang free, full and heavy. The empty, throbbing ache inside her ballooned.

  He would certainly fill it.

  His genitals sprang from a thatch of dark hair that contrasted sharply against the swath of pale skin across his pelvis and thighs. He was a good eight inches, and nicely proportioned. His balls were tight to his body. He twitched under her touch as she traced the line of the large vein than ran the length of his shaft.

  She wrapped her fingers around him and stroked gently. He didn't make a sound. Backing away, she patted the bed beside her. He stepped free of the clothing around his ankles and stretched out beside her, resting h
is hand on the swell of her hip.

  Her heart was pounding in her chest. Her throat was dry. She ached so insistently inside that she suddenly wanted to plead with him to hurry and take her. The look in his eyes changed. He reached for her, enfolding her in his arms.

  A small, needful cry escaped her as she found his mouth. He met the demand of her kiss with slow patience, yet holding nothing back. The kiss went on and on, until she was breathless with it. Her nipples tingled. She rubbed against his chest, seeking relief.

  He rolled her over, gently squeezing one nipple while suckling the other. She moaned, holding his head to her. No one had ever given her breasts enough attention. Barry did.

  He massaged their firmness with gentle fingers, kissing one then the other and back again until she squeezed her thighs together in a vain effort to contain the greedy throbbing inside. The tension deep in her belly coiled tighter as he slid down her body, trailing kisses across her ribs and her belly button. His hands grasped her hips. The air clogged in her throat as he pushed her thighs open and his mouth took her.

  She was helpless to do anything but spread her legs wider. Her body moved under his mouth with a will of its own. He slipped two fingers inside her. Her body clutched at them, pushing down against them. His breath was cool on her heated flesh. She twisted beneath him, wanting to taste him as he tasted her.

  His hands tightened on her, refusing to release her. Then her hand found him and he eased his grip. She wiggled a bit more and he moved to accommodate her.

  She ran the tip of her tongue around his glans. He pulsed under her lips, his pelvis straining upward to meet her. His mouth stilled on her flesh. Very carefully, she lowered her mouth over him. He stiffened, stilling his reactions.

  Part of her didn't like that he did that. It spoke of experience she didn't want to know about. But it did make working with his size easier. She wrapped her fingers around his shaft and began stroking. Her tongue kept up its teasing around the rim. And still he didn't make a sound.

  His control slipped and he surged into her mouth. She released him and gave his scrotum a few careful nibbles. His thighs quivered. She ran her hands along the inside of them then his mouth was on her again. She went limp, spreading herself for him.

  It was heavenly to just enjoy. He slipped a finger into her and the flame of arousal that had been banked down while she pleasured him flared back to life, more powerful than before.

  He kissed his way up her belly, to her breasts, coaxing her back up to the pillows. His thumb moved on her, rolling in tiny circles over her most sensitive spot. She pulsed, flooding wet into his palm.

  His free hand slipped under the pillow. He moved away. She closed her eyes and tried to catch her breath. He would take her now.

  She heard the soft tearing of the foil packet, sensed his quick movements. All the while, she wanted to urge him to hurry, to ease the ache inside her. Then he was beside her again, his lips kissing her neck and the soft, tender skin of her shoulder. She pulled his mouth to hers. It was all the urging he needed.

  His body covered hers, settling in the cradle of her hips. The tip of his cock slid over the welcome her body rained down for him, teasing her. The throbbing ache inside her eclipsed all she'd ever known.

  He drove into her, burying himself fully. She wrapped her legs around his waist, bucking beneath him, needing him to move within her. He withdrew, only to sink into her again as her body opened in greedy acceptance. He braced himself above her, rising to her pace.

  She cried out her ecstasy each time he thrust into her, moaning with loss each time he withdrew. Her body took on a life of its own as her awareness sank down to where his flesh opened hers with devastating pleasure. Sensation rippled through her.

  He gathered her into his arms. His mouth seared hers, claiming her lips in a brutal kiss. Her flesh suddenly contracted, gripping his. She arched beneath him as her climax began.

  The strength of the orgasm stunned her, slamming through her without mercy. He was pounding into her, lifting her on waves of such intense rapture that nothing but having it continue mattered.

  She sucked in a great gulp of air, suddenly falling back into herself. Barry's breath was harsh with strain in her ear. She ran her fingertip down the dark cleft between his buttocks and he plunged into her. His mouth found hers as his climax claimed him.

  She held tightly with her arms and legs as it flexed through him. He drove into her, hard then shuddered, once, and eased his weight down on to her. He went completely still.

  Not once had he made a sound.

  He drew a deep breath and slipped a hand between them then quickly slid sideways. Suddenly empty, she mourned the lost connection. She sensed his quiet movements then he rolled back to her, pulling her close. She snuggled in against him, breathing in his scent, her head on his shoulder. A wonderful energy engulfed her.

  If he'd not been so still at her side, so quiet, she would have jumped up and down with glee on the bed. She would have shouted out the window that she was alive!

  Maybe she'd do that later. Maybe not. It was a ‘not’ until he said something, anything.

  For all his stillness he wasn't relaxed. There were some things she couldn't do for him. And there were some things she could.

  She knew that what had mattered to him was that this moment be special for her was so important to him. And it had been special. So very special.

  She lifted her lips to his and kissed him with all the tenderness she had in her. He sighed into her mouth.

  Chapter 13

  Barry tightened his arms around her, closing his eyes to the candlelight dancing on the ceiling. He'd played this moment over and over in his mind for years. It was sweeter than he'd ever imagined it to be. Courtney was snuggled up to his side, her knee resting on his thigh, her hand warm in the middle of his chest.

  If she never shared a bed with him again, at least he'd had this moment. And he'd committed everything about it to his memory.

  She stretched up and kissed him, so soulfully, so tenderly that his joints loosened. She burrowed into his neck again. All he had energy for was a sigh.

  "Are you all right, babe?"

  She nestled closer. “Wonderful."

  Her voice was muffled and dreamy. The last of the tension in him vanished, leaving him feeling like he'd never be able to move again. He brushed a kiss to her damp hair. She wiggled her toes against his calf, questioning.

  "Hmm?"

  "Barry, are you all right?"

  "I'm good. You didn't jump out of bed and run away, so I'm a happy man."

  "I'm not going anywhere. It's my house."

  He tipped her chin up again, meeting her gaze. Her lips were bowed in a soft smile. It about killed him to ask, but he had to give her the chance to be rid of him.

  "Should I go?"

  Her eyes narrowed. “Don't try it, bucko. I'm not done with you, yet."

  Barry sucked in a quick breath. Every cell in his body woke up to the possibility she would make love again this night. In his dreams, he'd never gotten past the first time with her. More than once was more than he could allow himself to dream about.

  "That's nice to know, babe. Can I at least stop sweating before round two?"

  "Better than that, you can get us some more champagne. Dip your hand in the ice bucket and cool off."

  He grinned down at her.

  "And don't get any ideas of putting ice anywhere on my body, McWaters!"

  "Here's my problem with getting more champagne. I'll have to let go of you and I don't want to do that."

  She gently shoved at his ribs. “Just do it, Barry."

  "Promise me you won't move.” He grabbed her wrists to stop her pushing at him.

  "You're an untrusting sort all of a sudden."

  "No, I'm not. I just want you right where you are."

  She rolled her eyes. “Naked and in bed. I know, I know.” She rose up and licked his nipple. “Just do it,” she repeated.

  He rolled her beneath h
im and kissed her. She grabbed his muscled buttocks and squeezed. He teased at her tongue with his. She nipped at it. He rose up and looked at her. She wiggled her hips.

  "All right. I'm pouring,” he groused, rolling off the bed in one smooth motion. He poured both flutes about three-quarters full before turning back to her. She was sitting on the bed, watching. He grinned at her.

  "What?"

  "Nice ass, McWaters. And the view is even better from the front."

  He glanced down at his lengthening penis.

  "As you can see, babe, I don't really need the encouragement."

  She laughed merrily. “Take my word for it. I don't think I do either."

  His erection completed in a few rapid pulses as she watched. “Thanks, Courtney,” he commented, dryly. He handed her a glass. “I was planning on acting civilized and letting you get some rest."

  He stuck his finger in his champagne then ran it around her nipple. It peaked under his touch. He leaned over her and licked her breast.

  "Now I don't have to."

  She inched away from him, giggling. “Yes, you do!"

  He dropped on the bed, propping up on three of the pillows. She balanced her glass to keep the champagne from sloshing out of it.

  She was so beautiful sitting there cross-legged on the bed. Her hair was tousled. Her lips were puffy from his kisses. But it was the contented smile, the shining eyes that watched him that made her so gorgeous.

  The shining eyes took a look at his manhood. She licked her lips.

  "Courtney,” he warned. She just grinned and sipped her champagne.

  He fluffed the rest of the pillows and patted them. She reclined on them and he wrapped his arm around her. One of the candles was guttering, its flame flickering erratically and casting a frantically dancing light on the ceiling. Barry glanced at it.

  "It will burn out soon.” Her head dropped to his shoulder. He gusted out a long breath as his body began to calm again. As much as he wanted to make love with her again, he wanted these peaceful moments, too.

  "I know.” He finished his drink and set the glass on the floor. Courtney followed suit, handing him her glass as well.