Epilogue
Tanya lounged in Jake’s Corvette, her legs crossed at the ankles. Warm air from the car’s heater swirled about the floorboards and kept her feet toasty. She stared out the window. The long stretch of back road running along South Carolina’s coast stretched out in front them and reminded her of their relationship over the last month.
Boring. Empty. Senseless.
She slanted her gaze toward him. Damn, he is hot, though. That thick black hair, those muscular arms. Those dark eyes of his had stared longingly at her the night before as he’d begged her to run up the coast with him and try to bring back the spark that had first brought them together. He’d promised her a weekend of pampering at an expensive resort, and of course, she’d relented.
“Another hour and we’ll be there, kitten.” Jake reached over, caressed her knee. “Hour-long massages, hot baths, and down comforters await.”
“You spoil me, Jake-ee.” She shifted in the bucket seat, her denim mini riding higher.
“Anything you want, kitten.” His dark gaze skimmed over her legs, and he licked his lips.
She smiled. Twisting toward him, she trailed her hand up his thigh, and when she cupped him, she found his hard-on straining against his chinos. Teasing him, she ran the tip of her tongue along the side of his neck and whispered, “How about you take me to our room, and we put what I have in my hand to good use?”
She massaged him, her manicured fingernails rasping over the expensive cotton pants, and he moaned. More. That’s what this weekend was about. They needed to get back the excitement that had first drawn them together—her sexual recklessness, his abandonment of the tight-assed corporate world.
Without hesitation, Tanya unhooked his belt and undid his pants, the zipper softly snicking open.
“Tanya,” he groaned, his voice thick with lust. “I’m driving.”
With practiced fingers, she released him. His silky hardness sprung forth, begging for her attention. “You just keep your eyes on the road, baby. I’ll do everything else.”
Leaning back in her seat, she hiked her mini up, drew down the scant swatch of lace and string she used for panties, and pulled it over her high-heeled sandals. Her lover watched every move she made, and a thrill of power and excitement rushed through her. This high-speed sex act would not only get them both off but keep her financially well-endowed Jake-ee enamored a while longer—perhaps even win a huge rock for her finger and a white designer gown for a June ceremony.
Goal firmly in mind, she slid over the console separating them.
“Tanya….” The half-hearted protest rang clear, and he moved his arm to allow her access to his lap.
She straddled him, her right knee precariously perched on the edge of the seat, the left jammed between his hip and the center console. Painful, yes, but well worth the price. She slid down onto him. “Keep going, baby,” she whispered in her sexiest voice. “I’m going to give you the ride of your life.”
Reaching over him and grabbing on to the headrest, she began a slow, rhythmic dance, grinding her pelvis into him. When the Corvette’s speed increased, she smiled. That ring would be on her finger before the weekend was finished.
“Oh,” he groaned. “I’m going to—”
His body stiffened, but something about his movement wasn’t right.
“Oh, shit!”
Tires squealed over the pavement, and Tanya pressed back against the steering wheel. The car careened to the right, the suddenness of movement slamming her into the driver-side window. Her head banged on the glass, and she yelped in surprise.
“Sonovabitch!” she screeched when the car came to a stop. “What the hell, Jake?”
“Oh, man. Oh, shit.” Grabbing her hips, he shoved her into the passenger seat. “I couldn’t see. And then, it was just there. Aw, shit.”
“What are you blathering about?” She yanked her mini back into place then looked up, the sound of the car door opening seizing her attention. She pushed open the passenger door and leaped out. Spinning to face him, she demanded, “Where are you going?”
Jake peered at her over the top of the car, fear glinting in his eyes. “I hit it. Didn’t you hear the”—he swallowed—“thump?”
“All I heard was my head hitting the window.” She rubbed the area just above her right eyebrow. “So, what did you kill?”
He grimaced. “A bird, I think. One of those huge, gray cranes.”
Tanya turned and, shading her eyes, scanned the road behind them. “Oh, I think I see it. There’s a big lump of feathers on the edge of the grass over there.” She pointed.
He came around the car.
“You should go make sure it’s dead.” She leaned on the Corvette, set the toe of her shoe on the bottom of the doorjamb. “No sense letting it suffer.”
“You’re right.” With a furrowed brow, his hands jammed into his pockets, he shuffled down the road toward the bird, the soles of his loafers scraping over the pavement with each step.
Tanya bent inside the car and snatched her discarded panties from the floor. After a quick glance around to ensure no vehicles approached, she stepped into them, shimmying them up her legs and into place. Then with a frustrated sigh, she grabbed her handbag from the backseat. Pulling out her compact, she studied her face in the mirror.
“Damn.” A light purple oval marred her forehead. She dabbed facial powder on the area until the bruise vanished. After dropping the compact back into her purse, she checked on Jake and found him kneeling next to the bird. “Is it dead?”
He reached down and laid his fingers on gray feathers.
Oh God. Is he checking for a pulse of the disease-riddled bird? She tossed her purse back into the car then turned to march down the road, her heels clacking on the blacktop. When she was halfway to him, Jake jumped and fell backward, landing on his ass.
“Great,” she murmured. “Now his pants are filthy, too. We’ll be late to dinner. Probably end up with a table next to the kitchen.” Hurrying to his side, she helped him to his feet. “You okay, baby?”
“Um, yeah. I think so.” He swayed, and she grabbed his arm to steady him. Staring down at the enormous gray crane, he inhaled deeply then blew out a rush of air. He prodded the bird with the toe of his loafer. “Guess it’s dead.”
Tanya slid her hand down his arm, grasped his hand, and tugged. “We should go. We’ll be late for dinner.”
He blinked several times. “Yeah. Dinner.”
She led him back toward the Corvette.
“Damn, girl.” He pulled her up short, twirling her into his embrace. Not allowing her a moment to react, he swept down and kissed her, his tongue plundering her mouth with such intensity her knees weakened. “Have I told you how hot you are?”
“No,” she answered in a breathy gasp. Has this take-charge Romeo been hidden inside Jake all this time?
“Well, how about we get to that spa and I show you how much you turn me on, sweet cheeks?” He hurried toward the car, dragging her along behind him. After sliding into the driver’s seat, he started the Corvette, revving the engine. “Hot damn,” he drawled.
She grinned. Maybe being married to Jake wouldn’t be as boring as she’d first thought.
A wide grin lit his face. “I’m betting you like to play games.”
“Oooh,” she cooed. “What kind of games are you talking about?”
“Blindfolding you. Maybe some bondage.”
Her heart rate jumped. Who’d have thought straight-laced Jake would be into S&M? She let a sexy smile curl the corners of her mouth. “Didn’t know you were into kink, baby.”
“Oh, yeah. There’s a lot you don’t know about me.”
“All I know is I’m liking this side of you.” She trailed her fingers up his arm. “Any dirty words you’d like me to say?”
“Actually, there is.” He gunned the engine, the sound of the tires squealing on the pavement and the smell of burning rubber filled the air. When the back wheels caught, the Corvette leaped forward, the force knocking her head against the headrest. “I want you to call out Marco.”
She laughed. He wants to role play, wants me to call him Marco? No problem. This might turn out to be the best getaway ever. “And what are you going to call me, baby?”
“Polo.”