My cock poked at her belly, and she reached down and curled her fingers around it. I took her face between my hands and kissed her. We'd gone at it like the two people who had played a game of sex tag all day, but after sleeping in the quaint cottage with her nestled next to me, the raw lust had been replaced with a genuine desire to make love to her. I lowered my mouth to her neck and along her throat and down to her breasts. They were the perfect size for her small stature, not too big, not too small and just right for my mouth. I danced my tongue around her nipples. She combed her fingers through my hair and held my head to let me know she was enjoying it.
"Zane," she said quietly, as I kissed her breasts, "why does it feel as if I've known you forever?"
I lifted my mouth back to hers. "Maybe you've just been waiting for me. And maybe I've been waiting for you." I kissed her again and rolled her onto her back. I searched around for one of the condoms I'd tossed on the bed.
Raini stretched her arms up above her head, lifting her breasts higher and arching her body off the mattress as I rolled on the condom. I lowered myself down over her and slid inside of her. She purred contentedly as I rocked back and forth, her pussy taking in more of me each time.
Her lips parted and her breaths quickened as I moved in long sweeping strokes, filling every inch of her and making sure my body rubbed against her clit with each pass.
She reached her hands back and held the top of the pillow as she arched her body to meet mine. "Talk to me, Zane," she whispered.
I lowered my mouth to hers and took her bottom lip gently between my teeth. Then I released it. "Your pussy is pure fucking pleasure, baby. From this minute on, I'm going to see a rain drop and grow hard just thinking about beautiful, fuckable Raini."
She responded to my words by wrapping her arms around my neck and pulling my mouth to hers. Our bodies moved in perfect rhythm as we kissed. Her hands smoothed down over my back and she gripped my ass, holding me tighter inside of her. Her legs wrapped around me, and I moved faster.
Raini's thin arms tightened around me. "Yes, baby, fuck yes," she mewled into my ear. The sound of it brought me closer to climax, but I held back waiting for her.
"I haven't set the bar high, Raini. It's you. It's you, baby. It will never be like this with anyone but you."
"Oh, Zane," she ushered on a slow whisper. Then a cry left her lips and her body trembled beneath mine as her pussy clamped down around me, milking my cock to orgasm. I held her and she held me and we came together.
As my body relaxed, her grip on me loosened. I couldn't believe how badly I wanted her to tighten her arms again. I rolled over next to her, and once again, she turned into my arms.
She snuggled her face against me. "Maybe they won't miss us at all."
Chapter Seventeen
Raini
Mindy glanced up from her task of making sure each yellow rose was in precisely the right position in the glazed white vase. The dining room had been transformed into a yellow and white confection with white linens and pastel yellow plates. Towers of red berries had been placed intermittently between the vases of roses.
"Everything looks beautiful, Mindy."
I caught the flash of annoyance before she returned to her task. "No thanks to you," she muttered. "Where were you?"
I badly wanted to just silence her by telling her exactly where I was and what I'd been doing, but I wasn't in the mood to get into an argument with her. We had never gotten along much growing up. We were always too different, and those differences had grown even more apparent in adulthood. "I'm here now. What do you need me to do? Just give me a task."
She placed her hands on her hips and stared down at my boots. "The only thing you need to do is get out of the dining room. You smell like the barn. Get changed. The guests will be coming in for brunch any second."
"Yes, sir," I said with a salute. I turned to leave.
"I saw you walk out of the barn with Zane Bostwick," she blurted before I could leave the room. I stopped and looked back at her.
"Yes, I took him on a horseback ride. A lot of the guests have taken horseback rides."
"Right." She set to work unfolding and folding napkins that were already perfectly folded.
"I'm sorry, Mindy. I never saw one exchange between you two that made it seem you were even the least bit interested in him. I know that was the plan—"
"There was no plan." She shook her head. "He's not my type. He's new to money and he's still crude in his mannerisms. "
"Yes, people who aren't born into money are such brutes."
"I guess that's why you're attracted to him and why he finds you interesting." My sister had the blueblood snob act down to an art.
"Not completely sure of the hidden meaning in that last part, but you are in an especially horrid mood this morning, so I'm going up to change."
A glass slipped and fell to the floor behind me.
Mindy kicked at the shards. "That's your fault. You've been a pain in the ass since the day you were born."
"It's not my fault. It's you obsessing over the table like you obsess over everything. Leave the fucking place settings alone. I'll go get a broom."
"No, just go. It would have been better if you just hadn't shown up this weekend. You bring the family name down. The way you act, the way you dress, the way you sneak off with complete strangers to do who knows what."
If there was one person who was expert at hurting my feelings and making me feel childish and insignificant it was my big sister. She had worked hard at it her whole life. I had no idea why I had always been the target of her attacks, but it seemed I still had the big red bullseye on my forehead. Only this morning, I wasn't going to let her get to me.
I shrugged. "We fucked. There. Now you don't have to use your tiny little imagination to figure it out." I spun around on my boots and stomped out of the room, thankful that the party was coming to an end.
Chapter Eighteen
Zane
Mindy had once again put down her silly name cards on the long table. I was no longer sitting next to her, which worked out best for both of us. But it seemed she'd taken extra care to put her sister at the opposite end of the table. From my seat, I couldn't even catch a glimpse of Raini between the roses and towers of fruit. At least Trey and Georgie were seated next to me. And at least the food was delicious.
Trey made note of me sucking down my food like someone was going to take it away. "Someone worked up an appetite this morning."
"That's because it's not morning. It's almost noon, and unlike you partying lightweights, I was up early." I scooped up some hash browns with a slice of bacon.
"Doing what?"
"Stuff." I shoved the bacon potato combo into my mouth. Trey and Georgie were both waiting for me to elaborate. When I didn't, Trey figured out what stuff meant. Georgie was right behind in her conclusion.
"Never mind." She picked up her orange juice. "We don't need details."
Trey nodded. "That's right." He leaned closer to me and lowered his voice. "Later, I want every damn detail."
"I heard that," Georgie said over her sip of juice.
"It's all in the name of research for the company. You never know where a new box theme will come from." Trey threw out his reasoning, but Georgie just shook her head.
I plucked a strawberry from the tower. "Actually, I've got a new theme. Came to me just this morning."
Trey waited for me to finish my berry. "Well?"
"In a bind. I'm sure you can figure out what would go in the box without me elaborating." Both Trey and Georgie watched me as I reached for another berry.
"Now you are really going to have to fill me in on the details," Trey said. "And I now also know that you haven't been with Carter's daughter."
I looked at him. "Why would you say that?" My mind went straight to the possibility that he had seen Raini with someone else last night or even this morning when I'd gone in to shower. I couldn't remember the last time the cold hand of jealousy had gripped
me, but all of a sudden, I was ready to hit someone.
Trey laughed. "Because Mindy doesn't seem like the type of woman who would like to be, as you so poetically put it, in a bind. But then maybe I'm wrong. Were you with her? You could do worse than marrying into the Bonneville family."
The relief I felt made me slouch back against the chair. "No, I wasn't with Mindy."
"Are you going to tell me who it was?"
"Nope."
The brunch lasted a good hour. Then slowly people began making their way to their cars to leave. I'd gone back to the cottage to pack. Aidan had already packed and gone off to say good-bye to Carolyn. In the mix of people and food and clutter, I hadn't gotten close to Raini once, but I had no plans to leave the ranch without talking to her first. I knew she lived near the art college, which was just thirty minutes from Plaything and another ten after that to my apartment. I wanted badly to continue seeing her, but I knew that there was every chance that she had no plans to see me again. I was very likely just an amusement, a distraction from the long weekend with her dad's friends. I had to be ready to face that grim prospect, but I wasn't going to leave without at least letting her know I how felt.
Carter was out in front of the house saying his good-byes. I needed to do the same.
He saw me walk out of the house with my bag. "Zane, did you have a good time?"
"I did. It was quite the celebration. Thank you for inviting me."
"Thank you for coming." He shook my hand. "Did you get a chance to say good-bye to Mindy? I think she's still inside."
"Yes, I saw her on my way through the house." I looked around the front yard that was busy with people packing cars. "Uh, I would like to say good-bye to Raini too. Do you happen to know where she is?"
"Rainsford? She took off right after brunch. I had to lend her a car. I only hope she brings it back in one piece," he said with a laugh.
I forced a smile, not wanting to let on that his news had just felt like a fist in my gut.
"But when I talk to her, I'll let her know you wanted to say good-bye."
I nodded. "Great. Yeah, that would be great. Well, I think Aidan is in the car already so I'll be on my way. Thank you again for having me."
I tromped down the driveway to the car. Aidan was leaning against it with his arms crossed, looking ready to leave.
"I was wondering when you were going to get here," he said as we climbed inside. "Awesome weekend. I think I'll buy myself a ranch like this someday."
"Yeah, it's a cool place." I started the car. The food I'd gobbled at brunch felt like a big ball of clay in my stomach. She’d left without so much as a wave. It seemed she couldn't get away from me fast enough. She really had played me, only the stakes in the game were much higher than I'd expected.
Aidan lowered the seat back to start his nap and snore-fest for the ride home.
"Are you going to see Carolyn again?"
"Nah, she lives in New York, and I think she's engaged or something. We didn't get into too much detail about each other's lives because we knew it was just a weekend romp." He crossed his big arms over himself and closed his eyes. "What about you? I didn't see you much at all. What were you up to?"
I turned the car down the long driveway. "Nothing much. Just another weekend."
Chapter Nineteen
Raini
Anthony handed me another cocktail. "Here. Looks like you need this."
I raised it in a silent thanks and took a sip. I glanced around at the people, dressed in designer clothes and all trying to out snooty snoot each other as they browsed the art. Anthony, my art professor, had talked me into displaying a few of my pieces, landscapes that had been part of a required project for my graduate class. I found them boring, but Anthony insisted they were just the thing that people were looking for. Plus, he'd somehow come to the conclusion that I'd someday soon be one of the up and coming talents in the art world. He'd sold me as such to the people putting on the art show. I wasn't nearly as convinced about my talent, and since we'd had an on again off again romance, I wasn't sure that Anthony was seeing my art through unbiased eyes.
Anthony's hand rested proprietarily on my lower back and I discreetly moved forward, away from his touch. Lately he seemed to be inclined to start up our relationship again, but I had no desire for it at all. After the last off switch had been flipped, I wanted it to stay off.
"I love this bright blue dress, by the way. Especially how it hugs every curve," Anthony said in a low voice. He had been going overboard all night with flirtatious overtures, and I had deflected each one with zero response.
His mention of the dress brought to mind the last time I’d worn it, a month ago at the birthday party. A warm blush covered my skin unexpectedly as I thought about Zane pushing the dress up above my panties while he held my hands above my head. Suddenly, the room felt stifling hot.
"I'm going to step outside for some fresh air." I hurried through the gallery to the patio area and hadn't realized Anthony had followed until his hand, once again, touched my back.
"Did I stir up some heat in there with my comment about the dress?" he asked.
"Yes, but not in the way you think." It wasn't the first time something had taken me back to those hours with Zane, and something told me it wouldn't be the last. And poor Anthony thought he had been the one to make me blush. "Look, Anthony," I started, but he pressed his finger over my mouth.
"No, before you say anything, I wanted to give you some news that I think you'll be happy to hear."
I stared in annoyance down at the finger on my mouth. He dropped his hand.
"What is it?"
"I've been invited to study in Paris for a few months, and I get to bring my most promising student with me. Of course that's you."
"Is it my artwork or the thought of us having sex that makes me the most promising?"
"Raini, you know I think highly of your talent." He smiled. "On the canvas and on the bed sheets." His hand slid to my bottom. This time I wasn't discreet when I stepped away from his touch.
His expression soured. "What is it about you and commitment, Raini? What the heck are you so afraid of?"
I stared up at him. "The only thing that scares me about commitment, Anthony, is committing to the wrong person. I respect you as my teacher, but whatever else we had, that's in the past."
His dark brows knitted together. "Is there someone else?" A dry laugh followed. "Look who I'm asking that question to? Did you meet someone? Is there actually a man out there who has snared the most elusive catch of all, the heart of Rainsford Bonneville?"
"No. Yes. Maybe. Probably not."
An annoying smug laugh followed. "Well, that answers that. I need to get back inside. You think about my offer. Paris, baby. Paris." He walked back inside. I leaned against the stone retaining wall dividing the patio area from the parking lot. I finished my cocktail as I stared down at my bright blue dress.
I wondered if he ever gave me a second thought after that weekend.
Chapter Twenty
Zane
Trey and I walked back in from the warehouse. Aidan had been showing us his plans for adding some new conveyor belts in shipping. Trey was heading back in to crunch some numbers.
Suzy, one of the box designers, met us on our way up to the offices. "Zane, I put the new box for In a Bind on your desk an hour ago. See what you think for the marketing campaign." She grinned. "Although, I think it kind of sells itself. We've put some fun stuff in there."
"Thanks, Suzy, I'm heading back to the office right now. Looking forward to seeing it."
Trey and I turned down the corridor toward the offices. "You never did say what your inspiration was for that theme," Trey noted.
"Didn't I?"
"No, and I think I was promised some details."
"No, you asked for details. I never actually promised to tell them." We stopped outside my office door.
"It's not like you to keep stuff like that to yourself. I figure one night when we've ha
d enough beer, you'll spill."
"Don't count on it."
Trey looked at me as if he was trying to read the details in my face. "She must have been something else," he quipped as he continued on down the hallway.
I walked inside my office and stopped short. Someone had been at my desk. The items from the box were strewn across the paperwork I had piled there. It would have been unusual for Suzy to spread the stuff out. It would have been even weirder for her to sit in my chair, which I knew someone had done because it was turned around to face the window.
I slapped the door shut behind me and took a step back when the chair spun around. It had been a month, but I hadn't forgotten one thing about her, the pearly blue eyes, the way her nose turned up just a smidgen and her smile. That smile had been stuck in my head like a damn picture.
She held up a pair of leather handcuffs and a whip made from long strands of satin. "These look fun." She sat forward and perused the items on the desk. "The whole box looks fun. When should we try it out?"
I walked toward the desk and stood over it, staring down at her, trying to decide if she was real or if I had just dreamt her up. It wouldn't have been the first time. But as the scent of her perfume drifted toward me, I knew she was real, sitting in my chair and staring up at me with expressive blue eyes and a pair of bondage restraints in her hand.
"How'd you get in here?" I asked for lack of a better question.
"A tall guy let me in. A partner, I think and a piece of eye candy on steroids I might add."
I nodded. "Chase."
"Yes, that's the name. To his credit, he did refuse to let me in at first. Then I told him my name was Rainsford Bonneville, and he waved me in with a gentlemanly bow. I hope you're not mad."
I shook my head. "How have you been?"
"I've been good." She dropped the cuffs and the whip and leaned back in my chair. "This is nice, by the way." She smoothed her hand over the fabric on the chair. "The whole place is cool. Very impressive." She stood up and walked to the window. "The view is amazing." She turned around. She was wearing a short green dress that tied behind the neck like a halter. All I could think about was yanking the knot out of it.