The Texan's Contract Marriage

Eight

His tongue toyed with hers, fanning fires deep within her, making her want more of him. Her faint moan was barely audible in her own ears because of her roaring pulse.

They were alone, husband and wife. He had said he could never love again, and she was fully aware this was lust and went no deeper emotionally for him, but they were married. How much had he changed since their first night out? How much would he continue to change?

She framed his face with her hands and opened her eyes to look at him. His breathing was heavy and his eyes half-lidded with a sensual look that conveyed his intentions more than ever. His brow furrowed slightly. “What?”

“You’ve been up front with your warnings, Marek,” she whispered. “I’ll give you one. Guard your heart. If we continue, you may fall in love.”

A harsh, shuttered look changed his expression. “There’s no chance of that—”

She covered his mouth with hers, pressing her lips slowly on his, catching his lower lip lightly in her teeth to stroke slowly with her tongue. He inhaled, gave a conflicted moan as he tightened his arm around her and pulled her hard against him.

His thick erection reinforced his scorching gaze. She slid against him, lowering herself from tiptoe to flat-footed, sliding slowly, sensually along his hard body. Desire pounded in her, a heated longing for total commitment from him. “Marek, I’ve been to a doctor. I’m on the pill.”

He kissed away further conversation. Yanking off his shirt, he tossed it away. While he kissed her, her fingers drifted lightly over him, tracing his sculpted chest muscles, bulging biceps, his hipbones. In feathery caresses her fingers trailed along his upper thighs in her fascination with his body, in her need to be as intimate as possible.

His raspy breathing deepened while his tongue was erotic, heightening her need.

Twisting her hips slowly, inching them over him so he would become aware of all of her, she let one hand drift toward the inside of his thigh and then trail higher.

He leaned away. His midnight eyes flamed with desire, a promise in just a look. Her heartbeat raced while he slipped his fingers beneath her shirt, moving with a tantalizing slowness that made her want to grasp his hands and place them on her tingling breasts as he watched her.

“Marek,” she whispered, wanting to relay her feelings for him, to declare the love that built each day, but she held back, biting back words while she let her care flow into her kisses.

His fingers teased, heightening her desire as his hands caressed her full breasts, circling each and avoiding her taut peaks. Craving his touch, she leaned away to remove her shirt.

Inhaling deeply, he held her to look at her, slowly letting his gaze consume each inch, making her quiver and ache with desire. With deliberation he pulled away the ribbon holding her hair, caressing her nape as he released the ribbon.

“You’re beautiful.”

“Marek,” she said, tugging his shoulders to bring him closer, but he still held her away. He leaned down, his tongue trailing lightly on her throat, down between her breasts, circling underneath as his fingers had. Warm, wet, his tongue heightened her quivering need. Her nipples throbbed, and she grasped his wrists to hold his hands, looking down at him.

With lips swollen from passion and his eyes black from desire, his gaze consumed her while his hands persisted in fiery torment. Desire overwhelmed her, burning, pouring over every inch.

“Touch me,” she whispered.

“I want you to really want my hands, my mouth on you,” he whispered, showering kisses on her throat and lower.

She framed his head in her hands, tangling her fingers in his thick hair to draw him closer, to place his mouth, his kisses, where she wanted.

“Marek,” she cried out in pleasure, gasping and throwing her head back as she clung to him and was immersed in sensation. Desire centered low in her. She thrust her hips against him and caressed him, her fingers shaking as she tried to yank his belt free and shove away the last clothing between them.

He stepped back to do the task himself, still watching her with hooded eyes, a blatant look that made her want to draw him close against her.

With deliberation she unfastened her slacks and let them fall, stepping out of them to kick away her sandals. His chest expanded as he drew a long breath, his gaze roaming slowly over her.

She hooked her fingers in the bikini panties, drawing them slowly down, spreading her legs slightly as she stepped out of the bit of lace.

With a groan that conveyed both need and urgency, he drew her to him. His fingers were everywhere, following the course of his scrutiny and then moving where his gaze could not go between her thighs.

His mouth covered hers again, his tongue sliding over hers with tantalizing deliberation while his fingers toyed with her intimately. Writhing with pleasure, she clung to his broad shoulders, a sensuous thrust of her hips against his hand as she opened her legs farther to give him more access.

While he kissed her, his hands worked magic, making her want him more than she ever had, more than she would have dreamed possible.

“Marek, wait,” she whispered, breaking away with an effort, giving him an intense look before she went down to take his thick rod to caress and kiss him. As his fingers combed through her long hair again, he shuddered, closing his eyes to let her love him with slow deliberation.

She wanted him to burn with need, to be totally aware of her and want her with every fiber of his being. If she could never have his love, she could have his body.

He leaned down slightly to put his hands beneath her arms and pull her up to gaze into her eyes. “Someday I’ll have your heart,” she whispered.

“You’ve been warned,” he whispered in return before he kissed away any reply she might have wanted to make.

So have you, she mused as he kissed away rational thought. She held him tightly while he pulled her bottom up even more against him as they kissed. Passionate kisses increased desire until she wanted to hold him tightly, wrap her arms around him and urge him to fill her, to make love with her.

He swept her into his arms, walked to the bedroom and placed her on the bed. As he eased beside her, he continued caressing and kissing her. She wanted him with all her being. Their lovemaking had driven her swiftly over the edge. Running her hands over him, she caressed him, trying to drive him to as great a need as she felt.

So many things had been life altering between them—just meeting and informing him about Noah, then marrying him—something in her wildest dreams she had never expected. Now their lovemaking was taking them to a new level—a change from which there would be no going back.

He moved over her, trailing his tongue and kisses down, circling each nipple and then taking each taut peak into his mouth to taste and kiss.

When he shifted lower, his hand slipped over her thighs. While he showered kisses over her belly, she writhed in pleasure beneath him. His tongue toyed with her lush breasts, his fingers creating intimate pleasure, teasing, heightening her need until her pulse pounded and she clung to him, crying out for him in urgency.

“Marek, come here.”

“I’m here, and you’re fantastic,” he said, moving between her legs to trail more kisses along the inside of her thighs.

She cried out eagerly, her fingers winding in his hair while her hips arched to meet him as if seeking more of him.

“I want you,” she gasped, knowing he could never guess the extent of what she felt.

He placed her legs over his shoulders, leaning down to tease the honeyed place, stirring up a wilder storm of passion. Pausing to watch her intently, he kissed the inside of her thigh. “I’m loving you until you’re screaming for me,” he whispered before he dipped between her legs and his tongue ended any rational thought.

“Love me now! I don’t want to wait.”

“I want you to want me more than you ever thought possible,” he said.

“I want you with all my being,” she whispered, arching her back, absorbed by desire. She gasped for breath. “Marek.”

Her eyes flew open and she met his gaze, saw his intent and closed her eyes, wanting him and unable to wait longer. He eased partially into her, slowly filling her, a hot, hard torment more erotic than all else. Then he slipped away in a sensuous move that increased her need. She arched to meet him, and he entered her again.

She arched beneath him, crying out in longing and pleasure as they rocked together until urgency overwhelmed her.

Certain he held back to pleasure her, she thrust her hips faster until she felt his control shatter. His hips rocked with hers, tension reaching the ultimate peak. She cried out as rapture enveloped her and she soared with pleasure.

He followed, thrusting in a wild release that wracked him with spasms. His weight came down heavy, masculine, welcome. She held him tightly, feeling their hearts pound together.

“You’re mine, my husband,” she whispered, certain he wouldn’t hear her.

“Ah, Camille, my love, this is good. I never thought this possible. You’ve taken me to paradise.”

Flowery words, precious, intimate moments. She meant everything she said and she could only wish that he did, too. She ran her fingers through his hair, watching black locks spring away. “You’re a handsome man, Marek Rangel. And an incredibly sexy one.”

He smiled, showering light kisses on her face and throat. “You win that prize. I want to keep you in my arms all night long.”

“If you do, you know what will follow.”

“I have no idea. Let’s try it and see what happens,” he said, teasing her.

She smiled at him while she ran her fingers over his jaw, feeling the stubble that was beginning to show. “You’re a handsome devil, Marek Rangel.”

“And you’re stunning,” he said. He rolled to his side, taking her with him, and they faced each other while he smiled with satisfaction.

“This is a good marriage, Camille. We’ll be good for Noah.”

She laughed. “You say that only days since our wedding. It hasn’t been a month yet. You can’t tell whether this is good or bad.”

“Of course I can. You don’t think it’s good?”

“It’s wonderful,” she replied. “Noah is happy, and now he has a daddy, which I think is a fine thing for him. He’ll have grandparents because Jess will be another grandfather, I suspect. He has aunts who love him, now more cousins.”

“Ginny and her family are already crazy about him. In his quiet way, Jess is, too.”

“I’m glad. I’ve told you in June I will perform La Traviata here in Dallas. I will sing Violetta’s part. I want you to come for opening night.”

“I’d be delighted,” he said.

“If you don’t care for opera after you’ve been to a performance, tell me. I know not everyone does. I won’t burden you with attending again if you don’t like it.”

“I’m going to love watching you,” he said and she smiled, shaking her head.

“You have no idea whether you will or not. Save the flowery declarations until you can say them truthfully.”

He grinned. “I think I will love it. Afterward, will you come home?”

“Of course. There may be a party, but eventually I’ll come home. You’ll be with me, whatever I do.”

“Then I’ll be happy. I told you earlier, I’ve waited eons to be alone with you. It seemed this time would never arrive.”

“You wasted no time when they all left,” she remarked drily.

“If you knew how much I’ve thought about making love to you, you’d know why I wasted no time.” He propped his head on his hand. “Want to shower or sit in a hot tub and relax?”

“When you put it that way, the hot tub wins.”

Standing, he picked her up and she wound her arm around his neck. “You’re a feather.”

She laughed. “Hardly. It takes a body to have the voice I have. No feather here.”

“A gorgeous, lush, to-die-for beauty,” he said, carrying her to his sunken tub. She watched as he began to fill the tub and shortly they both sat with her in front of him, between his legs, while he caressed her lightly, toyed with long strands of her hair and talked about growing up spending a lot of his life on his grandfather’s ranch.

He carried her back to bed and made love to her again, loving her through the night. Afterward she stayed in his embrace, still talking about their lives before they had met each other. He asked about her career, and she could feel a closer bonding with him. Did he feel the same or was this a casual conversation that he would forget swiftly?

He rolled on his side, holding her close with one arm while he propped his head on his other hand. “Camille, we’re married. Share a bedroom with me.”

Startled, she gazed into his inscrutable dark eyes. “I’m surprised you want that,” she said, giving herself time to think, but also admitting the first thought that came to mind. This was not something she had expected, and her heart leaped. Could this mean that he cared more for her?

“I’ve given it thought. Our sex life is fantastic,” he declared in a husky voice, brushing a kiss on her lips. “I like having you in my arms and in my bed. I would like that on a regular basis. We’re husband and wife—why not? We are making love and it’s good. I like being with you. It’s that simple.”

A mixture of feelings gripped her. His declaration and invitation to sharing a bedroom meant a big shift in their relationship. She loved him, and her deepest reaction was joy. Along with it was awareness of all she had worked to achieve. What would a closer relationship, her growing love for him, do to her career?

Was her relationship with Marek a threat to her career? She might be reading more into his actions than she should, but this was a wonderful change in so many ways. The more she could be intimate with him, the more they were simply together and enjoyed each other’s company, the more likely he was to lose that barrier around his heart. There was a far better chance of his falling in love if they lived together as husband and wife.

But if he did, could she cope with Marek’s demands and the demands of her career?

She had to follow her heart.

She shifted slightly to wrap her arm around him. “Yes, I will move in with you.”

Pleasure flared in his expression, and he kissed her long and deeply. In seconds, caressing began and the conversation was temporarily over.

*

When they were finally back in bed, in each other’s arms, Marek faced her and brushed long strands of hair away from her face. “When do you want to move to my bedroom? Tonight?”

She laughed. “I think I am ‘in.’ Perhaps it will be easier when I move to the ranch.”

“Fine with me,” he said, looking contented. “I like this. It’ll be better. You’ll see.”

“I don’t believe you heard any argument from me,” she said, amused by his remarks.

He looked startled and then smiled faintly. “That’s good. We’re in agreement. Noah will like it, too.”

She laughed. “Noah wouldn’t care if we camped out at separate ends of your ranch.”

Marek had to grin. “Maybe not, but he will have fun being with both of us at the same time.”

“I’ll agree with you there, too.”

“This is good, Camille. Very good.”

“Don’t sound so surprised,” she said, finger combing his dark hair away from his face.

“I am surprised. I never expected to find happiness in this marriage, much less to have it happen so swiftly.”

Her heart skipped a beat again, and more pleasure filled her. “I’m glad. Some of it has surprised me. We took some risks.”

He gave her a piercing look and then his expression changed as his gaze shifted to her mouth. He leaned down to kiss her and pull her closer.

It was dawn when she lay in his arms with her head against his shoulder and their bodies pressed close. She looked at him and saw the steady rise and fall of his chest. For the first time in her life she was in love. She was more deeply in love with him each day. In so many ways, he captured her love, her heart, her respect, giving her joy and excitement. She expected him to be a wonderful dad for Noah.

Where was she headed with him? She hadn’t been able to prevent falling in love. How much could she steal his affections and bind his heart to hers? If she did, could she cope with the love of a man shared with pursuit of a career?

*

Through the days while they were alone at the house, they made love often with neither of them leaving the house for anything. When Ginny called, Camille longed to have Noah home again. Since Ginny and the girls sounded so overjoyed to have him, she would not do anything to cut his visit short. Once when they finished the call, Marek turned to her.

“You’ve given them the most blessed gift. They love Noah, and you can hear how happy they are to have him visit. I know it’s hard for you because you’re not accustomed to being separated. Thank you,” he said with so much sincerity, she was touched.

“I’m glad they love him. It’s good for him to get to know his new family. I want him loved by all his family.”

His gaze lowered to her mouth and he leaned closer. His kiss ended their conversation.

*

Late the next morning, Marek stepped out of bed. “Don’t go away. We need to talk business and I’ll be right back.”

Mystified, she sat up and pulled a sheet beneath her arms.

Shortly he returned with papers under his arm and a tray with glasses of orange juice and cups of coffee.

She laughed. “Marek, it’s almost noon and you’re bringing breakfast in bed.”

“Not a complete breakfast, but a partial one.” He handed her the tray. “Hold everything while I get back beside you.” He sat and took a cup of coffee and a glass of orange juice to place on a bedside table. “You can put yours next to your side of the bed.”

“Thank you,” she said, sipping the orange juice after she had placed the steaming coffee on the table. “What on earth do we have to do?”

“We have to childproof my ranch house fast.”

She laughed. “He isn’t walking yet.”

“I want to be ready when he does. I want you to look at some designs and you can help pick one out. We need gates on some of the doors and where there are steps. I want a play area for Noah with a slide and swings.”

She laughed. “Marek, wait until he walks. He can get something like that for Christmas.”

“I might want to swing him. Babies like to swing.”

“In little baby swings. Let’s look at the brochures.”

For the next hour they pored over plans and brochures and talked about decorators and builders. Finally Marek took all the pamphlets and notes and dropped them over the side of the bed to the floor.

“Good. We’ll pick something out and I can have it installed so it’ll be in place when we get there. “I want to get the ranch house so it’s safe and comfortable for you and Noah because I want you to love it the way I do.”

She looked at him and he turned to study her. “What?” he asked.

“You’re turning into a great daddy. I’m amazed.”

“What did you think I was, some kind of ogre?”

“Of course not, but you knew nothing about kids and he’s not your baby actually—”

Placing one finger on her lips, Marek silenced her.

“He’s my baby now, Camille. I love him already. I want to start the adoption procedure as soon as we possibly can, and my attorney has been getting it lined up. I’ll be Noah’s dad and I want his last name legally changed to Rangel.” He put his arm around her shoulders. “We’ll be a real family.”

“That’s fine with me,” she answered. “That’s what I expected from what you have already said.”

They gazed into each other’s eyes, and her heart began to beat faster as the air thickened and desire blazed again.

He placed his hand lightly on one side of her face. “This is so damn good. I never dreamed it would be like this,” he whispered, before his mouth crushed hers and she forgot about fences and swings.

*

Monday they flew to the ranch on one of Marek’s jets. As she looked below, Camille marveled at the changes in her life. She was more in love than ever with Marek, a love that grew daily, and he didn’t have a clue. He sat beside her, dressed in a Western long-sleeve cotton shirt, tight jeans, a hand-tooled leather belt and Western boots, looking every inch the handsome, rugged cowboy. It was as foreign to her way of life as someone from another planet. Even so, right now, she longed to reach out and touch him, to hold his hand or even just flirt with him, but they weren’t alone.

She had chased stardom all her life. Now she pursued a man’s love. Marek had so much to give—and she wanted to give to him. His hurts would heal if he would open his heart and let in love.

She looked at her sleeping baby in his carrier, which was buckled securely. Noah wore a pale blue jumper and white shirt and she thought he looked adorable and angelic. Noah was blissfully unaware of where he was going or how his life had changed. He definitely had taken to Marek, and it was mutual. She had been astounded to discover how much Marek cared for Noah.

Wrapped in her own world, Ashley sat reading college brochures. Camille was happy for her whole family as they changed their lives and began to do what they wanted. Her mother would retire from teaching after the coming year and then she could spend more time with Noah. Now her brother could afford college easily. When they had last talked, Stephanie had bought a condo in Saint Louis and was acquiring new furniture.

Camille glanced out the window, looking at the sprawling land below. Her future was difficult to imagine in so many ways. Her attention returned to Marek. He was changing, but to what extent? He turned to look at her and arched one dark eyebrow.

“What?” he asked.

“Just wondering what you’re thinking?”

“Thinking about you mostly, but I’ve been going over ranch finances,” he said, putting away the papers in his lap. “Looks as if Ashley’s getting prepared to enroll. I’m not going to have to change my schedule on looking for a new nanny, am I?”

“No, we won’t. You won’t be getting one on your own, either. She’s trying to work out a way to take classes online and then go for those short, intense classes so she can continue as nanny until Noah gets older.”

He glanced at Ashley, who was concentrating on her reading. “I’m sure you’d feel better if she stayed on longer.”

“I would. I’m trying to stay out of it and let her make her own decision without any pressure from me. She came up with this plan on her own. Of course, I’m delighted because he’s so little. When he’s gets bigger and can talk, I’ll feel better about hiring a nanny and letting her go. My parents wish they could spend more time with Noah, but they both work full-time.”

“That will change for your mom. You’ll be able to afford to help them.”

“We have so many changes in our lives.”

“I hope you like the ranch and life there. To me, it’s the best place on earth.”

“I won’t know until I try,” she said, but it was difficult to imagine the life awaiting her.

“I told Zeb to fly over the ranch so you can see it from the air.”

“I’ll tell Ashley. That will be fun to see,” she said, turning to her sister.

When Marek finally told her they were flying over the ranch, she and Ashley both turned to the windows. Marek leaned close, his shoulder touching hers. “I think you can tell the main house where I live.”

“There’s a town below.”

“No, that’s the ranch.”

“Ashley, Marek said the ranch is below,” Camille said, unable to take her eyes off the structures spread below. “You have a palace. It’s huge, and there’s an enormous swimming pool. Why all the homes near your house?”

“For staff. Jess has one.”

“This isn’t what I imagined at all,” Camille said, astounded at everything she saw below. “You have your own small town.”

“Not quite,” he said, laughing. “It’s home and I love it. I’m going to love having you in it.”

She smiled at him, happy about his statement.

The plane headed south and she sat back, astonished by what she had seen.

“All of that belongs to you?” Ashley asked, looking dismayed.

“Yes, it does. You’ll like it, Ashley. You’ll see.”

They landed in town and then climbed into a waiting limo for the drive to the ranch, which took almost as long as the flight had taken.

They sped along a deserted gray ribbon of highway, passing land covered with feathery mesquite bent from the prevailing south winds. Green cacti sprouted across the land beneath the mesquite.

The moment the ranch house loomed in sight, Camille’s breath stopped and she gazed out the window. Stunned, she looked at a one-story palatial home that looked far bigger from the ground than it had from the air. “My heavens,” she gasped softly, turning to look again at the powerful rancher she had married.