It had never occurred to him before to play games with Winter. Maybe that was part of the allure, he acknowledged to himself honestly. He was aware that she always withheld part of herself from their relationship. There was always something at her core that he could not touch. He had liked that about her from the first, that distance she maintained despite the intimate nature of their relationship. He had initially congratulated himself, believing that she would not easily succumb to the temptation of developing any emotional ties. He preferred lack of drama in his relationships. When it became time, it would make for an easy ending.
However, Winter’s ability to distance herself had become a doubled-edged sword. He was more attracted to her than was good for him. It was beginning to bother him, in just a small way, that he wasn’t able to completely understand her. If she had displayed more of her feelings to him, he would have been more confident of holding her. He would know what made her tick, what made her the woman that she was. He told himself that he shouldn’t complain. She didn’t bring drama or baggage to their times together. At least, not until today, he amended. But he rather thought that he could make her forget for awhile longer this evening. Maybe a game would give him the edge that he felt he needed.
Lust was already a raging fire in him. His engorged cock visibly pulsed. He wanted to take her right then, but he forced control over himself. This fantasy was nowhere near being finished. And he hadn’t decided yet on the denouement.
Michael walked forward, his bare feet sinking silently into the thick pile carpet.
While she waited for Michael, Winter couldn’t stop her thoughts returning to the phone call she had made. As soon as Michael disappeared through the French doors, she had dug her own cell out of her bag. She had felt frozen inside, ever since the talk with Chloe’s doctor, but just being with Michael yesterday, and again this evening, had partially thawed her paralysis. She was able to think again. She had been in a fever of impatience to reach her ex-husband. She had a rough idea of his schedule, and since it was Friday after the workday, she knew she could probably catch him. The sweat had trickled down her bare back as she had pressed the numbers with trembling fingers while she kept telling herself that he would agree to help Chloe. When the call connected, and she heard his familiar voice, her belly had clenched with a sickening nervousness. The call hadn’t gone well.
She shook herself free of the fresh wash of despair. She couldn’t afford to sink into panic, not now. She had to be strong and keep her mind clear so she could figure out what options were left to Chloe. Whatever Michael had planned would help distract her, she thought.
Her ears suddenly caught something, like a deeply in-drawn breath. Winter listened intently, but she heard nothing after that single sharp inhalation. Then all of a sudden he was there, behind her. She could hear his slow, steady breathing and feel the heat radiating from his body. He blew on the back of her neck, causing the tiny hairs at her nape to stand up. She involuntarily shivered.
“Bend forward, Winter.” His voice was quiet but authoritative. She realized he wasn’t making a request. She felt suddenly breathless. Slowly, she reclined forward over her knees. She felt his agile fingers unknotting the ties of her bikini at her neck and across her back. Her top fell slackly to her thighs, the ties dangling toward the floor on either side of her legs. Then his hands, slippery with cream, returned to her skin. She smelled the unmistakable odor of suntan lotion. His strong hands kneaded her neck and shoulders, glided down her spine and back up. She moaned with pleasure. “Oh, yes. That feels so good.”
“I thought you’d like it.” He continued to massage her back with slippery palms. Then his fingers feathered along the delicate beading of her vertebrae. “Your skin is like silk. You’re beautiful.” She heard the roughened edge in his voice, and she shivered, her belly clenching with a flash of want. She sank farther forward, resting her torso on top of her thighs. As his hands swept up her back toward her neck, she felt him bump against the chair back. He grunted and gave a short laugh. “I just realized. This is going to be torture for me.