Royal's Wildfire & Lance's Stars (Black Hills) Read online

  “Are you sure about this?” Stupid question, Royal. He chided himself for asking a question that didn’t signify. If she weren’t serious about this, she wouldn’t have dropped her pants in front of him. The tiny button of the blouse nearly had him panting as he watched her flick each one from their closure.

  “I believe you are losing your touch, cowboy.” Ainsley whispered into his neck as she nipped at his lobe. The attack did more than her words. Royal pressed his body further into hers, pinning her to the wall as his hands slipped over the sleek the curves of her backside and testing the silkiness of her black thong. She was a surprising woman. He grinned as he began to caress her neck with hot, wet kisses that brought a tortured sigh from her lips.

  “Lost my touch, have I?” It was more a rhetorical question. She skated her fingertips down his chest to stop at his belt buckle. Short work had it unfastened and his jeans gaping open. Fast and efficient, he thought. Before he could distract her from her mission, Ainsley plunged her hand down his jeans to grip him firmly in her hand. He nearly came undone. “Sweet heaven!”

  She let out a raspy chuckle, her fingers flexing and stroking. “All is fair.”

  “Fair is fair.” Royal knew he needed to redirect this adventure or it was going to be over in an awkward and embarrassingly short time. Taking the open sides of her shirt, Royal pressed them over her shoulders and pinned her arms so that her hand was forced to retract from his jeans. He breathed a sigh of relief even as he missed her expert touch. An irritated sound left her throat as brown eyes glowed with her stubbornness. Giving was better than receiving, at least at this early stage. Fool that he was he wanted Ainsley to remember their time together with a deep blush and if possible, a visceral reaction.

  Royal lowered his mouth to the soft tops of her breasts that were held captive by the black lace bra. He loved and hated those contraptions. His tongue delved into the open space between her breasts and without using his hands, he took one lace covered nipple into his mouth. Ainsley’s body jerked in response as she lifted up on her toes so that he could have a better reach. It was sweet to torture her and know that she wanted more of it.

  “Take it off.” Ainsley squeaked, trying to wiggle her shoulders loose from her shirt. Royal gloried in holding her immobile for another minute and then acquiesced to her demand. Shucking the shirt from her arms and unclasping that darn bra, he wasn’t surprised when Ainsley surged forward into him. An innate response to her, Royal gripped her thighs and lifted her legs to wrap about his waist. Her breasts were full and warm in his face, begging his lips to tease them again. Long, dark hair hid part of her face from him as her fingers worked feverishly in his scalp. Smiling in greedy anticipation before sending her on a greater spiral, Royal savored the lush, vanilla scent on her skin. He definitely wouldn’t look at dessert the same way anymore.

  Nearly shattering with need, Royal moved back to the wall, using it to help him hold Ainsley against him. One hand was free to roam the secret places he desired to touch. His thumb hooked into the last piece of fabric on the lady and groaned at the wetness he found. Oh, he had no doubt that she was ready for him, but knowing it was something entirely different. Validation of such passion was icing on the cake, sort to speak.

  “I can’t wait anymore. Don’t want to.” Ainsley’s demand shot through his fraying nerves as she ground her pelvis into him. Swallowing hard, Royal directed them towards the bedroom.

  “Your wish is my command.”

  They both lay in the king-sized bed, Royal’s thigh thrown over Ainsley’s legs. The world hadn’t stopped spinning as if they were on this crazy amusement park ride. It was exhilarating and he found that he dreaded tomorrow coming. He was about ready to mention a long layover when she turned her face up. Those dark eyes were so expressive and he had this gut feeling she was thinking the same thoughts as he. “I can’t say as I’ve ever had so much…fun.” Ainsley bit her lip as she fought the grin that was breaking through.

  “Neither can I.” Royal reached out to brush a length of hair from her forehead, loving the silky texture. It slithered through his fingers. “The night’s not over yet.”

  “Oh?” She whispered, hunger still evident and he was hardening as she looked at him. Feeling decidedly ornery, Royal grasped her hand and moved it along his stomach.

  “Find out for yourself.” She didn’t shy away from him, quite the opposite. It was like she was memorizing every rise and valley. It was another burn he endured, knowing she would leave tomorrow. The searing heat of her hand wrapped around him nearly cindered all thought.

  “Like this?” She asked, batting her eyelashes like a coy miss. She was an odd mix of sweet, passionate and sexy all rolled into one neat package. It was implied that she had done this before and it caught Royal in a firestorm of jealousy. Thinking of her with other men made his blood boil. None of his emotions seemed rational and the clear, cool head he had once possessed was long gone now.

  Royal nodded stiffly, her nimble fingers squeezing and relaxing. His palms itched to play a similar tune on her body, but he splayed his hands over her full hips instead.

  “God, girl, you’re tearing me up.” He groaned, his eyes rolling back as her tongue flicked his ear lobe. Normally he was not a submissive man and he would rather give pleasure than take it. Quickly he had to remind himself that this was not a normal rendezvous.

  “No stone unturned and all that.” She whispered in a low, husky voice that skipped through his veins. She was a close competitor to drugs. Sweet, slow torture had him ready to flip her over and plunge into the fray. He was darned close to begging.

  “Baby, I’m not going to make it much longer.” He rasped out in a breath.

  “Good. I want to see what you look like when you fall over the edge.”

  Baited breath between them was thick with anticipation and tension. Royal didn’t know how to react to her wanting to see him climax without her. He almost felt bad about not bringing her with him. Almost. Ainsley leaned into his neck, whispering sweet, sexy things against the skin and his ears were straining to hear every delicious word. Then the cords snapped and he was hurtling through space where all he could think about was a dark haired, dark eyed woman. Instinctively turning his face, Royal was rewarded by a long, slow kiss that he prayed was not a figment of his imagination.

  Nearly eleven o’clock, Royal called in an order to the hotel’s room service and requested dinner for them both. The sit down meal at the restaurant couldn’t have been only hours ago. It felt like eons of time had passed and the woman in his bed was known as much as she was an enigma. He smiled as he watched her sleeping from the bedroom doorway. Long dark hair was cast over a snow white pillow and one long creamy leg was thrown out of the rumpled covers. A divinely sinful angel had been dropped to earth and from where he stood, Royal was sending infinite prayers of thanks.

  There was a knock on the room door and he went to let the food cart inside. It smelled great, although it was mostly bar food this late. The choices were sparse, but food was food at this point. His stomach growled ferociously. He lifted a metal cover and breathed in the smell of his cheeseburger.

  “Did someone knock on our door?” Ainsley asked, her voice thick with sleep. She stood there propped against the wall with only his t-shirt on. The cloth barely made it to the middle of her thighs. Need to make her his again jerked on his possessive nature, but he needed food more. From the looks of her, Ainsley needed food too.

  “Room service.” He indicated the covered dishes on the small cart. He picked up his meal and walked to the couch with it. Padding quietly across the tile floor, she tentatively lifted the lids.

  “Are you trying to kill me?” She asked in a tortured, nearly begging voice. Royal responded instantly to her with a puzzled look.

  “Are you allergic? I didn’t even think to ask.”

  “No, not allergic exactly.” She waved her hand over the fried food. “Just a heart attack waiting to happen.” Her nose wrinkled, but her eyes w
ere wide with wonder. “I can’t remember when I actually had a French fry last.”

  Royal was amused and he threw a crunchy fry into his mouth to punctuate the crispy goodness.

  “So good.” He mumbled, dipping another in ketchup. Ainsley glared at him.

  “You are definitely a bad influence. I just knew it.”

  “One night won’t kill you.” Royal grinned, his mouth full. She considered him a second.

  “No, but I will want more. It’s an addiction.” The deep pools of her eyes connected with his. She sighed and picked up her dish. Walking over the couch, Royal slid down to make room for her.

  “After tonight, you can go back to your safe, boring life.” Royal was aware of her only a foot away. Her long limbs tucked up under her as she rested into the corner of the couch. He enjoyed the tease of skin he could see before his shirt began. Ainsley lifted a fry to her mouth as if she hadn’t heard him.

  “Oh yeah?” She murmured, clearly not intending him to hear it. Deciding that it would be overstepping the delicate boundaries they had erected, Royal continued to eat.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Ainsley licked the salt from her fingertips as she contemplated eating the whole basket of fries. It really was evil of Royal to seduce her with greasy, yummy food. Of course, sitting like a squirrel on a branch next to the devil reincarnate was a treat as well. She caught him stealing glances at her from the corner of his eye and she would blush thinking of all the ways he had set her on fire. The deepest recesses of her body begged him to do it again, over and over until no strength remained. He could do that. He had that charming ability. No wonder she had thought he was trouble the moment he had opened his mouth at the airport. Royal exuded sex appeal and the confidence of a man rarely turned down.

  “There’s not a whole lot on television this late at night.” Royal tried to create conversation. In another world they could be just another couple, doing everyday things that couples do. Mentally she rolled her eyes. It wasn’t like she knew what being in a real relationship meant. It was one thing she hadn’t experienced. She wouldn’t let herself give a crucial piece of her heart away. Still taking in the strength of his jaw, the bulge of his bare bicep and the chiseled perfection of his chest, Ainsley could see her rigid grip on that jagged piece slipping.

  “Mmmhmm.” She murmured as she folded another fry into her mouth. It was safer than begging him to make her forget that she had to leave in a few hours.

  “Oh look!” Royal smiled, leaning his back against the stiff couch cushions as he watched the flat screen television. “Smokey and the Bandit.” She looked at the screen and frowned.

  “What is this?” She asked, seeing a brown and white dog that looked like he needed to be inflated to fit into all that loose skin. A man was lifting the dog into the cab of a semi-trailer.

  “Don’t tell me you’ve never seen this!” Royal looked at her with smiling, expectant eyes. When she shook her head, he closed his eyes and his mouth dropped open. “Burt Reynolds? He and his buddy run illegal beer to a party?” She shook her head still. His eyes bugged. “This should be an education for you then, honey. It is a fantastic movie!”

  “You’re serious?” Ainsley questioned playfully. Royal only looked at her, offering a soft smile that caused her nerves to pull tight again. She wanted him. She wanted to keep him.

  “Come here. Snuggle up.” He spread his arm out for her to cuddle up next to him. Taking a deep breath, Ainsley decided to make these last hours count. She would remember everything. Putting her plate on the small coffee table, stretching out on the remainder of the small couch, she lay her head in his lap. Tucking her legs behind her, she was all too aware of the shirt riding up to the curve of her backside. The air was chilly. Sighing, she pushed up.

  “Be right back.” Hurrying to the bedroom, Ainsley took the comforter off the bed and hauled it to the couch where she settled back into position.

  “Cold?” He asked, so much more to the question than the words he used. She nodded, feeling his thigh muscle tighten under her ear. He stretched his long legs out so they would rest on the coffee table and he pulled the comforter over his chest. “All of a sudden, I am too.” His smile wasn’t quite as bright this time. His green eyes clouded as she settled back into position.

  “I’m sorry.” She whispered, more to herself or Royal, she wasn’t sure. The need to apologize for whatever made that look in his eyes appear was devastating. Instead of answering her verbally, he slipped his hand over her ribs to cup her bare breast beneath his shirt. They continued to watch the man in the black Trans Am race down the highway before she heard his reply.

  “I’m not.”

  They must have fallen asleep like that, because Ainsley woke up with a crick in her neck and her cell phone alarm going off. Gingerly she untucked herself from Royal’s embrace and slipped back into the bedroom where her phone was chirping. Her heart thundered at the prospect of leaving. Was it going to break? Silly thing, she chided. It was indeed silly to think that anything could come from less than twenty-four hours of knowing someone. Did she know him? No, of course she didn’t. They had shared a moment in time and although it was a bright star in her life, it was all it could ever be. Scotland and her family called her home. It was time to go.

  Ainsley walked through the hotel lobby with a heaviness that hadn’t been quite so depressing earlier this week. Now instead of being resigned to meeting her family after many years, she was also slipping away in the wee morning hours from a man who might have meant more to her in another lifetime. Would he hate her? She hadn’t the heart to wake him, a slight smile spread over his lips and his blond hair tousled from their bedroom romp. If she could have afforded the dream, she would want to keep as much of it as she could. It was her gift to him along with paying for the entire evening. Oh, his stubborn, cowboy pride would probably rage at the gesture, but she didn’t want the financial strain to taint their memory. Besides, she had money. Lots of it, in fact.

  “Cab, please.” She asked the doorman, who quickly opened the hotel’s glass doors for her.

  “Yes, ma’am.” He waved down the street to a car and spoke to the driver. “Dennis will take you wherever you need to go.” He placed her in the car and closed the door. “Safe travels, ma’am.”

  “Thank you.” She felt her throat constricting. Expectantly she looked at the glass doors that lead to the hotel lobby. The car pulled away from the curb. Blinking rapidly, Ainsley realized she had wanted Royal to come running through those doors to stop her from leaving. Would she stay?

  “Where to?” The cab driver asked politely.

  “Airport, please.”

  The words were out now. There was no more stalling. Closing her eyes, she leaned her head against the seat and waited for the devastation to ease. Royal was a pleasant diversion and nothing more, she scolded herself. Drawing on her reserve of hurt and hate, Ainsley pulled the cold cape of emotions around her. It was the best protection she could muster as they neared the airport.

  ***

  His eyes squinted at the blinding sunlight and he closed them to diminish the burn. He knew that he had fallen asleep on the couch and he could hear the television actor boasting about some newfangled diet. An aching muscle in his neck protested with a sharp pain as he tried to sit up. Then the bottom of his early morning hangover fell out and he bolted up off the couch.

  “Morning.” He muttered underneath his breath as he looked for any sign of Ainsley. Royal knew he wouldn’t be sorry if she missed her flight. He nearly started praying, hoping it could be so. Weaving through the tiny sitting room to the bedroom, Royal slid to a stop. The king-sized bed was a rumpled mess and his heart slowed to a painful, one-beat-a-minute crawl as he surveyed the aftermath of their only night together. Ainsley was gone.

  Damn it.A slew of cuss words ricocheted through his head as he walked to the bathroom. Everything was gone. Turning to leave, he noticed something she had left behind. It was the bracelet that he had teased her about
wearing, because it didn’t go with her polished, business attire. His large hands picked it up to look at it more closely. A band of twisted leather with delicate, silver filigree beads slid overtop. It was edgy and old school. Royal thought it resembled Ainsley far better than the stuffy black and white clothes she wore on the flight. He could imagine her dark hair braided, figure hugging jean over her hips and button up shirt with the sleeves rolled to her elbows. That’s how he imagined her anyway. In something of a trance, Royal buckled the bracelet to his wrist and then turned out the light. There was one more thing he had to do to make sure Ainsley was completely gone.

  “Good morning, this is the front desk.”

  “This is room 411. Did a young woman leave anything with you this morning?” Royal waited, listening as the man asked his co-worker about the night shift.

  “Oh, yes, sir. Miss Fenella paid the bill for the room and said you weren’t to be disturbed. There isn’t a note or anything though.”

  Royal swallowed hard, a lump taking residence in his throat. Gritting his teeth, he focused on what the man was saying. She had paid for the room? Hadn’t he paid for it when they had checked in?

  “She paid for the room? I left my credit card on file for payment.” Royal was trying to understand, but he wasn’t grasping what Ainsley had done.

  “Yes, sir, but the young woman insisted that we use her card.”

  “Don’t use hers. Use the one I gave you.” Anger was rising to the surface and he was all but shouting into the phone.

  “I’m sorry, sir. The hotel has already charged her card and she has the receipt.” The man was sounding a bit agitated.