Blind Attraction Page 12

  She was going to be at his house in a few minutes and they were finally going to make love; he was going to discover what it was like to be in her body. Their souls had already consummated the relationship a long time ago, their minds were perfectly in tune; sex was going to be phenomenal because it was going to be with her; he had the seduction all planned out.

  As soon as she walked through the door, he would lead her to the study and offer her a brandy, warm her up some in case she was nervous. While they sat there sipping the amber liquid, he would casually touch her, maybe stroke her arm or her cheek, whatever; he would engage in as much physical contact as possible to prepare her. In case things went up in flames too quickly, he had a box of condoms in the side table. He had several other boxes located in strategic places throughout his house. Just in case.

  Eventually, they would make it to his room where he would explore every inch of her feminine body, taste her, bring her to the heights of passion. He was looking forward to running his fingers through her silky, pale blond hair, to sliding his hands over her golden skin, to plunging his cock into her honeyed depths. Already he could imagine her naked body beneath his, her heart racing against his tongue, her long legs wrapped around his waist. He only wished he could see the passion in her eyes when he drove her to the heights of desire.

  First she had to get there.

  “Will that be all, Mr. Templeton?” Daisy, his housekeeper, asked from his left. She was the last of his house staff to leave and he was eager for her to go.

  “Yes,” he said briskly, anxious for Victoria’s arrival. What if she got stuck at work with last minute preparations for her grand opening on Sunday? Or worse, what if she changed her mind? No, he wasn’t going to let himself even think that; the last several phone conversations had been pure foreplay. She was anticipating this as much as he was.

  “Are you sure you’re going to be all right?” the older lady asked, the concern apparent in her voice. Since the accident it seemed nobody liked to leave him alone anymore. Usually it didn’t bother him so much; his friends, family, and employees liked to feel as if they were doing something and they all cared for him. Now, however, he was impatient for everyone not Victoria to be gone.

  “I will be,” he assured her, feeling the tightness along his jaw. “I have a… friend coming over so there’s no need for you to worry.”

  “The staff cannot help but worry, Mr. Templeton; you’re the one that signs our paychecks,” she said cheekily.

  After the accident his parents had wanted him to move back into the estate, where they could keep an eye on him. He had been able to alleviate their fears by reminding them how efficient and dedicated his own household staff was and by promising them he would never be alone. Yet here he was sending everyone away before Victoria even arrived. He just had no desire to share her with anyone, and that included his staff.

  “Thanks, Daisy. Now go before I change my mind and make you work this weekend.”

  “I’m going,” she said quickly; James could hear the smile in her voice. Perhaps he was acting a bit out of sorts but this was Victoria; everything had to be perfect. His chef had prepared some wonderful meals for when they got hungry – simple meals that were quick to heat up, or even serve cold, as well as several desserts which might not be eaten in the traditional manner. The thought of eating melted chocolate from Victoria’s smooth belly curved the corners of his lips upwards in an erotic smile and his stomach tightened in anticipation.

  “You look like the cat about to eat a bowl of cream,” Victoria’s voice drifted through the air, startling him. He hadn’t known she was there, though he should have realized it; he had felt the humming in the atmosphere but he had attributed it to excitement.

  As if sensing his surprise, she walked over to where he leaned against the wall and dropped her overnight bag to the floor. Taking his hand in hers, she stood up on her toes and placed a quick kiss on his smooth, warm cheek. “Hello.”

  “Victoria,” he murmured, the image of her chocolate-covered body still firmly imbedded in his mind. Bending his head, he softly kissed her cheek, lingering a moment to just breathe her in. As her familiar, feminine scent filled his lungs, he felt that he could finally breathe for the first time in three days. “I’ve missed you.”

  Victoria turned her head slightly so her lips could touch his. Murmuring against his mouth, she whispered, “I’ve missed you, too. Now, what were you thinking about when I arrived? Your smile was very intriguing and a little naughty.”

  “I was thinking about you,” he admitted in a low growl, deepening the kiss and pulling her into his arms where she belonged. Her soft breasts tantalized him, her sweet smell invigorated him, her soft moans drove him mad with desire. They wouldn’t make it to the study….

  Suddenly she gasped and let out a delighted little laugh. Assuming she was enjoying his kisses he trailed his lip along her slender throat, loving the sweetness of her supple skin, feeling her neck move as she asked, “Do you play?”

  “Huh?” James’s brain was slightly fried and he had difficulty comprehending Victoria’s words. “Do I play what?”

  “The piano,” she clarified, taking his hand and leading him into the drawing room where a seven foot grand piano was housed.

  “Um, no.” Though the instrument was digitized and he kept it in tune, it was mostly for show. The designer thought it would be perfect in the large, open room with floor-to-ceiling windows and twelve-foot ceilings. Most of the time he kept the curtains closed to protect the ebony polish but other than that, he never really gave it much thought. Of course, when he hosted parties, he turned it on so the guests were entertained with “live” music.

  He felt the loss when she moved away from him, leaving him in darkness until a few notes filled the silence. He heard the excitement in her voice as she asked, “Would you mind? I have a piano but it’s just an old upright, nothing as glorious as this.”

  “Sure,” he said with a slight frown. He would deny her nothing but how in the world could she think about playing the piano when he had seduction in mind? But then she started to play and he fell a little bit more in love with her. Plopping down on the bench next to her as her fingers flew over the keys, as music filled the room, all he could do was listen to the music that was played from Victoria’s soul.

  *****

  The last few times they talked on the phone had been very intimate and she blushed as she remembered some of the things they said, the things they did. Chemistry changed everything, she knew that. Two years with Alex and she still debated whether or not to sleep with him and then the decision was taken away from her and she hadn’t cared. Less than two weeks with James and she wanted to make love. Playing the piano for him seemed like the natural thing to do.

  At first it was difficult to play with James sitting right next to her; every time her arm brushed against his a jolt of awareness coursed through her body. Eventually, she lost herself in the music; the music flowed through her body and her fingers danced as they never danced before, passionate and joyful. Beethoven sounded a million times better on his grand than he ever did on her little piano. The acoustics in the large room were also very impressive; she felt as if she were on stage at a concert hall, performing a piece for the most important audience of her life.

  Throughout her playing she was aware of James but he wasn’t a hindrance, he was a part of the music, soaring with her as her fingers flew over the keys. Their breathing became as one and she was sure their hearts were also beating in unison; when the music sped up he was right there with her. When it came crashing down he was there to catch her as she fell. Playing the piano had never felt so profound; with James it was a spiritual experience.

  As the final notes came to an end, the music lingering a little longer, she turned her head and saw that James sat there with his eyes closed, a rapturous expression making his handsome face almost ethereal. Unable to help herself, she placed a light kiss on his cheek where she knew his dimple to be.
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  After a moment, he opened his unseeing eyes and cleared his throat; “That was amazing; how long have you played?”

  Victoria smiled, slightly at a loss after feeling such a rush of sensation. Plunking a few notes as she continued to sit there, aware of the heat emanating from James’s body, warming her, setting her on fire, she finally answered, “Many, many years.”

  “Can you play something else for me?” he asked softly.

  “Sure,” she shrugged, placing her fingers over the keys to play one of her favorite Chopin’s nocturnes.

  “Wait,” he murmured, putting his hands over hers. Running his hand along the piano, and then reaching beneath, he muttered to himself, “Where is that damn thing?”

  Victoria frowned as she watched James playing with a small, black electronic device attached to the underside of the grand piano. She hadn’t noticed it there before, but now that she saw it, she smiled. His piano was digitized. “Are you going to play a disc?”

  “No,” he smiled through a grimace, still fumbling with the black box. “I’m going to record you.”

  “You can do that?” she asked in wide-eyed amazement.

  “If I can figure out which buttons to push,” he grumbled, a frown starting to mar his forehead. “I’ve never had a reason to record anyone before. Would you mind looking?”

  “Sure,” she said, leaning over him, feeling his muscular thighs beneath her chest, hearing the slight intake of his breath as she brushed against his erection. With a small, euphoric smile at his response, she almost forgot why she was over his lap before remembering that she was looking for something. After a very enjoyable moment, she found the record button and pressed it before straightening to play.

  The piece she was playing was haunting and beautiful and it took all of her effort to remain focused on the music as his hand moved from her knee towards her thigh. This time when she played the music was secondary to the lust simmering between them. As she played and the piano recorded, James slowly ran the palm of his hand along her leg, sliding his long, artist’s fingers beneath the hem of her dress. “James.”

  Seemingly oblivious to the fact that she was playing the piano at his request, he whispered, his breath hot against her ear and sending pleasurable chills down her spine, “What kind of underwear are you wearing?”

  “A pink thong,” she gasped as his fingers brushed the inside of her thigh, inching tantalizingly closer to the center of her femininity.

  “Your skin is so smooth,” he crooned, lightly caressing the soft flesh near her sex. Heat poured from her body as he slid a finger beneath the flimsy excuse for panties, touching the damp warmth of her core, running his finger over the seam of her sex. Her breathing was shallow and rapid, and her feminine musk strengthened. Even as he touched her, though, her fingers didn’t falter. In fact, her playing swelled with passion.

  Heat radiated outwards from where his fingers caressed and she fought to keep her eyes open. Then he was kissing her neck and in spite of years of study, she began to rush through one of her favorite pieces hoping for it to end. Whatever maidenly reserves she had about having sex vanished; she wanted him. Desperately.

  Finally – finally – the piece was at an end. She pushed the end button on the digital box and was swept into James’s arms. Turning her so that she was straddling him, he claimed her mouth with his and she fell into the kiss completely, resting her hands on his shoulders. They were so broad, taking on the weight of the world, and she wanted to ease his burden, take his suffering away and give him joy. Oh, but his kisses were so drugging and wonderful she had to remember to breathe or she was going to pass out.

  Holding him in her arms, resting her head against his throat, listening to the steady rhythm of his heart, of his breathing, she was blissfully happy. His hands were gently rubbing her back and she could have stayed like that forever. Rubbing her cheek against him, she turned her head and kissed the underside of his jaw, loving the slight rasp against her tongue. She smiled at him, surprised to see him looking at her. It took a moment to realize that he wasn’t seeing her with his eyes.

  “We should move to someplace more comfortable,” he rasped reluctantly against her lips.

  Her light, shaky laugh whispered over his lips as she rested her forehead against his. “I don’t think I can move.”

  “I can’t feel my butt,” he crooned, his voice so damn sexy it took her a moment to comprehend what he said.

  When it finally dawned on her that she was crushing him, she leapt off his lap, embarrassment causing her cheeks to burn brightly. Taking a few steps away from him, staring at him in horror as he grimaced, she wanted to cry. “I’m so sorry, James.”

  He looked at her, his eyes unseeing, and cocked his head to the side, “Why? I’m the idiot who decided to go with the narrower bench because it was more ‘aesthetically pleasing;’ my ass is simply too big for the damn thing.”

  A horrified giggle escaped and she slammed her hand over her mouth to cover the unexpected outburst. That one moment of insanity was enough to cool her ardor and allow her nerves to revive themselves with a vengeance. “I thought I was too heavy.”

  “Oh, honey, no” he murmured, standing up and moving to stand in front of her without hesitation, without fumbling. Unerringly taking her hands in his, he brought them up to his mouth and kissed her fingers. “No; you were perfect; you are perfect.”

  She examined his face and saw only sincerity. Suddenly she wanted to see the world through his eyes, to experience his life that he had lived before her. Curling her fingers around his hands, pressing her cheek against his, she whispered, “Will you show me your drawings?”

  She felt his Adam’s apple bob as he swallowed thickly; she felt his lungs expand as he inhaled deeply. His breath moved across her skin as he admitted, “I’ve never shown anyone my drawings.”

  Tilting her head back, she looked at him, the tension along his jaw, the thin line of his lips pressed tightly together. She was going to take it back but then he shuddered and his frozen expression melted into a brilliant smile, “I want you to see; I want to share my vision with you and see them once more through your voice.”

  Her heart crashed straight through her ribs and grabbed onto him, its little arms clutching tightly to the organ that beat in his chest, adamant in its desire to be his forever. Tears welled up in her eyes and her smile wobbled as she lost her soul completely. “You’ll have to tell me where they are so we can look at them together.”

  Clearing his throat, he slid his hands down her arms, taking her right hand in his left and leading her across the room towards a large curio. With a sheepish smile, he said, “I hope I’m going in the right direction; if memory serves the piano is on the left and the cabinet containing my drawings and sketch pads is on the right.”

  “We’re going in the correct direction,” she assured him, leaning against his arm and pressing her cheek against his muscled shoulder. “You have yet to steer me wrong, James. When you get your sight back you will be a force to be reckoned with.”

  He went completely still at that as the color seeped away from his face. Softly, so softly, he asked, “What if it doesn’t come back, Victoria? What if I’m blind for the rest of my life?”

  Stepping in front of him, moving her fingers over his face, his eyes, she whispered, “Then we will adapt and I will help you see. I will paint such detailed images with my words that you will be seeing in Technicolor.”

  Resting his forehead against hers, he smiled unsteadily as he took a deep, ragged breath, “I love you, Victoria Davis.”

  “I love you, too, James,” she murmured, the words a prayer on her lips. Taking his hand in hers, she gently asked, “Which way to your bedroom?”

  This time he took her hand in his and led the way, unerringly moving through the house. She loved him and she knew that coming to his home was going to lead to this moment and after the powerful moments they had just shared she wanted it. They were going to make love; she was nervous, excited,
terrified, breathless.

  As they walked into his bedroom, she came to a stop and just stared at the massive bed in the middle of the room. It was like something out of a medieval romance novel: huge, ornate and dramatic, with carved bedposts and velvet hangings. “Wow, did you build your house around that thing?”

  He chuckled, “No, it’s a bed I had shipped over from France; it’s an antique.”

  “Nice,” she breathed, running a hand along one of the carved posts; vines tangled with one another on the dark wood; making it elegant and imposing. Images of James on that bed, arms and legs spread wide, possibly even tied to the bedposts, flashed in her mind and she had to grab onto the post to steady herself. Wow; the bed definitely suited him.

  Looking over her shoulder at him, she smiled. He had stuffed his hands into the front pockets of his jeans and was looking incredibly gorgeous in his casual clothes. Tentatively, she reached out her hand and lightly ran it over the front of his shirt. “James.”

  Capturing her hand, he brought it up to his lips and kissed her fingers, feeling the slight tremble. Smiling at her, he used her hand to guide him to her body. Standing so close, he heard the breath hitch in her throat, felt the shiver of her entire body. Was she shivering with desire or fear? Pressing her hand against his heart, he asked, “Victoria, are you sure you want this?”

  “Yes,” she breathed, taking the last step to close the gap between them and pressing her breasts against his chest. Splaying her hands over his heart, she kissed the pulse along his throat. “Yes.” She kissed the underside of his jaw. “Yes.” She pressed her lips to his.

  As her lips brushed against his mouth, he groaned, wrapping his arms around her and deepening the kiss. At her gasp, he pressed his tongue into her mouth, needing to taste her. He felt her fingers unbuttoning his shirt and his body twitched as she ran her hands over the planes of his bare chest. She stepped back for a moment and he almost cried out but then she stepped back and he felt the heat of her skin directly against his.