“Never be ashamed of what you are, and show your gratitude by never doubting that you please me. You’re the only woman I want.”
It came to her suddenly how selfish she’d been. She glanced quickly at the full evidence of his sex straining against his pants. Without weighing the consequences, she touched him. “I’m sorry. That wasn’t quite fair to you.”
He grinned and began unbuckling his belt. “We aren’t done yet.”
Feeling the exuberance of a naughty child, she laughed. “Grant, we can’t,” she said, even as he positioned himself above her. “Someone might accidentally see us.”
“Nonsense.” He ducked his head to blaze a trail of kisses along her neck. “Just relax.”
“Relax? I can’t,” she said breathlessly, doing exactly that under the dictatorship of his mouth. “I’ve never made love outdoors before.”
“No?”
“No, never.”
“Neither have I,” he admitted, “and it’s high time we did.”
CHAPTER 9
Well?”
She loved the movement of his lips against her hair. “Well what?” She snuggled closer to him, relishing his warmth despite the impetuous lovemaking they had just concluded.
“Are you going to marry me?” He reached under the sweat shirt to fondle her breast. Only minutes ago she had lain uncovered and unprotected from his lips. His violence had been tempered by his love and she had welcomed his ravaging mouth. Now, she delighted in his tender stroking.
“I could be talked into it.”
His thumb was gently soothing. “Please. I love you. This weekend has been incredible. I hope we have a thousand others like it. But an affair won’t be enough for me, Shelley. I want us to share our lives, not just one facet of them. You’re not the ‘living together’ type and I believe in commitment. Marry me, Shelley.”
She moved her head so she could look up at him. “Are you sure, Grant? I’m a small-town girl, not cosmopolitan like the women you’re used to.”
He shook his head. “I wasn’t nearly the man about town the press made me out to be after Missy’s death. And even if I were, I want only you.”
“I guess that settles it then,” she said softly. His eyebrow wrinkled in query. “Because as long as I can remember, I’ve wanted only you.”
Grant had little regard for the serene atmosphere of Chancellor Martin’s office when he stormed through the door the next morning. Without even glancing around the carpeted outer office, he stalked to the receptionist’s desk and, bracing his hands on it, leaned over her menacingly.
“I’m right on time,” he said tightly.
The receptionist blinked at him through thick glasses and licked her thin lips. “He … he’ll be with you as soon as he’s seen Mrs. Robins.”
With a nod of her silver-blue beehive hairdo, she indicated the only other person in the room. Shelley was seated against the wall in one of the uncomfortably austere chairs.
Grant spun around on his heel and spotted Shelley for the first time. His mouth thinned into a slash of anger. He tossed one deprecating glance at the receptionist, then crossed the cheerless room to Shelley. Without the least embarrassment, he took her hand and held it tightly between his own as he sat down on the chair beside her.
“You got one too,” he said quietly. He looked down at the monogrammed envelope that matched the one hand-delivered to him that morning. In it he had found a summons to appear in the chancellor’s office at ten o’clock to review a matter of grave importance.
“Yes. A young man delivered it this morning. I tried to call you, but you’d already left your apartment.”
“Are you all right?” He rubbed the back of her hand reassuringly with his thumb. His moss-colored eyes scanned her face anxiously.
“Yes,” she said, smiling tenderly. “Though I didn’t sleep too well.”
When he had taken her home after their outing, they had agreed that he shouldn’t stay at her house overnight; nor would it be wise for her to stay with him, until they were married. “Neither did I. I didn’t have any place to put my hands.”
“Shhh,” she said, blushing.
“I couldn’t wait to see you this morning, then this.” He took the envelope from her hand and slapped it against his palm.