“Well, anyway, what do you think you’re going to do about this girl?”
“I think I’d better take your advice and get on my knees, then hope she doesn’t kick me while I’m down there.”
There was some rustling around, then Jeanette’s voice, tender and caring when she said, “You’re a wonderful, honest and loving man. In fact you’re irresistible. She’ll be lucky to have you.” Her tone turned teasing. “But then it does help that you’re good-looking and rich. And I’d have to say she must be awfully special to catch your undivided attention.”
River had to grit his teeth against the need to storm into the room and land a solid punch in the guy’s face. He didn’t like that she’d looked at Mike that way. And Mike’s flirtatious tone made his damn molars grind together.
“Yeah? If I’m so irresistible, how come you never succumbed?”
“Mike.” He liked that Jeanette sounded affronted. Even if she was only playing.
“Oh yes, I remember now. You were saving yourself for Mister Right.”
Mister Right?
Jeanette seemed shy now. “Well, is that so crazy?”
“Of course not. Rare, but not crazy.” There was a pause; then Mike asked, “So, is Jennings Mister Right?”
River held his breath, more hopeful than he cared admit that her answer would be yes.
“It’s somewhat complicated.”
Well, didn’t that just suck? That wasn’t at all what River wanted to hear.
“Ah, I see. Well, if he hurts you, he will have to answer to me.” Jeanette started to speak, but Mike interrupted. “Hey, I care about you. You don’t deserve to be treated as if you’re just extra baggage.”
“That’s not the way it is. Really.”
“Yeah, well, I need to go, but I’ll keep in touch, okay?”
“I wish you didn’t have to leave so soon.”
“You have my number. Call if you need anything. And I do mean anything, Nett.”
“Thanks, Mike, but I’ll be fine, and I’ll send lots of good energy your way.”
“Thanks. I’m going to need it.”
As the conversation came to a close, River decided to come out of hiding.
Just as he came into view, Mike bent down and, right in front of River, brushed Jeanette’s cheek with his lips. River balled his fists at his sides and reminded himself that Mike was a friend. Nothing more. After Mike was gone, River went back into the living room and said, “I need to go to Reilly’s.”
Her smile faded. “You’re leaving?”
She sounded all soft and fluttery again, and River felt himself drifting closer to listen. She had the type of voice that made a man want to tune out everything else just so he could hear her talk. He could do that with Jeanette for hours and never get bored. He wondered what she’d sound like in the heat of passion, if her voice got all throaty and low, or if she would scream out her climax, letting all her inhibitions go free. ’Course, it didn’t really matter to him how she sounded, just that he get to be the man who made her climax.
Did she play with herself, River wondered? Damn, that thought brought on an image that made his cock flare to life. In an instant, he was ready for action.
He could do many things without actually making love to her. In fact, foreplay could be damned satisfying. River knew he would be immensely satisfied bringing her pleasure, say, with his mouth. Or with his fingers. Or with both at the same time. Oh yeah, he liked that thought a lot.
He would have to take it slow; she was so shy and tense. He didn’t want to scare her. He wanted Jeanette’s first time with him to be perfect. So perfect she’d want more. And he needed to be careful not to get too carried away. He thought that maybe if he kept his clothes on, he could stay in control. He hoped he wasn’t fooling himself with that idea.
It was a measure of how crazy with lust he was over her that he would even consider going only halfway with a woman. Never in his wildest imaginings had he thought to push his own needs aside just so he could satisfy a woman. But Jeanette was worth all the discomfort in the world. He’d walk through the very bowels of hell if it meant seeing little Miss Innocent all sleep tousled and exposed.
River was so lost in his newest plans that he hadn’t heard what she’d said. Now all he could think about was finding the nearest flat surface and having his way with her.
“River?”