"But, should I be? "
His stance became rigid. "I'm not letting you out of your promise to spend the weekend with me, just because of your prudent, moralistic attitude about how much money I have and how I make it. I'm not hurting you or anyone else. "
"You're not hurting anyone at all? " She relaxed slightly in his arms.
"They hurt themselves. I don
't open their mouths and pour the alcohol in. If I didn't supply the place to drink, someone else would. I see no legitimate reason that I shouldn't be turning a profit from other people's vices. Maybe you don't agree with that. But it's how I make money. Deal with it. "
Jenny felt some of the tension run out of her body. His answer was to the point. Succinct. He thought her morals were offended by the ethical question of his livelihood. Although she would like to give herself credit for worrying about the rightness of it all, she knew her distrust was more basic than that. She suspected he was engaged in illegal, nefarious activities.
She wasn't going to get to the bottom of this tonight. In fact, she would probably never know. They were on day two of a three-day interlude. She refused to worry about it anymore.
"Okay. " Her answer was simple, concise.
He felt her smile at him as much as he saw it. He felt it all the way to his soul. She smiled at him like she was giving him forgiveness. Forgiveness and acceptance. She turned her head toward the windows and laid it on his chest. Her sigh vibrated through him. He felt like Mother Theresa had just granted him absolution. Son of a bitch.
This fascination he had with her goodness caused an uneasiness in his gut. He didn't like the feeling. He had to quit letting her slip under his skin. Maybe the best way to stop feeling this way was to just get everything out of her he wanted. And he wanted everything. It was time for a methodical approach to getting her out of his system. And he knew just where to start.
He led her over to the couch. He pulled her down beside him in one smooth movement.
He lifted her cami off over her head. He unsnapped her bra. Shock went through her when she realized he was about to strip her completely. She grabbed the cups and held them together. "Wait. I--wait. " He didn't stop. He moved his hands to her skirt and slid the side zipper down. Confusion and distress mounted as she realized he wasn't going to stop. It didn't stop her passion from rising. She felt a wetness between her thighs.
His control snapped when he saw her tits spilling from the cups of her bra. "You want it, babe. You know you do. I want to see you naked. Now. I've waited long enough. "
Tears came to her eyes. "I do--I do want it. But not like this. Please. You said you were going to make love to me. " The crudeness of the encounter was causing a bubble of hysteria. Her body was a mass of conflicting emotions that was causing a conflagration about to consumer her. She didn't know if she was about to burst out in tears or start tearing his clothes off, too.
Richard felt shame and disgust at himself as he saw what he was doing to her. His need didn't go away, but the combativeness did. He wiped a single tear from her face and zipped up her skirt. "I'm sorry. " His mouth moved to the side of her lips as he steadied his breathing. "I'm sorry. I'm an ass and you're a complete angel and I'm out of my mind with wanting to f--touch you. "
His soft, soothing words flowed through her. She quivered in his arms. He spread wet, warm kisses on her lips, her cheek, and back to her lips. "I'm sorry, Jenny. " He breathed into her mouth. She felt the hunger and utter need that she seemed to have for this one man slam into her. She opened her mouth and sought his lips. He didn't make her wait. He opened his mouth over hers and their tongues entwined in a fury of aching and lust.
Her world began to spin as he lifted and carried her up the stairs. Her arms clung to his neck and need coursed through her veins. In a matter of seconds he was dropping her to her feet in front of him.
The bedroom was dim with soft lights coming in from the French doors leading to the balcony. Through the doors, the night was clear. A half-moon glowed on the water. Everything was still.
Richard hugged her to him and ran his hands up and down her delicate spine. His lips brushed her neck with a gossamer touch and desire claimed all her senses.
Gently, He took her hand and led her to the bed. Richard sat on the side and pulled her between his spread thighs.
He put his hands on her waist and pulled her to him. His lips found hers. He took small, tiny sips from her mouth. His kisses were slow, his movements unhurried. She sighed as he lifted her arms and put them on his shoulders. His lips brushed her neck as he kissed down her body until he reached her loosened bra.
He lifted his head. He moved her hair off her shoulders and brushed it to her back. His mouth moved back to the slight swell of her breast, above her bra. He breathed her scent in deeply. His hands were gripping her hips, holding her tightly. His tongue was making swirls, moving from the top of one breast to the other.
He dipped his head farther, and moved the loosened cups aside, and found her nipple. It was taut, hard, and aching. She felt it swell against his tongue. His mouth was wet, like silk, and he was rasping his tongue up and down, taking licks at her nipple.
He lifted his hands to the silk straps on her shoulders. He put one each between his hands and held them. "Sweetheart. " He moved his hands down an inch. "I need to take this off. "His voice was low, calm, and completely beguiling, his breath hot against her breast.
The straps hit her elbows, the cups completely open. He lifted his head from her breast and stared at the feast he had unwrapped.
His eyes lifted to hers. They were dark, intense. He searched her face. Waited for permission. She wriggled her arms a fraction, helping him. The silk slid down her arms and dropped to the floor.
He cupped her breasts in his hands and lifted them. They were perfect. Small, round, just right for his hands. They were made for his hands. He squeezed them gently and buried his face between them. He inhaled her scent and his heartbeat slammed through his chest.
"Jenny, you're perfect. " He felt a tremor in his hands as he ran them up and down the curves at her waist. He leaned back and looked at her body. She was slight and delicate and a wave of tenderness consumed him. He wanted to be careful with her.
She moaned and put her arms up around his head and her fingers in his hair. She shifted her body toward him and put one knee on the bed. She pressed her pelvis into his torso.
He ran his hand over her hip and down her thigh. He lifted her foot and quickly removed one shoe and then the other.