Beauty and the Beast (23 page)

“Don’t worry. It’s probably security.”

Her face flushed with embarrassment as she straightened her shirt.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m not an exhibitionist.” She reached for her veil.

He snatched his phone off his pants clip and called security. “Silas, keep your people away from the creek for about two hours.” He disconnected.

She stared at him.

“What?” he asked in all innocence, but she knew better.

“Stop telling people—”

“I love making love with you?” he cut in. “Not gonna happen, babe.”

“Two hours sure as heck ain’t gonna happen.”

“Ouch.” He dropped his phone and fell back onto the soft bed of foxtails. “Direct hit to the manhood.” He pulled her on top of him so she was straddling him. “If you ever want children, I suggest you address this situation immediately.”

“You are too much.” She squinted into the trees where she’d heard the sound come from, but saw nothing to worry about.
Probably a raccoon.
There were cabins nearby, but he only had his security working up to the creek. She wanted to continue the fantasy, but… “How about we move out of this jungle into the huts?” she purred.

He held her by the hips and rocked her slowly over his hardness. Concern about who might see them quickly vanished. He’d called security, plus she found an added excitement at the possibility of being caught.

“Two point five.” She scooted down, lifted his T-shirt and suckled along his six-pack. “Take this off.” She tugged at his shirt.

“Umm, I love it when you’re bossy.” He lifted himself and pulled his shirt over his head, then tossed it to the side and lay back down. As if just realizing what she’d said, he asked, “Two point five what?” He cupped her rear and ground her into him as she advanced toward his neck.

“Make that three. I want three baby ninjas.”

His hands moved along her back, lifting her shirt and temperature. “All at once or one at a time?” He dropped her shirt beside them and unclasped her front fastened lace bra.

“All at...” She trailed off as his hands splayed across her back, and he lowered her until he could suckle her breast. A moan escaped her. She’d planned on stringing this out the full two hours to make him pay for embarrassing her, but now she didn’t know how she’d make it another two minutes.

He tugged at her shorts. One second she was shedding her shorts and panties, the next he was undressed and had protected them from having the baby ninjas earlier than planned.

She straddled him and allowed him to slowly lower her onto his hardness. Her body naturally wrapped around him as he sank deeper and deeper. As they stroked together, he guided her by her waist to increase the force of the strokes. They moaned, groaned and grunted their pleasure in each other.

Leaning forward to increase the pressure on the tip of her passion, she felt as if she’d explode, but in the sweetest way possible. Her body tightened around him.

“That’s it, baby,” he breathed out. “Oh shit, I’m… ummm.”

The emotions playing on his face nudged her over the edge. The tips of her toes, fingers and even the ends of her hair tingled. Tears fell as the rapture claimed her.

Heart still pounding, she kissed him gently. “I love you, Bruce.” She rested her head on his chest.

“Oh no. I understand, Bob.”

Catherine disconnected, then set her cell phone on the table. She’d taken over her parents’ kitchen and had documents covering the table. The light pouring in through the windows brought the yellow walls to life and usually would have brightened her mood, but not today.

“I know Bob isn’t selling to Maxwell!” Roy bit out from across the table. “Bob’s been Dad’s friend forever.”

She blew out a belabored breath. “This isn’t about friendship, but business. I shouldn’t have asked Daddy to make those calls.”

“The hell you shouldn’t have. It’s called the ol’ boy network for a reason. He’d better tap into it.” He tossed Bruce’s business plan onto the table. “Have you actually read through this crap? You know that bastard gave this to the investors. Of course they’re jumping ship. He’s painted the mill to look terminally ill, and his vision is the only one that can save it and make them big bucks in the process.”

“I just need more time to figure an alternative source of income for the mill.”

“Look. I know you’re down, but this is not the time to give up. We have to fight fire with fire. I know I’ve been shirking my responsibilities, but no more. I can’t let you lose the company because Dad doesn’t have the pull he should.”

“Don’t try to blame this on Dad. His ‘pull’ isn’t the issue. You put us in this situation. You are to blame.” Over the years, she’d cleaned up mess after mess that Roy had caused. This time she wasn’t sure if she could or should bury the resentment she felt. That he still refused to take any responsibility for their situation infuriated her and refocused her anger with Bruce toward Roy. After all, for Bruce this was a wise business decision. Roy was the one who had betrayed her.

Then again, she had no one to blame but herself. Countless numbers of times, her father had told her to stop treating Roy as if he were mentally incapacitated. She could hear her father say, “He’ll never learn to walk if you don’t give him a chance to fall.” Oh yeah, she knew Roy had finally fallen, but why did he have to take her with him?
Why didn’t I listen to you, Daddy?

“I’m here now and ready to do whatever needs to be done. If I could turn back time I would, but I can’t. So all I can do is try to right this wrong.”

“Roy, there is absolutely no excuse for you not knowing Maxwell’s report isn’t packed with lies but solid facts. Our larger stockholders have wanted to move production to Asia for years.”

“What?” He jumped halfway out of his seat. “What the hell are you talking about?

“It’s not rocket science, Roy. There’s a reason jobs are being exported overseas, especially factory jobs. But because we used to have controlling interest in the company, I could keep production stateside. I just haven’t had the cash to expand Dixon Textiles into more lucrative ventures.”

“Wait a second. Wait a second,” he said as much with his hands as he did with his voice. “I knew things have been tight, but how am I getting dividends?”

Four years ago, she’d told him the company was in trouble, and they wouldn’t be receiving dividends for a while, but she’d give him what she could. The first year she’d handed him a check and reminded him to use it wisely. They lived on the Dixon estate and had no out of pocket expenses, so the money should have been more than sufficient for him. Of course he’d complained about the amount, but she’d told him to get a job if he wanted more. Over the years, she’d been able to increase the amount, not because Dixon Textiles was doing better, but because her father had begun sending her money. Thankfully, Roy’s ego was huge, so he rarely left Dixon where their family was treated like royalty and rarely paid for services.

“Would you stop staring at me and give me some damn answers, Catherine?”

“You are unbelievable. My salary goes directly back into the mill to keep the mill running. I rent out space…” She trailed off. “Why am I wasting my breath on you?” She pushed away from the table. “You don’t give a damn about Dixon Textiles. You’re just afraid I’ll lose the means to keep you in the lifestyle your spoiled butt is accustomed to.”
 

“Come on, Catherine, Bruce Maxwell is the enemy, not me.” He rounded the table. “Don’t give in. Please.”

“I’m tired. Leave me alone.”

“I’ll figure something out. I promise. You won’t lose Dixon Textiles.”

“A few months ago you promised to take some of the responsibility of running the company off my shoulders, and look how that turned out. Just drop it.”

Nefertiti exited Bruce’s closet wearing one of his white T-shirts. Though she was tall for a woman, the T-shirt still looked like a baggy dress on her. “May I use your laptop?”

“Anytime.” Freshly showered and dressed in briefs and a T-shirt, Bruce watched her cross the room to the small work area in his sleeping quarters. They’d just fulfilled his fantasy of making love by the creek—actually he’d wanted to make love in the creek, but logistics had dictated otherwise—then made love again in the shower. But watching as she glided across the room… He groaned. He wanted her again.

She made herself comfortable at the small desk and booted up his laptop.

“What are you up to?” He followed her, then stooped beside her and placed a hand on her lap for balance.

“I’m emailing Daddy. Nothing complicated. Just an ‘I love you.’ ”

Her husky, low voice stroked him every time he heard it.
No wonder I can’t keep my hands off her.
“Sounds like a good start.” He kissed her on the cheek.

While she composed her email, he made a call on his cell phone. “Janis, order me a case of condoms.”

“Bruce!” Nefertiti reached for the phone. “What’s wrong with you?”

Husky, low and angry.
Damn!
He stood and turned away from her. “Make that two. Thanks.” He disconnected.

Arms crossed over her chest, she stared him down.

He lowered himself to her level. “What?” he asked innocently as he caressed her inner thighs.

“You know what what.”

“What I know is you are sexy as hell in my T-shirt with no panties. I might need three cases.” He slipped a finger in her. Hot, wet and ready for him. Sparks of desire lit her eyes, and another groan escaped him. “But I don’t want you to start aching down there, so I’ll leave you alone for a few hours.”

She almost fell out of the chair she laughed so hard. “You are out of your mind.” She hit the send button. “One more to go.”

He’d like to taste her, but he knew that wouldn’t be enough. “Who are you emailing now?”

“I’m forwarding information about the exhibit to…”

“What were you thinking, asking that Tiffy girl to the exhibit?” he cut in. “We’re not going.”