Joy Ride by Desiree Holt (bill gates best books TXT) 📗

Red-hot scenes from the erotic romances she read flashed through her mind, things she’d never done but sometimes fantasized about. Would he do some of those things to her? Would they do them together? Anticipation shimmied through her, accelerating her pulses and making her nipples and clit ache with pleasure. Whatever they did, she was glad it would be with Marc, the man who made her body sing in three-part harmony. She wet her lower lip, breath hitching in eager anticipation.

“Oh, babe.” He chuckled softly. “I promise you, you’ll love it. We’ll work up to it, okay?”

How much higher could they go? Emma skimmed her hand over his chest, rubbing the soft fur of the hair curled there and brushing against his nipples. Liquid flooded her sex as her movement drew a gasp from him.

Sleep wasn’t even on the menu in the hours that followed. Marc was over her, under her, thrusting up into her as he showed her the best way to ride him. He used his mouth on her and groaned with pleasure when she did the same to him. They explored every inch of each other’s bodies until they were almost too exhausted to move.

It was nearly five in the morning by the time they’d had enough of each other. For Emma, with so many of her fears still unresolved, there was a sense of urgency, as if she needed to cram days into hours but again she pushed the uncertainty away.

Don’t borrow trouble.

“How about breakfast?” he asked as she pulled her clothes on.

She actually laughed. “You’re really hung up on this breakfast thing.”

His face was sober when he answered her. “The breakfast thing, as you call it, makes the difference between meaningless sex and something more. And while I have the feeling you might not believe this, right from the beginning I could tell we had something special going here and I want to see where we could take it.”

Emma paused in the act of stepping into her shoes. She wanted to tell him she thought he was special, too, but she couldn’t manage to push herself that last step. To give everything to him, nothing held back.

I’m being such a child. God, it’s a wonder he hasn’t just gotten sick and tired of me and pitched me out. Doesn’t that alone say something?

So tell him, you idiot.

She just couldn’t make herself say the words. Was she going to lose him, not because he lost interest in her, but his patience wore thin?

Fear was the worst obstacle of all. And now, with the concert and all approaching, she was afraid that she wouldn’t be able to keep up. Marc would see it and that would be the end of things. So how could she tell him now what her feelings were?

Finally she asked, “But how could you even know? I mean, the first night you were already asking me to breakfast. Looking for something more.”

Marc climbed off the bed and stood before her in his glorious nakedness. “Because I knew then this was something different. Something more. I know you caught it. Sensed it. I don’t know what’s holding you back but sooner or later I’ll find out and then I’ll be able to tell you how I really feel about you.”

“How can you be so sure this is more than what it seems?” That you, the man who lives in a world of excitement, could be satisfied with me? Annie was right. She’d been raised to fit a pattern, not to be herself. Before Music Lady began to emerge she was grateful for men like Andrew. Now she had trouble believing anyone like Marc would care for, never mind love the person she was becoming. Bot oh, god, she wanted it so badly.

“I know. Believe me.” The look on his face was equal parts of earnestness and determination. “And like I said, if you’d just be honest with yourself, so do you.”

“Kiss me, Marc.” She wanted the reassuring touch of his mouth on hers before she had to leave again.

“With pleasure.”

This was no kiss of passion, but one filled with emotion. It made her heart turn over and hope blossomed deep inside her. Hope she could believe his words and have faith in herself as well as him.

Sunday night. I’ll tell him my name and how I feel Sunday night and then we can go on from there.

He broke the kiss. “Let me get your pass for you.”

Still naked, as usual, he walked her into the kitchen and took an envelope off the counter, then handed it to her. “Your pass for Sunday night. Put it on before you try to get into the facility and keep it on all time. It’s your entry to the backstage area and the dressing rooms.”

She opened it and took out a rectangle of plastic stamped Backstage Pass. The name of the concert facility was front and center along with the promoter and below that Aftershock. It hung on the end of a woven fabric lanyard.

“Thank you. I won’t lose it.”

“Will you be at Aftershock tomorrow night?”

“No. I’m…having dinner with my folks.” It was the birthday compromise. “But I’ll see you Sunday night right on the dot of seven.”

“Be careful.” He kissed her again as he walked her to the door.

She paused at the threshold and wrapped her arms around him, squeezing him tightly.

“What’s that for?” he asked suspiciously.

“For good luck. For Sunday.”

Then she hurried out to her car before she could say anything more.

Chapter Fourteen

Emma spent the day arguing with herself while Annie fixed her hair and makeup, and helped her get her outfit ready. It was her birthday. She was thirty. Time to finish growing up and act like an adult. Her determination from the other night still stuck with her, although at times it wavered slightly. Tonight, she would tell Marc her name. All about herself. And how she really felt about him.

Right?

Yes. She’d take the final step into