Hearts Are Wild Read online

  Breath held, she stared at him, her eyes wide and searching his for answers that he didn’t want to give, but somehow had to find a way to communicate.

  “You deserve a guy who believes in love. Someone who wants what you want, thinks the same way you do.” He leaned toward her and slowly brushed his thumb over her lips. “You pissed me off back there. That kiss—that incredible kiss—I don’t know how to stop myself from doing that again or wanting more. You’re the expert, Maggie. Tell me how to stop myself from wanting you.”

  Finally she released the breath she was holding. “Oh, Nick,” she whispered, wrapping her arms around his neck. “I’m no expert. I don’t even know how to stop wanting you.”

  On a desperate groan, he covered her mouth again, kissing her deeply. “Why do you feel so good?”

  She whimpered her response, her mouth slanting, taking his tongue into her slick warmth. His groin tightened, lust ripping into him, longing filling every empty corner inside him. She tasted like champagne. Sweet as hell. He wanted to taste every inch of her. With each passing second, his mind warned him to stop, but it was no use. He was going on pure instinct now. His hands moved from her back to her thighs, pushing up her skirt, finding her skin, tight and hot.

  She gasped into his mouth. “Nick, please.”

  “Show me what you like,” he whispered, fueled by her desperate, aching tone. “Show me how to touch you.”

  She wasted no time in doing as he asked.

  Her hands covered his, dragging them up her thighs until he cupped her buttocks firmly. Maggie moaned, thrusting her hips forward sending the lower half of him hard as granite.

  That thong. That damn thong.

  He groaned, pressing into her, pushing her back against the elevator wall as they shot up to the seventeenth floor. He felt her nipples strain through the thin red fabric of her dress, grazing his chest. She moved against him in a steady rhythm, making him crazy, making his kiss ravenous. And he was. For her.

  Then with a chirpy ding, the elevator stopped and the door opened.

  They were both breathing heavily, as if they’d just run a marathon in ninety-degree weather. Slowly Nick released her, but his gaze remained fastened on hers, wanting to see that instant of regret he expected to see. But only unsatiated desire shone in those deep-blue eyes.

  Maggie was desperate for him, desperate to experience what she’d only dreamed of. For most of her life, she’d been afraid. Of love, lust, being with a man who made her feel. But not tonight.

  Tell me how to stop myself from wanting you. When his honest words had hit the heated air around them, it was if the floodgates had opened. She’d tasted what could be, and wanted more.

  Her hands plunged into Nick’s hair, bringing his head, his mouth back down to hers. He hesitated only a moment, then kissed her with tender hunger, his tongue driving in and out of her mouth as his hands raked up her back. She could stay like that forever, she thought, feeling the roughness of that five-o’clock shadow she found so sexy.

  The elevator door closed, then opened again.

  “This is our floor, Montana Eyes,” he said into her mouth. His tone sounded as desperate as she felt.

  “Let’s go to our room, then,” she whispered, reveling in the intimate sound of his endearment.

  He held her slightly away from him, his eyes growing blacker with every heavy breath he took. “If we go into that room, I won’t be able to stop this.”

  She shook her head, her body on fire. “No one’s asking you to.”

  He cursed, then gathered her tighter against him, his mouth taking everything she gave. They stumbled out of the elevator and down the deserted hallway. Maggie clung to him, her heart pounding against her ribs, against him, as she took in every sensation. It was all so new, this feeling of restlessness and urgency. She wanted something, but she wasn’t exactly sure what it was or how to get it. But she did know what spurred it on.

  Nick.

  With one hand around her waist and his mouth occupied, Nick fumbled with the key, then swung the door wide. They were through the living room, into the master bedroom and standing beside the bed in seconds. Nick had torn off his jacket, but Maggie wanted his shirt off, too. Imagining night after night what he felt like, what his skin felt like, only went so far. She wanted the real deal—to feel his chest, his warm skin under her palms. She groped at the tuxedo studs, then got frustrated and ripped the front of his shirt open.

  He inhaled sharply, hauled her against the length of him and growled, “Look what you do to me.”

  Against her belly, she could feel him rock hard and pulsating. She felt no shock, only pride for how she’d affected him. Liquid heat pooled between her legs, and she knew that this need building inside her at a frantic pace had to be satisfied or she’d go insane.

  Kissing wasn’t enough anymore. How had she ever thought it would be?

  Suddenly her gaze caught on his biceps, on the small black tribal symbol tattooed there. She brushed her palm over the intertwined lines, shivers running through her. She’d finally gotten to see it, was her fleeting thought as slowly, gently Nick eased her dress down, his fingers grazing her skin as he went.

  That’s when he noticed that she wore no bra, only panties.

  His gaze raked over her again and again. Mind-blowing desire surged through her blood as he laid her down on the bed, the bed she’d thought about them sharing the night before. He knelt over her, stared at her, watched as her breasts heaved, as her body begged for him to put her out of her misery. The room was dim, lit only by the moon sliding in from the open deck. Dry wind blew the curtains about in an erotic dance.

  Nick’s ardent gaze found hers as his hand brushed across her silk panties. “You’re mine tonight, Maggie.”

  A shiver passed over her at his words and his touch, possessive and almost carnal. Boldly she grasped both of his hands and guided them to her breasts. Nick sucked in a breath. So did Maggie. It was just a simple touch, but the connection seemed to sear a red-hot bond between them. Then, when his callused palms moved, kneading her flesh, his thumbs coaxing her nipples into taut peaks, analysis gave way to feeling. And when he lowered his head, replacing his hands with his mouth and Maggie nearly came off the bed, feeling gave way to pleasure.

  Nick listened to her moans and gave her more of what she liked, flicking her nipple with his tongue, again and again as inside her a fire raged. She pressed her hips up to him, feeling him hard against her. And he met her thrust, teasing her.

  But Maggie didn’t want to be teased anymore. She wanted Nick with a desperation unlike anything she’d ever felt before. With shaky fingers, she made an unsuccessful attempt to unbutton his pants, pulling at the zipper in frustration. Nick gave a hoarse chuckle, then stood and stripped them off.

  He knelt over her, and Maggie gazed at him, at the hard, long length of him. Desire smoldered within her, and she gave in to both, taking him in her hands. He groaned, his eyes closing as she stroked him. Then, like a blind man, his hand found her and traveled downward, over her belly until he slipped beneath the edge of her panties. She gasped as his fingers slid between the wet folds to her core.

  “Nick, please,” she begged.

  “Tell me this is what you want, Maggie,” he whispered hoarsely, stroking her lightly. “I need to hear you say that.”

  “I want it,” she assured him. “I want you.”

  He left her for only a moment, going into the bathroom and returning with a foil packet. He was quick in protecting her, and Maggie was thankful. She needed him now, needed him to quell the deep aching inside her.

  Though his breath came ragged just as hers did, he eased off her panties with a gentle tug. When he saw her fully, lying back on the bed, wet and waiting, he wasted no more time. He slid her thighs apart with his knee, rose up and drove into her.

  Maggie cried out.

  Nick froze.

  “Maggie?” The muscles in his arms bunched as he held his position. “You haven’t—” His ey
es darkened as he looked deep into hers for answers. “You’re a virgin?”

  She nodded, letting the exquisite pain wash over her as her hands gripped his back. “Yes.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me? I can’t—”

  “Yes, you can. I want you to. I want it to be you.”

  The pain faded, and all that sweet urgency returned tenfold. She wrapped her legs around him and pulled him further inside her. Nick groaned, then cursed, his body still as he held his ground. But Maggie was determined. She tilted her hips upward, circling, then thrusting until finally he followed.

  Nick moved slowly at first, but soon the tension grew, the need built, and Maggie’s thighs quivered and shook. Something was happening, something so foreign and so intense she thought she might die from it. Or live. Really live for the first time.

  Instinctively she thrust faster, her mind a blank canvas ready to be painted with brilliant colors. His eyes on her, Nick answered her urgent call, pushed into her hard, demanding, urging her to take her pleasure. And she did. She gasped, her nails digging into his back as pangs of intense pleasure and heat coursed over her in liquid waves. She shot her hips up hard and held there, trying to get him as close as possible. At that, Nick reared back, groaning like a man in the throes of the greatest of agony, the greatest joy. Reaching underneath, gripping her buttocks tightly, he drove into her over and over until he stilled, shuddered, then collapsed beside her.

  Morning sun blazed through the bedroom window like a spotlight, examining Nick’s actions last night while silently demanding to know what he was going to do about them today. He hugged Maggie infinitely closer, feeling possessive. Her back was to him, giving him a fantastic view of her creamy shoulders and smooth back. She was naked, still asleep, her bottom pressed against his abdomen. Lord, he wanted her again, just as he’d wanted her several times through the night. But he’d abstained—just held her tightly and reveled in the fact that she’d given him a precious gift.

  He still couldn’t believe she was a virgin at twenty-five. But he loved that she was and found it, he realized, incredibly arousing. Even in the light of day, it amazed him that something so simple had such an effect on him. But it did.

  Again his mind drifted back to what had happened in the elevator last night. He was no stranger to desire for a woman. But with Maggie he’d felt like a wild animal, never getting enough, totally out of control—as though her physical being was only the first layer of what he really wanted to get at. And that realization alarmed him. He’d never reacted to a woman like that. And her response to his touch—the unrestrained fire that flooded his senses when his mouth had connected with hers—had acted on him like a drug.

  He felt himself grow hard just thinking about it.

  Maggie stirred against him, making the situation worse, almost painful.

  From the half-open window, an arid breeze fell in step with the shaft of sunlight, forcing him to look at the situation. What would happen now? What did he want to happen? Would she still insist that he date other women in hopes of finding his soul mate? Hell, he wasn’t interested in dating anyone—anyone but her, that is.

  A new development, not to mention an unsettling one. But it was the truth. And he never denied the truth, even when it was uncomfortable.

  But would she really want a guy like him? A guy who got jumpy when he was in one place for longer than six months? A guy who didn’t make commitments, came with no promises?

  Besides, hadn’t she told him that she wasn’t even considering dating until after her business was a success, and that she looked at his “match” as part of that success?

  Damn, what a mess.

  She stirred again, then slowly glanced over her shoulder at him and smiled. An iron fist tightened around his gut as he looked into her sleepy, blue gaze. She was so beautiful. All that rich dark hair tousled about her shoulders.

  He brushed aside every concern, nuzzled her neck. “Good morning, Montana Eyes.”

  “Very good.”

  Softness radiated from her like the early-morning sunlight hitting his face when he drove through the hills of West Virginia. He pulled her closer. “Last night was wonderful,” he whispered in her ear as his hand ran up her belly, over her breasts.

  She let out a sigh, still half-asleep.

  “I vote for staying here today. What about you?”

  She smiled. “I second that.”

  Staying in this room and forgetting everything past or future. “We’ll have to order room service, eat all of our meals in bed.”

  “Even dinner?”

  “Mmm-hmm,” he breathed against her shoulder. “But right now I’m hungry for breakfast.”

  “Me, too.” She moved her backside against him. “What are you gonna have?”

  On a growl, he flipped her onto her back, grinning down at her. “A little of this.” He kissed her mouth softly, then moved to her neck. “Definitely some of this.” Down to her stomach, where he nibbled, tickling her, sending her into peals of laughter.

  From some indistinct point outside their sensual haze, the phone rang, sharp and shrill. “I forbid you to get that,” he said, lazily working his way up to her breasts.

  “I have to,” she said breathlessly. “What if someone’s complained about the noise?”

  “Last night?”

  “No, silly. This morning.”

  “Oh, sweetheart, we haven’t even begun to make noise.”

  On a chuckle she turned away from him, her hand darting out to grab the phone. “Hello?”

  In one second she vaulted from laughter to pure, tangible fear. “Grandma, slow down— When?” She bolted upright, gripping the receiver, her knuckles white. “I’ll be right there.”

  “What’s wrong?” Nick asked.

  She jerked out of bed, grabbing the sheet with one hand while she gripped her gold locket with the other.

  “Ted was just taken to the hospital.”

  Seven

  Life Is Short! Let Maggie Find Someone For You To Share It With.

  Maggie splashed some water on her face in the brightly lit hospital bathroom, then took a moment to examine the pale face staring back at her. Puffy eyes filled with worry. Well, she thought with a grim smile at her reflection, everything was just as it should be.

  Ted’s condition had made everyone anxious, so it was a blessing to find out he was going to be just fine. He had a mild case of heart arrhythmia, and the doctors said that if he felt up to it he could go home as early as tomorrow afternoon. The doctors were very encouraging even as they reminded their patient and his new wife that he needed a good two weeks of rest, some serious relaxation and a lot of love and attention.

  Kitty had announced that she would be happy to supply that part of the prescription, then promptly gave Ted a healing kiss on the cheek. She’d stayed by his side in the hospital room, her spirits high, her smile never faltering. But Maggie had seen the fear behind Kitty’s eyes and knew what it meant. Kitty didn’t want to lose the man she loved. She didn’t want to lose another husband.

  Maggie dried her hands and left the bathroom. Nick sat in the waiting area, reading a magazine. Her heart soared, then contracted at the sight of him, so calm in the emotion-filled room.

  On the way to the hospital, he’d tried to soothe her anxiety, but she hadn’t let him—rather she’d pushed him away. She felt wound up, waiting for what could happen next. Her grandma’s fears about Ted’s condition weighed heavily on her mind, but waking up next to Nick added a further knee-buckling weight.

  She didn’t want to talk about what had happened—she didn’t want to face the fact that she might have made one of the biggest mistakes of her life. Not making love, not giving him her virginity. She would never regret that. But in allowing herself to believe that falling in love with him was possible.

  Yes, she knew exactly how Kitty felt, because she felt it, too. Under the guise of short-lived fun, she’d taken the lid off the cookie jar, the jar that held a resolve developed long
ago to keep her heart closed, locked away and safe. Sure, the Conner Curse had started out as a childish spook, but it had turned into a defense mechanism—against the risk of abandonment, against the possibility of losing someone she loved.

  But ironically, this time, she was more afraid for Nick than she was for herself and her heart.

  It didn’t matter how ridiculous it sounded, she was afraid that if she pursued anything further with him, something bad could happen to him, just as it had to Ted.

  She needed to get back to the business of love. Finding Nick his perfect match. She had to resume their previous arrangement as matchmaker and subject, roommate and landlord to keep him safe from the curse. And hopefully to make her desire for him subside.

  Nick looked up as she walked toward him, his eyes filled with concern. “You okay?”

  She nodded before she sat down next to him. “Fine.”

  “Great news, huh? Ted’s going to be up and around in a few weeks.”

  “That’s what they say.”

  “You sound like you don’t believe it.”

  She shrugged. “Life’s unpredictable. Especially for the women in my family.”

  “Is this about that Conner Curse thing?” he asked, tossing his magazine on the low plastic table.

  “The Curse is not a joke, Nick.”

  “Maggie. Ted’s okay.” He put a hand over hers. “He and Kitty will be—”

  She pulled away from him and stood up. Didn’t he understand that his touch made her go soft in all the wrong places? “I didn’t thank you for coming with me to the hospital, but I appreciate it and so do Ted and my grandma. Speaking of which, I’m going to go find her.”

  “She knew you’d say that,” he said. “So she asked me to tell you that Ted is resting and she’s going to stay with him.”

  Maggie sighed. “I need to do something.”

  “Sit down and relax for a minute.”

  With no other options, she did as he said, but she couldn’t relax. God only knew if she could ever relax around him. She wondered if he had this effect on all women, or just her. She wondered so many things about him. His family, his dreams, his favorite song. “Have you ever lost anyone, Nick?”