A Kiss To Remember Read online

  Bittersweet sensations warred with her pride and self-respect. God, but she did so want to give in. That devil’s voice was back again, tempting her, tormenting her.

  You love him. You want him. Let him.

  Don’t think about tomorrow. Don’t think about being a virgin. Don’t think about anything.

  Lance put the issue beyond question when his mouth slid down from her throat to where her breasts were rising and falling on either side of the confines of the seat belt. Pushing back the left side of her jacket, he began to lick at the already hard nipple through her dress, wetting the silk till it moulded the rock-hard peak like a second skin.

  At that point he started scraping his teeth back and forth across the exquisitely sensitised tip, stopping every now and then to moisten it again with his tongue.

  Angie had to bite her own tongue to stop herself from crying out, so sharp were the sensations. An electric excitement charged along her veins, heating her blood and firing her brain. When he closed his lips round the nipple, her back arched as far away from the seat as the seat belt would allow, pressing her breast further into his mouth. He obliged by drawing the entire aureole within the heated cavern beyond his lips and suckling away like a greedy infant.

  It blew Angie’s mind.

  ‘Oh, God, Lance,’ she groaned.

  He abruptly released her hands and they fell limply to her sides. His mouth stayed at her breast, even when both front seats suddenly sank from an upright position to a semi-reclining one. Angie found herself closing her eyes and sighing with surrender to whatever was going to happen. Nothing could stop her now, not even an earthquake or the eruption of a volcano.

  She was the volcano, she decided dazedly. Feelings long dormant were being released, bubbling up within her, straining for release. She could feel the pressure-cooker tension behind the pleasure of the moment, feel the simmering heat which at any moment threatened to flare out of control.

  He was back kissing her mouth, her eyelids, her ear, whispering erotic suggestions which sent small explosions of desire popping in her mind.

  ‘Yes,’ she whispered back blindly. ‘Yes, please.’ Only to wonder immediately what she’d agreed to, what she’d begged for.

  She seemed to have the answer when his hands moved up under her skirt to begin peeling off her tights. She even lifted her buttocks to help him. Soon her shoes were gone and her tights were draped over the dashboard and she was naked under her dress. When his hands slid slowly back up her naked legs, taking her dress with them, she was beside herself with excitement. Any second now... Any second ...

  But he didn’t touch her where she was dying for him to touch her; his hands lingered tantalisingly on her thighs, caressing her softly trembling skin, stroking the outside from hip to knee in long, teasing sweeps till she couldn’t stand it any longer. Her legs moved restlessly apart, showing him what she wanted.

  And he obliged.

  Dear God, how he obliged!

  Angie could not believe she was allowing him to do what he was doing. But, oh... the heaven of it all. Her breathing quickened. Her heartbeat soared. Everything in her seemed to be rushing upwards, yet inwards at the same time. She moaned under the spiral of wild pleasure, her hands finding his hair, twisting it in her fingers, till finally she wrenched his head up and away from her burning, bursting body.

  ‘No!’ she cried, not at all sure what she was saying no to, except that it was all too much—too intense, too frightening.

  ‘It’s all right,’ he reassured her huskily. ‘I was just about to stop. That’s not what I want at all, either.’

  Angie lay there, staring with wide eyes up at him while he struggled to manoeuvre himself to her side of the car and crouch between her legs. He didn’t undress properly but he did protect them both, undoubtedly with what he’d pocketed earlier.

  For a few moments he caressed her again, this time with knowing fingers, till she was arching away from the seat again in desperate need. Only the seat belt kept her from threshing wildly against that torturous touch, so that when he stopped, to lift her ankles up on to the outside edges of the seat and ease her bottom forward, she was beyond thinking of anything but having him inside her.

  Yet the moment he began pressing against her virginal flesh, she tensed terribly. His sharp intake of breath brought more panic, his second attempt to penetrate making her muscles spasm even more tightly shut.

  ‘God, Angie,’ he ground out, probing harder. ‘Relax, will you?’

  ‘I... I can’t,’ she choked out. ‘Oh, God ... I just can’t. I don’t know how.’

  ‘What do you mean, you don’t know how?’ he rasped, all pressure easing as he totally withdrew. ‘Hell... are you saying what I think you’re saying?’

  Angie wanted to die of humiliation and frustration. She hated herself and her inexperience at that moment. Hated everything and everyone. She groaned with the deepest chagrin, lifting her hands to cover her face.

  Lance swore again. Then again.

  Angie cringed inside at the sounds she heard. Clearly he’d decided not to continue. Clearly uptight virgins were not Lance’s style.

  ‘Dear God in heaven, Angie,’ he finally rasped, unsnapping her seat belt, grabbing her hands and yanking her upright. The soles of her feet shot off the seat down on to the floor, her bare legs practically wrapping around Lance, who was still squatting in the space between the seat and the dashboard. Thankfully her skirt fell down over her lap as Lance snapped her further forward, their faces only inches apart.

  ‘Why didn’t you tell me earlier that you were still a virgin?’ he interrogated harshly. ‘Why did you let me believe you were some kind of good-time girl who’d have sex with anyone she fancied at any place, any old time?’

  Angie shuddered under Lance’s fury. She’d never seen him like this before.

  ‘Hell, do you think I’d have treated you like this if I’d known?’ he flung at her as a finale.

  ‘T-Treated me like wh—what?’ she stammered, confused by this last outburst.

  He stared at her, then shook his head. ‘I’m not sure if you’re a total innocent, or more calculatingly wicked than any woman I’ve ever known. Which is it? Are you a professional tease? Do you get your kicks out of dressing up like this and seeing how many men you can have panting after you? Did you perhaps get out of your depth tonight,’ he scorned, ‘with a man who doesn’t tolerate teases— a man you once really fancied?’

  ‘No!’ she denied fiercely. ‘And yet, yes... in a way...’

  ‘Which is it? Yes or no?’

  ‘No, I’m not a tease,’ she denied hotly. ‘But, yes, I did dress up seductively tonight, and, yes, you’re right—I do fancy you. I always did.’

  ‘No kidding! Well, the dressing up seductively part wasn’t for me, though, was it? You had no idea I’d even be here. So what was on your agenda tonight which called for this vamp image?’

  Angie grimaced, then shook her head.

  ‘Either you tell me, or I’ll ask Bud,’ he threatened.

  ‘Bud doesn’t know.’

  ‘Doesn’t know what? That, you’re still a virgin? Or that you’re some kind of sick man-hater?’

  ‘I am not a man-hater!’

  ‘Then tell me the truth!’

  ‘I... I decided today that I was f-fed up with being inexperienced,’ she confessed, blushing and stammering. ‘I... I thought it was well past time that I lost my virginity. I knew there’d be a lot of potential partners here at Bud’s party tonight so I dolled myself up and... Well, I just... I just...’

  She shrugged, hoping she’d said enough to satisfy his curiosity.

  ‘You just what?’

  His persistence began to annoy her. What was it to him anyway? He didn’t really care about her. He’d simply shown up out of the blue tonight at a highly opportune moment then tried to take ruthless advantage of it, even if he, didn’t know it.

  ‘Oh, do shut up, Lance. I’m sure even Blind Freddie could get the picture. Y
ou turned up just when I was ripe and ready to take a lover, and for a short while tonight I thought it might as well be you, since you had been my first love, after all. By the time I decided not to boost your insufferable ego any further, you’d rather spoiled me for any other man here this evening. You have a habit of doing that in my life, Lance,’ she bit out. ‘Spoiling me for other men. One of the reasons I’m still a stupid damned virgin is because of you!’

  She scowled at him but he didn’t scowl back. All the anger seemed to melt from his face as a tender expression took over. ‘I don’t think there’s anything stupid at all about being a virgin in this day and age,’ he said softly. ‘But since I’ve spoilt you for any other man so far, then the least I can do is undo the damage I’ve done.’

  ‘What... what do you mean?’

  ‘I mean, Angie, my sweet,’ he said, kissing her lightly on the lips, ‘that you’re quite right. It is high time you lost your virginity, but I also think your first experience should be with someone you really fancy, not some bloke you’ve picked up at a party. There’s nothing special about a one-night stand. Therefore I’m volunteering to be your first lover.’

  ‘But I thought... I mean—’

  ‘Don’t think, Angie,’ he cut in with a strangely gentle firmness. ‘Just do as I say and everything’ll be fine. Firstly, tonight is not the right time, and this car is certainly not the right place for such an important occasion in your life. We’ll put all this fantastic bottled up passion of yours on hold for another twenty-four hours,’ he murmured, encircling her mouth with a fingertip till her lips gasped apart and a shudder of delight rippled through her.

  ‘God, but it’s going to be good, Angie,’ he promised huskily, taking his finger away to kiss her again.

  ‘But I thought you’d be going back to Melbourne tomorrow,’ she protested weakly, everything already going crazy in her head.

  ‘No. I was never going to do that. As for now... I’m going to get out of this car, if I can. You’d better put your tights and shoes back on before you do, though. And do up your jacket. I’ve pretty well ruined that dress, I’m afraid. But no worries. I’ll buy you another tomorrow.’

  Angie sat there in a stunned state while he climbed over her out of the car. He groaned as he straightened, probably because of the muscle strain of being squashed up on his haunches for so long. Finally, as though mesmerised, Angie did as he suggested, pulling her tights back on and buttoning up her jacket so the undoubtedly ruined dress would not show. She was dimly conscious that underneath her clothes her body was still aroused, her nipples still distended, the area between her thighs acutely aware of the snugly fitting underwear.

  But her still being turned on physically took second place behind the emotion which welled up within her soul when Lance leant into the car and took her hand in his. His tender smile sent tentacles of warmth curling round her heart, evoking all those old feelings which had besieged her that long-ago summer—feelings which had nothing to do with lust. When he drew her from the car and upwards, everything around him went out of focus. Her eyes locked on to his and nothing else existed for her but Lance—his face, his eyes, and the love she imagined she saw in their brilliant blue depths.

  It was his mouth crashing back down on to hers which snapped her back to reality. For Lance didn’t love women. He only made love to them.

  Oddly enough, this renewal of her knowledge of Lance’s character no longer had the power to turn Angie off. She’d gone beyond that now. Once back in his arms, she was too weak to fight his incredible appeal.

  She did what he told her to do. She stopped thinking. Her arms wound around his waist then up his back. Her tongue darted forward to move past his and into his mouth, sending wild tremors of pleasure down her spine.

  It was Lance who drew back first, his face actually flushed, his breathing ragged. ‘Hell, Angie, we have to stop this, or I’ll never last the distance.’

  ‘We, Lance?’ she teased softly, while trying to get her own rampant desire under control. ‘You kissed me, remember?’

  ‘Yeah, but did you have to be so co-operative?’

  ‘Yes.’

  Their eyes clashed, Lance shaking his head then smiling with rueful acceptance of her honesty. ‘You always were a one-off experience, Angie. Come on, let’s get inside before someone realises we’re missing.’

  ‘What time is it?’ she asked as they made their way together up the driveway.

  ‘Eleven-thirty.’

  Angie ground to a halt. ‘Is that all?’ She recalled seeing the time on a wall clock when she’d been arguing with Lance in the hall. It had been ten to eleven.

  They’d only been gone from the house forty minutes.

  It felt like an eternity.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  Lance was right. Bud didn’t even notice that they’d been absent. He was too busy being the life of the party, telling jokes and generally having a wow of a time.

  Loretta, Angie wasn’t so sure about—her sister-in-law having given her and Lance a suspicious stare as they wandered into the main party room together. She seemed to make a point of excusing herself from the group of people she was chatting to and coming over.

  ‘I’ve been wondering where you two disappeared to,’ she said. ‘Been catching up on old times, have you?’

  ‘Not exactly,’ Lance replied smoothly, before Angie could think of a suitable excuse. ‘I had Angie show me where to buy Bud some beer for his birthday. I came without a present, you see. Speaking of presents, what did you give Bud, Angie? I seem to recall your family had a rule in the old days that presents could not exceed thirty dollars. It was to be the thought that counted. Does that still apply?’

  ‘It certainly does,’ Loretta jumped in, seemingly relieved by Lance’s answers. Apparently she agreed with Bud’s view that Angie should share nothing but friendship with a man like Lance.

  Too bad, Angie thought with a sudden fierce resolve. Lance was going to become her lover and to hell with what everyone else thought. Maybe it would only last for a night, or a weekend, or a week. But that short time with him would mean more to her than a lifetime with any other man.

  Lance might be a compulsive womaniser but he had other qualities besides his sex-appeal to be treasured. There was a core of tenderness in Lance which was as captivating as it was rare. A sensitivity and sense of compassion which she had once appreciated, and which she was sure still lived within his soul.

  Oh, yes, he was still easily moved to lust by a good-looking female—herself included—but just lust would have taken her virginity back there in his car. It would not have backed off, or begun planning something special for her initiation into sex. It would have ploughed on selfishly, and to hell with her discomfort or pain.

  Lance might not love her, but he cared about her. Angie sensed that caring now more than ever and hugged the secret knowledge to her heart.

  ‘So what did you buy him?’ Lance asked, and Angie smiled mischievously.

  ‘Something very useful.’

  ‘What?’

  ‘A pair of glow-in-the-dark boxer shorts. They have an arrow pointing to the appropriate spot.’

  Loretta dissolved into giggles. ‘I always did have to draw your brother a map,’ she said, and Angie almost choked with laughter. Lance was chuckling too when the man himself joined the group.

  ‘Must be a good joke if Loretta is laughing at it.’ He smiled broadly as he put an arm around his wife’s quaking shoulders. ‘I love her dearly but her sense of humour leaves a lot to be desired sometimes.’

  ‘Angie was telling us about her birthday gift to you,’ Lance confessed with a wry grin. ‘Loretta was saying she’s always needed to draw you a map.’

  Bud’s smile seemed to freeze on his face. He recovered quickly, but Angie thought she detected an acid note in his reply. ‘Well, no one could say the same about you, mate. You’d find your way around a woman’s body blindfold.’

  An awkward silence descended on the group for a f
ew embarrassing seconds, till Lance laughed. ‘Blindfold, eh? Now, there’s a thought. Though, personally, I like to keep my eyes open when I make love.’ And his eyes moved slowly to Angie’s.

  ‘Make love?’ Bud scoffed. ‘That’s not what you used to call it, old chum. Still, I suppose it is a four-letter word. Hasn’t quite got the same colourful flair, though, has it? Neither does it truly reflect your superstud status.’

  To give Lance credit, he didn’t react. He merely smiled with seeming indulgence and dry amusement at his friend. Angie had to admire his forbearance. Another man might have flattened him.

  Loretta, perhaps sensing that the atmosphere was becoming strained, decided it was time to produce Bud’s birthday cake. It was a welcome distraction for Angie, who felt so angry with Bud that she had a job giving him a birthday kiss after the singing and candle-blowing was over.

  It wasn’t like him to be so rude, and she couldn’t understand his motivation. It wasn’t as though he suspected anything between herself and Lance. Loretta’s earlier suspicions seemed to have been doused as well, especially as Lance had moved off and started chatting up a tall, voluptuous blonde, who could hardly contain her delight at his attention.

  Angie wasn’t at all delighted. Jealousy stabbed deep into her heart. Jealousy, plus insecurity and a general feeling of inadequacy. Maybe even now Lance was deciding he would be a fool to have anything to do with a naive and totally inexperienced virgin. He would probably prefer to spend his break in Sydney with someone who could cater to his undoubtedly sophisticated tastes in bed. The more Angie watched him with that woman, the more she was convinced any attraction she held for him was already on the wane.

  When the blonde lightly touched Lance on his arm, then laughed up at him, her fears increased. There was something incredibly intimate about that laugh. And something incredibly sexy. Were they making plans for a secret assignation—maybe even later tonight? Angie could practically see them now, laughing in a motel bed together, their naked bodies entwined, the blonde’s long legs wrapping around Lance as he bent his head to her very large breasts.