Uncovering Annabelle Read online

  Mike started to reach for her, but she pulled back. “No. You promised me my turn.” She waited for a moment and was relieved when his hands dropped to the mattress beside him.

  Annabelle knew Mike’s patience wouldn’t last much longer so she did what she’d been dying to do all evening. Without warning, she bent over, took the head of Mike’s penis into her mouth and sucked. Hard.

  Mike almost shot off the bed. “Annabelle!”

  She sat back, her eyes huge and uncertain. “Did I do it wrong?” She bit her lip as she waited. She so wanted to do this right, to be the temptress like she was in her dreams.

  His eyes blazed with desire, but when he reached out to touch her cheek, his touch was tender. “No, honey, you didn’t do a damn thing wrong. You just took me by surprise.”

  “Can I try again?” Annabelle looked at him hopefully.

  A snort of laughter escaped from Mike. “You can try it. I may not survive, but at least I’ll die happy.”

  Annabelle bent over him again, determined not to rush her approach. She licked the length of his erection, learning his shape, enjoying the texture and taste. He was large and thick, but the skin covering him was soft and smooth. She took a deep breath, loving the musky scent of his sex. Her fingers teased the skin of his testicles, gently testing their weight. Her hair flowed over his thighs as she licked and kissed his length.

  Judging by Mike’s moans of encouragement, Annabelle decided she must be doing it right. This time when she took him into her mouth, his large hand cupped the back of her head to keep her there. As if she’d stop now.

  She loved the taste of him—slightly salty and spicy. She dragged her tongue around the head of his shaft before taking him deep. She pulled back, using her teeth to lightly graze his hard length. Then she took him inside again, hollowed her cheeks and sucked.

  “Oh, yeah. Don’t stop.” Mike’s hips bucked against her mouth. She couldn’t take all of him, so she wrapped her hand around the base of his shaft to control the rhythm. Liquid seeped from the tip of his shaft and she licked it away. It was salty and warm.

  “Stop.” Mike’s command was a hoarse whisper as he tugged lightly on her hair.

  She didn’t want to stop. She was enjoying herself. But he tugged again and she reluctantly released him. Mike grabbed a condom and ripped open the package. A second later he had the protection rolled on.

  He lifted her over him. The new position caught her off guard, but she liked the idea of being on top. She felt the hard press of the head of his penis against her opening and then he surged inside. He put his hands on her waist and dragged her down. She sat back and he slid even deeper.

  “I can’t wait.” Mike gripped her hips and started to move her.

  “That’s all right,” she panted. She caught on to the new rhythm and took over. She rose and fell on him. She moved slowly at first and then faster as she gained more confidence. She loved the way his hard shaft filled her. She really liked being able to control the pace of their lovemaking.

  Mike slid his hands up her torso and covered her breasts. Annabelle didn’t even try to hold back her moan of pleasure when he played with her nipples. She moved faster, picking up the pace.

  “Help me.” She was almost there and sensed he was too, but didn’t know how to push both of them over the edge.

  Mike slid one of his hands between her legs where their bodies were joined. His fingers barely touched her when her climax was upon her. She cried out, her body shaking as heat and pleasure swept over her.

  Mike grabbed her by the waist and thrust into her one final time. His shaft swelled and rippled as he came. His release sent another shiver down her spine and tingles shooting throughout her body. Annabelle slumped forward onto his chest. He wrapped his arms around her and held her close. She snuggled against him and, with her head cushioned on his shoulder, drifted off to sleep.

  Chapter Seven

  When Annabelle stirred the next morning, the sun was streaming into the bedroom. Groaning, she rolled over onto her back. Her eyes were gritty and she scrubbed at them with the back of her hand. Prying her eyes open took her a few minutes and she squinted as she read the time on the bedside clock. Annabelle bolted upright in bed. She’d overslept. Her alarm hadn’t gone off.

  She had the sheet tossed back and was half off the bed before she realized she was stark naked. Grabbing the sheet, she quickly dragged it to her chin. A fast survey of the room assured her that this was not her bedroom. In fact, this was not her bed.

  “Oh, my Lord,” Annabelle gasped. She fell back onto the pillows and covered her head with the sheet. All the muscles in her body protested the move. She felt as if she’d run in a marathon. Muscles she hadn’t known existed ached this morning. Details from last night filled her mind, images of naked limbs entwined. No wonder she was sore. Had she really been that wanton woman?

  She’d barely slept at all last night. Mike woke her more than once with mind-numbing kisses. It was inevitable that one thing would lead to another. She’d lost count of the number of times they’d made love. She’d never had to face a morning after, having never spent the entire night with a man before, and she wasn’t ready. What did one say or do? She wanted it to be night again, to lie in Mike’s arms once more and not have to think about anything but the feel of his body against hers.

  Annabelle rolled onto her side and moaned. She desperately needed a shower. She just had to summon enough energy to drag herself out of bed.

  The mattress dipped next to her and she froze. It was cowardly to hide under the sheet, but she honestly didn’t know what to say to Mike. She felt completely tongue-tied.

  “I know you’re in there,” he teased. He smoothed the covers over her back and then started to tug on them.

  She was glad one of them was amused, because she wasn’t. She clung to the sheet, but Mike refused to let go. She could either release it or let the fabric rip. Knowing she couldn’t stay hidden under the covers forever, she let go. The fabric slithered down her face and she got her first glimpse of Mike.

  He was more handsome than ever. She never imagined that a man could look that good first thing in the morning. Obviously, he had already showered. She could smell the crisp scent of his soap, while she felt about as fresh as last week’s dirty laundry. He had pulled on a pair of faded jeans and had donned a crisp white shirt, but hadn’t buttoned it. His rich brown hair hung free to his shoulders and looked as soft as silk. His eyes were filled with humor and crinkled at the corners when he smiled.

  “Time to rise and shine,” Mike coaxed her. “I have coffee.” He picked up a cheerful yellow mug from the bedside table and waved it in front of her.

  “You don’t play fair,” she wailed as the scent of fresh-brewed coffee reached her nose. Reluctantly, she sat up in bed, but she took care to make sure the sheet was tucked firmly under her arms. She leaned back against the headboard, grateful for its support.

  Mike passed her the coffee and waited until she’d taken a sip. “Not when it’s something I really want.”

  Annabelle choked on the hot liquid and sat forward, bending at the waist. Mike patted her back while she coughed and sputtered. It took her a moment to get her breath back. “What do you mean by that?” She glared at him as she resettled against the pillows. He’d gotten what he wanted last night, hadn’t he? What more did he want?

  “We’ll talk over breakfast.” Mike gave her a quick kiss before standing. “Right now, I’d say you’d like to get cleaned up.”

  Annabelle nodded. She ducked her head, embarrassed. It was one thing for her to know she desperately needed a shower, but it was quite another for Mike to point it out.

  “There are fresh towels in the bathroom. Help yourself to anything you need.” Mike started to leave but paused. “Oh, and I hung one of my shirts on the back of the door for you to wear.”

  Annabelle watched him leave, unable to think of anything witty to say. He was so matter-of-fact about it all, she wondered how commonplace
this sort of situation was to him. Just thinking about Mike with another woman gave her a headache. She set the coffee mug down on the bedside table and started to pull back the covers, when Mike poked his head back around the door.

  “Oh, and breakfast will be ready when you are.”

  She stayed in bed and stared at the doorway for several more seconds, until she was sure Mike wasn’t going to sneak back again. When she was sure there would be no more surprises, she slid from the bed and wrapped the sheet around her. She wasn’t comfortable parading around naked, even if she was alone.

  Her clothing was strewn around the room. Her bra and panties were in a tangle on the floor. It took her longer than she thought it would to bend over, grab them and then stand up straight again. She really was sore this morning. Her dress, she noted, had been tossed across the back of the chair. Points to Mike for that.

  She’d worry about the state of her dress later. Right now she needed a hot shower to work some of the stiffness from her body. She padded to the bathroom with the tail of the sheet trailing behind her. Annabelle made sure the sheet was out of the way before she closed and locked the bathroom door. She didn’t want any interruptions during her shower.

  She glanced toward the mirror and caught a glimpse of herself. She screamed.

  The underwear slipped from her grasp and fell to the floor, forgotten. Leaning against the vanity for support, she stared at her reflection through bloodshot eyes. Her face was pale and her lips were swollen. She noted that her hand was shaking as she raised it to touch her head. The long mass of her hair looked as though rats had played in it. She rested her forehead against the cold glass. Mike had seen her like this.

  A loud pounding on the door made her jerk back. She struck her leg on the corner of the cabinet and bounced off the wall. Reaching out, she grabbed a towel rack for support.

  “Annabelle, are you all right?” Mike sounded alarmed.

  “I’m fine.” Her voice was barely a whisper, so she tried again, this time much louder. “Really, I’m fine.”

  “Are you sure? I heard you scream.” Mike jiggled the handle of the door. She was extra glad she’d locked it.

  “I saw myself in the mirror.” Annabelle slapped her hand over her mouth the minute she spoke. What was it about Mike that made her mouth run amok?

  Mike’s laughter filtered in through the door. “Get your shower, Annabelle.” She heard his footsteps as he retreated to the kitchen.

  Thoroughly disgruntled, Annabelle turned on the hot water with more force than necessary and jumped back when the water splashed her. She rubbed her poor abused thigh as she waited for the water to heat up. Muttering to herself about men and life in general, she adjusted the water temperature and the spray. She dropped the sheet, climbed into the shower and allowed the water to work its magic.

  Annabelle took her time. Standing beneath the spray, she let the hot water pummel her poor body. Once the heat had loosened up her sore muscles, she washed and rinsed her hair, twice. Then she lathered her entire body with Mike’s soap. The smell reminded her of him, turning the act of bathing into an erotic experience.

  It was just like rubbing against him in bed. The soap was hard and smooth in her palm and when she ran it over her breasts her nipples automatically puckered in response. She was actually arousing herself, but it felt too good to stop.

  She bit her bottom lip and then slid the slick bar over her stomach and between her legs. It pressed against her clitoris and sent a shock of pleasure through her. Annabelle dropped the soap and it hit the bottom of the tile with a thud. She swayed and had to put a hand on the wall to support herself.

  She had to stop before she had an accident in the shower. She shuddered in horror as she imagined trying to explain the situation to the responding paramedics. The thought was too horrible to bear.

  She turned down the hot water and allowed the cooler flow to rinse the soap from her body. She gritted her teeth and stood under the cold for a full half minute longer before turning it off. If that didn’t quell her libido, nothing would. She’d never needed a cold shower in her life. One night with Mike had turned her life upside down.

  She was shivering when she stepped out of the shower. There was a big white bath towel sitting on the end of the vanity. She assumed Mike had put it there for her and used it to dry off before wrapping it around herself.

  The mirror was steamed slightly, in spite of the fan. She wiped away the fog, squinted and studied her appearance. It was an improvement but she wasn’t ready to face Mike just yet.

  She wished she had a toothbrush. She stared longingly at his but couldn’t bring herself to use it. She’d just have to improvise. Using her finger, Annabelle brushed her teeth as best she could. When she was done, she filled the cup that sat on the sink and rinsed her mouth twice before drinking a full glass of water.

  It might have felt too weird to use his toothbrush, but she had no such reservations when it came to his comb and hair dryer. In no time at all she had her hair tamed. It was a natural instinct to start to twist it up into her regular bun, but she caught herself and let it fall free. It tumbled over her bare shoulders and arms, making her feel sensual. Sexy.

  She picked up her underwear from the floor and rinsed it in the sink. There was no way she could put on yesterday’s underwear. She draped it over the towel rack and prayed it would dry while she was having breakfast, at least enough for her to be able to wear home.

  Annabelle finished patting her skin dry and then hung up the damp towel. She wished she had some of her own moisturizer. She made a note to start carrying a small bag of supplies in her purse. Her mental checklist included toothpaste, toothbrush, moisturizer, and as much as it made her blush, clean panties. If she was going to conduct an affair she might as well be prepared. The drugstore might even carry trial sizes of products that would fit nicely into her large purse. It was definitely something to check on.

  As Mike had promised, one of his shirts hung on the back of the door. She slipped it on, loving the feel of it against her skin. The material was soft from many washings and the blue denim had faded to almost white. It was big on her, hanging to just above her knees. She rolled up the sleeves and buttoned it right to the top. Peering into the mirror, she studied her appearance.

  She looked much better than she had earlier. Her face had some color and her eyes were a little clearer. The shirt covered her as well as a dress, but she was well aware of the fact that she was naked beneath it. The fabric seemed heavy against her skin and she tugged it away from her body and flapped the ends. The slight breeze cooled her for the moment and she dropped the tail of the shirt again.

  She’d delayed long enough and was as ready as she’d ever be. Gathering her courage, she left the bathroom. She stopped long enough to don her glasses and grab her now cold coffee before following her nose toward the delicious smells coming from the kitchen.

  • • •

  Mike was standing at the stove scrambling eggs when he sensed that he was no longer alone. Although she’d made no sound, he was very aware of Annabelle’s presence. The atmosphere in the room felt different. More complete somehow. “There’s more coffee if you want it.” He motioned to the coffeemaker sitting on the counter.

  Annabelle edged into the kitchen, tugging at the hem of the shirt she wore as she walked. He could have told her it was a waste of time. The shirt covered her as much as any respectable dress would. It was the woman under the shirt that made the difference. And Annabelle looked good enough to eat for breakfast.

  On silent feet, she padded to the counter. Mike tried not to notice how her breasts moved freely beneath the shirt, but he was a man after all and couldn’t help but stare. She wasn’t wearing a bra. That made him wonder if she was wearing any panties.

  Thankfully, she wasn’t paying enough attention to him to notice him staring at her chest. All her focus was on getting another cup of coffee. She dumped what remained in the cup into the sink and poured fresh. The sugar bowl was ne
xt to the coffeepot and she added several spoonfuls and stirred. After taking a fortifying swallow, she finally worked up enough nerve to send a glance his way.

  Annabelle had obviously had too much time to think about last night and had made herself nervous all over again. Mike shook his head and smiled with amusement when she automatically refilled his mug as well. That was Annabelle, always taking care of others. He wanted the right to be the one to take care of her.

  “Thanks.” He picked up his mug and sipped. She stood beside him, hovering uncertainly. He motioned to the table. “Why don’t you have a seat? Breakfast will be ready in just a minute.”

  Annabelle looked like she wanted to ask him something, but nodded instead and walked to the table, carrying her coffee mug with her. He knew she probably wanted to help. That was her nature. But she probably felt too unsure of herself to ask. From what little he knew of her, she didn’t date much and hadn’t had many serious relationships. He wanted her to be comfortable enough in his home to do whatever she wanted without asking.

  She sat at the table, taking the time to make sure the tails of the shirt were tucked safely beneath her. When she was settled to her satisfaction, she peered around the kitchen with undisguised interest.

  It was a big, comfortable room with a table set in a nook with bench seats on either side. Both the table and benches were constructed of pine, and the benches were covered in a sturdy forest green fabric. The walls were pine halfway up, and the top half was painted a clean, crisp white. The cupboards were white as well, and the appliances were stainless steel. The whole effect was masculine without being overwhelming.

  Mike enjoyed watching her as she took in the room. He was unable to keep himself from asking, “What do you think?” It suited him just fine, but it was more masculine than feminine and he wasn’t sure if Annabelle would like it.