All the Wright Moves (5 page)

“He’s one of
The Sharps
, isn’t he? Old money. One of the richest families in McKingley.”

“Yes. He was the oldest. I used his money to set up The Oasis. I had some of the money invested and it helps keep funding the centre. Mattson is dynamite at making money multiply. The money pays the salaries of those at the centre. We get donations for our programs and volunteers when we need.”

“What about you?”

“The way the centre is set up, every employee must collect a salary. I collect a salary, too, but donate it back to the centre. I have my own money.”

He looked at her in question.

“The barrier that broke. My brother Jonathon sued the company who was supposed to fix it. They thought it was a joke. He hadn’t been practicing law that long and they thought it would be an easy case to beat. They underestimated him. He fought them and won me a hefty settlement. I kept some to live on and Mattson invested it for me.”

“And the rest?”

“I combined it with Darren’s fund to open The Oasis, of course.” She glanced at him.

“‘Of course’, she says. Katiya, you are an amazing woman.” He lowered his head and kissed her.

She moaned into his mouth. His tongue swept into her mouth, finding all the sensitive spots, and her pussy creamed. The uneasy feeling she’d had that he would view her differently as she’d told him about Darren faded under his sensual mastery. She moved closer to him, twisting in his lap to straddle him. She growled in frustration. With one hand, she fought to free the skirt of her dress from beneath her. Finally tugging it loose, she lifted it out of the way. His hard shaft rested where she was aching. Gasping, she undulated against his erection. Warwick grunted and countered her motion. He gripped her hips, stilling her movements. He released her from his kiss, and she whimpered with frustration.

“Shhh…give me a moment. We can’t do this here. Unless we want to give everyone more of a show than we already have.” His voice was amused and slightly husky.

Katiya stiffened. She glanced around and groaned at the steamed up front glass.
What was I thinking? Although McKingly is a good-sized town, you still tended to see someone you know if you went to one of the popular local spots. And you know Capri’s one of these sorts of places.

“Don’t make me have to arrest you, Katiya and Warwick.”

Closing her eyes, she groaned again, resting her head against Warwick’s chest. “Please tell me he’s not here.”

“I wish I could,” Warwick said. “Hello, Kai.”

“Night, Warwick. Katiya.” Kai Carney’s voice was a little too cheerful.

Katiya raised her head, glaring at him. He stood by the driver’s side door.

“You better not tell Leo.”

“Now, Kat—you want me to lie to my boss? I can’t do that.” Kai put his hand over his badge on his chest.

He blinked his blond lashes exaggeratedly. Katiya knew it was useless to try to stop him. She figured sometime in the next few minutes, Leonardo—her brother and the sheriff—would know about her date with Warwick and that they’d been necking at Capri’s. Before the night was done, all the family that still lived in town would know. Those who didn’t live there would probably get an email informing them. She estimated everyone in her family would know within a matter of hours—a day at the most. It was the bane of having a large close-knit family. Raising her chin, she slid off Warwick’s lap. He shifted to his own seat. Kai leaned in the car window, watching their every move. Warwick started the truck.

“Now don’t make me have to look for you at Lovers’ Peak.” Kai strolled away, his laughter trailing behind him.

“I am so never going to live that down,” Katiya said.

“You and me both. Wait until Calix hears about it,” Warwick said.

She glanced at him.

“Kai and Calix are close friends.” Warwick looked at her then kissed her softly. “All the ribbing I’ll get is so worth it.”

She cupped his cheek. “Yes it is.”

Warwick backed out and drove her home. Half an hour later he walked her to her door. Reaching it, she turned to face him.

“Come in for some tea or coffee?” she offered.

“No,” he said firmly.

Katiya blinked at his abruptness. “Why?”

“This is why.” He swept her in his arms and kissed her.

She thought his kiss before had been intense, but it was nothing compared to this one. She gripped his shoulders while he stroked his tongue in and out of her mouth. He suckled her tongue then nipped at it. She moaned, locking her knees as his kiss made her weak. Warwick crowded her against the door, his bulky frame warming her. He rubbed against her, moving his leg between her thighs. Katiya gyrated against it, gasping at the delicious friction it created against her aching pussy.

Suddenly he wrenched away. “No, not like this.”

She stumbled. He held her up until she could stand on her own. Finally able to, she stepped back, smoothing her dress with shaking hands. Warwick pivoted away from her, his fists clenched. She reached out to him. He jerked away from her touch.

“Don’t—my control is tenuous.” His voice was tight.

She gulped and stepped back. Warwick turned and pulled her up against his body.

“Eleven tomorrow.” He kissed her hard and fast.

He released her and strode away. Dazed, she stared after him. He stopped at the top of the stairs, pausing before going down, and looked back at her.

“Go inside. See you tomorrow.” There was a promise in his tone.

She opened the door, flicked on the lights and stepped in. He waited until she was inside then he walked down the stairs and to his truck. The engine roared as he started it and drove away. Katiya stared after his departing truck. She raised a shaking hand to her lips. Warwick had said she was a handful. He was so wrong. He was the one who was going to be a huge complication.

She closed the door, leaned against it and bowed her head. “What am I going to do with you, Warwick Taylor?”

Chapter Three

Warwick stared without aplomb or shame as Katiya moved through the building which held his collection of classic vehicles. Normally the group of impressive trucks and few cars were the centre of his attention. Not today. Every ounce of his attention sucked up by the beautiful and incredibly alluring Katiya. Katiya ‘no need for the Miss’ Wright.

He’d picked her up this morning in his ’55 Chevy Cameo Carrier, and like the previous night, he’d never seen a better adornment for his classic. Her curves were mouthwatering. Now that they were at his place, her attention was taken up by his collection and he had ample time to study the work of art he longed to know on a much more up close and personal level.

Her hair, a shining mass of kinky, dark brown with auburn highlighted curls, floated free around her face. She wore a cut-off halter top, swirled with yellow and cream abstract designs. Body hugging white capris offset the gorgeous hue of her skin and flat slip-on shoes.

His gaze trailed her each step she took, each appreciative caress on a vehicle, each seductive sigh and sway of her hips surged through him, making him stiffer and stiffer until he figured his jeans were about to burst.

“Wow,” she said stopping before him, hands in her back pockets. “This is…impressive.”

“Yes it is,” he replied.

She snorted and rolled her eyes. “I was talking about your vehicles.”

“I wasn’t,” he said, his voice deeper than normal.

“Really?” Her eyes twinkled.

“Really.” Playtime was over.

He reached around behind her, cupped the back of her head and drew her close for a kiss. Starting slow, he licked her soft lips, teasing her. When she opened on a sigh, he slipped his tongue in. With the force of hitting a wall, her unique taste sank into him, fanning the already volatile flames within him.

She curled her arms up around his neck, pressing her curves—her all too tempting curves—along his frame. He swore before crushing her to him, his other hand bringing their pelvises as close as possible while wearing clothes. She fit so perfectly against him.

Her tongue dipped and stroked along his. With each second, he was that much closer to taking her right there in the garage. A low growl, one of frustration, poured from him as he ripped his mouth from hers.

Her light hazel eyes, a few shades darker than normal, burned with fevered passion. She loosened her hold from his neck and skimmed along his shoulder with her hand. She slipped her tongue out and dampened her lips. Those damnable, kiss-swollen lips that made him contemplate committing a multitude of sins.

There is one hell of a volcano of passion within her, just waiting to be released.

No words were spoken. For a brief spot in time they remained like that. Close, touching, and silent. Katiya teased the ends of his hair before lifting up on her toes as if to kiss him, only to hesitate a hair’s-breadth from his mouth. He heard her deep breaths and flexed his fingers at the base of her spine.

“Warwick,” she said on a soft purr.

Wound as tight as he was, he was surprised he didn’t explode right then and there. From the top of his head to the soles of his feet all he could feel was ‘take her’ with each heartbeat. Every inhalation brought the succulent and distracting mixture of coconut and strawberries, a scent that fit her perfectly.

“Katiya.”

She touched his lips lightly with her tongue then backed off. He stared at her as she stepped away.

“The first time shouldn’t be in a garage, Katiya.”

Her eyes raked him from head to toe, burning each inch of skin they touched. The intensity of his feelings for her threw him a bit. Only his wife had created such emotions within him before. With Katiya it was almost more. Warwick’s mind flashed to the pain he’d experienced with losing with wife. He frowned, wondering if he could go through this again with someone else. As if sensing his turmoil her expression changed, becoming cool and distant. He shook off his doubt—he wanted this woman—and gave her a slight grin. She smiled but it was a bit stiff. Could she be mad because of his decision to not take her in the garage?

Reaching for her hand, he squeezed it lightly. “I have some lunch waiting for us.”

Watching her face, he saw a few questions flicker before vanishing. “Sure.”

“Unless you’d like to look at the vehicles some more,” he offered.

Her face softened. “Food would be great.”

“Food it shall be.”

Hand in hand they moved through the extensive collection of shiny vehicles. He held the door for her then followed close, his hand settled on the small of her back. They stepped inside his home and he noticed her glancing around but the only noise was that of their footfalls upon the gleaming marble floors.

He guided her to his sunroom. Three sides were all glass, allowing him a spectacular view of the New Mexican landscape. The spring sun streamed in, glowing off the furniture. On the etched glass table sat their meal. He held her chair and allowed himself a quick indulgence of the intoxicating scent of her hair.

Her eyes were almost unsure when he sat across from her, but the look—whatever it was—vanished so quickly he chalked it up to his imagination.

A smile lifted her amazing lips. “Looks wonderful,” she said, removing the cover on her plate and placing the napkin in her lap.

They ate in silence, which was fine with him. He took the opportunity to study her even more. He memorised the curvature of her face. This was no immature girl. Katiya was a woman who was comfortable with herself as a person. That confidence added another layer of sensuality to her.

Another layer too many. I want to know what makes you tick, Katiya. What else besides your centre makes that special sparkle appear in your eyes?

“Something on your mind?” she asked, wiping her mouth.

“A lot,” he said, swirling the contents of his drink and refusing to release her gaze.

She leant forward, elbows on the table. “Like?”

“Tell me more about you.”

“More about me,” she mimicked.

“Yes. Like your family.”

There. The twinkle returned to her eyes.

She laid her fork on the plate and ran her tongue over her lips. “There are six of us. Three boys and three girls. Dimitri, who I mentioned being a lunatic for classic trucks, is the eldest. He’s an arson investigator. Then there’s me. Leonardo—Leo—is next and he’s the sheriff. There’s also Jonathon—he’s next and an attorney. Arissa is the second youngest and is a doctor. The baby of the family is Delicia—Lis. She’s an EMS responder.”

The love she felt for her family poured across the table.

“Sounds like you have a great family.”

She flashed an impish grin. “I like to think so. Although…I may be a bit biased.”

He chuckled. “In a good way, though. It seems like your family is all about helping others.”

“Yes,” she said with a nod. “We were all drawn into that line of work. I suppose we get it from our parents.” She sat back and they stared at one another. “What about you?”

“You’ve met one of my siblings. Calix is younger than me by a few years. And he works with me at Taylor Bytes as do the rest of my siblings.” She nodded and he recalled she knew that already. Hell, he was basically babbling.

“Nice.”

“Has its moments.”

“I understand that. Sometimes being so near to family can be a pain.”

They shared a laugh and he cleared his throat before standing. “Can I give you a tour of the rest of the house?”

“I’d like that.” She pushed to her feet and met him by the door. “Thank you for lunch.”

“My pleasure,” he replied honestly, taking advantage of her closeness to brush a kiss along the corner of her mouth.

Warwick kept an eye on her as they toured. He didn’t know how much her leg could take before it began to hurt her. At the moment though, all seemed to be well and good. She was mostly quiet, letting him tell her things. He walked beside her, content to just be in her company. It was nice, having her there. To have her here for longer than a single day would be amazing. Eventually, they ended back up in his garage with his collection. It was then he noticed what looked to be a slight strain on her face.