Michelle Celmer - Texan’s Wedding-Night Wager / The Oilman’s Baby Bargain - Texan’s Wedding-Night Wager

“Ohh.” His touch sent her mind reeling. She’d been so long without this, without Kevin bringing her pleasure.

Alone at the lake in the darkness, the night lit only by moonlight, Cara succumbed to Kevin’s ministrations. He slid his hand back and forth, his fingertips caressing her most sensitive skin. She rocked and swayed, and he kissed her while she moved over his hand.

“You feel so good, Cara,” he whispered over her lips. He slipped one finger inside.

Cara’s eyes closed. She surrendered to Kevin’s will. Every single part of her body tingled as he stroked her, slipping his finger up and down until she moved in rhythm like the music of a sexy samba. When she arched her back, Kevin followed her, sliding his lips along her throat, creating sensations that burned like a branding iron.

Whimpers of pleasure tumbled from her lips and Cara’s face twisted in ecstasy. “Oh, sweet heaven.”

Kevin cupped her breast with one hand and stroked her unmercifully with the other. Again and again, until Cara’s body rocked out of control.

“It’s so good, baby. Remember?”

Cara remembered. Kevin had always been an unselfish lover. But her thoughts stopped there, because she was too far gone to answer him. Her pleasure heightened and heightened, Kevin drawing out every quiver, every earth-shattering morsel of ecstasy, relentless in his pursuit.

Her muscles contracted and squeezed, her body quaked, and Kevin stopped his assault, allowing her to enjoy this moment on her own terms. He knew, oh, yes, how he knew to bring her the utmost pleasure.

Her orgasm came in slow, torturous, drawn-out bursts. Cara relished each mind-blowing second of shuddering release. Then slowly, slowly she came back down to earth.

When she opened her eyes, Kevin was watching her, his gaze smoldering with lust. “That was—”

“Heaven,” Cara whispered, not shy about her display.

Kevin shook his head. “The sexiest thing I’ve ever witnessed.”

Cara glanced down at his obvious erection. “Are you…okay?”

“I could make love to you ten times on this picnic table and not be satisfied.”

Cara squirmed, tempted by the erotic thought.

Kevin worked her zipper up and handed her back her bra. “But a deal’s a deal.”

Fully sated and feeling very lighthearted, Cara dressed. “A man of his word.”

Kevin inhaled a sharp breath. She knew how much he’d held back, for her pleasure. “Would have been safer to teach me how to dance.”

Cara couldn’t contain her smile. “Safety is overrated at times.”

“So, you’ll come to Lance and Kate’s reception with me?”

Cara turned to Kevin before entering her hotel room. He stood close, boxing her in by the door. Her face still glowed from the attention he’d paid to her at the lake, and the taste of her lips still lingered on his mouth.

“Are you trying to manipulate me?” she asked coyly.

Kevin winced and faked a stab wound to the heart. “You’re killing me, Cara.”

Cara nibbled on her lower lip with indecision. She’d had him at his boiling point. It had been all he could do not to make love to her on that picnic table tonight. Desire and lust combined made for a heavy aphrodisiac.

“Why do you want me to go?”

Kevin tilted his head and spoke in a serious tone. “Regardless of what has happened between us, Lance has always been your friend. I know he’d want you to be there.”

“Why do you?” Cara asked, searching his eyes.

“You’re awfully suspicious.”

“Don’t I have a right to be? After all, you’re blackmailing me.”

“It’s not blackmail, Cara. We made a deal. And tonight, I asked you to celebrate the marriage of a good friend. It’s as simple as that.”

Kevin wanted her on his arm that night and he wanted to spend as much time with her as possible during these two weeks, but it surprised him how much it mattered to him.

Cara finally relented. “Okay. I’ll go and share in the celebration. Lance is a good man.”

Kevin nodded, glad that she’d changed her mind. “Good night, Cara.” He leaned in and pressed his mouth to hers, relishing the soft, subtle nuances of her giving lips and baby-soft skin. “I had a good time tonight.”

Cara closed her eyes briefly. An image of her panting out a rocking orgasm flashed in his head.

“Uh, Kevin. Maybe we shouldn’t—”

Kevin leaned in and kissed her a second time, stopping her next thought. “I’ll call you tomorrow.”

She gazed into his eyes and shook her head as if trying to figure him out before turning to enter her hotel room.

Kevin left her and drove to his penthouse. He stripped out of his clothes immediately and walked into an icy-cold shower. The brisk spray rained down, easing his stubborn lust. But sexy images of Cara stayed with him throughout. It wasn’t easy to wash Cara from his system.

He wanted to make her pay for abandoning him. He wanted to charm her and bend her to his will. He’d succeeded somewhat, but Cara had always been bright. She was correct to be suspicious of him. The only trouble was that he, too, paid a price for his little plan.

He wanted her.

After he toweled off, he headed for his bar and poured himself two fingers of bourbon. Leaning against the black-granite counter, he lifted his glass in midair. “Here’s to you, Cara. My wife for just a few more days.”

After her lake encounter with Kevin, Cara warned herself she was playing with fire and vowed to keep her distance from her husband until Lance and Kate’s reception. It was much safer that way. She needed to keep her perspective and remember why she’d come to Houston.

She’d maintained that resolve for exactly twelve hours, until Kevin knocked at her door midmorning, wearing a full Astros baseball getup. She glanced at him, puzzled, noting his red jersey and baseball cap with the Astros’ official star logo. He waved box-seat tickets for the afternoon game in front of her and shot her a delicious grin.

When it dawned on her what he had in mind, she could hardly refuse his enticing offer. She was a huge Houston fan, going back to her high-school days. Going to a day game felt sinful and luxurious, and she felt that doubly with Kevin by her side.

Now, she sat in a box seat at Minute Maid Park, just behind home plate, eating a hot dog and slurping down a Diet Coke.

“Want another?” he asked, after inhaling two hot dogs in record time.

“Nope, but toss me that bag of peanuts and I’m good to go.”

Kevin smiled and set the bag on her lap. “Have at it, babe.”

They munched on peanuts, booed the bad calls, cheered the good ones and jumped from their seats when an Astro player made it on base. Kevin excused himself for a minute and when he returned, he plopped a red cap with a big white star on her head and handed her a jersey that matched his.

“Thank you!” After she put the jersey on over her blouse, she reached over and planted a big kiss on his cheek.

Kevin turned his head toward her and her kiss slid to his lips. He tasted of mustard and soda and sunshine and their kiss lasted far longer than expected. Kevin took her into his arms and, much like two teenagers in love, they lost themselves.

“Hey, get a room!”

The shout came from a few rows back and Kevin smiled as he broke off the kiss. “Not a bad idea.”

“Oh!” Cara straightened in her seat, a full flush of heat rising up her neck. She refused to look Kevin’s way for a few minutes but she did hear him chuckle several times.

The Astros won the game and, with their spirits buoyed, they strolled the ballpark hand-in-hand until the crowds diminished. Cara stood in the Grand Union lobby, the famous entrance to the ballpark that went back to the early beginnings of Houston. “Remember when they built the stadium?”