Chapter One
“Are you, like, banging Calvin Prescott on the side or something?” Dora asked. “Because I will never understand how you talked him into this, Carmen.” She walked around the perimeter of the gazebo and clicked her tongue in admiration. “It’s like something out of a magazine,” she noted, “but then, I guess the manor it’s attached to is nothing to sneeze at.” The wisteria that grew over the breezeway was in full show and ruffled purple blooms hung down over the walkway like dozens of Chinese lanterns.
“Well, Calvin thought it was a great idea. He’s all for increasing his property value, and the pergola breezeway and this gazebo definitely do that. Besides, I’m pretty sure he got a great deal on labour and materials from some folks he knows.” Carmen cleared her throat. “It’ll be perfect for my belly dancing lessons, but it’s also a lovely place to entertain, don’t you think?”
The breezeway arched around the back garden of the manor, past plantings of lavender dwarf irises, frilly white rhododendrons and lilac orchids interspersed among beds of hardy Kentucky wildflowers. “It’s stunning,” Dora agreed. “Good on Calvin for using plants native to the area, too. That man has a green thumb as big as a house. I’ve never seen such prolific poppies and trumpet creepers.”
“Calvin offered some input, of course, but it’s Calvin’s gardener who’s the real genius. Bufo is a treasure.”
“‘Bufo’. That’s an odd name,” Dora noted. “Doesn’t it mean ‘toad’?” She turned to Carmen with a puzzled expression, but her friend offered no explanation. “Whatever his name is, I’d love for him to help me with the beds around Bohemian Rhapsody. They’re nice, but I’d love for Bufo to come work his magic on them.”
Carmen made a choking sound then dropped to her knees to turn on her stereo. Sensual Middle Eastern music filled the air. “I’m afraid Bufo only works on Prescott property, Dora,” she said briskly. “But I’ll be sure to pass on the compliment. Are you ready to get some dancing in?” She pulled off her sweatshirt and pants to reveal a charcoal jog bra and fitted Lycra capris, then tied on her coin-covered hip sash.
“Sure thing, coach,” Dora answered. She stripped off her day clothes and donned her hip scarf as well. “You’re sure Calvin’s gone, right? Nobody’s here to see us?” She rubbed her upper arms self-consciously and glanced towards the manor. The air was slightly cool, but she knew that activity would warm her quickly.
“You look beautiful, Dora. I’d love to have curves like yours. Men are totally crazy about them. But yes, Calvin’s gone and there’s no one in the house that I know of. I need to see the outline of your body during our lessons, so it’s good that you’re wearing fitted clothes.” Carmen handed a plastic tray to Dora and grinned. “Ready to practice balancing? You’re gonna love dancing with a tray on your head, especially when you get to create a flower arrangement to go on it.”
Surrounded by the fragrant plantings and serene grounds of Prescott Woods, Dora centered the tray atop her head and followed Carmen’s instructions. Rolling her hips and sinuously waving her arms, she relaxed and felt the warm, sensual strength that enveloped her during Middle Eastern dancing.
From an oak tree at the edge of the woods, a bluebird flew towards the gazebo. Although its wings beat quickly, the bird’s path switched back and forth so that its progress was slow compared to other birds. “Oh my gosh,” Dora breathed when it landed on the white-painted rail of the gazebo. The plastic tray clattered to the floor next to her, but the bird didn’t budge. “We have an audience, Carmen! I love bluebirds—they’re so sweet and cheerful!”
“Yeah, well, I’m sure it’s just here for the flowers and bugs, Dora. There are lots of birds in the woods.” Carmen narrowed her eyes at the brilliant blue animal. She started to make a shooing gesture, but Dora caught her hand.
“It’s not hurting anything,” she said. “I kind of like having someone to dance for, even if it’s just a bird. It sort of reminds me of that grey cat that used to hang out in the window of the studio in town. Remember him, Carmen?”
Carmen grunted and handed Dora her dropped tray. “Okay, you win,” she agreed. “Today we dance for a feathered audience member. All I can say is, he’d better not poop on the gazebo or I’m going after a broom.”
The bird ruffled its feathers and warbled sweetly as Dora once more followed Carmen’s dance instructions.
Lowell rested his chin on the gazebo rail and took a deep breath. Dora was, simply put, the most stunning woman to ever grace the planet. That long, thick, raven hair, that upturned nose, those lips that managed to be both full and delicate at the same time… And that body! By three hells, he hadn’t known a figure like that was possible. Muscular and firm, yet yielding and soft in the places it mattered most, and with a bosom and hips to make any red-blooded man weak in the knees.
He tipped his head to one side and watched her hips pivot and her full breasts tremble with each step. Carmen, of course, was watching and was far from impressed, but she was powerless to stop him. Dora would be horrified if she chased off a sweet little bluebird. He chuckled and cast his gaze lower, to Dora’s plump thighs, rounded calves and tender, delicate feet. A rampant erection jutted from his crotch, but he was far too used to walking around in the nude to care. Carmen had seen it all before, and it was worth a smidgeon of exposure to be able to behold Dora up close. He whistled appreciatively.
“Awww,” Dora cooed. “He’s tilting his little head and singing along with the music. I think he likes me.” She executed a turn and a deep knee bend, all while keeping the tray on its precarious perch. “See? I do better with an audience, Carmen.”
Carmen’s movements became jerky and her own tray clattered to the floor. “You can keep practicing,” she said in a terse voice. “I’m going to get something for us to drink. I think it’s getting a little warm out here.”
Dora continued to dance, stepping forward and backward, dipping her hips down and moving her head from side to side. Smiling, she moved closer to the bluebird. Lowell thought he would die from pleasure overload. Dora undulated before his very eyes, shaking those gorgeous breasts scant inches from his face. How he wanted to drop his glamour, grab her in his arms and carry her off into the woods… It’s something Brock might have done, he thought, but I’m stronger than that.
He craned his neck and caught a whiff of her fragrance—some sweet flower or other—glorious. He watched, entranced, as her nipped waist swayed over those lush hips and her belly undulated with rippling precision. The head of his erect cock bumped against the lattice walls of the gazebo and Lowell groaned with desire. A brief look told him that Carmen was still inside, so he was unobserved… He took his shaft in his hand and slid it through his fist. His flesh grew tighter as he rubbed it. I’m going to have to touch her, he decided. There’s just no way around it.
The side door to the manor shut with a bang and the sound of approaching footsteps emanated from the breezeway, but Lowell was too far gone to notice. Dora danced for him seductively, as though she knew that he was hiding behind the face of an innocent little bluebird. He imagined sliding his erection between the crevice of Dora’s sweat-sheened breasts, pushing them together with his palms so that her warm flesh enveloped his cock completely.
“Can I interest you in some ice water?” he heard Carmen ask brightly. Dora turned just as Carmen lunged forward with her tray in a theatrically clumsy stumble. She let the plastic tray fall, but caught the pitcher. Lowell didn’t have time to duck when he saw the torrent of ice cubes and water flying through the air at him. The frigid mixture splashed over his head and ran over his bare back, chest and aching shaft.
“Shit, that’s cold!” he sputtered, stepping away from the gazebo to brush the freezing water from his skin.
“Ummm… Did that bird just…talk?” Dora whispered. She raised her hand to her throat and took one step away from the feathered blue terror.
Sputtering, Lowell locked eyes with a heartily amused Carmen before running back into the safety of Prescott Woods.