Her mouth had grown dry and not because of the sexual tension, though it was strong. Something had changed between them.
For the first time since they'd returned from the island, for the first time since the paternity scandal, Micki truly felt as if they were back in their easy, comfortable state.
And because of that connection, the teasing took on more sensual, provocative undertones. Desire raced through her at the thought.
He raised his hand and cupped her cheek. "Know what I like about you?"
''What's that?" she asked, trembling as she spoke.
His thumb caressed her face. "You don't pull any punches. You tell it like it is. And you aren't afraid to go head-to-head with me."
"I learned from the best." Once again she thought of her uncle.
"Well you should know something. Your guts and your spirit? They turn me on."
His voice was gruff and, combined with his purely masculine heat, it turned her on. Still, before she'd consider sleeping with him, she had to make some things clear.
"Damian?"
“Hmm?" His gaze bored into hers.
She gathered her courage because what she was about to say was the last thing she wanted, but she had ho choice. “This can't be more than a one-time thing."
One more time together before the paternity results came in. Micki knew that once they determined whether or not he was the father, she'd lose him one way or another. To his new life with a baby or to his old life that he couldn't seem to let go of.
He stared into her eyes, his hand caressing her face, remaining eerily silent as he pondered her words. She trembled with passion and desire, ready to jump him at a moment's notice. But Micki needed confirmation that they agreed on the ground rules.
She swallowed hard. "Do you understand?"
A muscle ticked in his cheek. "I ought to. They're my damn rules."
It had been a while since she had had the freedom to act on her feelings and she did so now. Slowly she reached out and smoothed her fingers over the lines of tension on his face, trying not to let her emotions show. "And? Do you want to go along?"
"I want," he said in a deep voice. "I want you badly."
His words freed her from worry or from thinking about anything except tonight. A seductive smile curved her lips.
He slid his hand from her cheek to her shoulders, his fingertips dipping below her neckline. His touch was hot on her skin, his intent to tease and arouse obvious- and effective.
She trembled, her nipples puckering into hard knots beneath her lightweight T-shirt as she reached for the opening on his collared polo shirt.
He stopped her, grabbing her wrist with his good hand. "I think I can maneuver things better in the bedroom."
"Tonight you don't have to worry about maneuvering or using that wrist at all," she promised him. "Tonight it's all about you."
Damian appreciated the sentiment but he wanted to make love to Micki hard and fast, to block out everything around him, but her.
"Show me the bedroom," she said, her voice low and husky.
Apparently she was calling the shots tonight. Fine by him. He didn't want to think, not even about her words. She hadn't sugarcoated her feelings and because he trusted her judgment, he'd think about what she said-but he'd do it tomorrow. As she'd pointed out, they had another agenda for the rest of the night.
Her hand in his, he led her down the hallway ending at his large master suite. She stepped ahead of him toward the bed, a place he'd only slept alone. Despite all the women who'd passed through his life, he'd protected and held onto his privacy both on the island and here at his apartment. Though Micki had shown up uninvited, he had no second thoughts about sharing his personal space. She'd already become intimately involved in his life and having her here felt right.
The bedroom lights were on dimmers and he lowered them enough to set the mood. He joined her by the bed, where she'd already begun to strip off her clothes. He had every intention of following her lead.
He reached for the snap on his jeans just as Micki came beside him wearing a nude-colored bra that revealed soft mounds of flesh and delectable cleavage, along with her darkened nipples pressing enticingly into the see-through lace. His gaze fell lower, to her flat stomach and matching panties, also nude, that teased him with a glimpse of triangular shadow.
"You're fast," he said, approvingly.