“The kind who is determined and beautiful.” I moved a flyaway curl from her cheek. “The kind of girl who can understand business and write about it.” I moved in closer. “The kind who is strong and independent enough to move halfway across the country to follow a dream. And is so fucking sexy I had to stop myself from asking you out three times today.”
Her eyes darted to mine. “What are you talking about? The entire day you avoided me like I was a case of food poisoning.”
“Ever wonder why?” My hand slid against her throat, tracing the lines of her neck. Her pulse quickened under my fingers. I couldn’t help myself. Her skin was addictive, just like her lips.
“I thought it was because you hated reporters.”
“I do,” I growled against her ear as I gently grazed my teeth against her skin.
She pushed against my shoulder. “We can’t start this up again. I don’t know what you want.”
My free arm wrapped around her waist, nestling her against my chest. “It’s not obvious?”
Her muscles tensed. “Let’s just blame it on the tequila.” She sighed.
She was right. I needed to make one decision and stick with it. No more back and forth. No more starting and stopping. No more second-guessing. I wanted her. Plain and simple.
“This is what I know.” I tipped her chin toward my gaze. “I’m not going to be able to sleep tonight if all I can do is think about these lips.”
“Sorry to hear that. I’m not doing this again.” She untangled herself from my arms.
“Look. I didn’t know how unattached your attitude was about sleepovers. I think we might be on the same page.” I had gotten her back in my hands; I couldn’t stop a second time.
“Sleepovers?” she laughed. “That’s what you call it?”
My hand ran along her thigh, shoving her skirt up. “What do you want to call it?”
“I want to call this an interview.” She tugged on the hem, moving my hand back to my side of the couch. “I shouldn’t have let things get out of control on the balcony either. I’m sorry too.”
I could see it in her eyes. She was where I was. Her breath was heavy, her eyes were gleaming with desire. Only she was tapped into her rational side.
“Prove it,” I challenged.
“Prove what?”
“That you can sleep with me and walk out the door in the morning completely unattached.”
“What in the hell are you talking about?”
“You said that was all you wanted. Prove it.” I crushed my lips against hers, not giving her a chance to protest. I heard her purr under my tongue as she moved her mouth kissing me harder than before. It was an angry kiss. Defiant even, but it felt fucking incredible.
Her hands snaked around my neck and I moved to pick her up and carry her to my bed. “You better not stop this time,” she groaned as I laid her across the sheets.
“I swear I won’t stop until you beg me to.” I descended on her, pinning her arms over her head. She looked like a goddess, sprawled across my bed. I realized then that I might be the one who wouldn’t walk out of here unattached.
8
Sydney
We had fallen asleep sometime around three. I woke up at five, Mason’s room was still dark. His arm draped across my chest. I looked at his clock. Shit!
“Mason.” I shoved against his arm.
“What?” he answered sleepily.
“I have to write my story.” I slid out from under him, my feet landing on the cool tile next to his bed.
He lunged toward me, his arm scooping me back toward his chest. “It’s early.”