He paced across the completed part of the deck and then glanced down at his feet. “The deck.” He wondered why it hadn’t occurred to him before. “I will tell him I have to finish the deck before the party. It’s essential for Snow Crystal. He will never argue with anything involving Snow Crystal.”
“The deck is nearly completed.”
“He doesn’t know that. He hasn’t seen it yet. I’ll undo the work I’ve already done. I’ll get here early, before he shows up, and rip it up. He’ll never know. I’ll make the job last all week.”
Élise’s eyes gleamed. “He’ll tell you off for being slow.”
“You wanted his life to be normal. That sounds normal to me.” Sean tried to focus but the scent of her was dizzying. It smothered his brain and pumped itself through his veins until she was the only thing in his head. “I’ll make it clear my being here has nothing to do with him, and I’ll tell the rest of the family to stop hovering and back off. Does that work?”
“I think so.” She relaxed slightly and stepped away from him. “Now that is solved, I can sleep.”
“Wait a minute—” He caught her arm and pulled her back to him, his eyes on her mouth.
“Stop looking at me like that.”
“How am I looking at you?”
“As if you want to strip me naked.”
He felt the tension leave him. “Stripping you naked is just the beginning of what I want to do to you. Do you want to hear the rest?”
“No.” But heat flared in her eyes. “You will not talk me around with sex if that is what you are thinking.”
“Talking wasn’t part of my plan.”
“I am angry with you. I cannot kiss you when I’m angry with you.”
“Fine. Then I’ll kiss you.” And he did. Except that the second he crushed her mouth under his, she was kissing him back. Her lips were soft and sweet, her response instant and it was as hot and crazy as every other time. They took hungrily, greedily, the kiss explicit and passionate to the point of violence. Her tongue was in his mouth and his in hers, tangling intimately. Moaning, she grabbed a handful of his shirt, pressed herself hard against him and then whimpered slightly as he switched positions and pushed her back against the railings, trapping her.
“You think you can soften my mood with kisses?” Her tone was thickened. “You’re a good kisser but it won’t work. I’m still angry.”
“No, you’re not.” His hands tore at her shirt in his haste to get to her skin. “God, Élise, I want you—” The taste of her sent fire rushing through him. The chemistry was as sharp as a whip, biting into him. He felt her fingers dig hard into his shoulders.
“I will scratch you like a cat and my claws are very sharp.”
Sean tore at the buttons on her shirt. “I’ll take my chances.” The need was burning inside him.
“And tomorrow when you are working on the deck with your shirt off, everyone will see your shoulders and raise their eyebrows. This thing between us will no longer be a secret.” Hands shaking, she ripped at his shirt and buttons flew. “Merde, that was Jackson’s shirt—”
“I’ll buy him another—” The moonlight shone down on the dip and swell of her breasts, partially revealed by a pretty lace bra, and he wasn’t thinking of the shirt or his brother. He couldn’t remember ever wanting another woman the way he wanted Élise. “You’re so beautiful.” His fingers slid under the lace and he heard her moan.
“You are clever with your hands.”
He decided lace was overrated and unhooked her bra. Her breasts were small and high and he wondered if the bra had any purpose other than to add another layer and drive a man mad. He slid his mouth down to her shoulder and lower, sucking her nipple into his mouth.
Her fingers dug hard into his shoulders. “Sean—”
Her nipple hardened against the slow flick of his tongue and he heard her breathing change.
Desire ripped at him, tearing through control, and he brought his mouth down on hers again, feeling her press against him. He was tired of pressure and complication. Tired of trying to second-guess his family and tired of feeling guilty. He wanted to blot it out. He wanted this. He wanted her.
And he wanted her now.
Her arms were around his neck. Her body pressed against his.
He decided if he was going to prolong his stay at Snow Crystal, he deserved to do whatever he could to preserve his sanity. And sex with Élise was deliciously uncomplicated.
Or was it?