Love by Association

“Strip for me,” he said, his gaze shaded as he looked up at her. His grin was devilish and fun and sexy.

Reaching behind her, she unclipped her bra, then slowly, one strap at a time, drew it down her arms and, finally, away from her breasts. They’d always seemed a little big to her. That night, exposed to him, they made her happy.

Her panties were next. She’d paid attention to them only because the lady in the secondhand shop where she’d found the designer clothes had told her that she’d need them so that panty lines didn’t show when she wore certain dresses.

The black lace thong followed her bra to the floor.

“Come to me,” Colin said, watching her intently, yet not making her feel as though she was on display. There was no discomfort in disrobing for him.

One knee at a time, Chantel climbed onto the end of the bed, making her way toward him.

“You really are the most incredibly beautiful woman.” His whisper was broken and reverent. A sound Chantel knew she was never going to forget as long as she lived.

He gave her a glimpse of what he seemed to see. A slim blonde with curves in all the right places. A woman who turned men’s heads. A woman worth wanting.

The insight changed forever her perception of herself.

In Colin’s presence, she felt like that woman. When she was with him, the tough-girl tomboy she’d always been completely flew the coop.

* * *

HE DIDN’T INTEND to stay the night, didn’t ever spend an entire night in a woman’s bed. He preferred to avoid the potential for making awkward promises that he knew he couldn’t keep.

That night taught Colin something about himself. Morning wasn’t the problem. He’d been sleeping with women he didn’t care deeply about. Having sex for physical release.

That night taught him that sex was far more than just a route to orgasm. As he slid his body inside Chantel’s, he became a part of her, solidifying the bond that was growing between them.

With her help, he’d gotten a condom on just before sliding home.

And even that had felt different.

In the past, he’d not only been practicing safe sex, he’d also been protecting both parties from unwanted pregnancies. With Chantel...

Thinking of her possibly carrying his baby...wasn’t...horrible.

He fell asleep with her in his arms afterward. And woke her to make love a second and then a third time during the night.

A door closing in the hallway woke him just before five, and he knew it was time to go—to shower and be at the breakfast table on time.

Julie could think what she liked about him. It wasn’t as if she thought he had no sex life.

But he didn’t want anyone scrutinizing this relationship. What he had with Chantel was...untouchable.

Leaning over, he kissed her on the shoulder. And pulled back immediately when she sprang awake and out of the bed in one second flat. Reaching down to pull the sheet up and cover herself in the next second.

“I’m sorry.” He held up both hands before getting out of the bed and reaching for his pants. Underwear could travel home in his pocket. He should never have stayed. Clearly he’d misread something...

“No.” Chantel slumped down to the mattress, watching as he stepped into his pants. “I’m sorry. I...” Her eyebrows drew together as she shook her head. “I’m used to being on my own. Protecting myself...”

“Having a man kiss you awake isn’t part of your normal routine,” he said with a grin, starting to feel better.

“Exactly. A woman has to act first and ask questions later.”

He was struck again with the idea that her past hadn’t been as rosy as he’d first assumed. Chantel bore emotional scars.

He wanted to bear them with her.

“You’re telling me that you aren’t used to having a man in your bed.” His shirt hung, unbuttoned, on his shoulders.

“That’s right.”

“Which means that I’m different...we’re different...”

“Exactly.” She still wasn’t smiling, though.

He had to ask, “Do you regret last night?”

“No.” Her answer held no hesitation or doubt. It was stated with the same straightforwardness he’d come to expect from her.

“Good,” he told her, rounding the bed to pull her up to him. She let the sheet drop, leaving her bare breasts to press against his chest. He got hard. “I intend to do it again,” he told her against her lips, pushing his thighs into hers. “Soon.”

She nodded, looking at him wordlessly.

He wanted words. He needed to hear her confirm that they were in over their heads together.

“As often as we can during the time we have together,” he added, just in case she was worried that he’d forgotten that her time in California was limited. Or maybe she was regretting that fact as much as he was?