Now that really was insane. She swallowed, trying to get a grip on her pulse as they walked beneath the stand of trees where her car was parked. But it was all she could think of—she wanted him to kiss her again, she wanted him to do everything again. Dear heaven, she wanted to do it all and more to him. The crazy lust overwhelmed her again. She stumbled. His hand shot out and he grabbed her wrist, helping her regain her balance.
‘Kelsi?’ He pulled, gently drawing her close to him.
She stared up at him, overwhelmed by the chaos of emotions running through her body. She’d never had a sensual experience like that before. She’d never felt revered or wanted or as desirable as that. She’d never felt as at one with another—so in sync, so comfortable. She’d never come with a man like that before.
And she was so grateful she was near to tears.
Jack lifted her up so he could kiss her again. Pushing down the growl of frustration that threatened to emerge from his mouth as if he were some bear just out of hibernation and lethally hungry. He was shaking with starvation now—but they couldn’t do it again.
Damn.
She trembled as he put her on the bonnet of her car; he felt the answering spasm in his muscles and clutched her even closer.
‘I only had the one condom.’ He groaned, forcing himself to cling to reality. ‘Kids aren’t part of my plan.’
‘No,’ she muttered.
‘We have to stop.’
‘Mmm…’ Her hands skated across his chest.
He grabbed them between his, holding them firm. ‘Not helping, Kelsi.’
But he couldn’t not kiss her. Not when she looked as disappointed as he felt. He liked ultraphysical sex—pushing it hard. Full-on and frantic, leaving him and his lover both too exhausted to move. Like everything he did, he liked it to extremes. He’d thought the beach had been his most extreme experience ever. He’d thought he wouldn’t be able to get hard again for at least twelve hours. But here he was filled and ready to fire not much more than fifteen minutes later.
He swore hard in his head while his mouth ravaged hers. Burning up for this surprisingly fit woman who seemed to still be as hungry as he—who’d just given him the most sensational sex of his life. But he made himself ease it back, slow it down so their kisses soothed rather than stirred.
Yet even those gentle touches were an indulgence he couldn’t give up. Not when she nipped and then suckled on his lower lip like that, not when her small fingers tugged at his hair so he’d bring his head closer again.
Yeah, kissing her was irresistible. And the idea of being inside her again became imperative. He could take her back to his hotel and they could spend the night together. She made him feel invincible, filled with unending energy. Raw sexual attraction—and a compatibility that astounded him given their physical disparity.
She had colour now—pretty pink rose petals bloomed in her cheeks. So much nicer than the pallor when she’d come flying out of the car to see if she’d killed him. The fresh air suited her; so did the kissed senseless look.
But when he lifted his head to look at her beautiful body, he realised the light was darkening. He looked to the sky—heavy clouds had rolled across and were dropping lower with every second. Canterbury was famed for providing four seasons in one day and it seemed the weather had gone from summer to winter in minutes. The wind lifted, no longer the crazy warm breeze but a cold, threatening blast. And despite the way he ran his hands over her, he could see the goose bumps peppering her upper arms. They had to go. But he didn’t want to destroy this moment.
‘We need to get back to town,’ he said, sounding harsh with frustration. ‘It’s going to rain.’
The disappointment darkened her eyes even more and he saw then just how tired she was. So he kissed her again, his hands gently rubbing her upper arms, slowly and lightly. Then he told her, ‘I’m driving back.’
He saw her hesitation, just knew she was going to argue, so he kissed her again until she was lax and he could feel her soft drowsiness. He repeated his intention and smiled as she muttered OK.
Ten minutes into the drive she’d twisted sideways in the seat and gone to sleep—smiling. She looked so sweet. So vulnerable. And so not his type. Jack looked back to the road as he felt the big fat oops hit him.
Despite her sophisticated surface there was a sensitive depth there. He’d seen it in her terror after the accident, he’d just forgotten it when she’d turned sex kitten on him on the sand. And frankly he’d been too hot for her to be able to stop anyway. He’d wanted, and he’d got—just like always.
But she was a softy, wasn’t she? And that soft side was only going to get scrunched if she hung out with him any more than another five minutes. He liked fun with women who were as strong as he—who could handle physical challenge without emotional entanglements. She’d hardly been able to handle a near-miss car prang. Hell, she’d probably still been in shock after the accident and he’d just taken total advantage of her. He felt really bad now. He couldn’t spend the rest of the day fulfilling carnal fantasies with her—even if it was what his body was screaming at him to do. He really didn’t want to hurt her and he’d seen the vulnerability in her eyes—he’d seen her surprise when he’d shown his interest. She wasn’t a player.
So it was better to end it all now.
As he waited at a red light on the city side of the hill he leaned across and woke her with an irresistible last little kiss. ‘Where do you live?’
She stirred, blinking rapidly as she told him. He drove straight there, determined to finish up this oh-so-gorgeous interlude before he was tempted back to touch more.
‘You don’t want me to drop you somewhere?’ She straightened up in her seat.
He shook his head. ‘The walk will be good for my knee.’
If she went within a mile radius of his hotel he’d drag her in with him.
He pulled over where she’d said to. ‘Big house.’
Her pretty nose wrinkled. ‘It’s been converted into four flats. It’s all carved up inside.’
He looked closer at the old stately house. One of the last original buildings remaining on the street—and the For Sale sign up in front of it meant she’d probably be moving soon. The property would be demolished and developers would put up ten town houses in its place—as what had happened with the rest of the street. Shame for the old dame—despite the wear and lack of love the structure was solid and the detail handcrafted.
He got out of her car, trying to ignore the horrible tightening inside. He didn’t much like drawn-out goodbyes. But she moved so she was right in front of him, standing on her tiptoes in her bare feet, her fingers lightly cupping his jaw so she ensured she had his attention.
‘You were right, you know,’ she said simply. ‘Thanks so much, Jack.’
He swallowed and nodded and simply couldn’t give her a kiss. Oddly hurt that she so readily accepted that there wasn’t going to be anything more between them. Not really wanting to be thanked as if it were some kind of service he’d provided—as if he’d just been her intimate masseuse or something.
Hell, maybe she was tougher than she looked. Maybe he should just go in there with her and explore the comfort of her bed. Except she was walking. Away. As if she didn’t care at all—and that was for the best, right?
‘Good luck with your training,’ she called.
He stood on the footpath and watched her open the big wooden door. Not moving until it had closed again behind her—because he was too tempted to storm in there after her and kiss her ’til she begged him to be inside her again. But she’d disappeared now, so he walked, trying to make his tense muscles relax—reminding himself that he’d just had a fun time on a beach with a cute girl. That was all. Nothing more. Nothing serious.
But he couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling that he’d just left a part of himself behind.
CHAPTER FOUR