The Bachelor (Chandler Brothers 1)

If she didn’t know better, she’d say something had shifted between them. Again.

“What’s so different about the underwear that’s being stolen?” he asked.

“You tell me. You saw it yourself firsthand.” She swallowed hard. “In the dressing room the other day.”

The memory darkened his eyes to a stormy blue hue. “You handmade those?”

She nodded. He laced his hand through hers, his callused fingertips wreaking havoc with her nerve endings and sending white-hot darts of fire throughout her body. At last he held her hands up for further inspection. “I didn’t realize I was dealing with an artist.”

She let out a shaky laugh, unnerved by his touch and the longing he always inspired. “Let’s not get carried away.”

“Sweetheart, I saw those panties and I saw you in them. I’m definitely not exaggerating. In fact, I can see why a man would go to extreme lengths to get his hands on a pair. Especially if you were wearing them.” His voice lowered to a husky, seductive level.

He turned her wrist out and placed a strategic kiss, followed by a nip of his teeth on one fingertip. Her nipples hardened with the first soft bite and as he moved on to each successive fingertip, her entire body raged with burning need.

She wondered where this was headed, why he’d started seducing her now, instead of saying good-bye. She didn’t understand his sudden change in mood. She had no doubt that kiss earlier had been intended as a final farewell.

“Did you know I couldn’t take my eyes off you tonight?” Roman laved the inside of her wrist and blew cool air onto her dampened skin.

She stifled a delighted moan. “You could have fooled me.”

“I was trying to fool us both. Even tonight when I barged in here with the deluded notion I could walk away from you, I was trying to fool us both.”

Her heart caught in her throat and she listened carefully.

“Over the years I’ve perfected the art of watching without being caught. It’s a necessity in my line of work.” His mouth traveled up her arm, arousing her with the feather-light touch of his lips. “I was watching you.”

“Mmm. Then you definitely managed to fool me.”

“But I don’t think I fooled Terrie Whitehall,” he said when he’d reached her shoulder, then stopped to nuzzle the sensitive skin on Charlotte’s neck.

Her knees buckled and she leaned back against the wall for support. “So Terrie turned on you out of jealousy?”

“Sounds like it,” he said, his breath hot on Charlotte’s flesh.

He braced his hands on the wall behind her and sandwiched her with his lean, hard body. She struggled for even breaths as his erection, full and solid, came to rest between her legs. She tried to remember what they’d been discussing, but words failed her. “I can’t concentrate,” she murmured.

“That’s the point.” He threaded his hands through her hair. “Let me stay tonight, Charlotte. Let me take care of you.”

She’d expected this attempt to play bodyguard. “Your staying is not a good idea.” Much as she would have enjoyed it. She braced both her hands against his shoulders, but instead of pushing him away, she savored the heat and strength of his body against hers.

“Then why does it feel like one?” His hips jerked forward, thrusting his hard length against her sex.

Waves of sensation rose to life. Her lashes fell and she savored the feeling. “It feels good because there’s nothing rational about sex. You can’t stay because you came over here to say good-bye. You said as much earlier.” She recalled his words, the pain lodging in her throat.

“And then I kissed you and I realized there’s no way in hell I can walk away.”

“What?” Excitement and hope unlike any she’d known sizzled to life inside as she contemplated his words. “What are you saying?” she asked, because she had to be sure.

“There’s always been something between us. Something that won’t go away. If you’ve got the guts to take the risk and see where it leads, then so do I.” His blue eyes stared into hers.

Her pulse began an unsteady beat. He’d taken her by surprise. Apparently he’d shocked himself too. She understood the push and pull between them as well as he did.

But despite the fact that he’d taken her off guard, she’d already thought this possibility through. An affair with Roman wasn’t only what she wanted, but what she needed as well. Because by giving in to the desire that had been brewing for years, she’d give it a chance to run its course.

Without a doubt, Charlotte knew she’d be risking her heart. She’d walked away from him once before, and though she never admitted it, even to herself, she’d regretted it deep inside. She needed to experience having sex with him. Needed the memories to cherish for a lifetime without him.