Substitute Seduction (Sweet Tea And Scandal 2)

“You do?” If it was possible, she looked even more stunned.

“I think about you all the time when we’re not together and that’s never happened to me before.”

“But we barely know each other.”

Concern lashed at him. Were they on the same page or not?

“I’m not saying I want to get married tomorrow, but I can’t see an end to this thing between us and that’s saying a lot.” He leaned forward and fixed his eyes on her. “I need to know if you feel the same way.”

“I...don’t...know. That is...” She redirected her focus to the tabletop and an agonized expression passed over her features. “I do like you. A lot. But I haven’t given any thought to the future.”

Harrison sat back, unsatisfied by her answer. While he had to give her props for being honest, it wasn’t the ringing endorsement of their connection he’d been hoping for.

“Then you’d be the first woman I’ve dated who hadn’t,” he said, fighting annoyance that he’d opened up while she remained guarded. “Is it because of what I do?”

“You mean racing? No.” When he snorted in disbelief, she reached both her hands across the table and laid them over his. “My engagement ended a couple months ago after I’d been with Linc for three years. I was just starting to figure out who I am when you came into my life.”

“I think that’s crap. You know exactly who you are. The question is whether or not that woman can see herself with a guy like me. I’m not someone your mother would approve of. I don’t have any interest in making the rounds of Charleston society. Our daughter would never attend a single debutante event. But I can promise I wouldn’t ever make you regret a single day of our life together.”

“Harrison...” She blinked rapidly and heaved a sigh.

“You have to decide what’s truly important to you.”

“You make me sounds like such a snob,” she murmured, her high color betraying her inner turmoil. “I know what people say about me. That I wasn’t in love with Linc. And that’s probably true. There’s a good reason why we were engaged for two years without ever setting a wedding date. But then there’s the part where I think he was cheating on me.” London’s voice shook as she finished, “What if I don’t have what it takes to keep a man interested long-term?”

Her words flattened Harrison against the booth seat. Was that what was bothering her? That she believed herself undesirable? How was that possible when he’d shown her over and over how much he wanted her?

“You have what it takes to keep the right man interested long-term. You chose the wrong guy last time. Have faith in what you want and who you are.” He turned his hands over so that their palms rested against each other. It wrenched his heart that she couldn’t bring herself to meet his gaze. “You have what it takes to keep me interested forever.”

Her breath caught. “You shouldn’t say things like that.”

“Why not? You don’t think I’m being truthful?”

“I think you have a lot to learn about me and what you discover might change your mind.”

He couldn’t imagine what she was talking about and had no idea how to coax her out of this sudden funk she’d fallen into. “I guess that could be said of me, as well. All I’m asking is for you to be open to exploring who we could be to each other.”

“I can do that.” She gave his hands a brief hard squeeze and let go. After a large swallow of her cocktail, she fastened a bright smile on her face and said, “How about you and I go back to my place and do some of that exploring you were talking about.”

Grinning, Harrison threw a hundred on the table and got to his feet, holding out his hand. “Let’s go.”

Harrison didn’t know what to expect when they got to her condo. London had sent him smoking-hot glances the entire drive. Now the door was barely shut before she backed him toward the foyer wall and then gave a shove that sent the breath whooshing from his lungs. A second later she pressed

her body against his, gripping his hair in a painful grasp while crushing her lips to his. She kissed him hard and rough, making his world go black and hot. Blood rushed through his veins, pounding in his ears as she ambushed his senses with teeth and tongue and ragged breath.

He was helpless to process the astonishing hunger that gripped her. All he could do was surrender to her feasting and let her set him on fire.

Sinking his fingers into her silky hair, he savored the soft texture while his other hand slid down her back and slipped over the curve of her butt, lifting her against his growing erection. The move caused her to shudder and suck his lower lip between her teeth. A searing nip, followed by the soothing flick of her tongue, made him groan.

“I’m going to make you come like you never have,” she whispered in his ear while her fingers raked down his torso until they encountered his belt.

He was a fan of dirty talk, and her words slammed into him, sending blood rushing to his groin. He’d never expected to hear London speak so boldly or to want to be in charge. It turned him on.

“I look forward to it,” he said, throwing her over his shoulder and heading to the bedroom so they could get the party started.

She squawked at the undignified carry, and from the expression on her face as he set her on her feet beside the bed, she intended to make him pay. Harrison stripped off his jacket and tie, and then went to work on his shirt buttons. He couldn’t wait for her to do her worst.

By the time he’d kicked off his shoes, her clothes were in a neat pile on the dresser and she was naked. Hands on hips, she watched him drop his pants to the floor and step out of them. When her gaze dropped to the erection straining his boxer briefs, a little smile formed on her lips.