His Secret Temptation

When she refused to answer his question, Simon framed her face with his hands and tipped her head back to burrow into her eyes in search of answers.

“You should have told me.” Regret overpowered the concern in his voice. “If I had known…”

“What?” She tore away, angry with him for no good reason except she wanted to see the possessive light in his eyes, not remorse. “You’d have done what?”

She knew what he’d have done—acted honorably and not given her the most incredible memory to savor after they went their separate ways. She walked to where she had kicked aside her gown, cheeks burning as she recalled her boldness. Still naked, and not bothering to hide from Simon’s turbulent gaze, she hung up the dress and fetched her underclothes.

“I’d have done better.”

“Better than what?” Some of the heat went out of her anger. “I may not be experienced, but I’m sure most women would consider two orgasms pretty damned great.”

“I’d have gone slower.”

Caroline wanted to throw a shoe at him. “Any slower and we would both have exploded. Please don’t make a huge deal about this.”

“But it is a huge deal.” He caught her arm as she headed past him toward the bathroom. “How could you have waited this long and let me—”

She squeezed her eyes shut. “The year leading up to my mother’s death I was dating this guy. We’d known each other all our lives. He said he loved me. My mom wanted me to go to college, but I was crazy about Ben and wanted to marry him. Sometimes it got pretty intense between us, but with how sick my mom was, all I could think about was how much she wanted me to get a degree and how afraid she was that I’d follow in her footsteps and get pregnant before I graduated from high school. I couldn’t disappoint my mother, and when Ben pushed me for sex, I said I wasn’t ready. So he got what he wanted with my best friend. I didn’t know until she ended up pregnant. He married her. They have three kids.” Caroline pressed her lips together, annoyed with herself that it still stung after all this time. Those could have been her children, her family. But then, she never would have gone to law school or met Simon. “Since then, trusting anyone enough to be intimate with them has been an issue for me.”

“And now?”

“I wanted to be with you. I knew you’d be a great lover. I don’t have any expectations beyond this moment. It’s just that simple.”

“I wish I could agree with you.” His blond hair fell across his forehead, almost obscuring his scowl.

Caroline watched satisfaction war with regret in him. Simon had rediscovered his old-fashioned Southern manners since walking into his mother’s house, but he was male enough to appreciate going where no man had gone before. His eyes smoldered, but his lips were relaxed and the tiniest curve lifted one corner. She wasn’t sure if she should hit him or kiss him. He made her decision for her by dragging her tight against his hard muscles and rocking his mouth against hers in the sexiest kiss yet. Heat exploded between them immediately.

His hands slid along her back, caressing lower, along the curve of her bottom, lifting her against his erection. She rose onto her tiptoes and wrapped one leg around his hips. While his tongue plunged into her mouth, Caroline held on and let him take whatever he wanted. She’d had no idea that making love to Simon would bind her to him like this. When they parted, he would take a piece of her heart with him.

“Sweet woman, do you have any idea what you do to me?” He pressed openmouthed kisses down her neck and nipped at the place where her neck and shoulder met.

The clock on the mantel chimed into the silence and Simon cursed.

“I have to get back to the country club and pick up Hannah and Sarah.”

“Then you’d better go.”

“Not quite yet.”

He drew her into the bathroom and started the shower. Caroline resisted, not wanting to wash the smell of him off her yet. After the bedroom’s romantic glow, the bathroom lighting seemed brash and overbright. She stared at the naked images of her and Simon in the large dressing mirror until he pulled her into the shower. He slid his hands slid over her water-slick skin and Caroline gave herself up to the magic of his touch.

Using her shower gel, he soaped her body, paying special attention to her breasts and belly until she was gasping for air and clinging to his shoulders to stay upright. As he slipped his hands lower, Caroline’s knees began to betray her. Simon seemed to understand for he turned her around and, keeping one arm around her waist to brace her, he lowered the other to soap between her thighs, his touch tender and reverent. Fire lanced upward through her as he cleaned the blood from her legs.

Afraid he might leave her aroused and unfulfilled, she caught his hand and urged him toward the place where she wanted him most. With her head thrown back against his shoulder, breath ragged, she barely heard his murmured words of encouragement as his fingers parted the tender lips that hid her sex and found her heat.

She shudder

ed as another orgasm claimed her, and she gasped Simon’s name. Riding the exquisite sensations, she spiraled out of control in the secure circle of his arms. When she was able to think again, she opened her eyes. Warm water poured over her, cooling her skin. She leaned against Simon, rock hard and supportive behind her. As her legs grew stronger, her resolve firmed as well. She slowly turned in his arms and lifted onto her toes to kiss him. Her mouth opened against his, her tongue plunging deep. He locked his arms around her as their tongues danced. She felt his erection against her belly and reached for him.

He inhaled harshly as her fingers closed around his shaft. “We can’t. I only had one—”

“Perhaps we can’t. But you can.”

She backed him against the shower wall and made a circle of her thumb and forefinger. She watched his eyes close as she slowly drew that circle up his erection and back down, pausing to circle the sensitive head every other stroke. As she had been minutes before, he was now helplessly locked in the grip of the pleasure she provided. As dominating and powerful as Simon could be, Caroline savored this chance to watch him drop his guards and let her lead. Tension vibrated from his muscles as she increased her pace. He was completely hers for the moment. A silky purr erupted from his throat as he threw his head back and jerked his hips forward, spilling his seed into her hands.

Panting in aftermath, Simon fixed her with a rueful smile. “You’re full of surprises.”

It gave her a rare taste of power to catch him off balance. “And you’re going to be late to pick up your sister and Sarah if we don’t get out of this shower.”