Touching Lace (Vaughn)

“And just so we’re straight, for the time being you and I are exclusive. That means I’m the only man you’ll call if you feel all hot and horny in the middle of the night.”

A laugh bubbled up and she felt herself slipping back into the comfort zone she’d grown accustomed to. “You are way too arrogant for your own good, Nick Stone.”

“Arrogance has nothing to do with it, baby. It’s all about confidence.” ’His voice came out as an erotic whisper. “And I’m confident I’ll win you over. It’s just a matter of time. The clock is already ticking.”

Nick rose from the table, tossed a few bills down to pay for their drinks and cobbler then held out his hand for Lacey. She looked at it, unsure and even a little bit afraid.

“Come on, I’ll take you home…so you can think about what I’ve said.”

Very slowly, Lacey pressed her fingers into his much larger ones, twining them together then smiled up at him. He looked so sweet, so ruggedly handsome, and she became acutely aware of their size difference.

Lacey had never given it a thought before, but now that their relationship was trekking into new territory and she was so close to being in his bed, it was all she could think of. Would he be so big and hard all over? Would he be a gentle lover, or demanding and wild? Or, even better, both.

Lacey only hoped she could maintain her distance until she had more time to think. Good God, she was already imagining having sex with him, and she hadn’t even agreed to anything yet. What was wrong with her?

As he walked ahead of her, pulling her out to his SUV, giving her an enticing glimpse of his perfectly sculpted ass, she knew exactly where her mind had gone. She reminded herself to think over his proposition.

Chapter Three

Once they were on their way in Nick’s Black SUV, Lacey took her time looking her fill. She knew what she had always seen when they were friends, but now, seeing Nick as a potential lover, showed her things she had never known were there.

The hard angles of his face, now cast in the blue light from the dashboard, made him look sinful. His dark hair was in need of a trim as small tendrils kept dropping down onto his forehead. It looked sexily mussed, and Lacey could easily picture him the morning after a long and pleasurable night of loving. She wiggled around in her seat, attempting to squelch her body’s enthusiasm to the carnal image.

Nick’s skin was darkly tanned from all the time he spent outdoors. He was heavily into sports of all kinds. He and her brother, Merrick, did a lot together on the weekends. He also worked out at her gym. His ripped six-foot two frame was proof that good eating habits and plenty of exercise did indeed do a body good.

He had perfect, sculpted muscles—not huge, but fit. Her gaze landed on the fly of his jeans and Lacey nearly whimpered.

He was aroused. Splendidly aroused. God, she hadn’t known he was so big. Even through his jeans, she could tell he was larger than any man she’d ever known. Right under her nose all this time. It made a lady’s heart flutter in awe.

He turned toward her and she was struck by the primitive grin on his face—as if he could read her every thought. Her face heated furiously.

“Look all you want, baby,” he whispered dangerously, “but sometime, hopefully soon, it’ll be my turn to look.”

Dispel the tension, Lacey chanted to herself. They both needed to get things under control or they would be pulling over and having at it on the side of the road. She really wasn’t into voyeurism.

“Nick, do you believe in magic?” She hadn’t a clue as to where in the world that thought came from. Since the question was out there, though, Lacey had to admit she was a little curious as to what sort of things ran through Nick’s mind. What was he into? What turned him on?

He cocked h

is head, but never took his eyes off the road. “What, like David Copperfield?”

She rolled her eyes. “Not smoke and mirrors, but real, everyday magic.” He looked at her and arched a brow as if to say, “Huh?” So, she explained. “For instance, last week when you helped the woman at the grocery get her car started, that was magic.” Nick was such a gentleman, and privately she’d always thought of him as a white knight.

He scoffed. “No, that was a piece of shit battery.”

She shook her head. “I don’t think so.”

Nick frowned. “Then what do you think it was?”

“I think it was magic. The fact that you were there to help her. She had four kids, what was she going to do?”

He shrugged, as if not entirely comfortable with the conversation. “I believe in what I can see. You know I have to see it to believe it, Lace.”

“Yeah? Then what about love? You can’t see it, but you believe in it don’t you?” She knew he did, because he’d once told her he wanted to get married and have kids. He didn’t like the idea of being a bachelor when he was old and gray. Now that she thought about it, she could easily picture Nick with a couple of little squirts running around. He’d make a wonderful father.

Very softly, he answered, “I believe in love. I’m just not sure what magic has to do with it.”

“Nick, I’m surprised at you.” She turned in her seat to see him better. “Love is magic in its rawest form.” She lowered her voice, speaking in a near whisper. “A touch that sends your pulse racing, or a look that goes straight to your soul. Those aren’t things you can explain away with chemistry and science. Its magic.”