Stroke of Luck

“I knew how much you wanted me,” she said quickly, stopping him from finishing that thought. Not wanting him to say he’d loved her. “And I knew you didn’t want to pressure me.”

She could barely breathe as his gaze remained locked on hers, boring into her soul. Finally, she looked away, unable to bear the raw emotion seething between them another moment.

He drew in a deep breath, breaking the spell.

“And what about your new boyfriend? I bet you didn’t make him wait. Or are you going to tell me you’re still a virgin?”

She froze inside.

“That’s none of your business.”

But guilt washed through her because he was right. Maurice had so totally deceived her that she’d believed he was the one. That she was in love with him.

He’d been her first—and only—man. He’d known it, and it had made him even more possessive of her, which she mistook for love.

“Life isn’t fucking fair sometimes.” Quinn’s words were a mere whisper.

The aching wistfulness in his eyes tore at her heart.

But as the moment hung between them, that wistfulness turned to a growing heat. Her skin pebbled into goose bumps as her senses heightened. As she became aware of the warmth of his body close to her. Of the breadth of his solid chest. The strength of his muscular arms. She longed to close the small distance between them, glide her hands around his neck, and give herself over to the growing desire inside her.

“Quinn, I’m so sorry—”

Frustration welled in his eyes again, and he tugged her into his arms before she could finish the thought, his lips claiming hers in a demanding kiss. He pulled her tighter to him, his arm encircling her waist. His tongue surged into her mouth and explored, taking her breath away.

Then his lips softened, becoming more persuasive. His hand glided up her back, then cupped her head. The kiss became heart-wrenchingly tender.

Oh, God, her heart ached, remembering how it had been between them.

She melted against him, a deep longing building inside her.

This feeling … this was why she’d had to break it off with him. She’d been worried she would fall for him, and that would have been a disaster. Because she didn’t believe he could give her what she needed. To be the most important thing in his life. She had felt she would always come second to his drive for success.

So she’d broken it off with him before they could fall in love.

Except she realized that she hadn’t escaped with her heart after all.

As his lips continued to move on hers, his arm tightened around her waist, and she felt his cock straining against her.

Her body ached, wanting to strip off her clothes for him. Wanting to experience what she’d always longed for. To be physically possessed by him.

As if sensing her acquiescence, his hand covered her ass, and he pulled her tighter still. His rigid cock pushing snug against her drove up her need. She arched against him.

A door off the living room opened, and Austin walked in.

“Ah, sorry to interrupt,” he said.

Quinn released April and stepped back. “Not at all. We were just getting … reacquainted.”

He sent her a sardonic smile, then walked away from her and sat on one of the high stools at the bar. He picked up his drink and took a sip.

“Want one?” he asked Austin.

“No, thanks. I’m good.”

It was then that it hit her. Quinn had wanted Austin to catch them kissing. He’d warned her off going after his friend, and now that he’d established the kind of relationship he’d had with her, Austin would stay away from her.

Well, that was fine with her. She didn’t intend to get involved with either one of them.