It almost scared her.
He cupped her shoulders and stood up, drawing her with him. He turned her around and kissed her, his lips moving on hers in a persuasive, tender manner. She melted against him, totally aware of their naked bodies touching so intimately. Not in a sexual sense, but like a man and woman. In a real relationship.
Like two people in love.
Oh, God, she couldn’t fall in love with Sloan. And she certainly didn’t want him falling in love with her. They were all wrong for each other.
At least, he was wrong for her. He was having fun playing the pa
rt, but she knew he’d never fully accept the way she was, allowing her the total freedom she needed.
Damn, she had made a big mistake agreeing to date him. Now that she’d tasted what it was like to make love with him … God, he was addictive. Could she really be as selfish as she felt like being right now? Wanting to continue this relationship with him because of the sensational sex?
On the other hand, he was a big boy. Oh, God, really big!
She sucked in a breath. The point was, Sloan would never give up on the idea of having a romantic relationship with her until he came face-to-face with the fact that she would never settle for a traditional relationship—one woman, one man. It felt too much like a domination scenario. Not that she minded domination, as long as she could walk away from it at any time.
No, she would not regret agreeing to date Sloan. It was the only way for him to understand what she required in a relationship and to come to terms with it. He would eventually realize he would never convince her to settle for anything less than total freedom.
* * *
Sloan sensed a change in her. After their incredible lovemaking, all alone out here in the wilderness, he had felt closer to her than ever before. There had been an intimacy between them. Just the two of them, exulting in pleasuring each other. Then their tender kiss.
Then suddenly she’d withdrawn, even though she hadn’t moved a muscle.
He lingered over the kiss a little longer before finally releasing her lips.
Something flickered in her topaz eyes, then she smiled. “How about those sandwiches? I’m incredibly hungry after that great workout.”
“Sure.” He released her and fetched the bagged lunch from the storage compartment on the bike, feeling a deep sense of loss as she pulled on her clothes.
* * *
A knock sounded, and Sloan crossed to his front door and opened it.
Derek stood on the other side. “Hi.”
“Hey. Come on in.” Sloan stepped back to let him in.
Derek stepped into Sloan’s house and Sloan gestured toward the couch. Derek crossed the room and sat down.
“So, where’s our girl?” Derek asked.
“The other room. I’ll let her know you’re here.”
He walked down the hall and opened the bedroom door. At the sight of Janine standing in front of the mirror, brushing her long blond hair, wearing only a sexy red lace thong and matching bra, he smiled. His gaze glided over her delightfully round behind to the black stockings with sexy lace edges on the top—which somehow stayed up on their own without a garter belt—then lingered on her bare white thighs above. His cock stirred.
“You look sensational.”
She smiled at him in the mirror. “Thank you.” She put down the brush and turned around. Her breasts spilled over the top of the lace cups in a most enticing way. “Is Derek here?”
“Yes, he just arrived.”
She picked up her black coat from the bed and pulled it on.
His eyebrows arched. “Are you leaving?”
She laughed. “No way. I just thought I’d give you both a little show.”