“Damn it, Luke!” She didn’t need the overstimulation. She stopped rocking altogether, slapped her hands on his chest and pressed down hard to anchor herself as the orgasm slammed into her. She squeezed on him, her body locked in a series of tumultuous contractions—sheer, mind-blowing bliss. His hands went equally hard on her, clenching on her curves. He shouted, arching his hips high into her that one last time as his release blasted through both of them.
For a few minutes there was nothing but the sound of their rocky breathing.
“Hell, Lexie.” He lifted her head so he could look at her with a rueful expression. “When did you turn into such a vixen?”
“I’m not,” she answered raspily.
He didn’t realize, did he, that he was the only guy she’d ever have done that with—at least with that kind of abandon. The only man she’d been that blunt and forward with. Because she’d wanted him so long she’d acted out to get him. And did she regret it?
Never. It had been the most erotic experience of her life—to feel him pulsing like that within her—to feel him losing control and relishing the sensation of her body.
“Tell me about the guy,” he said softly.
“Who?”
“The one you gave your virginity to.”
“Really?” Ugh—he wanted to talk about her ex? Now?
He read her expression and chuckled. “He really didn’t do it for you, did he?”
She grimaced. “I was a challenge to him. I was the great untouched. He wanted to conquer the mountain. Once he did, he moved on.” Story of her love life so far.
“But did he conquer you?” Luke ran his hand over her hip, making her shiver. “He might have had you, but did he help you relax and enjoy the view?”
She shook her head. No man had made her feel what Luke had just made her feel.
“When they’re young, guys can be pretty dumb.” Luke sounded sorry.
Was that excuse enough? “Age doesn’t necessarily make them any smarter.”
Luke didn’t answer that. He rolled her over to her stomach and swept his strong hands down her spine. Lexie closed her eyes and let him take her high again.
…
She didn’t know what time it was when she woke, but it was early. Luke had his arms tight around her, and Mango had sneaked in at some point and was wedged between their feet. She couldn’t move.
Less than forty-eight hours in his company and she’d succumbed—all the way. She was Luke’s latest.
She’d fallen in with his plan: been the entertainment while he was home and bored. He’d been with a zillion other women, including models.
But while she’d had a couple of boyfriends, neither had lived up to the fantasy she had in her head of Luke Marchetti. She’d thought that had been the problem— that the memories and image she had of him were a fantasy. No guy could ever be that good. Not even him.
But he was that good. Warm, funny, and sheer dynamite in bed. But he wasn’t hers. He wasn’t any one woman’s and never would be. He’d been a playboy since his late teens, and leopards didn’t change their spots.
So she wasn’t going to do the clingy, cry-girl thing when he woke. She’d be the sophisticated sort he was used to. She didn’t want him worrying he was going to hurt her. That was why he’d paused just before taking her. Why he’d asked if she was sure. He was giving her that chance to think—though she’d been beyond thinking from the moment he’d touched her. She was not going to give him any cause to worry more. She’d be cool, she’d be tough.
Frankly? She’d be gone.
Chapter Six
Luke dozed, resisting slipping into a deep sleep. He wanted to savor this moment—this feeling of having a soft, warm Lexie locked in his arms. He didn’t want to let her go.
Ever.
He drew in a slow, deep breath as he examined that realization. But the more he thought about it, the more he knew. The certainty bloomed in his chest, warming him from the inside out, even his bones. Being with Lexie like this was right. So very right.
But he had to take it slow. Get to know her better—let her have time to get to know him. He got that she was wary and he’d work his way to the bottom of that problem. The why. It tensed him up that there’d been some jerk who didn’t do right by her. But he was sure it was all there for them already, the blueprint just waiting to be built on. Him and Lexie—together. Weirdly, it didn’t freak him out. He was simply happy. Hell, he wasn’t even as burned up about his knee now. If that fall hadn’t happened, this might not have happened with Lexie. So he’d take the silver lining. And for the first time he wanted both fling and ring.
He lifted his head and carefully leaned so he could see part of her face in the dim light. Fast asleep, her lips were lush and full and slightly curved, her lashes resting long on her cheek. His body wanted him to wake her. But she was tired. Hell, he was tired too. His body ached as if he’d run two marathons back-to-back. He glanced down at the end of the bed where Mannie was gently snoring in a ball by her feet. So he’d fallen for her too? Luke grinned as he put his head back on the pillow and pulled her even closer to him. He’d talk to her in the morning. Let her know she could stay as long as she liked. She could stay forever.
…
Lexie woke suddenly, adrenaline shooting into her body as her mind instantly remembered her exit strategy. Yeah, she was in trouble and she needed to escape it quick. She wriggled, easing herself out of his searing embrace hoping like hell he’d stay asleep.
“Hey.” He stirred, swiftly sitting up and reaching out to run his fingers down her spine just as she slipped off the bed.
Luck wasn’t on her side. She stepped across the floor so she was out of the touch zone. She couldn’t let him touch her anywhere anymore. “I’d better get dressed.” She quickly yanked on her blouse.
“Why?” He sat up in the bed, looking wickedly disheveled.
She tugged on her jeans, not bothering with any underwear. There was no time. But she did put on a smile—a wide, super-excited, albeit synthetic one. “I was thinking I might go up to Scotland. I’ve never been there.”
“Scotland?” He looked astounded.
It was about as far as she could get on her last few pounds. “Don’t you think? I’ll work in a hostel or something—with my travel agent background, I could get an in there.” She’d been planning, her brain on fire searching for an escape. “I’m good talking to strangers now, right? Over that one.”
“Lexie.”
Damn. She wished she’d woken earlier and snuck out while he was still asleep. She walked faster as she heard him move. “I just need the…” She darted into the bathroom and quickly locked the door. She exhaled deeply and stepped up to the mirror, hoping her eyes didn’t reflect the misery she felt. They did. She looked a wreck—bed hair, bruised-looking eyes, pale skin, the works. It was a wonder it hadn’t been Luke running to hide in here from the sight she was.
The bathroom door burst open, the lock easily snapping under the sheer brute force of his shoulder barge.
“What are you doing?” she whirled and shouted at him. Damn him for looking so damn hot in the gray sweats and nothing else. There was too much skin for her nerves to cope with. They were shredded as it was.
“That’s it?” he shouted back. “That’s the way you
’re going to treat me? After last night?”
Her mouth was suddenly as dry as the Australian Outback in drought. She swallowed. “Um…” She turned back to the mirror, unable to look at him.
But he slammed a heavy hand on her shoulder, forcefully spinning her to face him. She clamped down on the way her limbs wanted to wobble. She wasn’t going to lose it. She refused.
“Luke.” She cleared her throat as she tried to stay calm. “It was just the one night.”
“Really?” He looked angry. “Have you ever felt that with anyone else? Ever?”
She swallowed. “It was just hot sex.”
“Really.” He leaned against her, pushing her back against the basin.
She could feel his erection digging against her lower belly. Goose bumps tingled down her arms as inside she melted like butter on a hot pan. She closed her eyes, desperate to block him.
“Look at me.”
She really didn’t want to do that. She could feel her cheeks burning. “Why?”
“I want to know what you’re thinking. I want to see what you’re thinking.”
Well, that wasn’t happening.
“Seeing as you’re not going to tell me what you’re thinking,” he added sharply.
“Okay, I’ll tell you.” She flashed angrily. “I know you, Luke. This was just…one night. I can handle it. I can handle that you don’t want more.”
She pushed past him. Because truth? She really couldn’t handle it. A fling? A few one nights together? Not enough—she’d be ruined for love, for life.
“What makes you think I don’t want more?” He limped into the bedroom after her.
She laughed as she scooped up her shoes. “Be honest, Luke. Like you really want anything more from me? This was the usual for you—the challenge. And once you’ve toppled the challenge you move on.”
“Is that right?”
“Absolutely.” She stuffed her feet into the sneakers without socks. “Well, what?” Why was he staring at her like that? “Where did you see this going?”
He swallowed. “What do you want from me, Lexie?”