His mouth claimed hers again. She rocked against his hand, while urgent, encouraging sounds emanated from her throat. Her muscles tensed as she mindlessly sought the pleasure that danced just out of reach. Every sense was trained on the man making her body sing. She filled her lungs with the scent of his cologne. He tasted like chicken soup and peppermint tea, comforting and soothing. His deep voice, murmuring erotic suggestions in her ear, drove her crazy and made her want to laugh with joy at the same time.
And then there was the pleasure. The indescribable, building pressure that threatened to take her head off when it blew. She panted, her breath coming in irregular gasps. With his name on her lips, she climaxed. His mouth crashed down on hers, taking her cries into him, capturing her pleasure as his own.
As the fog cleared from her brain, Emma tugged on his sweater, needing the feel of his skin. He obliged her by sweeping it off. She explored the ridges and texture of his gorgeous torso. A contented purr rumbled out of her. She craved the feel of his bare chest sliding over the hot skin of her breasts.
Nathan was of the same mind, because he murmured, “Naked.” His fingers flexed into her hips, the bite causing a spike in her urgency. “I need you naked.”
“Okay.”
Something stirred in the depths of Nathan’s eyes, swirling like smoke. Satisfaction? Triumph?
While nerves fluttered in her midsection, Emma bit down on her lower lip. A low noise rumbled in his chest. Nathan bent his head, his tongue soothing the dents left behind by her teeth. Breath catching, she tangled with him in a sexy kiss that reawakened her appetite, and then groaned in protest when he tore his mouth from hers.
“This is going to happen fast,” he said, his voice dark and gritty. “Do you want it here or in bed?”
“Bed,” she whispered, sliding off the stool, only to find that her legs could barely support her.
Five
Satisfaction exploded in Nathan’s chest as Emma swayed across the meager inches between them, her fingers fanning against his bare chest. He liked how it was between them. Hot, sweaty, all-consuming and sexual. Easy to succumb. Mindless in its intensity. A feast for the senses.
He wrapped his arm around her waist and bent to sweep her feet off the floor. She gasped as he lifted her, and her fingers dug into his shoulders. Her liquid-chocolate eyes sought his. Despite her earlier passion, she looked somewhat uncertain. Needing to seal the deal before she had second thoughts, he turned toward the bedroom.
He’d taken one step when her doorbell rang. Nathan saw immediately that the interruption had startled the sensual glow from her eyes. A frown appeared between her finely arched eyebrows as she looked at the door. She bit down on her lower lip, even white teeth contrasting against the passion-bruised darkness of her mouth. He growled.
“Ignore it,” he said, his long strides carrying him away from the sound of the intruder.
“I can’t.”
He was within ten feet of the bedroom door when the pounding began, followed by a feminine shout.
“Emma, are you all right? I’ve been calling all day. Emma, can you hear me?”
“It’s Addison. I missed our yoga class this morning and never called her.” Emma began to squirm. “Put me down.”
Her words splashed cold water over his ardor. Muttering curses, Nathan set her back on her feet and watched in disgust as she raced to the door without so much as a backward glance. He retraced his steps at a much slower pace and scooped his sweater off the floor.
“Have you been home all day? I’ve been worried sick.” A tall, thin woman, dressed casually in ultraexpensive designer clothes and radiating intense concern, burst through the door Emma opened. With a long, narrow face, aristocratic nose and sharp cheekbones, she was elegantly beautiful. Her long, straight red hair blew back from her shoulders as she spun to give Emma a thorough once-over. As concern for Emma faded, her voice became as voluptuous as her body was angular. “I suppose you were working and turned off the phone.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t call you, I spent most of the day in bed.” Emma’s gaze flickered in Nathan’s direction.
He offered her his most salacious grin. Even across the room he could see the color that flooded her cheeks.
“Were you sick?” Addison glanced over her shoulder in the direction of her friend’s gaze and her perfect cupid-bow lips dropped open at the sight of Nathan standing half-naked beside the breakfast bar.
He let the woman’s pale blue eyes drink their fill of his bare chest and obvious arousal before he casually slipped the blue sweater over his head. Sliding it into place, he strode forward and held out his hand.
“Hello, I don’t think we’ve met. I’m—”
“Nathan Case,” she finished for him, extending her hand. “Addison Clements.”
Either she was one of those women who didn’t believe a firm grip was feminine, or her astonishment at finding a half-naked man in her friend’s loft left her dazed, because she scarcely put any effort into the handshake.
“He stopped by to check on me, too. We were supposed to have breakfast this morning, and I missed our meeting because I was sick.” Emma emphasized the last three words, to deflect her friend’s obvious curiosity. “I think I had food poisoning from dinner last night. Were you okay? I meant to call, but I felt so awful.”
“I’ve been fine,” Addison murmured, unable to take her eyes off Nathan.
He could see more than curiosity in her almond-shaped eyes. He glimpsed speculation as well.