Touching Lace (Vaughn)

“What’s wrong with me that men find it so easy to dump all over me?” Lacey’s question surprised him. She dropped her spoon in her bowl where it made a loud clang then crossed her arms over her chest and continued her angry outburst. “Why can’t I seem to hold a guy’s attention for more than a few pathetic months?”

First, Nick wanted to shout with glee because she hadn’t loved the idiot. Second, he wanted badly to shake her and rattle some sense into her. She’d damn well held his attention for a lot longer than a few meager months. But he’d only scare her away.

“You’re not to examine yourself over this guy, Lace.” He dropped his own spoon, pulled her arms apart and entwined their fingers. “There isn’t a damn thing wrong with you. It’s the men you date. They aren’t worth the air you breathe, baby.”

Lacey only shook her head in denial. “No, Nick, that’s not true. They can’t all be losers.” She gave him a half-smile. “Though I appreciate your undying loyalty.”

“It’s not loyalty.” She didn’t look convinced, so he changed tactics. “You say it’s you, right?” She shrugged, neither confirming nor denying. “Then explain to me what it is you think is wrong with you.”

Nick began to stroke his thumb over her wrist and he could feel the quickening of her pulse as it jumped wildly. As if uncomfortable, Lacey took back one of her hands, and he very nearly groaned aloud.

“It’s a little complicated.”

Nick frowned. She was keeping something from him. He could always tell. Lacey was never very good at deceit. She gave herself away every time by looking down toward the ground. “Uncomplicate it for me then.”

She tilted her head. “Is that even a word?”

“Don’t change the subject. Explain why you think every man you date ends up bored.”

A pretty bloom of pink filled Lacey’s cheeks at his personal question. Even as close as they were, he was still a guy, thus making such a conversation uncomfortable. This time he wasn’t going to let it slide. Nick wouldn’t allow her to bury her head. Lacey knew him like no one else, which meant she knew deep, meaningful conversations didn’t scare him off the way they did most men. Hell, with Lacey, going deep was a damned pleasure.

“I don’t think I’m very good in bed. There, is that plain enough for you?”

Lacey’s words were so rushed Nick would have missed half of what she said if he wasn’t so attuned to her. Luckily, Lacey couldn’t lose an eyelash without him taking notice.

Of all the reasons for her sudden lack of confidence, that had never once crossed his mind. Now he knew for sure she was picking the wrong men. Lacey’s feisty attitude and easy sensuality would make her nothing short of explosive in bed. Hell, a man would have to be blind not to see the passion and fire that simmered just beneath the surface. It would take years for a man to get bored with a woman like her. Nick suspected she didn’t have a single problem, but how could he prove it to her?

It was true a sensual and uninhibited woman like Lacey could intimidate someone like Evan. Even cause him to turn to a woman like the overblown and too obvious Christy. The loser probably needed to be in control to stoke his ego. Yep, the guys Lacey chose were clearly wusses. Otherwise, they’d know what to do with the dark-haired beauty who fairly shouted flaming hot sex!

Her sexual confidence had been shaken and it pissed him off enough to want to pay a little visit to Evan the Dickhead. And that’s when a plan began to form.

She didn’t think she could heat up the sheets worth a damn. Well, who better to teach her how completely wrong she was than a man she already cared for and trusted? He mentally squashed the little voice in his head, which vigorously shouted to him just how wrong this plan of his could go. Now to convince the stubborn and hardheaded Lacey Vaughn that her good buddy always knew best.

“Lace, look at me.” He waited for her eyes to meet his. “I think I know how to get you over your silly insecurities.”

“Believe me, I’m all for any advice you can give me. It’s pretty clear I need help.”

He pretended to consider her problem then he leaned in closer until he was a mere breath away. He could smell her clean scent; she wasn’t all perfumed like most women he dated. It seemed he never got enough of Lacey’s fresh femininity.

Very softly, so as not to spook her, he said, “What you need is a healthy dose of sexual confidence.”

She looked ready to bolt. Oh, Lacey wasn’t shy, not with two rowdy older brothers to learn from, but neither was she comfortable discussing sex so openly.

“You said yourself you aren’t very…adept at mattress calisthenics,” he said.

She covered her mouth, chuckling at his description. He loved the way her face lit up just for him. At least he liked to think it was just for him. “What would you say to me giving you a few private lessons?”

In a rather strangled voice, Lacey asked, “Are you saying what I think you’re saying, Nick?”

He sighed, beyond frustrated, and growled out, “I don’t think I quite like the skeptical look on your pretty face. Hell, most women find me rather handsome. Even sexy and charming. Yet you look right through me as if I’m sexless. Damn it, Lace. I want you to see me as a man. A man you can’t resist.”

He pushed their long forgotten cappuccinos aside, grabbed her arms and pulled her until she was half lying on the little table between them then kissed her. It wasn’t a gentle, friendly peck, either, like the kind he usually gave her. This kiss was hard, demanding. A searing meeting of lips meant to drive his point home in the most basic way possible.

He hadn’t known she would taste so good. He hadn’t been prepared for her. Her mouth was deliciously addicting. This was what he’d been missing in every single one of his other relationships. This was the woman he’d been aching to have.

Take it slow, he reminded himself. He drew back a little, enjoying Lacey’s moan, but smothered it quickly with another kiss. They were in a coffee shop, and he definitely didn’t want an audience when he gave Lacey a taste of real passion for the first time.

“Is that clear enough for you?” he asked.