Exotic Nights

Embarrassment curled into her. She’d behaved like some sex-starved animal. She’d used words she never thought, let alone voiced. Bella instantly felt the need to retain even some sense of the upper hand. ‘I wasn’t begging.’

‘No?’

‘I was ordering,’ she declared. ‘Demanding, in fact.’

He yanked gently on her hair, tipping her face up so she could see his smile.

‘Do it any time. I don’t mind.’ It was a light, teasing smile. ‘I didn’t think sex could get better than that night on Waiheke. Now I know different. That was fantastic.’ He kissed her then. A slow, sweet kiss. One kiss turned into another. When his hand brushed between her thighs, she flinched.

He broke the kiss immediately, a concerned look in his eyes. ‘You OK?’

‘Just a bit sensitive.’ She flushed. So much pleasure had brought her body to the point of pain.

He kissed her again. Gentle, relaxing kisses that soothed the intense over-sensitivity in her body—changing it to warm softness.

‘We’ll go slow this time.’

Bella had the feeling it was too late to be going slow at anything.

CHAPTER NI

NE

‘I HAVE to get to the café.’ Bella was on another late shift today. ‘Shouldn’t you be in a meeting or something?’

‘Or something,’ Owen muttered drowsily.

Bella moved, trying to slide from the bed, but his big heavy arm tightened, penning her in. ‘I have to go,’ she protested weakly. ‘I can’t be late.’

He groaned. But his arm relaxed.

She showered quickly, dressed. He was asleep when she went to leave. She spent a second or two by the bed, simply appreciating his tousled sexiness—even in sleep he was all consuming, all powerful—taking up most of the mattress.

And the flame of delight—of disbelief—glowed brighter in her heart. He’d tried to call her. He still wanted her. Relief, joy, satisfaction—she couldn’t wipe the smile from her face. For once it seemed she was going to get something she really wanted. Maybe Lady Luck had finally turned her way.

She was halfway through her shift when she checked her mobile. It had been ominously quiet—despite Owen recharging it for her. Of course it was quiet—she’d accidentally switched it off. She put it back on and cleared the messages. There were three from her landlord. She listened, wincing at his increasingly irate tones, then drew breath and dialled his number.

Less than three minutes later he was no longer her landlord. Her lease was terminated with immediate effect. He was keeping her deposit as payment for the door and inconvenience. She had the next day to remove the rest of her belongings.

In her break she went to the nearest ATM and got an account balance. She didn’t really need to—she already knew the situation was dire. She had to save everything for a couple of weeks to get the bond for a new place. That meant she either had to stay with Owen or hit her family for another loan.

She knew what she wanted to do. But was it wise? Two weeks was a little longer than two days. They hadn’t talked about anything remotely heavy like what, if any, future they had. She didn’t want to—she already knew. Owen had told her right from the start that he didn’t do commitment.

She’d swallow her pride and ask her father. It was inevitable anyway; she was as incompetent as he’d always said. Couldn’t even manage a month on her own without stuffing up somehow and needing help.

When she got home later in the evening, Owen was waiting for her, music playing on the seriously fancy stereo, dinner keeping warm in the oven.

‘What’s up?’ he asked the instant he saw her.

Was she that transparent?

‘I’ve been turfed out of the flat. The landlord is keeping my bond. I’m going to—’

‘Don’t worry about it,’ he interrupted carelessly, putting plates on the tray. ‘You can stay here, long as you need to.’

Her spirits lifted and sank in the one moment. She hadn’t wanted to call on her father, but she didn’t particularly want to be in Owen’s debt either—no more than she already was. Besides, he didn’t do live-in lovers.

‘Heaven forbid.’