More than a Mistress

How many other women had shared this bed? There had to have been many. A man like Travis wouldn't live a monk's existence. How many others had died and been reborn in his embrace, only to mourn his loss?

The real question was, how long before it would be her turn?

Alex closed her eyes.

No commitment. No forever after. Just pleasure, for as long as it lasted. That was the bargain they'd made. The terms were mutual. She had discovered herself. She could be independent, she could be free, she could be a sensual. sexual woman.

Surely, that was enough. Wasn't it?

She rolled onto her back and stared blindly at the turning ceiling fan. She had everything she'd dreamed of. And yet, suddenly, she felt empty, felt—

The door swung open.

"Good morning, Princess," Travis said, and Alex sat up, dragging the sheet to her chin, while her heart flew into her throat.

He stood in the doorway, holding a tray in his hands. He was naked except for his unzipped jeans, his dark hair was mussed, there was a sexy stubble on his jaw and he was more gorgeous, more incredibly masculine, than any man had the right to be.

It would be so easy to fall in love with him.

The thought took her breath away. No. She could never do that, fall in love with a man like Travis, who didn't believe in commitment or forever after, and certainly not in love...

"I made us some breakfast." He smiled as he crossed the room and set the tray down on the nightstand beside her. "Bacon, eggs, toast and a gallon of coffee."

Say something, she told herself furiously, and somehow she managed to tear her gaze from his face and look at the tray.

"It's—it's enough for an army," she said, and forced a smile to her lips.

"Yeah." His smile turned into a devilish grin. "But I figured you might be as hungry as I am this morning."

She looked at him. She needed time to think, and she couldn't do that here, in his bed.

"Travis—"

"Besides, we have to keep up our strength." He kissed her. "Driving lessons tend to take a lot out of a person," he murmured, his mouth against her throat.

Alex blinked and drew back. "Driving lessons?"

"Yeah." He took a strip of crisp bacon from the tray, bit off a piece, then put it to her lips. "Well, not driving lessons, exactly. Open up, Princess, and take a bite."

She did. Bacon had never tasted so ambrosial.

"Porsche lessons," Travis said, watching her, smiling when her blue eyes widened. "Unless, of course, you've changed your mind about wanting to see what it's like to handle a fast car..."

Alex gave a wild whoop, tossed back the sheet and sprang from the bed.

"Oh, Travis! No, I haven't changed my mind. I'd love to drive your car. Do you really mean it? Do you...? Travis? What's the matter?"

He looked at her. She stood with the glass deck doors at her back, limned by the light of the new day, naked and rosy and gently marked with the signs of his possession.

"Travis?"

He wanted to tumble her back down onto the bed, and make love to her again. Wanted to slip deep inside her and hear her soft little cries as he took her over the edge of the precipice.

"Travis, what is it?"

But mostly—mostly, he wanted to hold her in his arms. Just hold her, and never, ever let her go. Not today. Not tomorrow. Not...

He rose to his feet.

"I just remembered." His voice was gruff. "We'll have to put the Porsche lessons off until another time. I, uh, I have an appointment this morning."

"Oh." Her smile tilted. "Well, sure. Tomorrow, maybe. Or the next day…"

"I'll call you," he said. "When I have the time. How does that sound?"

Like a polite goodbye. That was how it sounded. The bastard! Had she really just been warning herself not to fall in love with him? Only a masochist would fall for a man like Travis Baron.

And here she was, standing naked in the middle of his bedroom.

She wanted to fold her arms over her body but she didn't. Instead, she reached for his shirt, which he'd discarded so eagerly the night before.

"It sounds fine," she said politely. "Although, now that I think of it, I'm going to be busy the next few days." Her fingers trembled as she buttoned the shirt from her throat to her thighs. "Do call me, though. I'm sure we can get together again."

He nodded. "Good. I'm, uh, I'm glad you understand..."

"Oh, I understand, Travis. Completely."

He nodded again. She didn't understand; he could hear it in her voice but whose fault was that? Not his, surely. He'd made his position clear. Okay, so maybe he'd been carried away a few minutes ago, making all those plans for them. She should have stopped him. Hadn't she said she wanted the same freedom he wanted? But that was the way women were. They said what they figured a guy wanted to hear, even if it was nothing but a bucket full of lies.