He shook his head and glanced toward the windows, where the rain skewed the view.
“You can’t leave that sentence hanging.”
Those dark eyes came back to hold her. “You don’t seem like you’d be happy with a fling and I would honestly be using you to fill a void.”
He’d be using her? Did he know how long it had been since a man looked at her the way he did? Did he realize that in the past two years she hadn’t taken an interest in anyone at all and everything about him had her practically begging? She’d been turned on well before he made her come apart, and now that she knew what he was capable of…well…
“You don’t know what type of girl I am,” she countered. “No, I don’t do flings, which should tell you something, considering I want you, too. But standing around chatting about it isn’t helping either one of us. We’re stuck here, we’re attracted to each other and we’re adults with our eyes wide open.”
“What do you suggest?”
Alexa knew it was a risk, but she kept her eyes locked with his as she pulled her tank over her head and clutched it at her side.
“I suggest you finish what you started and quit worrying. Do you want me or not, cowboy?”
* * *
Holy—
Was she really doing this? After the way he’d treated her and acted like a complete jerk, Alexa stood before him wearing her lacy bra and hip-hugging jeans. With that midnight-black hair flowing around her shoulders, framing her mesmerizing face, she held all the power. His resolve had evaporated…if he’d truly ever had it to begin with where this vixen was concerned.
What was it about her? Her looks were definitely striking, but there was so much more. Her no-nonsense attitude, the vulnerability she tried to hide, her compassion he kept pushing away while she thrust it in his face anyway.
“Alexa.”
She raised a brow and propped her hands on her hips. “I’ve seen the way you look at me, Hayes. I know this isn’t some fairy tale or promise of commitment. We’re adults, we’re stranded, we’re attracted. It’s like the trifecta for a fling.”
He laughed. Damn if this woman wasn’t saying everything a man would want to hear. No-strings sex? What the hell was he waiting on? She’d already come apart in his arms, so he knew the desire was there.
Just because he was ready to rip the rest of their clothes off didn’t mean he could stop worrying. She wasn’t like other women who threw themselves into meaningless sex. He might have just met her, but that was one thing he knew for certain. So why him? Why now?
The Southern gentleman in him made him pause to assess the situation, but the Alpha male inside him was roaring to life and pumping with anticipation.
“Unless you’ve changed your mind—”
Hayes took one step to close the gap between them. Snaking his arms around her waist, he pulled her flush against him. “What do you think?”
“I think you better not go inside your head again and start thinking of all the reasons this isn’t a good idea.”
“It’s not a good idea.”
She trembled against him and threaded her fingers through his hair. “Do you really care?”
“Hell no.”
He crushed his lips to hers, his need growing even more when she moaned and arched herself against him. Just one touch and the woman damn near exploded. He’d never been a one-night stand type of guy; he left that to his brother Beau. But if Hayes was going to have one, Alexa was perfect. She knew full well going in exactly what this was…and what it wasn’t.
Hayes shifted his hands and gripped her backside, needing to feel her hips against his. She opened her mouth wider, taking more and giving just as much. Her fingertips trailed down and found the hem of his shirt. She tugged until he eased back just enough to be free of the unwanted garment.
When her hands went to the waistband of his jeans, Hayes gripped her wrists. “Protection.”
Her lids lowered, her shoulders sagged as she blew out a frustrated sigh. “Obviously that’s not something I carry with me, especially when I go out of town alone.”
Disappointment rolled off her, but Hayes nipped at her lips. “My bedroom.”
He might not have planned to be intimate since returning home, but that didn’t mean he was a fool, either. And right now, he was beyond thankful he’d grabbed a box of condoms when he’d gone out for other necessities at the drug store.
A naughty smile spread across her face. “Then it looks like we’re in the wrong room.”
Hayes lifted her against him, forcing her to wrap her arms around his neck and legs around his waist. “Don’t worry. I’ll make sure you get where you need to go.”
Those expressive eyes darkened at his veiled promise. Hayes flattened his palms against her backside as he left the study and turned down the hall to head toward the steps.
“You can’t possibly carry me up there.”
He nuzzled the side of her neck. The scent of something floral combined with fresh rain drove him out of his mind. Everything about this woman got under his skin.
“I can and I will.”