And there he was. Standing there, water dripping from his hair, his chin, his arms. Just staring at her for a long agonizing moment.
Then he was rushing toward her, and she was wrapping her arms around his broad shoulders, pulling him against her as tight as he was pulling her so she could feel his heart thumping through his damp shirt, beating almost as rapidly as her own. And his mouth, so hot still, was on hers. His hands pressing against her buttocks, pulling her even closer.
It felt so good, so right.
He kicked the door shut and pressed her against the wall. Kate’s leg wrapped around his and he pressed closer, his need for contact as consuming as hers. She couldn’t hold him close enough. His fingers tugged at the hem of her shirt, and he pulled it over her head in a smooth movement, and together they did the same with his.
Hot desperation surged through her. She wanted to feel every inch of him on her. To hold him.
Strong arms anchored her to him, grasping her hips tightly, and her legs wrapped higher around him. Dominic carried her to the center of the room, where he sank to his knees and laid her on the couch.
For a brief second she tried to remember whether she’d shut the drapes. Then his mouth was on her and she stopped caring.
He looked up then, meeting her gaze, and she sucked in her breath.
There was a promise in those kind blue eyes. Then her head lolled back in pleasure.
Just for this moment, this night, she was going to let him be her forever. She was going to pretend they had a whole future together. In that beautiful house filled with bright-eyed, mischievous kids with Dominic’s smile and spirit.
Just for tonight.
Then he was stretching out on top of her, kissing her and loving her until she forgot everything else. Except to feel.
Chapter Fifteen
Kate stirred in Dominic’s arms, pulling him from the sleep that had finally taken them both sometime during the night. Faint morning light streamed into her front room, and he guessed it to be close to seven. They were lying naked on top of the couch, the back cushions tossed to the floor to give them space.
Damn. The fantasies he’d had about this couch…they’d probably run through about half of them. He smiled. There were still a few more. He looked at the woman asleep in the crook of his arm.
Peaceful. Beautiful. He supposed he could let her sleep a little longer.
His thoughts turned to last night. What the hell had they done? What the hell had he done? She’d made it clear that she didn’t want anything more from him except his friendship. That she had other priorities in her life. That he wasn’t part of her plan.
And of course there was the fact that he wasn’t Michael. Couldn’t offer her the same things as his royal highness.
But none of that had mattered when she’d looked at him like she had, and he’d inhaled her scent, watched her lips open, wanting him to kiss them. He had only wanted to be with her.
And now they were going to be back to square one. Except…
He wasn’t convinced that there wasn’t something there between them. Kate had wanted him as much as he’d wanted her. He still wanted her.
She stirred and nuzzled deeper into his arm. He sensed the moment when she realized where she was, as she seemed to hold her breath a real long time. Her eyes opened slowly. Awareness hitting her.
“You’re awake.”
She glanced down at how she was pressed against his side and then looked furtively around the room, probably for something to cover herself. Her eyes widened when she looked outside, surprised at either the promise of sun this cool autumn day after yesterday’s rainfall—or the fact they’d done what they had with the drapes wide-open.
He grinned. He’d bet on the latter.
Jumping up, she grabbed her T-shirt from the floor and threw it on, then slid into her black cotton panties. He sat back and watched, enjoying the show. Half dressed, she raced to the curtains and pulled them shut. Her shoulders dropped with some relief. Then she raised her head again. And stood there awkwardly.
“Come here.”
She walked more shyly back to him and sat primly on the edge of the couch. Cute.
In one quick motion, he pulled her back so she was lying on top of him. “Morning.”
And before she could speak the objection already forming on her mouth, he pressed his mouth to hers. For a few seconds, Kate’s lips were soft under his. But then just as quick, she tensed and her eyes fluttered open. And she pulled away from his kiss.