She moved her hips closer to his. Dancing just that little bit in front of him. Bringing her mouth closer to his throat again. She’d wanted to taste him for so long. She wrapped one arm around his lean waist, her other hand flat on his chest, fingers smoothing.
She felt his response. Rocked her hips closer to the thick erection but pulled back at the last millimeter—almosttouching,almostthrusting against him. But not quite.
She snuck a very quick look at his face. His eyes were shut tight. The muscles in his jaw stood out. His fists clenched at his sides. She felt heady pleasure at seeing how she affected him. But she didn’t want him to be in such rigid control. Her instinct was to soften more against him. To come closer, to drape like silk over him. But she sensed that this slightest of distances between them was doing her cause some good.
She rose on tiptoe and gently scraped his ear lobe with her teeth, then whispered, ‘I won’t just be lying there, Gabe.’
It would be impossible anyway. Her hips had a mind of their own, circling near him in that rhythm that was ancient and instinctive.
He moved, hands slamming her body against his. His fingers digging into her hips. His erection doing the same to her belly. He held her firm, clamping her to him so she couldn’t move. Pressed together like this, with only the fabric separating them, she didn’t want to. His hardness, her softness. She let her head fall back to meet his fiery gaze, her position wholly submissive as he took her weight. But her eyes and mouth teased.
‘Why now?’ he asked through tightly clamped teeth.
‘It’s a good time.’ And that was the truth.
‘Why me?’
‘Isn’t it obvious?’ she asked breathily. ‘Just as it’s obvious you want me as much.’
‘Only a gay man could fail to react to this stunt of yours,’ he growled. ‘Even then I reckon he’d rise to it. But that doesn’t mean I’m going to follow through.’
Cold seeped into her skin, stiffening her. She straightened as she felt his physical withdrawal. ‘Why not?’
‘I’m flattered, Roxie.’ He stepped back and let her go. ‘But this isn’t the right thing for you.’
Who was he to judge that? Only she knew what was right for her. ‘I’m not a child.’
‘No, but you are a lot less experienced than I am. I don’t think you’ve thought this through.’
‘Don’t insult me.’ She’d thought of nothing else for days. ‘I’ve not been hanging onto my chastity for the one and only. It’s been more circumstance than design.’
‘What, you’re an accidental virgin?’ he said sarcastically.
‘Yeah, for want of a better description, I guess I am.’ Jake, her ex-boyfriend, hadn’t understood her situation at all. Had run out of patience when she’d said she couldn’t go clubbing or partying with him. Yeah, she’d learned years ago that people didn’t want to hear about her life—that it made them uncomfortable. After he’d dumped her, she’d gotten so busy at home it was the last thing on her mind. But it was there now.
‘That’s what that other bottle of Bollinger is for, isn’t it?’ Gabe said slowly. ‘The V bottle. Good grief. You can’t be so premeditated about this.’
‘Why not? Isn’t it better to be prepared with someone suitable rather than have some impulsive experience with someone who might not be able to deliver.’ She wanted a good lover and sheknewGabe would be more than good. Her physical reaction to him was so intense and an absolute first. She wanted to follow through on it—just knew it would be incredible.
‘This isn’t impulsive?’ He ran both hands through his hair and then bent to pick up the hose and turned it on the garden.
‘I thought you might appreciate my honesty. That was clearly a mistake.’ She pushed out a deep breath, trying to expel her anger. ‘I won’t make that one again.’
‘What do you mean?’ He jerked back to face her.
‘Next time I proposition a guy I won’t mention the “v” word.’
His jaw dropped. ‘Are you planning to proposition another guy?’
‘Maybe not today, but hopefully soon,’ she bluffed, wishing she could meet someone even more attractive first thing so shecould get over the ache she had for the impossible one in front of her.
‘You have to tell him you’re a virgin,’ Gabe snapped.
As if she’d ever do that now. ‘Why? It shouldn’t make any difference.’
‘Of course it makes a difference,’ he said, looking angrier than ever. ‘You should want someone who’s in love with you and who you’re in love with.’
She gaped at him. Who’d have thought the supposed ultimate slayer had a romantic streak? ‘Were you in love with your first?’ she asked.
