Who was he fooling?He liked everything about her, from the way she tipped back her head, to her sun-bronzed shoulders, to the way her breasts looked with their dusky, peaked nipples.
He let her soak in peace while he showered.
When he’d finished, she was soaping her body.
He kept an eye on her while he dried off.A few stubborn tendrils of hair had escaped to curl against her cheekbones.A few others lay against her nape.He realized he liked having her in his space and watching her savor the bath.
He walked over, picked up a sponge and soaked it in the water.He squeezed it out just inches over her body, rinsing the soap from her skin.
“Be very careful,” she warned him.“I’m this close”—she held her thumb and index finger about an inch apart—“this close to getting spoiled.”
She sat up, and he ran the sponge over her shoulders, down her back.“Getting closer,” she told him.“You know, if the whole deal with you owning a moving company doesn’t work out, you can apply for a position as my personal assistant.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”He put the sponge back on the shelf.
“Thank you.”Her voice had a soft husk.
“Always,” he replied.Since the water had started to chill, he offered her a towel.
Lara stepped out and he wrapped it around her.
He went into the closet to put on a pair of shorts then went back into the bedroom and waited for her.
A few minutes later, wearing a pastel pink shirt that barely covered her butt, she joined him.
“I’ve told you I would prefer you come to bed naked.”
“I…” Color drained from her face and she reached for the hem.“I thought it was just for that one night.”
“Leave it on.”He pulled back the covers on her side of the bed.“I’m not sure I can endure the temptation.”The truth was, he’d desire her no matter what.
He turned off the light then pulled her close, spooning her.Her bare legs pressed against him.“That thing you’re wearing.Is it called a no-sleep shirt?”
“In case you were wondering, I don’t have any panties on.”
“Keep up that kind of talk and I’ll have to put you in a chastity belt for your own protection.”
She wriggled provocatively.
Fuck.It was going to be a hell of a long night and an interesting future.
Chapter Nine
In gentle waves, awareness crept in, and Lara spent a few moments in that blissful, unnamed space between awake and asleep.
She stretched, then curled back into herself when she noticed some small aches.
That realization brought her back to consciousness and she opened her eyes.She was in Connor’s bed, but she exhaled when she saw that he was gone.His pillow had a small indentation, and the covers were stamped with his spicy, masculine scent.She listened carefully, but there was no indication he was anywhere in the suite.
She forced herself up onto her elbows.The effort caused her a twinge of pain in her abdominal muscles, and she suddenly recalled the way he’d forced her to hold her legs up while he’d licked her pussy.
Her heart pounded and memories rushed in.The session with the single tail, shopping together, conversation, his sensual spanking and, God, the sex…
Even though she tried to put a stop to them, the visions persisted, as if they were on a slideshow.She recalled the hot way he’d fucked her, holding nothing back.Just as quickly, though, he was capable of tenderness.He’d drawn her a bath, even rinsed her off before pulling her against him in bed.She’d never met a more complex, confounding man.
It was impossible to fathom she was actually thinking about getting married to him.Though the union wouldn’t last, she was recognizing that it might be impossible for her to keep her emotions under control.Getting entangled with a man who had his feelings walled off was nothing short of insane.
Unable to shake the feeling that she’d set something in motion that she had no idea how to stop, she tossed back the covers and climbed out of bed, determined to find coffee before being friendly to the day.
