Maggie noted with interest the king-size bed and modern streamlined furniture constructed of white pine and chrome. A shelving unit, bulging with books of all sizes, covered part of one wall. So the man had an intellectual side. Interesting. She took two steps and plunked onto the corner of the bed. The cotton duvet cover made a crinkling sound as she settled on it, the bold tribal design and spice, ochre and black shades making her think of ethnic art and exotic lands. A large window filled most of another wall with views over the harbor. The water sparkled, despite the sluggish winter sun, and two yachts flew across the white-tipped waves, their white sails billowing in the breeze. Yes, she could learn to like it here. No doubt.
Connor opened a wardrobe and grabbed a green bag. He tossed in sweats, a pair of jeans and two T-shirts, along with a sweater. Maggie turned to watch him, her heart rate accelerating as she studied his taut backside, his ease of movement. Soon, very soon, touch between them would be acceptable. Excitement flared deep inside her, a shiver of anticipation working free to give away her state of mind and rapid arousal.
A cough cleared the thickening in her throat. “What sort of things do we need to discuss?” She had a fair idea but wanted him to tell her. Of course, whatever he said would have a final bearing on her decision. Although she lusted after him, she wasn’t foolhardy. Sex between friends had explosive potential, and not necessarily all confined between the sheets. Heck, who was she kidding? She’d already decided.
The thought brought her parents to mind. Immediately, she shoved their stern faces away, locking the door on mental lectures. Geographical distance and her adult status meant their opinions didn’t count. Despite what her furious and distraught father said, she was nothing like her mother. One bad experience hardly compared to several torrid affairs and three marriages to public figures with the resulting messy divorces.
“First, it’s essential we have complete honesty between us,” he said with a serious tone. “If you have any doubts, tell me. This won’t work if we’re not frank with each other. We need to communicate.”
His intent gaze told her he was sincere when it came down to nothing but truth between them. She thought back to previous boyfriends, the lies—both big and small—and nodded without hesitation and scarcely a flinch. Honesty remained important to her in a relationship.
Tingles sprang to life, tickling across her skin like champagne bubbles. An image formed in her mind, one of her draped across the arm of a chair. Connor standing behind her, a hairbrush in his hand. Heat stained her cheeks until they were as hot as her bottom would feel after several loving blows.
Her pulse quickened, imagining the scene. “What else?”
“Safe sex.”
Oops, something she hadn’t considered and should have. “That goes without saying. Are there more rules?”
“We don’t date.”
“No dates? I’m not sure I understand. Do you mean with each other or with other people?”
“What I mean is no courtship rituals are necessary. If you agree, we have sex whenever the mood strikes both of us.” He paused, his eyes looking her up and down, making her shiver, then continued. “If either of us starts seeing anyone else, we tell the other. If we meet someone else, we talk about it. It might mean we continue sleeping with each other and it might not.”
He opened a drawer and pulled out socks. Out of another, he grabbed underwear. Connor stuffed both items in his bag and zipped it closed. “We don’t tell the others. This remains between the two of us because I don’t want to answer their nosy questions.” His gaze drilled into hers, as if he wanted to impart the importance of the rules. “Also, respect for each other. And most important of all, we need to keep our emotions out of this. If your feelings change about our deal, you need to tell me. I’ll do the same. Questions?”
A tight band formed around Maggie’s chest, growing tighter as she listened to Connor spell out the rules in his husky voice. What was she getting into? Lovemaking should be spontaneous. It shouldn’t come with rules.
“Have you done this before?”
“Once, when I was at university in Dunedin.”
“Oh.” A flash of envy struck her. Heck, why not call it jealousy, because that’s what it was. Connor with a lover fanned the flames of resentment. Another woman in the same bed made her feel even worse, so how would she cope if he called off the agreement between them to date someone else? “How long did you—?” She broke off to gesture with her hands when the words wouldn’t come.
“We were together for a year. We stopped seeing each other when I finished my computer course and came to Auckland. Karen stayed in Dunedin.”
“I see.” Words deserted her entirely. The woman had a name. Karen.
Connor picked up the bag. “Think about it. We don’t have to do anything straightaway.” He picked up his bag. “You ready to go?”
Maggie stood and followed Connor out the door, aware of him in a way she hadn’t been before, ultra conscious of her clothes and the way they fit her body. No thinking required. She wanted Connor so much, but tangled emotions filled her. They were there in her mind, hovering on the fringes like scared children riding a rollercoaster.
Could she have sex with Connor and keep her emotions at bay? And more important, could she keep out of trouble and juggle all the lies without dropping a ball?
* * * * *
Two hours later they drove down a narrow gravel road, and Connor pulled his SUV into the driveway of the last house on the dead end road. Maggie breathed in the tang of the sea filling the air. To her right, the distinctive black sand rose in rolling hills as far as she could see.
With her stomach doing somersaults, Maggie followed Connor inside, feeling a little like Alice stumbling into the unknown. She hoped Connor would head straight to the bedroom. Temptation thrummed inside her, urging her to act on her instincts.Jump him. She curled her hand around the handle of her overnight bag, digging her fingernails into her palm, determined to keep it together and act with decorum instead of desperation. It didn’t help when her parents’ voices kept jumping into her mind, urging her to consider the consequences of her actions. They didn’t want another public scandal of the Penisgate variety in the family.
Connor led her into a large open room that looked like a combined lounge and kitchen. She scanned the room with interest. The furniture was old and mismatched, a little on the scruffy side, but everything appeared spotlessly clean, not musty. A breakfast bar divided the kitchen from the rest of the room.
Connor dropped his bag on the floor, and taking his cue, she did the same. “We have time for a walk before it gets too cold,” he said. “That will give you time to do your thinking in the fresh air.”
“Sounds good.”
Perhaps if she compiled a list of pros and cons, her decision would be easier. The question of spanking would make the list. Dare she mention it to him? Maggie shot him a swift glance and saw the intensity seething in his face when he returned her scrutiny.
