Eyes wild, he reached for a condom and made quick work of rolling it on. He rose over her, roughly parting her legs with his knee. Desperate for the pleasure she knew awaited, she lifted her hips in invitation, her heart hammering in her ears.
“Please, Dallas. I need you so much. I ache—”
He cut off her pleas with his mouth and pushed inside her with a single, hard stroke. She groaned against his mouth, her fingers gripping his shoulders.
“I wanted to go slow, to savor this.” He shook his head, grunted when she bit into his biceps. And he started to move—hard, uncompromising strokes into her needy flesh. Laura squeezed her eyes shut and held him as he pummeled her body. The low level hum of desire she’d experienced during the day flared to life, burning her with its heat.
Blissful happiness roared in her ears, zipped through her body and crashed over her in a combination of pleasure-pain that had soft, needy sounds rippling from her throat. He plunged into her for two more strokes and stilled, a fierce shudder racking his body.
Gradually, they quieted, content with lazy kisses and caresses and low murmurs.
“I missed you,” he whispered. “I didn’t expect to feel this longing. I don’t understand it, but I can’t walk away. Even though—”
She pressed her fingers over his mouth, halting his words. “I know. I understand. We both know this is crazy, but I don’t want to turn my back either. I can’t. We’re going to enjoy this between us, and we’re not going to mention the reasons we shouldn’t spend time together. Agreed?”
He kissed her palm. “Agreed.”
He ditched the condom. In the corner of the room, the fire crackled and a log shifted, sending a shower of sparks up the chimney. Dallas tugged back the covers, and they cuddled, snatching kisses in cozy warmth.
“How was the new job?”
“I wasn’t a model employee today. I’m going to do better tomorrow, but you jumped into my mind and refused to move. A day has never seemed so long.”
“My day went about the same.”
“I thought you were working tonight,” she said.
“I asked Patrick to cover for me.”
“Did he ask questions?”
“Hell yeah. I think he’s worried I’ve hooked up with my ex.”
“Did things end badly between you?”
“You could say that. Maria messed me up, but despite what Patrick thinks, I’m not stupid enough to go back for more of the same.”
“Glad to hear it.” She paused and decided that, given their backgrounds, nothing but scrupulous honesty would work. “I know you’re older than me and have had lovers, but I can’t help feeling jealous. I don’t like to think of you with other women.”
“I’m not happy about you and James.”
“Exactly why you should come to dinner to meet him. Imagine how James’s boyfriend must feel knowing that James considered marrying me.”
“I would’ve kicked James’s prissy ass, packed my bags and told him to fuck off.”
Laura chuckled. “Me too.”
“Okay, I’ll go for dinner with you. Meet James.”
Laura squeezed his hand in silent gratitude. “I’ll ring James and make arrangements. He said they’ll fit in with me. When’s your next day off?”
“I can do Wednesday.”
“Okay, I’ll ring James in a moment. I’m too comfortable to move right now.”
“And you’re too busy,” he said, twisting to reach for another condom.
Laura had told him to dress for comfort, which to him meant jeans. In deference to the occasion, he’d gone with his best pair, a cream shirt and boots. Now he was nervous and second guessing himself, wondering if he should have dressed in black trousers. He grabbed his truck keys before he turned girlie and tried another outfit.
