“Sorry. Thinking about the past.”
“Been there.” Ashley scrambled off his knee. She slid down the side zipper of her red gown and shrugged from her dress. Josh started to get a clue.
“Are you trying to tease me into jumping you?” Not that he required any sort of show. The moment Ashley had mentioned sex, his body had reacted.
“I’m not proficient at seduction.”
Josh came to a decision and stood. “You’re a sexy, gorgeous woman, Ashley Townsend. I surrender. I can’t fight this any longer.” His voice was low and gritty, his cock turning hard and heavy when he saw her in another of the sets of lingerie he’d chosen for her. Black lace. Sexy black stockings that hugged her stunning legs and ended in a lace band on her upper thighs. If she thought he didn’t want her, she wasn’t the smart woman he’d thought she was. “When Frog comes home, I’ll confess. He can punch me in person.”
“Not if I get to him first,” Ashley promised. “He can’t tell me who I can or cannot see. I mean, if I tried that with him, he’d tell me where to go.”
“Let me undress you,” Josh whispered in a verbal surrender. He reached for her, noticed his right hand tremble as it settled on her shoulder. “I thought the black lace would suit you.” He ran his hand over her arm, savoring the silky skin. Her swift intake of air brought a smile.
It seemed they were both in new territory here.
Although he wanted to take things slowly, this time he embraced the idea of failure. He brushed a kiss on her shoulder and inhaled lavender. An old-fashioned scent and a contrast to the sexy underwear and dress, but the fragrance suited Ashley.
“Did I tell you how beautiful you looked tonight?”
“Ever since the legs episode, I’ve dressed more conservatively. After this afternoon, I realized I needed to live for myself. Since Jess—the accident—I’ve tried so hard to do the right thing, but I’m human. I’m not perfect. All of that hit me like a bombshell when I worried my stalker had killed you. I intend tolivemy remaining days. Existing is fine, but living each day as an adventure is better. I do this for Jess. For my job.For myself.I have to trust the police will catch this guy, and meanwhile, I’ll show every Kiwi voter the best part of myself, which I think is a mix of who I was and who I’ve become.”
Josh laughed, so impressed with this courageous woman. “The voting public won’t know what or who has hit them. They’ll start calling you Hurricane Ashley.”
“Excellent. I’d prefer that nickname more than Legs. Now, shut up and kiss me. It’s way past time to get down and dirty.”
“Yes,” he whispered. He claimed her mouth, intending to start slow. The first press of their lips blasted his plan away as Ashley worked her seductive wiles.
Yessss. Ashley sank into Josh’s kiss, every feminine part of her saluting his masterful actions. She didn’t want friendly sex. Gentle sex. She needed hot and passionate, and she communicated that by dragging him close and wrestling off his clothes.
“Hey, easy with my arm.”
“Sorry. I forgot. Should we stop?”
“Hell, no.” He nibbled her neck, eliciting a delicious shiver from her.
Her bra loosened, freeing her sensitive breasts. Josh lifted her and positioned her on the bed. His mouth settled over a nipple, and he sucked hard even as his fingers teased her other one. Pleasure roared through Ashley. It had been so long. She bit her lip as she recalled her houseguests. Nope. Not gonna worry about them. As far as the world was concerned, she and Josh were a couple.
He lifted his head and moved away from her. “Condoms?”
“Bedside drawer,” she said immediately.
Josh nodded and removed his shirt. A dressing covered his arm, pristine white against his tanned skin.
“Is it sore?”
He winked at her. “My cock is hurting more than my arm.”
His words reassured her, and while he stripped off his clothes, she wriggled from her panties.
“Let me do the stockings.” Josh returned to the bed, naked. “So, Ms. Townsend. What is your opinion of my legs?”
Ashley giggled. “The spindly comment hurt, huh?”
“Yes.”
“I understand,” she murmured. “I’m kind of sensitive about my legs too.” Her lips twitched as she tried not to laugh.
His eyes narrowed a fraction—all the warning she had. The next second she found herself stretched over his knee.
