“To make that invitation?”
“Yes! I mean no!” She started up the steps, still breathing hard. “I was just saying that you don’t have to worry about… well, pleasing me.”
“Because you don’t like to be pleased?” He moved around her and opened the door.
“I do, but that’s not the point of this experiment.” She walked in and her breath hitched.
She knew this room well — the high-backed sofa and easy chairs upholstered in soft denim, the rugged coffee table — all facing the stone fireplace. The sofa blocked her view of the fire, but dancing shadows and the pop of sparks told her it was going strong. Votives flickered on every surface, making the honey-colored log walls glow.
She glanced over her shoulder. “This is beautiful.” And clearly they’d be staying in this room for a while or he wouldn’t have built up the fire and lit the candles.
“Thank you.” He put down the bag and hung his hat on a peg by the door. Taking her gently by the shoulders, he turned her to face him. “I disagree that pleasing you is not the point.” Desire gleamed in the depths of his dark eyes. “As far as I’m concerned…” He paused, his gaze intent. “It’s the whole point.”
Heat sluiced through her, leaving her wobbly.
His voice softened as he tightened his grip on her shoulders. “And if that means turning on the afterburners, you can bet I’m gonna do it.” Drawing her closer, he dipped his head and brushed his lips over hers. “That’s a promise.” His breath tickled her damp mouth. “But first we have a contract to sign.”
She shuddered as another wave of lust swept through her, taking with it all her brain cells. She’d have to trust he’d revised that contract the way she’d asked.
He was in seductive mode, taking charge as no lover of hers ever had. In her current state, she’d be lucky if she could remember her name long enough to sign it.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
After Adam hung up Tracy’s coat and his, he switched on the small lamp on his desk and picked up two clipboards, each with a copy of the one-page document and a pen attached.
She took hers and smiled. “This isn’t your first contract rodeo.”
“No, but this contract isn’t like any I’ve ever dealt with.”
“I should hope so.” She backed several feet away and had to squint to read it.
“You can come closer to the light. I’m not going to?—”
“It’s not you. Well, it is, but it’s my reaction to you that’s the problem. You short-circuit my brain.”
“I see.” That happy news traveled straight to his—yeah, he’d have to exercise some control, here.
“Like that slightly wicked smile. One of those and I’m toast. I’d better not look at you.” She turned her back on him.
He itched to toss his clipboard and grab her, but he’d promised they’d sign and date the contracts. “Want a flashlight?”
“I’ll manage.”
“I changed the timing to one night like you wanted, but I thought that was a vague concept. So I added that the night ends at seven in the morning, since I’m due at the barn by around seven-thirty.” Much as he enjoyed that chore, he’d love to skip it. Couldn’t. Not if they were keeping this rendezvous on the downlow.
She nodded. “Interesting wording in that section.Final sexual activity will begin no later than six a.m. to provide time for an appropriate wrap-up.Are you planning to set an alarm?”
“Thought I’d set one for six, but you can chime in on that detail. Since the alarm isn’t in the contract, that’s up to us.”
“Let’s see how things go. Your description of the evening itself sounds like an orgy.”
“No, it doesn’t.”
“Parties will engage in sexual activities as often as such activities continue to be mutually satisfactory for both parties.”
“What’s wrong with that?”
“It implies non-stop sex.”
