“We tried this before, remember?”
“Number four rule of the kitchen, if at first you don’t succeed…” He slipped her skirt up over her thighs and brought her closer to the edge of the desk. Looping his fingers into the crotch of her underwear, he pushed them aside. His mouth caught hers as he glided his finger along her clit, stroking her to a fever pitch. “Sadly, the kitchen rule maker doesn’t keep condoms down here.”
“I have some in my purse.” Alice reached inside her bag that sat on the end of the desk, and searched out the condoms she’d bought on a whim after their first night together. She pulled out a packet to hand to him and her handkerchief dropped onto the desk. Heart in her throat, she shoved it back into the bag.
The piece of aged fabric was innocuous but it was the one object that tied her to her daughter. Not that Alice was hopeful the adoption agency had allowed the girl to keep the blanket.
Put it out of your mind.
Like her bad memories, she tucked it away.
Niko reached for her and she slid her arms about his neck, her legs wrapping around his waist as he entered her. She had the rest of her life to grieve her daughter and to grieve what might have been with Niko.
But that was later.
This was now.
Alice drew his mouth down to hers, kissing him with all the love blooming inside her heart. She arched into his touch, hips rolling, an ache rising like a tidal wave until she crashed onto the rocks, each stroke a wave of sensation.
She loved him so much she ached. How and why, she had no idea. She just did. Crying out his name, she held him while he shuddered his release. He rested his head on her shoulder, his breathing harsh. She patted his hair, tears moistening her eyes, but she blinked them back.
I love you.
Eyes closed, she inhaled his scent, imprinting him on her memory for the long nights ahead.
And I hope one day, you can forgive me.
Chapter Forty-Six
Niko exited the tub and snatched up a towel from the rack. Running it through his hair, he drank in the sight of Alice in the water, cheeks rosy from the second round of sex in the past hour. He’d been depriving himself for so long he wanted to binge.
With her.
“Are you going to stay in there forever?” He’d like for her to stay forever but she had a life in California. They’d made no promises or commitments. She was well aware of his circumstances. More telling, she hadn’t volunteered to stay. He might want to explore how far this would go but she seemed happy with a mere affair.
“I know I need to get out but this feels like heaven.” Alice raised her leg from the water, toes flexing. Her toenails were painted a soft pink that matched the flush on her neck. Water cascaded down her shin, the rivulets running over her knees to her creamy thighs. “Are your parents going to make us sleep in separate rooms?”
“No, they’re not that old-fashioned. You’ll stay with me in my old room.”
“Will I find posters of half-naked women on your walls?”
“No, I kept them under the bed. I’m sure my mom’s removed them by now. Who needs pictures when I can have a real live naked woman in my bed?” He leaned over the tub and brushed his mouth across her swollen lips. “Butt-naked.”
“I believe the expression is buck-naked.”
“I like butt-naked better.” He slipped his hand under the water, splaying his fingers across her belly and seeking out the heat between her legs.
“We’re never going to get out of here if you keep doing that.” She bit her lip, her head lolling back, thighs drifting apart. Loose tendrils of hair escaped from her bun and cascaded down her breasts. She was a sexy siren reeling him in.
He sighed and started to withdraw. She clutched at his wrist, forcing him to stay in place. “Not so fast, Mister. You started it. Now you have to finish it.”
“Demanding, I like—” His cell phone rang from the other room and he froze, panic twisting his gut every time he heard that tune. “That’s Hallie’s ring tone.”
Alice twisted her body and cupped his cheek, understanding in her gaze. “You can’t think like that. She’s probably wondering where we are at. They’re expecting us.”
Shit, was he that obvious? Or did she learn to read him over the past few weeks? He’d had girlfriends before but he’d never felt this kind of bond with a woman. Alice was special and he was about to lose her.
Niko shot to his feet and rushed into the living room. While he had to answer the phone, he also needed to separate himself from her, to gain his bearings. He snatched up the phone, not wanting to delve too deeply into the reasons why. “Hey, Hallie.”
