“What happened today?” he asked, the unnatural calmness in his tone putting her on alert. “Something happened that changed things between us. What was it?”
He was amazingly perceptive. She thought about lying, but it wasn’t worth the effort. She might as well end things now.
“Sophia happened. She reminded me of the way things really are.”
“Sophia Aiello?” He frowned. “What does Sophia have to do with anything?”
“She came to see you. You didn’t have time for her, but I’m sure she’ll forgive you.”
“I’ve never slept with Sophia.”
“You have a date with her next week. Were you going to tell me the truth or make something up?”
A knot of anger appeared in his jaw. “It’s just a PR stunt to raise money. I have no interest in a woman like that.”
“No? You were married to a beauty queen.”
“That’s right. Three years of misery and that god-awful house was the result. One thing you can be sure of—I’m a man who learns from his mistakes.”
She looked up at him. She wished she’d never met him. Wished Joe had never asked him to watch out for her.
“I want to go home. I’ll sleep in one of the other bedrooms tonight, but tomorrow I’m going home.”
His jaw went harder. “You’re not leaving. I’m not letting you put yourself in that kind of danger.”
“You can’t tell me what to do.”
“You don’t think so? I’ll tell you this—I’m not letting some spoiled, self-absorbed female I don’t give a fuck about ruin what’s happening between us.”
Her head came up. “Nothing’s happening. It’s just sex.”
“Is it?” He stalked toward her, caught her shoulders. He was mad, furious. She didn’t understand why he was so angry.
Linc hauled her closer. “I don’t know where this is going. But if Sophia upset you that badly, I mean more to you than just sex. We’re going to see where this leads. We’re not going to let other people decide the outcome.”
He fisted a hand in her hair to hold her in place and his mouth crushed down over hers. Heat speared through her, and wild, uncontrollable lust. She told herself to stop him, that he was just saying the things every woman wanted to hear, that he would get tired of her and leave, just like Garth and Carter, men who had professed to love her.
But what if she was wrong? What if Linc was the one man she could trust? The one man who was everything he seemed? She wanted to believe it so badly.
Carly struggled against him, but the heat was too much, the yearning too strong. Her body went primal, demanding she give in to him, let him take what he wanted. Carly kissed him back with all the need she felt for him, all the hunger, slid her fingers into the hair at the nape of his neckand her tongue into his mouth. Linc kissed her until her legs felt weak, until she couldn’t think of anything but him. She whimpered when he broke away.
“Another thing you should know. I’m not above using sex to get what I want. Since I know how much you like sex with me, I’m going to remind you why you decided to stay with me in the first place.”
Carly gasped as his big hands circled her waist, lifted her up, and set her down hard on the kitchen counter. He found the button on the waistband of her jeans, popped it open, then buzzed down her zipper. Her shoes landed on the floor. He lifted her and jerked down her skinny jeans, her panties along with them.
Carly couldn’t breathe. Heat roared through her. Every part of her body was sizzling. Linc pulled her to the edge of the counter, kissed her long and deep, parted her knees, and moved between them. Her blouse vanished and he was feasting on her breasts, turning her nipples diamond hard. Kissing his way past her navel, he suckled and tasted, used his hands and his mouth to bring her to a screaming climax. Her head fell back as pleasure spilled through her; the world tilted sideways, into a wash of color and sweet sensation.
Limp and sated, she lay back on the counter, too boneless and numb to protest when he unzipped his Levi’s and freed himself. Linc leaned over and kissed her. She whimpered as his hard length began to fill her.
“You like this?” he asked.
“Oh, yes . . .” she whispered. She loved the way he touched her, loved everything he did to her body.
“I’m glad you do because we’re only getting started.” Pinning both wrists together above her head, he took her right there on the counter, took her hard, claiming her in some way.
For a moment, fear gripped her. She was getting in deep with Lincoln Cain. Risking her emotions, setting herself up for heartbreak. The thought slid away as Linc moved above her, surging deep, driving her toward another searing climax.
Carly closed her eyes and let the storm of passion roll over her.
