Layla toweled herself off and wished she could wipe away the embarrassment as easily as she could the water from her quick shower. The instant his firm, warm lips touched hers, something long dormant came to life inside of her, and she had to taste more of him. Screw independence and modesty, because at that moment, all she wanted was to crawl in his lap and lick every wicked inch of him.
Layla’s tongue flicked out over her lips, and her heart fluttered. He tasted like newly fallen snowflakes dissolving on her tongue—wet, crisp, cool, and clean. She shivered, and her eyes shifted harshly as desire flooded her with surprising speed. Heat pooled between her legs, warmth trickled up her spine, and her breasts grew heavy with wanting him. Weak in the knees, she leaned on the counter and closed her eyes, concentrating on the cool, smooth granite of the countertop beneath her palms as she struggled to regain control over her body.
She steadied her breathing, and her eyes shifted back to their human state with a tingling snap. Staring at her mussed reflection, she couldn’t help but wonder. If she was this turned on, this out of control, then he must be feeling the same way. After all, he came to find her, so why reject her when she’d offered her body with willingness?
She’d never been rejected by a man before—ever. Not that she went around hitting on men; in fact, it had always been quite the opposite, but the few men she’d been with had been pretty happy with her skills in the sack.
Layla rolled her eyes and started to put on her makeup. “Great,” Layla muttered to her foggy reflection in the bathroom mirror. “That’s just fucking great. The one guy I actually throw myself at turns me down.”
She applied the mascara gingerly and inspected the cut above her eye, which was healing with remarkable speed. She, Raife, and Tati had always healed quickly, but this injury already looked two days old, not two hours old. She suspected that William had something to do with it, but she hadn’t the vaguest idea as to how. Well, she’d be damned if she was going to ask for his help. No thanks. One rejection a decade was about all she could handle.
It just didn’t make any goddamned sense, it confused the hell out of her, and she didn’t like it one bit, but why did she even care? She barely knew him. What should it matter if he doesn’t want her?
Layla brushed her teeth furiously, rinsed, and spit into the sink with far more force than necessary. How was she supposed to go to the bar with him tonight and act like nothing had happened?
When they’d gotten back to the house, Rosie had tried to look at the cut and talk her into sitting down for something to eat, but Layla wanted no part of it. She’d left William in the kitchen to do the explaining, and based on Rosie’s tone of voice, he was in for one of her lectures.
Layla giggled as she wiped her mouth off with the hand towel. Good. He could stand to be knocked down a peg or two, and Rosie was just the one to do it. Nobody could deliver a dose of reality or a scolding better than Rosie.
Noise from William’s bedroom caught her attention and sent her heart racing. Almost simultaneously, a light rap at the door made her jump. She clutched at the towel wrapped around her naked body and swallowed hard as her heart beat like a jackrabbit on a date.
“Layla?” His smooth baritone came through the closed door loud and clear. “Are you almost finished? I would like to clean up and shower before our plans this evening.”
She struggled to find her voice. “It’s all yours, counselor,” she said in a far lustier tone than she’d intended.
She cringed at the sound of it. When had she become such a dirty girl? She knew that was an irrational thought, but she couldn’t help it. Just those few muffled words from him made her wet and had her panting. She grasped the slick glass doorknob to her bedroom and pushed it open just two seconds too late.
William’s door opened before she had time to escape into the safety of her room, and the sight of him nearly made her faint. She had planned on issuing a blistering comment for intruding on her in the bathroom and not giving her a minute to leave, but her mind went blank. Her body hummed with awareness, and her heart raced wildly as his red-hot gaze locked with hers, holding her captive. Neither moved; they just stood there with their energy waves swirling through the room, as if seeking relief from the thick surge of lust between them.
William stood before her wearing nothing but a towel, which was slung low around his hips in a dangerously loose way. He didn’t just stand in the doorway—he filled it. In fact, that bathroom had never seemed so damn small. His hair hung just past his broad shoulders and framed his devastatingly handsome face to perfection.
His well-muscled chest was void of any hair, but she noticed a long, thin scar marred the left side just below his collarbone, and she had the ridiculous urge to kiss it. Body still, her gaze wandered down his washboard abs. She lingered a bit too long on the towel and didn’t dare wonder about what was underneath. He had strong legs, and as she suspected earlier, he didn’t have an ounce of fat anywhere.
Good God, he looked like some kind of Viking.
William cleared his throat, and Layla’s gaze snapped back up and met his. Her face heated with embarrassment for ogling him, but based on the way his towel tented in front of him, she wasn’t the only one getting an eyeful. His eyes shifted briefly to their clan form before returning to normal. Her lips curved into a knowing smile.
“Apologies for intruding,” he said gruffly, with a regal bow of his head. “I thought you said you were finished.”
“Hardly,” she said with a wink. “I’m just getting started.”
His eyes darkened with the unmistakable mark of lust, and his jaw clenched. Layla left, but not before she made sure her towel rode up so that it just barely covered her ass. With a coy smile, she turned to face him, slowly closed the door, and allowed her gaze to wander over his hulking form one more time, brazenly taking in every glorious inch of him.
“Oh, and by the way, I used all the hot water.” Her eyes flicked down to the protruding towel that he did nothing to hide. “But since you passed on my offer earlier, it looks like you need a cold shower anyway,” she said all too sweetly. “See you downstairs.”
As the door closed, the moon-glow eyes of his clan glittered brightly, and the midnight silk of his voice floated into her mind. Count on it.
The door may have been shut, but she couldn’t get the image of William’s mostly naked—and damn near perfect—body out of her mind. It was marred only by the scar below his collarbone. She frowned, wondering who or what had done that to him. Who had the nerve to damage that delectable flesh? She let out a slow breath and closed her eyes to keep them from shifting.
That man was possibly the most exquisite specimen she’d seen in her life, and that was saying something. She’d photographed some of the most beautiful people in the world, but William made them all seem homely. Judging by the erection he was sporting under that towel, he thought she wasn’t too bad either. Her brow furrowed, and she let out a sound of frustration. So why did he put on the brakes earlier?
Most of the time he was so damned restrained and reserved, even in the dream realm, but in the woods today, she got a taste of his wild side, just a taste… and now she craved it. God help her, she wanted this man in the most irrational way. It really was ridiculous. For God’s sake, he had rejected her a few hours ago, but here she was trying to figure out how to seduce him and find a way to make him give in to the stark need that clawed at both of them.
She wanted nothing more than to make him shed the formalities and explore the primal urges that simmered dangerously under the surface. Layla thought it would be best to remain rational about this situation. Maybe if they satisfied the physical attraction, then they could get it out of their systems and move on.
She nodded curtly at her inner dialogue, agreeing with herself for this course of action. Yes indeed, that’s what they needed, just a good old-fashioned wham-bam-thank-you-ma’am. They could get the physical need, and then he would see that’s all it was, and he could go on his
way.
Layla rummaged through her closet in an effort to find the perfect ensemble for tonight’s little outing. She pulled out her black wrap top and skinny jeans, which would be pulled together by her black stiletto boots with the zippers. Layla smiled, tossed the clothes on the bed, and took her sexiest underwear and push-up bra out of the drawer. With the help of Victoria’s Secret, tonight she was pulling no punches and using every weapon in her arsenal.
She took her time putting it together and dabbed her favorite perfume at each earlobe and a bit in her cleavage for good measure, giving one last look in the large oak mirror above her dresser. Her long, curly red hair had that sexy tousled look. She used dark smoky eyeliner to bring out the green in her eyes and put just the right shade of pink gloss on her lips.
“You may keep it simple girl, but you can vamp it up when you need to,” she said to her almost unrecognizable reflection. “Game on.”
Layla grabbed her shoulder bag and her black leather jacket, and then headed to greet her would-be suitor. She practically skipped down the stairs, anticipating William’s reaction to her body-hugging outfit.
However, all bets were off the moment she laid eyes on him.
William stood waiting for her in the front hallway with a single yellow rose in his hands. He wore the faded jeans, the pale green button-down, and the brown suede jacket that they’d purchased earlier. On anyone else these clothes would’ve seemed ordinary or pedestrian, but on him they screamed confidence and power. He radiated a raw, sexual energy that zeroed in on Layla mercilessly.
For the first time since she’d met him, he wore his hair loose, and it framed his handsome face, allowing his intense eyes to take center stage. Layla gripped the banister, fiddled with the bag in her other hand, and wrestled with her desire to jump his bones right there in the front hall. She stood motionless and trapped in his sights as he studied her.
Their energy signatures buzzed, and static electricity crackled in the air, causing the tiny hairs on her arms to stand on end. Her heart fluttered wildly, and she couldn’t seem to make her feet move from the landing.
William bowed his head and smiled. “You are stunning,” he said without taking his eyes off hers and extended the rose. “For you.”
Layla took the delicate flower in her fingers and inhaled deeply from the sunny yellow bloom. The sweet scent filled her nostrils, and a slow smile cracked her face. No one had ever given her a flower before.
“How did you know that this was my favorite flower?” she asked, her lips brushing the velvety petals.
It really was her favorite flower. She wasn’t being coy or trying to play the game, because with one sweet, old-fashioned gesture he’d completely disarmed her. It would seem that he was full of surprises.
Her eyes fluttered open, and to her surprise, William now stood just scant inches away. Her breath caught in her throat as heat pulsed off him and permeated every pore.
“Rosie told me,” he said quietly as his gaze wandered over her features. “I suppose she took pity on me and decided to help me out.” He offered her his arm and gestured to the door with the other. “Shall we?”
Layla laughed as she linked her arm through his. “You really are pulling out all the chivalrous stops, aren’t you?”
His dark serious eyes flicked to hers with piercing intensity. “You deserve nothing less.”
Layla searched his face for deception, for some hint that this was all a put-on or a con. However, she found nothing except sincerity, but perhaps that was the most frightening realization of all.
***
When they opened the creaky wooden door to the Rustic Inn, just about every head turned to look at William, and Layla couldn’t blame them. Aside from the fact that he was considerably taller than most of the people in there, he was absolutely beautiful. As a matter of fact, she had to make a concerted effort not to look at him like a lovesick teenager. She scanned the room and gratefully found that Sylvia was nowhere in sight. With any luck she’d gotten violently ill and wouldn’t show up tonight.
Layla noticed that Nathan and Barbara had removed one of the pool tables to accommodate Tyler’s band. They’d even taken out a few tabletops to create a small dance floor. The old brick pellet stove fireplace remained the center of the stone-lined wall, and the horseshoe-shaped bar dominated the right half of the place. It looked exactly the same as it had for as long as she could remember, and she couldn’t help but smile.
Normally, the old jukebox would’ve been playing loudly, but Tyler’s band was deep into their first set, a rousing Guns N’ Roses number. The place was thick with that drunken, buzzing energy of people having a good time. Tyler spotted her and gave a quick wave, which did not go unnoticed by William.
Who is that? His sharp perturbed voice popped into her head unexpectedly, and she shot him a sideways look. An ex-boyfriend but mostly a friend. She noticed a shift in his energy waves, a stumble almost, and it was a moment or two before he responded. Yes, well, I suppose the operative word in that description is ex. Layla shook her head and made her way through the thickening crowd. Can we not add jealous jerk to the list please? William stayed directly behind her. I’m not jealous. I’m merely curious.
When Raife flagged them down from the bar, she practically ran and plowed through the people in her way. If she ever needed a drink to steady her nerves, now was the time. Raife cleared away a couple of empty glasses and gestured to the two recently vacated stools on the far left side of the bar.
He gave a cursory glance to William, but immediately turned his attentions on her. Much to her surprise, this annoyed her. She was having enough trouble figuring things out with William, and her brother causing more problems would be less than helpful.
“Hey, I was wondering if you two were going to show up here tonight,” Raife said evenly.
Layla handed her purse and jacket to him. “Keep these behind the bar, will you?”
Raife shook his head, took the items, and stowed them underneath the bar. “Why do you even bring this stuff out with you? You never use them.”
However, the smile faded from his lips once he noticed the faint mark above her eye. Layla’s hand instinctively went to the almost healed wound. Dammit. She should’ve put more makeup over it.
Raife’s eyes narrowed. “What happened to your eye?” His stern gaze landed on William. “Jesus, she’s with you for less than a week, and she’s already gotten hurt.”
William remained unfazed and sat on the stool next to Layla without taking his eyes off Raife. “She’s fine,” he said calmly. “Instead of getting annoyed with me, perhaps you should ask your sister directly.”
Layla placed one hand on Raife’s forearm. “Hey, it’s okay.”
Raife looked at Layla with his trademark brotherly concern. “What happened?”
“We went out for a ride today, and I got thrown off Freckles. William didn’t hurt me. He helped me,” she said firmly. “So, why don’t you stop being an overprotective big brother and get us a drink?”
Arms folded over his chest, he let out a slow breath and looked back and forth between Layla and William. “Thrown off a horse? Off Freckles?” He shook his head and let out a short laugh. “I can’t remember the last time you got thrown like that.” His features softened. “You sure you’re okay?”
“I’m fine,” she said with a wave. “No big deal. I mean look.” She pulled her curly hair back and leaned forward so he could get a better view. “It’s practically gone. By tomorrow, it’ll be a faint scar.”
Raife nodded and pursed his lips. “We always did heal quickly, but that’s really damn fast.” He looked at William warily. “Is that because of you?”
“Yes,” he said with a glance to Layla. “More to the point, it’s because we’ve found each other, and this is only the beginning. There are many other things that will… develop.” Before Layla could pepper him with questions and ask him exactly what the hell that meant, Raife jumped in and changed the subject. Typical.
“I’ll have raspberry Stoli and seltzer with lime,” she said without taking her eyes off William.
Raife made quick work of Layla’s drink, and like any good bartender, continued his conversation. “Hey, don’t feel too badly about getting thrown off Freckles. You know what they say.”
“If you get thrown off, you have to get right back on,” William finished for him, with a knowing look to Layla.
Her face turned bright red, because she knew that William wasn’t talking about Freckles. She grabbed the drink Raife put in front of her and took an enormous swig.
“So, how about you?” Raife said to William. “What’ll it be? A glass of ginger ale, perhaps? Or a Shirley Temple?”
Layla watched the two of them stare at each other in silence and tried not to squirm on her stool. Their energy waves remained calm, but she wondered how long they’d be able to maintain their civility with each other. Would William take the bait, or take the high road and ignore Raife’s immature attempts to insult his masculinity?
William’s eyes narrowed. “Well, as tempting as those beverages sound, I’ll have Grey Goose on the rocks,” he said smoothly.
Okay, he earns back another point for taking the high road. Layla studied his profile as she took a sip of her drink. He sat on the stool with his hands folded in front of him on the beat up mahogany bar and looked like he owned the place.
Power.
The man radiated pure, animalistic power, and it probably frightened most people, but all it did was manage to turn her on.
Layla plucked the lime off the edge of her glass and plopped it into the drink as she examined him and took another swig. Her gaze wandered over him from head to toe, and when she finally made it back to his face, he was staring right at her with a knowing smile.
Untamed (The Amoveo Legend 3) Page 11
