by Paula Roe
“Do you know what time it is?”
“What, did I interrupt you getting ready to go out, Miss Party Queen?” Emily said.
“No.” She turned toward the windows with a scowl. “And shouldn’t you be doing something more interesting on your Paris honeymoon than calling me?”
“Zac and I had a bet. I thought my carrier had canceled my international roaming and he disagreed.”
“You know you can check that in your settings, right?”
“And deny myself the pleasure of hearing your voice?”
AJ felt a reluctant smile form. “Well, tell Zac congrats, he won. Won what, I don’t think I want to know.”
“You hear that, darling?”
“Smart girl,” she heard Zac murmur, then came a pause, followed by a giggle. AJ’s heart twisted briefly before she brushed it off.
“If you’ve quite finished flirting with your husband, Mrs. Preston—”
“Hang on. You left a message about the apartment. How long do you need it for?”
“Not sure. A few months?” She toed off her heels and let her feet sink into the plush carpet with a sigh.
“What?” She heard her sister shift then mumble something to Zac. “What’s keeping you in Sydney that long?”
AJ paused, then finally said with a wince, “A...man?”
“You don’t sound too sure.”
“I am. I think.” She couldn’t help it—she flicked a glance toward the kitchen. The man in question was exiting with two steaming cups, tie dangling loose and hair still sexily rumpled. She glanced away and shoved a stray lock of her own hair behind her ear.
“What about your stall?” Emily said.
“I can set one up at The Rocks.”
“Hmm.”
“Hmm—what?”
“Oh, nothing. But Zac’s planning on having an open house so we’ll need the apartment by October third.”
AJ did a quick mental calculation. “Seven weeks away?”
“If you say so...” She ended on a gasp, then the phone clunked ominously in AJ’s ear.
“I’m hanging up now,” AJ called. “Bye, Zac!”
“Bye, AJ,” came her brother-in-law’s deep voice on the other end before the line cut out.
“Having a good time, are they?” Matt asked, placing her cup on the coffee table.
AJ nodded. “They’re in Paris. Who wouldn’t have fun?”
“How did they meet?”
AJ eyed him, tapping the edge of her phone gently on her chin. “He was her boss.”
“An office romance, hey?”
“Something like that.” Emily deserved to be happy. And Zac was perfect for her, despite their rocky start. Clandestine affairs didn’t always turn out well, but theirs... Well, you only had to see them together to know they were completely and totally in love. “Emily planned the perfect wedding and the perfect honeymoon.” She gave a small smile. “She’s such an organizer—unlike me. She likes things just right. She’s a true believer in love and romance and all that ‘hearts and flowers’ stuff.”
“And you’re not?”
AJ shrugged. “Oh, I believe in attraction, in passion. Love, sure. But fidelity? Soul mates?” She shrugged.
He frowned. “That’s a bit cynical. What about the millions of couples who’ve been together and stayed faithful over the years?”
“I didn’t say it doesn’t work. Just not for me.”
“Why not? What makes you so different from anyone else, AJ?”
She scowled. “Our past defines us,” she said tightly. “It makes us into the people we are.”
“So you’re saying you have no free will? That you’ll let an event or person tell you how to think and feel?”
“No!” She scowled. “But people are conditioned for self-preservation. We’re either in pursuit of things that make us feel good or protecting ourselves from hurt. And growing up, it was always the latter. My mother—” She abruptly clamped her mouth shut. That subject was a major mood killer. “Look, are we going to talk about my past or have sex?”
He took her in through hooded eyes as he slowly placed his cup on the coffee table.
She swallowed, realizing she’d said entirely the wrong thing.
“I have some work to do. I’ll probably be up awhile.”
Yep. Wrong thing. Flustered, AJ couldn’t hide her disappointment, yet he didn’t say a word, just pulled his tie free. “I’m leaving for Italy on Sunday.”
“Italy?” she said, trying to ignore the sudden feeling of loss. “Lucky you.”
He shrugged, folding his tie slowly and precisely. “It’s for work. I don’t have time to sightsee.”
“Right.” Work. It would always come first. She’d known from the start she’d have to fit in around his work schedule. But was it foolish to be just a little disappointed?
“Good night, AJ.” He picked up his coffee then turned and strode toward his office.
She glared at the door as he closed it behind him. If that wasn’t a rejection, she didn’t know what was.
It was obvious that he wanted her. So why weren’t they naked on his couch right now?
“Work,” she muttered in the cool, dark silence. “Or the ex.” Really, what other explanation could there be?
She stared at the carpet, hands on her hips. She had no reason to be angry, not when she’d actively pursued this arrangement. Hell, she should be thankful he was so work-focused because didn’t that just make everything easier?
She huffed out a sigh and stared at the closed door. “Cold shower, I guess,” she muttered, then turned toward the bathroom.
* * *
AJ rolled over in bed and stared at the faint light coming under her door. Was Matt still working? She grabbed her phone and squinted at the time. 1:17. Surely the man had to sleep sometime.
As she lay there in the darkness, surrounded by unfamiliar scents and silence, her mind sluggishly kicked in. Pretty soon it was full of too many questions, too many thoughts.
Too many doubts.
With a grunt, she tossed off the bed covers then grabbed her robe. When she eased her door open, the subdued living-room lamp cast shadows across the room, but it was Matt’s office she focused on. She padded across the carpet, then placed her hand on the closed door.
Inside, she could hear his clear deep voice followed by another male voice that was slightly muffled and tinny. Skype? She heard Matt say, “Thanks. See you Sunday.” Then nothing.
The gentle clack of fingers on keyboard punctuated the silence. She grabbed the doorknob and slowly turned it.
Matt was at his desk, a laptop open in front of him, the rest of the surface strewn with papers, pens, a file or two. He’d rolled up his shirt sleeves, revealing lean tanned forearms sprinkled with dark hair.
“Did I wake you?” he said suddenly, his focus still on the computer.
“I’m a light sleeper.”
He reached for a paper, scanning it with a frown. “You should go back to bed.”
She shoved a hand through her hair. “So should you. It’s late.”
He paused, placed the paper into a folder, then slowly swiveled his chair to face her. “In Rome it’s twenty past five in the afternoon.”
Rome. “Nice to know.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll be back for our appointment.”
“That’s not what I was thinking.” When he raised an eyebrow, she continued, “It’s Rome. Home of the Trevi Fountain, the Sistine Chapel, the Vatican. All that wonderful history and art...”
He studied her, looking all comfortable and relaxed in his office chair, a curious smile on his lips. “You’ve never been to Rome?”
“I’ve never been outside Australia. Too expensive.”
His gaze held her firm, revealing nothing. “Come here.”
She eyed him back. “Why?”
“Why not?”
She took one step forward, then another, until she was standing barely a foot away. He reached out, snagging her robe and dragging her to him until she was trapped between his thighs.
She reached out to steady herself and when her hands met his shoulders, she felt him tense. Like an old motor starting up, her pulse began to pound, but this time it was panic of a different kind.
She waited, heart in her throat as his eyes held hers for long, agonizing seconds. Then, without breaking contact, he slowly, almost reverently, untied her robe, gently peeling it back like he was unwrapping a wonderful new gift. When his knuckles briefly grazed the curve of her waist, her breath stuck and her eyes widened. Then he slid his hands over her hips and glanced down.
He snorted, mouth curving. “Nice jammies.”
“I happen to like Hello Kitty,” she said in mock offense. “And they’re comfy.”
“Yeah, they look it. Very...” His gaze returned to her low neckline, to her breasts barely contained by the soft tank top. “Well-worn.” And then he shocked her by reaching out and gently brushing his thumb over her peaking nipple.
Her breath hissed in. Their eyes met.
“I thought you said we should wait until after our appointment,” she managed to say.
His eyes darkened. “Do you want me to stop?”
The air suddenly became too warm, too thick.
She started to lean in the exact moment he pulled her down. They met halfway, an eager joining of lips and breath. When Matt kissed her, the outside world dissolved.
With a groan, she closed her eyes and put all she had into that kiss. She welcomed his tongue when it roughly invaded her mouth. She murmured her acquiescence when his hand cupped her breast then teased her aching nipple into eager hardness. And she offered no resistance when he fisted his other hand in her hair, pulling her down. His roughness excited her, making her groin ache. Already her breath was coming out heavy, and as she went to her knees on the carpet, she reached for his shirt, fumbling for the buttons.
After a second—a long-drawn out, painful second—she muffled a curse and instead, ripped his shirt open. The buttons went flying but she didn’t care. She just needed to feel his skin, trail her hands along his smooth chest, then follow it with her mouth.
He sucked in a breath when her questing fingers found his nipple. “Matt...” she purred, her smile widening at his guttural response. “Take me to bed.”
Matt groaned. When had she managed to turn the tables on him? He was supposed to be in control, making the decisions here. He had a plan, a damn good one. Yet one kiss from AJ’s lush mouth and he was panting like a dog in heat, prepared to let everything fall to pieces.
“We need to—”
“What, Matt?” She tweaked his nipple and he gasped, lust exploding in his belly. “What do we need?”
“We should—” He squeezed his eyes shut as her other hand descended, cupping his hard manhood.
“We should...” Her mouth parted again and he leaned down to take it like a thirsty man. She was so very hot, scorching him with her hands and lips and sweet body. He cupped her breast again, marveling at the lush curves on such a lean frame before pulling aside her tank top and releasing the glorious fullness.
He ripped his mouth free from hers and fastened his lips on her nipple with a satisfied groan.
Her gasp echoed off the walls as he tongued the nub, gently using his teeth and lips until it hardened beneath his ministrations. “You taste so sweet, Angel. So very sweet,” he muttered, dragging his mouth across the soft globe, then rubbing his stubbled chin over her nipple.
He was rewarded with another gasp, and with lust thundering through his veins, his groin painfully hard and every sense eager and ready to go, he finally gave in.
He hooked his thumbs in her pants and swiftly pulled them down.
After a brief caress and an appreciative murmur, he gently spread her knees, his hand diving between her legs.
Her gasp sent hot, urgent desire flooding his senses, and when he felt her wobble, he placed a steadying hand on her, while with the other he parted her folds and firmly eased one finger into her damp warmth.
She trembled so sweetly, it was hard to get control, but he did, and when he slid his finger deeper, making deep circular motions inside, her voice gurgled in her throat.
“You like that?” he murmured, tipping her forward so his lips met her neck. She nodded her agreement, squeezing him inside.
He paused. “More?”
“Yes.” It was a plea and they both knew it, but they were past the point of caring right now. He slowly pulled out before easing back in with two fingers this time.
The tightness made her gasp, her eyes widening as she stared right into his. They were dark like an abyss, passion bleeding them black.
Then he started to move, to glide in and out, and the delicious friction overtook everything else.
He gave himself over to pure sensation, to the smell of their passion, her gentle murmurs and heavy breath, to the way she rocked her hips as he gradually coaxed her higher and higher.
“Matt,” she finally managed to gasp. “Please...faster!”
He did as she asked, diving deep, building the moment, teasing and arousing until inevitably, she was right there on the edge.
“Yes,” he muttered, his mouth going to her breast again, teeth grazing her nipple.
And then he gently bit down and she exploded with a wrenching cry.
Matt clung to the last remnants of control as she enveloped him, the sensual beat pulsating, filling him to bursting. And then there it was, that gloriously sweet release when she came for him, when she was finally and irrevocably vulnerable beneath his hands. He’d done that and, damn, he felt like he could take on a whole army right now.
Except he was barely holding on and his erection was killing him.
With his hand still intimately holding her, he tried to undo his pants with one hand.
With a soft curse, he sighed. AJ shifted and suddenly her hands were at his belt, undoing it with deft fingers.
His grin matched hers until she hesitated, teeth nibbling her bottom lip as wide eyes met his.
“I can’t do this with you...with me...” She shifted then and Matt got it. “Right.”
Slowly, gently, he withdrew, and the sweet sound of her breath hissing out and the sudden musky scent of sex permeating the air made his blood race. They exchanged a knowing look, a look of lovers who knew exactly what was to come.
He took in her passion-brightened eyes, the way her lips curved as she silently yanked down his pants and boxers. He kicked them off, peeled away the tattered remnants of his shirt then reached for her.
They both sighed, lips exploring each other for a brief moment until Matt guided her backward to the desk. Cradling her firm bottom in his hand, he lifted her up, sliding her across the top and scattering the papers and pens in the process. Then he eased her leg around his waist and sure enough, she knew exactly what he wanted her to do. She swiftly brought her other leg around, linking her ankles at the small of his back. Her heels dug into his butt and he repositioned himself, eyes locked on hers. Her breath puffed over his cheek as she leaned in, eager and ready, and his lips caressed the careening pulse in her neck, breathing in the glorious scent of her damp skin.
And then he plunged in and it felt like the whole world skidded to a standstill.
Thrum-thrum-thrum-thrum. The beat throbbed hard and loud in his ears as her wet tightness completely surrounded him, a sweetly painful yet glorious sensation that grew as he struggled for control.
He grabbed her thighs, fingers digging into her pliant flesh as he shuddered. In the back of hi
s mind he registered the odd thought—this desk is a perfect height—until she reached up and kissed him.
He devoted a few moments to her mouth, then finally began to move, slowly at first, then with a steady rhythm she quickly picked up on. Her hips thrust to meet his. With a groan he tipped her, angling deeper.
Their shocked gasps came out as one.
“Yes,” she murmured, her hot breath in his ear, lips nipping his jaw. “Yes.”
Sweat slicked them as they slid together, skin on skin. Muscles stretched and moved harmoniously until slowly a familiar tightness gripped his belly. Matt gritted his teeth, thighs clenching, but still he kept going, blinded by AJ’s passionate words in his ear, her sweet breath on his neck and her soft, pliable lips tilting up to receive his mouth. He kept going until he began to feel the swell of orgasm build, rushing closer and closer the more he sank into her hot, welcoming core.
“Angel...” he got out through gritted teeth. “I think—”
“Me, too,” she panted, her eyes tight, face straining. “Please, Matt, I need...”
He knew. He knew because he needed it, too. Time stood still and all he could do was suck in a thick breath and focus on her glorious expression as she finally, sweetly, came for him a second time. With a triumphant cry Matt let himself go, breath exploding like a drowning man coming up for air as he spilled into her.
Everything vibrated, pulsated, and his skin felt like someone had ripped a layer off. He shifted, wincing as his calf tightened painfully.
“You okay?” she murmured.
Oh, yeah. “Just a cramp.” He stretched his leg, careful not to disrupt her afterglow. He loved seeing her this way, all pouty and languid, her eyes heavy and mouth curved in a satisfied grin. Her belly slid across his, slick with sweat, and he gently skimmed a hand over her damp flesh.
“You’ve filled out,” he said, cupping her hip, taking pleasure in the warm skin.
“Are you telling me I’ve put on weight, Matthew Cooper?”
His gaze snapped up to her teasing expression and he returned her grin. “Yeah, but it looks good. A few more curves here,” he stroked her hip, then trailed back to her belly. “And here. I like it.”
