She reapplied the oil to her palms, noting they were pink from the work. But it felt good to be back in her element, helping someone who needed it. And it was helping her as well, keeping her mind off her current problems.
“Remember I told you about researching some of the UK hospitals that offer LSVT therapy?”
He grunted in response, and Kate wasn’t sure that was an affirmation or not. So she kept going. “Your hospital offers it. Did you know that?”
She paused, glancing up to see his eyes had opened a bit and he was now regarding her with what looked like suspicion. Maybe he thought she was going to press him about helping with Nick. She’d still like to, if he needed it, but what she’d really love would be to observe how another therapy center operated. Maybe even work there for a bit while she was here, even if on a volunteer basis. Being cooped up in her hotel room day in and day out didn’t appeal to her. And she didn’t feel right inviting herself over to Nick and Tiggy’s house.
Maybe Luke would be willing to put in a good word for her at the center.
“Anyway, I was thinking.” She put her hands back on his leg and focused on massaging while she got to the point. “Maybe you could introduce me around and ask if I could observe their techniques.”
No response. She sneaked another glance at his face. His eyes were closed again and that telltale muscle was working in his jaw. Surely she wasn’t hurting him now. Her fingers were barely making any indentations in his skin.
“Luke, are you awake?”
“Oh, yeah. Wide awake.”
His tone was odd, as well. She glanced at the towel, thinking maybe he was talking about what was behind it, but it was as still as death.
She swallowed, but forged ahead. “So what do you think?”
“Is that what this was all about?”
This? This what?
“I’m not sure what you mean.”
“Were you trying to get an ‘in’ with the hospital in the same way you were trying to get an ‘in’ with Nick’s treatment?”
“No, of course not.” Outrage crowded her chest. She’d been trying to help him, and he was thinking she’d only done it to get something she wanted? “I miss my job, that’s all. I was just sitting here thinking about how much I love doing this. How good it feels to watch your muscles relax as my hands slide over them. How good it feels to have...”
Oh, my. The towel wasn’t so still anymore. In fact, it was—
“How good it feels to what, Kate?” His voice rumbled through her senses about the same time as he slowly lifted his body into a sitting position. Since she’d been kneeling over his leg, that put them nose to nose. A potent combination of anger and something even more powerful glittered in his eyes.
His hand slid around the back of her neck, keeping her from moving away.
“I—I was talking about work,” she whispered, warm liquid anticipation beginning to flow through her veins, despite her words.
“Were you?” His thumb slid down her jaw until it hooked beneath her chin, tilting it up slightly. “I was talking about...this.”
With that, his lips closed the narrow gap between them and slid over hers.
CHAPTER EIGHT
HER HANDS WERE still on his leg.
Moisture from the towel draped over his upper thigh seeped through the dry one around his waist, but he didn’t care. He’d done so well controlling his urges during that crazy massage. Well, during most of it, anyway. When that control had started to slip and his body had responded despite every effort he’d made to think of other things, Kate had seemed to know exactly what to do to help him regain it. She had clamped down on his leg and gone to town, drowning out any sensation other than acute discomfort. The pain had been welcome, though.
He waited for her to repeat the action and help him switch his body off again.
She didn’t. Her hands just kept resting lightly on his thigh, even as her mouth began to return the pressure as it opened. Then her hands were off his leg and around his neck.
She’d had to go and ask that damn question. The one that had made him question her motives all over again. Because the second she had, he’d forgotten all about the pain. Or maybe that was the ibuprofen.
Right now he didn’t care what had caused him to snap. Because kissing her lips had been all he’d thought about for the past three days. That and those sexy little sighs as he’d taken her.
Hell, he couldn’t do this. Nick was counting on him to keep it in his pants.
Only his pants were long gone. And his leg was feeling better by the minute. Probably because every ounce of blood was rushing to the founding member of the do-something-stupid-now club.
But Nick...
Her fingers slid into his hair, sending shock waves rolling through his entire body.
Who cared what Nick thought, anyway? This woman had the ability to cut off all brain function that didn’t involve getting her into a prone position as fast as possible.
No. Not fast. He’d already had the slam-bam experience with her, and it had rocked his world. So slow and easy would probably blow it to smithereens.
She whimpered and pressed closer, and he realized her mouth was still open, still inviting. Well, far be it for him to disappoint a lady. Wrapping one hand around her waist, he hauled her closer, swiveling her so her knees were beside his left hip.
The act tipped her sideways onto his chest, which was about as close as he dared get to pulling her onto his lap, which was where he really wanted her. He had enough sense, though, to know that was a recipe for disaster. And not just because of his leg.
Speaking of legs, still kissing her, he tossed the damp towel she’d used during the massage to the side and buried a hand in her hair, which was loose around her shoulders. God, it was so incredibly soft. Just like her mouth, which was drawing him deeper, urging him to take what he wanted.
And he would. Very soon.
Leaving her mouth, he pressed slow biting kisses inch by inch along her jaw, drawing a moan from her throat that went straight to his groin.
“I’m supposed to be taking care of your leg,” she whispered.
He lifted his head, that drawl of hers singing through his head. “The leg’s all better. Now it’s my turn to take care of you.”
“Oh.”
He smiled. His hand skimmed beneath her T-shirt and found that skin he’d been craving, his fingers splaying over her back, thumb gliding in a back and forth arc over her hip. “How are your knees feeling?”
Her eyes widened. “M-my knees?”
Her skin turned deliciously pink and he lifted a hand, drawing his fingers along the line of her cheek. “You’ve been kneeling a while, and I thought it might be uncomfortable.”
Kate wrinkled her nose and slid down until she was resting on her left hip. Her glance went to his towel, which appeared to be levitating. “I don’t think you need to worry about your modesty anymore, do you?” Her fingers went to the tucked-in portion, and he moved to stop her before it was too late.
“Don’t.” The word was a harsh command, and she blinked up at him, surprise written across her face. He nodded toward the overhead light, forcing his voice to soften. “Can you turn that off?”
* * *
Kate tilted her head, her hands still gripping the edge of his towel. Turn off the light. Right now? She wouldn’t be able to see him if she...
Oh. She got it. The towel had nothing to do with modesty and everything to do with the condition of his leg. He didn’t want her to see it. “Luke, I’ve already seen your leg. Touched it. It’s okay. Really.”
She leaned over and tasted his lips, nibbled across them, something inside of her aching over his request. Had he made all of his dates since the accident dim the lights before they were intimate?
At f
irst she thought he was going to lean back and withdraw, or continue to insist that the lights go off, but then he grabbed her to him—fast enough that it took her breath away. His mouth slanted over hers, and if she thought he’d been kissing her before, she had been wrong. Hard lips held hers prisoner, forcing them apart and burying his tongue in the depths of her mouth.
He held her against him, her breasts flattening against his chest as he continued to take her mouth with long, hard strokes. A small sound exited her throat as she wound her arms around his head and held him close, trying to bind them together.
His head canted sideways as if needing to explore her from every angle, his mouth dragging across hers before settling back in and starting the sequence all over again.
This man was all muscle and sinew...and hot, heady need.
He drew back enough to whisper against her mouth. “There’s a condom in my wallet in the bathroom.”
“I’ll get it.” She knew exactly why he’d muttered it. He couldn’t get up and walk to the bathroom. Not yet. Not with his leg the way it was. Oh, how that admission must have cost him. She’d just uncurled her legs and stood when a tug at her waistband stopped her. She turned back round, surprised when his fingers undid the button on her slacks and drew down the zipper.
She swallowed as he tugged her closer, still parting the fabric and using the edges to slide them over her hips and down her calves.
“Step out of them.”
She did as he asked, standing there in her white lace panties. Was he going to repeat his actions from the supply closet and yank them off her? No. Instead, he tunneled beneath the elastic of the legs, his hands curving up and over her butt. She expected him to squeeze her cheeks and feel her up—and she’d have been happy to let him but no. He used his grip to urge her toward him. When she hesitated, his mouth curved in that crazy half grin. “Come here, Kate.”
She gulped, but allowed him to draw her closer until he was right there. Right there. Pressed against her. He opened his mouth and surrounded her, biting down with enough pressure to make her gasp. Then his tongue slid over her in one hot, wet swipe, the heat traveling right through the fabric. Her eyes shuddered closed, wanting more. Now. Just as her hips edged closer, he backed off, his hands sliding free of her panties. When she blinked down at him in confusion, he flashed another knowing smile. “My wallet is in the back pocket of my pants.”
She stood paralyzed for a second or two, before her mind absorbed what he’d said. He wanted her to walk to the bathroom.
Lordy, he’d just set her body on fire, and the man knew it. She swiveled to the left, her legs a bit unsteady as they carried her toward the bathroom. With each step she felt his eyes on her, the place between her legs already pulsing with need. She’d been on the verge of exploding, and he’d barely even touched her.
And when he did?
She found his pants on the floor and picked them up, sliding her hand into the back pocket and retrieving his wallet. She flipped it open, and rummaged around before finding the compartment with the packet inside. Make that two packets. Hmm... Just in case, she removed both of them and headed back to the bedroom.
When she got there, the lights were off, and she squinted at the pallet, only to find it empty. For a second she thought he might have taken off, but then she remembered him asking her to turn out the lights. She’d refused, so he’d found a way to do it, anyway. So where was he? As if he’d read her thoughts, he called, “Over here.”
Peering through the darkness, she could barely make out his form on the bed. Back leaning against the headboard, long legs stretched out in front of him.
She licked her lips. “Found them.”
She knew why he’d asked her to get his wallet but why had he gotten on the bed while she’d been in the bathroom, instead of waiting for her to return?
He hadn’t wanted her to see him struggle to walk, if his leg was still bothering him. So he’d done it quickly, while she’d been out of the room. Her heart cramped further. She ignored it. The last thing he’d want was for her to make a comment or try to reassure him.
Instead, she tossed the condoms onto the bed, hoping they landed somewhere near his left side. Then she crawled slowly toward him, her eyes beginning to adjust to the gloom. If she was on top, he wouldn’t have to worry about his leg. When she reached him, she kissed his lips then put her plan into action, swinging her leg over his hips, straddling him— Oh...he was naked! And hard. Gloriously hard.
This was good.
Still pressing her mouth to his, her breasts flattened against his chest. The heat of his body burned against her most private place, making her squirm. Mmm. When he muttered something against her mouth, she wiggled again, feeling a definite response from him this time. So she repeated the act, sliding slowly along his naked length. There was definitely something to be said for being in charge of a man like this.
And men liked it, too, right? When the woman took the lead?
She leaned up onto her elbows and smoothed his hair back from his forehead.
“What do you think you’re doing?” There was dark humor lacing his voice.
“Playing with your hair.”
“No. I mean here.” He pressed up with his hips, rubbing against her in a way that made her gasp. “What are you doing here?”
“I thought I’d be on top.” She pressed a kiss to his throat then licked halfway to his chin. She was startled when all of a sudden she was flipped flat onto her back, where she landed with an “Oomph.”
“You thought wrong.” Her breath sawed in and out of her lungs at the dark, hungry look she could just make out in his eyes. “You think I can’t do this?”
He pressed into her in a way that said, yes, he could, in fact. His voice lowered further. “I can. And I will. Very soon.” His teeth grazed her cheek. “You can be on top next time.”
All she heard were the words very soon and next time.
Then his mouth was on hers and he was kissing her until her head spun.
Next time? Oh, Lord, so he’d taken those two condoms at face value. They were going to have more than one session tonight. And next time she was going to be on top.
All she could think of was that maybe she should call the front desk and tell them to hold all her calls.
He sat up, straddling her hips in much the way she’d straddled his. Her hands went to his waist and started to slide lower, meaning to touch him. He stopped her. “Next time.”
Not fair. But she wasn’t about to argue.
Then his hands were on her shirt, and he tugged it up and over her head, letting it drop beside the bed. His palms curved over her breasts, molding them to his hands. Sweet desire pumped through her veins, and she arched into his touch. His fingers left their perch and glided from her collarbone, down over her breasts, grazing her nipples as they passed and then continued down her belly.
He swirled a lazy fingertip into her belly button, his thumb running along the elastic on her panties, then beneath it, traveling over the fine hairs until he’d reached her center. He moved lower, pushing inside, the same way his tongue had pushed inside her mouth a few minutes earlier.
She whimpered as the rest of his hand curved over that most sensitive part of her. He stroked in and out a couple of times, while she tried to lift her hips to meet him. He stilled.
“Rip open one of the condoms.”
All she wanted to do was lie there and absorb the heady sensations caused by the continued intimate contact, but she dutifully fumbled her hand across the surface of the bed until she found the nearest condom.
It took several tries before she finally located the nick in the side and tore the packaging. Luke rewarded her with a couple more easy glides of his thumb.
God, that felt good. Too good. Her fingers stopped what they were doing as her eyes fluttered shut. She
needed to push against him. But couldn’t because his weight was still on top of her.
“Take it out.”
He had to be kidding. She could barely think, much less do anything requiring a co-ordinated plan of attack. “I—I...”
His thumb slowly withdrew, the pressure of the rest of his hand on her fading with each lost millimeter.
“Luke...” She squirmed. “Please.”
“Take it out of the package, Kate.”
Oh, that was mean. But her fingers somehow slid into the opening and found the condom, managing to wrestle it free.
As soon as she did, his hand was over hers, guiding her, before moving to grip himself by the base and letting her slowly unroll the condom over his length. Their fingers met in the middle. He joined her in finishing the process and the mingling of their hands on his flesh was heady.
He wrapped his hand around hers, using her fingers to slowly stroke himself over and over.
God. He was too much. She’d thought he’d been erotic in the supply closet. This was light years beyond that.
He finally released her and dragged his thumb across her lower lip, his other still lodged inside her body. “I don’t think we’re going to need any of your massage oil.”
Her face heated as he withdrew his hand and slowly leaned over her, until his lips were at her ear. “I love it that you’re so wet. So ready.” He moved up over her hips, biting her earlobe. “Spread your legs for me, Kate.”
She’d never had a man mutter words like this to her. Ever. And if he’d ordered her around in any other tone of voice, she’d have told him where to stick it. But his voice was low, mellow, rumbled directly against her ear and sent delicious shivers through her body. It was a complete turn-on and totally different from what she’d experienced in the past. He voiced his wishes and expected her to obey.
And hell if she didn’t.
Her thighs parted, and Luke slid between them, his legs pressing against hers to hold them in place. She felt his fingers at the crotch of her panties, tugging them to one side, his penis finding her. He eased just inside, then withdrew, her moisture making each pass a little smoother. His breath shuddered against her cheek as he suddenly pushed completely inside her, stretching and filling her, and her muscles clenched around him in reaction.
The Lone Wolf's Craving Page 6
