Luc stroked the curve of her elbows, traced the delicate bones of her wrists and threaded his fingers through hers. She was soft and warm, like molten wax against him, and he couldn’t help smiling. Her skin flushed pink and every muscle in her body was lax. He didn’t know if it was the result of the warm water or his gentle care. Either would make him happy. He’d set out to relax her, to give her a few minutes of peace and pleasure and he’d accomplished that with a simple bath. If the rest of the day went this well he’d have Cassie seduced and agreeable to anything he wanted.
And he wanted her.
More than a weekend. More than a few days snatched from the real world. He wanted her in his life and he wanted in hers. It scared the shit out of him, these deep emotions for a woman he hardly knew. But he’d never backed down from his fears before, and he knew gut deep that he and Cassie had stumbled across something remarkable. Something not many people found. His heart thundered and his stomach clenching as he thought about where this connection could go.
The water was starting to cool and he hadn’t washed her back yet. He needed to move things along. There were other things he wanted to do with Cassie today, and while this leisurely soak was satisfying, it was also torture. His nerves were strung taut, his body tense with desire for the woman in his arms, and it was taking all his effort to keep things on this side of the line. One too many strokes of his hands over her lush curves and Luc’s control would snap. With that in mind, he shifted behind her and, curling his fingers over her shoulders, pushed her forward.
“Sit up. I’ll wash your back before we get out.”
She bent her legs and, wrapping her arms around them, rested her forehead on her knees. Her spine was a smooth curve in front of him and he grabbed the soap to lather his hands once more. With slow, gentle strokes, Luc worked his way from her shoulders to the sweet little dip above her arse and back again. Moans of pleasure and sighs of breath filled the moist air surrounding them and his cock throbbed with each one. He’d need a cold shower or a quick handjob if he didn’t plan to jump Cassie.
Luc didn’t linger, although the urge to was great. He smoothed his hands down her spine one last time before gripping her waist and helping her to her feet. “Hop in the shower to rinse off.” He stood behind her, keeping his eyes away from the tempting slope of her bottom.
She turned and slid her hands up his chest and around his neck. Their bodies drew flush and she couldn’t miss his arousal with it pressing into her belly. “Thank you.” Using her arms to pull him down, she rose up on her toes and kissed him.
It didn’t last long. And while the brush of her mouth on his was almost platonic, there was no way she could hide the desire in her eyes. But he understood what she was doing. She was keeping things light, not stepping over the invisible line he’d drawn with his actions. Luc smiled and dropped his forehead to rest on hers. “You’re welcome.”
They remained standing in the bath, breathing each other in for several heartbeats. Luc finally found the willpower to let her go. Stepping over the tub, he held out his hand and waited for Cassie to follow. No words were spoken, and though he wanted to say so many, he couldn’t find the right ones. Not when all he could think of were words that would no doubt send her running for the hills. He wasn’t ready to be thinking them, never mind say them. Giving himself a mental shake, he reached into the shower recess and turned on the water.
“Hop in.” Luc nudged Cassie’s hip with his hand. “Rinse off and then I’ll grab a quick shower.”
She turned to look at him. “You’re not getting in with me?” Her gaze drifted down his body to stop at his erect cock.
He swallowed. “Ah, no, I’ll get in after you’re done.”
Cassie frowned. Little creases formed between her eyebrows. Luc used his thumb to smooth them out.
“Just rinse off, Cass.” He pushed her until she stepped beneath the warm spray.
Luc might not have wanted to tempt either of them by getting in with her, but he couldn’t bring himself to leave the bathroom either. He watched as she closed her eyes and dipped her face under the water and let it flow down her chest. Turning, she ran her fingers through her hair and soaked the dark strands. She opened her eyes and reached for his shampoo.
“Mind if I use this?”
The idea of her smelling like him all day made his throat go dry. “No,” he croaked.
She smiled and got to work on lathering her hair. He couldn’t take his eyes off her. With each flex of her fingers his cock pulsed, and he hadn’t even thought about moving when he found himself standing beside her, tangling his own fingers in her sudsy hair.
“Oh, yeah,” Cassie murmured when he dug his fingertips into the back of her neck.
He massaged her scalp. From neck to temple, Luc turned a simple hair wash into an erotic delight. They were both panting and breathing hard by the time he was done. Tilting her head back, he said, “Keep your eyes shut.”
“You’re good at this.” She rested her hands on his chest. “Do it often?”
Luc could hear the smile in her voice, but he glanced down to make sure she wasn’t thinking he spent his time in the shower washing a woman’s hair. “No. You’d be the first.”
Her eyes popped open and the honey-brown churned with myriad emotions he couldn’t name. “I’m glad.” A smile turned up one corner of her mouth and he leaned down to kiss the spot.
The kiss quickly turned liquid. Heat and passion that had slowly built over the last half hour exploded between them. Luc sucked her tongue into his mouth. He nipped with his teeth, nibbled with his lips. All the while Cassie fought to do the same. He slid his hand down her back to grip her arse and he lifted her off her feet and pressed her into the wall next to them. She growled into his mouth as his cock lined up with her clit. Her legs slid around him and she yanked their bodies closer.
His cock throbbed, his balls ached and all his good intentions went out the window. He flexed his hips, pulled back until he probed her opening. With one thrust, he drove himself home. A ragged moan filled the air and Luc didn’t know if it was his or hers. Didn’t care. The only thing he cared about was slamming in and out of her body. Plunging hard and fast, he took them both up in record time. She bit into his shoulder as the first shudder racked her. As her orgasm tore through her, it ricocheted into him and shoved him over the edge.
The first spurt of come had his brain engaging. “Fuck!” He pulled out of her clasping pussy and spilt the rest of his seed on her thighs. It was pointless, the damage was done. He’d put them both at risk a second time, and even if Cassie could forgive him he wasn’t sure he could forgive himself.
Cassie shuddered on the final waves of her release. Her chest heaved as she dragged in each breath. Lucas held her pinned to the tiles with his body but his cock now lay pressed against her leg. She swallowed around the lump in her throat. They’d forgotten protection. Again. Shit! It couldn’t happen again. But something about Lucas was proving irresistible. She’d never been so out of her mind with anyone else. And she’d never come so hard or so many times with any other guy either.
She laid her head back against the wall and dragged her heavy eyelids up. He was staring at her, his expression one of self-recrimination, and she couldn’t let him take the fall for something they were both responsible for. “It’s not all your fault.”
The skin around his eyes creased as his mouth kicked up in smile. “Yeah, it is. I shouldn’t have climbed in here with you.”
Cassie couldn’t let him take the blame, especially when she’d purposely tempted him with her nakedness when he’d said he wasn’t joining her. “You can’t help it if I’m too tempting to resist.” She wiggled her eyebrow suggestively and rocked her hips against him in an attempt to lighten the mood.
Except Lucas’s expression turned serious again. “You have no idea.”
With the cryptic remark, he lowered her to her feet and once she was steady, stepped back under the shower. He rinsed himself quickly then
grabbed her wrist and tugged her beneath the spray.
“Rinse off. I’ll get your towel.” He slipped out of the glass enclosure and wrapped a towel around his waist. Picking up another one, he held it out and waited for her to finish.
He studied her. Numerous emotions flashed across his face and Cassie tried to decipher them. She couldn’t tell if he was upset about their latest mindless coupling or not, but she sought to reassure him anyway. “I’ll check my calendar as soon as I’m dressed. I’m pretty sure we’re safe, but I think both of us could use something a little more concrete than my memory.”
Lucas nodded as she turned the water off and stepped onto the bathmat in front of him. He didn’t comment and remained silent as he used the towel he held to rub her dry. She wanted to take it off him and do it herself. Give them both a breather to collect their thoughts, but she couldn’t deny herself the pleasure of Lucas’s touch.
One more piece of evidence that pointed to her inability to resist this man. Whether their unprotected sex resulted in an unplanned pregnancy or not, Cassie knew she was still in trouble. Lucas Wilhelm was someone she could fall for. Hard. She had to guard her heart for the rest of their time together. No matter what, she couldn’t expect to see him again after their challenge was over.
Chapter Twelve
Cassie growled in frustration. Lucas had twisted away from her again. He’d been doing it all day. Ever since they’d gotten carried away in the shower he’d kept his distance, and she couldn’t help wondering if he was pulling back because of their carelessness. Concerned about their second bout of reckless abandon, she’d checked her calendar. What she discovered put her mind at ease and she’d let Lucas know it was unlikely she’d get pregnant. Of course, they still had to wait to be sure.
It wasn’t only his physical withdrawal that had her confused. Their day had been nothing like she’d expected. After their shower he’d loaned her a shirt and draw-string shorts and they’d headed into his front yard to wash his car. What should have been a simple process turned into a water fight. By the time they were finished they’d been drenched from head to toe and Cassie had needed another shower to get the suds out of her hair. Dressed in her own clothes, Lucas had led her back to his car and driven them into Darling Harbour where they’d had a delicious lunch in a harbourside cafe while watching the parade of people passing by.
The only time they’d touched was when they accidently brushed up against each other. He hadn’t even held her hand when they walked from his car to the restaurant. And now, as they strolled along the water’s edge, there was at least two feet of space between them. She missed his touch—the closeness that had developed between them—and she couldn’t ignore the twinge of regret that pinched her chest. If she hadn’t caught him looking at her with hungry eyes, Cassie might think he’d had his fill of her and was simply waiting for their time together to be over.
They were slowly making their way back to the car. Lucas hadn’t told her what was on the agenda next, and even with her emotions in a jumble, she was looking forward to finding out what he had planned. So far, even with the mixed signals he was sending her as well as her own see-sawing feelings towards Lucas, the day had been great. Cassie couldn’t remember the last time she’d smiled so much. She’d overused her facial muscles to the point that her cheeks hurt. And she’d learned a lot about Lucas and his life. He may have pulled back from her physically, but he’d been an open book otherwise.
She’d never had more fun with a guy she liked. And even though she always had a good time with Dan and West, they didn’t count. She didn’t feel anything for them beyond friendship. With Lucas she felt friendship, lust and a connection she couldn’t quite put a label on. Something deep and absolutely scary. If any other man had given her the hot-cold treatment she’d have walked away. Cassie couldn’t walk away from Lucas no matter how much she told herself she should. Her inability to resist him sent a shiver down her spine.
“Cold?” Lucas moved closer and slipped his arm around her shoulder.
Not willing to admit the truth or give up the contact with him, Cassie lied. “A little. The breeze is always cool coming off the water.”
“We’ll be at the car park and out of this wind soon.” He tugged her in tight against his side.
To her relief, Lucas didn’t pull away when they entered the parking garage. Instead, he steered them towards his car with her tucked under his arm. Their height difference meant she fit snugly against him, he didn’t need to lean down and Cassie didn’t feel as though she should walk on her toes. In spite of him being almost a foot taller, he was the most physically compatible man she’d ever been out with. Not that they were dating. Or that they would.
She sighed. All this mental to and fro was making her tired. Reaching his car, she reluctantly slipped from Lucas’s embrace and sank into the soft leather of the passenger seat. Once she was settled, he closed the door and walked around the hood to the driver’s side. With the push of a button, the car purred to life and they were soon on their way. Lucas drove for ten minutes before Cassie couldn’t contain her curiosity any longer.
“Where are we going now?”
“Back to my place.” He took his eyes off the road for a second and grinned at her. “It’s time for you to make my pie.”
Cassie had forgotten all about his request for a fresh-baked apple pie. A thrill shot through her. If she was making him a pie then he wouldn’t be shoving her out the door the second they got back. She knew more time in his company would only make her fall deeper for this compelling man, but she couldn’t bring herself to be unhappy their weekend wasn’t over. In fact, the butterflies currently swooping in her stomach were a testament to how pleased she was Monday hadn’t arrived yet.
Luc knew Cassie was confused by his withdrawal. He owed her an explanation, but he couldn’t bring himself to give her one. It was bad enough admitting his lack of control to himself. There was no way he would tell her he couldn’t restrain his lust. Ravaging her in public wouldn’t endear him to her, and there was a good chance of that happening if he touched her. He’d seen the sideways glances, the frown marring her pretty face, and he hadn’t missed any of her attempts to initiate contact. If they made it home without him pulling over and swooping in for a kiss it would be a miracle.
Mid-Sunday afternoon traffic was light, but the drive to his house took over thirty minutes. Silence hung between them like a thunder cloud—heavy, dark and filled with electric tension that had the hairs on his arms standing on end. He’d done that to them. Turned their easy, friendly rapport into a strained acquaintance. He needed to get them back to where they’d been before they’d left his house this morning. Luc could only hope it was possible.
“Is there anything you need at the shops?” he asked, trying to break the unease between them.
“No. We picked up everything I need yesterday.”
“Only a few more minutes and we’ll be home.”
Their conversation stopped and Luc racked his brain for something to say. He came up empty. Cursing himself a fool, he pushed the accelerator down harder and nudged the car over the speed limit to reach their destination quicker. Not wanting to get into a discussion about his behaviour in the car, he kept quiet for the last few minutes of the trip. As he pulled into his driveway his phone rang, the hands-free system blasting the sound through the car’s speakers.
Luc didn’t want to take the call where Cassie could listen. No one rang him except work, and while it was unlikely the conversation would hold any confidential information, he couldn’t risk it, so he reached over and diverted the call to voicemail. Let whoever it was leave a message. He’d get back to them once they were inside and Cassie was busy making his pie. He pulled up in front of his garage and Cassie had her seatbelt off and was opening her door before the engine stopped ticking. It seemed as though she couldn’t get out of the car and away from him fast enough.
Slipping from the car, he took a deep breath before he followed her al
ong the path. He fished his keys from his pocket and unlocked the door. The alarm beeped, letting him know he had sixty seconds to punch in his pin code or have the security company start thinking there was a break-in in progress.
Stabbing at the keypad with more pressure than necessary, he disengaged the system. Cassie closed the door behind her and Luc activated the at-home mode.
They made their way into the kitchen and Cassie went straight to the fridge to pull out ingredients. He watched as she efficiently set out the food then began opening cupboards looking for bowls. Taking pity on her, Luc walked over and pulled out what she needed.
“Do you want a mixer?” he asked.
“No, I like to do the pastry by hand. I need a saucepan though, for the apples.” She patted the bag of fruit on the counter.
“I would have been fine with tinned ones.”
“Nope. Fresh means fresh.” She took the apples to the sink. “What drawer is the peeler in?”
“Second down.” Luc peered into the cupboard with his saucepans. “How big do you want the pan?”
“Medium.”
He pulled out the one he thought would work and placed it on the stove. “Do you mind if I go and check my voicemail while you get started?”
“No, go ahead. I’ll be fine here. If I need something I’ll just open every door and drawer in the place ’til I find what I’m after.” She smiled at him.
“Okay. I shouldn’t be long.” Luc went to his office with the sound of Cassie puttering around his kitchen echoing behind him. His lips curved up in a grin. He could definitely get used to hearing her in his house.
7 Minutes in Heaven (Are You Game?) Page 11
