His voice dropped low and she wondered where he was. “You know I can’t give you what you want, Lor.”
“I know that tonight you can give me what I need,” she replied. “I feel dead, Kyle. I hate it. I want to be alive again.”
Again there was a pause, and she hoped he decided to do what she asked. She was gripping the phone too tightly, her heart in her mouth, but she didn’t care.
“Your place?” he suggested and relief flowed through her.
“No. Mark is circling like a dog, double-checking where he crapped.”
Kyle laughed as if she’d surprised him. “Not my place. No one comes there.”
“Maybe it’s time to change that,” she said, pushing him just a little. Her pulse was fluttering. “I’m taking a chance. How about you?”
He didn’t think about it long, much to her relief. He immediately gave her an address on the west side. Hell’s Kitchen, probably. She’d bet it was that shiny new building south of the Javitz. “I’ll be there in twenty minutes,” he said, some of her own urgency in his tone. “And if you change your mind, Lor, it’s okay.”
“I’m not going to change my mind,” she said. “I’ll be there.” She ended the call and looked up at the billboard, welcoming the flicker of excitement in her veins. Simmering. She hadn’t even seen Kyle yet, but she already felt herself returning to life.
She knew that was just a hint of what was to come during the night ahead. Lauren smiled for the first time in weeks as she stepped to the curb to flag down a cab.
* * *
Kyle stared at his phone for a moment, wondering if he’d imagined what had just happened. That Lauren had called him for sex was too good to be true. There had to be a catch.
He wasn’t going to look too hard for it.
Not until after.
In fact, he was pretty sure she wouldn’t show up.
That was the only reason he’d caved, of course. That night they’d had together had been perfect and there was no chance of a second encounter being even half as good. He knew that any follow-up was doomed to failure—all romance was doomed, after all—but it was Lauren. He couldn’t resist her, especially when she sounded so vulnerable.
She needed a little reassurance. She’d called him for it, and he had to give it to her.
Kyle was confident that she would have decided to back out by the time he got to his building.
But he’d still get to see her again, however briefly, and that was a temptation he couldn’t deny.
He turned off his phone—if she changed her mind, he didn’t want to know—and shoved it into his pocket. He’d just finished showering and changing after a hot yoga class when she’d called, and he couldn’t have felt better.
Pumped and serene at the same time.
Her request had filled him with anticipation.
Kyle went to the office and grabbed his jacket. When he turned, Cassie was standing in his path. She was wearing the blue latex fetish dress with the big zipper down the back, and he winced when he realized why.
It was the night of their weekly board meeting.
“Where are you going?”
“Out.” The less Kyle said, the better. He tried to change the subject by indicating her dress. “Haven’t you given up on Ty yet? You’re never going to catch his eye now that Amy’s moved into his place.”
Cassie shrugged. “The dress has nothing to do with Ty. I just like it.” She rolled her hips. “It makes me feel hot, and maybe that will catch someone else’s eye. It would be sad to not have a date for Ty’s wedding, don’t you think?”
“Won’t bother me.” Kyle stepped past her, realizing that the chances of him seeing Tyler, coming into F5 on his way into the meeting as Kyle left the building, were high. And that wouldn’t be good. Kyle had promised Ty years ago to stay away from that man’s sisters and he kept his promises. His one night with Lauren was a secret they’d both kept from Ty, even though technically, it had happened before that promise had been made.
Before he’d even known Lauren was Ty’s sister.
Kyle had to hurry.
“You’ll be back for the meeting, right?” Cassie asked.
“No, I have to take a miss tonight.”
“You never miss a board meeting.”
“There has to be a first time for everything.”
Cassie flung out her hand. “What could be more important?”
Kyle grinned at her, holding a finger to his lips. “It’s a secret.”
Cassie’s eyes narrowed. “It’s a woman, and one we won’t approve of,” she guessed, seeing through him better than Kyle had hoped. “Who is she?”
“No one you know,” he lied, pivoted to leave, and ran right into Ty.
“Big hurry,” that man said, looking Kyle up and down. As always, Ty was wearing an expensive suit and his tie was perfectly knotted. He could have stepped out of an ad for bespoke tailored suits.
“Kyle’s bailing on the weekly meeting,” Cassie said.
“That’s a first,” Ty acknowledged. “As much as you like everyone to believe you flit from here to there, you’re as responsible as me.”
“Except when it comes to women,” Cassie noted and Tyler nodded.
“Hey, there’s no need for that kind of talk,” Kyle teased and they both smiled. “You’ll tarnish my reputation if people think I’m responsible.” They all laughed together.
“Is she worth it?” Ty asked.
Kyle felt his neck heat. “Only one way to find out.”
“We know her,” Cassie said as Kyle headed for the lobby and he could practically feel Ty watching him.
“Thank God my sisters are all married,” Ty muttered. “Well, sort of,” he added, clearly thinking of Lauren’s situation.
“We’ll figure it out,” Cassie warned Kyle.
Kyle turned to face them. “And this is what friends are for?” he demanded. “Not ‘good luck’ or ‘I hope she’s the one’?”
Cassie and Tyler laughed in unison. “There is no ‘one’ for you, Kyle,” Cassie said.
“One and then the next one and then the next one,” Ty commented. “What about the board meeting?”
“Have it without me,” Kyle said irritably. So much for slipping away unseen. Time was wasting, which was only giving Lauren more of it to change her mind.
She might have left before he got home, and he’d lose even that glimpse of her.
“But you’re the brilliant one,” Cassie protested. “You’ve told us so yourself.”
“Indispensable,” Ty agreed.
“A visionary,” Cassie said with a solemn nod.
“For fuck’s sake, I have to go!” Kyle shouted.
“She is hot,” Ty said.
“And it is for fuck’s sake,” Cassie agreed, giving him a fingertip wave. “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”
“Oh, I’m betting he will,” Tyler said. “Come on. Theo said he’s coming back this week. Maybe we should just wait until he’s back.”
“There’s nothing epic on the agenda,” Cassie noted.
“Then we’ll make it next week’s agenda,” Ty concluded. He winked at Kyle then touched Cassie’s elbow, leading her back toward the offices.
Kyle bit back a curse and strode out of the building. Everything was going wrong before it even started.
A cab stopped right in front of him and a woman stepped out with her gym bag. Kyle recognized her from the self-defense class he’d taught the previous year. She paid the fare, and Kyle opened the door for her, unable to believe his luck. The cab was even headed west.
She smiled, recognizing Kyle as well. “I’m guessing you need the cab, not that you’ve taken up work as a doorman.”
“Got it in one. Thanks!” Kyle gave her his best smile and knew she appreciated it. She stood on the sidewalk staring after the cab as it pulled into the traffic.
But he was thinking of Lauren. Would she have given up on him?
Should he turn his phone back on?
&
nbsp; No. He’d wait until he got home, even if the suspense was nearly killing him.
So much for the serenity from his yoga class.
* * *
One more time, impulse had steered Lauren false.
She stood in the lobby of Kyle’s building—it was the one in Hell’s Kitchen that she’d thought it must be—feeling dumb again. His building didn’t have a doorman. It was too modern for that. The lobby was colder than expected because it faced north. Even on a beautiful day like today, the concrete emanated a chill.
That was how she rationalized it, but really, the cold shivers were coming from her gut.
Kyle was going to stand her up.
He’d forgotten about her.
Again.
She’d played the fool again.
Some other woman had smiled at him and like a butterfly tempted by a closer flower, Kyle had been distracted and seduced. He was probably already between the woman’s thighs, peeling off her panties, whispering sweet nothings in her ear, making her moan...
Just the way she had moaned.
Lauren shook her head. She should forget the whole thing. She reached for the door to the street just as a cab stopped in front of the building. Her mouth went dry when Kyle flung himself out of the back seat and marched to the door. He looked agitated and virile—and so hot that her knees did that melting thing.
She wasn’t cold anymore. She was flushing from head to toe.
He was wearing a black T-shirt with the F5 logo and jeans that were tight in all the right places. There was no disguising the fact that he was perfectly toned. His eyes were as blue as sapphires and blazed as he looked up and down the street.
Lauren realized he hadn’t noticed her yet because the glass was tinted. His lips were a taut line, as if he was annoyed. Did he think she’d break their date? It was kind of funny to see Kyle worried about anything and if he was worried about her...well, Lauren wasn’t going anywhere. He fished his keys out of his pocket, frowning, and marched to the door. He hauled it open then stopped in his tracks when he saw her waiting there.
A smile dawned on his lips so slowly and perfectly that Lauren couldn’t do anything but smile back.
And melt a little inside.
“I thought you’d stood me up,” she said, keeping her tone teasing.
“I thought you’d changed your mind,” he replied, stepping into the lobby with satisfaction. The space seemed much smaller and warmer then, cozy even now that Kyle was so close. She could smell his cologne, which was subtle and still had the power to make her toes curl. His gaze roved over her, so warm and appreciative that Lauren felt beautiful. Even if he did that to every woman, it worked perfectly.
Maybe because of practice.
Her heart was hammering like mad and she wasn’t sure she could manage a coherent sentence.
Maybe they didn’t need to talk much.
He lifted one hand to her cheek, his touch gentle. “You’ve lost weight.”
“It hasn’t been a lot of fun these past weeks.” Lauren sighed. “I hate talking to lawyers.”
“I can believe it.” His gaze searched hers. “Are you okay?”
His concern dismissed the last of her reservations. “No. That’s why I’m here.”
“Do you want to talk about it? If it’s too soon, Lor...” Kyle began and she knew what he was going to say.
She touched her fingertips to his lips. She felt him catch his breath and her own heart skipped that she had any effect on him at all. “Don’t get all noble on me now,” she murmured, liking how he smiled. “I didn’t come for chivalry, and I didn’t come for conversation.”
“Then what did you come for?” he asked, his tone revealing that he had no doubt.
Lauren rubbed her fingertips over his mouth, watching their path as she leaned against him. He was hard and solid and so very welcome.
But he waited.
It was time to ask for what she wanted, and leave no doubt of it. “This,” she said, then slid her hand around the back of his neck. His hair prickled her fingers where it was cut short but she slid her hand up, where the hair was thicker and curled around her fingers. He watched her, not seeming to blink, his eyes so blue that she could have drowned in them. She smiled at him, then pulled his head down so his lips were close to hers. She studied him, seeing nothing but admiration in his eyes, then kissed him.
She caught her breath when he locked his hands around her waist and pulled her hard against him. Never one to need a second invitation, Kyle slanted his mouth over hers and laid claim to her lips, kissing her as if there was no other woman in the world he wanted.
Lauren didn’t care if it was a lie. She didn’t care if it was only true for now. She didn’t care what he did the next day or who he slept with next.
There was this and there was now. She felt beautiful and desired for the first time in half of forever, and that was just perfect.
* * *
Kyle didn’t know how they got to his apartment. He didn’t remember unlocking the security door or getting in the elevator, much less unlocking his own door. He was only aware of Lauren’s soft lips and the sweet hunger of her kiss, the yearning that nearly flattened him because he could taste her wariness and her need. It was all mixed up together, that vulnerability and that hunger, and it shook him to his core.
It could become an additive combination, given a chance.
Kyle knew that she hadn’t been cherished nearly enough and he had to fight the tide of anger against Mark for treating her badly. He knew that this would be the only time she came to him, and he wanted to make it last all night. He knew that her demands would keep him from being able to do that. Her hands roved over him with increasing confidence and she pressed herself against him, even as her kiss became more demanding. She was going to eat him alive, and he didn’t care. By the time he broke their kiss to lock the door behind him, he could smell her arousal and that was feeding his own.
It was good, good stuff.
He wanted more.
He wanted it all.
He wanted Lauren.
He turned around to find her silhouetted against the silvered view of the city beyond his windows. She peeled off her shirt and shook out her dark hair so it fell over her shoulders. He loved how her hair seemed to have a life of its own, how it shone and waved. Her bra was white lace and her skin was pale. She was thinner and the sight fed both his tenderness and his anger.
That bastard had really hurt her.
Kyle didn’t want to be next in that line.
His mouth went dry when she met his gaze, her expression both shy and beguiling. When had he ever been with a woman who could look innocent and seductive at the same time? He ached for Lauren, yet also wanted to protect her.
Even if it meant defending her from himself.
“Are you sure?” he found himself asking, even as he clenched his hands to keep from touching her. She considered him for a long moment and he wondered how many of his secrets she saw.
“Are you shy now?” she teased and stepped out of her jeans. “That would be a change.” He watched as she stripped for him, not too fast and not too slow, making it neither a tease nor a task. Did she know how beautiful she was? She was slender, her build athletic, but there was nothing boyish about her curves. He could have stared at her all day.
As it was, he stepped toward her and took her hand, then spun her slightly so he could see her back. “You still have it!” He laughed at the sight of her tattoo. It was still the only one she had.
“Of course, I still have it,” Lauren said, almost as flustered as when he’d first seen it. “Tattoos are forever.”
“I always suspected it was a temporary one.”
“You did not! It was new when you saw it, all red and puffy.”
“Fortunately, that part was temporary. It’s healed well.” Kyle admired the cluster of holly, smiling at the unlikely choice of image, still unable to reconcile the idea of Lauren with a tramp stamp.
“
Amazing how that happens in twelve years.”
“Good thing it’s not mistletoe,” he teased and she flushed scarlet.
“Only you say that!” she said with a laugh.
“No one else ever has?”
“Only you.”
“Imagine that. Is it still your favorite day of the year?”
“I’m a Christmas baby. Of course, it is.”
Kyle glanced down at her and their gazes clung once again, the heat that sizzled between them enough to make him catch his breath.
“I’m sure,” she whispered, anticipating his question.
“Good.” He didn’t make a move, for once in his life, but Lauren wasn’t shy. His heart jumped when her hands landed on his waist. She leaned against him and he inhaled deeply of the mix of her perfume and the scent of her skin. His hands fitted around her waist and he gripped her tightly, savoring how good she felt.
“I don’t remember you being reluctant before. Don’t you want me?” she whispered, a hint of vulnerability in her tone that nearly destroyed him.
“I don’t want to be your next mistake,” Kyle admitted.
Lauren smiled. “You won’t be. I promise.” She bit her lip. “Unless you turn away and leave me feeling like I shouldn’t have come here. That’s the only thing that would make this a mistake. I feel stupid enough these days. Don’t add to that and we’ll be good.”
The doubt was in her eyes again, a concern that she wasn’t attractive, and Kyle couldn’t stand that Mark had so destroyed her confidence. How could he have been married to Lauren and not made love to her every single day? It was an abomination that he’d taken that trashy blonde at F5 and ignored Lauren.
But more important than the injustice was the damage. Kyle’s anger had no place in this encounter.
“Deal.” He caught Lauren’s face in his hands and bent to kiss her slowly, making it last, trying to show her how much he wanted her. It took her only a moment to open her mouth to him and surrender completely. He felt her breasts crushed against his chest and her hips bumping against his. He felt her run one toe up his calf and smiled into their kiss. He slid his hand around to the small of her back, knowing that cluster of holly was right under his thumb. He stroked it and she purred, just a little, a sweet seductive sound that was just right. The scent of her became stronger, more enticing, and he wanted to touch her. He wound his fingers into the thick splendor of her hair, pulling her harder against his chest, sliding his tongue into her mouth. She made a little sound that was deliciously desperate, then wrapped one arm around his waist. When she dug her nails into his back, he thought he’d lose it completely.
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