by Nita Wick
She searched his eyes for what seemed like forever before she spoke again. “Michael, I still don’t think I’m ready to commit to a relationship—”
“Babe—”
She covered his lips with her fingers. “Let me finish,” she admonished. “I’m not ready to dive headlong into anything, but if you’re willing to take it slow…I mean, a day at a time, you know? I think I could handle that.”
He kissed her fingertips and drew her into his arms. “Slow works for me.”
They sat in silence for several minutes until Haley yawned. “I’m sleepy.”
“Are you throwing me out?”
She tilted her head up to look at him. “Do you want to stay?”
Michael nodded. “Hell, yes. If you don’t mind, of course.”
Haley drew back. “Well, I suppose it depends on what side of the bed you want.”
He smiled. “The middle.”
Her jaw dropped, and she released an indignant huff.
“That way, no matter which side you choose, you’ll have to stay close to me to keep from falling off the bed.” He smiled and winked at her.
A bubble of laughter burst forth, and her eyes twinkled. “You’ve got it all worked out, I see. I never had a chance, did I?”
He moved to crawl beneath the covers with her. “Nope.” Sliding his arm behind her head, he pulled her to his side and kissed her temple. The smell and feel of her had his body tingling in response. “Damn.” He sighed. “I wish I had another condom.”
Haley lightly punched his ribs. “Go to sleep.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
* * * *
Michael squinted at the clock, his vision still blurry with sleep. Nine thirty. He needed to leave soon. He looked at Haley. She slept so peacefully in his arms it seemed a crime to move and risk disturbing her. He didn’t have much choice, so he extracted himself from the bed.
After a quick trip to the bathroom, he pulled on his underwear and jeans. He fastened them and glanced toward the bed. Haley lay watching him.
“I told Meg I’d take her to the airport.” He felt guilty leaving this way.
Haley grinned. “I wish I had a brother like you.”
“I could call a cab for her if—”
“Don’t you dare. You said you’d take her, and you’re not going to stand her up because of me.”
He sighed and sat on the bed. “Fine. I’d better get going then. I need to stop by my apartment to shower and shave first.”
She stretched, and the sheets slipped to her waist revealing those beautiful breasts he hadn’t been able to get enough of last night. “Is this where you say you’ll call me?”
Leaning over, he kissed the swell of one breast and cupped the other in his hand. “I’ll call. And if you don’t answer, I’ll come over and press that annoying doorbell-button-thing until you let me in.”
“Oh, no, not that. Anything but that.” She smiled and sat up. “I’ll answer.” She leaned forward and kissed his cheek. “Thank you for a wonderful night, Michael.”
“I should be thanking you,” he argued with a shake of his head. He brushed his lips lightly across hers. “Listen, I need to run a few errands after I see Meg off—dry cleaners, grocery store—”
She cut him off with a wave of her hand. “Me, too.” She stood and padded toward the bathroom. “If I don’t hear from you tonight, maybe you can call me tomorrow.” She paused at the door.
Michael couldn’t take his eyes off her naked body. He stood and adjusted his jeans to accommodate his body’s response to her. Damn. He really didn’t want to leave right now. He hoped Meg knew what kind of sacrifice he was making for her. “I’ll call this afternoon.”
She smiled and waved as she disappeared into the bathroom.
* * * *
“You’re late.”
Michael tossed Meg’s suitcases in the back seat. “Sorry, sis. I overslept.” He shut the door and climbed into the driver’s seat, unperturbed by his sister’s tone.
Meg closed the passenger door and pulled on her seat belt. “Likely story.”
“Come on, now. I’m only ten minutes late. It’s not the end of the world.” Michael put the SUV in gear and pulled out of the driveway.
Meg remained silent for several minutes while he negotiated the light Sunday traffic to reach the interstate. Once there, he cut a glance over to confirm what he already knew. She’d been watching him the whole time.
“What?”
“You slept with her.” Her tone could have been a simple statement or an accusation. He wasn’t sure which.
“What makes you think that?” he hedged.
“That stupid grin you’re wearing. And I don’t just think it. I know it.” She groaned. “Michael, don’t you think you’re rushing things a little?”
“Not that it’s any of your business, but no, I don’t. I like Haley. We’re both adults. I think we can make our own decisions.”
Meg turned toward him in her seat. “Maybe so, but the girl has issues.”
He frowned at her. “You would, too, if your best friend slept with your fiancé.”
“Yeah, but don’t you think she should get over that before you two get involved?”
He gritted his teeth. “She’s trying. I think I can help her. What’s with the third degree here, anyway? I thought you liked Haley.”
“I do. I just don’t want to see you hurt, big bro. She’s…” Meg paused with a sigh. “She’s got secrets, okay?”
Had Haley told his sister something she hadn’t told him? “What kinds of secrets?”
She shrugged. “Even if I knew, it wouldn’t be for me to tell you.”
Michael couldn’t contain the growl that rumbled through him. “Meg,” he warned. “So help me—”
“I don’t know! All right? I don’t know what she’s told you or what she hasn’t. I just know she’s hiding something. She never gives a straight answer when you ask about her past. She hedges and changes the subject when you ask about her job or the business she owned. And I swear she looks so familiar. It’s like I’ve seen her somewhere before, but I can’t remember where. She just—”
“Okay, now you’re rambling.” Having made the exit to the airport, he focused on merging with the cars heading toward the terminal. “Unless you’ve got some solid evidence that I shouldn’t trust her, I’m content to take my chances.”
“Be careful. Okay? Try not to rush into anything.”
“Yeah, okay,” he grumbled.
“You’ve really got it bad. Don’t you?” Unlike her usual teasing, sarcastic response, this time sincere concern rang in Meg’s voice.
He parked the car in the temporary visitor lot and turned toward her to scan her features. “Remember how I always said when I met the right one, I’d know?”
Meg nodded.
Michael unbuckled his belt and pocketed his keys. “She’s the one.”
“You’re sure?”
“Yep. I knew she was different the first time I laid eyes on her. And since the first time I kissed her, I’ve known she was special. But after last night…Well, I’m sure.”
She released her seat belt and leaned over to hug him. “That’s wonderful. I’m so happy for you,” she whispered. “Don’t let her get away.” Releasing him, she reached for her purse. “Find out what she’s hiding. Get it out in the open so you can deal with it. ’Kay?”
“Yeah. That’s tops on my to-do list.” Michael opened his door.
“Oh, and for God’s sake, keep that Irish temper in check,” she added.
He chuckled. “Mine’s not as bad as yours.”
Meg watched him retrieve her luggage. “Like hell it isn’t. I mean it, bro. She’s already as skittish as newborn colt. You’ll scare the bejeezus out of her if she sees that temper before she gets to know you.”
“Point taken.” He hoisted one bag over his shoulder and grabbed the handle on her rolling case. “No need to worry about it. I may have a temper, but it’s slow to ignite.”
“Not always. Nothing sets you off faster that finding out somebody lied to you.”
Michael cut a glance at his sister’s profile. “You think she’s lying about something?”
Meg strode next him through the doors of the terminal. “No, I’m not saying she’s lied to you, but she may not have been completely honest either. Keeping secrets isn’t easy to do without a few white lies here and there.”
Michael digested that bit of truth and followed her to the ticket counter. He left the airport almost an hour later, assured that Meg was on her way.
Anxious to return to Haley, he hurried through his errands, rushing through the grocery and stopping at the drug store for extra condoms. He’d carry several from now on to be sure he wasn’t limited like he’d been last night. After picking up his dry cleaning, he put things away at home and checked his watch. No wonder he was hungry. Time for dinner. He reached for the phone.
“Hello?”
Her voice brought a smile to his face. “Hey, beautiful.”
“Hi, handsome.”
“If I were to show up with a thick crust pizza with extra cheese, would you let me in?”
A pregnant silence greeted his question. He waited.
“I don’t know, Michael.” The uncertainty in her voice didn’t bode well.
What had changed since this morning? Did she regret their night together? A lump formed in his throat. “Haley, I won’t let you do this.”
“Of course, if you had Kung Pao chicken and egg rolls…”
His head fell back. He’d fallen for it again. “You love teasing me like that, don’t you?”
Soft, feminine laughter laced her answer. “You make it so easy.”
He chuckled but sobered quickly. “I thought you were having regrets.”
“No regrets. When you get to know me better, you’ll learn not to try to predict my reactions.”
“I’m looking forward to getting to know you better.”
“Michael?” she whispered, a seductive, husky tone to her voice.
His body reacted as if she’d touched him. “Yes?”
“Hurry,” she whispered.
A long pause filled his mind with visions of their lovemaking, images of her naked body arched beneath him.
“I’m hungry.”
He smiled, bit his lip to keep from laughing, and shook his head. “I’ll be there in thirty minutes.”
* * * *
Michael knocked on Haley’s door and waited. She’d buzzed him in at the front gate without so much as “hello.” Within seconds the scrape of the deadbolt echoed in the hallway just before she opened the door.
A smile lit her eyes. “Mmm. That smells good.” She ushered him inside and reached for the bag.
He chuckled. “I’m glad to see you, too.”
Haley laughed and rose on her toes to give him a peck on the cheek. Unwilling to settle for such a small token of affection, he caught her around the waist and captured her lips. The kiss instantly set off a firestorm between them. Her mouth opened beneath his, and he took full advantage, delving in to taste the sweetness he’d craved all day.
She broke the kiss all too soon with a breathless whisper, her blue eyes smoky with desire. “Let’s eat.”
He let her go and followed her to the table where she’d already put out plates, silverware, and wine glasses. As she pulled the boxes from the bag, he moved behind her to grasp her hips and pull her against him. Knowing that she wanted him made him impatient to be with her. He nibbled her neck with teasing licks and soft kisses. Her hands stilled, and she leaned into him, pressing her sweet little ass against his arousal. A soft moan sent a current of electric need through him.
Haley turned in his arms and pulled his head down for a kiss. The desire in the kiss—the pure, uncensored lust—had him fighting for control. Her roaming hands slipped beneath his shirt to his waist where she tugged on the button of his jeans. She never broke the kiss, her tongue sliding against his in wanton invitation. In a flash, she’d undone his zipper and had him free, hard and throbbing in her hands.
Those magic hands worked their spell in union with her incendiary kiss, turning his mind to mush. Michael was lost to all conscious thought save that of keeping reign of his body’s need to spill himself. He received a much-needed reprieve and a moment to regain a bit of control as her arms circled his waist and squeezed his buttocks.
She broke the kiss and waived his wallet before him. He hadn’t even realized she’d relieved him of it. She raised her brows. “Did you restock?”
Her husky, seductive tone had him ready to lift her to the edge of the table and take her right there, forget the condom and damn the consequences. He managed to refrain from acting on that impulse long enough to nod.
Haley put the wallet in his hand and pushed his jeans and underwear down over his hips. He flipped open his wallet to retrieve the condom. She grasped his shoulders, silently turning him toward the dining chair and gave him a little shove. He sank down into it, and Haley took the condom from his fingers. Her heavy-lidded gaze met his as she used her teeth to tear open the package. His body jumped in response, his heart skipping a beat as his body thrummed in anticipation.
She bent to roll the rubber over his erection then straightened and reached beneath the floral mini skirt she wore to peel off her panties. His mouth went dry, and he licked his lips. Her eyes focused on his mouth before she buried her fingers in his hair and kissed him again. Her tongue traced his lips and delved past them, eliciting a groan of impatient need. Hunger, ravenous and wild, spiked through him. He slid his hands up the back of her thighs to cup her bottom and pull her closer.
Haley lifted her head and caught his gaze. Her eyes, dark and glazed with passion, promised him untold pleasure as she straddled the chair. Without hesitation, she grasped his erection and guided him to her. She slid down onto him until she’d impaled herself to the hilt.
Her scent and heat surrounded him. She sighed and rocked against him, arching her back and spreading her legs wider for deeper penetration. Michael ground his teeth together and fought to keep from coming right then and there. No woman had ever pushed him so far beyond his limits so quickly. Hell, he felt like a sixteen-year-old with his first girl. But he’d be damned if he left her behind.
Reaching between them, he used his thumb to massage her clit. Her breath caught, and she jerked against him as a low moan rumbled through her. He continued to work her clit as he used his free hand to caress her breast and tease her nipple through her T-shirt and bra. She bucked and braced her arms on his shoulders. Throwing her head back, she increased her rhythm, lifting herself slightly. The increased friction nearly sent him over the edge.
Michael sucked in a strangled breath. God, she was beautiful. And her hot, tight body fit him to perfection. She slid down over him again and again, driving him mad with the need for release. His orgasm hung by a thread, so close he knew he’d come any second whether she was ready or not.
He pinched her nipple and pressed harder against her clit. She tightened around him, and he lost it. A groan escaped him as his orgasm shook him to the core. He exploded inside her. Moving his hands to her hips, he grasped them, pulled her against him, and held her still while he buried himself completely within her.
Haley screamed and stiffened, the walls of her sheath contracting around him. Just when he thought his orgasm was beginning to wane, her climax brought forth more juices, milking him relentlessly. His head spun from the intensity of it, and he buried his face in the valley between her breasts, trying to catch his breath.
Once his racing pulse had slowed, he lifted his head. Haley bit her kiss-swollen lip, a blush staining her cheeks. “Sorry. I don’t know what got into me.”
He grinned. “Note to self: Bring Haley Chinese food every night.”
A laugh shook her, and her rosy color deepened. “I swear I’ve never done anything like that before.”
“What? Brought a man’s fantasy to life?” He wagged hi
s eyebrows with wicked inference.
“You fantasize about having sex with your Chinese food?” She giggled.
He shook his head. “No, babe. Men daydream about having a woman want him so bad that she pushes him down in a chair and takes what she needs. In my fantasies, you ride me until you scream your pleasure.”
He hadn’t thought it possible, but her blush darkened even further before she ducked her head, resting her chin on his shoulder. “I did scream.”
Smiling, he hugged her close. “Yes, you did. And it was even better than I’d imagined.”
Haley kissed him on the neck and lifted herself off him. “Why don’t you clean up while I reheat supper.”
Michael counted his lucky stars while he washed in the bathroom. On the way out of the bedroom, a box on the nightstand drew his attention. He walked over and picked it up. A grin spread across his face.
“Those are the right ones, aren’t they?” Haley’s voice surprised him. She leaned against the doorframe, watching him.
“Yeah.”
“I found the wrapper next to the bed this morning.”
He returned the box of condoms to the nightstand and strode across the room to her. “You should have bought the economy size box,” he teased.
Her smile slipped. “One day at time, remember? I’m not ready to think long term yet.”
He pulled her into his arms. “Who said anything about long term? I was talking about tonight.”
She smiled and shook her head. “Nice save.”
He nuzzled her neck and pulled her hips against his. “You think I’m joking, don’t you?”
Chapter Nine
Michael lay sated and sleepy. Haley nestled in his arms with her head on his shoulder. After supper, they’d made love again and again. Thoughts of the future and Haley’s reluctance to commit to a relationship swirled through his mind. Meg’s warning bothered him. He had to get Haley to trust him with the secrets of her past. They would never be able to build a future together until they dealt with whatever skeleton lay hidden in her closet.
