by Lee Kilraine
“Deal. Only tone down the sexy. And stop smelling so good.” She plastered her nose against his shirt to absorb the scent. She was pitiful, but she figured it was more subtle than licking his neck. “What is that?”
“Ivory soap?”
“And it’s legal in America?” To heck with subtle. Avery nibbled her way up his neck while her hands made a total mess of his high-end haircut. He didn’t seem to mind. “No, it’s you. Stop it. You’re driving me crazy.”
“I’m driving you crazy?” He stroked his hands down her back and lower to cup her behind, pulling their bodies tight together while he used his warm mouth to sip at the corner of her lips. “I hate that you’re using me to help your career.”
“Pretend I’m not.” She turned her head to capture his lips, diving back into a kiss that singed them both.
“What?” His lips barely lifted from hers. “No, I don’t date actresses. It never ends well.”
Thankfully he lowered his lips right back where they belonged. Joined to hers. He let his tongue stroke hers, as he caressed his hands up and down her back.
The man’s touch tied her common sense and inhibitions up like a calf in a rodeo. They were immobilized and absolutely no help whatsoever. Her lips, hands, and hips, on the other hand, were having no problem moving, touching, bumping, and . . . grinding? What mystical power did this man have over her?
“Pretend I’m a former actress”—she kissed her lips down one side of his neck—“living a quiet life”—she kissed her way back up the other side of his neck—“only I need to track down the foster family”—she stroked her hands across his chest—“I haven’t heard from in two years”—tilting her head, she give Sijan free rein of her neck while her hands caressed his back—“to help save my sister’s life.”
Sijan laughed against her neck. “Hell no. That sounds like one of those horrible movies of the week.” The wicked man went right back to her lips, kissing her even more senseless.
It was a good thing every elevator had a fire extinguisher, because she was about to go up in flames. This time, she let her tongue take the lead, making Sijan groan. She used super-human power to pull her lips off his, and their uneven breaths filled the silence. Oh gosh, what were her hands doing up under his shirt? What little self-control she’d thought she had had obviously evaporated in the scorching heat they’d created. “What if—”
“Whatever it is, it doesn’t seem to matter.” And he proved it by pressing her against the wall again, only this time he lifted her up a few inches until their hips aligned.
Oh baby. Her insides swirled. She was free-falling. Floating in a vortex, spinning faster and faster. Out of control. A wisp of memory flashed, causing her breath to catch and pain to slice through her like a plunge into icy water. Her body froze and she wedged her hands between their bodies.
Sijan’s gaze locked onto hers, and whatever he saw there had him back up, giving her space. One of his hands held hers, his warmth and strength keeping them connected. “Are you okay?”
“I . . . I’m fine. I just got a bit claustrophobic for a second. That’s all.” She took a step back, severing the physical connection with Sijan, and gaining back the control she needed. Control? Who was she kidding? She wouldn’t be okay and in control until her past released its vicious grip on her life. Maybe it was about time to come up with a plan for that.
“Well, hell, that was my fault. I pawed you like an awkward high schooler on a first date.”
“No, not your fault. I’m pretty sure I got my own licks in. Literally.” She tried to laugh off the moment. “I didn’t date in high school, so thank you for helping me check that box.”
“Not once? Not a—”
“Nope. It’s a long, boring story and I’m starving.” When he gave her a heated look, she steered the conversation further away from dangerous waters. “For dinner. You know, food? Oh, right. I forgot you usually hang out with those size-zero models who exist on lettuce leaves and a small dollop of caviar.”
The man looked like he wanted to dig further, like an alpha dog with a bone he wasn’t willing to give up. Luckily he succumbed to his Southern manners. “Okay, I just need to pop down and check on Henry Lee, my brother’s godchild.”
“Oh, of course.” She watched him reach over and press a button on the elevator panel. “Did you stop the elevator?”
“No. I’ve been pressing random floor buttons. We’re lucky no one got on.” He grinned at her. “At least I don’t think anyone did.”
They headed down to the ER, and found Henry Lee curled up on his side as his gurney was wheeled back in from X-ray by a perky nurse.
“HL, how are you doing, buddy?” Sijan moved next to Henry Lee once the gurney was in place. “What’s up with your appendix?”
Henry Lee opened his eyes and sent Sijan a weak grin. “Hey, Sijan. Nothin’. My tummy hurts ’cause I swallowed a quarter.”
Sijan shook his head. “Why’d you go and do that?”
“Jordy double-dog-dared me.”
“Oh, well, sometimes, HL, you have to say no. Even if it’s a double-dog dare.” Sijan held his hand out to the boy, who took it and held on tight.
“I know. That’s what Daddy says too.” Henry Lee’s gaze landed on Avery, where she waited just inside the doorway. He stared at her for a minute before a big smile spread across his face. “Hey, you gots yellow hair like the sun.”
Avery smiled, not sure what to say to that. “I do. I hope your tummy is feeling better.”
He shrugged. “Daddy said he’d get me some ice cream ’cause ice cream fixes everything.”
“Sure it does.” Sadly, Avery hadn’t found that to be the case, but that had never stopped her from trying it. Often.
“Do you like kids?”
“I do.” Avery glanced over at Sijan, who winked at her.
“That’s good,” Henry Lee said. “Do you like frogs? And hamsters? And dogs?”
“I’m a fan. I like them all.” Avery hadn’t been around many children lately; she’d forgotten they were so full of questions. “I don’t like all of them in my house though.”
“Oh.” The boy’s excited tone dipped. “How many baths a week would you make a kid take?”
“I have no idea. How many does a kid need a week?”
“One.” His eyes darted to Sijan, and back to her, looking so sweet and innocent. “Maybe two if we made a mud fort.”
Avery nodded her head. “Then, I guess two.”
Henry Lee’s smile filled half his face. “Do you think it’s mean to make a kid eat broccoli?”
“No, I don’t.” At the child’s falling expression, Avery knew that wasn’t the answer he had wanted. “Broccoli helps boys and girls grow up big and strong.”
Henry Lee sighed. “Sijan, how come ladies all like broccoli?”
“It’s one of life’s great mysteries, HL.” He ruffled Henry Lee’s hair. “Hey, I hear your dad coming. We’ll see you later.”
They ducked out with a nod to Hawk, Henry Lee’s dad, who entered the cubicle while getting briefed by the doctor.
Sijan headed them out the back of the hospital, hoping to avoid the paparazzi out front.
Avery turned up to him, her curiosity piqued. “What was that all about?”
“You just failed the mommy test.” Sijan shook his head. “Speaking of eating broccoli, I’m hungry. How about dinner? We’ll find somewhere quiet, away from the paparazzi. And I’ll feed you real food. Not a lettuce leaf in sight.”
“You make me sound like I’m anti-lettuce.” Had she seriously just pouted? Sure, she felt out of her comfort zone here and still shaky, but she was not a pouter.
He shook his head and slowly pulled her into his arms, tucking her head under his chin. “You’re an equal-opportunity lettuce eater. I get it. Now put me out of my misery and say yes to the date please, or it will feel like high school all over again.”
She giggled into his chest even though she wasn’t a giggler either. Gah! Pouting an
d giggling? Those had to be the first two warning signs in a “You might be a groupie if . . .” quiz.
“Avery, I was a shy, sensitive guy in high school. My high school self can’t take rejection. Please just say, ‘I’d love to, Sijan.’”
“I’d love to, Sijan. But I can’t.”
“Truce, remember? Here’s a crazy idea. . . .”
She moaned and choked back a laugh. It was a crazy idea that had gotten her in this mess.
“What if we stopped fighting this wild attraction and just let it happen?”
“Let it happen?” Avery tried to pull herself together and think. She looked up at Sijan. Their gazes slammed together, and her world tilted. How could this man make her nerve endings tingle with a single touch of his strong, tanned hand? Why did he draw her like a warm fire in the wilderness? She’d only just met this man, yet she looked in his eyes and wanted to set up camp within his strong arms. “I’m not sure that’s such a good idea.”
“I get it, because being around you is like standing next to a huge unlit bonfire as the first sparks touch the base. There’s a rush of flame and heat as the sparks grab hold and burst into full flames. It’s a living thing that grabs me somewhere in my chest and lights me on fire. But nothing is stomping it out, so why not let it burn? Let’s give in to it and let it rage until it burns itself out.”
It wasn’t just her. Although Sijan was talking about more than just a warm, cozy fire. He was describing something much more dangerous, a raging inferno. A conflagration that could scar her for life. She stared into his eyes, and darn her if she didn’t want to shut off her brain and jump into the flames.
Chapter Seven
A few hours later, Sijan didn’t want to think either. Of course, the fact that he couldn’t might have been part of it. It was like when they were together, he and Avery had chemistry that changed the polarity of the oxygen molecules around them. Maybe that was why it was harder to breathe. He’d never experienced anything like this. He wanted to run his hands over every inch of her skin. Touch, lick, and kiss every part of her body. Tie their limbs together in a knot that would take years to untangle.
Sijan stood in the middle of Avery’s hotel room, staring into her face. Beautiful faces were a dime a dozen in his business, but this one was affecting him like no other. She had such an innocent look about her, yet her actions were as calculated as those of any other Hollywood starlet clamoring for her big break. His head told him to slow down, but something lower than his brain was telling him none of that mattered right now. Probably not tomorrow either.
The hotel room key card bit into his hand, a reminder of how unique a situation he was in. He might have quickly jumped into bed with a gorgeous woman when he was younger, but he’d long thought he was past the time when his hormones overruled his head. And, still, this was different from those distant days since more than hormones were engaged here. Looking into Avery’s eyes shocked his system. What took you so long? he almost said, but got distracted by how right it felt when her hand had settled into his.
She flinched when he reached out for her hand. The Avery he’d seen so far jumped without a net, fully engaged and confident, but standing in front of him now, she looked unsure and nervous.
“Want to know one of my closely guarded secrets? I started acting in high school because I was shy.”
She laughed and her hand relaxed in his. “I thought you were kidding earlier.”
“No, it’s true. I also suffered from a painful condition called the invisible middle child syndrome. Don’t get me wrong, I love my brothers, but it wasn’t easy being one of the Cates brothers.”
“Seriously? You do remember who you are, right?”
“Yeah. That’s part of the secret. Tynan, the oldest, was outgoing, popular, and caused trouble seven days a week. He got more attention than he knew what to do with. Paxton and Kaz, the twins, were little Einsteins in school, always winning debates or science fair competitions. And Quinn, the baby, was the star athlete. He grabbed attention anytime he was on a field. Me? I was lost growing up and felt left out and out of place most of the time.”
“I know just how you felt.” Her lips formed a soft, lopsided smile on her face.
“My mom talked me into the drama club freshman year. Pushed me kicking and screaming is more accurate. But I found I could pour all my emotions out on stage and walk away feeling better. Stronger. On stage, I finally knew who I was and found a place to shine.”
Her gaze dropped away. “Why are you telling me this?”
“Just . . . you seemed nervous.” He usually guarded his privacy, but this woman had him so off-kilter he was spilling his guts. “I thought if I told you something about me most people don’t know, it might help.”
“I am a little nervous. It’s been a while for me.” Avery smoothed unsteady hands down the nonexistent wrinkles on her dress. “And I don’t want either one of us to regret this.”
“What’s to regret?” Sijan held the key in his hand giving her a chance to change her mind. “We both know what this is. All our cards are on the table so no one gets hurt.”
“Right. All our cards are on the table.” Avery’s gaze cut away, darting around the room.
Okay, so maybe the lady still had secrets, but that was fine with him. Tonight was about exploring potential and stripping it down to pure pleasure.
“You can always change your mind.” Sijan tossed the key card onto the nearest piece of furniture and stepped closer until he could feel the heat from her body. “At any point.”
Her eyes flashed back to his and her cheeks turned a soft pink. “It’s just . . . I’m not very good at this.”
Sijan kissed her. He cupped his hands along her delicate jaw and lost himself in the softness of her lips and the rose-petal taste of her. Heady, perfumed, luscious. “Not good at what?”
“Sex.” Avery’s unsteady breathing matched his.
This wasn’t sex. This was madness. This was a lesson in combustion. “No worries. We can slow this down. Or at least try to.” Although he didn’t stop his hand from reaching for the zipper of her dress, sliding it down as far as it would go. He smoothed his hand along the silky skin of her back.
Avery looked up at him like she didn’t have a clue what he was talking about. Her hand held up the front of her now gaping dress. “You can do that?”
“Whoa, wait. This isn’t your first time, is it?” Sijan pulled back a few inches. He might need to rethink this. He still needed to make love to this woman, but he might need to approach this differently or slow this way the hell down, maybe even back off entirely.
“N . . . no. But, I’ve only done this fast.” She cleared her throat, her voice matter-of fact, but the slight tremble of her chin and hands held his attention. “Like it was a race to the finish. I think I lost each time.”
Sijan looked into Avery’s eyes and saw more than she was saying. She stood like a wild animal, tense, ready to bolt at the slightest threat. Christ, some men should be shot.
Moving forward again, he turned her around until he faced her back and looped her hair up off her neck. “Hold this for a second.” He placed kisses along the soft, perfumed nape of her neck as he closed the zipper on her dress.
Avery’s head jerked around in surprise. “What are you doing?”
“Slowing this down.” He kissed her and led her away from the bed and over to the sofa in the room. “Since you missed out on dating because the boys in your high school were obviously too stupid to live, I’m going to recreate some of my best high school date moves. Stop me when you’ve had enough.”
“Sijan, you don’t need—”
“Already? I haven’t even turned on the rotten movie we’ll pretend to watch so I can make my move.” He grabbed the remote off the coffee table and clicked on the television. Making sure the volume was low, he began surfing for a movie with one hand while settling Avery on the sofa next to him. “Hey, look, the pay-per-movie channel is running a Sijan Cates movie marathon.
”
“I’m not that into movies. . . .”
“So says the president of my fan club.”
Her eyes widened when she realized what she’d let slip. The woman had told so many whoppers she couldn’t keep them straight. The question he should be asking, if his hormones weren’t steering the ship, was why lie? But that wasn’t what tonight was about. Tonight was about being free from all the pressure and just enjoying themselves. “Relax. Making out to one of my own movies holds no appeal. Here we go. An old Hitchcock movie so when you get scared you can hold on to me.”
“I don’t scare easy.”
“Huh. Then I’ll hold on to you.” He waited until she had settled against the back of the couch, then extended his arms, stretching them both out wide, making sure to end with one arm wrapped around her shoulders.
“Very smooth.”
“Years of practice. Once I’ve made my stretch move, I begin to round the bases.”
“Excuse me?”
“First base. You know, kissing. Only not just kissing, but kissing of the French persuasion.” He reached out his hand to caress hers, the simple contact arcing through him as if he’d touched two live wires together.
Her tongue darted out and licked her lower lip. “I’m pretty sure we already covered that base earlier today in the elevator.”
“We sure did. But we can’t just move on to second base. We need to go back and tag up at first.” He gathered her into his arms and kissed her. Slow, thorough kisses. French kisses, each exploring the warmth of each other’s lips and mouth.
And just like that, they caught fire. He couldn’t get enough of her, and she was touching and grabbing right back. Time became a non-dimension. Five minutes or five hours, he wasn’t sure and didn’t care. The only thing he knew was he wanted more, but he was more than fine to let Avery set the pace. She pulled her lips from his and kissed her way to his ear, where he felt her quick, panting breaths as she contorted her body, twisting her arms behind her to rip the zipper back down.
