by Helen Lacey
“I have some laundry to fold,” she said and got to her feet, walking into the adjoining room. He could still pick up the scent of her fragrance and it offered comfort, touching his senses in a way that nothing else seemed to do.
“Wead,” Erin insisted, tapping the book. “Pwease.”
It took a couple of minutes, but he eventually relaxed and it wasn’t anywhere near the nightmare his humiliation barometer might have predicted. For one, he was pretty sure Erin didn’t notice if he faltered over a word, or how he spoke slowly and precisely to avoid making too many mistakes. Thankfully, it was a short picture book about wild animals, and it was over soon enough.
He placed the book on the coffee table and noticed Layla was still folding laundry, even refolding from the look of the clothes stacks on the table. He left Erin playing with a collection of stuffed toys and walked into the adjoining room.
“Hey,” he said and then leaned over and kissed her cheek. “Thanks.”
“For what?”
“The space,” he replied. “The lack of judgment.”
She smiled so beautifully he experienced a tight knot in the center of his chest. “Thank you for being so wonderful with her. It means a lot.”
Kane’s insides tightened even further and he nodded. “Well, she’s easy to love. Like her mom,” he added, and then rocked back on his feet like his heels were on fire the moment he realized what he’d said. Love? It was crazy—they barely knew each other. He was imagining things because he wanted her so much. It was just his desire talking. Just what was below his belt suddenly doing the thinking. “Ah...so what do you want me to order for dinner? Mexican? Pizza?”
“Pizza sounds great,” she replied, looking like she couldn’t wait to get away from him all of a sudden, and gathered Erin in her arms. “I’m going to get her bathed and fed early since she’s had a big day and looks really tired.”
Kane ignored the way his heart hammered and nodded. “Sure.”
He remained in the living room after they left, and flicked through his cell phone for the number of the pizza place. He arranged for the delivery and met Layla in the kitchen after she’d bathed Erin. He sat at the table while Erin ate her dinner, then cleaned up while Layla took her to bed.
“She’s already out like a light,” she said when she returned. “We wore her out today with all that fresh air and sunshine.”
Before Kane could reply, the doorbell rang. “Our dinner.”
He paid for the pizza and returned to the kitchen. Layla had laid out plates and paper napkins and there was a bottle of wine and two glasses on the table.
“Red,” she said, shrugging. “It’s all I had.”
“Red is fine,” he said, and sat down.
For the following hour they ate, drank and talked about a whole bunch of things. Except the elephant that was dancing in the room. Sex. It was vibrating between them as though it had a life force of its own. He’d experienced desire and attraction before—but the buildup had never been as intense as it was with Layla.
“You know,” he said around seven, when the tension was so high he was exhausted trying to deny it, “if you’d prefer I go home, I will.”
She flipped the lid on the pizza box and grabbed her wineglass and the baby monitor off the counter. “Actually,” she said, and got to her feet, “I thought I’d take a bath. Would you like to join me?”
Kane gulped. Her expression was one of pure seduction and he wasn’t quite prepared for how it made him feel. He wondered if she knew her eyes darkened when she spoke and then wondered if they’d do the same when she made love. He nodded, grabbing his glass and the half-full bottle, and followed her down the hall and into the master suite, his gaze focused on the gentle sway of her hips as she moved. The bedroom was large, decorated in muted hues of blue and beige. His gut twitched when he noticed the huge king-size bed and spotted a small framed picture of her husband on the bedside table. But she was still walking, heading across the room and into the bathroom.
She placed the wineglass and the monitor on the vanity and opened the taps, adding scented bubbles to the water. Steam began to swirl around the room and he watched, mesmerized, as she slipped off her shoes.
“You know, I don’t think I’ve ever had a bubble bath,” he admitted, swallowing hard.
“You don’t know what you’re missing,” she said, smiling. “I love them.”
“Did you used to—” He stopped himself from asking the question burning on his tongue. Because he didn’t really want to know what she used to do with her husband. It was none of his business. She had a life before they met, just as he had. “Sorry...forget I said that.”
“I was married to a man I loved,” she said quietly, sucking in a long breath. “And I used to love making love with him. But I’m not about to start comparing lovers, Kane, because he’s not here. However, I am,” she said, her voice a little firmer. “And you are. At the moment I think that’s all that matters.”
Kane remained by the door, totally mesmerized as she began removing her clothes. First she unzipped the skirt and slid it down her hips until it landed in a soft pool of fabric at her feet. Then she unbuttoned the top she wore and soon it also floated to the floor. In her white cotton bra and panties she looked incredibly sexy, all curves and smooth, pale skin, with her hair flowing over her shoulders. She smiled, her expression so seductive he was floored by the wave of desire and longing surging through his veins. He’d never found anyone as attractive as he did Layla.
“You really are beautiful,” he said.
Her hands skimmed over her hips. “I’m glad you think so. But I have all the usual insecurities and my whole body is shaking right now.”
Of course, he knew that. She was the mother of a small child. Her hips were fuller than what was probably considered fashionable, but the gentle flare below her waist and the curve of her thighs were undeniably sexy. Her breasts were rounder than he’d ever let himself imagine and they almost seemed to surge forward beneath his gaze. He wanted to taste her skin, inhale the heady scent of her, trace his fingers along her thighs, her waist, her spine.
“You’re beautiful,” he said again, and ditched his T-shirt. Her heard her gasp softly and he smiled. Her eyes seemed to feast on him for a moment and when his hands hovered at his belt, he spoke again. “For the record, you’re not the only one with insecurities.”
Her brows rose. “Really?”
Kane shrugged. “I know you don’t do this casually,” he said above the sound of the water flowing into the tub.
“No,” she said agreeably. “I don’t.”
“It’s a lot to...live up to, you know,” he admitted, a heavy flush crawling up his neck. “I want to...do it right.”
“I don’t imagine you’ve ever had any complaints?” she queried, her eyes darkening.
Kane shrugged. “No...but I get the sense that being with you will be...” He paused, looking for the right words, desperate to sound like he was in control of what he was doing and feeling, and then failing spectacularly. “I guess what I’m trying to say is that I know it will be different. I’m very...drawn to you.”
“Me, too. And you’re right, I don’t do this casually. I never have. I’ve told you already that the only man I’ve ever been intimate with is my husband.”
Kane’s insides were jumping all over the place. As far as admissions went, he figured it was a huge step for Layla to admit she had feelings for him. It was a huge step for him, too. “Just so you know, this isn’t some casual hookup for me, Layla. And I would never intentionally hurt you.”
“I know.”
He took a couple of strides and eased her against him, kissing her long and deep and harder than he had before. She moaned low in her throat and her arms looped around him, holding his hips. The steam added to the hot energy between them and soon kissing wasn’t enough.
Kane
ditched his jeans as she removed her underwear and within seconds they were in the tub together, her naked body sliding against him. Of course, he knew they weren’t going to make love in the water; for one, he didn’t have protection in place and he figured all they’d do was slosh water and bubbles onto the tile floor. But it was insanely sensual feeling her wet, slippery skin against his. He lay back, resting his head against the tub, and she settled between his legs, her back pressed against his chest. Kane’s arms moved around her, anchoring her in place, his chin resting gently atop her head. They didn’t kiss at first, didn’t caress each other; they simply lay in the water, his hands holding steady under her breasts, her hands resting on his knees. He was aroused, and by the way her nipples were pebbled and hard, so was she, but there was something sinfully erotic and at the same time calming and companionable about the moment.
And as they talked, as they listened, it occurred to him that they had the whole making-love-and-then-talking-afterward thing backward. Then it also occurred to him that they had it exactly right.
Once the talking was over and their words trailed off, her fingers moved up and down his thighs, and Kane slipped one hand down her soft belly, settling between her legs, and he caressed her gently. She pressed back against him, arching her spine, moaning her pleasure at his touch. He didn’t make her climax, although he suspected that he could have, but he continued to touch her and feel her arch against him. He wasn’t sure how long they stayed like that—just gently touching, just wet skin sliding against wet skin as he gently kissed her neck.
“Wanna get outta here?” he whispered into her ear when it became too much to bear.
She nodded and rolled, sluicing water over the edge of the tub, cradled against him, her body slipping against his erotically. The ends of her hair were wet, her eyes wide and languorous. She reached up and touched his face and Kane experienced a hot, sharp pain in the center of his chest.
I love her...
The words toyed around with his mind. It’s just sex, he reminded himself. He had her in his arms and his brain was fused with the lower half of his anatomy. People didn’t fall in love in a matter of weeks. Or more precisely, he didn’t fall in love in that amount of time. He was always in control. Always in charge of his emotions. Not this mindless, lust-charged thing he was feeling in that moment. But he couldn’t ditch the feeling, couldn’t quite figure out what he was feeling.
They got out of the tub and dried off, and he took a condom from his wallet and placed it on the nightstand when they somehow made it to the bed. The bedside light illuminated the room enough for him to see the heady flush coloring her skin. Kane kissed her hotly, drawing her down against the sheets, finding her tongue and wrapping his own around it in a way that made his libido surge. He kissed her neck, her shoulders, her breasts, drawing her hot, tight nipple into his mouth, and experienced such acute and mind-blowing pleasure at the feel of the budded flesh against his lips that he could barely stagger through a breath. Her hands were all over him, his back and shoulders, his hips, almost frantic as they moved across his skin. When he kissed her, she kissed him back and there was nothing hesitant about her touch, nothing unsure. He trailed kisses down her breasts, her rib cage, her belly, lingering at her navel for a moment before going down farther. She arched her back as he caressed her intimately with his lips and tongue, saying his name over and over as a wave of pleasure convulsed through her, her small hands gripping the bedsheets.
Kane quickly grabbed the condom, sheathed himself and settled between her thighs, holding his weight on his arms. He met her gaze, keeping the visual connection strong and intense. “So...is this okay?”
She nodded. “More than okay. Perfect.”
Then she pressed closer, raising her hips to meet his erection. He entered her slowly, finding both comfort and pleasure within her. Nothing had ever felt as good. Nothing ever would, he suspected. In that moment, she was his; he was hers. They were joined together in the most intimate way and he felt that connection through to his bones and to the very depths of his soul.
And Kane knew in that moment, without a doubt, that he was completely in love with her.
* * *
Layla felt the magic of his touch and possession. She’d felt passion before and had enjoyed a good sexual relationship with Frank. Not that she wanted to make comparisons, because she didn’t. But, holy heaven, Kane was so blisteringly attractive and made her yearn as she never had before. He was hard to her soft, strength to her weakness, and yet so incredibly gentle and generous. He made love like he did everything else, with concentration and quiet control. And humor, too, she thought as he kissed her mouth, her jaw, her neck. She moved as he moved, she held his back, his hips, clung to his insanely broad shoulders and experienced a connection she’d believed was lost to her forever.
“You feel so good,” he whispered against her neck.
“So do you,” she murmured.
Layla moved her hips in unison and felt pleasure spike again as he created a sensual rhythm that was an erotic assault to her senses. He kissed her mouth, deeply, hotly, as though he couldn’t get enough of the taste of her tongue or the sound of her moans. It was wild and passionate and everything she’d known it would be. He moved above her, muscles flexing and rippling, his body so acutely masculine it defied belief. The pleasure built and she arched her spine, feeling him tense above her, and they went on a wild ride, rising up and exploding in a white-hot rush of release that left them both panting and breathless.
Kane moved, excusing himself for a moment, and headed to the bathroom. When he returned a minute later, Layla was lying on her side and he quickly rejoined her in the big bed.
“Well,” she said, and traced a fingertip down his jaw. “That was quite something.”
He nodded and slipped beneath the covers, quickly settling her against him. “No regrets?”
She sighed with contentment. “Not right now.”
He grasped her chin and tilted it up, then met her gaze. “I’m glad. Regrets are pointless.”
She knew she’d have them. Sanity would set back in and she would do her usual thing and dwell. But in that moment she simply smiled and pressed closer. “So, you are good at everything, then?”
“I’m pretty sure this was a joint effort.”
Layla laughed and warmth pooled way down low in her belly. “You’re good for my ego.”
“I’m kind of hoping I’m good for all of you.”
She knew what he was asking...and suspected she knew what he was feeling. He’d said as much earlier when they were talking about how fond he was of Erin. She’s easy to love...like her mom. Layla was well aware that Kane had feelings for her. The truth was, she had them for him, too. But she wasn’t ready to admit it. She wasn’t anywhere near ready.
“Kane,” she said on a sigh. “You know that I—”
“Don’t,” he said, cutting her off, placing his thumb gently against her mouth. “Let’s not have any serious talk just yet, okay? How about we simply enjoy this moment and think about the rest of it later?”
He was right. They had plenty of time to worry about where their relationship was heading. Plenty of time for Layla to scurry back into her hole of insecurity and fear. But for now, she wanted to touch him some more, feel him some more, experience the pleasure of his kiss and the heat of his hands against her skin.
“So,” she said and traced her fingertips along the tattoo on his chest. “Now that I know where all your ink is, I never imagined I’d like tattoos so much...but on you it’s very sexy.”
He chuckled. “Speaking of being good for someone’s ego.”
“Make love to me again,” she whispered against his throat. “That’s all I want right now.”
The following hour was another voyage of incredible sensual discovery and Layla matched every step, every touch, every erotic thrust. She learned what he liked, knew she could dri
ve him crazy by kissing the skin below his earlobe or the ticklish spot at the base of his rib cage. He had a lot of energy, too, she discovered, and used every ounce of it to draw as much response from her as he could. As his hands worked their magic over her, she offered her complete surrender, discovering that taking reaped its own reward. He was an attentive and unselfish lover and she reached the peak of pleasure again and again, until finally she was almost incoherent and mindless and dropped into a sublime and easy sleep.
When she woke up she saw that it was past midnight. The bathroom light was still on and she got up and padded across the room, making out Kane’s masculine silhouette beneath the sheet draped up to his waist. He was asleep, and the faint sound of his breathing and the rhythmic rise and fall of his chest were hypnotic. She watched him for a moment, admiring his skin, his tattoos, his muscles, the breadth of his shoulders.
Instead of going back to bed, Layla slipped on her robe and slippers and headed to check on Erin. Her daughter was fast asleep, snoring softly, holding on to the leg of her favorite doll with one small fist. A wave of love washed over her and Layla looked at the framed picture sitting on the highboy near the door. It was of Erin and her father, taken on the day she was born. Frank was holding her as though she was the most precious thing in the world. He said it was the happiest day of his life and he would tell her stories about how he would always be there for them. But six months later he was gone.
Her heart suddenly felt heavy and Layla shook off the feeling, along with the heat burning behind her eyes. She wouldn’t let the guilt in. Not tonight. Grateful that her daughter was sleeping soundly, Layla left the room and padded down the hallway. The kitchen light was still on, the pizza box still where they’d left it. She spent a few minutes cleaning up before filling up the kettle to make tea. She was just about to pour the hot water into a mug when she heard Kane’s voice behind her.
“Hey, everything okay?”
She turned and nodded, saw that he was wearing his Henley and jeans, but the button was undone and they sat low on his hips. Her mouth turned dry at the sight of him and she wondered if she’d ever had such an intense physical reaction to anyone else, or ever would again. With his unbuttoned jeans and ruffled hair, he looked like a billboard advertisement for sexy. “Yes. I just checked on Erin and then realized I wanted tea.”
