“Always.”
She caught the dry edge in his voice. It wasn’t a sense of trouble that was bothering him. Or at least, not entirely.
“You don’t have to make excuses, you know.”
“Excuses?”
“For leaving the room.” She tried to keep her voice steady. “You clearly dislike being here with me.”
“Dislike?” A raw disbelief darkened his eyes. “Is that what you think?”
“I can sense your tension.”
“It sure as hell isn’t dislike.” She could hear his teeth grinding together. “I wish to God it was.”
She frowned, realizing that once again she’d gotten it wrong. “Then what’s bothering you?”
“I need a shower.”
With an abrupt motion, he was spinning on his heel and heading into the bedroom he’d claimed as his own. Minutes later she heard the sound of the shower running.
For a confused moment she was hurt by his sharp retreat. What had she done now to make him so eager to flee from her company?
Then she caught the unmistakable scent of his arousal.
Oh.
Was that why he’d taken off in such a hurry? Because he wanted to make love to her?
The thought was thrilling. Intoxicating.
She shivered as a bolt of desire sliced through her body. Along with a determination to do something about her clawing need. She might not understand why Caine was taking a shower rather than wrapping her in his arms as she longed for him to do, but she knew that she was done waiting for him to make the first move.
Before she could lose her nerve, Cassie headed across the room and into Caine’s bedroom. She didn’t have experience. But she did have primitive instincts.
What else did she need?
Pausing long enough to strip off her clothes, Cassie entered the bathroom, crossing the mosaic-tiled floor to step into the shower stall that was the size of most apartments.
The air, filled with moist steam laced with the scent of soap and warm male skin, wafted over her like a delicate caress. Cassie trembled, her ni**les beading in anticipation as Caine turned to regard her with a wary gaze.
“Cassie.” He reached to shut off the water. “What the hell?”
She smiled, slowly advancing even as he backed against the wall, his golden body shimmering with water droplets and his hair slicked from his beautiful face.
“I’ve come to ease your tension.”
He squeezed his eyes shut, as if in pain. “A back rub isn’t what I need, pet. Maybe later.”
Halting directly in front of him, Cassie skimmed her hands over his broad chest, savoring the sensation of his muscles clenching beneath her soft touch. “Then tell me what you do need.”
His eyes snapped open, his hands reaching to grasp her wrists, although he made no effort to pull them away.
Thank the gods.
“I need you out of here before I do something we’re both going to regret,” he rasped.
“You would regret making love to me?”