Just One Night Together (Flatiron Five Fitness #3) - Deborah Cooke Page 0,72

was done, and if she hadn’t known better, she might have thought he was nervous. “You never showed me what you learned about meridians at F5F.”

“Checking up on your instructor?”

“I’d much rather check up on the student.”

Haley gave him a look. “That sounds like a line.”

He was immediately close beside her, his hand on her shoulder and slowly stroking up to her chin. She melted, right on cue. “It wasn’t supposed to be,” he said, his voice low. He was looking at her as if she was amazing, and Haley reminded herself not to get used to it. Then that reluctant smile tugged at the corner of his mouth and she was a goner. “There’s just something about you. I can’t get enough.” He leaned down to touch his lips to the corner of her mouth. “I always want more.”

Haley closed her eyes in surrender, leaning back and letting him tug her into his arms. “Same here,” she whispered, just before he brushed his lips across hers. The light touch left her tingling, and hungry for more.

“Maybe we should do something about that,” he murmured, his face so close that she thought she could see all his secrets in his dark eyes.

“We definitely should,” she replied, then reached up to kiss him.

How could it be just as good the second time?

If not better?

How could sex with Haley get better every time? Damon couldn’t understand it. He seldom seduced any woman more than twice. He usually had his fill by then and was ready for a change. It wasn’t about novelty or variety. It was because after the second date, women started to ask questions. They wanted to know more about him, delve into his secrets and deepen the connection. Damon knew that wasn’t for him, so he voted with his feet.

The difference with Haley, he realized as he held her after their second bout of lovemaking that night, was that she hadn’t waited to start asking questions. She’d been delving into his secrets even before he’d met her, doing her research and checking the files. In a way, she had a head start on things and he hadn’t been ready for that.

She dozed a little against his chest, her hair a glorious tangle in his hands, and he was content to just be with her. Was it because there was no pending battle? No threat of her finding out the truth about him and running away?

Or was it because he doubted she’d ever run away from him?

Not Haley. She’d come after him when she thought he was wrong.

Damon pressed a kiss to the top of her head. There was something reassuring about her determination to confront him and challenge him. Her persistence was something he admired, especially when she told him something he didn’t want to hear. She had guts.

As much as he knew he couldn’t deliver what any woman wanted on a long term basis, Haley made him want to try.

That in itself was pretty amazing.

In fact, he wanted to change her mind about commitment and true love. He wanted to kick this Garrett asshole to the curb and show Haley that love could last, if it was nurtured by the people involved. He wanted to prove to her that love didn’t always end in tragedy, that it was worth believing in more than just the moment.

He wasn’t entirely sure where this urge came from, but he trusted it. He wondered if his mom was inspiring him to take a chance on love, to win Haley’s heart and keep it forever. He hoped so. Natasha’d had really good instincts about people and she’d liked Haley, without even knowing much about her.

Haley stirred and looked up at Damon, pushing her hair back as she smiled. She was still flushed and her eyes were sparkling. He noticed a couple of details to add to his drawing. “That was great.”

Damon nodded. “Seems to be a pretty consistent result.”

She laughed. “Is that what’s been going on? A consistency test?”

“Of course not.” He couldn’t resist her lips and bent to kiss her once more. As ever, she wrapped herself around him, welcoming him, offering all that she had to give. She was so generous and kind that he suspected he’d always be shaken by the honesty of her response.

He could get used to it.

He wanted more than a moment with her.

She sighed contentment when they broke their kiss and ran a hand over his shoulder. She outlined his tribal tattoo with a fingertip, then