Once and Again - By Lauren Dane Page 0,35
But he had to and he hated it.
“It doesn’t matter. She was pitching but I wasn’t catching. She’s not you, baby. Never. Ever in a million years would she be. I know you might have trouble believing that after the kiss you walked in on. But that’s the truth. I didn’t even want that kiss. It was one very brief moment when I thought about the alternatives. A half a breath and it was over. But you came in before it was over and then you left. And I was an idiot and this is what got us here. I don’t want any lies between us now. I want to make it work this time around. Your sister doesn’t have your best interests at heart. She never has.”
Lily breathed in deep, and he tried not to groan when she took a bite and then swiped her tongue over her bottom lip to catch some tomato.
“I don’t know. She’s…difficult. Ugly. Resentful even though she’s at fault for her own messes. My mother lets her get away with it. Hell, maybe it’s me. Maybe I have been handed everything so I’m spoiled.”
She finished her drink and he signaled for another. He wanted to fix this for her.
“No. It’s not you.”
“Why didn’t you tell me? When she came on to you.”
“I didn’t want to hurt you. It didn’t mean anything to me.” It wasn’t as if he’d even considered the rather crudely repeated offers from Nancy anyway. He’d always wondered if she’d done it just to hurt Lily and he didn’t want any part of that. And Nancy Travis was a pale shadow of her sister. That’s why she was so angry and resentful. Lily was vibrant and lovely. Caring.
“And if Tim came on to me? How would you feel about me not telling you?”
He bared his teeth a moment at the thought. “That’s different.”
One of her brows rose. “It is? Pray tell, how?”
“Tim and I are close. And he’s not a psycho like your sister.”
She held back a smile but he saw it in her eyes. “That’s a lame excuse.”
“It is. But it’s the one I’ve got. Now. On to better things. When do you have to be back home?”
Her gaze locked with his. “This is a bad idea, Nathan. We did this before and it didn’t work. Took me a long time to get over.”
“It could have worked. We had the connection then and you can’t deny we still do. I’m older and a lot wiser I hope anyway. You are too. It didn’t work because I was a stupid boy. But I’m a man now and I won’t lose you again. We’re here. I have a room in this very hotel. I want you naked. I want to be in you. I want to know what you taste like now.”
Her breath caught and her pupils swallowed the iris.
“I don’t have to be back until tomorrow.”
Chapter Eight
It had been foolhardy to come back to the hotel with him. She knew it and had zero plans to halt the inevitable between them. Each step they’d taken, it had felt right. She’d fallen into a rhythm with him as they’d talked. One she hadn’t realized she’d missed with such ferocity until she had it again.
And now in his room he watched her every move. Looked at her like he wanted to take a big bite. “You’re a thrilling man, Nathan Murphy.” She swallowed hard and gave over to what she wanted. No more arguing. She wanted him as much as he appeared to want her. And she saw just how much in his gaze, in the swell of his cock against his zipper.
His grin was feral and a shiver went through her. He nearly prowled as he led her back into the bedroom. Fascinating. This man gave off his masculinity in a warm radiant wave. He took up all the air around her, stealing her breath.
“Am I now?” His voice had lowered, and the memories of what came next flooded straight to her pussy.
She nodded and hoped he didn’t see the gulp.
He got close enough to touch but hesitated. Teasing. Just barely away. So close the heat of him slid over her skin. And then he licked up the side of her neck and bit her earlobe. That was good enough to make her lock her knees to keep standing.
And he was only getting started.
He’d been a foreplay sort of man before. He’d tease her all night long before they’d fuck. They’d go