Stroke of Luck - Opal Carew Page 0,15

but she could also see flickers of pain.

Then he set his drink down and stepped closer, a dark aura emanating from him. Her heart thundered in her chest as she took a step back.

He stepped forward again. When she tried to step back, she bumped against the wall.

He grasped her arms. “Well, baby, I’m immune to you now. But watch yourself around Austin. He sees the best in people, and I won’t have him hurt by someone like you.”

“Let go of me, please,” she murmured. “I want to get dressed.”

At her words, his gaze dropped to her bra, reminding both of them that she was standing there in only her bra and panties. Goose bumps danced across her entire body as heat flared in his eyes.

“Really? That sounds like a good idea. Why don’t I help you?”

He curled his arms around her body, and she felt his fingers playing over the back of her bra. She placed her hand flat on his chest and pressed against the solid wall of muscle.

“No, I can manage, thanks,” she said in as even a voice as she could muster, but it still came out a squeak.

The hooks on her bra released.

He looked like he was under a spell as he dropped first one bra strap from her shoulder, then the other. He eased back, his gaze dropping to her breasts. She clung to the front of her bra, holding it in place.

He slid his fingers along her shoulders, then down her sides, his thumbs dragging along her ribs.

“I’ve wanted you for so long.” The heat in his words seared her.

Then he pulled her against him and captured her mouth. His tongue pushed inside and explored thoroughly.

Her heart was pounding, and she could hardly breathe. Oh, God, she longed to be with him.

But right now, his intensity overwhelmed her.

Then everything changed. His lips moved more gently, and his tongue glided on hers in sweet, teasing strokes. Her insides melted, and she slid her arms around him.

This was how he used to kiss her. Her heart ached as the love she’d buried so deep inside swelled to the surface.

He suckled her tongue, drawing it into his mouth. His lips moved tenderly on hers, awakening needs inside her she couldn’t restrain.

Oh, God, she wanted this so badly. She wanted to give herself to him.

Heat rippled through her and turned to blazing desire. Her breasts swelled, and she could feel the melting heat between her legs. She could feel his cock growing hard against her, and she wanted to reach down and stroke it. Then to feel it glide inside her.

Her arms curled around his neck, and she clung to him.

Then his mouth tore away from her.

“Fuck, this is a spectacularly bad idea,” he muttered.

As he pulled back, the bra started to slip away. He grabbed the straps and pushed them back in place, then fastened it again.

“You said you were going to get dressed.” He stepped back, then turned and strode away.

4

April closed the door to the guest bedroom and leaned against it, catching her breath.

Her pulse still raced at the memory of Quinn holding her tightly to his body, her breasts crushed against his naked, muscular chest. And his cock thick and solid against her belly.

She tingled at the thought of welcoming it inside her. Longed to feel it fill her completely.

She sucked in a breath and pushed away from the door. She unhooked her damp bra as she walked across the room to the en suite bathroom, then stripped off the panties. She hung the lingerie on a towel rack to dry, then showered.

Afterward, she combed her long hair, then blow-dried it. Once it was cascading in shiny waves over her shoulders, she walked back into the bedroom and pulled on the coral bra and panty set and the sundress she’d been wearing earlier.

As she turned toward the door, she suddenly felt overwhelmed. So much had happened today. Her emotions were frayed. She sank down on the bed and stared at herself in the mirror.

What was she going to do? Austin had invited her to stay here, and she would tonight, but what would she do after that? She didn’t have money for a bus ticket back to Lachelle. And the thought of going back there right now after what had happened with Maurice …

She dropped her face into her hands. No, she couldn’t deal with that. Not yet.

She had four weeks before she had to return to work.

But she had nowhere else to