Stroke of Luck - Opal Carew Page 0,8

from a crystal decanter on the bar.

“You? Didn’t care about money? That’s a laugh.”

She stood up and walked to the window, staring out at the skyline without actually seeing it.

How could she argue with him? She knew deep inside that Maurice’s money had been part of the attraction. Not because she was a gold digger but because she craved stability. Security. She’d never had that in her life.

But she would never marry a man just for his money. Maurice had been charming and attentive, and he’d made her feel special.

“Quinn, I didn’t leave you because Maurice was rich.”

“Then why did you leave?”

She frowned. “I loved how passionate you were about your thesis. And I understood why you put your work first. I didn’t want to be a distraction.”

His eyebrow arched. “A distraction? Are you kidding me?” He strolled toward her, his eyes flashing. “I cared about my work, but what I was passionate about was you. What I wanted was you.”

He stood beside her now, anger and frustration blazing in his eyes, but she could see the even deeper pain beneath.

“You’d never been with a man before, and I respected that. You wanted to keep yourself for the right man. So I held back and gave you the time you wanted.”

She could barely breathe, remembering how patient and loving he’d been.

He gaze flicked to hers, searching. “I thought I was that man.” His gaze turned somber. “Did I hold back too much? Did you really not see—”

“I knew how much you wanted me,” she said quickly, stopping him from finishing that thought. Not wanting him to say he’d loved her. “And I knew you didn’t want to pressure me.”

She could barely breathe as his gaze remained locked on hers, boring into her soul. Finally, she looked away, unable to bear the raw emotion seething between them another moment.

He drew in a deep breath, breaking the spell.

“And what about your new boyfriend? I bet you didn’t make him wait. Or are you going to tell me you’re still a virgin?”

She froze inside.

“That’s none of your business.”

But guilt washed through her because he was right. Maurice had so totally deceived her that she’d believed he was the one. That she was in love with him.

He’d been her first—and only—man. He’d known it, and it had made him even more possessive of her, which she mistook for love.

“Life isn’t fucking fair sometimes.” Quinn’s words were a mere whisper.

The aching wistfulness in his eyes tore at her heart.

But as the moment hung between them, that wistfulness turned to a growing heat. Her skin pebbled into goose bumps as her senses heightened. As she became aware of the warmth of his body close to her. Of the breadth of his solid chest. The strength of his muscular arms. She longed to close the small distance between them, glide her hands around his neck, and give herself over to the growing desire inside her.

“Quinn, I’m so sorry—”

Frustration welled in his eyes again, and he tugged her into his arms before she could finish the thought, his lips claiming hers in a demanding kiss. He pulled her tighter to him, his arm encircling her waist. His tongue surged into her mouth and explored, taking her breath away.

Then his lips softened, becoming more persuasive. His hand glided up her back, then cupped her head. The kiss became heart-wrenchingly tender.

Oh, God, her heart ached, remembering how it had been between them.

She melted against him, a deep longing building inside her.

This feeling … this was why she’d had to break it off with him. She’d been worried she would fall for him, and that would have been a disaster. Because she didn’t believe he could give her what she needed. To be the most important thing in his life. She had felt she would always come second to his drive for success.

So she’d broken it off with him before they could fall in love.

Except she realized that she hadn’t escaped with her heart after all.

As his lips continued to move on hers, his arm tightened around her waist, and she felt his cock straining against her.

Her body ached, wanting to strip off her clothes for him. Wanting to experience what she’d always longed for. To be physically possessed by him.

As if sensing her acquiescence, his hand covered her ass, and he pulled her tighter still. His rigid cock pushing snug against her drove up her need. She arched against him.

A door off the living room opened, and Austin walked in.

“Ah,