A Sweet Mess - Jayci Lee Page 0,65

him with all her pent-up desire.

There was nothing she wanted more. Maybe except for this—

Once she had a firm grip of his hand, Aubrey planted both of her feet on the wall and leaned back with all her strength. She heard rather than saw Landon land in the water. While he remained stunned for a split second, she pushed herself up and out of the pool.

The thick towel she’d brought dwarfed her, leaving only her feet visible. Grateful for the armor, she glanced at Landon from under her lashes. He was resting his chin on his forearms, leaning out of the lip of the pool. He wore an amused grin on his face, but his eyes raked over her like hot coals. She was afraid he’d singe the towel off her.

Now would be the time to make a pithy remark and trot away. But all her anger and bravado had seeped out of her, and she stood trembling. In fear or desire, she couldn’t say.

“Run, Aubrey,” Landon warned quietly. “If you’re still there when I get out of here, I guarantee you won’t be going to bed alone tonight.”

She knew she should do as he’d said, but her legs refused to take her back to safety. Just take one step. The next ones will be easier. Even when Landon pushed himself out of the pool, his wet clothes clinging to his hard body, all Aubrey could manage was a wide-eyed gasp.

He stalked toward her with measured steps—his large body taut with control and dangerously graceful. His face was a mask of lean hunger, and she wanted. She wanted him with a fierce desperation that stole her breath.

She’d shared one night with him, and the memories were seared into her mind. But it was nothing—nothing—compared to the carnal fever that seized her now.

He stopped mere inches from her, and his heat engulfed her. “Look at me.”

Helpless against his command, she stared into his eyes. It was going to end in heartbreak, but she had no choice. Fighting what raged between them was a slow death. When Landon lowered his head, she tilted her face and parted her lips to receive his touch fully. It was surrender. It was freedom.

She pushed her body against his and fisted her hands into his hair. Answering her unspoken demand, he deepened the kiss with a shuddering groan. Hunger eclipsed sanity, and she plunged her tongue into his mouth and tugged his head down, struggling to get closer to him.

Aubrey writhed against him and bit his bottom lip hard. With a low growl, he wrenched the towel from her body and pressed her against him. His hands were rough and hot on her bare skin, and a muffled moan escaped her.

Still not close enough.

Frustrated with the barrier between them, Aubrey tugged at his damp shirt with fumbling hands. She whimpered in protest when his lips left hers for the second it took to pull his shirt over his head.

He’s so beautiful.

Spreading her fingers wide on his chest, Aubrey buried her lips in the hollow of his throat and traced open-mouthed kisses along his jaw to capture his lips again. Their touch held no gentleness—only rough urgency. Landon drew his hands up the side of her body and cupped her breasts. When he grazed his thumbs over their hard peaks, Aubrey whimpered and rocked her hips against him. He released her mouth to taste her neck, sucking and nibbling on the sensitive skin.

“God, I need you.” His voice was a husky plea. “All of you.”

Landon’s words pierced through the fog of passion and buried themselves in Aubrey’s mind. She jolted awake from her dream. She couldn’t do this. She couldn’t risk her livelihood. Her future.

But it was more than that. She was falling for him.

Her parents’ wreck of a marriage had convinced her love and forever weren’t for her. If he grows tired of me, I’ll become invisible even when I’m by his side. I’ll disappear like Mom. She couldn’t risk becoming a ghost, floating through life, unseen and unheard.

* * *

He was consumed by fire. He had no consciousness other than need and desire. Their hot breath mingled as one, and he couldn’t get close enough to her. At first, he didn’t notice at all. Then through the haze, Landon realized Aubrey was pushing against his chest. Bewildered, he lifted his head just enough to focus his eyes on hers.

“I can’t.” Her voice broke on the second word.

“Why?” He held her gently by the shoulders. “Don’t