his and shivered a little at the roughness there. Damn it, Rocki loved that five o’clock shadow on a man.
A long-fingered hand stroked down her shoulder, toying with the laces that held her sleeves on before moving down. “You want a drink?” he murmured.
“No.” Rocki eased back, staring into his eyes. “I just want you.”
Those golden eyes could flash so hot, she thought. Her belly went tight and her knees weren’t feeling all that steady, either. Damn it. Licking her lips, she lifted her hands and gripped the front of his shirt. Hoarsely, she repeated, “I just want you.”
Cole closed his eyes.
His hand curled around the nape of her neck, warm and hard, calloused just enough. “You want to drive me insane, I think,” he whispered, pressing his brow to hers.
“Now why would I wanna do that?” She smiled, leaning close enough that their mouths touched.
“Because I suspect you enjoy driving people crazy.” Cole eased away. “Do I pretend interest in showing you around the place or do you care?”
“I don’t. Not in the least. You can do that later. Or on our second date.”
“The second?”
“Yes.” Rocki grinned at him. “I don’t sleep with guys on the first date. And this isn’t a date, remember, so it doesn’t count.”
Cole stared at her for a long moment and then started to laugh. “I think you might be insane.” Then he held out his hand, just like he had earlier—and also just like earlier...she accepted.
Not since the night of high school graduation had Cole been this nervous. It had been at Sandy Kempff’s beach party that he’d lost his virginity, in the pool house after everybody else had left. He’d been eighteen, a bit of a late bloomer compared with some of his friends, but he’d still been more geek than anything else.
And Rocki was going to blow that experience with Sandy out of the water, he already knew.
Shit. He shouldn’t be this nervous. He knew he shouldn’t. Trying not to let it show, he led her to his room, hitting just one panel of lights. They came on in a soft, warm glow. Along the eastern wall, the windows faced out over the city and he watched as she wandered over to it, a smile on her lips.
“Beautiful view,” she said quietly. “I love the city at night. It’s so peaceful.”
“Well, until you hear sirens wailing.”
Rocki made a face at him. “Pessimist.”
“Realist,” he corrected. He went over to the gas fireplace and hit the switch, watching the flames leap to life. “Screaming sirens don’t happen too often, but they do shatter the peace.”
Rocki laughed. “Well, there is that.” She turned and sauntered over to him. “We’ll just have to make sure we’re too preoccupied to notice them tonight.”
“I can handle that.” He had no problem blocking out the wail of a siren. The problem was he wasn’t so sure he could handle her. His throat was tight and dry, his hands sweating. And, damn it, he knew he needed to be talking, needed to be saying things—responsible things, adult things—but all he wanted to do was go to his knees and just stare at her.
No. Not right. He wanted to go to his knees after he’d stripped her naked and fucked her. But responsible—Damn it, he’d be responsible.
Swallowing, he turned away and moved away from her. Not toward the bed. The fireplace again. Safer. Wasn’t close to her, wasn’t close to the bed. Safer. Right.
Until he looked into the mirror that had come with the apartment and saw her coming closer. Aw, shit.
Get it over with—
Although it was hard to do without grabbing her, he made himself do it anyway. Turning, he looked Rocki square in the eye.
“I’ve got protection here,” he said, forcing the words out before he couldn’t speak at all. “Also had a blood workup done just a few weeks ago. Needed it for a life insurance policy I was doing for...well, something that’s not going to happen now.”
She stopped in front of him and touched his cheek. “It still makes you sad,” she murmured.
He caught her hand. “No.” Pressing his lips to her palm, he stared at her. “It really doesn’t. I just don’t want to be thinking about anything else now except you. The logical, adult part of me insists I be logical and adult, though.”
Rocki smiled at him. “Very responsible of you, Cole. I admire that. I’m healthy as a horse.” She sighed and gazed at herself in the mirror, although he doubted she saw