Love Proof (Laws of Attraction) - By Elizabeth Ruston Page 0,60
while he crossed the room to the coffee maker and began brewing a cup.
She studied his naked form from behind. “I like the way you look now. I like touching all those muscles. I like the way you feel against me.”
“Sarah, if you say anything more, I’m never going to be able to leave this hotel room.”
He turned just enough for her to see his growing erection. She smiled and rolled onto her back to gaze at the ceiling.
“Here,” he said a moment later, handing her the first cup of coffee. He stared at her the way she had been staring at him, taking in all the contours of her body, the slopes and angles, the various changes since they’d last been together.
Sarah liked the attention. It had been a long time since she let someone look at her. She liked the visible effect it was having on Burke.
But he was right, they had to get to work.
“I don’t do coffee anymore,” she said, “but if you have tea, I’ll take it.”
Although considering how little sleep she’d gotten, a cup of strong black coffee sounded like a much wiser choice.
She forced herself from the bed and retrieved her pajamas from the area just inside Joe’s door. “Can I borrow this?” she asked, holding up his hoodie. “Just for the ride back.”
Joe’s eyes raked her naked body again. He groaned and disappeared into the bathroom.
Sarah took that as a yes.
She dressed, then brought a cup of tea with her back to Joe’s bed to wait. She propped a pillow behind her and pulled the covers up over her legs and spent the next several minutes replaying scenes from the night before. He was a better lover now, in so many ways. More patient, more inventive, more . . . skilled.
She forced herself not to think of how many women he had been with since her who would have given him that practice. She already knew she couldn’t trust him. She would never make that mistake again.
But it didn’t mean she had to deny herself the pleasure of a purely physical relationship with him. It was no different from eating right and working out: her body wanted certain things now, and it was up to her to provide them.
And to be smart about it this time.
Joe emerged from the bathroom and picked up his own clothes from the heap by the door. He was dressed within a minute, then asked, “Ready?”
“What do you think?” Sarah asked, hugging her knees to her chest and looking him straight in the eye. “Was this the only time?”
“I sure as hell hope not, but we’ll see. Come on, Red, I have to take you back.”
***
She had now been in the Salt Lake City airport far more times than she ever dreamed she would. And she would be back there the next day and the one after that, since it was the hub for all their Montana and Idaho flights. She thought about driving between some of her destinations, but even with all the hassle of trying to bounce from one regional airport to another, it was still faster than traveling by car. And at least she could work in the airport and on the planes, so she accepted the itinerary as planned.
“How are you holding up, Henley?” Joe asked as he appeared at her side rolling his carry-on down the concourse. He seemed absorbed by what he was reading on his phone, and Sarah doubted that anyone watching them would guess they were speaking to each other.
“Exhausted,” she said. “I need more than two hours of sleep.”
“We should try to get to bed earlier tonight,” he said, still not looking at her. Sarah’s body flushed in response. She could feel the moisture building from just that one simple statement. The idea of being back in bed with Joe as soon as possible made her want to turn around and return to his hotel, and skip the flight altogether.
“I’ll think about it,” Sarah said, hoping to sound less affected by him than she was.
They walked in silence until Sarah could see their gate just up ahead. Then Joe asked, “What’s your phone number?”
Sarah hesitated, but then gave him the numbers to input into his phone. She could see Marcela to their right, curled up on one of the chairs, snoozing against her wadded up coat.
“See you later,” Joe said. Then he lengthened his stride and let her walk the rest of the way alone.