pulse hammered and she felt like she was floating through air, utterly lost. Nothing in the world mattered but the need to roll against his mouth and feel each sensation ripple through her, closer and closer to release.
“Oh my gawd, oh my gawd, oh… my… there.” She writhed against the wall, his name on her lips, completely surrendering to his tongue and fingers. A sharp twist of pressure, a sweet twinge of tension, then a peak of delicious pain and pleasure so powerful it was almost unbearable.
She rocked into an orgasm, abandoned and wild, her breath nothing but shallow desperation as she moved against his mouth.
Then there were just tender aftershocks and ragged breaths, and the impossible heavy ache in her legs that made them wobble as she started to slide down the wall.
“Now I know,” she whispered.
“Now you know what?”
“Why this is so much fun.” She hit the floor with a soft thud, her head hanging to the side like a drunk.
“We just got started having fun, darlin’.”
But when she looked at him, something swelled up in her chest, and it wasn’t laughter. Something squeezed at her heart and clutched her whole body and made her want to reach out to this beautiful, sexy, amazing man and, dear God, it wasn’t fun.
It kind of hurt inside. And there was nothing fun about that at all.
“Lacey, what’s wrong?”
“Oh, shit, Clay. I might have made a mistake.”
Big, big mistake. Goddamn it. Clay should have known better.
“There’s a reason they call it senseless,” he said softly, stroking some hair that had fallen in her face. “Because there’s no common sense involved. And now you’re sorry, aren’t you?”
“Not exactly sorry.” She gave him a sheepish smile. “Just a little overwhelmed. That’s scary.”
Damn it. “You don’t have to be scared, Lacey. I won’t…” What wouldn’t he do? Use her and leave?
Yes he would. He’d use her for a job he wanted more than anything, and sex he wanted just as badly. But, Jesus, he did not want a good woman with a nice kid and a decent life and a heart of gold, because all of that stuff came with too much potential for disaster. He’d had enough family for one lifetime, thank you very much.
“Wow, you look like you’re in pain, Clay.”
He used the obvious excuse and looked down. “A little.”
She reached to the tent of his jeans, her fingers tentative. For a second he did nothing, the need for her to touch him way bigger than anything he felt in his head or heart. But then he closed his hand over her wrist.
“Reciprocation isn’t necessary, Lacey.”
“I want to.”
“You just said you made a mistake.”
“I thought sex would be fun.”
He gave a rueful laugh. “Sorry to disappoint.”
“No, no, that’s not what I mean. I thought that’s all it would be.”
He slowly pushed up, still holding her hand and bringing her with him. “I know you did. So what happened?”
“I like you.”
“Yep, big mistake.”
“Is it?” She sounded hopeful. So damn hopeful. “I just want to work with you. And, you know, sleep with you. Only not much sleeping since I have to be home at night.”
Of course she did, because she had a family. A daughter who needed her. An ex who wanted her.
She swiped her hand through her hair, frowning as though she wasn’t used to the straight locks, and suddenly realizing she was naked from the waist up. “Shit, what a mess.”
“You’re not a mess, Lacey. You’re beautiful. But here, get comfortable.” He scooped up her top and handed it to her, helping her slip it over her head, then tugged her skirt back down. Her bra and panties were still on the floor, and neither of them made a move to get them.
But not because they’d be coming right back off. He knew that. “You want something to drink?” he asked. “Water? Soda? Beer?”
“Water.” She followed him through the living area, past the drafting table he’d set up, to the galley kitchen. While he got the water, she stood at the sliders that led out to a small deck that faced the indigo water, nearly the same color as the late evening sky.
He handed her a bottle. “I have some fruit and stuff for a sandwich, if you’re hungry.”
She shook her head and opened the water bottle. “No, thanks.”
That look in her eyes fisted his chest again, so he got behind her, sharing the view, letting their bodies touch front to back because, hell, it seemed he couldn’t be in the