praised hoarsely, rocking into her, making it last. “Ah, sweetheart.
You’re so beautiful.”
She sagged into his chest as the tension fled. With her hot face pressed against his throat, the scent of his skin was nearly overwhelming. “Oh my God,” she groaned, wishing the earth would open up and swallow her whole. The last thing Nick’s ego needed was her hair-trigger orgasm.
“It’s been awhile for you, hasn’t it?” His large hands stroked the length of her back, gentling her.
“You’re not going to take credit for that?” She couldn’t hide her surprise.
“Me?” He pulled back slightly. “I wish. That was all you. But the next one’s on me.”
A laugh escaped against her will and she buried her face in his shoulder to hide her smile. He was charming, she’d never denied that. “There’s not going to be a next time.”
His embrace was nearly crushing. “Whatever. You really had me fooled. Until I saw that wish list, I thought you didn’t like me.”
“It’s not about whether I like you or not, Nick. In fact, I think you’re a great guy, but—”
“You’re looking for someone to get serious.”
“Actually, I’m not looking for anyone.”
“I could get serious.” Cupping her face in his hands, he used his thumbs to stroke her cheeks. “There’s no reason I can’t. But we’ll never know if you don’t give me a chance.”
“Why?” She pushed him away. “Because we have the hots for each other? Being horny isn’t the basis for a relationship and I don’t want to be your experiment in monogamy.”
“There she is,” he said softly, stepping back so she could slide off the desk. “The exterior woman who doesn’t want me, while the real Steph inside does.”
She winced. The real Steph had learned to give up some of the things she wanted. It was a sacrifice she’d accepted gladly when she made it. “Are we done here?”
“No way. Not nearly.” He ran his hand through his thick, glossy hair.
She regretted that she hadn’t touched it when she had the chance. “You didn’t get off, but I don’t feel too guilty about that. You can have any of the girls in the conference room.”
“Fuck you, Steph,” he said gruffly. “This isn’t about getting laid and you know it.”
She snorted. “This is all about getting laid.”
Suddenly he straightened, his eyes lit with a dangerous glint. “Give me a couple days to go through your wish list. Then, once you’ve lived out your fantasies—all of which happen to be mine as well—we can get back to business as usual. Minus all this sexual tension.”
“That’s not going to work.” But her stomach did a little flip at the thought.
“Then you switch offices anyway, like you planned. But at least we got to have wild, sweaty, dirty sex before you go. If this is all about getting laid, let’s do it.”
She could see it in his eyes. “A hotel?” she suggested, resigned. A girl had only so much willpower and faced with a watertight argument, what else could she do?
At least that’s what her inner devil said.
“My place,” he said smoothly, having the grace not to gloat. “I’ve got everything I need to cook dinner—” He flashed a dazzling grin. “Naked.”
“Oh, Lord…” She was blushing, she could feel it. That he knew her secret longings was embarrassing in the extreme. And a major turn-on, which was dangerous. She had to keep the two separate—the lawyer she admired and the playboy she wanted to f**k.
“Let’s just keep this simple.”
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a folded slip of paper. Tucking it in her hand, he brushed his lips across hers. “No. You’ve been a good girl, so you deserve to have your wishes come true.” He kissed her again and it didn’t escape her for a second that he was the star of her sex dreams. “Come on, Steph, play along. It’ll be fun.”
Fun. Guys like Nick were always having fun.
“That’s directions to my condo. I’ll be waiting.”
* * * * *
By the time Steph got to Nick’s place, she was balls to the wall committed to having a good time. If she was going to binge, she was gorging. Period. So when she rang the doorbell and Nick answered wearing nothing but a Santa hat and an apron that said
“Kiss the Cook”, she didn’t hesitate. She dropped her mini-duffle at his feet and jumped him.
“Shit.” He stumbled backward in surprise but managed to shove the door closed before spinning his way to the nearest couch. They fell into black leather in