Anne Rainey - Touching Lace (10 page)

“Remember when you slept over that night last year? It was New Year’s Eve and you’d gotten a little tipsy. I had to put you to bed.”

She nodded, smiling up at him with a mixture of woman and friend. It drove him crazy every time. “Didn’t you ever wonder how you ended up in my t-shirt the next morning?”

Lacey blushed. Every time her cheeks filled with color it turned him on. Lacey’s blush was more potent than another woman’s touch.

“I didn’t even think about it, because—”

“Because you hardly remember anything when you drink. You thought you’d changed into the shirt yourself and just didn’t remember doing it.” She nodded again. “You didn’t. I undressed you and put you to bed that night.”

“Oh God.”

“Don’t go all shy on me, baby. I made a point of getting the job done as quickly as I could. Still, I did see you in your underwear. You’d just gotten out from under the clutches of Lucas the Octopus and you were feeling sort of low that night.”

“I remember. I didn’t particularly miss Lucas, but I was feeling crappy thinking another year was gone and I was still no closer to finding my Mr. Right.”

“Yeah, you told me that. Lacey, did you never wonder why I wasn’t with anyone that night either?”

Anne Rainey

He could see the chagrin come over her face and she started to stammer. He stopped her with a finger to her lips.

“I wasn’t with anyone because I knew you were alone and all I could think about was maybe this time Lacey Vaughn would see me as a man, and not just a good pal.”

“Oh.”

Nick went back to the question she’d originally asked. “You don’t need anything from your apartment for what I have in mind. This time, I won’t be quick when I undress you, either. This time I’m going to take it real slow, and I’m going to take a long time looking.”

He watched, mesmerized, as she licked her lips. The way her nipples went perky and her breathing sped up made him want to jump her right there in his driveway. Push her against his SUV and fuck her from behind.

Unable to help himself any longer, Nick lowered his head and touched his mouth to hers, kissing her with a gentleness which surprised even him. The warm summer night, full moon high in the sky, and Lacey’s soft full lips pressed against his. Oh yeah, Nick could easily believe in all that magic Lacey had talked about the night before.

He kept the kiss brief, all too aware they were out in the open. When he raised his head, he saw her half-closed eyes and knew his control would snap if she so much as whimpered. Having her against his SUV wasn’t exactly a bad idea, but it wasn’t what he wanted for Lacey’s first time with him either.

Nick touched her moist, plump lips with his index finger and whispered, “Trust me?” She nodded, making him feel ten feet tall. He turned, keeping her hand in his, and strode up to the front door.

Feeling pumped, he just barely managed to get his door unlocked. Inside, the house was dark and empty. God, he hated it. This time, however, he had Lacey with him, and he wouldn’t let her go. Not without a fight. And she would fight him.

Lacey ran from love. Her fear of commitment was the reason behind all the failed relationships. He didn’t know if it was because some asshole had crushed her heart at one time, or if there was something deeper. Either way, he would make her see that love

Touching Lace

could be a beautiful and exciting adventure. A thing to cherish and nurture. Not something to hide from in fright.

First, Nick had to get her to open up to him, to give herself to him one small piece at a time. The way she’d opened up to him at the gym was a good start. He knew enough about Lacey to know she would never do something so outrageous at her place of business. She took pride in her work as a personal trainer. The very fact that he was able to make her forget herself, for even a few moments, was a good sign. She needed to trust him with her body completely. Later he would show her she could trust him with her heart.

Nick let go of her hand and moved to flip on the lamp beside the couch. When he turned back around, he was struck speechless. She was so damned sweet.

Standing all of about five foot one, Lacey gave off a fragile appearance. Men wanted to protect and shelter her. But she packed a punch. Literally. She was in excellent physical condition and believed wholeheartedly in practicing what she preached. Exercise and nutrition was Lacey’s life and she had a huge clientele as evidence that she was good at her job.

While she was slender and fit, her curves were still lush and inviting. She had small, tantalizing breasts that he’d fantasized about. What shade of pink were her nipples? Were they dark mauve or pale pink? Soon he’d know.

Truthfully, it had been her ass that had hooked him from almost the very beginning. She had a nice firm backside that made his mouth water every time he looked at it. Which was often.

Her hair was cut just below her shoulders out of necessity. She always worked up a sweat at the gym and showering twice, sometimes three times a day, meant she needed to keep it at a reasonable length. The pin-straight, rich espresso color tempted a man to dig his fingers in and play. And it was way past time for Nick to have a little fun.

Lacey stood just inside the front door, so rigid and nervous, as if about to bolt at any moment. Her anxiety insured a slow plan of action. She was still getting used to the idea of being with him intimately, where as he’d thought of nothing else for months. He didn’t

Anne Rainey

need time to consider what happens after, because he already knew. Once he made her his, there would be no going back. She just wasn’t aware of that fact. Yet.

With that thought in mind, Nick gave Lacey a flirtatious grin and crooked a finger at her. “Come over here.” Her blue eyes grew big and her mouth opened as if she were about to refuse him. “You ready for your second lesson?” he prompted.

Her mouth snapped shut and his eyes were inexorably drawn once more to her breasts where her nipples pushed sensually against her t-shirt. Nick’s cock swelled in response. God, how he wanted to taste her. To feel her soft skin against his lips, his tongue. He had to tamp down the urge to take her where she stood.

Lacey had never seen this side of Nick, and she couldn’t believe she was seeing it now. She’d been around aroused men before, but never were they so…hot and impatient. She was beginning to think giving her lessons was only a convenient way for him to get what he wanted. Her. He had said as much, but the notion still made her want to backpedal.

Nick continued to wait. His charming smile entranced her. Lacey’s stomach fluttered with nerves. She was eager, but tense, too. Was she really about to indulge in a no-strings attached affair? It was crazy. She’d never done crazy. Any woman would be nervous. Her choice of lovers was definitely the right one, though.

Nick was tall, gorgeous and honorable. She wouldn’t have to worry about him becoming too possessive. They were already friends, and if things started to turn stale, they could go back to being friends. She could then use all her new knowledge on someone else.

Why didn’t that last thought sound very appealing?

If there was one thing Lacey knew about Nick, it was that he would always be straight with her. He was honest to the point of being obnoxious at times. The idea was to teach her a few things about sex and he had been candid when he’d admitted he was sexually attracted to her. A new sense of freedom came over her as she made up her

Touching Lace

mind. For tonight, she was going to quit worrying and let loose a little. What would it hurt?

Lacey stepped away from the safety of the front door and let Nick take her in his embrace. When his powerful arms closed around her, she saw the triumphant gleam in his chocolate eyes.

“Feeling pretty darn sure of yourself aren’t you?” she taunted.

The low rumble of his voice vibrated against her ear as he answered her. “I have the sexy Lacey Vaughn all to myself. Damn right I feel confident.”

The man was too cocky. It was high time someone knocked Nick Stone down a peg or two. Perhaps she was just the woman for the job.

Nick pulled her tighter against him. Tilting up her head, he took her mouth in a hard show of possession. His tongue darted out and licked at the seam of her lips, all but demanding she open for him. Lacey had no choice but to obey. As soon as her lips parted, he took advantage and delved in.

His hands were everywhere. They slid down her back to her bottom where he cupped her close and pulled her into the cradle of his thighs. She groaned, or he did, she wasn’t sure. All that mattered was that he continue kissing her. Lacey was on fire. Her entire body responded to the feel of his lean strength against her giving flesh.

Nick tilted his head and she raised her hands to grasp the sides of his neck, holding him to her. She tunneled her fingers through the dark strands of his hair, reveling in its softness. His tongue touched and played with hers, darting in and out, mimicking lovemaking. He was hungry. Urgent. Challenging. Lacey couldn’t stand it anymore.

Pulling back, breathing as if she’d run four laps around the gym, Lacey moaned, “Bedroom, now.”

She turned and started in that direction, but a hand at the back of her waistband pulled her up short.

“Not quite yet,” Nick ground out.

Lacey stared, confused and anxious. “Huh?”

“Lesson two, remember?” he reminded her.

Anne Rainey