She felt his watchful gaze on her as she walked slowly up the stairs. Inside her room, she quickly shed her wet jeans. She couldn’t wait to soak in a tub of hot water. Her toes were still cold. Looking in the mirror she decided she looked deplorable. Her cheeks were red and chapped from the icy, cold wind, her hair a tangled mess.
She brushed through the curls and secured them with a barrette. Hardly a hair-do for a woman about to make love. Or had Luke forgotten his earlier words? He hadn’t said a word about it on the drive home. In fact, he’d barely spoken to her.
Maybe he’d been playing with her, just to see what her reaction would be. And what had that reaction been? First, she’d been shocked that he’d simply had the nerve to announce his intentions. Then, she’d covered up by pretending she hadn’t heard him.
Perhaps he’d had second thoughts, and he no longer wanted to make love to her. Well, he could have at least said so. Instead of leaving her to wonder what he was thinking.
She released her breath on a long sigh. She couldn’t handle this. She needed time to think. After her hot bath, her mind would be clearer. Sighing again, she set the hairbrush down on the dressing table, shoved her arms into a robe and quietly opened the door a crack.
“Looking for me?” Luke greeted her with a calculated smile and a gleam in his olive eyes.
“No, why would I be?” She clutched tightly at the robe lapels with one hand, held the door with the other.
“Because I thought we had plans.” He tilted his head and studied her face through the narrow door opening. “Do you want to use my room? My bed’s bigger than yours.”
“No!”
“Okay, we can use your room. Your bed.” He pushed on the door.
She pushed back. “I don’t want to use either bed.”
His face lit up and his grin turned wicked. “Okay. The floor? The bathroom counter? You pick.”
She knew he was trying to amuse her, but it wasn’t working. “Look, Luke, I’ve been thinking and—”
“That’s your problem, Princess. You think too much. Why not just let things take their course?” He pushed on the door a little harder this time and managed to nudge his sock covered foot through the crack.
She stood her ground. “Because, Mr. Galloway, that’s the way I do things. I don’t just jump into bed with a man simply because I think he’s sexy.”
“You think I’m sexy?”
“No! Not at all.”
“Liar,” he said. His fingers stroked the back of her hand. Without thinking, she let go of the door and jerked her hand away. And he slipped inside the room. “Why can’t you admit that you want me as much as I want you?”
Licking her lips, she backed away and folded her arms around her. She watched his gaze trail down the front of her and back to her face. “Nice outfit.”
She spun around, gazed at her attire in the mirror. She’d shoved the silk robe over her navy blue, turtleneck sweater. On her feet were the bulky, gray, wool socks Luke had loaned her. Between the socks and the hem of the robe, her legs were bare.
Their gazes met in the mirror. Rusty couldn’t look away, not when he stepped behind her and circled his arms around her. And not when he whispered in her ear.
“Rusty, let me make love to you.”
The next thing she remembered was being carried off to his bedroom.
Luke set her on her feet, although she didn’t look very steady. “Are you okay, Princess? You look … nervous.”
Hell, he was nervous himself. He would have had a double shot of bourbon if he hadn’t thought the mere smell of it on his breath would have turned Rusty off. Now he’d simply have to wing it.
It wasn’t as if he didn’t know how to please a woman. He’d given lots of women pleasure over the years. But Rusty was different. She deserved more.
“I’m not nervous,” she said, her voice soft and shaky. “I’m terrified.”
He laughed, pulled her close to him and held her. “Me, too.”
Her head snapped up. “Are you just saying that to make me feel better?”
“No. I’m being serious.” Her hair smelled like fresh, winter snow mixed with just a hint of her perfume. He pulled at the silk tie to her robe, watched as it fell away and the lapels parted. His fingers playfully tugged at the hem of her sweater. “Don’t you think you should take this heavy thing off?”
“No.” She pushed away from his arms. “Not yet.” He watched as she pulled the robe securely around her and sat down on the edge of his bed. She kept her eyes averted, folded her trembling hands in her lap.
“Rusty, I’m not going to force you if that’s what you’re thinking.”
She lifted her head, met his eyes. “I know that.”
Relief washed over him. He ran his hands through his hair, then over the stubble on his face and chin. He should have showered and shaved, but he’d been in too damn a hurry to get to her.
He sat beside her on the bed, careful not to touch her. Because he knew once he touched her he wouldn’t be able to stop. “I didn’t want to care about you.”
She turned her head, looked into his eyes. “Is that supposed to be an insult or a compliment?”
Shaking his head, he smiled at her and felt a huge weight lift from his shoulders when she smiled back.
“I may be committing a major mistake, but I don’t know what I’m supposed to do here.” As soon as she said the words, she looked as if she meant to take them back.
Luke raised his eyebrows, but let her finish.
“I mean, I feel so clumsy.”
“I happen to like clumsy. Maybe you’ll bump into something you weren’t planning on bumping into.”
“I don’t know how you like to be touched, or where,” she rambled on. “Or if you like the top or the bottom, or oral sex, or …” Her face and neck flushed. She pressed her open palms over her eyes in embarrassment.
Laughing, he said, “Yes, to all of the above.”
“Why can’t I just keep my mouth shut?”
“Don’t do that, Princess. I like your mouth open.”
She lowered her hands and gave him a mortified look.
“Why don’t we find out what we like, together?” With that, he took her hands in his and squeezed them tightly.
They sat staring into each other’s eyes until he felt the wall around her crumble. Only then did he kiss her.
HE TOOK HIS TIME with her, making her feel cherished. He kissed every inch of her face, eyelids, neck and throat. And then he kissed the same spots again.
His callused hands skimmed her face, then trailed down her body to skim the tops of her thighs. His fingers toyed with the edges of her panties, driving her wild with lust and need. She lifted her hips off the bed, frustrated when he moved his hand away. She could barely catch her breath.
“Relax, Princess,” he whispered against her throat. “We’ve got all night.” His tongue, hot and moist, traced a path along her bottom lip and jaw. Her hands clung to his flannel shirt, afraid to let go. She needed him, more than she’d ever needed anyone.
His masculine scent turned her on. Soap and the fresh outdoors.
He slid downward, nuzzled his face against her sweater covered breasts. Rusty encouraged him by placing her hands in his hair and pressing his head gently to her. Through the sweater he teased her nipples into greedy peaks. And then he moved lower.
After lifting the hem of her sweater, his mouth explored her bare stomach, his warm breath tickling her skin and navel. With his teeth, he tugged at the waistband of her panties and lowered them an inch. Heat rippled beneath her skin. She wanted more.
Moaning aloud, she cried, “Luke.” He met her gaze for a brief moment, then continued to torment her.
His tongue dove toward her center, and through the sheer silk she felt him stabbing at her, nibbling at her, driving her out of her mind. “I’ve wanted to taste you like this since the first day I saw you.” Instinctively her hips reached for him. Inviting him to give her more.
She released his hair, afraid she’d rip it out of his head strand by strand, and instead grabbed onto the sheets to steady herself. As he continued to tease and torment, her pulse leaped out of control. She wasn’t sure how much more she could take before she exploded. “Stop!” she ordered, pulling his head away. Was she crazy? She’d never felt this good. “No, don’t stop,” she moaned and closed her eyes, soaring higher until she reached the peak of ecstasy. “Oh! My! God!”
He laid beside her, cradling her in his arms until she settled down. His gaze was as gentle as a caress, although she could hear the harsh uneven rhythm of his breathing, the pounding of his heart against her breast. When he kissed her, her heart jolted and she all but climbed on top of him. She hugged him fiercely, her arms and legs wrapped around him.
He pried her hands from around his neck, then eased his body away from hers. “Easy, Princess, or it’ll all be over in a flash.”
He undressed her slowly, kissing his way down her body until he reached her calves. Pulling the wool socks from her feet, he caressed her toes and placed tender kisses on the soles of her feet. Then he sat back and lazily appraised her naked body.
A shudder passed through her. She wasn’t accustomed to lying naked and watching a man devour her with smoldering eyes. Instinctively, she draped her arms across her breasts and hips in an effort to cover herself.
“Don’t,” he said.
At his request, she let her hands fall to her sides. “At least turn out the lights.”
He chuckled. “No way, Princess. Do you think I’m crazy?”
Swallowing nervously, she sat up and reached for the buttons on his shirt. “Well then, don’t you think you should get naked, too?”
He grinned maliciously. “Thought you’d never ask.” She was surprised he allowed her to remove his shirt. Luke seemed to like being in control. But what surprised her more was when he didn’t stop her trembling hands from unbuckling his belt.
He kept his gaze locked on hers whenever possible, and guided her nimble fingers to his fly. Her body tingled with excitement from the mere contact. Slowly, she unzipped him. He shucked his jeans, briefs and socks in one clean sweep. “Rusty, touch me,” he whispered as he molded her hand around him.
His mouth captured hers, crushing her to him. His hands explored her nakedness, sending chills of excitement dancing through her. Her hand moved of its own volition, stroking him, tightening around him.
“Oh, baby,” he groaned. “Yes, just like that.”
It felt glorious to hold him. To know what power she had over him at that moment.
Suddenly, he jerked her hand away and rested his mouth against her forehead. “Give me a minute to catch my breath,” he whispered raggedly. He peppered her face with open-mouthed kisses, then gently eased her onto her back and nudged her thighs apart. Reaching across her, he fumbled around in the drawer of the bedside table. Rusty watched in awe as he ripped open the foil pouch with his teeth and then sheathed himself.
When her eyes drifted shut, he said, “Open your eyes, Princess.” She opened them and stared up at him. “I want you to look at me when you come this time.”
“Is that possible? I mean, I already—”
He smiled smugly. “Oh, yeah, it’s possible. In fact, I guarantee it.” Then he entered her all at once. Rusty sucked in her breath. He gave her time to adjust to him before he started moving inside her. But once he started, there was no stopping him. “Wrap your legs around my hips and hold on, baby. This is going to be the best ride of your life.”
She didn’t doubt him for a minute, but moments later after they came simultaneously, she entertained more fantasies with Luke. She knew darn well there was more than what he’d just showed her. Much more. And she knew Luke would probably be happy to share those fantasies with her if she said the word.
But she had to get hold of herself. This wasn’t like her at all. In her whole life, no one had ever made her lose control that way. No one except Luke Galloway.
And although she knew she shouldn’t let it happen again, she was afraid she wouldn’t be able to say no the next time.
Sometime during the night, Luke pulled Rusty close to him. Nestled in spoon fashion, he slipped deep inside her and moved slowly. It was like a dream. Only when he came he realized he hadn’t worn any protection. Cursing himself up one side and down the other, he rolled away from her.
Rusty reached for him, softly murmuring in her sleep. He’d be willing to bet she didn’t know that he hadn’t protected her.
He’d hadn’t been careless like that in a long, long time. Not since Christina. He’d paid dearly for his mistake with her. And he wasn’t about to pay again. Not ever.
Luke knew he should make Rusty aware of what had just happened. But she was so deep in sleep at the moment, he decided it could wait until morning.
But the next morning when he rolled over, she was gone. All that was left was the scent of their lovemaking and a hint of her perfume on his pillow. Luke buried his face in the pillow and breathed deeply, remembering all the places he’d touched and kissed on her body. And all the places she’d touched and kissed on him. She was a fast learner, and together they’d pleasured each other several times before succumbing to exhaustion and sleep.
He didn’t like the idea that she’d tip-toed away from his room sometime during the wee hours of the morning. Without kissing him good- bye, without letting him know what she was feeling. But he intended to let her know she’d better not do it again. Assuming there’d be a next time.
Luke’s eyes flew open. Of course, there’d be a next time. They’d had great sex together. Fantastic sex. The best he could remember. Why wouldn’t there be a next time?
Feeling invigorated and a little full of himself, he hopped out of bed and made his way down the hall to the shower. He would have liked to make love to Rusty one more time, but he’d have to hold that thought for later. He had chores to start, and he’d already wasted enough time lounging in bed. He’d talk to Rusty the first opportunity he had to get her alone.
She was a coward. That was the reason Rusty had hidden in her room most of the morning. She didn’t want to risk running into Luke. What would she say to him? “Good morning, lover?” No, that just wouldn’t do.
And what if he had no intention of being her lover again? What if he’d only meant for it to be a one-night stand? The thought terrified her.