Just Trust Me…

need to keep your hands to yourself for awhile.”

His fingers gently kneaded her bottom then coasted lower to glide over her sex, eliciting a gasp of pleasure from her. “I think you’re asking the impossible,” he murmured against her neck. “You’re just so incredibly… touchable.”

Good grief, he was doing it again, the erotic tease of his fingers over her swollen flesh sparking renewed interest in her every cell. She should be exhausted. Pulling away. Looking for “me” time. Instead all she could think about was how good he felt, how incredible he made her feel, and getting him naked again. And how much she wanted him inside her again. And again. She felt as if she could stay in this room with him forever-a crazy and totally unsettling thought.

Needing a moment away from his distracting touch, she shifted slightly and his hand cruised to her bottom-only a slight improvement as far as her concentration was concerned, but she’d take what she could get. Then she reached up to cradle his face with hands that weren’t quite steady. The stubble that shaded his cheeks lightly scraped her palms. She stared into his eyes and slowly shook her head, a tornado of confusing emotions whipping through her.

“I don’t understand what’s happening to me,” she whispered. “What you’ve done to me. I feel like I’ve been struck by lightning.” The instant the words passed her lips, she wished she could recall them. Surely it wasn’t wise to admit such a thing. Declarations like that did nothing but make men nervous.

But Brett didn’t look in the least bit nervous. In fact he was slowly nodding while regarding her through very serious eyes. “Struck by lightning. Exactly. Since the first moment I saw you this afternoon. Whatever’s happening to you is happening to me, as well. Which is good as far as I’m concerned-I’m not a fan of ‘unrequited.’”

Relief swept through her. Neither was she. Unrequited feelings sucked. But then reality slapped her. Nothing beyond their time together in Peru could come of this. He was a smart guy-once he found out she worked for La Fleur, he’d put two and two together. A thought that distressed her far more than she wanted it to.

Forcing the thought aside, she asked, “Do you think it could be this place? Maybe there’s some sort of magic in the thin air?”

He shook his head. Leaning down to nuzzle her neck, he drew several deep breaths. “No. Your scent…I’m certain you would have had this effect on me no matter where I met you.”

A frown tugged down her brows. “What do you mean my scent? My cologne washed off in the shower.”

“Not your cologne, but your scent. Of your skin. Your body. The unique smell that belongs to you alone. Sort of like DNA for the olfactory glands. I strongly believe that human scent influences sexual attraction.”

“So you like the way I smell?”

He leaned down and buried his nose against her neck. “Oh, yeah.” Then he straightened and said, “We all have an aromatic effluence of our immune system-a biochemical bouquet of pheromones.”

She frowned. “I thought pheromones were basically a bunch of phooey.”

“Some people believe that and don’t give scent half a chance. I think they’re wrong.” He hesitated, then said, “In fact, I know they’re wrong.”

“How?”

Again he hesitated. “My research. I’ve proved that pheromones aren’t, as you put it, a bunch of phooey.”

Her heart began to pound in slow, hard beats. Was this the secret to his formula? “How did you prove it?”

“After years of research in my laboratory.” One corner of his mouth lifted. “But most recently when I met you. There’s just something about the way you smell…” he leaned down, brushed his lips against her neck, then drew a deep breath. And groaned. “Delicious.”

She turned her face and, burying her nose under his jaw, drew a deep breath. “You smell…luscious.”

“You find my biochemical bouquet pleasing.”

She nudged her pelvis against his. “Among other things.” She returned his smile, then swatted aside her conscience and forced herself to do what she was supposed to do. Gliding her hands over his shoulders, she said, “So…tell me more about this pheromone research. I’m fascinated. Does it have to do with the breakthrough you mentioned this afternoon?”

He nodded. “It’s proven to be a double-edged sword. I’ll tell you more about it, if you’d like, but first how about something to eat?”

Relief swept through her at his suggestion, because in reality she didn’t want…reality. She wanted this cocoon of sexual splendor, where nothing from the outside intruded on their intimacy. Wanted this inexplicable magic to continue for as long as possible. He’d offered to tell her, and that was good enough. She was content to wait. Because once she knew, she’d need to contact Nelson and report her findings, and in spite of the promise of perks, a bonus and a promotion, right now that was the last thing she wanted to do. The mere thought made her stomach cramp in a very unpleasant way.

“Something to eat,” she murmured. “Excellent idea. And I know exactly what I’m in the mood for.”

“What’s that?”

For an answer, she rubbed herself suggestively against his erection. And watched his heat flare in his eyes. “Any complaints?” she murmured.

“Hell no, sweetheart. Not in this lifetime.”

8

BRETT AWAKENED and opened one eye to look at the clock on the bedside table, not surprised to note it was 6:00 a.m. The same time he awoke every morning. Didn’t matter what time he went to sleep, his internal body clock came awake at 6:00 a.m.

But unlike other mornings, today there was a gorgeous, naked woman in his bed, the back of whose lush, feminine form was spooned against his front. His morning erection nestled snugly against the curve of her spine, and her soft breast filled his palm, and her scent…warm skin misted with a hint of spent passion, filled his head.

Definitely a huge improvement over waking up alone. One he suspected he could get used to.

Closing his eyes, he breathed deeply, then suppressed a groan. She just smelled so damn good. And felt so damn good. And looked and tasted so damn good. Hell, she even sounded good…the teasing note that entered her voice when her eyes glittered with mischief, her smoky laugh, the way she moaned when he was deep inside her, that sexy groan she made just before she came. All so damn good.

He brushed his thumb slowly over her velvety nipple and felt it pebble beneath his touch. Last night had been… incredible. Like nothing he’d ever before experienced. Sure, he’d had great sex before, had spent the night wrapped around a woman, but something about this woman made it all feel so much more intense. Passionate. In a way that simultaneously captivated and scared the crap out of him. If someone had asked him yesterday morning if he believed in love at first sight, he’d have laughed his ass off. The entire notion went completely against his pragmatic, scientific nature.

But now he wasn’t so sure. Because something sure as hell had happened to him the instant he saw her.

That was lust, you ass, his inner voice informed him. Possibly. He couldn’t deny that he’d taken one look at that transparent skirt of hers and all the blood that usually resided above his neck and operated his brain had gushed below his belt and settled in his groin.

But he’d felt lust before. Strong lust. This…this was more. His common sense, upon which he normally relied heavily, kept reminding him that now was a bad time to get involved in a relationship-he had important decisions to make regarding his career and future and he didn’t need the waters muddied any more than they already were. And even if he were to get involved, he certainly shouldn’t contemplate doing so with an Upper-East-Side princess.

But all that common sense didn’t stand a chance against the way this woman had made him feel from the first moment he’d seen her. The instant he’d caught her scent. His reaction to her was, without a doubt, further validation of his formula. Proof that a person’s unique scent, determined largely by their DNA and immune system, was a powerful aphrodisiac. Not that he’d required further proof, but the fact that he’d now personally experienced it was just the icing on the cake. How much more powerful would his attraction to her be if she used the cream he’d