Born to Be Wilde

'They told you that they didn't need or want you in the business?' she asked incredulously.

'Well, no, not exactly.' He didn't care for the harsh way her question sounded and tried to explain. 'But everything was running just fine without me, even after my father remarried and retired from the company.'

'So, you just assumed they didn't need you,' she said, more a statement than a question.

He frowned. 'I didn't belong there, Lora.'

Even as he said the words, there was something about her comment that made him wonder if maybe, in his youth, he'd judged the situation too hastily, based on emotion rather than logic or reason. That maybe he'd come to his own conclusions without giving his father or brothers the opportunity to make him a part of the business. Or worse, they'd thought he wasn't interested, which now, looking back from an adult perspective, would have been understandable considering he'd always distanced himself from that part of the family.

It was a disconcerting notion, yet he'd never regretted his choice to join the Marines. He'd loved the sense of adventure the military had to offer, and even the risks and rush of adrenaline that came with the missions he'd been sent on. He knew he never would have been happy sitting at a desk pushing paperwork. For him, the tile business would have been too mundane, and he would have eventually felt too stifled.

It was difficult to admit that his lifestyle had been one of his own making, and not a result of anything his brothers and father had, or hadn't, done. That he'd cut himself off on many levels and especially with relationships, because it was so much easier than putting himself out there emotionally.

The sound of thunder rumbled in the distance, a distinct warning of the impending storm approaching them. Lora shivered at the sudden drop in temperature and rubbed her hands along her arms. 'We should probably head back to the cabin before we get stuck in the rain.'

He'd been so caught up in their conversation that he'd forgotten about the storm moving in. But it was definitely on its way, and judging by the dark, bloated clouds drifting overhead, it was going to be one helluva downpour. 'I think you're right.'

They were at least half an hour away from the cabin, and despite their brisk walk along the open trail, the rain quickly caught up to them. Large, fat drops fell, sporadically at first, then gradually increasing into a heavy deluge that soaked right through their hair and clothes.

With a low curse, Joel grabbed Lora's hand and picked up the pace to a light jog, searching for some kind of shelter until the worst of the rain passed. Behind him, Lora laughed at their comical situation, and he found himself chuckling, too-and had to admit the playful moment felt incredibly good.

Finding a large tree with long, thick branches and dense leaves, he pulled her in that direction, until they were finally beneath the large overhead canopy that protected them from the worst of the storm. She was still laughing as she gathered her hair over her shoulder and wrung out the dripping wet strands.

Her white blouse was thoroughly saturated-and now completely transparent, enabling him to see her bra and the tight, rosy-hued nipples straining against her top. The wet fabric clung to her luscious breasts and outlined her curves like a second skin, and all he could think about was how soft and lush the rest of her body was beneath those clothes.

Amusement shimmered in her gaze, and a drop of water dripped from her cute little nose. 'Wow, what's with me getting caught out in the rain?'

At least this time there was no threat to her life. But still, Joel felt bad for getting them in this predicament and for not paying more attention to the changing weather.

'I'm sorry. We should have headed back sooner.' And now, with the rain falling hard and steady around them, they'd be much safer waiting beneath the shelter of the tree for the worst of the storm to pass.

'I don't mind.' She grinned at him, her lips wet from the rain. So pink and sweet and kissable. 'If I'm going to be stuck out in a downpour, I can't think of anyone else I'd rather be stranded with.'

As much as the situation lent itself to seduction, that wasn't what her comment was all about. No, she meant it in a way that implied that she truly appreciated being with him, no matter the cause or the reason.

God, she was unique, and so far removed from the normal high-maintenance women he dated who'd be pissed as all hell that the rain not only ruined their hair and clothes, but that they were stuck out in the wilderness indefinitely. But Lora didn't seem to mind at all. In fact, she appeared to be enjoying herself and the spontaneous change of plans.

Standing next to him, she shivered, obviously chilled. Gooseflesh rose on her skin, and she crossed her arms over her chest. 'I should have worn a jacket.'

Another roll of thunder shook the gray skies, and a brisk gust added to the cold, wet conditions. Feeling responsible for their situation, and knowing the best way for them to keep warm was sharing body heat, he grabbed Lora's arm and gently pulled her to him.

'Come here, so I can keep you warm,' he murmured, even as she came willingly into his embrace.

Knowing they had a while to wait before the storm eased up enough for them to head back to the cabin, he moved back a few feet until he was resting against the thick tree trunk. Spreading his legs, he pulled her closer, so that his thighs bracketed hers and protected her from the wind. She snuggled into him, her hips aligned much too intimately to his, and her full breasts and tight nipples pressed against his chest in a way that had his lower body instinctively growing hard. Her head rested on his shoulder, and her face was nestled into his neck. Her nose was chilled from the elements, but her lips, when they touched his skin, were warm and soft-her breath equally so.

Arousal shot through his system like a drug he'd been craving for too long. He closed his eyes and inhaled a deep, steady breath that did absolutely nothing to curb the insistent ache in his groin.

She kissed his neck and somehow, when he hadn't been paying attention, had managed to pull his shirt from the waistband of his jeans and slip her hands beneath the damp material. Flattening her palms on his abdomen, she slowly stroked them up toward his chest, then back down again.

'How can your body be so warm when it's so cold out?' she asked as her lips nuzzled just below his jawline.

'I've always been warm-blooded,' he said gruffly, and swallowed back a low groan when her thumbs grazed his taut nipples. 'The cold weather doesn't bother me much.'

She shifted closer, if that was even possible, and he felt her mouth curve into a smile as it traveled up to the shell of his ear. 'Well, you definitely feel good to me, and I'm thinking there are plenty of other ways to generate some heat. Lots of rubbing and friction is always good for that. And kissing and making out, too.'

This time he did groan, because the images that slipped into his mind were just too damn erotic to ignore. She was tempting him, driving him beyond crazy with lust and desire. And he had no doubt that was exactly her intent.

'We're out here, all alone, and there's absolutely nothing you need to protect me from while we're at the cabin,' she whispered in his ear as she skimmed her hands around his waist and up the slope of his spine. 'There's no reason why we should deny what we both want.'

He wanted to argue the point, tell her that there was more at stake than him keeping her safe from Zach's thugs. There were already too many emotions swirling between them, bonding them in ways he'd never felt with any other woman, and that in itself was reason enough for him to keep his distance. Making love with Lora again just wasn't a smart idea, because the biggest threat of all was the possibility of breaking her heart when this job ended and he walked away.

And him walking away would happen. It always did.

Besides, realistically, there was no place for Lora in his life, a life that consisted of a hectic schedule and workload with Elite, and spontaneous assignments that were sometimes dangerous and other times grueling. She deserved a stable relationship with a man she could depend on on a regular, daily basis-not someone who'd never endured a long-term commitment with a woman and didn't know if he was even capable of doing so.

But Lora didn't give him the chance to say any of what he was thinking. Her mouth found his and she kissed him softly, nibbled on his lower lip, then teased the seam with her tongue, seeking an invitation to explore deeper territory. He'd spent days ignoring this sizzling attraction between them in order to stay focused on protecting her, and it had been fairly easy to do since she'd been on her best behavior, but how was he supposed to resist such a blatant sensual assault when she tasted so damn good, and felt even better in his arms?

A kiss… he could handle a kiss, he told himself, and it didn't have to lead to anything sexual. But what he wanted from her wasn't a sweet, playful kiss. No, if this was all he was going to allow himself to take from her,