that warmed him from the inside out. Gently he pulled her from her chair and draped her across his thighs so that her bottom was nestled in his lap. She fit him perfectly, in ways that went beyond the physical.
'I'm here,' she whispered sweetly, and gave him a tremulous smile that went straight to his heart and tugged hard.
Good Lord, what was happening to him? But deep inside, he knew what was happening, and he was beginning to realize he was helpless to fight the strong, undeniable feelings she evoked-no matter how much those emotions scared the hell out of him.
Placing one of her hands on his chest, she relaxed in his arms, snuggled closer, and sighed. 'Tell me, did you and your brothers fight for attention with your parents, too?'
He stroked his hand up her back and lightly massaged the taut muscles at the nape of her neck, loving the silken texture of her hair threading through his fingers. Unlike her own unstable upbringing and the loss of her parents, his childhood had been very secure. 'My brothers and I knew we were loved equally, and there was plenty of attention to go around, so there was no reason to fight for it.'
She rested her head on his shoulder, her fingers absently fluttering over the pulse at the base of his throat. 'You're very lucky,' she said, her warm, moist breath drifting along his neck.
He heard the wistful note to her voice and brushed his lips across her temple. 'Yeah, I am,' he replied, and felt so damn stingy for possessing the kind of strong family ties and devotion she so obviously coveted for her own.
'Come with me to my father's party tomorrow afternoon,' he said, expressing the thoughts that had been tumbling around in his mind before he could stop them.
Obviously startled, she lifted her head and searched his expression. Her eyes were wide, and she looked just as surprised as he felt, though he didn't regret issuing the invitation now that it was out in the open between them. He wanted to share something special with her, to make her forget for a little while about the anguish and uncertainties she'd been living with for the past week. There was no reason for her to be alone with her turbulent thoughts tomorrow while he was celebrating his father's birthday with his family. Not when he had the power to give her a sense of belonging and unconditional acceptance at a time when she doubted both.
She licked her lips nervously and shook her head. 'Steve… I don't think that's such a good idea.'
Cupping her cheek in his palm, he smoothed his thumb along her baby-soft skin, inhaled her shower-fresh scent. 'Sweetheart, it's just a party.'
'A
'And what-I can't bring friend?' he countered wryly, and swiped a playful finger down the slope of her pert nose.
'Is that what I am to you?' she asked quietly, the question loaded with meaning. 'A friend?'
She was his lover. A sexy siren who was tying him up in knots. A fascinating woman he couldn't seem to get enough of. 'I'd like to think we're friends, yes. But you're also the woman I'm currently going out with.' A woman he was falling hard and fast for.
So simple, yet so complicated.
She moved off his lap and sat on the cushion beside him, their warm and cozy moment over. 'I don't want to give your family the wrong impression about us. I mean, we're not really
An unexpected wave of frustration swept through him. 'No?'
'We're not, well, dating.' She waved a slender hand in the air between them, grasping for the right words. 'We're just… having an affair.'
The corner of his mouth twitched with exasperation. She made their relationship sound so brief and impersonal, and he was unjustifiably annoyed that she wanted to keep things so superficial, when that was what they'd agreed upon in the first place.
'Maybe we need to go on a date so that we're
She laughed, but there was no real amusement in the sound. 'I'm not asking for a date, Steve, or anything else from you. I accept our relationship for what it is, and I know where we stand with each other.'
So she kept reassuring him, and she seemed fine with the arrangement. He was forced to admit that he was the one feeling restless, and wanting… more.
'I can promise you that my family will accept our relationship for what it is.' He reached for her hand. Her fingers were cool against his palm, and he wrapped them in his heat. 'Unlike my brother Adrian, who believes inviting a woman to meet Mom and Dad is the curse of his beloved bachelorhood, I have no problems bringing a lady friend to meet my parents.'
He didn't bother to tell her that she was the only female he'd wanted to bring home since his divorce. 'My family understands that I'm not looking for anything serious, but I know they'll like you.'
The lamplight in the living room softened her features and made her eyes appear luminous. He could tell she was wavering, and pressed his advantage.
'And it's not like you won't know anyone at the party.' His thumb caressed her knuckles. 'You've met my partner, Cameron, and my brother Eric, and you know Jill, so that's nearly half the family right there.' Not counting the other fifty or so friends and relatives who would also be there. But there was no sense overwhelming her with that small detail.
'As for you,' he went on purposefully, 'I think the break will do you good and take your mind off of things for a few hours.'
She opened her mouth to reply, and he instinctively knew what was coming, and thwarted her response. 'And don't give me the excuse that you have to work at the cafe, when I know you have capable employees who can handle things for an afternoon.'
A reluctant but humorous smile made an appearance. 'What are you, a mind reader?'
'I'm just trying to head off every foreseeable argument you might come up with, because I'm not taking no for answer.' He placed a kiss in her palm and enjoyed her reaction.
A matching spark of desire lit her gaze. 'You're very bossy and persistent, you know that?'
'And you're very stubborn, so I think that makes us just about even, wouldn't you say?' He lifted a brow, daring her to still refuse him.
She rolled her eyes and conceded defeat. 'All right, fine, I'll go.'
'Good girl.' Framing her face between his hands, he brought her mouth to his and kissed her, long and slow and deep. With a sigh of acquiescence, she entwined her arms around his neck, and he pushed her down onto the couch and stretched out beside her, so that he was half covering her body and one of his legs was insinuated between hers. With their lips still fused, he slid a hand beneath the hem of her pajama top and strummed his fingers along the underside of one plump breast in a featherlight caress, and felt the mound grow taut.
She sucked in a quick, aroused breath. His cock hardened in a rush.
Lifting his head, he flashed a wicked grin down at her. 'I'm glad you changed your mind, or else I was going to have to resort to some very stimulating torture tactics.'
She laughed huskily, clearly unthreatened. 'Maybe you could torture me anyway?'
He tugged on the drawstring of her pants, loosened the ties, and skimmed his palm over her hip, dipped his hand between her thighs, and discovered that she wasn't wearing any panties. She was also hot and wet, and his fingers slipped inside her with ease, stroking deep. She moaned and arched into him, her eyes glazing over with passion.
'Oh, yeah,' he rasped as he drew out the tension he was building within her, watching as she shuddered with need. 'It would be my absolute pleasure to torture you.'
And he did… a slow, sweet, delicious kind of torment that brought them both sensual enjoyment and immense satisfaction.
Chapter 10
