Out of Her Dreams

talk to all the guys and gals.”

“Holy shit!” Joe whooped, as all of them started dialing their cell phones to call the airlines.

Sam was oddly touched by his consideration for her new friends and also by the way he had handled the buxom middle-aged lady who asked for his autograph. He was a wild man in that ring but once outside it, he was a totally different person. She found herself leaning into his body as he relaxed back against the leather upholstery of the limo and his arms drew her gently closer. It felt as if she belonged in his arms. The feel of his heart beating behind her shoulder seemed to soothe the deepest part of her soul, even as the feel of that hard, hot body left her insides shivering in anticipation of the coming night.

When the guys had been unloaded at their motel, she couldn’t help but snuggle into his muscular side and lay her cheek against his shoulder.

“That was kind of you. Most celebrities would have signed an autograph and shooed them off,” she whispered softly.

His white grin flashed just before he dipped his head to capture her lips in a brief but scintillating kiss that reminded her just how helpless she was to resist him. Sam blushed and shoved at him. “Which reminds me. Why did you cancel my reservation at the hotel?”

“I canceled yours because I figured you’d be a bit more accessible in my apartment. More cozy that way. I wanted a private place to discuss our business where you can’t just take off on me again.” His eyes slid over her pink face hungrily, leaving her breathless and extremely wet between her legs.

“You’re a very determined man. And a pretty damn pushy one.” She frowned. She needed to let him know he wasn’t all that sexy. Hah!

“I’ve learned that I have to be from time to time. Especially when I want something badly enough.” His lips trailed along the curve of her jaw, sending frissons of need through her. So much for letting him know he wasn’t sexy.

Keep it cool and light, Sam. Cool and light!

David watched the slight blush that tinged her skin and he tugged her closer against him, drawing a deep breath of satisfaction. “Right now, I want a rare steak and a hot woman.”

His voice was so low and soft. She rested her cheek against the rise and fall of his chest, listening to the cadence of his heartbeat. “Sometimes you don’t get everything you want.” She sighed and closed her eyes and inhaled the warm scent of the spiced soap he had used in the shower. And sometimes you definitely do.

“Okay. Then I’ll just settle for the hot woman. The steak can wait.”

“You wish,” she murmured against the delicious velvety cotton of his shirt.

“You telling me you aren’t interested?” His voice was wickedly low.

“Can I think about it?” she murmured sleepily, enjoying the scent of the man who held her.

David settled back into the corner of the seat, resting his chin on the top of her soft red hair as he settled her more snugly against him. “Sure. As long as you don’t say no.”

Sam was feeling particularly languid as his warmth soaked into her and she felt the aches and twinges of her abused body. Her ribs still ached from being grabbed by the Wolfman and she was going to have some gnarly bruises after surviving that full power toss across the ring. She flexed her body slightly and found a more comfy position and murmured wearily, “I reserve the right to say no if I want to.”

“And I reserve the right to ignore your no,” he teased against her hair. He growled softly as she shifted again. “Don’t wiggle too much, or I’m gonna shock the hell out of the driver and heaven help him if he tries to save you from the consequences.”

Sam heard the tone he used and she realized he was not teasing now. He was telling. She sensed that he was about half an inch away from his body taking over, so she pushed away gently and kept a small space between them. It was just too damn easy to forget that this man was not her dream man in all respects. Where her novels’ hero had limitless willpower and high respect for women, this one seemed to run on a shorter fuse and had a far lower melting point. And despite what she told herself, that fact excited the hell out of her.

They left the limo in the underground parking garage of the hotel and took an elevator to the penthouse apartment.

As she heard the door close quietly behind them, she turned to face him and she clasped her hands tightly in front of herself. “All right, David. I’m here. Talk.” Don’t bother talking, kiss me, please.

His black eyes slid over her and he smiled slowly. “Body language tells a lot about a person, Sam. Want me to tell you what yours is saying to me?” He walked slowly into the hallway, crowding her to back toward the open bedroom door.

She swallowed the knot at the back of her throat and let her hands drop to her sides. “Okay, so I’m intimidated. So I’m defensive. I know that already. So tell me how much this is gonna cost me, so I can go somewhere and cry.” What the hell are you waiting for, David Chance? Make me forget my own name, already!

He shook his head slowly and reached out to gently move a tendril of coppery red back behind her left ear with his fingertips. “Your eyes tell me what your voice won’t. You have a little pulse in your throat that tells me that you’re excited, yet you don’t want me to see that. Your breathing is quick and nervous, which tells me that you’re anticipating something happening. Your nipples are at full attention, which tells me you are definitely thinking about sex. Want me to go on?”

“You jerk,” she breathed in shock. “You aren’t supposed to be looking at my nipples. You’re supposed to be discussing business.” She tried hard to look angry and insulted but she didn’t think he believed it.

“Your nipples are hard to ignore.” His voice was a soft purr.

She crossed her arms over her chest defensively and glared up at him. “I should have realized you were a pervert.”

His grin made her nearly swallow her tongue as he caught her right hand and drew it to his own chest. “You like mine. So doesn’t that make you a pervert too?” He pressed her palm over the taut nipple beneath his shirt. He slowly moved her palm over his body and his eyes darkened to coals.

“Okay, so I’m a damn pervert. At least I can admit it,” she snapped, trying not to feel the languid heat seeping along every nerve in her body. Trying not to melt into a puddle at his feet.

“Your legs are shaking and you can’t get a breath. That means you want me.”

“No, that means I am a normal, red-blooded human woman but it doesn’t necessarily mean I want you!” She scowled. His touch was making her lightheaded and shaky.

“Is there somebody else you want?” His breath was warm on her cheek as he moved so close she could feel his body heat.

Oh, he’s so damn inviting.

“Joe’s sorta hunky, in a gangly, skinny way,” she breathed, closing her eyes and enjoying the feel of him beneath her palm.

“It would take all five of them to make you feel what I make you feel, and you know it.” His mouth moved across her forehead and down to her jawline.

“Well, maybe I want all five of them!” She gasped as his hands moved over her body so delightfully. “You don’t play fair, David.” Her eyes drooped shut and she actually whimpered. “You know I’m a damn sucker for big muscles. I think I showed you that in the stockroom.”

He drew her hand to his buttons. “I like your hands on me without clothes between us.”

His hands tugged her cardigan sweater and tank top up and over her head.

“You are one horny man.” Her eyes widened as he reached for his own belt, too impatient to wait for her to undress him.

“Guilty as charged. And I want you naked.”

“After you.” Had she actually said that? And she’d just called him horny.

His clothes were on the floor beside them in a pile before she could blink and she was being pushed slowly backward toward the king-size bed behind her, as his hands unfastened her bra and he flung it aside. She inhaled sharply as he unbuckled her belt, opened her zipper and shoved her jeans down to her boot tops. Then he simply picked her up, dropped her onto the bed and grabbed her boots, tugging them both off with one jerk. Then her jeans went flying. And as he crawled over her and urged her back into the center of the now mussed comforter, he