“I pride myself.”
“You thrive on men who worship you, and that won’t happen with me.”
“I love the way you sweet-talk.”
“The sexual attraction of opposites.”
“You’re making a good point, except I’ve got this sneaky feeling you’ll be a major disappointment in the sack.”
His voice descended to a single ominous note. “And why is that, may I ask?”
“You know.”
“Do share.”
“The prissy thing. My body isn’t neat like yours. It’s female. It gets all musky. Wet. You’re fastidious. I just don’t think you’re going to like it that much.” She tried to figure out exactly what she thought she was doing other than scaring herself to death.
“You, my dear, are the very incarnation of evil.”
She beamed at him. “I know.”
“Eat.” He slapped the plate of bacon in front of her. “Not hungry? Fine. Let’s go upstairs.”
“If I do, I get to keep my job.”
“This doesn’t have anything to do with keeping your job, and you know it.” Gordon howled at the front door just as he began to reach for her. “That bloody cur.”
“You’ve finally seen the light.”
He let in her dog, who headed for his water bowl. She gazed down at the bacon, but she’d lost her appetite. Until she’d come back to Parrish, grief and anxiety had pretty much taken care of her sex drive. Then she’d met Colin Byrne again. Why did he have to be the man who’d jarred her out of her uncomplicated limbo? He hadn’t exactly been blowing hot air when he’d said he didn’t wish her well.
“Tell me you’re not coming to your senses,” he said, gazing down at her.
“Stupidity is hardwired into my DNA.”
“Thank God.”
She knew that she was going ahead with this. At the same time, she needed to make sure he understood this was all fun and games. “Let’s get it on,” she said, rising from the table to head for the stairs. “And you’d better not be a dud because, if you are, I’ll make sure the whole town finds out about it.”
“And you, my dear, had better be more than talk, something I’m beginning to doubt.”
“Is that so?” She stopped right there on the third step from the bottom, unfastened her robe, and let it drop.
He took in her white bra, black thong, and the cowboy boots. “I’m dumbstruck.”
She trailed the tip of her thumb down her belly. “And you haven’t even seen the good stuff.”
“You couldn’t be more mistaken.” The corner of his mouth quirked, and in three long strides, he’d covered the distance between them. “Although I’ll admit I’m more than a little anxious to see the rest.”
“Okay, but I get to keep my job.”
“Shut up, will you?” He snaked an arm around her waist and pulled her off the step, hard against him. The toes of her cowboy boots banged against his calves as she looked down at him. She dipped her head, his lips parted, their mouths met, and he kissed her with a thoroughness that should have been foreign to such an elegant man.
Without breaking their kiss, he walked her backward to the couch. His arm reached behind her, and he tugged open her bra. “You are magnificent,” he whispered as he tossed it aside.
“I know.”
He chuckled and massaged her breasts, then kissed her again with that same thoroughness. As good as it felt, she wanted more. She wanted his mouth on her breasts, his tongue there, too, his teeth-
Gordon barked.
“Get rid of him,” she groaned.
“He’s a dog.” Colin nibbled at her lip. “He won’t tell.”
“He’ll watch.”
Colin cursed and shot Gordon a commanding look. “Stay.”
He grabbed her wrist and pulled her up the stairs to her bedroom, the dog following along. When Colin kicked the door shut, Gordon began to howl. Despite her need, Sugar Beth smiled, then laughed out loud at the vaguely murderous look on Colin’s face. “Don’t you move,” he snarled as he shot back out the door.
Still smiling, she sank down on the side of the unmade bed and pulled off her boots. Colin either found a doggie treat or some rat poison because things stayed quiet when he let himself back in. She looked up at him.
“Lovely,” he said, taking her in.
She wore only her thong and a pair of purple socks with a Powerpuff Girl on each side. She’d bought them for Delilah, who hadn’t liked them because she was going through a pink phase. “I do know my lingerie.”
“No argument there.” He stood in the center of the faded old floral rug and began tossing aside his clothes. When only his jeans were left, she rose and walked toward him. “Let me.” She hooked a finger over the fastener and began toying with it.
“Need help?” His voice caught in a husky rasp.
“No, thanks.” His skin warmed the backs of her fingers. She trailed her thumb over his zipper. He was thick, hard, and-another of his surprises-very large. Nose. Hands. Feet. She should have been prepared.
Her need was as urgent as his, but she couldn’t bear the idea of having this over too quickly… or of making it too important. “You should never have given me a D on my Charlotte Bronte paper.”
He expelled his breath in a warm hiss against her neck. “Perhaps we could discuss this later.”
“I don’t think so.” She fiddled with his zipper tab. “I worked real hard on that paper.”
“And turned it in a week late, I’m sure.”
She lowered the zipper half an inch, then stopped to pout. “Still…”
“I’ll change it to a C. I promise.”
She released the tab. Ignoring the sweet lethargy in her limbs, she took a step back and regarded him sulkily. “I want an A.”
She wasn’t the only person in the room who knew how to play games.
“
“Only one?”
“I’m nothing if not reasonable.”
“I guess.” She propped her foot on the edge of the bed and leaned slowly over her thigh. She drew the Powerpuff sock off as if it were a fishnet stocking, then stuck it in the waistband of his jeans.
“Very nice, indeed. I’ll take that thong now.”
“An A plus.”
“For your body alone.”
That was nice, especially since they both knew she was too thin and her thighs hadn’t been near a StairMaster in forever. Still, long legs counted for a lot with men. “Only if you kiss me first.”
“My pleasure, indeed.”
This kiss was even slower than the others, more intense, world-class. He tunneled his fingers in her hair. His jeans abraded her flesh. She could feel herself reaching the breaking point even before he hooked his thumbs in her thong, pushed it down, and went on his knees.
She let her head fall back as he buried his face. He inhaled her in the way good men did. And bad ones, too, for that matter, but no need to worry about that when she was the only sinner in the room. He pushed open her thighs. One of his hands cupped her bottom.
He devoured her.
Her legs lost their strength, but he held her in place with his massive palm, keeping her right where he wanted, open and accessible.
Her orgasm caught her by surprise. She let out a strangled cry.
He stayed with her through the waves, then laid her on the bed as if she were a doll. He got tangled in his
