A muscle in his jaw flexed. “Did I say one condition?” His lips touched hers ever so lightly. She moaned and leaned into him.
“Yes,” she murmured into his mouth.
As he smoothed her hair from her face, sexual sparks leaped between them. He crowded her, sandwiching her between him and the door. Her body trembled beneath his.
“I meant two.” His tongue traced the pattern of her sensuous mouth.
“Now you’re pushing it.” He heard the raw ache of lust in her voice.
He parted her lips with his tongue and dipped inside. “First you kiss me, then we’ll go make a quick appearance at your parents’ house, and after that we’ll head back to my place so you can have your wicked way with me.”
“Kale, I believe that was three conditions.”
Hunger consumed him. “I don’t think so, Erin. I just think you need to work on your math skills. I counted two.”
“I don’t think…” His head descended in time to smother her protest with a kiss.
He kissed her with all the passion inside him, until they were both forced to inch back to recapture their breath. Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes glossy and richly seductive.
He ran the pad of his thumb over her kiss-swollen lips. “So what do you say, sweetheart. Want to go in?” He squeezed her hand, a silent message of support.
Breathless, she tripped over her words. “I’m not sure.”
“We’ll just make a quick appearance. I’ll dazzle them with my charm, and then I’ll take you back to my place and we’ll discuss these fantasies of yours.” He neglected to enlighten her as to his ulterior motives.
She starched her spine and mulled over the idea.
“Come on, Erin. Let’s go get your mother off your back before she tries to marry you off to Donkey Kong boy.”
He watched her resolve melt as she warmed to the idea. She crinkled her cute little nose. “Are you sure you really want to do this?”
“Yes.”
She gave a resigned shake of her head. “You’re very persuasive, Kale. Do you always get your own way?”
He cocked his head. “Always.”
“I somehow suspected that.”
“Come on, let’s go.” Kale climbed from the truck and circled around to meet her. He captured her hand in his as they made their way to the front door.
Erin sucked in air as she twisted the knob and stepped into the front entrance. Music and voices drifted out to them from the other room.
“In there,” Erin said, her voice strangled.
They moved down the hall and turned the corner to the living room where guests stood around conversing, sipping champagne, and nibbling on hors d’oeuvres.
Her mother rushed forward when she caught sight of Erin. “You’re late…” Her voice fell off and she stopped dead in her tracks as her gaze went from Erin, to Kale, back to Erin again.
“Oh, I didn’t realize you were bringing a…” She paused as though carefully choosing her next word. She raised an inquisitive brow and finished the sentence. “Date?”
Erin squeezed his hand. Kale could feel her frustration. He squeezed her back, reassuring her, offering his comfort and support.
“Kale, this is my mom, Anna. Mom, this is Kale. He’s my—”
Kale thrust his hand out and cut her off. His lips twitched. “I’m her boyfriend.”
Taken aback, her mother shot Erin a glance as her elegantly manicured hand slipped inside Kale’s. “Well, well, isn’t this a surprise.” A wide smile split her lips as she appraised Kale. “Where on earth did you find such a handsome man?”
Kale angled his head to face Erin. As they exchanged a look, something potent passed between them. “She didn’t find me, I found her. And I consider myself damn lucky.”
Anna turned her attention to Erin. “And when were you going to share this lovely man with the family?”
Share?
Erin’s stomach churned. Didn’t her mother know she wasn’t into sharing? She wanted Kale. All to herself.
Oh boy!
Erin stood there, dazed, watching Kale turn on his playboy charm and dazzle her mother with his quick wit, intoxicating good looks, and signature smile.
When he wrapped his arm around her, anchoring her to his side, her body began tingling in heated anticipation. She suddenly had a monumental craving for a hot fudge sundae.
As she watched him, her insides twisted. The word boyfriend rang in her ears. Of course, it was all part of the facade. Kale wasn’t looking for anything long-term. He was into casual sex. He’d told her so himself. Which was the exact reason why she had decided to have an affair with him in the first place. He didn’t want anything more from her. And now, by God, damned if she didn’t want more from him.
Cripes, how was that for irony!
She closed her eyes against the flood of emotions. So much for “a hump and a bump, thank you chump.” Now it was more like “a hump and a bump, I want it all chump!” A husband, children, and a quaint little house in suburbia.
As her mother engaged Kale in conversation, Erin took that opportunity to pull herself together. She caught sight of her father. He gave her a knowing, apologetic look. She smiled back, smoothed her bangs off her forehead, and tried to quiet her heartbeat. Striving for some semblance of control, she glanced around the room, taking stock. Apparently Donkey Kong boy had chickened out. He was nowhere to be found. She gave a silent prayer of thanks.
Her mother took Kale’s arm in hers. “Come on, Kale. Let me introduce you to the guests.” She turned back to face Erin and narrowed her gaze. As her mother’s eyes raked over her hot red dress, Erin wondered if she had some telltale sign of a woman who’d recently had sex. No, not sex, she corrected herself. A woman who had recently made love.
“Erin, you might want to do something with your hair first.”
Without warning, Kale stopped mid-stride and turned back to Erin. He dipped his head and touched her cheek. The longing in his eyes made her forget every sane thought. His fingers brushed against her
