“Thendon’t.” His eyes icy, his jaw tight, he pushed back from the table, scrapinghis chair over the wood floor. “Don’t go there with anyone else. Problemsolved.” He raised an eyebrow for emphasis.
Hehadn’t understood—not exactly—but in her eagerness to leave the uncomfortabletopic behind, she rushed on. “So how do I get in touch with Katie totell her I’m stuck?”
Hisposture eased. “We’ll figure it out in the morning. Want more? Food, I mean.”
Hewinked, and a small breath of relief gusted from her. “Thanks, no.”
A fewglasses of wine later, her belly full, Paige stared at the flames twisting andleaping in the fireplace as though dancing a ballet. Beckett’s pensive gaze restedon her.
“Sincewe’re doing True Confessions, pixie, what scares you most?”
Hereyes swept the dining table, and she blurted the first thing that came to mind.“That I’ll never be like Annie in Bull Durham.”
Hiseyes popped wide. “You wanna be a slut?”
Sheburst out in laughter. “No!” How could she explain the wholehe’s-so-hot-for-her-he-clears-a-table-and-throws-her-down scene withoutsounding ridiculous?
A slygrin spread over his face. “You want to teach a pitcher how to throw?”
Sheshook her head, her shoulders bobbing with giggles. “Forget I said anything.”
Hestood and looked her over before taking in the table. Oh God, he gets it! Butwhen he walked into the sitting area and moved tables, chairs and rugs, shegrew baffled. He picked up his phone and swiped it. Jazz was replaced by “TheGame of Love” by Wayne Fontana & The Mindbenders, and with another swipe,the volume climbed. His purpose was clear when he hauled her up and escortedher to the open space. One hand holding hers, the other on her waist, he swayedher in time with the music, his feet moving, shuffling, spinning on themakeshift dance floor.
“Followmy lead,” he instructed.
She bitback her laugh when she saw his furrowed brows. He was serious. Dancing, in anyform, no matter the level of her inebriation, was not her forte, and afterstepping on his feet a half dozen times, he motioned for her to keep her eyeson his while he steered her. Only then did she fall in with his rhythm.
Nextup, “Play that Funky Music” by Wild Cherry, and he walked her back and forth,his hips rocking. The man could dance! Soon she forgot her gawkiness andfollowed his steps, his turns and dips, just to watch his body move. It was athing of wonder.
“I’mYour Boogie Man” flowed into “You Sexy Thing” before she came up for air. “Theydidn’t pick you for Dancing with the Stars? What were they thinking?”
“Gladyou like it.” He waggled his eyebrows as “Sixty Minute Man” by the Dominoesreverberated through the room.
Alittle shiver shimmied up from her belly, and her skin tingled where he touchedher. They danced another song, and when “Do You Want to Dance” by Bette Midlercame on, slow and sweet, she wrapped her arms around him. He stroked her sides,her hips, the small of her back. Tilting her head, she glimpsed a lazy smile onhis face.
Heleaned down and kissed her, soft but insistent. The kiss heated. He pulled awaywith a head shake. “You’re gonna kill me.”
Shegrinned, enjoying the effect she was having on him, even if she wasn’t enjoyingthe fact they had no condoms. “All right. Go cool off. You cooked; I’ll clean.”Maybe that’ll cool me off.
Beckettdisappeared, and Paige rolled up her sleeves and scraped, rinsed, and loadeddishes in the dishwasher. She filled the sink with suds, slipping in the dirtyskillet as she relived the last few hours in her head. Letting her defensesslide, surrendering to desire, had spawned a journey into unchartedterritory—exhilarating territory. But was it just for tonight? She shook thatthought away, instead remembering how she’d soared inside when he’d entrustedher with his secret, danced with her, been deep within her.
Thosewandering thoughts warmed her. She hummed as she scrubbed, occasionallyglancing out the window at the dense curtain of snow.
“Thewhite socks really make the outfit.” His resonating voice made her jump, andshe turned. He leaned against the counter, arms folded, watching her.
“Howlong have you been standing there?”
He slidbehind her and snaked his hands under her shirt. “Long enough. Why’d you putyour underwear back on?” he complained.
Shelaughed. “It was a little breezy under there.”
Hefolded himself around her, pinning her to the sink, and ran his hands along herbare legs. “Mmm, you’re cold.”
“I betyou can warm me up,” she breathed.
“Bet Ican.”
Hebegan unbuttoning her shirt. Before she could utter another word, his mouth wason her neck and his big hands were on her breasts. Her thoughts dissolved intoincoherent murmurs.
“God,you feel good,” he mumbled against her skin. “Guess what I found?”
“What?”she part-moaned, part-breathed, scrubbing the same place on the pan.
As hismouth worked over her neck and ear, one hand worked on a breast and the otherslid beneath her panties and fondled her. Her entire body puckered ingoosebumps, and she struggled to hold back gasps.
“Noguess?” He moved his hands, gripping the sink on either side of her body,trapping her as he rocked against her. Oh my. He was ready to go.
Sheturned in his arms and threw her soapy hands around his shoulders. “Please sayit’s a condom,” she whispered against his lips right before his tongue slippedinto her mouth.
“Mm-hmm,”he replied, their tongues mingling, their breathing quickening. His fingersreturned to her shirt placket and unbuttoned it. He pulled away and yanked histee over his head. Parting her shirt, he ran his hands over her bare skin andcupped her rear in one hand while the other slid between her legs. She wrestledhis pants down partway and stroked him, his groans thundering in his throat.
Hiskisses were heady, wild things that stole her breath away. He dropped his headto her chest, folding around her as he took each breast in his hot mouth,sucking and nibbling and tugging, his fingers working in breathtaking waysbetween her thighs. She dove her hands in his hair and held his head, her moanspitching louder, echoing the sensations firing inside her.
Herighted himself and pulled her off her feet, his chest heaving. “I’m going toexplode.” Then he spun, still holding
