Sensation wracked him as their sweat-slicked bodies moved together. She held him tightly deep inside, gripping his shoulders, her short fingers digging in. Her lips parted, her eyes narrowed in fierce concentration.
“I can’t,” she choked out, straining against him.
“You wil.” He palmed her buttocks, feeling her muscles clench and squeeze inside and out, dragging him with her to the edge. “Come on, baby. Fly.”
He reached for her, for the place where they were joined, and pushed her over.
Impaled on his cock, imprisoned by his arms, she cried out his name and flew.
His world spun dizzily out of control. Holding her close, he fel.
13
Th e g r ay l ig h t o f daw n e d g e d t h e s h a bb y motel curtains. Iestyn turned his head on the pil ow. Lara slept heavily beside him, her dark hair a tangle, her face pure and soft in the cold, uncompromising light.
He could be gone before she woke. To Maine. Now that he had a destination — he wouldn’t go so far as to cal it a plan
— he didn’t need to drag her with him. This wouldn’t be the first time he’d slipped early from a woman’s bed to avoid an argument in the morning.
The scent of sex lingered on the sheets, but no trace of cigarettes or booze or stale perfume. Physical y, he felt better than he had in days, his body loose and relaxed, his headache a manageable throb, the burn around his neck a mere distraction. He stretched, careful not to disturb the sleeping woman at his side. It would be a shame to waste his current wel — being on regrets or recriminations.
And yet.
Desire stirred. Again. She was so damn beautiful.
Those long, dark lashes. That moist, kiss-swol en mouth.
Her fingers curled protectively into her palm as if she held a kiss or a secret.
She was ful of secrets. And surprises.
Who’d have thought his angel would be so hot in bed?
Just thinking about the way she’d gone down on him last night was enough to flood his veins with liquid fire. Yet she was so guarded, so modest, she hadn’t removed her oversized T-shirt, even when they’d made love a second time.
Of course, they’d both been half asleep. He had roused to find her stil sprawled over him, soft, warm, delicious.
He’d covered himself with another condom from the stash under her pil ow, giving silent thanks for her tendency to plan ahead. With a contented sigh, she’d moved over him, her lashes fluttering open as he’d slipped into her welcoming heat. Heaven. Lips joined, fingers linked, he’d loved her with slow, deep strokes until she’d quivered and was stil, until he’d shuddered and exhaled into her hair.
Sex so tender, so ardent, belonged in a dream.
Rueful y, he regarded his hard-on, jutting against the sheet.
He could be out of here before she woke. The problem was, he didn’t want to go.
After last night, he could hardly slap some money on the dresser and take off. Yet he couldn’t leave her without funds. Without a car. Without a word.
Without a kiss.
He leaned forward and touched his lips to hers.
Lara woke, the warmth on her lips seducing her into opening her eyes.
Iestyn.
The shock of connection caught her unprepared.
Sunstreaked hair, sun-bronzed skin, sun god face.
Something hot and liquid gleamed in his eyes and pooled deep inside her. The tug of need left her dizzy, dazzled, and uncertain.
Her face flushed.
“What can I do for you this morning?” he asked with easy warmth.
She had no idea how to respond.
Last night she’d talked him — talked herself—into having sex. She’d told him she wanted to. She’d told herself it would be enough. But his question this morning made her feel more needy than needed, unsure of her moves and his motives. “What can I do for you?”
What was she supposed to say? Rock my world? Tell me you want me? Say that you love me?
Her pulse jumped. No.
She drew an unsteady breath. “Not a thing,” she said cool y.
His eyes narrowed. For a moment she waited, her heart beating wildly, for him to. What? Take her back in his arms to that safe place in the heart of the storm, that place where she could fly.
“Fine.” He dropped a hard, brief kiss on her mouth. “I’l grab a shower, then.”
Naked, he rol ed away from her and strol ed into the bathroom.
She refused to acknowledge her sinking feeling as disappointment. She’d had a lover. She’d even had an orgasm before. Sort of.
Sex was not that big a deal.
A memory of Iestyn’s glinting eyes came back and stole her breath. “It is if you do it right.”
Wel.
Maybe.
She listened to the sound of running water from the bathroom. Last night in the dark, she’d felt safe with him, safe and solid and right. Relaxed enough to let go, grounded enough to fly.
Of course, it was possible he hadn’t felt the same. In the clear light of morning, she recognized that safe sex was an oxymoron. Sex was never safe. There was always a risk of being hurt physical y or emotional y, the danger of disease.
Pregnancy.
Rejection.
The shower hissed. A cold finger traced down her spine.
Iestyn hadn’t hurt her. He’d taken care to wear a condom both times. He’d satisfied her sexual y beyond her wildest dreams. Twice.
But his consideration had only put her at greater risk.
She was in real danger now of losing her perspective.
Her chest squeezed. Or her heart.
A tap creaked. Iestyn swore.
Lara got out of bed, tugging her T-shirt down her thighs.
She felt better prepared to deal with an annoyed male than a playful one.
She stopped in the bathroom door, momentarily transfixed by the sight of his very bare, very fine ass as he bent over the tub. “What’s the problem?”
He glanced over his shoulder. She thought his gaze lingered on her legs before he said, “Something’s wrong with the water temperature.”
“It’s an old motel,” she pointed out reasonably, trying to ignore her dry-mouthed response to that look. To al that warm male flesh a few feet away. “Maybe you need to let the water run to get hot.”
His brows pul ed together. “That’s what I thought. But when I turn on the tap. ” He suited his action to his words, and a flood of scalding water burst from the faucet.
Steam boiled to the ceiling.
“Skies!” She yelped and jumped back. “Turn it off!”
The flow of hot water stopped.
Lara eyed the cloud of steam curling overhead like an evil genie against the water-stained tile, her heart thumping.
Something wasn’t. right. She reached for the cold tap on the sink.
“Careful,” Iestyn warned.
She turned the handle. Just a little bit.
Metal screeched. Water exploded into the sink, white-hot.
She yanked on the tap, fighting the pressure from the pipe, choking the geyser to a trickle. Plumbing rattled and groaned. An ominous hiss escaped the faucet.
Iestyn moved purposeful y past her. “I’l cal the front desk.”
“Don’t bother.” She forced the words past her tight throat.
“We have to check out. Now.”
He stopped directly in front of her, a solid male wal.
“Why?”
She raised her gaze from his chest to his face. Licked her dry lips. “The demons have found us.”
Iestyn squatted on his heels in front of the Jeep. He couldn’t leave Lara now.