He knocked on the door and she jumped, hand to her heart.
“Yes?”
“Put on my bathrobe,” he said, “It’s hanging on the back of the door. And then hand me out your clothes. I’ll pop them down to the dry cleaner’s while you shower.”
Katie stripped off her clothes. She thought of his long, strong masculine fingers touching her garments and she shivered at the image.
Stop thinking like this.
She put on his bathrobe that smelled of sandalwood shampoo, opened the door a crack and thrust her things at him.
“Thank you,” he said.
Why in God’s name did that sound like a come-on? It was just a simple thank-you.
Cold shower, cold shower. Get in, get washed off, get out.
She did exactly that. Five minutes later, she was showered and wrapped in his bathrobe again. She took the time to rinse her undergarments out in his sink, then drape them over his shower-curtain rod. Then she searched the bathroom for a blow-dryer, but couldn’t find one.
“Liam,” she called, leaving the bathroom, her wet hair twisted up in a towel, and padded into the living room. “Where do you keep your blow-”
He was standing in the middle of room, stripped bare to the waist.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
He turned and a wicked grin tilted up the corners of his mouth. “Duke got me a bit wet and muddy, too.”
“Well, could you cover up or something?”
“What’s the matter?” He strolled toward her. “You don’t like what you see?”
“No, no-” she cleared her throat “-I like. Too much.” She waved a hand. “Now, cover up, please.”
The muscle in his throat jumped as his eyes traveled the length of her body.
He came closer.
Katie backed up until her butt hit the wall. “Um,” she said. “What are you doing?”
“What I’ve wanted to do all afternoon.”
“It’s not a good idea,” she whispered as his mouth dipped closer.
“No?”
There didn’t seem to be enough air in the room. You’d think in a condo this expensive there would be enough air in the flipping room. And his brownish green bedroom eyes were smothering her with closeness.
Her heart thundered at the feral look in his gaze.
He wanted her.
And she wanted him. Wanted his sweet, moist lips on hers and his masculine tongue thrusting deep inside her heated mouth.
Not only was there not enough air, but it was way too hot in here. Sizzling, in fact. It was a downright devil den.
He took her in his arms and pulled her up tight against his bare chest. Her pulse galloped madly. She wasn’t so sure about this. Things were suddenly slipping rapidly out of her control.
“I…” She started to say that she didn’t think this was such a great idea, but she got no further.
His mouth came down on hers for real and it tasted good.
That night at the masquerade ball had been exciting and wild and quick, but this was different. This was up close and personal and lingering, with no disguises to hide behind. She had time to really savor his kiss. To taste cinnamon on his tongue and smell his deeply masculine scent.
Liam’s tongue seared hers. She had no idea a kiss could be so intense. The towel came unwrapped from around her hair, falling slowly to the floor. Liam pushed his fingers through the damp strands, cradling her head in his hands.
Katie felt as if her entire body had short-circuited. Her stomach jolted. Her lips parted. Her toes curled. Her eyes widened.
Delight detonated in her mouth. A wildfire rolled through her nerve endings. He was suddenly more essential to her than the air she’d craved earlier.
How unforgettable he tasted. How safe she felt in his arms. It was strange to feel this way considering the circumstances, but that was how it was. As if he could and would protect her from anything.
She wanted to make love to him so badly her insides throbbed.
He tightened his arms around her. She relaxed her jaw, and his tongue speared deep inside. Moaning softly, she slid her arms around his neck.
More, she had to have more.
His chest was hard muscle against her soft breasts. She ran her fingers through his hair and made a fist. He growled low in his throat and used his hand to trace her spine to the small of her back. Then, through the cloth of his bathrobe, he gently kneaded her backside.
Her body, which seconds before had been tense and resistant, turned fluid and supple at his touch. She was clay-pliant and malleable. Anything he asked of her she would willingly do.
Wait a minute, whispered the voice in the back of her head, what about turning over a new leaf? What about no longer rushing in headlong where angels feared to tread?
Right. As if she could slam the brakes on when Liam was kissing her like this.
Don’t you want to be something more than everybody’s good-time girl? Aren’t you afraid this will jeopardize your working relationship? Or that you could lose your job over this?
Nah, she didn’t care about any of that. All she cared about was the magic of this moment.
And you wonder why no one takes you seriously.
But Liam took her seriously. He’d made her art director of his ad campaign.
Maybe that’s just because he was hoping to get into your panties.
Hush.
Determinedly shoving the ugly little nay-saying voice aside, she closed her eyes, made her mind blank and inhaled him.
She explored his mouth, taste by taste, texture by texture, layer by layer. He tasted honest and clean. His flavor was all masculine substance-solid and efficient.
Katie had to hand it to him. He was one helluva great kisser.
His lips soared her higher, flying her to a glorious realm where fantasy and reality merged into frenetic excitement.
He tasted like summer vacation, like long, hot nights in the backseat of a big old American car. Like Fourth of July fireworks-dazzling and explosive. He tasted like hard work and commitment and trustworthiness. His taste made her feel safe and supported and honored.
He kissed with the power and authority of a man completely in control of himself. And she realized his self-control frightened her because she had no control of her own. He scared her because she found herself wanting something she could not even identify. Something she’d never wanted before.
His lips hummed with strength and go-getter magnetism. His kiss whispered of all that could exist between them if she just had the courage to close her hand and make a fist. To take a tentative step toward something more than fun and frivolity.
She wished she could frame this moment in time, hold on to it like a snapshot. Kiss him on and on and on forever.
The thought jolted her. This quick jog on the wild side had landed her in mental quicksand. Should she flail around and try to get free? Or should she embrace the fall?
Suddenly, the struggle was taken out of her hands.
Liam broke the kiss, pulled back, stared down at her.
“What?” she whispered, peering up into his eyes. “What’s wrong?”
He stroked his index finger down the length of her jaw, then stopped and pressed his thumb against her lips. “We have to stop now, or I won’t be able to stop.”
“Why stop?” she asked as the weight of his thumb caressed her cheek.
He drew in a ragged breath. “Our first time together was sex-crazed and anonymous. I want us to take our time and to get to know each other before we do this again.”
“But I like sex-crazed and anonymous.”
He had one arm around her waist, one hand tilting her chin up to meet his gaze. He was looking at her as if she were special, like something to be treasured. No man had ever looked at her like that before. Katie held a breath.
“That might be the case,” he said. “But you deserve so much more. No matter how much I might want to, I’m not going to have sex with you again.”
“You’re not?” Why did it feel as if he were denying her keys to Shangri-La?
“No.” He shook his head. “Not now. Not yet. Not until I know everything there is to know about you.”
She laughed because she didn’t know what else to do.