“Yup. Ice cream night is a big night for me.”
He leaned over and intercepted the spoonful she’d just scooped up. “Green tea? Right, you’re in Asia this week. Nice. So are you going to invite me in?”
“Oh, of course. Come in. Why aren’t you at the gala?”
“Because you’re here.” He tried to pull her in for a kiss but she grimaced and took a step back.
“What’s wrong?”
She frowned. “You smell like perfume. And before you say it, I know you didn’t do anything, it’s still…”
“Right. Like the kiss thing. Well, as was the case then, I was completely innocent tonight as well. Gabriella was all over me like a barnacle I couldn’t shake.”
“Gabriella? Who’s Gabriella? I thought your date was Victoria.”
“It’s a long story that involves my father.” He stole another spoonful. “I don’t want to talk about it. Can we just hang out tonight? Do you mind?”
“Of course not.” She started clearing off all the research books on her couch.
“Actually, while you’re doing that can I shower first? If you think this perfume is bothering you, try wearing it.” He made a face.
“Extra towels are in the cabinet above the toilet and if you check the third shelf in the hall closet, you’ll see a bunch of Brian’s clothes. Take whatever you want.”
Connor halted and looked back her way. “Does he do that a lot?”
“What?”
“Leave his clothes here?”
She shrugged. “It’s a collection that’s been building for years. It’s mostly from the times he used to pick up Skylar after seeing Beth. He used to shower as soon as he got here to get the hospital feel off of himself.”
“You wear a lot of his shirts.”
She studied his hooded expression. “Because they’re comfortable. Connor, are you okay? What happened tonight?”
“Still don’t want to talk about it,” he called out, pivoting back on track for the bathroom.
It was a good five minutes before Abby heard any signs of life that confirmed he’d made the journey successfully.
“Hey Abby, can you come here for a sec?”
Walking into the wide-open bathroom, she was greeted by a sight infinitely more decadent than her ice cream.
A wet, naked Connor sitting in her tub.
He grinned. “Remember our first phone call?”
She shivered at the reminder. “Yes.”
“Come here.”
As she took the four short steps to the tub, Connor stood up and sent sheets of hot water rippling down his body.
Holy swizzle sticks.
He reached over and peeled Brian’s old shirt off of her. And then skimmed her bike shorts and panties down her legs, trailing kisses across every new inch of skin he uncovered. “I’ll never get over how gorgeous you are.”
Likewise.
She stepped into the tub and straddled his thighs, smoothing her hands all along the hard, muscular planes of his chest and abdomen…god, touching him was an art of foreplay all on its own.
Speaking of touching—
She gasped. “You went snooping through my drawers.” In her head, the accusation was a whole lot more indignant. Way less breathy.
“No bath is complete without a few toys.”
Good lord, why did this feel a thousand times better when he was doing it?
Feeling the sensations quickly start to build to a crest, she grabbed his hand.
“Too strong?” he asked worriedly.
“It’s fine,” she said, pulling the vibe out of his hands. “But it’s not you.” She slid forward, gliding her inner thighs slowly across his erection. “I want you to make me come...inside me when I come.”
His pale blue eyes turned dark and turbulent. “Condom.”
Abby smiled. She liked it when he turned Neanderthal.
As she reached over to the drawer under the sink to grab one, he swatted her behind lightly. “I’m not sure I like the idea of you having a big box of condoms just lying around your house.”
She ripped the foil packet open with her teeth. “I bought it the same day I bought my pairs of red and white panties.”
His grin lit up the bathroom.
When he reached for the newly opened condom, she held it away from him. “I want to do it.”
Slipping one hand down his body, she stroked him gently, fascinated with the feel of him under water. Getting thicker and harder. For her.
“Abby. God. Put it on me. Now.”
Drifting in a lusty fog, she blinked. Put what on where now?
Then she remembered. Too late. He snatched the condom from her, slid it on, and yanked her atop his lap, all in one slick move.
Her fingernails dug into his shoulders as he lowered his mouth to her breasts, circling one sensitive nipple with his tongue before moving over to score the other with his teeth. Back and forth, he kept her on the edge, varying his attacks, all the while staring at her like a hungry predator beyond ready to devour her.
Clutching her to him as if he’d never let her go.
Just when she thought he meant to tease her to the point of insanity, he lifted her up by the hips and plunged her down onto him. She gave a silent scream as he began driving into her deeper and deeper, harder and faster.
All she could do was match him thrust for thrust and hold on for dear orgasm as she felt the first waves of pulsing hot pleasure come crashing down on her.
Wrapping both arms around her, encasing her in a whole body restraint, he thrust into her one, two, three more times, before following her into oblivion with a fierce, primitive shudder.
* * * * *
EVEN DAYS LATER, Abby was still replaying that bath with Connor. In fact, that’s exactly how he had lured her back over to his house last night.
Two words: jet tub. And she’d been sold.
“So, you’re still insistent on the dancing tonight, huh?” Connor snuck up behind her and slipped his arms around her.
Abby leaned back against him and made sure her smile was as bright as possible. “Yep. I got a new dress and everything.” Well, not new. But new to her. And so gorgeous—flouncy skirt, sleek bodice, and shimmery black all around. It was her last night with Connor, and she was determined to go out in style, to make one final shining, sparkling memory.
Big and bright enough to possibly, hopefully eclipse the pain.
Connor sighed. “Fine. I’ll be back at seven for our date. And I meant it about you staying here to do your research all day today. Skylar’s going to be at her friend’s this afternoon so you don’t have any good excuse not to.”
“And in case you get hungry...” he added quietly, “I got you a few avocados. They’re in the pantry.” He came to a full stop at the door and gave her a long, lost look filled with emotions she couldn’t face. Not now. Not without breaking.
Don’t look at me like that. Don’t make me think about what tomorrow is.
Thankfully, he read her closed look and left without another word.
Unable to help herself, as soon as she heard his car leave, she went straight to the kitchen pantry. And nearly cried when she saw the mesh bag filled with twenty or so avocados.
God, this was going to be the most depressing date in history if she didn’t get a grip.
With the most calming breath she could muster, she went over to her laptop and research notes, making sure only to take out what she needed. She didn’t want to accidentally leave something here that she’d have to come back for.
She didn’t want to be that girl.
She worked nonstop for an hour...and wrote exactly one sentence. All the words on the page were gibberish, her mind a mess. By lunch, she gave up completely.
Wandering upstairs in search of a distraction, the sight of her new dress was the only thing that effectively held her attention. It was so pretty. She didn’t have anything else like it in her closet.
With no rhyme or reason whatsoever, Abby stripped down then and slipped the dress on. God, it was stunning. Elegant. Staring at her reflection in the full-length mirror, she hardly recognized the woman looking back at her.