And yet he wondered now. Ironic that in his life, hed had no patience for people who hesitated. Fate and destiny were out there to be taken advantage of, not to sit around and accept. Hed taken charge of his destiny, and because of it he had a great life. And if once in a while it was tooquiet, then he took care of it. It had never been difficult to find a woman interested in a good time, short-term of course. Maybe thats what he needed now. A bout of mutually satisfying, hot, sweaty sex.
Too bad he could hardly move.
Five days after falling through the ceiling, he drove by the youth hostel. Just out of curiosity, he told himself, not because of a strange sense that he was missing something, something important. He got out of his car and asked the young tattooed kid at the desk for Margaret Mary. He waited for what seemed like forever, his heart pounding uncomfortably against the ribs that still hurt, only to be told she wasnt around.
Good. Fine. It had been stupid to try to see her anyway. He didnt need to add trouble to his life, and family would be trouble.
Since he was out, he went by some of his jobs, ignoring his aching ribs, burying himself in the stuff hed neglected over the past few days. By the time he got home, he was suitably exhausted. Dizzy with it, in fact. Maybe now, finally, he could sleep.
But at midnight he was still staring at the ceiling of his bedroom. He probably should have given in and taken some painkillers, but he hated the loss of control so he gritted his teeth and told himself hed feel better tomorrow. Deciding to work, he flipped on a light, but the lines on the plans blurred and jumped around, making him feel nauseous.
Time for oblivion, he thought, and reached for the bottle of pills. But a knock at the door stopped him. Since he couldnt think of a single reason for someone to be knocking at his door at midnight, he ignored it.
It came again.
Struggling into a pair of sweat pants, he figured that since he didnt feel like crying as he moved, he must be improving. Still, by the time he hobbled to the door, he was ready to sit down. And when he opened it, he nearly did sit down, right there on the floor. Nicole!
She stood there, arms braced on the jamb on either side of her, head down. When he said her name, she lifted her face. Her short, dark hair was up in spikes, as if shed shoved her fingers through it repeatedly. She wore a spaghetti-strapped tank top under overalls. One strap had slid down her shoulder. Her smooth, sleek arms were taut, her tight little body quivering with tension.
But it was her eyes that held him now, as they were filled with so many things it hurt to look at her.
But it was her eyes that held him now, as they were filled with so many things it hurt to look at her.
I woke you, she said. Im sorry, Ill just-
He wrapped his fingers around her arm to stop her from backing away. Skin to skin. The jolt nearly brought him to his knees. Now was a hell of a time to realize that with her standing right here in front of him everything suddenly felt good. Right.
He hated that. She was nothing but a damn string on the heart he didnt want to feel.
I shouldnt have come, she whispered.
No, no she shouldnt have. Because now he didnt know how to let her go.
I justI saw your light. She lifted a shoulder, gave him a little smile.
The smile lifted him in a way it shouldnt, and just like that, the funk was gone.
Hed have to dwell on that later because right now he wanted the feel of her. Needed the feel of her in a terrifyingly bad way.
Its just that Taylor said she hadnt seen or heard from you, she said. And you didnt make your check-up appointment the hospital gave you, and-
With a little tug, he had her inside.
So I just drove by, just to seeand well. She smiled again, stopping his heart. Like I said, I saw the light-
He shut the door behind her. She took one step back, away from him, right up against the wood.
Perfect.
So. Her smile shook a bit now. I just wanted to see for myself that you were doing okay- She stopped when he planted an arm on either side of her head. Are you going to say something? she whispered, licking her bottom lip.
Oh yeah, he liked that little nervous gesture.
Ty?
You want to give me a check-up?
Iuh
He found his own smile. Youre nervous, doc. I know it sounds sick, but I like that. I like that a lot.
She pressed her fingers to her eyes, which gave him better room to crowd her body.
So he did.
You know what? she murmured, still covering her eyes. Im going now. Then she dropped her hands and shoved at his chest, which shot a white-hot arrow of pain right through his ribs. Doubling over, he groaned, vaguely aware of her horrified gasp.
Oh, Ty- Her hands came around his bare middle.
Damn it-
I know, I know, Im so sorry.
He sucked in a careful breath and looked at her when she said it again. Her hands on his skin moved lightly, not a doctors hands, but a womans, as she murmured her apologies over and over, as she tried to soothe. And little by little his vision cleared so that he could straighten slightly.
Are you okay? she whispered.
Ill let you know when the stars clear from my head.
God. Im so sorry.
I know.
Iwouldnt hurt you on purpose.
I know.
But she already had. Nicole could feel it. She just didnt understand. He was the one who didnt want a relationship. He was the one whod kept her at arms length with his light, easygoing, teasing attitude. He was the one
Wasnt he?
Nicole. That was it, that was the only word to escape his lips, but his gaze seemed to say so much more. Eyes hot, he lowered his head so that their lips were only a breath apart. Why did you come?
She licked her lips again. I told you, I-
Why, Nicole?
She closed her eyes, trying to hide the truth from him. Shed come to be in his arms. Shed come to give him what shed held back all this time. Shed come to see if she was going crazy, or if thisthis thing went both ways.
Nicole?
Y-yes?
I should tell you, watching you struggle at this social stuff is an incredible turn-on. Knowing youre usually buried in work, that you never look up from that work for anyone, and you are nowbecause of me
She stared down at his hand as it entwined with hers and tugged. Then she was staring at his strong, sleekly muscled back while he led her through the house.
Im taking you to my bedroom now, he said over his shoulder. Stop me.
She kept following him.
He tugged her into a room lit only by the moonlight dancing through the wall of windows. Then he flipped on the light and she was blinking at him like an owl.
I want to see this. He stepped so close she could see nothing but him. Around her, she had an impression of a large room, an equally large bed with tossed blankets and sheets.
Then he backed her to that bed, his eyes glowing with intent and emotion. I think you came for this, which just so happens to be what Im looking for as well.
You- But youre hurt. Since when did she stutter? The mattress bumped her high on the back of her thighs. Her heart was drumming so fast and so loud it was a wonder he hadnt asked her if she was having a heart attack.
Say Im wrong. He lifted a finger and nudged off the other strap of her overalls. The bib fell to her waist, leaving just her thin tank top, which hid nothing from him, including the fact she was aroused. Very aroused.
His head dipped, and for a long moment he just looked, making her nipples tighten and pucker against the thin material all the more. Nicole. His voice was husky. Youre not saying no.
I-
No starts with N. He used both hands now, gliding his fingers up and down her arms. He met her gaze. Waited.
She licked her lips, which wrestled a low groan from him. And then he leaned in even closer. Say it. Say no.
I dont want to say it. Almost before shed finished, his mouth closed over hers. She opened to him and he groaned again. Then he was inside, tasting her as if he was a starving man and she was a ten-course meal. Which worked for her because suddenly, or maybe not so suddenly, she was starving too, starving for this.
Breaking only for air, he raised his head and stared at her from slumberous eyes before he came at her again, changing the angle of the kiss, settling his mouth more firmly over hers. Her lips clung to his as her fingers fisted in his hair, holding him to the plundering, caressing kiss because she didnt want him pulling back again. She wanted this mindlessness, craved this hot, sensual heat, and needed even more.
They broke apart for air again, and stared at each other. His hands lifted to untangle her arms from around his neck. He danced his fingers back up, wrapping them around her spaghetti straps. Still holding her gaze in his, he gave a hard tug, peeling the material down to her waist, exposing her bare breasts.
Dropping his gaze, his chest rose and fell with his uneven breathing as he looked at the breasts she knew damn well were too small. Thinking it, she lifted her hands but he caught them, held them at her sides.
Are you saying no? he asked thickly.
Ty-
Are you?
His eyes were fathomless, his body tense. Against her belly she could feel him, hard and pulsing. He wanted her. He wanted her in a way she hadnt been wanted in too long. Im not saying no, she said softly.
The tension left him in a long sigh. Thank God, he murmured, and let go of her wrists to cup her breasts. Youre beautiful.
And in that moment, she felt it.
And these His thumbs rasped over her nipples, making her let out a horrifyingly needy sound. Oh yeah, these Bending his head, he swirled his tongue over one, then blew a soft, warm breath over it, forcing that sound from her again. Mmm. A perfect mouthful. Proving the point, he sucked her into his mouth, laving her with his tongue over and over until shed refisted her hands in his hair and tossed back her head, panting for air.
It wasnt enough. Kicking off her shoes made her even shorter but she didnt care. Rising up on the balls of her feet, she hooked a leg over his hips and strained against the swollen ridge of his erection.
That ripped a deep, deep groan of pleasure from his chest and he pulled back to look at her with eyes heavy with desire. Last chance.