LITMIR.BIZ

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slowly fade away as reality came crashing down on her. ‘‘We’re gonna be sorry we did this, aren’t we?’’

      ‘‘Probably.’’

      ‘‘That’s what I thought.’’ Eileen studied the play of slashes of light across the beamed ceiling and listened to Rick’s heavy breathing in the quiet. Her thoughts raced across her mind in such a blur of speed she couldn’t really nail one down long enough to examine it. And that was, no doubt, for the best. Considering that if she really stopped to think about what she’d just done with Rick, she’d probably smack herself in the forehead.

      ‘‘I want you to know,’’ she said, ‘‘I’m not looking for a relationship.’’

      ‘‘Me neither.’’

      ‘‘That’s good, then.’’

      ‘‘Yeah. Good.’’

      ‘‘Still, this is going to complicate things, isn’t it?’’ she asked.

      ‘‘You mean, am I going to look at you sitting at your desk and picture you here?’’ he asked. ‘‘Oh yeah.’’

      ‘‘It’s not going to be easy for me either, you know.’’ She couldn’t even imagine being in the office with him and not thinking about those wild moments out on the balcony. Stupid, Eileen. Really stupid. She shouldn’t have done this. Shouldn’t have given in to her hormones like some vapid teenager who didn’t know better.

      She should have remembered that men were trouble and her track record was less than stellar.

      ‘‘Which is why we shouldn’t have.’’

      ‘‘True.’’ Eileen glanced at him, and noted that he, too, was staring up into the darkness. She wondered what he was really thinking. If he was wondering how to make a graceful exit from the bed. If he’d just fire her right now and avoid the whole embarrassing after-sex scene. ‘‘I’m only in your life—your world, temporarily. Two weeks. That’s it.’’

      ‘‘Should have been simple,’’ he said.

      ‘‘Not anymore.’’

      ‘‘Nope.’’

      She sighed and turned onto her side. Heat from his body reached out for her and she couldn’t resist touching him again. Sliding one hand up his chest, she murmured, ‘‘Just think, our grandmothers got us into this.’’

      He chuckled, caught her hand and threaded his fingers through hers. ‘‘I don’t think this is what they had in mind.’’

      ‘‘Hardly.’’

      ‘‘Look,’’ Rick said, his voice gaining strength, his fingers tightening on her hand. ‘‘What happened, happened. We’re adults. It shouldn’t be any big thing to deal with. It was just sex.’’

      ‘‘Amazing sex.’’

      ‘‘That goes without saying.’’

      ‘‘It’d be nice to hear, though.’’

      He looked at her. ‘‘Amazing sex.’’

      ‘‘Thank you.’’

      ‘‘No,’’ he countered, ‘‘thank you.’’

      ‘‘Trust me,’’ she said, a reluctant smile curving her mouth. ‘‘My pleasure.’’

      ‘‘Yeah, I know.’’

      ‘‘No ego problems here.’’

      He rolled over, pushing her onto her back and bracing himself up one elbow so that he could look down at her. ‘‘It’s one night. One night out of a lifetime. Neither one of us is looking for—or expects—roses and cherubs. We enjoy each other, then go back to business as usual tomorrow.’’

      Eileen looked up at him, studying his eyes, his face, the curve of his mouth. She wanted to kiss him again. To taste him. To feel his tongue sweeping against hers. Hunger arced inside her again, fresh, greedy. She’d never felt like this before.

      She’d been with a man before, of course. Her fiancé and then Joshua. But those experiences were nothing compared to what was going on inside her at the moment. She’d never felt the compulsion for more as she had tonight.

      Even though she’d just been with Rick, she wanted him again. Now. Inside her. She wanted to feel his body moving within hers. Wanted to feel a part of him. Wanted to be locked within his embrace—and that was new.

      A part of her wanted to explore these new sensations. And another, more wary part of her wanted to back off now, while she could still think logically. There was no future with Rick. He was just like every other man she’d ever come across. He wanted her to help him out at work. He wanted her in his bed. But, like every other male in her life, he didn’t want her. This wasn’t a relationship. This was simply two people who felt a…connection. Was that enough reason to enjoy each other? And could they keep it that simple?

      ‘‘Can we do that, do you think?’’

      ‘‘I can,’’ Rick said, smoothing his fingertips across her cheek, pushing her hair back behind her ear. Looking at her now made him want her again. And yet he knew he would be able to say goodbye. Because he had to. He wouldn’t let her get close. Couldn’t let her in. He’d taken one chance and got smacked for his trouble. He wouldn’t be doing that again.

      Rick had learned years ago that life was easier if lived alone. Sex was one thing. Love—a relationship—was something else. Something he wasn’t interested in. ‘‘So the question is,’’ he asked, ‘‘can you?’’

      She shivered at his touch, the tiny bursts of heat transferring from his fingers to her skin. Could she forget what happened tonight in tomorrow’s light of day? She wasn’t sure. Could she give up the chance to feel more of what she already had? No way. So there was really only one answer to his question.

      ‘‘Yes, I can.’’

      ‘‘Good,’’ he said, and pulled away from her.

      ‘‘I say yes and you leave?’’

      He pushed off the bed and turned back to look at her again, a smile tipping one corner of his mouth. Her heart jumped in response.

      ‘‘Just going to light a few of these candles,’’ he said. ‘‘This time I want to see you.’’

      ‘‘Oh, boy.’’

      She looked beautiful by candlelight.

      Tiny flames flickered around the room, tracing halos of golden light against the flowered wallpaper. Beyond the windows, the storm still raged, rain pelting at the glass, lightning and thunder growling and snapping, like ferocious beasts demanding entry. The four-poster bed looked wide and soft and compelling, as Eileen lay across the clean white sheets, her bare body a temptation no man could resist.

      And Rick had no desire to resist her.

      He couldn’t remember ever feeling this hunger before. The sizzle and snap of heat that burst into life every time he touched her made him yearn to feel it again. Watching the candlelight play on her smooth, pale skin made his palms itch to touch her again.

      Eileen was unlike any woman he’d ever known.

      Hell, everything about her was different.

      Unique.

      Her attitude, her laugh, her scent. She smelled of roses and sunlight—a compelling mixture to a man too used to burying himself under mountains of work, shut away in corporate towers. She laughed at his work ethic. Teased him about taking himself too seriously and fought him when he gave orders. And he was enjoying himself far too much.

      Which should have worried him—but he was too hungry for the taste of her to think about it now.

      He

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