Part 17 (1/2)
She got lost in the sensation of his tongue lapping at her. She swiveled her hips in slow circles, mimicking the motion of his tongue. ”I can see why people turn into s.e.x fiends.”
”Hmm.”
”I love the way your stubble feels on my skin.”
He answered with a small nip to her cleavage.
”Maybe you should give up shaving for the next couple weeks.”
He grunted.
”But not if you'll grow a beard. George Clooney good, Grizzly Adams bad.”
She laughed as he flipped her over with a growl. The tip of his nose touched hers. ”Sometimes you talk too much,” he said. His voice was still raspy with sleep and it made her s.h.i.+ver.
”I don't think I do. In fact-”
He dropped his mouth down to hers before she got a chance to finish her sentence. Not that she cared. At the moment, Michael's method of communication was much more compelling.
”Need help with that?”
Olivia looked up. ”Michael, that was almost a complete sentence, and this early in the morning.”
”It's not nice making fun of people before they've had coffee.”
She tugged her underwear up her legs and reached for her bra. ”I'm just saying I'm a little surprised.”
He pushed her hands aside. ”I want to do it,” he said in his rough morning voice.
He hooked her bra and slowly pulled up her straps, as if he were savoring the feel of her skin under his fingertips.
She s.h.i.+vered.
”Are you cold?” He didn't wait for an answer. Dropping a kiss between her shoulder blades, he grabbed her s.h.i.+rt from the pile on the floor and pulled it over her head. He lifted her hair out before guiding her arms through the sleeves. Turning her around, he kissed her belly b.u.t.ton before lowering the s.h.i.+rt. He gave her legs the same attention as he helped her into her pants.
She never realized being dressed could be as seductive as being undressed. It left her speechless-touched in a way she didn't want to be.
Michael looked just as uncomfortable as she felt. He cleared his throat. ”Olivia-”
Aw h.e.l.l. This was the part where the regrets began. What could he have to regret? She thought she made it clear this was just about s.e.x.
”I know it's a little late for this, but we didn't use any condoms.”
Oh-no wonder. After her brief pregnancy, she'd gone on birth control. There was no way she was ever taking chances again. ”I've got it covered.”
He looked relieved with a capital R. ”Okay. And so you know, I'm safe. I've been careful with all the women I've-well, except you.”
Hearing about his s.e.xual conquests over the years wasn't what she wanted after a night of spectacular s.e.x. ”Don't worry about it,” she said coolly. Then cruelly, she added, ”But I've practiced safe s.e.x with all my partners too.”
The lock outside clicked loudly. Olivia and Michael looked at each other and then rushed to the door. They reached it just as it swung open.
Olivia wasn't sure who looked more surprised-Michael and her or the guy standing in front of them. By the looks of him, he was movie crew. She'd certainly never seen him before.
Chapter Twenty-one.
The first thing Olivia saw when she walked into Grounds for Thought was her traitorous father reclined in a chair, legs crossed, staring at Elaine, who sat across from him typing intently. She had no idea what they were doing there, but it was just as well. She had a bone to pick.
Squaring her shoulders, she marched across the room to their table. ”Fancy seeing you here,” she said crisply.
Elaine looked up, pus.h.i.+ng her gla.s.ses up her nose as a smile spread across her face. ”There you are. I was worried about you. I didn't see you come back last night and no one would tell me where you'd gone.” She shot an arch look at her boss.
Olivia frowned and studied her. Sincerity s.h.i.+ned back, and Olivia knew without a doubt that Lainie wasn't involved.
She sighed internally, and a knot untwisted from her gut. The thought that Lainie had manipulated her had been surprisingly painful. The relief that she hadn't was almost euphoric. Which meant just Gran and Parker were involved. She could deal with that.
She turned to him. ”Were you worried about me too?”
”You're capable of taking care of yourself. You've always been the first one to point that out.”
Olivia feigned shock. ”How amazing you remember that.”
”Is there a point to this, Olivia? Elaine and I were in a meeting.” He calmly sipped his coffee but his eyes never strayed from hers.
She felt rage boil in her blood. The urge to scream at him was powerful but Eve wouldn't appreciate a scene in her cafe.
She yanked a chair out and dropped into it. Leaning forward, she glared at him and said softly, ”Stay the h.e.l.l out of my life.”
She heard Lainie gasp but she didn't take her eyes off Parker's. It was like watching a cobra-the second she turned her back she knew he'd strike. She didn't want to be caught off guard.
He set his cup down and regarded her with his cold, intense gaze. Just as softly, he replied, ”Like h.e.l.l I will.”
She clutched her hands at her sides to stop their shaking. ”What are you getting out of this?”
”Maybe I'm doing this for my daughter.”
”Ha! That was a good one.”
”Is that so hard to believe?”
”I believe you have a hidden agenda. The only thing that motivates you is your work. Not once in my life have I seen you do anything not related to getting ahead in Hollywood. You care more about that than you do me. You always have, you always will. What or how I feel has never been a consideration, as evidenced when you dumped me on Gran after mom died and when you took Michael away after high school.”
Lainie gasped again. ”What?”
Olivia turned to her with a bitter smile. ”Didn't you know that? Michael and I would probably be married now if my father hadn't offered him the chance of a lifetime. He stole Michael from me.” She faced her father. ”Good thing Mom died, huh? One less complication in your grand design to get ahead.”
As soon as she said the words she wished she could take them back. She covered her mouth, horrified at herself.