Part 26 (2/2)

At the moment, he wasn't capable of that.

Letting out a pent-up breath, he hugged her carefully, protectively.

What the h.e.l.l had he been thinking?

He'd wanted to sweetly seduce her, to ease her into a s.e.xual relations.h.i.+p.

Instead he'd lost his head and laid her out in front of him. Naked. While he'd still worn his shorts.

He'd gone down on her as if eating her on his couch was an everyday occurrence instead of a fantasy he'd a.s.sumed would never happen.

Squeezing his eyes shut, he thought of her sweet taste, how wet she'd gotten for him, how she'd lifted to the stroke of his tongue.

Her broken moans.

The tensing of her slim legs, the fisting of her hands. How her back had arched and her belly had sucked in.

The tears in her eyes after her release had dwindled away, leaving her soft and shaken and dazed.

How she'd looked at him with wonder...just the way she used to.

He gave her ten minutes to make sure she wouldn't awaken, then, knowing he wouldn't be able to sleep, he slipped from the bed, from her bedroom, and went to his own room to relieve himself. It didn't take him long, not with her scent still clinging to him.

When he rejoined her in the bed, less edgy but still in need of her, she s.h.i.+fted in her sleep, turning to face him, snuggling in against his chest.

It took him a very long time to get to sleep, but he'd never enjoyed a sleepless night more, or for a better reason.

m erissa didn't allow herself time for doubt. Any excuse in a storm. Yes, she knew that wasn't how the saying went, but for her and her unique purpose, it worked.

She went up the steps two at a time because if she hesitated at all she'd chicken out. For the tenth time she checked her watch. Only ten-thirty. Not really late. But just in case... When she reached the right door, she tapped softly. If he was in bed, well, then, no reason to wake him.

She'd barely lowered her hand before the door swung open, and there stood Armie. Flushed, with mussed hair. s.h.i.+rtless. Barefoot. The b.u.t.ton and fly of his jeans opened to reveal a happy trail.

Her heart stuttered and almost stopped.

Until she noticed the redhead draped over his shoulder.

As soon as she did notice, he shrugged the woman off, stepped over the threshold and closed the door behind him.

They stared at each other...and slowly a frown replaced the surprise in his dark brown eyes. ”What the f.u.c.k, Rissy.” He looked around her as if searching for someone. When he realized she was alone, he looked even more furious. ”I thought you were Kelli.”

Meaning he wouldn't have opened the door mostly naked if he'd known it was her? ”Kelli?” She had a hard time keeping her gaze off his body.

”Yeah, she's Avril's friend and...” He looked appalled at himself, which fried his temper and left him brewing like a thundercloud-a thundercloud that had just been wallowing in carnal activity. ”What are you doing here?”

At almost the same time, she asked, ”Kelli and Avril?”

The door opened behind him and the redhead, grinning at her wickedly, asked, ”Is she joining us or not?”

Merissa stumbled back.

Together, she and Armie both said, ”Not.”

The woman wore only Armie's s.h.i.+rt with mile-high strappy sandals. Pouting, she reached around him for his fly, her hand dipping inside the open waistband. ”Then where's Kelli?”

Armie caught her wrist and held her hand higher- still against his bare, taut skin.

Merissa's heart pounded in sick resentment. She licked her dry lips and started to come up with any excuse to leave. ”So I, ah-”

From behind her, a woman said, ”Here I am!”

She turned. A blonde. With more b.o.o.b showing than she had covered. She carried a bottle of wine in one hand, her sandals in the other, and she looked ready to...party.

Eyes narrowed, jaw set, Armie pushed the door open and said to the women, ”Wait inside. I'll be there in a minute.”

The two women greeted each other with a lingering kiss. Armie watched without interrupting, and when they finally got out of the way, he pulled the door closed again.

Rissy had a difficult time breathing. Okay, sure, she'd heard about Armie's excesses just as she'd heard about his aversion to nice women. Maybe nice meant anyone who wouldn't accommodate his overblown s.e.xual appet.i.te.

For far too long he stared at the floor, then finally turned to her. ”Why are you here?”

She no longer remembered her excuse. ”You...? They...?”

He worked his jaw. ”It's a threesome. No big deal. Don't faint.”

Armie flaunted the fact that he was a s.e.xual hedonist- and so many women loved that about him.

She wasn't one of them.

Finally finding her voice, she said, ”I make no guarantees.”

Eying her, he took a step forward. ”s.h.i.+t. You do look pale.”

With embarra.s.sment! ”I can't believe you-”

Through the door, one woman yelled in a singsong voice, ”Hurry up, Armie, or we'll start without you!”

Armie rubbed his mouth, then dropped his hand. ”There you go. Seems I'm needed inside, so how about you get to the reason for this little unexpected visit.”

No. This was a big mistake; no reason to make it worse with lame excuses. ”Never mind.” Hugging herself to ward off the chill of humiliation, she turned to go.

Armie caught her upper arm. ”Oh, no, you don't.” Very close behind her ear, he growled, ”Don't leave me in suspense.”

She felt the heat of his bare torso all along her back. Her height of five-eleven put him only an inch taller. But where she was thin, he had the bulk and muscle of a fighter.

When she remained mute, he didn't step away. He might have even smelled her hair.

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