And she was failing miserably.
“Maybe you should go when you’re done with dinner.”
“Changed your mind?”
She shrugged. She wanted things to be perfect between them. In her head she had this image of how they should be. Her laundry didn’t play into it at all.
Nick put down his fork and stood up. He came around the counter with a brisk stride, stopping only when a mere inch of space separated them. Every breath she took brushed her breasts against his chest.
“I’m not leaving unless you tell me to.”
“I can’t. But this feels so strange. So premeditated.”
“Florida girl, you make me crazy.”
He bent and kissed her. His lips brushing hers carefully, tenderly. Then the tone of his embrace changed. His hands settled on her hips, pulling her firmly against the cradle of his thighs. He rubbed his erection against her. An ache that could only be eased by Nick started at the center of her body and moved outward to every limb.
She forgot to breathe as his mouth devoured hers, his tongue thrusting deep into her mouth. He tasted of garlic and oregano and something stronger. Something that her soul recognized as Nick.
Her entire body melted against him. He lifted her onto the counter, spreading her thighs to make room for himself. They were still separated by the barrier of her wool skirt and his pants. But she could feel the heat of him.
She rocked forward, rubbing against the hard ridge in his pants, needing from him something that was more powerful than words could describe. Something that only Nick could give, and it wasn’t only physical.
His palms sliding up her thighs were rough against her skin. Her skirt bunched around her waist and he slipped his hands beneath her panties. His eyes closed and he tilted his head back, breathing harder than a racehorse that had won the derby.
Lila needed to be touching him. The emotions and sensations swamping her were too intense. She unbuttoned his shirt and caressed his chest and back. He shrugged out of it, struggling for a moment with his cufflinks, which made a pinging sound when they hit the linoleum floor.
“Take off your blouse,” he ordered.
Their eyes met and held as she slowly freed the buttons on her shirt. She unbuttoned her cuffs first and then teasingly opened the front, giving him just a glimpse of the lacy camisole she wore underneath.
He bit her neck lightly and then licked the spot, sending fire shooting to her groin. She wanted to be his equal here. Wanted to tease and tempt him the way he did her. But she plain wanted him too much to wait too long.
The fire in his eyes convinced her to keep teasing. She let the fabric slip slowly down her shoulders, lifting one arm slowly out and then the other, then dropping her arms in one graceful, yet sexy, movement.
Sitting before him with only her camisole covering the top of her body and her panties covering the bottom made her feel sexy and bountiful.
“Now this,” he said, stepping back so that he could watch her.
She lifted her arms above her head and slowly slid the silk and lace garment up her body. She heard his breath catch when her breasts were revealed, and by the time she’d pulled it completely off, he was back between her thighs, his mouth moving over her breast, kissing, licking and finally suckling her. She held his head close, weaved her fingers into his hair and held him to her.
He suckled both breasts in turn and the flesh between her thighs ached for his touch. Shifting forward, she rubbed herself against his hardened sex, felt him straining against the zipper.
“Lift your butt, sweetheart.”
She did, and he slid her undergarment and skirt down her legs, crouching to finish removing them. Taking an ankle in each hand, he spread her legs open and stared up at her. Embarrassed, she tried to cover herself. But he stood and kissed her on the lips.
“Don’t. You’re so beautiful.”
He whispered in her ear the things he wanted to do to her. The ways he wanted to touch her and how that made him feel like he was going to explode.
“Okay?” he asked, his voice deep and sexy.
Incapable of speech, she nodded.
He bent his head and touched her most private area with his mouth. At first just a soft touch of lips. Then he used his tongue and teeth. She rocked against his mouth, felt the tidal wave coming but didn’t want to be washed away without him. Wanted to feel his heartbeat next to hers.
“Nick, come with me.”
He stood and grappled in his pocket while she freed his erection. He was hot to the touch. “Not yet, Lila.”
“Do you have protection this time?”
“Hell, yes.”
He pulled a condom from his pocket, removed his pants and underwear, then sheathed himself and thrust into her, slowly, carefully finding his way until he was buried completely inside her body. She was so full of him. He rocked against her with building speed, his eyes watching hers, his hands gripping her hips, his chest rubbing against the aching points of her nipples.
“Come on, sweetheart,” he said.
He bent his head and suckled on her neck, rocking harder and harder against her until everything in her body tightened and her body clenched around him. She couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think as Nick tilted her hips up and thrust so deeply she was sure he touched her womb. Then she felt him tense and watched as his climax washed through his body.
He cradled her close to him, held her as if he’d never let her go. And then, as they both came back down to earth, he lifted her high against his chest and carried her into her bedroom where he made love to her again before falling asleep in her arms. And Lila knew that he was on his way to falling in love with her. Knew that only a man who cared deeply for a woman would hold her so possessively, even in sleep. Knew that she’d found her man and her chance at happiness.
But could she convince him of that?
Seven
Lila wasn’t really a morning person. That became glaringly apparent as she grumbled around her apartment trying to hurry him out the door. Nick took his time, kind of enjoying seeing this side of Lila.
He propped himself up on an elbow as she emerged from her shower. Her skin was still damp and waves of humidity filled the room. The scent of flowers surrounded him and he felt his morning erection harden even more. Damn, he wished she hadn’t scurried out of bed when the alarm clock had rung.
She struggled into a red velvet robe that brought out the creamy freshness of her skin. She haphazardly piled her hair on top of her head and glared at him as she caught him smiling at her in the mirror.
He knew he should be worried about getting to work, but right now, he felt he had all the time in the world.
She left the bedroom and returned a minute later with a pile of his clothing. She tossed it on the end of the bed. “Aren’t you going to get out of bed?”
He climbed to his feet and slowly put on his clothing. Aware of her gaze on him while he dressed, he glanced over his shoulder and she flushed before turning away.
“I don’t have time to fix breakfast so you’re on your own.” She opened her closet, and he watched her careful selection. She pulled out several different outfits, held each against her body and then finally decided on one of her most severe suits.
He didn’t like it. She’d chosen to wear full battle armor. The sharp black suit was one of his least favorites now that he thought about it. She always was a little harder to get along with when she wore it. He felt that it was akin to a cast-iron bra and spear. In fact, those things would seem tame next to the black suit.
It made him want to pull her back into his arms and tame her in a very masculine way. To stake a claim on her that the clothing couldn’t cover and she couldn’t deny. But he knew from the way she kept scowling at him that she wouldn’t tolerate any sort of delays.
“I’ll buy you something if you ride with me to work,” he said, slipping his cuff links into his pants pocket.
She frowned at him. “I can’t.”
He kne
w why. Despite the bonds that had been created between them, she still didn’t want anyone to know that she was sleeping with him. Part of him, the callous part, didn’t mind. If she were using him for sex, he’d take it. But another, deeper part minded.
“You rode to work with me last week and no one said anything.”
“That was different.” She went into her walk-in closet to dress. She’d gone in the soft, sweet woman who’d welcomed him into her home and bed late last night and came out a superwoman. Capable of anything and not needing a mere man in her life.
“How?” he asked.
“We hadn’t…you know.” There was the woman he’d held in his arms. The one who got flustered whenever she tried to talk about things like sex and pregnancy.
She blushed so prettily. Looked so sexy and tempting that he wanted to pull her into his arms and carry her back to bed. But he really had to leave if he was going to make it to the office on time.
“If we had the time, I’d tempt you back to bed.”
“Maybe I’d let you.” The teasing look he received was unexpected but took the edge off what he’d been feeling.
He stalked closer to her, kissed her with the passion he’d been trying to redirect since she’d left him alone in her bed. She squirmed in his embrace, bringing her hands to the back of his head and standing on her toes.
“You’d let me,” he said, coming up for air.
“I guess we’ll never really know. You have to leave or you’ll be late.” He tried to tell himself she didn’t sound smug, but he didn’t believe it.
“If you hadn’t spent all this time rushing me out of your bed, we’d have been able to make love again this morning.”
She frowned at him until he reluctantly donned his suit jacket and headed for the door. She paced to the window and pulled the curtain back.
“Oh, my God.”
“What’s the matter? Did someone vandalize my car?”
“Why did you park it there?”
“Where else would I park?”
“I don’t know. Not there. Everyone who drives by will see it.”
“It’s not like there’s a big flashing neon sign over it, Lila.”
“But some of the girls who live here work at Colette. They might recognize your car.”
“So?”
“I like to think of them as my friends.”
“My Porsche out front won’t change that.”
“Yes,” she said, quietly. “It will.”
“You have to stop worrying about what others think. If these women give you a hassle about me spending the night then they aren’t your friends.”
“They won’t have to say anything. But I’ll know.”
“Lila, believe in yourself and your choices. You’re the only one you can please. Believe me, I learned that a long time ago.”
“From your parents?”
“In an indirect way.”
“Don’t you ever wish you had someone else to lean on?”
“No. Then I’d have a liability.”
“Caring about people isn’t a liability.”
“It can be,” he said, and walked out the door. Lila would never understand how those softer emotions could chain a man until he couldn’t stand on his own.
Lila was still shaken two hours later by what Nick had revealed on his way out the door. The office was still abuzz with rumors and speculation. Lila wished she’d called in sick so she wouldn’t have to face Nick today. But he was busy in meetings anyway.
Caring is a liability. The words circled in her head like vultures, and she tried to calm herself, but she knew that they were pecking the heck out of her relationship with Nick. They didn’t really have a relationship when you got down to it. What they had was hot sex once in awhile.
She leaned back in her chair and wrapped her arms around her body. She knew she was taking a gamble, hoping she could teach him to love, but she’d never realized how great the risk was. Until now.
Picking up the phone she dialed her mom’s number. She needed to let the joy and love her mother felt for her wash over her. But her mom was at work and Lila got the machine. She didn’t leave a message and hung up not feeling as if she’d resolved anything.
The brooch Rose had given her was pinned to her lapel. The gems shone brighter against the stark black backdrop. She’d worn the suit because it made her feel professional and in control. It also made her feel invincible.
Which hadn’t helped at all when Meredith had mentioned hearing a man’s voice in the hall last night. Was it someone visiting her or Mr. Parkes who lived in 3B? Lila pretended it was Mr. Parkes, but she’d hated lying.
Then again, she’d hate to lose the friendship she’d started with the women in her apartment building because she was having an affair with her boss. Damn, it sounded like a cliché but it felt real. Too real sometimes.
She wasn’t ashamed of anything she’d done with Nick the night before, wasn’t really ashamed to have others know they were seeing each other. But she was uncomfortable with the fact that he’d pretty much told her he’d never marry her.
The phone rang. “Nick Camden’s office, this is Lila.”
“This is the seniors’ center. Is Mr. Camden there?”
“He’s in a meeting. Can I take a message?”
“Yes, please have him call right away.”
“What’s this regarding?”
“Mr. McKee.”
“What happened?”
“A minor stroke, but we couldn’t get in touch with his son, and Mr. Camden is our second contact. Mr. McKee’s at the hospital now. Having family around at his age can really make a difference.”
“Yes…I’ll let him know. Right away.” She hung up the phone.
Lila’s legs were shaking. She didn’t want to pass the message on to Nick but knew she had to. He was in the building, probably on the executive level in the boardroom. She’d page him.
She typed a bland message into his alpha pager for him to call her right away and three minutes later he walked in the door. He looked hurried and stressed but not tired. In fact, a gleam entered his eye when he saw her. She thrilled at seeing it there.
Focusing herself on preparing to tell him bad news was hard. She never knew the right thing to do. “Sorry to pull you out of the meeting.”
“I was hoping you would. What’s up?”
“Oh, gosh. Nick sit down.”
The gleam left his eyes and his shoulders straightened. He skimmed her body, staring for a minute at her stomach. “Just tell me your news.”
Her news? She wouldn’t page him out of a meeting to tell him she’d started her period. “It’s not my news, Nick.”
“Lila, I’m tired because we didn’t sleep much last night. I want you on my desk again and I have to get back to that meeting before tempers explode and irreparable damage is done. Just tell me why you paged me.”
“The seniors’ center called. Mr. McKee had a stroke. He’s at the hospital.”
His face didn’t go ashen. In fact, no emotion was revealed there at all. Instead he shut down. Lila was ready to offer the comfort of her arms, but the man standing before her was a stranger. And not someone who’d welcome solace from her.
“I’m going over there. Call Judy, Xavier’s secretary, and tell her I won’t be coming back today. Then ask Phillips to call me in the car. I’ll brief him on what’s going on and he can attend the afternoon session of meetings with the board.”
She picked up the phone and made the calls. She finished just as Nick came out of his office, briefcase in hand.
“I’ve got my pager and cell phone. If you need me, don’t hesitate to call.”
“Nick, is there anything I can do?” she asked, wishing she could go with him, even if only to sit next to him in the waiting room. But she had a job to do here.
“No,” he said, with a finality that made her ache.
She touched his arm as he walked by her. Nick glanced down at her hand on his jacket sleeve. “
He’ll be okay.”
“No, Lila, he won’t. He’ll never be the same again even if he recovers.”
“They said minor stroke,” she said.
“But the message was the same,” he said, taking her hand in his and pulling her closer.
“What message?” she asked. His eyes revealed the pain that he hid through confidence and disdain.
“Life is unexpected,” he muttered.
Yes, it is, she thought. Because she’d never have expected Nick to be the kind of person who’d care so deeply about an elderly man. She’d never have expected Nick to want more than one night with her. She’d never have expected that Colette’s problems would seem small compared to what was happening in her own life.
“That’s not a bad thing.”
“It’s not a good thing, either.”
“I know you don’t believe that, Nick,” she said, not willing to let him leave unchallenged.
“Yes, I do.”
“What we have is unexpected,” she said, and immediately wished she could call back the words.
He stared at her for a moment then moved to the door. “It’s not lasting, either.”
His words echoed in her mind as he walked away. She sank to her chair, telling herself that he was hurting right now. That the only adult who’d cared about him in his childhood was sick, and it was anger that made him react. But in her heart she feared that those words reflected feelings she couldn’t change.
The luminous dial on his watch read eleven o’clock. Visiting hours had ended a few hours ago, and Nick had been relegated to the hallway waiting area. The waiting area was light, with big fluorescent lamps that seemed too bright for the ICU.
Nick rubbed his eyes and leaned back against the wall. Buster was flying in from Hawaii, but it would be about six hours until he arrived. Nick had assured his friend he’d stay. There were some debts that he’d go to any length to repay.
Some Kind 0f Incredible (20 Amber Court Book 2) Page 7