“What if I do?” She moved in closer.
“Then you’re crazy.”
“That’s been said before,” she admitted, tipping her head to one side to stare up at him. “You are seriously the most irritating man...”
“Good,” Liam told her. “Hold that thought.”
“...and the most gorgeous man I’ve ever met.”
He stifled a groan. He really didn’t need the complication that could rise up from whatever was happening here, so he brushed that aside with a laugh. “Yeah, I’m a beauty.”
She reached up to slide the tips of her fingers across his bare chest, and he hissed in a breath in reaction.
“Why am I so drawn to you?”
He grabbed her hand to keep her from touching him again. “Temporary insanity.”
She grinned and her whole damn face lit up. Those eyes of hers were pulling him in, and Liam didn’t know how much longer he could resist what she was plainly offering. His gaze dropped to the towel again, and he found himself willing that knot to loosen.
“Looks like I’m not the only one temporarily crazy.”
He looked into her eyes again. “Maybe it’s contagious.”
“Wouldn’t that be nice?” She smiled and the curve of her mouth made him want to kiss her, drown in her.
He made one more attempt at extricating them both from the situation. “Chloe, don’t start up something you’ll regret later.”
She sighed and shook back her still-damp hair. “I don’t do regrets anymore, Liam. I live my life my way, and I don’t make apologies for it.”
“And I admire that,” he murmured as his gaze locked on the tip of her tongue sliding across her bottom lip. “But you and me? Hell, you’re starting something here that has nothing to do with that camp of yours.”
“I hope so,” she said, and moved in close enough that he could see down the gap of the towel to the swell of her breasts. His body clenched, and it took everything he had inside him to keep from grabbing hold of her and losing himself in her.
Then she pulled her hand free of his and laid both palms flat against his chest. She slid them up to his shoulders, to the back of his neck. At the same time, she went up on her toes and stopped when her mouth was just a breath from his.
“You want to talk about the camp,” she asked, “or...”
Liam looked down into those golden eyes, saw the soft curve of her smile and knew his personal fight was over. He hadn’t stood a chance against this since the moment he’d walked into her office.
“What camp?” he ground out and grabbed hold of her.
Four
This was a nightmare. When they found out, what would I do?
The storm was raging, so for right now, there were no worries. No one would discover what had been hidden. But when the storm ended...
What should I do then? God, how had it even happened? I lost control, that’s all. It was an accident. I had to remember that.
Beyond the window, the world was dark, but for the flashes of lightning. Rain swept down from the sky and flooded the streets, sending cars sailing along the road like colorful boats with no rudders. Emergency vehicles were out. Flashing red lights pierced the darkness.
And out there was the secret. Hidden now.
But for how long?
* * *
Screw complications. Liam didn’t give a good damn what happened after this moment in time with her. He’d wanted her since the instant he’d seen her. Since then, she’d irritated him, intrigued him and completely captivated him. And now, she was killing him.
His mouth covered hers and her soft gasp of pleasure filled him, rushing through his body, speeding along the licks of flame dancing in his bloodstream. His tongue parted her lips and she took him in, welcoming him with an eagerness that nearly did him in. She met him stroke for stroke as their tongues twisted together, leaving them both breathless.
Her hands slid up and down his bare back, her short, neat nails dragging along his skin, setting tiny fires everywhere she touched, and Liam had to have her. Fast. He tore the towel from her body. She gasped and tipped her head back as his hands covered her breasts, his thumbs and fingers tugging at her hardened nipples. He bent his head for a quick taste, then indulged himself by sliding his big hands down to cup her bottom and squeeze. She ground her hips against his groin, nearly sending him over the edge.
Hell, he hadn’t felt this randy since he’d had his first woman when he was sixteen and stupid. Stupid.
Warning bells went off in his mind and he pulled his head back, struggling for air. For control. Breathing hard, Chloe swallowed, licked her lips and looked up at him in stunned surprise.
“Why’d you stop?”
His chest was tight, his dick screaming and his mind was shattered, and still he managed to say, “No condoms. We can’t—”
She blew out a breath, tossed her drying hair out of her eyes and asked, “Are you healthy?”
“Of course I’m healthy,” he said, a little insulted. “Are you?”
“Sure am,” she said, grinning. “I’m also on birth control.”
“Hallelujah,” he muttered and grabbed hold of her again, keeping her pressed tightly to him. Then he spun around, put her back to the wall and reached down to undo his jeans. “No time, Chloe. Just no time at all to waste.”
“Agreed.” She lifted her legs, hooked them around his waist and held her breath, waiting. “Do it, Liam. Now.”
She didn’t have to wait long. Liam freed himself and in the next instant slammed his hard length deep inside her heat. It was like coming home. That was the only clear thought in his mind, then it shut down, drowned out by his body’s reaction to hers.
He kissed her, hard and long and deep. Their tongues came together again, frantically, desperately. Breath swished from one to the other and back again. Their bodies moved eagerly, hungrily, each of them chasing that elusive explosion of release. Chloe’s heels dug into the small of Liam’s back as she pulled him in deeper with every stroke.
He’d never had a woman like her. Never felt this incredible rush of heat and desire and satisfaction all at once. Never had a woman react like this, so wildly, so freely. He relished every gasp and sigh, the feel of her fingers clutching at his shoulders.
“Harder, Liam,” she urged. “Harder.”
He’d been holding back, not wanting to hurt her, but her broken plea snapped his internal restraints. Like a tiger slipping a leash, Liam charged. Again and again, he pounded away at her until both of their bodies were screaming with desperation.
Outside, the storm seethed in counterpoint to the storm raging between them. He looked into her eyes, watched them glaze over as she shrieked his name and her internal muscles clamped around him. He felt her climax as if it were his own and an instant later, he let go and emptied himself into her, riding that wave of release like a triumphant warrior.
Half-blind, breathless, he rested his forehead against hers and fought for air.
“Oh,” she said on a rush of breath, “that was...”
Liam nodded. She couldn’t find a word to describe what they’d just survived, and neither could he. It was enough to know it had happened. And would happen again. And again.
“Yeah,” Liam agreed. “It was.” Keeping their bodies locked together because damned if he wanted to pull away yet, he turned around, walked to the bed and sat down with her on his lap.
She tossed her head, throwing her hair back, and grinned at him. “Cowboy, if you can do that against a wall, I have to wonder what you can manage on a bed.”
Liam smiled back. Damned if he’d ever had a woman as sexually in tune with him as Chloe Hemsworth seemed to be. And that grin of hers was infectious. But his smile died away when she twisted her hips, grinding her body against his. He groaned tightly at the friction she created between them. His body b
urned anew, and in seconds he was ready to go again.
“Well, ma’am,” he drawled, staring into those magic eyes of hers, “why don’t we find out?”
He dropped one hand to her bottom and the other to the hot, wet center of her where their bodies were still joined. She jolted the instant his thumb stroked across that tight sensitive bud of flesh.
“Liam...” She moved on him, against him.
He stole a quick kiss and continued to use his hands to push her higher. “Damn, you feel good.”
Her eyes locked on his. “You know, I really do.”
He grinned. Hell, he’d never had this with a woman. The smiles, the laughs, the...connection. He liked it. All of it. But now wasn’t the time for thinking that through.
“Get out of those jeans,” she ordered on a whisper.
“Right.” Shifting slightly, Liam laid her down on the bed, pulled away from her and in seconds was out of his jeans and grabbing her up again.
“Oh,” she said softly, stroking her hands up and down his thighs, “that’s better.”
“Yeah, now I want a taste.” He dipped his head to take one of her nipples into his mouth.
“Oh, you can taste me as much as you like. You have a magic tongue, Liam...” Her fingers speared through his hair, holding his head to her, silently insisting that he not stop, that he take more. So he did. His lips, teeth and tongue worked that hardened, dark pink nipple until Chloe was writhing beneath him. He slid one hand down the length of her body and dipped one, then two fingers into her heat. Instantly, her hips came off the bed and rocked into his hand.
“Two can play this game,” she whispered. Then she did a little torturing of her own. She reached for him, curled her hand around his hard length and stroked him lightly until his eyes were burning from the fires within. When she curled her hand around him, rubbed her finger across the tip of him, Liam nearly lost it.
“No more games.” He pulled away, sat back on his haunches and drew her up and onto his lap. She went up on her knees and then slowly lowered herself onto him. Inch by agonizing inch she took him inside, and the whole while their eyes were locked, each of them watching the reactions of the other. That fire within him erupted into something wild and out of control. And he didn’t bother to try to stop it. Instead, he threw himself into the flames, dragging Chloe with him.
When she’d taken him in fully, she ground her hips against him, twisting, turning. He lifted her high enough to be able to take one hard nipple into his mouth. He wanted the taste of her filling him as completely as he was filling her.
She threw her head back, arched her spine and kicked up the rhythm she’d set. Together they moved in a rush of sensation, in a frantic need to recapture that release they’d both shared only minutes ago. He had to have it. Had to have her. Liam didn’t know how he could want so completely so quickly, but it didn’t matter. All that mattered was the next touch, the next kiss, the next taste.
His hands dropped to her hips as he steered her into an even faster rhythm. They were breathless now, and staring into each other’s eyes again. As if it meant life itself, neither of them spoke. Neither of them looked away. The only sounds in that room were their ragged breathing, the slap of two bodies coming together and the incessant slash of the rain against the windows. Thunder boomed out as an exclamation point when Chloe finally shouted his name, digging her fingernails into his shoulders.
He didn’t stop. Kept pushing on, higher, faster. Liam wanted her to come again, this time with him. And as the first eruptions in her body eased, he sensed her tightening all over again.
She shook her head, breathing hard. “Liam, I can’t...”
“Yeah. You can,” he whispered, burying his face in the curve of her neck, inhaling her scent, taking her inside him until every breath was flavored with her. “You will. Come with me, Chloe. Come again.”
Trembling, she clung to him, gasping as new need erupted inside her. He tasted her pulse, felt the rush of blood in her veins and the hammering of her heartbeat and knew she was close. So was he. Liam felt as if he’d explode if he didn’t let go, and still he maintained control. He knew if he held on only a moment longer, he’d feel their bodies shatter together. He was only half sane now, Liam thought. His mind was closing down. And it didn’t matter. Nothing mattered but the woman already screaming.
As she clutched his shoulders and helplessly rode him, Liam finally surrendered and a roar shot from his throat as his body joined hers in a tangled knot of need and release.
And in the silence following, they fell together.
* * *
They spent the night exploring each other, having a picnic of cheese, crackers and wine in bed, and finally each of them caught a couple of hours sleep near dawn. With the storm still raging, Chloe was now wrapped in a blanket in front of the fire staring at the man across from her.
A real cowboy, Liam had that look of supreme self-confidence about him, not to mention that he really was almost too gorgeous. Miles of muscled, tan flesh. Eyes that burned with passion and secrets she wished she could read. And holy hell, what he could do to her body. Chloe had never known a night like the one she’d just lived through. Never thought her body was capable of feeling so much. His passion, his tirelessness, bordered on magical.
Liam poured her another glass of wine and leaned back against the chair behind him. The lamps were burning against the storm’s darkness, and the fire sent flickering shadows into the room.
Chloe sipped at her wine, then took a bite of one of the sandwiches Liam had salvaged from the downstairs refrigerator. She really couldn’t believe everything that had happened since the day before. A simple meeting about the girls’ camp had become so much more. All because of the storm still huddling over Houston. Her gaze slipped to the window, where rain slapped the glass and flashes from the lightning made those drops shine like diamonds.
“Doesn’t look like it’s letting up anytime soon,” Liam said.
“We’re stuck here then.” Chloe looked at him. His dark brown hair was a little too long, which only gave him a dangerous look as the shadows and light of the fire danced across his features. The blanket he sat on was draped across his groin, leaving his tanned, muscled chest bare. Chloe sighed a little, remembering the feel of all that hard, hot flesh pressed against hers.
She’d never felt anything like she had with Liam. Okay, she hadn’t been with a lot of men, but she wasn’t exactly a timid virgin, either. And in her experience, Liam was...she had to admit, amazing. Instantly, her mind went back to the hours they’d spent together. Sex had always been nice. But sex with Liam was a life-changer. He made her feel so much she hadn’t been sure she could contain it all. And yet here she was, hours later, wanting more.
“Looks that way,” he said, looking away from the fire to lock gazes with her. His lake-blue eyes shimmered in the firelight and seemed to burn just as hot as the flames.
“I checked cell service while you were taking another shower,” he said. “Still nothing. And I’m guessing it’ll only get worse. We’ll lose power for sure. I’m only surprised it hasn’t happened yet.”
The instant he said it, the lights blinked off, and startled, Chloe half laughed. “You should use your power for good, not evil.”
One corner of his mouth quirked, and that action tugged at something inside her. “I’ll try to remember.” He glanced at the gas fire, still burning merrily. “We’ve got this for light, anyway. Want more wine?”
“Sure.” Wine for breakfast. This was new. But somehow, it was as if they were out of regular time, so who cared? She held her glass out and watched as he filled it with a gold liquid that shined in the glow of the fire. Then he filled his own glass and lifted it in a toast.
“Here’s to...storms and surprises.”
She smiled and took a sip, still staring into those mesmerizing eyes. “You surprised me, too.”
“Not exactly the way most meetings end up,” he acknowledged.
“Not mine, anyway,” she said, taking another sip of wine. Chloe sat quietly thinking for a second or two, then asked, “Do you hate the idea of a girls’ camp?”
He studied the wine in his glass for a long minute, before lifting his gaze to hers again. “Seriously? You want to talk now?”
She shrugged. “Well, we’re not exactly busy, are we?”
He nodded. “Not at the moment. Okay then. No, I don’t hate it. Hell, I understand it.”
“Really.” It wasn’t a question, but she wanted an explanation anyway.
He stretched out his legs, and Chloe’s gaze dipped briefly to where only a corner of the blanket now lay across his groin. She took a breath to cool the rush of heat to the pit of her stomach, but it didn’t help.
“Remember, I grew up on a ranch.” Then he drew one knee up and laid his forearm across it. The blanket shifted again, and Chloe forced herself to keep her gaze focused on his eyes.
“Did you always live on the Perry Ranch?”
He nodded. “Most of my life, yes. My dad was the foreman there, and he taught me everything he knew about ranching—and that was a hell of a lot.”
“Now I’ll be jealous,” she said, shaking her head. “I grew up taking piano lessons and dance lessons that would have served me well in eighteenth-century Vienna.”
He snorted a laugh, and Chloe realized she didn’t mind the sound so much anymore. “At least they also gave me riding lessons, so a part of my yearning to be a cowgirl was fed at the local stables once a week.”
He studied her over the rim of his wineglass, and Chloe wondered what he saw when he looked at her. “How did you come to be Sterling’s foreman?” she asked. “Was it handed down from your father?”
“In a way,” he said, taking another sip. “When my dad died, Sterling offered to put me through college if I came back after graduation to work off the debt.” He shrugged. “Seemed like a hell of a deal to me. So I went to MIT—”
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