Tough Love
Page 14Stack halfheartedly dried himself, then wrapped the towel around his waist.
“Modest?”
“Prudent.” He opened the first-aid kit. “Let me see your arm.”
“It’s fine.” She didn’t want to take time messing with it.
“Sure it is. It also needs to be wrapped.”
Deciding it wasn’t worth a debate, Vanity obediently rested her arm on the sink counter. “Here you go, doc.”
“So now we’re playing doctor?” He cupped her breast, moved his thumb over her nipple. “I could get into that.”
Still supersensitive, she gasped and stepped out of reach. “No, I meant...” She saw his knowing smile and frowned. “Never mind. Just do what you need to do.”
“Yes, darlin’.” With exaggerated focus, he liberally dabbed ointment on the burn before wrapping it in gauze.
As he worked, Vanity watched him. “I’m not modest.”
The damp towel did little to conceal his erection, so, yes, she’d noticed him noticing. “I’m not all that prudent either.”
“You go after what you want.” He was careful not to get the gauze too tight. “I like that.”
She laughed. “You like it because it’s you I want.”
“There is that.” He finished and closed the first-aid kit. Taking her chin, he tipped her face this way and that while examining her hair.
“What are you doing?”
“Your hair has factored into some hot fantasies. I want it loose.” Frowning in concentration, he figured out how to open the big clip, and her hair fell free. He worked his fingers through it a few times. “Better.”
Without another word he removed his towel, picked her up in his arms, and headed for the bed.
“We’re finally doing this?”
“A minute more and I’d have been a goner.”
“I want to be inside you. I want to feel you squeezing me when you come again.”
Wow, he made her blood burn. “Again, huh?”
“Definitely.” He lowered her to the bed and straightened to stand over her. After studying every inch of her, he went for his pants.
Vanity watched until he pulled several silver packets from his pocket. “You have condoms in your tux pants?”
“Wanted to make sure I was prepared when you decided you were ready.” He set them on the nightstand with two cell phones and his wallet, traveled his gaze over the length of her body, and slowly lowered himself down beside her.
CHAPTER THREE
THE WAY VANITY looked at him, with those big blue eyes all dark and consuming, it was a wonder he could think long enough to grab the condoms.
Soon as he settled on the bed, she reached for him. She did that a lot, and damn, but he loved it. There was something about the way she continually wanted him against her, as if her pleasure depended on it. She didn’t just want the fast convenient fuck she’d first hinted at back when they’d started this little game of cat and mouse.
She went out of her way to play it off, to deny it by her attitude and actions, but she wanted him. Him, specifically.
Women had chased him before, women who were also hot—built, pretty, brazen.
Vanity was different in a dozen ways. He wasn’t sure of the differences, just that they affected him a lot.
“What is it about you?” he asked her while again holding her back.
Her shoulders relaxed in his hands as she sank into the plush comforter on her bed, her gorgeous blond hair everywhere. She shook her head, and in a voice as sultry as her eyes, she whispered, “I don’t know what you mean.”
No artifice. The lady had to know of her own killer good looks, but she didn’t show it, didn’t expect men to fawn over her. Overall, she seemed to think it didn’t matter.
And maybe that was part of it. She was somehow more real than other beautiful women.
“I can’t put my finger on it yet.” Stack’s attention went back to her body stretched out beside his. “But there are other, better places for my fingers right now anyway.”
“Stack,” she complained on a groan. “No more teasing, okay?”
“I’m dead serious, believe me.” Opening his hand over her lush breast, he cuddled her. Overall she had a light tan. But not here, not on her breasts. The contrast of her pale, velvet skin under his darker, rougher hand ramped up the fever.