Golden Lies - Barbara Freethy [132]
"You're not going to make this easy, are you?"
"No way."
"I'm sorry, Riley. I was wrong. My family is basically pretty sick. I shouldn't have defended them. I shouldn't have asked you to leave. I was afraid." She drew in a deep breath. "I hope that maybe you can forgive me."
"Why? Because Paige Hathaway always gets what she wants?"
"No, because Paige Hathaway has finally found a man worth loving, and she really doesn't want to lose him because she was stupid."
His mouth tightened, and she could see a battle going on in his eyes. She didn't know if he was fighting himself or her. "You should have left well enough alone," he said harshly. "I told you before this wasn't going anywhere."
"I can't accept that," she said simply. "I love you, Riley. You don't have to say it back. You don't even have to feel it. I'm feeling enough for both of us right now. Just give me a chance to show you what kind of person I really am." She crossed her arms in front of her breasts. "Did you happen to notice that I'm naked?"
"I noticed."
"What do you think about that?"
"I think you're pulling out all the stops."
"That's right. Whatever it takes, I'm willing to do it."
"Anything I want, huh?"
She swallowed back a knot of nervousness. "Anything. I'm just hoping that anything includes making love to you."
"Oh, it definitely includes that."
"Good." She saw a teasing light blossom in his eyes and felt the ugly tension between them dissolve. "Now, let's see how willing you are." She walked over and grabbed the towel he was holding in front of himself. "Not bad. I know you're a guy, and it doesn't take much."
"Just you," he said on a husky note.
She tossed the towel on the floor with her clothes, liking the way it fell on top of her bra and panties. That's where she wanted Riley to be—on top of her, inside of her, all around her. Their eyes locked in a moment of complete and utter intimacy.
His arms came around her body. His mouth claimed hers in a hard, passionate kiss. His hands cupped her bottom, puffing her into the heat she was craving. She was on fire, one burning need fueling every action. She wanted to get closer, but instead of letting her pull him into her very willing body, Riley took a step back, his breath ragged.
"We gotta slow down."
"No." She reached for him again, but he sidestepped.
"Patience, princess." He reached into the drawer by his bed and pulled out a foil-wrapped square packet. "Why don't you open this for me?"
She'd never done that before. What an odd realization that was. She smiled at Riley, then ripped open the foil packet with her teeth. She laughed at the astonished expression on his face, then moved forward until her body was only inches from his. She cupped him, hearing a deep groan of appreciation as she slid the condom on. "Is there anything else I can do for you?" she whispered.
"Hell, yes." He backed her up against the wall, gripped her bottom with his hands, and raised her until she could slide right down on top of him, taking him deep inside.
He filled her completely—and not just her body but her heart and her soul. She closed her eyes as they began to move in absolutely perfect unison.
* * *
Paige was sleeping on him, her head on his chest, her arm flung across his waist, her leg over his, as if she wasn't planning to let him go any time soon. And that certainly wasn't a problem, since he didn't want to let her go, either. He couldn't believe she'd come into his apartment, stripped down, and offered herself to him. He'd spent most of the previous night trying to convince himself she was all wrong, and here they were—back where they'd been yesterday. Because she was a beautiful, generous person, he realized. Because he cared about her more than he had ever thought possible.
"I can hear you thinking," Paige whispered. "Your heart started beating a little faster. What are you thinking about?"
"You," he muttered.
She raised her head and looked into his eyes. "Really?"
"You had a hell of a lot of nerve coming here like you did. How did you get in, anyway?"