Into the Fire - Leslie Kelly [38]
Lacey slowly sat up, her legs dangling off the edge of the table. Bracing her palms on the wood surface, she took a few deep breaths as she studied his face. His words were light and simple, but she read more in his expression. There was need there. Heat, emotion and unfulfilled desire.
She'd been his for the asking. He knew it as well as she did. And he'd been as ready as she had—still was, if the obvious bulge in his jeans was any indication. Yet he'd stopped. "You know, if a woman had done what you just did, she'd be called a tease."
"I'm not trying to tease you, Lacey," he replied. "I'm dying to finish what we started." As if to illustrate that fact, he stepped closer until his straining zipper brushed against her leg. She shivered. "But not at the risk of it having no meaning."
Lacey watched him wait for her decision. She came close, so damn close, to grabbing him by the shoulders and pulling him down onto the table. The choice was in her hands. He'd stepped back to let her breathe, let her think, let her brain engage.
It did. Damn.
Mentally acknowledging she was not going to pull him back down on top of her, Lacey didn't know whether to thank him or smack him. Nate obviously saw her decision. He stepped to the sink, bent over and splashed some water on his face.
By the time he turned around, Lacey had slid off the table, nearly groaning as she tugged her cotton shorts away from the achingly tender, wet flesh between her thighs. Her entire body thrummed with energy, wanting to strain toward him, needing the release he could provide. She remained still.
"I guess we should get to work on the assignment," she said softly. "This would have … well, it would have been…" Amazingly perfect? Beyond imagination? "…awkward."
Nate didn't move toward her, simply turned and met her eyes from the other side of the kitchen. "No, Lacey." His intensity unnerved her as he let his gaze travel over her entire body, from swollen lips to shaky legs. "It would have been just as incredible as it was Friday night. Maybe even better. Better than either one of us has been fantasizing about since the minute we met."
Then he turned and walked out the door.
* * *
Chapter 6
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N ate Logan starred in Lacey's dreams that night. Images of endless kisses, erotic touches and wildly seductive positions filled the long, dark hours. She was finally shaken awake by a shockingly intense orgasm that forced her to sit up in bed to catch her breath, wondering what the hell had happened!
The possibility of climaxing in her sleep had never even occurred to her. Then again, Lacey hadn't exactly had a great deal of sexual experience. Until last Friday, with Nate, she'd only ever had a sum total of three boyfriends. Sex had been involved in only one of those three relationships. Not horrible sex, but not great sex, either, which had helped Lacey realize she hadn't really loved him. All in all, she'd been left unfulfilled and confused about the whole concept of a mind-blowing orgasm. She'd felt nothing that came even close to mind-blowing. Since she'd also never felt completely comfortable taking care of things herself, Lacey figured she'd just wait for her soul mate to make the earth move for her.
Nate Logan was definitely not her soul mate. So how did he make the earth move? Not just Friday, but in my dreams?
"He didn't," she told herself, ending the mental argument. "Friday night was bound to happen after having no sex for such a long time. Could have happened with anyone!" As for her dreams, well … they were just dreams. The fact that he'd starred in them was irrelevant. They were simply a little gift from her subconscious to her body. Her reaction wasn't so surprising since she'd been on the edge for days.
Okay, yes, dammit, she'd admit one thing, Nate had put her on the edge. So much so that she had been highly tempted to do some experimenting on her own, if only to relieve the intense need in her body. She wanted him, no question about it. Wanted his mouth and his hands, not to mention his deliciously hard…
"Knock it