Rayne

I jerked to a stop, my hand tugging Nick’s, causing him to halt and turn around. I stared at him disbelievingly. His face was set in a stubborn expression; eyes narrowed, lips mashed into a straight line.

“I must have misunderstood you,” I practically sputtered. “It sounded like you said the place where I pay rent and sleep, isn’t my home. I realize it’s temporary—”

“You heard me right,” he interrupted, his blue eyes glinting with determination.

“You want me to stay with you for the rest of the time I’m in town?”

“I want you to stay with me.” I tried to drop his hand, but he tightened his grip.

“But we just met two days ago!”

He shrugged. “Irrelevant. I’m taking you to the place where you belong.”

Again with the contradiction. The man towing me toward his sensible, silver car was demanding that a woman he barely knew come home with him. Share his space.

After the night we’d shared, I wasn’t opposed to sleeping with him again. In fact, just the thought had my girl parts whirling around while throwing confetti. But, actually moving in? Even temporarily? The intimacy made me feel vulnerable and that scared the shit out of me.

Nick suddenly yanked my arm and I stumbled into his embrace. “I know you want to be with me again, baby.” His head dipped, and he kissed the side of my neck before sliding his lips up to my jaw, then over my cheek to my ear. “I bet you’re soaking wet at just the thought of the things I’ll do to you.”

For the first time ever, butterflies erupted in my stomach. I was not a butterfly kind of girl. I was hard edges, confidence, and a badass. The fluttering in my belly was just another reason why I should tell him he was going home alone. Although the thought of my empty bed, in my tiny apartment, was a little depressing after the night I spent with Nick.

“Babe, this isn’t a discussion.” He took my chin between his thumb and index finger, locking our eyes. “I’m telling you what’s happening.”

On behalf of all women, I knew I should protest his arrogant demands and cocky attitude. The problem was…I found it unbelievably hot. Nick was nothing like the guys I usually went for, so it baffled me a little that I found him so utterly sexy and secretly loved it when he went possessive and alpha on me.

“Okay,” I agreed coolly. Despite the nervousness brimming just under my surface. “It’s only for a couple of weeks, right?” I laughed.

Nick didn’t say anything as he unlocked his car and opened the door for me. I lowered myself into the passenger seat and rapidly inhaled when he leaned over to buckle me in. His delicious scent filled my lungs and I squeezed my legs together to try and alleviate the ache.

As he retreated, his smug smile made it clear he knew the effect he had on me. I scowled and stared out the windshield. Get it together Summers. I lectured myself silently. You’re not the kind of chick who gets mushy over a guy.

Except…I so was when it came to Nick. He gave me a scorching look before facing forward and pulling out onto the road, then clasped our hands and placed a kiss on my knuckles before resting them on his thigh.

I decided the wicked witch of the west didn’t know what melting really was because she’d never been on the receiving end of Nick’s sweetness or his passion.

We sat in comfortable silence for the ride to his house. He parked the car in the garage and came around to open my door. Hand in hand, we walked out of the garage and across the yard to the side door. Nick stopped in the kitchen and grabbed two bottles of water from the fridge, then ushered me up the stairs to the master bedroom.

Memories of the night before assaulted me and I shivered. Nick’s arms wrapped around me from behind and since my hair was in a braid, he was able to place several small kisses on the back of my exposed neck. He inhaled deeply.

“You smell amazing,” he mumbled. When I felt his tongue slide across my skin, I gasped and instinctively bent my head to give him better access. “You taste even better.”

His hands splayed over my abdomen for a moment; then one traveled up to cup one of my breasts while the other went down and cupped my sex.

“Fuck, I want you,” he growled.

Leaving a scorching trail behind, the hand between my legs glided up and deftly popped the button on my jeans. He slowly lowered the zipper and his fingers dipped into my underwear. I was so wet; these panties were definitely ruined.

That’s when I realized we hadn’t stopped by my place to grab anything. “Nick,” I rasped. “I didn’t bring anything.”

Nick chuckled, his hot breath brushing across my neck. “You don’t need anything. In fact, I prefer you in nothing.”

“I—um—” He was distracting me with his touches, and I could barely string words together. “Work—tomorrow—oh!”

“I’ll go in late tomorrow and take you to change and pack up all of your stuff.” He pulled me back so I was flush against him and I felt his hard length pressing into my ass. “Now, if you’re still thinking about anything but me and what I’m doing to you, I’m clearly not doing my job.”

It didn’t take long for him to succeed in his goal, scattering all of my thoughts until my head, my body, my soul, were filled with nothing but him.

Later, as I lay naked and sated, sprawled over him; his fingers traced circles on my back.

“Rayne,” he said softly. I lifted my head to see him watching me, his face serious. “No more running away from me.”

I nodded. “I shouldn’t have left like I did this morning,” I admitted. “I promise not to sneak out again.”

He seemed like he was going to say something else but decided not to and instead, cupped my face and guided me up so he could kiss me deeply.

When he finally dragged his lips away from mine, he locked his beautiful blue eyes with mine. “One more thing.” I canted my head to the side and raised an eyebrow, waiting. “While I’m your man, I am your only man.”

I drew my brows down in disappointment. “Oh…my husband won’t be happy to hear that.”