Chapter 7
Luke followed her up to her hotel room, and as much as she was tempted to argue, she didn’t. Though, she was worried about her name being splashed all over tabloids as the author trying to get ahead by dating a young, hot actor.
Too much time with him, and she would wind up in a grocery store tabloid. She’d seen his face a million times when checking out. Not that she paid much attention to them, but she couldn’t miss his gorgeous smile, those smoldering eyes. And when his hair grew out, he had thick dark curls.
Inside, she turned to Luke. “Let me get ready. I’ll be back in a second.”
He nodded, even as he traced her body with his eyes. Damn, that made her feel sexy. She started to believe he may actually want her.
Shutting herself in the bedroom, she changed into a bikini and a grabbed a wrap. She filled a messenger bag with a pair of jeans, T-shirt, and extra sandals. Then slipped on a pair of flip-flops, tossed the sunblock in the bag, and put her sunglasses on before stepping into the room.
He turned and trailed his eyes over every inch of her. She stood there, defiantly, trying not to shrink under his stare. A little backbone could go a long way, as long as she held on to it.
“God, you’re gorgeous,” he purred.
Wait, what? “You’re kidding, right?”
His eyes narrowed as he closed the distance. “Not in the slightest. Why don’t you believe me?”
“The women you work with? I mean…” Glancing away, she tried to come up with anything logical, but had nothing.
Then his mouth was beside her ear, his breath fanning her neck. “I’m not with the women I work with, Leona. I’m here, turned on by you. I’m so damned hard all I can think about is stripping you down, pushing you over the couch so I can show you how badly I want you.”
Flushing, she gulped. No one had ever been so forward with her. She wrote it plenty, but her experience was limited to Russell, who wasn’t a bad lover by any means, but he wasn’t very adventurous. She’d been the instigator ninety percent of the time.
Leona got lost in Luke’s heated gaze. His big hand wrapped around her waist and she bit her lip as he moved closer. “Do you really think you’re unattractive?”
She shook her head. “No, but I don’t compare to the women you’re used to.”
Shaking his head, he tugged her against him and dropped his mouth to hers in a slow-burning kiss that stole her breath. And yeah, he was hard, because of her.
Falling into the kiss, she skated her hands up his chest, around his neck, and into his thick, short curls. He gripped her ass and deepened the kiss.
Then he broke away, panting. “Got to go if we’re going. Otherwise, I’m going to move too damned fast to really enjoy you.”
Closing her eyes, she breathed deeply. His scent and cologne mingled, fogging her brain. That kiss, how was she supposed to argue with that?
“All right.” Didn’t even matter what she was agreeing to. They had no future. She lived across the country, and he was an actor in high demand. Neither had time for more than a fling.
And like Mona said, she needed to start living. And maybe that was her problem. She wrote about people living life, but other than putting her stories out there, what had she really done just because she wanted to?
He wants me.
I want him.
Doesn’t need to be anything more than a good time.
No expectations, no strings, just fun.
I can do this. I deserve it. Why the hell not?
“How long are you in town for?” he asked, stepping back.
She lifted a shoulder. “Why?”
“Because I’ll chase if I have to.”
A nervous laugh bubbled up. “You’d follow me?”
“Yeah, until we figure out what this is.”
Her brow pinched. “Not sure yet. I didn’t know how long I’d be here for negotiations.”
“Then I have time.” He took her hand and pulled her toward the door. “You ready?”
She didn’t have a response, so she nodded.
* * * *
Ryan’s going to say I lost my damned mind. Maybe I have.
Whatever, Luke wasn’t ready to analyze shit. Every time he got near Leona, the craving got worse. He had every intention of sating the desire as many times as he could.
For the moment, he wanted to get to know her. Figure out what made her smile. He wanted to see her lost in desire. Before the day was done, he hoped to get inside her. She was different. The desire wasn’t going to dissipate after only one kiss.
Leona grew quieter with each passing moment.
“What’s going through your head, Leona?”
She let out a short laugh. “These homes are insane. I feel so out of place.”
“Mine’s not so crazy. We’re driving past some of the more extravagant homes to the normal ones.”
“Define normal,” she muttered.
He glanced over. “You’ll see.”
They pulled up to his modest two-bedroom house. And sure, he may have gone overboard on the entertainment system and the library. However, he had a feeling she’d like the library.
She climbed out of the car before he had a chance to get out. He hurried to let them in.
Inside, he turned to her. “So, tell me about life at home?”
She glanced over. “I’m pretty boring. I go to the gym. Spend the rest of my time writing. And when I’m not, I’m reading, or hiking, maybe watching a movie.”
“That sounds like a good life.”
“Ninety percent of it is writing, which I love, but the actual writing is me in a chair, somewhere with my laptop.”
“Now that you’re no longer married, you could travel anywhere, anytime, and still write on the go.”
Leona sighed and stared out the window.
“Do you want him back?” God, he hoped not. That would kill any chance he might have with her.
Her eyes widened as she faced him. Then she shook her head with a sneer. “No. I wasted too many years trying to pull us back together, but I should have realized we grew apart for a reason.”
That was pure relief. “For what it’s worth, I’m sorry.”
She swept her hair behind her ear. “Don’t be. I don’t want to talk about him because I don’t want to think about how empty the last few years were.”
“Sounds like he’s jealous of your success.”
She rolled her eyes. “He said I killed romance because he can never compare to the men I write about. Because somehow, the stories I write translate into what I want. Not the case, but he never understood that.”
Capturing her hand, he ran his thumb over her silky flesh. “If anything, your books would push me to try harder.”
Her eyes delved into him, the corners of her mouth lifting. “Would they, now?”
“Hmm. I imagine you like the idea of at least most of the sexy parts. I’d want to find ways to inspire even more out of you.”
Blushing, she glanced away.
Yup, he was getting to her. And damn him, but he wanted to be her muse for a chapter or two.
“What’s going on in that head of yours?”
She sighed. “You’re running my imagination ragged.”
“Good, because I can’t get you off my mind.”
Tapping her head, she huffed. “You’re already in my head. I’m trying to shut up the million questions pelting me and just roll with whatever this is.”
“You’re all I thought about all night,” he admitted. “I was trying to figure out which character you’re closest to.”
Now she laughed. “So many of them have pieces of me. None of them are me.”
“Figured that. Which is why I figure one has to be the closest.”
“It’s not that simple.”
“I get that. It’s the same with how I play characters. I have to get into that headspace, and usually I can call on experiences, other times, how books have made me feel.”
“Really?” Her head tipped and those gorgeous dark eyes captured his.
“A good book pulls you into another world. You experience everything with the characters.”
“Movies do the same, maybe not as immersive. They’re over too soon, but they do invoke the same kind of feelings.”
Luke nodded. “A different medium, but you’re right, movies are a couple hours, then it’s over.”
Smiling, she moved away, taking in his home. “Okay, I know I shouldn’t make assumptions. Sorry.”
“Why?”
Shaking her head, she muttered, “I’m an ass.”
He pulled her toward him. “Why? Because you assumed I would have gone for something fancier? I could have. But most of that space would go to waste. And then I’d have to clean it.” He shook his head. “Not worth the trouble.”
“You could hire a maid,” she offered.
He made a distasteful. “Nope, that’s just strange to me. My parents taught me to clean my room, do the dishes. I can handle all the stuff I need for this house.”
“You cook?”
He nodded. “I’m no gourmet chef, but yeah, I can cook a decent meal.”
“I’m impressed.”
He shook his head. “When you’re on your own, you get to learn to do things on your own. You might notice that I’m driving a Prius, not something super expensive or fancy. I’m more practical than that.” Most of the time. He did have a nice car for events, but he didn’t drive the Jaguar too often.
“I did notice,” she answered.
“So why is it so hard to believe I want you?”
“After that kiss, it’s not.”
“I’ll be right back.” Tempted as he was to bring her with him, he wanted to pace this. Too fast, and he’d scare her away.