He had said the first time could be emotional and she had laughed it off. But her emotions were shaken. Tumbled about. Confused by the storm of passion that had powered through her. Her body felt different. Her senses were turned to a different radar frequency. The glow of satiation fanned out over every inch of her flesh, each muscle and sinew softened in lassitude.
Daisy ran her hands up and down his spine, stroking and caressing the strongly muscled flesh, wondering if he had experienced anything out of the ordinary or if this was another day at the office, so to speak. She knew it would be foolish indeed to put too much significance on their lovemaking. Chemistry was chemistry. Some people connected well physically. It didn’t mean they were necessarily ideal partners, for so many other factors came into play in order to sustain a long-term relationship. That she had connected so well with Luiz might just be her inexperience clouding her judgement. He had so many partners to compare her to. He was probably measuring her by them even now.
After a long moment he lifted his head to look down at her. ‘I know what you’re thinking.’
Daisy traced the stubble that surrounded his mouth with one of her fingertips. ‘So tell me.’
His gaze went back and forth between each of her eyes. His eyes were so dark they looked like pools of black ink. ‘You want to know if it was different for me.’
She made herself hold his gaze but hoped she gave little away in her own. ‘Was it?’
He pushed back her hair from her face with a hand that was so gentle it felt like a feather. ‘It was.’
‘Because I was a virgin.’
‘Not just that.’
‘Then what?’
He sent his fingertip down the slope of her nose. ‘I’ve never made love to a woman like you.’
‘Fat, do you mean?’
He frowned. ‘Why are you so hard on yourself? You’re beautiful.’
Daisy wanted to believe him but years of self-doubt were not going to be erased that easily. She might have pranced around in that tiny bikini as if she didn’t have a care in the world but she had been sucking in her tummy the whole time. ‘I’m probably taking up twice the space in your bed as your other partners.’
His expression darkened as he moved away to deal with the condom. ‘That’s ridiculous.’
She rolled over to her stomach to watch as he went in search of his clothes. ‘You’re angry.’
He pulled on his jeans and zipped them up roughly. ‘No, I’m not.’
‘Then why are you frowning so heavily?’
He blew out a frustrated-sounding breath. ‘So I date models. Is that a crime?’
Daisy propped her chin on her folded over hands, seesawing her bent legs behind her. There seemed no point hiding her nakedness now. He’d seen all there was to see. Besides, lying on her tummy meant she didn’t have to concentrate on holding it in. ‘Why do you date them?’
He gave her a worldly look. ‘Why do you think?’
She rolled her lips together as she studied him thoughtfully. ‘I don’t think it’s about their looks. It’s their lifestyle. They’re on the move like you. Another city. Another hotel. Another catwalk. They’re free agents like you. That’s the appeal. They won’t make any demands on you.’
He gave a laugh as he reached for his shirt, thrusting his arms through and loosely buttoning it. ‘I must’ve been mad to approach you in the bar last night.’
Daisy widened her eyes. ‘Was it only last night? Gosh, I feel like I’ve known you for ever.’
He snatched up his phone. ‘I have a couple of calls to make. Excuse me.’
‘That’s another thing I’ve noticed about you.’
He turned from the door leading into the lounge area, his expression tight with tension. ‘I don’t suppose you’ll refrain from telling me even if I expressly ask you not to?’
She smiled sweetly. ‘See? You know me so well too.’
He leaned one shoulder on the door jamb in an indolent fashion. ‘Go on. Tell me what you’ve noticed.’
Daisy looked at the pulse that was beating at the side of his mouth. ‘Intimacy scares you. And no, I’m not talking about sex. That requires very little intimacy. It’s just bodies rubbing up against each other. Anyone can do that.’
His top lip curled. ‘Or a machine.’
‘Excellent point.’
The cynical gleam was back in his eyes. ‘One would hope you enjoyed the man more than the machine?’
Daisy rolled over onto her back and tilted her head over the edge of the bed to look at him upside down. ‘Are you fishing for compliments, Luiz Valquez?’
His eyes feasted on her hungrily. She had never felt such feminine power before. It made her forget her doubts about her body. He made no secret of the fact her body delighted him. The way he looked at her heated her flesh in anticipation of his touch. He wanted her even though he was trying to distance himself. It was what he did when he felt cornered. He didn’t want to want her more than once. She saw the battle play out over his face as his gaze ran over her naked breasts and beyond. Stay or go. Stay or go.