‘Even though you want it to?’ Nik asked huskily.
Suddenly he seemed too close. He was an overwhelming physical presence that sent the prickle of goosebumps shivering over her skin and a ripple of undeniable sensual desire washing through her.
She had never felt such a strong attraction to any man before, but she knew she must not let herself be distracted by it. She was tired, she hadn’t eaten all day, and she was grateful for his help. But she must never forget the threat Nik posed to her and Danny’s happiness
‘I don’t want anything to happen between us.’ Carrie folded her arms tightly over her breasts.
Talking about it suddenly filled her with a rush of excitement that sent her pulse soaring and started a quiver of desire deep inside her. Who was she kidding? She couldn’t deny the overwhelming need she felt for him—but she knew it made her too vulnerable.
Nikos Kristallis already exerted too much power over her life. Too much was at stake to let him have any more advantages. Her attraction for him frightened her.
She remembered with vivid clarity how her incredible desire for him had almost left her at his mercy that evening in her flat. What if she lost control again?
‘I’ve seen the way you look at me,’ Nik said huskily. ‘You want me to make love to you.’
‘No, I don’t!’ Normally she appreciated plain-talking people who said what they meant—but Nik’s sudden directness left her gasping for breath with her cheeks blazing.
‘Are you protected?’ Nik continued, as if she hadn’t spoken and wasn’t going scarlet with embarrassment.
‘What?’ Carrie’s mind was spinning. Why was he talking about protection? She certainly needed something to keep her safe from him—at that moment he seemed just like a deadly predator moving in for the kill.
‘For when we make love—are you protected?’ he pressed again.
‘Oh!’ Carrie felt her cheeks heat up even more as she finally realised he was talking about contraception. For a moment she couldn’t believe he’d asked her such a thing—how had things gone this far? ‘Yes—I mean no! Look, there’s no need to worry about that,’ she said. She was never going to let things go that far!
‘That’s good,’ Nik said softly, moving even closer. ‘I would be honoured to make love to you. But I understand why you’re holding back.’
‘You arrogant beast!’ Carrie gasped, unsuccessfully trying to flick her suddenly damp fringe back from her face and willing her cheeks to cool down. ‘I know you must be used to women queuing up to climb into your bed, but some of us are immune to your charms!’
‘So you admit I have charms?’ Nik’s blue eyes glittered with laughter.
‘No, I don’t,’ Carrie said crossly. She pushed back the strands of hair that clung damply to her forehead with a jerky movement, upset that he was making fun of her.
‘I’m sorry,’ Nik said. ‘But you know everything will be all right. After all, we both want the same thing.’
‘No, I don’t know anything of the sort!’ Carrie said. ‘We hardly know each other, so stop acting like you know me or what I want!’
‘You’re scared of yourself,’ Nik said quietly. ‘You don’t want to give in to your feelings for me in case it complicates things.’
‘I’m not scared!’ Carrie snapped, horrifi
ed by how well he had read her. ‘And I certainly don’t have feelings for you!’
‘I think there’s more between us than mere sex.’ Nik lifted his hand and laid his palm gently against her cheek.
‘There isn’t…We haven’t…’ Carrie stammered, unconsciously leaning her blazing cheek into the soothing coolness of his palm.
‘The physical expression of our desire is burning between us,’ Nik said, slipping his hand round to cup the back of her head and taking a step closer to her. ‘We can both feel it surrounding us, pressing us together, buzzing through our bodies like electricity.’
‘I can’t—’ Carrie started, then forgot what she was going to say as Nik leant forward, his lips hovering only a fraction above hers.
His words were spinning through her mind and body as if they were tangible things. She really could feel some kind of energy surrounding her, pressing her closer to Nik.
She was breathing rapidly. Her heart was beating fast. She knew he was going to kiss her. She wanted him to kiss her.
She stared at him with wide eyes. Their faces were so close that he was slipping out of focus and she could feel his breath hot on her skin. His hand behind her head held her firm and she let her eyelids slide down. Then she was only aware of the moment. She was poised, waiting for his lips to find hers.
‘I want you to touch me,’ Nik murmured against her mouth, the teasing movement of his lips almost, but not quite, a kiss.