One or the other, but either way she was on vacation—sort of—so focusing on something besides work wasn’t a crime.
* * *
A weekend with Natalie Sterling was like being at a sexual boot camp. One that tested Matthew’s stamina and shocked him at how far she pushed him physically. Possibly because he knew this would be his last “free” weekend for a long, long time as he forced himself to settle into his role as Carrie’s parent.
Which implied that any woman would do.
Matthew didn’t buy it.
The woman lying next to him in her hotel room bed trying to catch her breath drove his body crazy, had his libido, his endurance pushed to unreal heights.
Despite his own heaving chest, he rolled onto his side, planted a kiss on her damp cheek. “That was amazing.”
Smiling with that sexy, full mouth of hers, she lowered her lashes in a saucy flutter. “I thought you could do better.”
He burst out laughing. “You think?”
“Life goals, Matthew,” she said, and tsked, rolling to face him. “Life goals.”
“Guess I better get started.” He traced his finger over the curve of her bare hip.
Still a little breathless, her eyes widened. “We just...now?”
His finger made figure eights, moving closer and closer to the apex of her legs with each completion. “No time like the present. Besides, I still have to make it up to you for making you ride that bicycle instead of...”
“There is that,” Natalie agreed, moving into his touch. “Guess you’re right. Might take a lot to make that up to me, considering how I toppled over on the ride home.”
Recalling how his insides had felt watching Natalie’s front bike wheel running off the edge of the sidewalk, her losing balance and toppling over right into traffic, Matthew stilled the tracing of his hands and rolled over onto her instead. “You okay?”
“I could be better,” she said, staring up at him with a challenge in her eyes and the need to be kissed on her lips.
“I’m beginning to think you’re just using me for sex, Dr. Sterling,” he teased.
Only, if he was just teasing, why did the truth in his words sting? Why did he want to hear Natalie deny that that was what she was doing?
“That’s exactly what we’re both doing, Dr. Coleman,” she reminded, her expression guarded. “Now, didn’t you mention something about making that bicycle ride up to me?”
CHAPTER FIVE
WITHOUT ANY DIFFICULTY, Matthew swapped his first-class seat for the seat next to Natalie’s coach one.
Natalie had been surprised, but like her, she supposed, he was reluctant for their “three days” to end a moment before it had to.
When the plane landed, they’d go their separate ways.
“Don’t.”
At his single word, she opened her eyes, glanced at him in question.
“You’re thinking about when the plane lands again.”
“You’re right. Sorry.” She squeezed the hand holding hers. “It was a great conference, wasn’t it?”
“Best ever.”
Her gaze cut to his, knowing her eyes were full of questions, then scolded herself for caring so much at what he’d implied.
Yet, she did care.