But he didn’t let his disappointment show. No matter how much he wanted to make love to L.J., no matter how crazy she’d made him the past week with every heated look and lingering touch, he wasn’t going to push her. He was in this for the long haul. She could have as much time as she needed. He had faith she would come to trust the love growing between them. Until then, he would keep enjoying her company and treasuring the moment at the end of the night when he got to hold her close, even if it was only for a little while.
“You look gorgeous,” he said, smiling as he climbed the steps to the porch. “Hungry? I thought we could walk down the street and grab Mexican or get fried chicken at the hotel if you’re in the mood to stay close to home.”
“I think close to home sounds best,” Lula said, a twinkle in her eye as she leaned against the doorframe. “I’ve never left the house without underwear on before, and I don’t intend to start now.”
Carter’s eyes widened. Before he could recover from his surprise, Lula lifted the hem of her skirt, revealing the lace where her thigh high stockings ended, but stopping before she confirmed whether or not she was kidding about her panties.
“It occurred to me last night that you’ve been playing games with me, Mr. Bryce,” she said, swishing the red fabric slowly back and forth, making Carter’s mouth go dry and his jeans get decidedly uncomfortable. “So I figured it was my turn to play a game with you.”
“Play with me,” Carter said, his voice husky. “I’m yours.”
Lula’s red lips curved seductively. “Then you admit that you were deliberately depriving me of anything but a friendly hug just to drive me crazy?”
Carter grinned. He should have known nothing would get by L.J. “I might have thought that was the quickest way to convince you that this just friends thing is for the birds.”
She laughed that smoke and sugar laugh, which was one of his favorite sounds, and crooked her finger. “Then come on in, cowboy. I think it’s your turn to be teased.”
“Tease me all you want,” he said, stepping inside and kicking the door closed behind him. “But I’m going to kiss you first.”
His arm wrapped around her narrow waist, pulling her against him. He dropped his lips to hers and kissed her the way he’d been dying to since the moment he’d laid eyes on her. He kissed her like she was the woman he loved, the woman he craved, the woman he’d dreamt about during the long, lonely years without her.
He kissed her until every fear and worry faded away and there was nothing but Lula’s smell, her touch, and the magic they made when they were in each other’s arms.
* * *
Lula
Carter’s mouth fused to hers and his tongue licked the seam of her lips, shooting a shockwave of desire through her that stole her breath away. She opened her mouth to him and his tongue slipped inside, stroking against hers, awakening the hunger that had been burning inside her all week.
From a distance, the controlling voice in her head insisted she had to stick to her plan to deliver a proper teasing punishment, but her heart said plans were overrated. Especially when the man of her dreams was making love to her mouth with his tongue—savoring her, tasting her, devouring her with a single-minded passion that assured her there was nothing else in the world he’d rather be doing than kissing her senseless.
“Carter,” Lula mumbled, gasping as his free hand cupped her bottom through her dress, pulling her close to where he was so hard she could feel him pulsing against her stomach through their clothes.
“You really aren’t wearing panties, are you?” he asked, his breath coming faster as he backed them both toward the stairs.
“Why don’t you find out?” she asked with a wicked grin. The smile lasted for all of the three seconds it took for Carter to jerk her dress up around her waist and slip his hand between her legs. Lula’s pulse spiked at the sudden intimacy, but it was exactly what she needed, what she craved.
“Jesus, L.J.” Carter moaned against her throat as he discovered how wet and swollen she was from a single kiss. His hand shook as he teased through her slick folds, making it clear he was as affected by the chemistry between them as she was. “I’ve been dreaming about this for so long. I can’t wait to taste you.”
“Take me upstairs,” Lula begged, driving her fingers into his soft hair. “I don’t want to wait anymore.”
“I’ll never keep you waiting again,” he promised, sweeping her into his arms. “I swear, Lu. I’ll never keep you waiting, and I’ll never let you down.”