“God, yes, Chad. It’s all I’ve ever wanted.”
“You know I can’t marry you.”
“Geez, I’m not asking for a marriage proposal.”
“You deserve one, Catie, but it won’t come from me. I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. For God’s sake, Chad, just get on with it.”
“Tell me you’ve done this before, sugar. You’ve slept with a man.”
“Uh…yeah, sure I have.”
“Okay. Are you sure you want this?”
“Damn it, how many times do I have to say it?”
He chuckled. “One more ought to do it.”
“Okay then.” She smiled at him and tried her darnedest to look as though the whole marriage thing meant nothing to her. Hoping he couldn’t read all the lies in her eyes. “I want this. I want you.” She tried not to choke on the words. “I understand you won’t marry me.”
“Thank God. As long as we’re on the same page.” He lowered his mouth to her nipple and kissed it.
A jolt shot through Catie like a streak of lightning. She already knew the warm softness of those lips on hers, but on the sensitive turgid flesh of her nipple, they sparked heat to every cell of her body.
“Mmm,” Chad said against her flesh, “these taste even better than they look.” He closed his teeth around her nipple and tugged.
She gasped. Pleasure flowed through her like warm honey and settled between her legs. She closed her eyes and leaned her head backward, the whisper of her long tresses a tickle against her bare skin.
“Catie?”
Chad’s head popped up. “Shit!” He quickly pulled Catie’s dress over her breasts and settled her straps back over her shoulders. “Someone’s coming.”
“Catie?” Her mother’s voice cut through her closed door.
“Yeah, Mama?”
“Aren’t you coming down, sweetie? It’s dinner time.”
“Yeah, sure, Mama.” She cleared her throat. “I’ll be right there. Give me two minutes, okay?”
“Are you okay? You sound funny.” The doorknob turned slightly.
“Oh, I’m fine. Just still a little jet-lagged, is all. I won’t be a minute.”
“All right. Hurry up, though. We want to get started.”
With the click of her mother’s footsteps fading, Catie breathed a sigh of relief.
“That was close.”
“A little too close,” Chad agreed, “but probably for the best.”
“How do you mean?”
“Sugar, we were about to do something we both would have regretted.”
Catie’s heart sank. He would regret it? “Oh.”