In the morning. If she could sleep, that was.
“There’s something more I need to tell you, Mer. Something one of the guys confessed.”
He set the laptop down on the ottoman and leaned forward to face her.
It must have been the fatigue that was breaking down her usual resolve not to look at him too closely over the past couple of days. Knowing that feeling anything more than tolerance for him was dangerous and would only lead to pain when he, like everyone else, walked out of her life.
Because right now…she was almost hypnotized, unable to help but appreciate the defined six-pack so visible even through that shirt, the strong lines of his shoulders and arms, his hands he flexed and then flinched, undoubtedly because of the ripped, bloody skin on his knuckles.
“You should get ice on that.” He didn’t answer, and she looked into those deep green eyes, watching her so oddly. “On your hand. And…” Unable to stop herself, she touched the swollen area under his eye. He flinched again but didn’t move away. “Does this hurt?”
He still didn’t respond, just studied her with those green eyes with the specks of brown that now seemed softer, somehow. She couldn’t look away as much as she tried. Drawn to this one man despite knowing she was the last person he’d ever want to be with. The last person she should want to be with.
And yet, he was the only one she wanted.
She’d already risked so much tonight, what was one more thing…
She moved closer, watching the dawning on his face as he processed what she was about to do, and she held her breath as she waited for him to turn away in rejection. Only he didn’t, and she brushed her lips against his, sending that same tingling coursing through her body, her every nerve.
Salty. He tasted salty, but it was wonderful, and she sensed him tensing, maybe considering pulling away, but just as quickly he was leaning forward, bringing her to his lap. Cradling her face with his hand as he deepened the kiss. His smell so masculine, so…Travis…surrounding her.
No one was watching them now. They were completely alone, and she was aware of his hand in her robe, grazing the skin with his palm until he reached her breast. She sucked her breath in, savoring the sensation. She moved closer.
Needing his touch. And so much more.
…
Somewhere in the back of his brain, Travis knew that what they were doing was a mistake. That anything more than a business relationship with the homecoming queen was suicidal. But she was so soft, smelled so fresh and sweet and feminine, her body so quick to respond to the slightest touch that he w
as helpless to stop.
Just another kiss. Another taste.
She wiggled on his lap, her hand tightening her grip on the nape of his neck as he caressed her breast, knowing he was driving her senseless with desire.
Driving himself senseless.
Something seemed to sink in then.
Neither of them was really thinking. And after everything that Meredith had been put through tonight, the last thing she needed was someone taking advantage of her vulnerability.
She couldn’t be in her right mind.
That was finally enough to still his hand, to pull his mouth from hers, shaking as he did so, his need for her so intense.
“Mer. This is a bad idea…”
Her eyes opened, and it was like he’d thrown a bucket of water on her. She came to her feet, bringing the folds of her bathrobe tighter around her.
“Don’t get me wrong. If this were any other time, if you weren’t my client and you weren’t dealing with the disappointment and terror of tonight, I’d have you laid out naked on that bed. But it’s just not right. Taking advantage of you like that.”
She smoothed her hand down her damp hair that was looking rather wild around her shoulders. “You’re completely right. I can’t understand what overcame me. I—I’m sorry.”
Returning to the window seat, she sat a few inches farther away from him than before. She looked completely unaffected now by what had taken place between them. He couldn’t believe that just a minute earlier his hand had been on her breast as his tongue teased hers.
He, however, was still feeling the effects. He shifted in his seat, hoping she didn’t notice.
“Hey, no need to apologize. We were just through a lot. It can make people do things they wouldn’t ordinarily consider.” Like kiss the computer geek. “Anyhow, I wanted to share something with you. Something else I heard. One of the guys mentioned that this auction was delayed from the usual time. Because the boss had some big party he had to attend first.”