Without warning, he swept her into his arms while continuing to kiss her. Her head spun in dizzying circles. She wasn’t sure if it was because of the sudden rushing movement or if it was due to the passionate kisses.
He freed his mouth. “Bedroom?”
“Top of the stairs.” Halfway up the staircase, she said, “I can walk, you know? You don’t have to carry me.”
He chuckled and it rumbled deep within his chest.Sexy. How was everything about him so incredibly sexy?
He set her on her feet just inside the bedroom doorway, and relief flooded her when she saw she’d made the bed that morning. She couldn’t remember doing it. His interested gaze swept over her private sanctuary. She looked too and tried to see it from his perspective.
Sparsely decorated, the room boasted a queen-size bed, but the beige walls were completely bare. She only had a few basic essentials—a lamp, clock, change tray—on the nightstands. The dresser had a fake plant on top and a small jewelry box. That was it. There weren’t any framed pictures because she didn’t have family or pets to photograph.
Watching him check her room out filled her with dread. The lack of personal items and the lack of feminine touch could give him the wrong idea. Maybe he would think she was boring. She made a mental note to buy a floral print comforter for the bed and maybe a few decorative pillows.
She cleared her throat and said, “I only use this room for sleep.”
Did the explanation sound as shallow to him as it did to her? She swallowed and looked away. If she could redo tonight, she would agree to stay at his place. Having his family sleeping down the hallway from them didn’t seem so terrible now that they were standing in her unadorned bedroom.
At least she’d been smart enough to wear two lovely wisps of pink lace beneath her dress. Thanks to Victoria’s Secret, she wouldn’t be embarrassed a second time tonight. She’d almost worn a pair of comfortable cotton briefs.
Skylar’s arms slid around her waist. He lifted her a couple inches off the floor, turned, and pressed her against the nearest wall. She flexed her feet, and her shoes fell off. Her toes touched the carpet. Barely. Linking his fingers with hers, he raised her arms high above her head. His mouth took possession of hers. His lips were velvet over steel, soft yet hard, gentle yet powerful.
She melted into the kiss.
Passion ignited. They couldn’t keep their hands off each other. In a frenzy, they started to strip each other of their clothing. His large hands struggled with the zipper on her dress. He tugged several times. She was afraid he might rip the material, so afraid that she almost told him to let her try. The zing of the zipper descending rewarded their patience.
She pushed his suit jacket off his shoulders and let it fall to the floor. Then she went to work on his tie while he tried to peel the dress off her. Too much happening too soon sent her into a panic. Yes, making love tonight had been her idea, but...
She left his tie hanging half on and half off. She put distance between them so she could catch her breath and reacquaint herself with logic. The emotions raging beneath her surface frightened her more than the prospect of making love with the handsome lawyer. When he looked at her in confusion, she said, “It’s too fast. Can we slow it down, please?”
“If you’ve changed your mind, we don’t have to--”
“No. I haven’t changed my mind. I want to be with you. It’s just... too fast.”
“Do you mind if I remove my shirt?” he asked.
Her mouth went dry at the memory of his rock-hard abs. Not trusting her voice to remain steady, she bent her head forward in a slight nod. Her teeth went to work on her lower lip, gently nibbling while watching his shirt join his jacket on the floor. If possible, he looked hotter than she remembered. His well-defined six-pack made her fingers itch to explore the golden skin over lean muscle.
“Do you want to remove your dress?” he asked.
She slowly shook her head.
“Do you want me to take your dress off?” he asked.
She nodded.
Skylar peeled her dress off without hesitation. Cool air caressed her hot flesh, causing her to tremble. An ache grew deep inside her. She wanted him more than she’d ever wanted a man, but no-strings sex didn’t interest her anymore, not since she’d gone to Vermont with him. She wished she knew what he wanted from their relationship. The empty feeling in her gut came from old insecurities.
If the past was anything to go by, he’d leave her just like everyone else.
His hands roamed her body, exploring, testing, and teasing. She wasn’t aware he’d unhooked her bra until it collapsed and slid down her arms. She crossed her arms over her chest, feeling shy. “The light is still on,” she complained.
He gaped at her. “Are you saying you’ve only done it in the dark?”
“What’s wrong with that? Everybody does it in the dark.” She cringed. “Except for people making sex tapes.”
He stared at her in open wonder. “You are a beautiful woman, and I want to see you. I want to stare deep into your eyes when we become one, and I want to watch your expressive face when I bring you to the brink of desire and then push you over the edge.”
A tremor went through her at the picture his words created. In truth, the only orgasms she’d had were brought on by the electronic device in her nightstand. Sex with men always left her frustrated and incomplete. Perhaps that’s why she’d been able to keep to herself for so many years. The question was should she warn Skylar there might be something wrong with her. She couldn’t blame it on the men since she was the one common denominator.