Since You've Been Gone (Welcome to Paradise) by Elle Kennedy

become a full-on beard she was dying to drag her fingertips over.
    Then do it.
    The silent command caught her off-guard, especially since up until now, her brain yelled at her nonstop whenever she had a dirty thought about Austin. And now it was urging her to act on the lustful impulses?
    Who’s it gonna hurt? the annoying voice cajoled.
    Oh, hell. She could feel her reservations crumbling as the idea of getting involved with Austin filled her head. But she wasn’t interested in flings, damn it. When it came to sex, her pesky emotions always got in the way, and she didn’t want to get involved with a man she’d only be saying goodbye to in a couple of weeks.
    Then again, she’d never actually had a fling. Maybe when you knew ahead of time that something would be temporary, your emotions didn’t enter the picture. Maybe all the fun she and Austin had been having could extend to the bedroom, without either one of them—her, mainly—getting hurt in the end.
    Mari smothered a sigh and snuck another peek at the man beside her, wishing her thoughts weren’t such a chaotic mess. She really liked Austin, and she was ridiculously attracted to him, but she’d never had casual sex before. In her experience, sex had always meant something.
    And yet she couldn’t quit thinking about getting naked with him. Her gaze swept over his body, the smooth tanned skin glistening in the sunlight, the dusting of hair on his chest, the flat brown nipples. The mere sight of him made her mouth run dry.
    Maybe a fling wouldn’t be a terrible idea. Would it kill her to live a little and indulge in a casual romp for the first time in her life? God knew she hadn’t had sex in ages…
    Indecision washed over her, continuing to plague her long after she and Austin left the pond. It nagged at her during their visit to the town of Virgil, the quick dinner at a local diner, the drive to the motel they decided to stop at for the night. By the time they strode into the cramped motel office later that night, Mari still hadn’t made up her mind about sleeping with Austin.
    But the decision was made for her the moment the desk clerk uttered five prophetic words.
    “There’s only one room left.”

Chapter Five
    Austin spent way too much time in the shower, delaying his return to the bedroom for as long as he possibly could. The past few days had been pure torture, yet somehow he’d managed to keep his hands off the quirky redhead who made his entire body burn. The separate room arrangement had been a blessing—every night he’d been able to retreat to his room and jack off in the shower using all the Mari images he stockpiled during the day.
    Like the way her hair shone in the sunlight. And how her full breasts filled those skimpy tank tops she liked to wear. How her sensual lips curved impishly whenever she teased him.
    So far, the self-gratification sessions had succeeded in easing his discomfort.
    But tonight they would be sharing a room.
    And a bed.
    God help him.
    He tipped his head and let the shower spray soak his face, but the water had grown lukewarm, a signal that he really ought to quit stalling. It didn’t help that Mari had been acting strange all evening, far more subdued than he was used to. Normally she chattered on endlessly, always armed with a sassy remark or silly joke, but she’d been quiet during the visit to Virgil and the dinner that followed.
    Sighing, Austin shut off the water and stepped out of the tiny shower stall. He reached for a towel, but it was difficult to secure it around his waist what with the massive erection trying to poke through the terrycloth. The memory of Mari in those flimsy pink panties and sports bra flew into his head and sent a jolt of heat straight down to his cock.
    Jesus. The woman had the curviest, sexiest body he’d ever seen. His hands had itched to touch all that smooth white skin, to glide over the curve of her hips, to cup her firm ass. And her breasts…his mouth turned to sawdust just