Stripped by Lauren Dane

skin.
    He sighed, rolling to the side and dealing with the condom. Moments later he was back, pulling her against him while they caught their breath.
    The doorbell rang and she got out of bed, grabbing a robe near the door. Snorting, he pulled his jeans on quicker and moved past her. “You think I’m gonna let some punk of a pizza guy see you nearly naked? Uh-uh, that’s my special treat.”
    â€œThere’s a twenty near the door!” she called out as he left the room and she headed to the bathroom.
    She emerged to find him laying out plates at her table. The smell of a fully loaded pizza wafted through the air, mixing in a very wonderful way with sex. Pizza, Nash and hot sex? A very nice combo. If there’d been chocolate involved it would have officially been Nirvana.
    â€œWhat are you thinking about? That’s one wicked grin you’ve got there.” He laid two pieces of the pie on her plate and then on his own. “And I quite like that you’re a super combination pizza sort of woman.”
    â€œWhy is that?” Taking a bite, she closed her eyes, savoring the taste.
    â€œYou’re a woman of voracious appetites. I like that. Lush, carnal, intellectual, funny and not afraid to eat. That’s really rare these days.”
    Opening her eyes, she cocked her head, watching him. “You give wonderful compliments, Nash.”
    Pausing, he smiled. “Thank you. I meant it. I love unique things—you’re one of a kind.”
    His words felt cuttingly familiar. “Like a ’54 ’Vette? Where do I fit in your collection?”
    She’d been there before, and there was no way she’d go back again.
    Putting down his pizza, he took her wrist, pulling her against his body. “Is that what you think? That’s pretty unfair, Dahlia. I meant it as a compliment. You’re not something I collect, nor have I given you reason to think so.”
    Looking into his eyes, she believed the hurt in his voice and realized he was right. He had been good to her. Nothing like Warner. “You’re right. I’m sorry. It’s just an old wound, I suppose.”
    Nodding, he kissed the tip of her nose and let her go. “Apology accepted. But someday I’d like to hear that story. The one my comments brought back for you.”
    Waving it away, she shook her head. “Some things are best left in the past. But for tonight, I have some movies I rented. Do you have the time?”
    â€œAbsolutely, and I’d love to spend it with you.”
    Grinning, she walked into the living room and put her plate down. Moving to the TV she saw the money still on the table near the door. Picking it up, she turned to him. “You forgot this.”
    He rolled his eyes. “No, I didn’t. You made dinner last time. I got the pizza. It’s only fair.”
    Narrowing her eyes at him a moment, she shrugged, putting the twenty into a little container on the shelf near the door. “Thank you.”
    Settling on the couch, they watched the first hour of a sci-fi movie before the kissing got too hot and heavy and they’d fallen to the carpet in a mess of writhing, tangled limbs.

CHAPTER FIVE
    N ash was sure he’d never had a better time than the night he spent with Dahlia at her tiny apartment drinking beer, eating pizza and having the best sex of his life.
    Damn, the woman was a firecracker. Sexy as all get-out, smart, passionate, talented in the kitchen and onstage. But wounded. There was a hesitation in her when it came to his intentions. It stung, he had to admit to himself. He wanted her to trust him. At the same time, that vulnerability did something to him, made her all the more appealing, and he wanted to prove himself to her. Let her know she could trust his motives.
    Tenderness came over him when he remembered the shy hesitation in her voice as she’d asked him to sleep over. They’d made love the third time and lay in an exhausted