Nick couldn’t handle anymore tonight, even though his body screamed for more. But it wasn’t just his body, his emotions were in turmoil. Intense sure, but this was more than just sex and it confused him. He didn’t want to feel anything for her. He fulfilled enough of his fantasies regarding Ronnie Barnes. He should get on his bike and ride off. Move on with his life — without her in it. He didn’t want to care for her or anyone.
Ronnie walked into his arms and kissed his chin affectionately, her fingers stroked his goatee. Nick stood stock-still, not moving or reacting to her tender kisses. He didn’t dare, or he would take her back to his place and make love to her as she deserved to be made love to. In his bed all night — with an aching, tender passion. Not this animal sex out behind her bakery. Even though it was the most satisfying, off-the-charts, animal sex he’d ever experienced.
Nick glanced down into her beautiful, shimmering, blue-gray eyes. Ronnie looked at him with such warmth and pleasure. If he was a total jerk he would just turn and walk away. He’d done it before with other women — many times.
His legs wouldn’t move. What does he say to her? Some glib, offhand remark dismissing what they shared? Was she as deeply affected as him? Gazing into her eyes, he could see her emotions were in chaos the same as his. It seemed Ronnie didn’t hide her feelings. Unlike him, he thought cynically. Nick already wore that mask of indifference he’d worn his whole life. The mask became harder to wear with Ronnie Barnes.
• • •
Veronica’s heart fluttered madly in her chest. She had to protect herself before she fell off the cliff into a pit of tumultuous emotions. William Titus was still too painful and raw. The scab had not even begun to form over the open wound.
Hot sex does not translate into a long lasting relationship. Or love.
Her hands slowly traveled up his chest, the muscles flexed and bunched under her touch. How she wished it did. Nick grabbed her wrists and gently pulled her away from him.
“I have to go,” he said, his voice gravelly and deeper than usual.
He brought her clenched fists to his lips and brushed a quick kiss over them. Nick let go and stepped back.
She had to say something, but what? The unruffled, cool look on his face spoke volumes.
“Nick, I want something from you, but it’s not what you think. I’m not looking for anything serious here. I want us to continue this — sex. I liked it, a lot. I want more. That’s all I want from you.”
Veronica watched him closely. He didn’t react or blink his eyes, nothing.
“Sex, baby? No problem.” His voice sounded detached and distant. “I can deliver. So, when do you want it next? Should we make a firm time and place? Once a week? Twice? Just tell me and I’ll pencil you in.”
“You pick the time, I’ll be there. I’ll even bring the condoms,” she retorted in the same cool, detached voice he used.
One eyebrow shot up, did the corner of his mouth quirk slightly? It was hard to tell in the shadow of the alcove. She leaned down, picked up her sweatpants, and stepped into them. She reached for his jacket and handed it to him.
“Thanks, Nick.”
He took the jacket and slipped it on. “Fine, I’ll get back to you.”
She nodded curtly. “You do that, I’ll see if I can pencil
you
in.”
Nick walked away and didn’t look back. In the distance, she heard the familiar roar of his motorcycle as he accelerated down the street.
Hot, miserable tears clustered in the corner of her eyes. This was too much.
He
was too much. Veronica wasn’t ready for this. Did she really think she could keep herself removed from him, coolly enjoy his body, then walk away and not engage her heart? Because never had she enjoyed a man or enjoyed sex more than she did with Nick. There was still so much more to explore. Nick may be in her blood, but she would make damned sure he never reached her heart. No man would ever hurt
Ronnie walked into his arms and kissed his chin affectionately, her fingers stroked his goatee. Nick stood stock-still, not moving or reacting to her tender kisses. He didn’t dare, or he would take her back to his place and make love to her as she deserved to be made love to. In his bed all night — with an aching, tender passion. Not this animal sex out behind her bakery. Even though it was the most satisfying, off-the-charts, animal sex he’d ever experienced.
Nick glanced down into her beautiful, shimmering, blue-gray eyes. Ronnie looked at him with such warmth and pleasure. If he was a total jerk he would just turn and walk away. He’d done it before with other women — many times.
His legs wouldn’t move. What does he say to her? Some glib, offhand remark dismissing what they shared? Was she as deeply affected as him? Gazing into her eyes, he could see her emotions were in chaos the same as his. It seemed Ronnie didn’t hide her feelings. Unlike him, he thought cynically. Nick already wore that mask of indifference he’d worn his whole life. The mask became harder to wear with Ronnie Barnes.
• • •
Veronica’s heart fluttered madly in her chest. She had to protect herself before she fell off the cliff into a pit of tumultuous emotions. William Titus was still too painful and raw. The scab had not even begun to form over the open wound.
Hot sex does not translate into a long lasting relationship. Or love.
Her hands slowly traveled up his chest, the muscles flexed and bunched under her touch. How she wished it did. Nick grabbed her wrists and gently pulled her away from him.
“I have to go,” he said, his voice gravelly and deeper than usual.
He brought her clenched fists to his lips and brushed a quick kiss over them. Nick let go and stepped back.
She had to say something, but what? The unruffled, cool look on his face spoke volumes.
“Nick, I want something from you, but it’s not what you think. I’m not looking for anything serious here. I want us to continue this — sex. I liked it, a lot. I want more. That’s all I want from you.”
Veronica watched him closely. He didn’t react or blink his eyes, nothing.
“Sex, baby? No problem.” His voice sounded detached and distant. “I can deliver. So, when do you want it next? Should we make a firm time and place? Once a week? Twice? Just tell me and I’ll pencil you in.”
“You pick the time, I’ll be there. I’ll even bring the condoms,” she retorted in the same cool, detached voice he used.
One eyebrow shot up, did the corner of his mouth quirk slightly? It was hard to tell in the shadow of the alcove. She leaned down, picked up her sweatpants, and stepped into them. She reached for his jacket and handed it to him.
“Thanks, Nick.”
He took the jacket and slipped it on. “Fine, I’ll get back to you.”
She nodded curtly. “You do that, I’ll see if I can pencil
you
in.”
Nick walked away and didn’t look back. In the distance, she heard the familiar roar of his motorcycle as he accelerated down the street.
Hot, miserable tears clustered in the corner of her eyes. This was too much.
He
was too much. Veronica wasn’t ready for this. Did she really think she could keep herself removed from him, coolly enjoy his body, then walk away and not engage her heart? Because never had she enjoyed a man or enjoyed sex more than she did with Nick. There was still so much more to explore. Nick may be in her blood, but she would make damned sure he never reached her heart. No man would ever hurt
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