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Rex went to the laundry room just off the kitchen to do as she suggested. There was something intimate, almost erotic about the image of their clothes circling and whirling around each other. Rex shook his head. He needed to get control of his thoughts. He returned to the kitchen to find Tiffani looking in a different cabinet.
“Where can I find a glass? I’m thirsty.”
“They’re over here.” He moved beside her and opened a door, reached for a glass and placed it on the counter.
“Thanks.”
“It’s longer than I thought,” he said before he thought.
Tiffani turned. “Uh? What is?”
She pulled self-consciously at the T-shirt he’d given her to wear. “Your shirt?”
Rex stepped closer. “No, your hair.” He gave in to his desire to touch it. Though still damp, the smooth strands flowed over his fingers. “Nice.”
Tiffani stilled.
He heard her soft intake of breath. His gaze met hers. Her eyes were wide with wonder.
“You’ve been thinking about my hair?” Her words were almost a whisper.
“Every day since I met you. I’ve wanted to take it down so many times.” He let his palm caress her head.
“Why?”
He shrugged a shoulder. “Because I thought you might let loose some if you let your hair down.”
“Why would you want me to do that?”
She really had no idea what he was talking about. As if she couldn’t see that she was so wrapped up in her job and her father that she left no room in her life for fun...or a man. He ran his hand beneath her hair at her neck and pulled her toward him. “So you’d be more open to one of these.”
His lips found hers. Her arms came around his neck, much to his satisfaction, and she returned his kiss. When she groaned low, he reached around her waist and pulled her against him. It felt right having her there, like he’d been missing her against him since the first day he’d laid eyes on her. His mouth teased hers then traveled over her cheek to nibble behind her ear. Tiffani leaned her head to the side, giving him better access. She purred as he left small kisses along her neck.
“You taste so sweet. Like strawberries and cream,” he murmured as his mouth found hers again.
Her fingers traced his nape as she opened her mouth in an invitation that he accepted without hesitation. His tongue entered and greeted hers. She gave him a warm welcome.
She went up on her toes, her body sliding against his. Heat that had been simmering deep inside him boiled over. He hugged her tightly to him. The movements of their meshed mouths turned frantic. He ran his hand over her hip and down to cup one butt cheek. It was every bit as wonderful to touch as it had been to watch in anticipation. He squeezed it, bringing her even closer to his straining manhood. She squirmed with impatience against his length, making him grow harder.
Had he ever been yhis hot for a woman?
He moved his other hand along her side until he brushed her breast beneath the knit material. At her slight press forward of encouragement he cupped her. Tested the weight of the soft mound while running his thumb over her nipple. She wore no bra.
That’s right. It was in the washer, mingling with his clothes. She pulled his head closer, her kiss growing more urgent.
He had been right. She was all raw woman beneath the expensive business dress and appearance was everything attitude.
Skin. He had to touch hers. His fingers found the hem of the shirt and slipped underneath to touch the warmth and smoothness of her. Had anything ever felt so perfect? Slowly he ran his palms over her back. Tiffani trembled, then deepened her kiss even more than he’d thought possible.
His hands glided up her sides until both hovered near her breasts. Moments later he tenderly followed the curve of a full orb with his fingertips. It was so perfect. Silky. His index finger circled her nipple, found the tip. It stiffened, pushed toward him. He rubbed his palm over it and was rewarded with the feel of it becoming even harder.
Tiffani shuddered.
So responsive. The desire to see her naked, all of her, roared through him. To taste her. To worship her. To have her.
In the back of the burning desire was the knowledge that if he didn’t regain control of himself now, he was going to take her on the kitchen floor. But before he could react, Tiffani stepped back, ending their kiss and putting a calming amount of space between them.
CHAPTER SEVEN
WHAT WAS SHE DOING? Tiffani’s heart was racing and her hands shaking almost uncontrollably. She’d never acted like a wanton before and here she was in Rex’s house, close to begging him to take her. All he’d done was kiss her and she’d lost her mind. “I’m sorry. I really should go.”
“Go?” Rex croaked. “What? Why?”
Still unable to meet his look, she stammered, “I...uh... I...”
Rex grabbed her, kissed her again. Hard. Released her. “Please, don’t.”
She couldn’t look at him. What if he ended up treating her the way Lou had? She couldn’t survive that kind of devastation again. If she made this step and became too attached and he didn’t care for her the same way... But Rex wasn’t Lou. He’d proved that over and over. Still...
“You are a client. This is unprofessional.”
He lifted her chin with a finger. Her gaze met his. “That has nothing to do with what’s going on here. Can’t you tell what you do to me? I don’t care about anything but that. The rest doesn’t matter.” Rex studied her for a moment before he adjusted her shirt so it hung around her hips, leaving nothing of her exposed. He tugged on her hand. “Come with me.”
“Where are we going?”
“Not where I would like to take you,” he said in a droll voice. He led her into the living room to one of the two sofas that faced each other. “Have a seat.”
“I really should go. I can get my clothes some other time.”
“I can’t make you stay, but I wish you would.” He stood waiting.
With reluctance, she sat on the edge of the sofa.
Rex came down beside her but not touching her. “I want you to talk to me. I want to understand why you’re running from me. The client business is just an excuse.”
Tiffani pulled a small sofa pillow into her arms and clutched it to her chest. How could she make him understand how badly she had been hurt? That she was scared to give him the ability to do it too? “Because... I can’t—won’t—let myself be hurt again.”
“Where did you get the idea I would hurt you?”
“It’s not so much you.” How could she explain this to him?
“Does this have something to do with the guy at the restaurant?”
He was always so perceptive. She felt more than saw him watching her intently. “Yeah.”
“Will you tell me what happened?” Rex encouraged in a soft tone.
Rex deserved an answer. Yet she hated that Lou was intruding on what had been some of the most wonderful minutes of her life, being in Rex’s arms. “I was stupid. I thought I was in love. We’d been dating for six months. I thought we were getting serious. Or at least I was. I’d even taken him to meet my father. Marriage had been mentioned. Then I told him I loved him. That was the end. Turned out he didn’t feel the same. What makes it worse is that now he seems to thrive on reminding me. Like today.”
“And you think I’d do the same thing?” There was a note of hurt in Rex’s voice.
“Yes, no, I don’t know. Lou and I work together. You and I basically work together. This campaign is important. Even now our relationship has become more personal than it should.”
“Do you trust me?” Rex asked, taking one of her hands.
She nodded.
“Do you think I’d ever do anything to intentionally hurt you?”
“No.” And she was confident he wouldn’t.
“Good. I can’t guarantee what will happen in the future but I can tell you about the here and now. There is something special between us, something I haven’t shared with another woman. I can’t put a name to it because I’m not sure what it is, but I know it’s strong. Worth exploring. I want to know you in all the ways I can. Enjoy you. I’m willing to see what happens, if you are.”
