Dylan’s face, lined with anger, his body rigid from the emotions coursing through him flashed in Carly’s mind. For the first time, fear over the situation rippled through her. She wrapped her arms around her middle to keep from shaking.
“I should’ve been more careful. I’ve been wanting some excitement in my life, but silly me, I didn’t specify the good kind,” she joked to ease her fears over how she’d naively confronted Dylan and what could’ve happened if not for Owen.
Finally harnessing her courage, she peered up at him. Desire for her, of an intensity she never dreamed of, had replaced the concern on his face. She couldn’t breathe. He stepped closer, and she couldn’t move. Didn’t want to.
“If you want excitement, I can give you that, and trust me it’ll be the good kind.”
She wanted Owen with a desperation that both scared and thrilled her. “Yes, please.”
Chapter Twelve
Carly’s soft pleabolted through Owen, leaving him aching and exhilarated at the same time. His hands cupped her face and his lips covered hers. Longing and suppressed need pumped through his veins. All he could think of was how right it felt to hold Carly again, as if he’d been missing part of himself. Why had he ever let her go?
Her lips parted under his, and he deepened the kiss. His hands slid under her shirt to caress the small of her back and urge her closer.
“I want you.” He pressed the evidence of desire against her pelvis.
“I’d never have guessed,” she teased, as she slipped her hand between them and cupped him through his jeans.
Her exquisite touch skyrocketed his need. He leaned toward her, reveling in her attention and groaned in pleasure.
“I want you too, but I have to tell you something.”
He chuckled. “Now? You’ve got to be kidding. Unless you have a boyfriend or husband I don’t know about, it can wait.”
“Are you asking if I’m involved with anyone?”
Instead of answering he kissed her and pulled her closer. If there was another man, Owen vowed he’d obliterate her memories of anyone but him. His hand covered her full breast, caressing the soft flesh, teasing her pebble-hard nipple. Her pleasure-filled moan echoed in his ears.
Carly pulled away to gaze up at him. Her lips swollen from his frantic kisses, her hair wild and tangled around her face from him running his hand through it. She’d never been more beautiful. “I haven’t had a date in over a year.”
The fist clenched around his insides loosened at her admission.
An owl hooted in the distance, and reality hit him between the eyes. “We’ve got a problem.”
“No condom?”
He shook his head. “We both live with our parents.” When she started to speak, he placed a finger over her lips. “If you’re going to suggest the couch downstairs, my truck, or the barn, don’t. You deserve better.”
She nibbled on her lower lip. “We could check into a hotel.”
Her suggestion shocked and thrilled him. The fact that her need for him could cause her to make that suggestion despite her concerns over gossip affecting her job, fueled his desire to the point of pain. “What would happen if you and I checked into one of the two hotels in town?”
When her eyes widened as the implications set in, she said, “The news would be through town before we reached the room.”
He nodded and kissed her lightly. “But it does my ego good to know I can get you so stirred up you’d forget that.”
And everything else but being with me.
“Maybe it’s just as well, because we need to talk. Somehow I got distracted when I tried to tell you before.” She grinned and licked her swollen lips. “While there’s obviously chemistry between us—”
He ground his throbbing erection against her pelvis. “Ya think?”
She flashed him a sexy grin, and his body ramped up another notch. “I’m not looking for a serious relationship, so whatever’s between us has to remain casual. Since we’re adults, there’s no reason we can’t be physically involved if we agree to not get attached and are discreet.”
Owen thought he knew Carly, but he’d never have guessed she’d give him a let’s-stay-casual speech. Who’d have thought the phrase,whatever’s between us has to remain casual and secretwould kill his libido faster than saltpeter?
With his life messed up and his focus on healing to return to active duty he should be happy with what she’d said, but instead his stomach turned, thinking he meant nothing more to her than a good time.
