“Did I hurt you?” she asked as she placed the icepacks on his knees and held them in place.
Ethan spoke through gritted teeth, “I’m okay.”
“Are you sure? Because you look like you’re in pain. Maybe I should grab a medic?”
“They can’t help the kind of pain I’m in.”
Her forehead creased. “What do you mean—oh…” she said on a gust of breath as she blinked with surprise when her gaze fell to his lap.
He gripped the arms of the chair. He’d promised he wouldn’t touch her unless she asked and with her looking at his package like that, she was making it damn difficult to keep his promise.
“Maybe I’ve put the ice on the wrong the body part.”
He shifted his legs slightly and the icepacks dropped to the floor. “There’s only one thing that will help with the problem I have,” he said, “and it isn’t ice.”
* * *
Holly should pull away from Ethan but her hands remained glued on his legs. She shuffled on her knees pulling herself closer instead of backing away. Without much effort, he drew her to him. It didn’t help when he watched her with dark, hooded eyes. He didn’t say a word as her hands inched further up his firm thighs. His chest rose and fell in rapid breaths, matching her own. He promised not to touch her and by the way he clenched onto the chair with white knuckles, he was sticking to it. Now kneeling between his legs, she wanted so desperately for Ethan to break his promise and touch every sensitive, tingling part of her overheated body with his lips, his tongue and his hands.
Something became crystal clear—she wanted him. Why deny herself? They both knew where they stood. This wasn’t about commitment and happy ever after. This was about two people with needs, and she needed Ethan—now!
Holly’s hands glided along his legs and up onto his chest. A hiss escaped from his lips. She slowly flicked open one button at a time on his shirt and pushed it open exposing his tanned chest with a light sprinkling of dark hair. Leaning forward, she placed her lips on a nipple and swirled her tongue around the bud. Ethan moaned. Then her lips skimmed to the other one and he groaned low and deep when she gave that nipple the same treatment. She placed wet kisses over his chest and down to his stomach.
“Tell me, Holly,” Ethan growled.
Startled, Holly looked up at him. Impatience flashed across his face.
“Tell me,” he repeated.
Holly’s mind was too fogged with lust to understand his meaning.
“You need to tell me I can touch you.” Each word sounded as if he spoke with gravel in his throat.
Understanding hit her and she was quick to respond. “Touch me, Ethan.”
He visibly swallowed hard. “Where?”
Where did she want to start? “Everywhere.”
He half groaned half laughed, “Greedy.”
Yes, and she wasn’t sorry. She’d been kidding herself thinking she could resist him. It hadn’t lasted a day.
Finally letting go of the chair, he brushed his thumb along her jaw. “I have every intention of touching youeverywhere, you’ll just have to wait.”
She blinked rapidly. “Wait?”
“At any moment, my mother, Trudy or any of the crew will walk through the door.”
Like a splash of icy water, Holly sucked in a sharp breath and scuttled to her feet. And as though he’d conjured them up, they both walked into the room.
“You’re not done yet?” Nancy said, inspecting Ethan’s face. Then noticed Ethan’s open shirt.
Flaming heat travelled from Holly’s neck to her cheeks. She fumbled with the brush and swiped quick strokes of powder across Ethan’s face nearly poking out an eye. “Just about,” she said brightly and gave another flick of the wrist. “There, done.”
“Great, you’re needed on set ASAP, Ethan,” Trudy said not taking her eyes off the clipboard in her hands and walked back out. It impressed Holly how she navigated her way around the studio without knocking into things.
Ethan rose from the chair and buttoned up his shirt. It was a shame he had to cover it up. If it were Holly’s decision, he’d be shirtless 24/7.
