Page 90 of The Search

She felt a tingle of heat go through her. “Go wash and put antiseptic on it.”

“Later.” He moved over her and parted her legs. “The clock’s ticking.”

“Now.” She pushed him away. “Never mind. I’ll do it myself. I won’t have you bleeding all over me.”

“That’s tender.”

She got up and hurried across the room. “I’m not into kinky sex. Well, maybe I am a little, but blood doesn’t turn me on.”

“You say something like that and then expect me to be patient and keep my—”

“Hush.” She came back a moment later with the medical bag. “It will take only a minute.”

He watched her bent head as she swabbed the wound with alcohol. “This isn’t necessary. I think you’re only trying to torture me.”

“It’s a thought. Or maybe turnabout is only fair play. You cleaned up my knuckles after I decked Madden.”

“But you weren’t in the shape I am right now.”

“Yes, I was. Not right away, but you were angry and I could sense . . .” She lifted her gaze. “What Madden said excited you. You looked at me and I could see you thinking about the things you’d like to do with me. And then I started thinking about them and I became excited too.”

“Madden had nothing to do with this.”

“Of course he did.” She looked down again and began rubbing antiseptic on the cut. “Madden called me an animal. Was I animal enough for you, Logan?”

He said gruffly, “You were damn wonderful.” He tilted her head so she could look into his eyes. “I wanted to kill Madden when he called you that, but there’s nothing wrong with being an animal. Not if they’re as clean and bold and beautiful as you are. And maybe Madden was the catalyst, but this would have happened eventually anyway. Remember?” he teased. “It’s a guy thing. What else can you expect from a man who thinks about sex every ten minutes.”

“Eight minutes,” she said unevenly. “After tonight, I have an idea that magazine article was dead on the money.”

“Tonight wasn’t a fair test.” He pulled her back into bed. “What do you expect me to think about when I’m making love to you?”

She looked away from him. “Turn out the light.”

“I like to look at you.”

She liked to look at him too. “Turn it out.”

He did and pulled her into his arms. “If you didn’t like it, why didn’t you tell me before?”

She did like it. It was just easier to say some things in the dark. “You said you were making love to me. But you’re not making love to me, it’s just sex. We both know that. You don’t have to pretend anything else.”

“Oh, I don’t?”

“It’s better not to confuse the issue. I know you couldn’t love me any more than I could love you. We’re like fire and water.”

She could feel his muscles stiffen against her.

“I . . . see.”

“I’m not like Eve.”

“No, you’re not.”

“And I’m sure I’m not like Chen Li.”

“Not the slightest.”

“So sex is enough.” She buried her face in his shoulder. “I . . . like this. I like you. I thought—I’d like it to go on for a while. But it can’t if we’re not honest with each other.”