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“Wench. You’re just determined to pay me back for knowing so many women.”
“Knowing? No. Sleeping with? Maybe.”
He grew serious, cupping her chin in his hand, knowing it was time to set that particular record straight. “There haven’t been as many as people think.”
She nibbled her lip. “I wasn’t asking for explanations.”
“I’m not offering any. Just telling you the truth. I like women, I like being around them, I like dating and having fun. As for sexual relationships, well, let’s just say that part of my reputation has been a little exaggerated, mainly by women whoexpectedme to sleep with them and didn’t want to lose face when I didn’t.”
She tilted her head and smiled slightly. “So that means you’ve been a monk for the past eight years?”
“Are we talkingMonkon the TV show?”
Laughing, she shook her head. “No. Your neuroses aren’tquitethat bad.”
“Thanks…I think. No, I haven’t been a monk. But I haven’t been a gigolo either. Just anormalman.”
He could see her working things out in her head, sorting through his reputation and his past, the rumors and the lies. The evidence she’d seen since she’d been back in town—good and bad.
She finally appeared to reach a conclusion. “You’re far from normal, Mick Winchester. And I’m very, very glad.”
She stood up on her toes and tightened her arms around his neck. This time her kiss was warm and womanly. Her lips parted, her tongue sliding out to lazily engage his in a sweetly intoxicating dance that was more about emotion than sensuality.
Emotion and sensuality. A potent combination. They swirled together in his brain, making him both weak and strong, vulnerable and powerful. Completely and thoroughly entranced.
“I’m glad you came back,” he admitted once their lips drew apart.
“So am I.”
Mick spied the bottle of champagne chilling on a table by the bed, exactly as he’d requested. “Thirsty?”
She followed his glance, pulling away, but remaining close enough that he could feel her warmth. Their playful teasing had dissipated during their kiss. They were both fully aware that they were alone again. They were away from the real world and had plenty of time. No pressure, no TV show, no room for rent. Just a lovely big bed and a bottle of champagne in a beautiful high-rise Chicago hotel.
She nodded. “Yes, please.” Then she glanced at her own hands. “Give me a few minutes to freshen up, all right?”
While she grabbed her bag and headed for the bathroom, Mick popped the cork on the champagne. He poured two glasses, sipping at one while he undid his belt and kicked off his shoes.
When Caroline didn’t emerge after a few minutes, he grew restless and contemplated going in to see if she was taking a bath. And if she wanted company. He didn’t do it, though. Because for some reason, she’d looked tentative, almost shy when she’d left. Hell, that was bizarre considering some of the sultry moments they’d shared in the past week. Still, he had to give her some space.
This wasn’t fast and crazy sex on the stairs. Or late-night half-asleep sex in his bed. This was a night of sensuous, deliberate lovemaking.
He only hoped she wanted it as much as he did.
One thing was sure,hewasn’t shy about it. After unbuttoning his dress shirt, he dropped it on a chair. He undid the waist of his trousers and let them fall slightly, but then paused. If Caroline was feeling some trepidation, the last thing she needed was to walk in here and see him stark naked, dick in hand, ready to dive on her.
Finesse.
With his trousers hanging loosely about his hips, he walked over to the window. When she came out, she wouldn’t think he’d had nothing but sex on his mind. He hadn’t arranged the museum tour to get some great thank-you sex. He’d wanted to make her happy. That was it.
Probably pretty mind-blowing for most people who knew him. Mick loved his family and had great friends, but he didn’t know if there had ever been anyone in his life whom he’d truly just want to make smile.
Except her.
And tonight, he hoped to make her smile a whole lot more.
CAROLINE DEBATED FOR a full five minutes over which of her sexy outfits to wear back into the bedroom. Her body was screaming at her just to get naked and jump on the gorgeous, amazing man waiting for her in the next room. But tonight, she wanted to slow down, to give him something as delightful as he’d given her this evening.
All she had to give him was herself. “And he deserves to have his present wrapped up in a pretty pink bow,” she murmured.
