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“No, you aren’t a conquest. You were my first love, and I’d thought you’d be my last. Anything after you was just killing time.”
She turned away from him, fidgeting with a pair of earrings on the dresser. Her body looked strong, and the towel wasn’t hiding much. She cleared her throat. “Killing time until what?”
“I had no idea.” He scrubbed a hand over his five o’clock shadow. “But now I know.” Silence. She didn’t say a word, and his heart combusted, falling to the hard floor in a fiery explosion.
Her head dropped back, and she stared toward the crown molding. He took one step, then another. He had to save this moment. Had to save them.
Cash placed his hands on her warm, freshly dried shoulders. She smelled delicate and felt silky, satiny, and so much better than he remembered. He slid his hands, shifting her hair over the spectacular slope of her neck and thumbed the nape, rubbing her muscles until a soft sigh drifted into the humid air and hung between them.
Shivers erupted under his touch, and goose bumps rose. Chasing their path, he caressed her neck until she released another sigh.
There was no hiding his arousal. He thought about it too late as she leaned back into him. Hell. He’d tell her—he’d show her—the truth. He was consumed by her.
“I don’t want to be just another girl.”
“You weren’t, and I promise, you aren’t.”
“I’m confused. Concerned.”
“Why?”
“You hate what I do, and what I do is who I am,” she whispered over her shoulder.
“That’s your hold-up?” He trailed a finger down her arm.
“It was hard enough to walk away from you before, Cash. I can’t get mixed up with you again. It’s a recipe for heartache.”
“I loved you once. You think I can’t again?”
She sucked in a breath. His thoughts raced, dying to say something more, but having no idea what more there was to confess.
Nicola’s towel dropped like it was lead lined, taking with it any coherent thought left in his brain. Seeing her gorgeous back trail down to her perfect ass, all he could do was feel the smoothness and strength of her body. He fanned his fingers down toward her waist. Hands on her hips, he spun her to face him. Studying every inch of her body, one thought detonated in his mind.Never just another girl.
He traced her jaw, tilting her head up. Trusting eyes met his. She fingered the hem of his shirt, and he shrugged it off.
“I need a shower. I should’ve…” He should’ve done a thousand things.
“I’ll get in with you.”
“You just—”
“I don’t care—”
He hushed her with a kiss as promising as he could make it. His hands knotted into her hair, and her mouth welcomed his. Cash tasted her sweet lips. A step forward and he crushed his body against hers, needing nothing but her.
She sighed into the kiss. “Shower?”
Taking her hands in his, he walked them into the bathroom. The fog on the mirror had started to fade, but the humidity and heat enveloped them. She turned the water on and stood naked by the cascading water, his image of perfection.
Cash was suddenly aware of himself, of his history. His unworthiness. She deserved better than him. Rocco and Roman were right.
“Cash?”
“Yeah.”
“You okay?”
“I’m feeling guilty.”