Page 30

Kara flushed, the room suddenly way too warm, as she remembered the day before. Her behavior had been so out of character. So brazen. But it had been difficult to see Simon, in all his glory, looking slightly insecure and trapped. It had kicked in a protective instinct, a bold and audacious behavior that had surprised her. When had she become such a bold seductress? She was sexually repressed, totally not the type of woman to come on to a man like Simon. His look of uncertainty had spurred her on, made her determined to show him how incredibly sexy he looked, how tempting he really was. And he was tempting. Sure, he had some scars on his chest and abdomen, some small, some not so small, all white from age and standing out on his olive complexion. But Lord, it had been impossible to walk away, to not touch that ripped, muscular body. The scars did nothing to detract from his sex appeal. Simon was simply…splendid.
“Oh good. You’re here. I was just-” Simon stopped in mid-sentence as he looked up at her.
“I’m ready,” she told him, trying to sound confident as she stepped into the kitchen.
His eyes turned dark, his gaze roaming her body. She wanted to squirm when his perusal continued, his jaw firming as his eyes lingered on her exposed lower limbs.
“D-Do I look all right?” Oh, shit. Maybe she was dressed all wrong.
“You’re stunning,” he answered in a husky voice, his eyes finally landing on her face. “But you’re showing way too much skin. And your hair is down.”
She tilted her head quizzically. “Is that bad?”
“I’m not sure that I want other men to see you this way.” He prowled forward, stopping in front of her. One hand on her naked shoulder, he slowly caressed the exposed skin, making her shudder from his light, sensual touch. “You’re way too much of a temptation.”
Kara let out a breath that she hadn’t realized she was holding, relieved that he thought she looked acceptable. “I think you’re the only one who thinks so, Simon. I think you need your eyes checked,” she told him lightly.
“You’re so fucking beautiful that it almost hurts to look at you,” he rumbled as his lips grazed her temple. “My cock got hard the minute you walked into the room.” He grasped her hand, bringing it to his arousal. He was so firm and erect that her panties dampened and her stomach clenched.
God, he smells so good.
Kara kissed his whiskered jaw, breathing deeply, loving his masculine smell. Her fingers spread over his engorged member, totally unable to stop herself from copping a feel.
“Kara, you drive me insane,” Simon ground out as he trapped her wandering hand and lifted it to his lips, placing a warm, lingering kiss to her palm. “If we start this, we’ll never get to the party. Not that I mind,” he growled.
“It’s your party,” she answered with amusement. “You can’t blow it off.”
“Kiss me and see,” he answered provocatively, his arm sliding around her waist.
She could feel his warm breath on the side of her face. His tempting mouth was close, so close, and slipping away from him was almost torture. “Your mom would never forgive me. Let’s go, party-boy.”
He pouted like an infant whose favorite toy had been taken away, but the curse that sprang from his mouth was anything but boyish.
“You need a coat,” he told her, his tone protective and demanding.
“I have one. I’ll grab it. And I’m sure Sam’s house is warm,” she mused quietly.
She went to her room, returning quickly to the kitchen with a black tailored jacket in hand.
Simon held his hand out, pulling the jacket from her grasp. He held it out and she slipped her arms into the garment, appreciating the luxurious feel of the silk lining.
Turning her around, he did up the large buttons on the front, every single one of them.
He frowned. “Do you think that will be warm enough?”
“Yes. It’s fine. We only have to get in and out of the car. I probably wouldn’t have even worn a jacket if you hadn’t mentioned it.”
Kara sighed lightly as she pulled her hair from the jacket, surprised by her delight in Simon’s little gestures that made her feel cared for. It had been so long since anyone had cared about her wellbeing that his actions were alluring and heady for a street-smart woman who had been so alone for so long.
“I’m still not sure I like you showing that much skin,” he grunted as she picked up her handbag and headed for the door.
Kara bit her lip as shivers ran down her spine. His sexy voice was so possessive, as though he were claiming her.
Don’t even think about it. He doesn’t mean anything by it.
“It’s not that sexy,” she told him wryly, wishing she were as irresistible as he made her feel.
“It’s way too sexy. Every man there will be thinking the same thing as I’m thinking,” he told her, his expression unhappy as he ushered her out the door and locked it.