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His warm gaze caressed her partially clad body, lingering on every inch of bared skin.
She shuddered, imagining Simon ripping off various articles of lingerie in a fit of passion. “You can’t ruin all my lingerie. Those things are expensive.”
“I didn’t hear you complaining a few minutes ago.” His voice was hot, sultry and filled with a promise of things to come. “I’d buy lingerie for you every day if what just happened is the result. Hell, I’d buy it for you just to see you smile.”
Kara’s heart skipped a beat, her chest aching from unexpressed emotion. How much longer could she do this? How much longer could she hide the powerful and sometimes painful emotions that Simon wrung from her with just a casual comment or a simple touch? Her brain, which had always ruled her life, and her heart were in conflict. She knew that nothing more than a casual sexual relationship and friendship would ever exist between her and this incredible man who was holding her as if she was the most important person in his life. Still, she wanted him. How pathetic was that?
Backing away, she slipped her arms back into her dress. “Can you zip me?” She hoped she sounded casual as she gave him her back.
“Do I have to? We could skip the party.”
“Yes.” She bit her lip to keep from smiling. He had sounded so hopeful that she couldn’t help being amused.
He didn’t answer, but she felt his finger sliding lazily over her spine before he slid the zipper up with a masculine sigh.
Turning her around, he placed one hand on her shoulder and tipped her chin up with the other, searching her face with a frown. “Did I hurt you? I was a little rough.”
Kara knew she would probably have a few bruises on her hips from his strong grip, but his rough, raw possession was something she had been begging for, something she needed. The intensity of her passion for Simon wouldn’t have been satisfied with anything less. She lifted a hand to his rough jaw. “I was there, Simon. I think I was begging for it. No, you didn’t hurt me.” Her orgasm had been intense, but the fact that he cared about whether or not she minded his gritty, feral possession made her care just a little bit more.
I can’t believe I just had some of the hottest sex I’ve ever had in an elevator.
“Oh God, I hope nobody heard me.” She groaned as she picked up her purse and jacket, snatching her shredded panties from the floor and shoving them quickly into her handbag.
“I doubt anyone heard you, although I’m surprised”-the red phone on the elevator panel rang, interrupting Simon in mid-sentence, piercing the silent space with a noise so shrill that Kara jumped-“that nobody called.” Simon smirked as he finished the comment.
“Oh, God.” Kara slumped back against the wall, mortified. While she was in the grip of ecstasy, she hadn’t thought about the fact that others would question the sudden stop of the elevator.
Simon snickered and snatched the phone from the wall. “Hudson.” His voice was instantly professional and impatient.
She couldn’t hear the conversation at the other end, but she could tell that the voice was male.
Simon shifted as he zipped his pants, his hip leaning against the balance bar, his expression serene as he listened. How in the hell did he do that? No one would ever know that she and Simon had been screwing like their lives depended on it only a few moments ago. He looked cool and calm; she was sure she looked like she had just been thoroughly ravaged.
“No. Everything is fine. I needed something and I stopped the elevator to look for it.” Simon’s voice was nonchalant, but he shot her a dark, wicked look, his eyes hooded, a half smile forming on his lips.
Her face heated and she shot him back a murderous glance.
“Yes. I’m quite ecstatic that I found it. Thanks for checking. Have a good night.” Simon dropped the phone back on the hook and slapped the button to return to the condo.
She punched his shoulder. “How can you tell such a whopper without blinking an eye?”
Simon shrugged and pulled her into his arms. “I’m quite sure I probably blinked since the average person blinks every ten seconds. And what I said is absolutely true.” He kissed her lightly on the forehead before continuing. “I needed something. I found it here in the elevator. And I was definitely ecstatic.”
She laughed. She couldn’t help it. “And I was orgasmic.”
The elevator lurched, stopping at the penthouse. “I know. That’s why I was ecstatic,” he answered in a husky, quiet voice. “Hearing you come is the sweetest sound I’ve ever heard.”
She swallowed, trying to push down the lump that formed in her throat. Her nipples hardened as Simon reached around her body to unlock the door of the condo. His words were dripping with blunt, raw honesty.
Uncertain how to answer his comment, she made a beeline for her room as soon as he opened the door. “I’ll be out in a minute. Try not to get my new pair of panties wet this time.”
She heard a satisfied, male chuckle behind her. “Getting your panties wet is becoming my main goal in life.”
She smiled as she entered her room and pulled out a fresh pair of underwear, trying to push her own jumbled emotions aside.
Simon had trusted her enough to fuck her without binding her. Again. Maybe some day…
Small steps, Kara. Don’t expect too much. Whatever is eating at Simon has been there for a very long time. It could take years to gain his trust.