Page 129 of To Catch a Latte Thick as Thieves

She did. Sweat coated him, causing their bodies to sizzle and stick together. Why this made Cat’s insides knot, she didn’t know, but they did just the same. She lifted her legs and wrapped them around Jared’s waist, never breaking contact with his gaze.

“Hang on,” Jared ordered, sounding as if he’d rather die than wait. He reached for his shaving kit, and Cat suddenly knew what he needed. Grabbing the kit for him, she pulled out a foil packet and ripped it open with her teeth. Her insides were still shuddering, and she couldn’t think of any way to ease the throb except by having him come inside her.

She’d barely rolled the condom about him, when he shoved into her with one sure stroke. She tightened her legs about him while her body hugged his. Ah, this was bliss.

The scent of her, the softness of her, the feel of her skin beneath his. It ruined Jared. It beckoned to him like a siren’s call and left him wasted upon the rocks. He couldn’t get enough of her, and he thrust deeper and deeper into her tight, wet warmth.

Cat’s response was to pull him closer. It was as if she, too, suffered from this need to be one. When he felt her stiffen, the walls of her insides milking him with their contractions, Jared exploded into her heat with a final deep thrust that sent his spirit spiraling to meet hers. When he collapsed on top of her, he captured her mouth in one last searing kiss.

They lay entwined for a long while. Neither one wanted to break the moment by speaking. It wasn’t until Cat let out a yawn and snuggled closer to him that the ramifications of what they’d just done hit Jared like a sledgehammer.

What had he done? She’d gazed at him with those big eyes of hers, and his self-control had crumbled. He’d wanted her, and he’d taken her. But there was no understanding between them. She was still hurt and angry, and he was still uncertain that he could be the man she needed. What was he going to do now?

“Sweetheart,” he whispered, rising up on one elbow. “We have to talk.”

“I don’t want to.” Cat pushed his elbow and he collapsed onto the bed, stunned. Resting her head on his shoulder, she closed her eyes and sighed.

“You don’t want to talk?”

“No.”

Jared leaned over and pressed his lips to her forehead. It wasn’t a kiss. Cat swatted him away and sat up. “What are you doing?”

“Checking for fever,” he said. “When you don’t want to talk I worry.”

“I don’t have a fever,” she said and then grinned. “Unless you want to give me one.”

“Cut that out,” he chided her, pulling her back down into his arms. “This is serious.”

“Oh, phooey.” She burrowed her nose into his neck.

“Cat, why did you come to me tonight?”

She stilled against him. His already deep voice had dropped an octave, and she knew her answer was very important to him. She guessed he was worried that she’d fallen in love with him. Well, she had. She’d known that since the van broke down, but there was no need to burden him with her feelings.

She knew him well enough to know that by making love with her, he was going to feel that he’d betrayed Cameron. He didn’t need the added burden of worrying about hurting her. Besides, even though she loved him, she wasn’t ready to relinquish her independence just yet. And she had no doubt that, if she declared her feelings for him, if for no other reason than honor, Jared would pursue a relationship with her.

She sought safety in a partial truth. “Because I wanted you,” she said, her voice as low and gritty as his. She didn’t say anything more.

“Why?” Jared felt his heart buck, and he cupped her chin with his hand. It was there in her eyes, but he wanted to hear her say it. He didn’t analyze why her words of love were so important. He just knew that his desire to hear those words outweighed even his desire to have her body.

“I don’t know. From the first moment I saw you, I wanted to hook up with you.” Her gaze shifted from his.

Jared felt his heart constrict at her words. What had he expected? That he would take her to bed, and she would suddenly declare her undying love for him? Disappointment rocked him, but he buried it where he’d buried every other emotion. He buried it in silence.

“I felt the same way about you,” he said, lightening his voice. He traced patterns at the base of her spine and kissed her hair. Patience, he coached himself. She would open to him in time, he just needed patience.

She rose up on one elbow and placed a hand on his chest. “Your heart is thumping as loudly as mine. Hold me, Jared?”

Jared saw the damp shine in her eyes, and he knew he was lost. Pulling her on top of him, he buried his hands in her hair and kissed her with all of the desperation and longing he felt. What the future would bring he had no idea, but for the moment she was his and that was all that mattered.

“We’ll be crossing the Arizona border in a few minutes.” Jared glanced at the woman beside him. She glowed this morning, and he was more than willing to take full credit. Every time his gaze rested upon her for more than a moment, she flushed a beguiling shade of pink, and he was charmed all over again.

“So soon?” she asked, pulling her gaze from the jagged, scrub-covered mesas surrounding them to look at him.

“We should arrive at your new home by early evening,” Jared said, trying to gauge her response.

“All of a sudden, this seems very real to me.” She bit her lower lip and glanced at the harsh scenery.