Her breath caught in her chest, as lust zinged through her body. She stared at him, thinking about his hand on her breast and how he’d felt pressing between her legs and how hungrily he’d kissed her.
She wanted more of all of that.
But he had a point.
“And you really don't want to do anything about it?” she asked.
“I didn't say that.”
“But you're not going to do anything about it,” she clarified.
He looked at her for a long moment. “I don't think I said that either.”
Her stomach swooped and her lady parts gave a little whoop!
She wet her lips. “So what are you saying?”
“I'm saying that we don't have time for that right now.”
That was not a we’re never going to get naked together.
“Will we have time later?”
“Do you want to have time for that later?”
Caroline wet her lips and thought about the question. It was a fair question. And if they were going to be open and honest about everything it was one she needed to answer. “Yes.”
He studied her for a long, hot, tension-filled moment. Then he nodded. “Go downstairs.”
Feeling suddenly light and happy in a way that she could only compare to how she’d felt as a kid knowing that the next day was her birthday and her family was planning a big party, Caroline whipped the covers back and scooted to the edge of the bed.
Zander didn’t look away as she stood, covered only to mid-thigh in his t-shirt. He didn’t back up either. He was just right there.
She stood, looking up at him, waiting for him to say or do something.
Finally, he lifted a hand to the back of her head, tipped it back, and sealed his mouth over hers.
He kissed her thoroughly, melting her bones and making her stretch up on tiptoe, grasping his biceps, and giving one of those needy little whimpers that only this man could elicit.
He let her go many hot seconds later and looked into her eyes as he said, “Later.”
Caroline wasn’t sure if it was a promise to her or if he was looking for a promise from her, but she nodded.
He stepped back and she took a deep breath.
“Go,” he said simply.
She pulled the shirt down, then padded across the room to the door. She had no idea where the kitchen was but figured it couldn’t be that hard to find. But she glanced back over her shoulder and found him watching her go, his hot gaze on her ass, and she tripped over her own feet, nearly falling.
She braced her hand on the doorframe and looked up to find him smirking at her.
“Later,” he said.
That also caused an arrow of heat to jab her. Intense, amused, cocky…this guy didn’t have an emotion or expression that didn’t turn her on.
She was falling over herself, literally, because of this guy. She never did that. And she should be appalled.
But she wasn’t. She felt playful and flirty and sexy and fun. God, that felt good.
She never had fun with men. Never. Not anymore. Maybe at one point she’d flirted and had fun with guys in high school and college, but it felt like she’d been playing the part of the silly socialite for so long that none of her interactions were real anymore.
She pretended to flirt and to have fun and to enjoy the company of the men she spent time with, of course. But none of it was genuine. And when they flirted back and seemed to enjoy her company, they were responding to the fake her.
Mostly, it didn’t bother her. She didn’t wish for a boyfriend or more. Her concern for her father and brother and her disgust at what some of their associates did and got away with were bigger than any desire for her own social life. The role she was playing was important. She had to convince everyone she was no threat. It made her father’s friends and business associates complacent. Which meant they said and did things in front of her, that they might not otherwise. It was very important that everyone feel that she was superficial, blithe, not paying attention, and certainly not smart enough to be interested in what they were doing. Or to understand it even if she did overhear something.
Flirting with, being playful, feeling sexy, and making out with Zander Landry was not just fun…it was like diving into a cool swimming pool after baking in the hot sun all day. It felt delightful, delicious, and, strangely, like a huge relief. She could be herself and just enjoy it all.
“Caroline.”
His firm, slightly amused voice pulled her out of her thoughts.
She met his gaze. “Yeah?”
“Do I need to physically throw you out of this room?”
His hands would have to be on her again for that to happen…
He took a step toward her. His voice was a low, almost growl. “Caro.”
And a damned nickname? She remembered in that second that he’d called her that last night when he’d awakened her. Yep, everything about him, this, them, was sexy and sweet and fun and tempting.
“I really want later to happen,” she said.
He stopped coming toward her. His body was tense. His eyes were hot. His nostrils flared.
“I also really like being able to just say that,” she said. “I never get to be blatantly honest with anyone.” She sighed. “God, it feels good.”
His jaw clenched, then he asked. “Okay. What else?”
“What do you mean?”
“What else do you not get to do? What else can you not be completely honest about?”
She just stared at him. “I…” She pulled her lip between her bottom teeth.
“I’m guessing, from what I’ve read and you’ve told me, and now getting to know you better, there are things that you’d like to do but can’t because of this persona you put on,” he said. “What else do you want to do? Drink moonshine? Country dance? Skinny dip? Fish?”
Caroline knew her eyes were wide. “Yes.”
All of that sounded like a whole bunch of letting-loose-and-having-fun and suddenly, just being in Autre with this man, she wanted all of that.
Zander gave a little chuckle and shook his head. “I’m going to regret all of this.”
She frowned at that. “I don’t want that.”
“Don’t worry about me.”
“No, seriously. If you don’t want to do…any of that…” Damn, that would suck. She really wanted the naked time. “You don’t have to. I’m not your responsibility. I don’t want you to hate having me here.”
He blew out a breath. “That’s not the problem. At all. And I don’t think there’s any way I can not make sure you get to do all of those things if you want to. And I want to be there to see it.”
“Yeah?”
“For sure.”
“Why?”
“Because, against my better judgement, I like you. And I’ve resigned myself to the fact that as long as you’re here, you’re…mine. To take care of. To entertain. To…enjoy.”
Heat, and something that felt like more somehow, again arrowed through her.
She swallowed hard. “Then why would you regret it?”
“Because it’s a big deal to take someone’s virginity. Whether it’s sexual virginity or crawfish boil virginity or skinny-dipping virginity. Showing someone something they’re gonna really love is special.”