Dalir's Salvation (25 page)

Celine rifled through her clutch. Her hair almost hid her anxious expression.

“Don’t look at me. You’re the one with all the solutions.”

Ari looked heavenward. “Give me strength. Weren’t you listening? I already told you what to do. Talk to Reid.”

“Wait a minute. Didn’t you just say I shouldn’t rush into your suggestion?”

“Exactly. Keep it flirty and casual. Information only.”

Reid was playing haunting notes. Each keystroke was like an intimate caress.

Talk? Yeah right. She couldn’t stop envisioning him naked. Celine, however, hadn’t reacted to a guy like this since losing her fiancé. Sweet-talking Reid would help her discover the truth about Thane. If she didn’t, Celine could miss out on the best night of her life. She handed her plate to Ari. “I’ll be right back.”

* * * *

Reid transitioned the slow opening of “Shadows on the Road” into a faster tempo. As his fingers picked up speed, lingering adrenaline stirred from the night’s performance. Whenever they played the band’s signature song on stage, West drove the beat on drums. Colby’s bass brought a heart-bumping rhythm. Mace on electric guitar twanged out soul-stirring chords while he blended in on the keyboards. Thane captivated the crowd with his stage presence and resonant voice. “Shadows” always seemed to put emotions in sync. Everyone could relate to heartbreak and discovering their dreams in the unexpected.

A path opened. Lauren stalked forward in a pair of gladiator-style stilettos. Her dress billowed and formed over her breasts and hips. She sat next to him on the polished bench seat, facing the opposite way. He’d made the right choice by not crowding her space. Despite their attraction to each other, she had been skittish at the club. He had to let her come to him.

She crossed her long, toned legs, and the hem of her dress inched up her tanned thigh. “I don’t know who Thane thinks he is, but the game is over. Celine isn’t waiting. We’re leaving.”

“Hold on. He’s not playing games. A group of fans swarmed him for pictures.” Reid switched to a smooth, seductive melody. “He’s on his way. Ask Celine to wait.”

“Nope.”

“Come on. Give a guy a chance.”

“Are we talking about you or Thane?”

He returned her smile. She knew how to flirt. Unlike most of the women he’d met, she had the confidence to do it well. “Both of us.”

“Then you’ve got a problem. He’s not here.”

“But he will be.” Reid leaned closer. “What’s that look about?”

“I’m trying to decide if I should trust what you’re telling me.”

She flipped her hair, and perfume drifted over him. Soft, floral, wholly feminine and warm like the sun.

“You absolutely should.”

“Why?”

She rested against him, and her soft breast cushioned his arm. Blood coursed from his head, starving his brain as it flooded downward. “He really likes Celine.”

“Then he should have gotten his butt here sooner. I can’t make her stay.”

“What about us?”

“I guess that’s your loss for having a friend who sucks at handling time.”

Handle time? They mastered it with every leap into the future to change fate and right wrongs. Her leaving with Celine would top the list of major wrongs. He had to capitalize on the moment. Once he jumped forward in time, she wouldn’t remember he existed. “Give her your car keys.”

“What will that do?”

He leaned in and breathed more of her wonderful scent. “Make it hard.”

She glanced past his waist and his cock responded. Her cheeks grew pink. “That’s an interesting proposition, but I honestly don’t understand how that helps Celine with Thane.”

Warmth lured him in, and he skimmed his lips below her ear. “It’s simple. You’re not forcing her to stay. Celine’s interested or she wouldn’t have come here in the first place. She won’t leave.” And they could continue in a quieter place where he’d follow the trail of her perfume. Throat to breasts and over her belly. From supple calves up her thighs. Tasting, teasing, driving her wild until she begged him to stop.

Lauren released an unsteady breath. “I see where you’re going with Celine, but we can’t—”

He kissed her, claiming the objection with the slip of his tongue over hers. Mouthwatering. Addictive. She was more inviting than anything he’d tasted. Her low moan more captivating than any piece of music he’d ever played. It took every bit of control not to haul her up on the piano, lift her dress, and extract every beautiful sound she could make. A shudder reverberated through him. He had to stop, but one kiss wasn’t nearly enough. He needed to touch her, hold her, have her.

Her gaze reflected what he wanted, but uncertainty shadowed her expression. She shook her head as if to clear it. “What am I doing?”

Not leaving, for one thing. The sight of her tongue painting a glimmer over her lower lip drew him back. Each restrained brush against her lips made him insanely harder. If Thane blew his chances with Lauren, he’d kick his ass. “Give Celine the keys, and find out.”

Chapter 2

Lauren unlocked the door to her townhouse. She hadn’t been able to think straight since giving Celine the keys and leaving the party. Had she made a mistake?

Reid slipped an arm around her waist. “You still okay with this?” He enveloped her in hard muscle and body heat.

Tingles radiated from a kiss low on her neck. Lauren’s knees grew weak. How could he find that spot every time? “Yes.”

“Good.”

One-night stands weren’t new to her. Serial dating had simply replaced a good, uncomplicated fling. Was she supposed to mention it ahead of time? She’d assumed he wanted the same thing. What if they didn’t? “Before we go in, there’s something I should tell you.”

He stiffened. “Are you married?”

“No. Of course not.”

“What?” He turned her around to face him. The porch light illuminated the humor in his expression. “Your eighty-pound German shepherd will tear me apart if I don’t behave?”

“No. I travel too much to own a pet.”

“The place is a mess?”

Not a chance. She couldn’t pass by a couch pillow without straightening it. No need to tell him that. She fiddled with the buttons on his shirt. “I only want sex.”

“That’s your big worry?”

“Yes. Sort of. Women are always hanging around after your shows. I assumed you’d be okay with a one-night stand, but then that’s labeling you. For all I know, you could be the hearts, flowers, and forever type.”

“Relax. You’re safe.” He intertwined his fingers with hers. “I’m not interested in anything long term.”

Great. A club full of guys, and she walked out with the commitment-phobe. Could she pick them, or what?

“But I’m into being with you.” Reid pulled her to him. “Here. Tonight.”

His mouth descended on hers and a wash of sensation spread through her middle.

Man hiatus, the hell-no list, she could set them aside for now. For Reid. Battery-operated pleasure would only leave her starving for him, dreaming of him. Only the glorious erection grinding against her sex could assuage the intense throb between her legs.

Hot, aggressive kisses fueled Lauren’s urgency. The tips of her breasts, full and heavy, rubbing, grazing against him spurred feverish desperation. She gripped Reid and dragged him into the townhouse.

She tossed her purse on the entryway table. The vase in the center wobbled.

He slammed the door shut and pushed her back against the cool wall. The bold sweeps and thrust of his tongue heightened restless need.

She tore off his shirt and buttons bounced on the tile. Perfectly formed chest muscle smoothed under her palms.

He made short work of her dress and bra. They landed in a puddle of fabric at her feet. His eyes darkened as he cupped her breast and thumbed her nipple. He leaned down and sucked one sensitive peak and then the other. Awareness radiated with a flush of decadent heat.

He trailed open-mouthed kisses up her throat, his erection against her belly. Without thinking twice, she unfastened his jeans and eased down the zipper. His hard, heated shaft warmed her palm as she circled and squeezed.

He hissed out a breath and grabbed her wrist. “Keep that up, beautiful, and it’ll be over before we get started.”

She nudged him back and slid down her bikinis. “Then let’s not wait.”

Reid found a condom and shucked off his jeans.

As he cupped her ass, she wrapped her legs around his hips. Skin to skin, heat seared into her breasts. She grasped his shoulders. He held her up and pinned her with his gaze. Searching. Waiting. For what? She struggled to impale herself.

He nipped her earlobe. “My lead.”

Shivers zipped to her toes. Control? That was the point of taunting her? The tip of his length grazed her slick folds. She moaned. “Reid…” Their tongues dueled in a kiss, but desperation stole more of her resolve.

The need for air broke them apart. Exhales fanned her cheek. “Don’t make this a battle. Let me please you.”

All guys made the same claim and failed. Her leading the way eliminated the fuss. He pressed further in. It wasn’t enough. Damn! She needed all of him now.

Desire, confidence, and will lay in his eyes. He wasn’t playing games or trying to control the encounter to impress her.

If she wanted this, she had to trust him and believe he’d give her what he promised. Ultimate satisfaction.

Lauren wound her arms around him and forced her thighs to relax.

He tightened his hold. The bite of his fingers into her curves amped up thrill. A swift, hard thrust splintered her moan into cries.

She trembled, so full, so needy for more.

He lifted her slowly, his muscles bunching and releasing. Each and every drag of his cock over nerve endings fired pleasure.

The next forceful stroke left her breathless.

He changed the pace. Slow, quick, slow.

There…oh, yes. Right there. Every. Time. She climbed higher on his waist, and her nails caught skin. He groaned approval, urging her to dig in harder. They synced into a faster rhythm. An orgasm licked up like flames and consumed her with a mind-shattering climax.

He pumped with finishing strokes. His guttural moans vibrated into her neck.

She drifted, reluctant to come back to reality. Her arms tensed of their own accord.
Let go!
But she wasn’t ready to lose their fragile connection.

Reid slowly rubbed her thigh. “You okay?”

“Yes.” Lauren trembled as she unglued her legs from around him. The texturized wall grazed her back. More shivers.

“Did I hurt you?”

Hurt her? She’d volunteer for a replay. “No. It was perfect.” He’d caressed where she’d wanted him to touch. Stroked against all the right places without her having to tell him where or how. He’d delivered a sexual high she’d never experienced with anyone else.

“Good.” He cupped her cheek. Concern shifted to desire.

Sex with him in bed would surpass wonderful. Then what? Decent conversation…breakfast in the morning?
You have to find a guy who’ll deliver what you want and more.
Ari’s remembered words sparked apprehension. Reid did deliver what she wanted, but he wasn’t interested in anything beyond. Trying to turn it into something more, definitely not smart. She’d experienced an incredible moment with him. Time to move on and get back to her man hiatus. Not to mention, he fit the hell-no criteria as a commitment-phobe. Why ruin a good lay?
Stick to the plan.

She eased out of his embrace and retrieved her clothes. “The bathroom’s on the left.” In her bedroom, she tightened the sash of a white robe and envisioned their goodbye. He’d leave. She’d pour a glass of wine and call Ari, who’d demand all the juicy details. She walked down the hall.

He stepped out of the guest bathroom.

His low-riding jeans encased his long, powerful legs. With each exhale, muscle chiseled into abs.

Her hands itched to smooth through the whorls of hair around his navel and follow the trail to masculinity at its best.

His eyes narrowed. “Are you sure you’re all right?”

Stay the night.
No. A physical transaction, that’s what they both wanted. Lauren hugged herself and nodded. “Long day. Work was brutal. Loads of stress and it’s going to be that way tomorrow. I should get in bed right away. To sleep. Alone. I’m tired.”
Stop babbling like a head case.

A ghost of a smile lit up his face. “Then you should sleep. Alone.” Reid put on his shirt. He lifted the edges of the fabric and frowned at the missing buttons.

Her cheeks heated. “Sorry. I’ll pay for a new one.” She’d never been so worked up before that she’d ripped off a guy’s clothes.

He chuckled and raked his short hair. “I have more at home.”

His magical hands. So much for her fantasies. Now she could only imagine him caressing her from belly to thigh. Dreams of him bringing her to climax would haunt the night.

“What do you do?”

She cleared her throat. “Excuse me?”

“You mentioned work stressing you out. What do you do?”

“I’m a medical cosmetics rep. My clients are mainly plastic surgeons, med spas, and dermatologists. It’s not bad most of the time, but for the past few weeks, I’ve been slammed. Spring. Summer. Everyone and their sister show up for dermabrasions, laser treatments, and Botox shots. I can barely keep up with the orders.”

He raised a brow.

Shit
. Like he cared. What was wrong with her? Why couldn’t she shut up?

Reid’s dry chuckle deepened the cuts in his six-pack. “Yeah, demanding would drive me nuts, too. You can’t let it get to you.”

The same way he wasn’t getting to her? Massive fail. Hard body, sexy grin, and cock for days. If she slept with him on a regular basis, she wouldn’t give a damn about anything else.

Her sex clenched in remembrance of him feeding his thick, pulsing length into her. Disappointment set in as she clasped around air.

She squeezed her thighs together. No. Limits were important. Like her clients advised their patients, too much of a good thing could ruin the result.

“Well.” He sighed. “I’ll let you get some rest.”

One more kiss, that’s it. On the way to the door, she stopped and straightened the framed watercolor on the wall.