Free Jack & Jilted by Cathy Yardley Page A

into now. “Call it rebound sex, call it a therapeutic lay…whatever. You didn’t want permanent, you just wanted comfort.” He shook his head with remorse. “And you were so amazing, so damned hot, that you knocked me for a loop. I haven’t lost control like that since I was a teenager. And that’s why I was upset. You didn’t get any comfort—no matter how you tried to say it was fine. You got robbed, and I feel badly about that.”
    She was staring at him now with a look of dazed disbelief. “I was so hot you lost control?”
    He nodded, embarrassed. “I’m sure that sounds like a copout, and you probably think it’s an excuse because I’m not very good….”
    She snorted. “Now who’s being a martyr?”
    He chuckled. “I gotta admit—I haven’t had a lot of complaints. Which makes last night that much worse.”
    She bit her lip, which made him want to bite her lip. He looked away from her, trying to distract himself, only to find himself looking at his bed, which was still rumpled from his sleepless night.
    I could make it up to her.
    He sighed. “So are we okay?” he said, more sharply than he’d intended.
    She was silent for a long second. Then she sighed in response to his. “You know, one night only would be smart,” she mused.
    He turned his attention back to her. “What do you mean?”
    “I mean, I don’t want a relationship and neither do you.” It sounded as though she was trying to puzzle something out. “So if we did it again…wouldn’t that complicate things?”
    His body didn’t hear past if we did it again. “I don’t think so,” he said, even as his mind—which did hear the whole statement—complained mightily. Of course it would complicate things, you idiot! She’s a client! She’s no booty call…she’s a keeper! And she’s just lost a marriage! Do not proceed!
    “Listen,” he said and he found himself stroking her cheek, enjoying the way she curved her face into his palm. “You’re only here for another few days. I’m on the ocean all the time. We’ve got completely separate lives. We both know what we want and what we don’t want.” He wasn’t sure if he was convincing her or himself or both of them, but he kept talking. “I want to make it up to you. I want you to feel better. If you don’t want to do anything after that, I completely respect that and I’ll keep it strictly professional afterward.”
    She stood and so did he. She was close to him. They were both close to the bed.
    “And if I do want to do things…after today?” she said.
    “You’ve got a full cruise,” he heard himself say. “I can guarantee you’ll have the most relaxing time of your life.”
    Her laugh was short and surprised, as well as husky, edged in arousal.
    “I suppose it’s only fair to let you try,” she said and reached around his neck, lifting herself up for a kiss.
    From the moment her lips touched his it was all over, he knew that. It could be complicated—it could be downright disastrous—but there was no way he’d stop touching her now.
    He tugged at her clothes, feeling a little clumsy. He prayed that being tired would not affect his performance. After last night’s poor showing, he felt he owed it to her. Hell, he probably didn’t even deserve an orgasm today. Although, honestly, he doubted he’d be quite that noble.
    She was kissing him as she reached back and untied her halter, letting the scraps of material fall to her waist, revealing those perfect creamy breasts of hers. He cupped them for a second, marveling at how well they fit his palms. Then he reached for the button of her pants, unzipping the fly slowly and smoothing the fabric off the gentle curves of her hips. She was wearing a pair of bikini panties, and he eased those off, as well. She kicked the whole ensemble off, removing the halter last. She was now gloriously naked and staring at him with those temptress eyes that she’d revealed the night before.
    Don’t mess this up!
    He