Free I Brake For Bad Boys by Lori Foster Page A

lightbulb went on, Erica suddenly realized she could have all that with only one simple ground rule. Before he touched her again, she’d spell it out to him, then it’d be on him to maintain control, rather than on her.
    Now why hadn’t she thought of that sooner?
    She sat up in the tub and sluiced off the clinging bubbles. She wasn’t going to get any cleaner and no way could she relax. She’d just stepped out of the tub when Ian came back in.
    He stopped in the doorway, his blue eyes nearly incandescent as they tracked every inch of her body. Subtly, the muscles in his chest and shoulders grew tight until the strength in his upper body was clearly defined. His hands curled into fists.
    â€œDamn, you look good.”
    The bottom dropped out of her stomach at the way he said that and how he looked at her. She lifted a hand. “Don’t come any closer.”
    His back straightened. “What?”
    â€œI mean it, Ian. We have to talk first.”
    He looked troubled, and aroused. “Let me help you dry off, then we’ll talk.”
    â€œNo! I’m the boss, right? Well I say we talk first.” Gaining a little momentum on her attitude, Erica crossed her arms beneath her breasts and waited.
    Slumping back against the door frame, Ian cupped one big hand over his crotch and winced. “I’ll wait, but I don’t know if John Henry will. Jesus, Erica, I’m about to explode here.”
    Caught between a laugh of triumph and overwhelming excitement, Erica looked at the straining erection beneath his jeans. Yep, he was plenty in proportion. She gulped. “You walked away from me.”
    â€œNo easy feat, I don’t mind telling you. But you’re the one who set up the rules—that I’d wait on you. I’m trying to do that.”
    She wouldn’t let him fool her again. “I want you to make love to me.”
    He jerked straight. “Yes.”
    â€œWhat do you mean, yes?”
    â€œI mean, yes. Hell, yes. I’m more than willing.”
    This time she did laugh. “But I have some stipulations.”
    His biceps bulged. “Name them.”
    Oh, Erica could easily see why women got nervous around Ian Conrad. In his hunger, he looked savage and hard and ready to conquer. Only he’d never conquer her. “It has to be just sex.”
    His eyes narrowed, intense and bright. “Come again?”
    Well, damn, now he was starting to make her nervous. “I don’t want you muddying the waters with too much talk, unless it’s sex talk. And no more playing games.”
    â€œGames?”
    She sighed. Well, she could admit a little, and then he’d have to do the same. “We’ve both been doing it and you know it. This business of one-upmanship has to stop. We’ll both be naked, and if you have any skill at all, we’ll both enjoy ourselves. Period.”
    For three seconds he looked ready to erupt. His jaw was locked tight, his body tensed as if for attack, and anger practically vibrated off him. Then he let loose with a string of stinging curses that made Erica’s heart leap in shock. “Ian!”
    He turned away, paced two steps and came back. “No.”
    That drew her up. “What do you mean, no?”
    â€œI mean no.” He stared at her hard. “I want more than just sex.”
    Her jaw worked several times before she could get the word out. “More?”
    He advanced and she—damn it—backed up. Her naked fanny smacked into the ceramic tile wall and in the next heartbeat Ian pressed into her front. “I want everything from you, Erica Lee. Everything you have to give.”
    Because she didn’t understand him, she went on the defensive. “You want to control me.”
    â€œI want your trust.” He pressed a finger to her mouth, halting her denial. “Before you say it, they are not the same thing. I know you keep men at a distance for a reason. I suppose