Free Hot in Here by Lori Foster Page A

you smell delicious.”
    “Yeah?” He chuckled, rising up to smooth her hair. With a smile barely perceptible in the dim room, he removed her glasses, stretching to put them on the nightstand. When he leaned back to her, he caught the hem of her shirt and tugged it up and over her head. His hand found her breast, gently shaped her, then he stilled. “Damn, Clair, I need a light.”
    “No, not yet.” If he turned on the light, he might recognize her. She wanted the intimacy between them before she told him the truth. In the morning, she’d confess. But not yet, not before she had that special bond to cushion her admission.
    Harris continued to caress her breast, toying with her nipple, making speech impossible. “Why not?”
    Why not? Why not? She forced herself to concentrate, then murmured, “I’m shy?”
    Slowly, with delicious precision, he tugged at her nipple. “You don’t sound certain, Clair.”
    Oh Lord, how could he expect her to talk while he did that? “I just...I’d rather leave the lights off.”
    Harris sat up beside her. “ I’d rather see you. All of you.” Clair tried to protest, but before she’d even raised herself up on her elbows, a lamp came on, spilling light across the bed. Clair hurriedly turned her face away, her breath catching in dread.
    The seconds ticked by in agonizing silence. Slowly, because she couldn’t bear it any longer, she turned back to Harris. He didn’t look the least bit exhausted now. His blue eyes were bright, his gaze piercing while he stared at her breasts. His dark hair fell across his brow; his muscles were tight, delineated. He got to his feet beside the mattress, his gaze still unwavering, and began stripping off his jeans. “Can you see me without your glasses?”
    Clair bit her lip. “You’re a little fuzzy, but yes, I can see you.”
    Slowly, he nodded. “Good.” His jeans got shoved down and off his hips, and he stepped out of them. Her eyes widened. She could see him, but she wished she still had her glasses on so she wouldn’t miss a single detail.
    She started to sit up, to get closer to him, and he said, “Now you.”
    Not yet! If he saw her tush, would he recognize her as the woman in the photo?
    Clair tried to scuttle away, but that only amused Harris. He caught the hem of her shorts, and since they had a loose elastic waist, they came right off. Unfortunately, he took her panties with them, leaving her naked. “Harris!”
    “Clair.” His voice was dark, intense. “You’re beautiful.”
    He still didn’t recognize her? Clair couldn’t believe it. She should have been only relieved, but damn it, she was nettled too. The man had fawned all over those photos, studied them in detail, had them enhanced. But he didn’t see her as a sexy mystery woman, so he didn’t make the connection.
    When Harris stretched out beside her, she flattened both hands against his chest, holding him away. He tried to kiss her, but Clair wasn’t having that. Not yet.
    With dark menace, she demanded, “What about your mystery lady?”

CHAPTER FIVE
     
    “WHAT MYSTERY LADY?” Harris murmured with deliberate lack of concern. At this particular moment, he didn’t care about anyone else, not with Clair in his bed, ready for him, looking sweet and soft and as perfect as a woman could look. Ready to take the next step in binding their relationship, he pulled her hands away, leaned down and licked her tightened nipple.
    Her back arched and her breath caught. “You know who I mean,” she panted. Her hands clenched on his shoulders, stinging in force. But still she persisted, saying hesitantly, “I, um, found the name of the guy who leased the place.”
    With a long, exaggerated sigh, Harris dropped his forehead to her chest. “I don’t care, Clair.” He cupped her breast, thumbed her now wet nipple. “Can’t you see that I’m busy here?”
    Clair tried to hold him back again. “You don’t care?”
    She sounded so stunned, Harris grinned. “Honey, if