Stand-In Star (13 page)

He sucked in a breath, his insides whirling.

It had to be the most beautiful and provocative thing he’d ever seen. Ever.

Staring, he steadied himself on the door jamb, knowing any moment she could turn around and see him.

Seconds ticked by and still she didn’t notice him standing there. She aimed the remote at his high-tech stereo system and the music changed instantly. He closed his eyes for a few seconds reprieve of the intensity he felt toward her. When he opened them, her moves had changed. Slower, not quite seductive, almost sad. He itched to step inside the room, even to join her—although he wasn’t usually one to dance—but something held him back.

It had to be the same thing that had been stopping him all week. Pity he didn’t know what the hell this newfound reluctance was. He just knew he couldn’t risk getting any closer than they already were.

His hand went to his pocket. His muscles tightened as he contemplated what he wanted to do. If he asked her for a photo, he was almost certain she’d go all shy and tell him to take a hike. But he didn’t want her to shut off the music and he didn’t want her to stop. Her dance was expressive, like therapy almost, and he didn’t want to interrupt it. He knew she needed this release. It was also something he desperately wanted to record.

This was the lesser of two evils.

Pushing away the guilt, the doubts that what he was doing was wrong and reasoning he could easily delete it if she wished, he slipped his camera from his pocket and, using all the make-yourself-invisible techniques he’d learned during his years in the pap, he lifted it and aimed. With the room brightly lit, he didn’t need to use a flash and the expensive pocket camera barely made a sound with each click.

His fingers snap-happy, he reeled off a number of shots. Totally lost in her own world, Holly danced on, twisting and moving in ways that caused his body to cramp. He couldn’t help but smile.

She was addictive.

Just when he thought she’d dance all night and never notice him, the music changed again. He hadn’t even noticed her lifting the remote to take aim, but as she did so, she must have looked sideways, because suddenly she was staring at him.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

The tables turned—he’d been caught red-handed.

Chapter Twelve

“Taking a photo,” Nate answered simply but there was a huskiness in his tone Holly had only fantasized about before.

Instead of changing the music as she’d planned, Holly shut the sound right off and crossed her arms over her chest. She was fully dressed so why did she suddenly feel stripped bare? She’d been certain he was still out when she returned an hour ago and she hadn’t heard his car or the sounds of him entering the house.

How long had he been standing there? How long had he been watching her dance like the crazy uncoordinated fool she was whenever she sought her favorite kind of solace?

Her cheeks flared hot at the thought and a sharp pain shot to her temples. His words finally registered. “I know you were taking a photo, idiot, but why?”

He opened his mouth, but for the first time since she’d met him he didn’t appear to have an answer.

Her heart rate sped up. “Are you going to sell those shots?” She could barely believe he’d stoop that low after all that had gone between them, but bottom line was, she didn’t know him at all. He was
ex
-paparazzi (or so he said) and she was a wanted face thanks to Daisy’s fame and success.

“Well?” She jumped down off the table and, stumbling, almost fell flat on her face.

He launched forward, strode right into the room like the commanding presence he was and reached out for her as she steadied herself. His fingertips brushed the edge of her elbow as she yanked it back. Unfortunately not soon enough to avoid the electric shot that zapped her at his touch. She rubbed her fingers at the spot, trying to erode the pain of knowing the attraction was all one sided. And glared at him.

One hand still gripping the camera, he dropped them both to his sides and shrugged his most impressive shoulders. He wore jogging pants and a tight tee and his skin glowed with perspiration as if he’d been working out. She ignored the rush of desire curling in her belly and the intense longing to go with her alcohol induced urge to throw herself in his path and not allow him past until he’d made wicked, sweet love to her.

She giggled deliriously at the thought and almost missed his serious confession.

“Because I wanted to,” he said. “Because I think you’re beautiful and every time I’m near you my good intentions fly out the window and all I want to do is seduce you.”

The giggles stopped. She swayed a little and pressed her hands against her ears to check for obstructions. She couldn’t have heard correctly. “What did you say?”

“I said you’re amazing, Holly. You make my mind spin and you’re so damn attractive, I get a hard-on whenever you’re near.”

Her stupid heart swelled at his words but her brain scoffed. She wrapped her arms around herself to try and stop the sudden chills. “Why are you saying these things?”

“Because they’re true.”

She couldn’t stop her snort of disbelief. Or the roll of her eyes. “You could have the cream of the pick of Hollywood beauties and you’re saying
I’m
attractive? You need your head examined.”

“No, I don’t.” His voice was low, his gaze serious.

Could she really believe him? She shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts. “Okay then. If what you say is true, why haven’t you made a move yet? Don’t tell me you’re shy.”

He took a step toward her and her knees quivered at his proximity. She kept her arms folded firmly across her chest and lifted her chin up, waiting for an answer.

“I kissed you at the zoo,” he said as if this explained everything.

She waved his answer away with her hand. “An aberration. You haven’t tried again. The way I see it, you came to your senses.”

“I was going to make a move,” he said. “Do you think I’d go to all that trouble buying disguises and taking you out sight-seeing if I didn’t want something out of it?”

“I thought you were just being nice,” she replied, although her conviction wavered.

This time
he
snorted. “I’m not nice, Holly. But I’m not a total jerk either. You fell apart in my arms over Daisy and I knew it wouldn’t be right to take advantage of you in such an emotional state.” He met her gaze full on. “Doesn’t mean I didn’t want to.”

“That was yesterday. I wasn’t emotional today and you made it quite clear you couldn’t stand to be around me.”

Nate clenched his fists and looked as if he wanted to shake something. “You’re infuriating, you know that? You have an answer for everything. You’re not going to let this lie, are you?”

She bit her lip, shook her head.

He took a deep breath. “Today
I
got emotional.” He saw the shock in her eyes. “Yeah, it doesn’t happen much. I told you things I haven’t told anyone. I told you about a past I’d rather forget and that freaked me out, but it didn’t change how I saw you. There’s no question you’re attractive Holly.”

At his words her heart soared toward her throat but could she really believe them? He’d been avoiding her all night and now this. “Prove it,” she said before she realized what she’d asked.

“Excuse me?” His brows creased.

She pushed past the mammoth rock in her throat, confidence suddenly soaring. “Either you show me how much you mean it or you give me those photos.” She pointed to the camera in his hand, her own hand trembling at her boldness. “Well?”

His lips pushed up at the edges and, when he spoke, his voice held a humorous edge. “Are you propositioning me, Holly McCartney?”

She met his gaze full-on with her own. “Are you skirting the issue, Nate Devlin?”

“No.” With a guttural groan, he laid the camera on one of the couches and took a dangerous step forward.

Her ribcage squeezed around her insides. Everything felt tight and as if it could snap at any moment. She moistened her lips anticipating his next move.

He didn’t make one. “I’m establishing the facts before I make my decision. Do you know what you’re asking of me?”

Erotic images flashed through her mind. Somehow she found her voice. “Yes,” she said, bolder than she’d ever been. “I want you to show me what you say is true. I want you to make love to me.”

“I can’t offer you more than sex,” he said, his voice low.

“I know,” she rushed, not wanting him to talk logistics and ruin the moment. Not wanting him to think too much and decide to pass. “I don’t care.” She only wanted to
feel
, could already anticipate the magic of his touch. She’d never wanted to sleep with anyone as much as she did now but she also didn’t want to beg. She lifted her chin waiting for his answer.

“In that case…” He closed the already miniscule gap between them, placed his hands on her hips and pushed her back, down onto the coffee table.

He leaned over her, his hot breath dusting her face as his gaze raked over her clothes. One hand swept from her cheek right down the edge of her body, lingering at the curve of her breast and setting off a chain reaction of delicious shivers as it did so.

She didn’t care that the granite felt hard against her back. She didn’t care that the lights were on. She didn’t care about anything but the moment. She wanted to hike up her top, yank down her jeans and beg him to do things to her she hadn’t even dreamed of before.

She’d never felt this uninhibited in her life.

As if sensing her desperation, he lowered his mouth to hers and gave her the kiss she’d been anticipating since the zoo. Her mouth opened to him, her tongue took on a life of its own, desperate for him. Her bones melted. For one fleeting moment, she wondered if this was the worst thing she’d ever done, but the sensations rocketing through her body were so undeniably fantastic that she pushed all thoughts of sensibilities out of her mind.

She reached upward, slipping her fingers through his hair and drawing his head down. His lips on hers were nice—more than nice—but she wanted to feel them elsewhere, namely her breasts for starters.

Breathing deeply, he followed her directive, enveloping one nipple with his mouth through the thin fabric of her T-shirt. His touch was like accelerant, shooting through her body and lighting up every single part of her. She reached out to him, gripping the muscles at his shoulders, edging her grip down his back. The thinness of his T-shirt left nothing of his fabulous form to her imagination. His skin scorched her fingers but still she wanted the barrier of clothing removed.

She inched her fingers down past his belt, inside his jocks and over the curve of his buttocks. He groaned as she pulled him toward her, need taking over them both as his erection nudged the junction of her thighs. Instinctively, she spread her legs, letting out a curse at the thickness of the material covering them. “You okay?” he asked, pulling upward slightly and looking deep into her eyes.

“Yes. Dammit.” Lifting her hands from his buttocks, she yanked him back, her hands sliding between their heated bodies to the waistband of his pants, frantic to feel him completely. To hell with foreplay, she was ready. Her thighs were slippery she was so ready. She wanted to have him move inside her and take her places she couldn’t discuss in public.

One corner of his mouth lifted before he laid it back on hers, and her nipples, wet and hard, ached for their loss. She glanced up at the bright shining lights above them and wondered at her total lack of self-consciousness. She couldn’t recall ever having sex with Ian with the lights on. But right now, she didn’t want to think at all, never mind waste time and energy on Ian.

She turned her attentions back to the feast, knowing that, if she let him, Nate could offer her a whole smorgasbord of sexual delights. After a few seconds of Holly fumbling at his waist, he stood, kicked off his shoes and, right before her wide eyes, he unzipped his fly and pulled his pants down over his towering thighs.

Whoa! She sucked in air at the sight of him tall, handsome, fully erect and nearly naked before her. She couldn’t wait to touch him.

Spurred to action, she stood also, stepped seductively close to him and ran her hands around his waist at the bottom of his tee. Light hair dusted deeply tanned abs. At her touch, the muscles tightened and air whooshed from his mouth.

“You’re playing with fire.”

She merely smiled, pride and power rocketing through her as she lifted the T-shirt over his head.

With a guttural, throaty groan, Nate hooked two fingers into the pockets of her jeans and yanked her toward him. With far more pizzazz than she’d used, he undid the button at her waist, lowered her zip with a slow sensual torture and then slipped one whole hand into her panties.

She gasped at the heat as his fingers delved beneath her already wet curls. Her knees buckled but he caught her round the waist with his free hand.

“I’ve been dreaming about this all week,” Nate whispered into her ear as one finger began to stroke.

“Ugh.” An unladylike wheeze slipped through her lips as pleasure raced to her core. He’d barely touched her and already she was shuddering like some wanton nymphomaniac. But damn his moves felt good. She rocked against him, desperate, needy. Hot. “I think I’m going to orgasm.”

“Good.” His heated word slid into her ear as he lowered his mouth to the delicate skin at the side of her neck and slipped one more finger inside her. “Go with it. Let it go. Feel for me.”

No need for encouragement. Her head jerked back as her muscles clenched around his fingers. She thrust her hips, violently shuddering against his hand before collapsing into his arms.

After taking a moment, she looked up into his victorious smile. “Did I just run a marathon?”

“Sugar, I’ve barely started.”

Still limp after the most memorable orgasm of her life, Holly was helpless to stop Nate stripping her completely naked. Not that she wanted too.

Despite his speed, he managed to make the removal of her jeans, and then her top, and then her underwear, a deeply sensual experience. After what she’d just experienced, she’d assumed her libido was spent for life, but a flush of warmth to her nether regions told her otherwise.

And the heat in Nate’s gaze when it trailed over her nakedness re-ignited the spark within. Her nerve-endings were so hot she thought they could light a fire in a swamp. She glanced toward the leather sofa but Nate had other ideas. Lifting his sweat pants and digging around in a pocket, he retrieved a tiny, square foil packet.

Her stomach flipped as he ripped it open and expertly sheathed himself.
This was really going to happen!

Before she could register that thought or second guess his moves, he’d lifted her up against his body.

She wrapped her legs around his waist and cried out in pleasure as he pushed himself inside her. As he walked them forward and pressed her up against a wall, she already knew this was going to be far better than anything she’d experienced before.

She wanted exactly what he was giving her. Hard. Fast. Out of control.

She rode with him, her back rubbing up against the wall adding to the delicious friction between them. Her breasts chaffed pleasurably against his bare chest and her legs trembled as they clung to his waist.

Not for one moment did she feel as if she might fall. So strong and masculine was the man inside her that simply looking at him got her excited. But being with him, here up against the wall, like she’d never had sex with anyone in her life, made her want to shriek and scream and holler her release.

As if reading her mind, he balanced her weight on his limbs and palmed one hand against her breast. “Feel it sweetheart. Let it go.”

He lifted her breast up and took one tight nipple in his mouth. He circled her with his tongue and she felt the pleasure riding, then one short, sharp suck and she couldn’t hold anything in any longer.

“Oh Nate, oh God, oh Nate.”

Any control she had over her own body evaporated. She let out a carnal cry, unable to believe it had come from her own mouth as one final thrust tipped her over the edge of the most amazing climax of her life.

Even before they’d got their breaths back, she wanted to do it all again.

* * *

Nate laid his forehead against Holly’s heated brow, holding her against the wall as they took a moment to collect their breath and thoughts. No, not his thoughts. Now wasn’t the time to think and he didn’t want Holly to start analyzing anything either.