Head Over Heels (23 page)

Thank goodness, she’d put her jacket back on. To feel him touching her actual skin would have broken her.

“Get what?” she asked in a lowered voice.

“I don’t know what it is about you, but you’ve invaded my soul.” He let her arm go and moved back. “I looked at you this morning and I wanted you again. I wanted to feel you, taste you, make you scream again.”

Kari’s legs buckled. “And?”

“And I thought if I did that, you would think of me as that horny teenager you didn’t want in your life instead of the man that I am. I wanted to be a gentleman because I knew I wouldn’t be a
gentle
man.” He crossed his arms over his chest as though he needed to corral himself.

“How do you know I wouldn’t have wanted that?” Kari wanted to seem like she had control of this situation when really she had fallen for his genuineness and power. She’d never been with a man like Thane.

“Earlier this morning, I rolled you on to your back. I was prepared to wake you up with kisses all over your body. Then you stopped me with one word.”

She swallowed. “I did? I don’t remember saying anything.”

“You said ‘easy.’”

She swallowed. Sure he’d pushed her body to its breaking point, but in a great way. She didn’t want him to stop. Maybe he had been too much for her.

He put his hand to his chest. “I can’t help my age. I’m young. I have a lot of energy. I can’t stop my needs.” He removed his hoodie and tossed it to the side. “I ran to work out some sexual tension.”

She peered down and saw a distinct bulge in his track pants. “Did it work?” She knew the answer, but she wanted to hear it from him.

He shook his head. “Not even close.” He took a step closer to her and stopped. “I’m not that man you read about online or in magazines. My last serious relationship was with Anjana, and even with her, I waited before we got physical. I know the media portrays me as some Casanova. I’m not that guy.”

“Who are you then?”

“I’m Thane. I am my mother’s son. I’m honest and faithful.” He put his hand to her cheek.

Kari heard his breathing increase. She licked her lips. As soon as she did, he let out a low groan.

“I like you a lot.” He smiled. “Have you showered yet?”

She shook her head. If he undressed her right now, he would see her bra on inside out. Hell, her panties could be the same way for all she knew. She didn’t remember.

“Why don’t we shower and change and go to breakfast? I don’t want to scare you off.” He lowered his voice. “I want to get to know you.”

“Even though I have a son?” As great as all this sounded, she didn’t need him trying to infuse himself into her life if he only wanted one thing. She couldn’t disappoint her child, not again.

“
Especially
because you have a child.” He kissed her forehead.

“You seem a lot older than twenty-two.” She gazed up at him.

He chuckled. “Patience has never been my virtue. I’m learning that when it matters, it helps.” He walked by her and headed to the bathroom. “Will you wait here while I take a shower?”

Kari glanced down at her watch. “I really should get back to my hotel. I want to be there when Michael wakes up.”

Thane held his hands up. “Please. Give me a couple of minutes to shower and change. Don’t leave, okay?”

She nodded.

“Good. I promise I won’t be long. Whatever you do, don’t go. I don’t mind chasing you down the hall wet and naked, but I’d rather not. Then again, you could join me. Plenty of room for the two of us.”

When Kari didn’t answer, he ducked into the bathroom but didn’t shut the door.

Kari heard the streaming water before she heard the shower door close. She glanced around the room. She looked into the bedroom and saw the remnants of last night’s activities. The disheveled bed, the half-eaten bowls of fruit, the condom wrappers on the floor. She’d been that woman who gave in to her desires. So why hadn’t she wanted to do that this morning when Thane desired her again? Why was she always putting the brakes on having fun?

She dropped her purse on the floor and slid her jacket down her arms as she strolled to the bathroom. She stripped out of her dress and kicked out of her shoes. As she stood on the cool tile floor, she reached behind her and unhooked her bra. She stared at Thane, who had immersed himself under the water and looked like he was trying to take the fastest shower possible. She could slow him down and speed him up in one motion.

Kari pulled her panties down and opened the shower door, which must have surprised Thane. He whipped his head around as soon as she stepped inside. She closed the door, enveloping them in a fragrant fog of his musky-scented body wash.

“I decided I do need that shower.” She put her hands on his chest. “I don’t want you changing yourself for me. All you have to do is say yes.”

He framed her face in his hands and kissed her. Kari slid her hands down his slick body to his waist. Because she liked touching his skin, she eased her hands behind him to his ass. Thane stopped kissing her and released a growl as soon as she squeezed his cheeks.

“You are really letting the beast out.” He kissed her cheek and moved down to her neck. “I should have brought the condoms in here with me.”

“There are other ways to get relief.” She wrapped her hand around his steadily hardening shaft. “This time let me take care of you.”

Kari kept her stare on Thane’s hypnotic blue eyes until she brought her hand up to his mushroom tip. Then he squeezed his eyes shut and planted his hands on the shower stall wall over her head.

She kept her hand tight as she stroked him, slow and easy. With each pass, he became harder. Kari couldn’t resist him. She leaned forward and licked his small nipple.

Thane sucked air between his gritted teeth. He stomped his foot on the floor as though trying hard to keep himself contained. When she covered his nipple with her mouth and sucked him, he surprised her by cupping her breast and twirling her nipple with his large thumb.

It still blew her mind that this man had used that hand to throw a no-hitter game. Kari moved her mouth over to his other nipple and worked on it as she continued to manipulate him below. She felt his body shake and heard his breath become ragged.

Kari kissed his chest before descending to her knees in front of him. While she still had him in her hand, she licked the tip, tasting his salty goodness.

Thane cursed, apologized, and cursed again. Good. Now he could experience what he’d done to her last night, experience the sweet, sweet torture that had reduced her to a puddle. While keeping her hand wrapped around the base, she used her other hand to cup his balls. She massaged them as she brought her mouth down as far as she could go and back up again.

She dragged her tongue underneath his pulsating shaft and moaned, knowing how good the vibration would feel to him. After a few more passes, Kari heard the shower water stop. A few drips came from the head as the remaining water swirled down the drain.

“No, no.” Thane held Kari’s shoulders and brought her up to her feet. “Not this way. Not in your mouth.”

He crouched down and lifted her so that he slung her over his shoulder.

“Thane!” She didn’t mean to squeal, but she’d never had a man manhandle her like that. Too bad she really liked it.

He wiped his feet on the rug outside the shower stall and carried her across the room to his bedroom. After depositing her on the mattress, Thane opened the last of his condoms. He probably didn’t know she had some in her purse thanks to Reagan.

Thane sheathed himself and got into bed.

“No, no, no.” Kari scooted away from him.

“What?” He could barely contain his breathing as he glared at her.

Not willing to torture them both for very long, she got on her hands and knees in front of him. She turned and smiled. “Yes.”

He held her hip with one hand and used his other to help guide himself inside her. She curled her toes at the introduction and had to grip the headboard. Like last night, he controlled every aspect of this session. He pulled back almost to the point of removing himself before slamming himself back in her.

He did that over and over again, driving her wild. When she didn’t think he could do anything else to push her over the edge, he reached under her body and slipped her clitoris between his index and middle fingers.

“Yes!” Kari clawed the wall behind the headboard.

Thane checked off every box from her perfect-man wish list. He not only thought about her needs, he made sure she stayed satisfied as well. He leaned down and kissed her shoulder, even taking a little nibble, which made her scream.

Before she could catch her breath, Thane pulled out of her, turned her around, and had her on her back. She gripped his shoulders before he entered her again.

His incredible strength and stamina had her wishing she had taken him up on his offer to sleep with him that first night when she saved him. No, she liked him better this way. Sober, lucid, aware, sexy. He also reminded her that at twenty-six, she hadn’t become a blue-haired old bitty yet. She needed to embrace her fun side.

By the time Thane twisted her body to the fourth or fifth position and Kari had come three times, her nerves felt banjo tight like the right touch would shatter her. With her on his lap, he cradled her ass with his large hand and held the back of her neck with his other. With her stomach tightening and her legs wrapped around his body, she felt another orgasm building.

He kissed her neck. He coiled his muscular arms around her and held her as her body trembled. When she came, he followed shortly after.

“Thank you,” Kari said and kissed him all over his face.

“What are you thanking me for?” He grinned.

“You reminded me that I’m more than just an agent and a mother. I’m a woman. Sometimes I forget that.”

He patted her backside. “I’m more than happy to remind you. Two or three times a day if you want.”

She laughed. “I’m sure.”

“Tell me who it was.”

Kari leaned back to look Thane in his eyes.

“Tell me the jerk who wrote you some whack note after having sex with you that you thought I was like. I’m in a fighting mood.”

She saw the fire in him. He wanted to defend her honor. Her heart started pounding again for another reason.

Her defenses down, she felt compelled to come clean with him. He’d already seen her son. No use hiding anything from him. “It was Michael’s father.” Kari saw Thane’s jaw flex.

“The father of your child dismissed you like that. That’s what you’re telling me?” He cupped her cheek and brushed his thumb over her face. “Who is he? Does he still live near you?”

She shook her head. “No. He mainly lives in California unless he travels for work.” She took a deep breath. “You said you know basketball.”

He paused before answering. “I do.”

“My son’s last name is the same as his father’s. Townsend.” Kari braced her hands on Thane’s shoulders before she pushed herself off his lap and stood. “Jarrod Townsend is Michael’s father.”

It all made sense now. No wonder Kari didn’t want to date an athlete. She’d gotten pregnant by one at a young age, and he disappointed her on more than one occasion.

After Thane and Kari took real showers without getting entwined in each other’s arms, they got dressed. Silence had filled the room after she’d dropped the bomb about Michael’s father. It amazed Thane that he hadn’t heard this story. He knew Jarrod had a string of ex-wives and had a boatload of children. As he looked at Kari, he didn’t want her and her child to be a part of his casualty list.

“I still want to take you to breakfast.” Thane reached for her.

She glanced at her watch as she moved away from him. “We don’t have to do this.”

“Do what?” He kept after her, not wanting her to leave.

She spoke, keeping her gaze averted. “I need to get to Michael.”

“You don’t want me to join you?” He watched her shoulders slump. His stomach knotted.

“This was nice.”

“Nice?” He cocked his head.

Kari continued. “I don’t want to confuse—”

“Who? Michael? Me? You?” He moved in closer to her. “You’ve come too far to go back now. Talk to me.”

She shook her head. “I came out here for a job. I didn’t come here to…” She stopped herself before she exposed any more of herself.

“Wow. Put that in a note and I’ll know how you felt with Jarrod.”

Kari’s bottom jaw unhinged as she glared at him. “That’s so unfair.” She headed to the door.

Feeling like a heel for what he said, Thane came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist before she could touch the knob. “You’re right. You didn’t deserve that.”

“If you think I don’t feel something after last night and this morning, you’re crazy.” She turned around in his arms and stared into his eyes. “But if you think I’m not afraid of what this all means, then I must be one hell of an actress. I’m scared. I can’t say that enough.”

Thane pressed her back against the door and held her hips. “I’m telling you that you don’t have to be. I came home to bury my mother. I didn’t expect anything else. But here we are.” He kissed the tip of her nose. “Here we are.” He pressed his lips against hers. “Let’s explore this. I’m not going to call your friend about rental properties.” He shook his head. “I’m going to be checking out of this hotel.”

“You’re leaving?” Fear laced her inquiry.

“Just the hotel. My mother left me a home I didn’t know she had down in the Outer Banks.” He interlaced his fingers with hers. “Come down there with me.” When he saw her open her mouth to protest, he stopped her. “You, Michael, and Reagan. I have no idea what the house looks like. We can explore it together. We can explore a lot of things together.”

She shook her head. “No. You are a young—” She stopped as she put her hand to his chest and felt him. After a sigh and licking her lips, she continued. “You are a young man. You have your whole life ahead of you. You don’t need to saddle yourself with a woman with a child.”

Thane put his hand on top of hers and pressed it to his chest. “For one thing, I’m a man. Don’t mistake that. I make up my own mind and make my own decisions. Remember that. Not since my mother cut the crusts off my sandwiches have I had a woman try to tell me what I need. I know what I want. You may know my stats, but you have no idea what drives me.”