The Beast Loves Curves (3 page)

"I do not," She shot back with an answering smile.

"You do." His blue eyes pinned hers. She could swear they were filled with desire...but she knew better.

"It's very sexy." He leaned over and brushed his lips to her forehead. "It tempts a man to want to kiss it away."

She came very close to wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him senseless. There was only so much teasing a woman could take. "Stop being a flirt. I have work to do." Her answer was nearly breathless.
Get a grip, Abbie.

"I don't think of it as flirting. It's attempted seduction." He answered in a husky voice.

Abbie's heart fluttered as he kneeled beside her. "I'm working on something right now. I'll have to show you the site later. I'm hoping to finish today."

"Then I guess I'll have to distract you so that you don't finish," he whispered low in her ear.

He was slightly behind her and she could feel his warm breath caress her sensitive ear. She shivered as his tongue darted out to tease her ear lobe and his hands dropped lightly on her shoulders.

How easy it would be to just lean back against his massive chest and give in to the desire that had been burning inside of her all week long. If she wasn't so insecure...she might have. Ian was a hard man to resist when he was flirting.

He doesn't really want you.

"You need to let me work, Ian. You're distracting me." Her body was vibrating with tension.

"Am I, Abbie?," he asked as the back of hands slid along her exposed skin at the top of breasts and collarbone and his tongue trailed over the tight muscles in her neck. "God, you're skin is so soft," his strangled comment vibrated along her neck, sending tingles of awareness through her whole body. She stopped breathing as his large fingers stroked over her breasts. Her nipples were hard and she was sure he could feel them, even through the material of her lacy bra and light sweater.

It has to stop, Abbie. He's never gone this far.

She bit her lip to hold back a moan as he circled her swollen nipples, stroking a finger over each hard nub.

She let out her pent up breath, careful not to moan. Shit. It was too much. Her panties were soaked already and he had barely touched her.

His hands continued tormenting her breasts as he swung around to face her. His eyes were hot and wild. "So ripe, so lush. Are you wet, Abbie? Do you want this as much as I do?"

Before she could answer, his lips lowered to hers. Her breath had been coming hard between her lips and they were open and ready for his invasion. He brushed aside her computer and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her flush against him. He groaned into her mouth as his tongue swept in and tangled with hers and her breasts met his solid, muscular chest.

She gave in. She promised herself it would be just for a moment. Her arms wrapped around his neck and her hands tangled in his coarse, thick hair.

She let herself drown in sensation. His mouth was hot and demanding, his tongue working in a sensual rhythm against hers. The wet slide was erotic and scorching, making her whole body quiver as she felt his power and will overwhelm her.

He took her mouth over and over while his hands roamed her body, molding her against him. They moved sensually from her back to her hips, sliding under sweater.

She moaned as he stroked the bare skin of her back, leaving a trail of fire wherever he touched.

Oh shit. This had to stop. She couldn't take anymore. Her heart was hammering and every part of her was primed and ready for his possession.

Yanking her mouth from his was like ripping her heart out. It was physically painful and she felt her core contracting, vibrating with need. Every part of her reached out for him even as she pulled away. She pushed on his chest, trying to move away from him.

"I can't do this, Ian. Please." Her voice was begging him. She felt desperate...she was desperate.

He backed away, his chest heaving to catch his breath. He rested his hands on his thighs. They were both panting as their eyes met. She almost pulled him back. God help her...but she wanted him so badly, even if he was only playing with her.

He looked as needy as she was, his eyes burning and hot. She looked away from him. "Please don't do that again. It hurts," she whispered breathlessly. She hadn't meant to say it, but she ached. Her body was wound tight.

He took her hand and brought it to the front of his jeans, pressing it along his groin to feel a hard, large and very erect cock. "I know the feeling, sweetheart," he answered, his voice tortured.

Abbie looked up at him, her body humming. He really did want her. She was feeling the evidence against her palm. She wanted to rub her hand along it, play with it. He was incredibly hard and engorged. "You really do want me." For just a moment, Abbie was filled with the wonder of having a man like Ian desire her.

"Was there ever any doubt?" His voice was dry and incredulous. "I've been panting after you all week like a eager puppy. My cock has been hard since the first day we met."

He was serious. He wanted her.

Before she became swamped in her own needs, she reminded herself that she was the only available female in the house below the age of sixty. The man probably hadn't gotten laid since before his accident. He could have any woman he wanted, but she just happened to be available. Maybe even a chubby woman looked good to a guy that was horny.

Tears threatened, but Abbie held them back. If she gave in to Ian Campbell he would break her heart like no man ever had. Her break up with Tim would be like a paper cut compared to the damage Ian could do to her.

"I just can't, Ian. I'm sorry." She wasn't doing a one night fling with him. It would destroy her.

He stood, his eyes going flat and cold. "It's fine. I shouldn't have gotten carried away." He moved to his desk chair and grabbed up his running shoes. "I have to go out for a while. I have an appointment at the hospital."

His tone was casual, but Abbie knew how he hated the hospital. He had laughingly told her once that he couldn't go near one anymore without trembling with fear. "I'll go with you." Her heart reached out to him automatically.

"You will?" He looked confused, amazed by her offer. "It's only for testing, Abbie. You don't have to go."

She gave him a reassuring smile. "I want to...if you want me to go with you," she answered shyly. "I'd like to think we've become friends, Ian."

"Sweetheart, you've become more than just a friend to me," he drawled in a self mocking voice. "But if friends is all I can have...I'll take it. If you're coming with me you have to let me take you out to dinner afterwards. Anywhere you want."

"You don't have to bribe me, Ian. I want to go," she answered, teasing him. She didn't like to see him sad or tense.

"I insist. We have to eat." He didn't look at her as he continued to pull on his shoes.

She laughingly named the most expensive restaurants in the city. It was one that she had never been to personally. She made a decent income, but it was way over her budget.

He nodded as he stood. He walked to the couch and looked down at her earnestly. "It's one of my favorites."

She shook her head as she laughed up at him. "I was joking, Ian. Do you think I'd go to a place like that dressed like this. They wouldn't let me step through the door." She waved her hand over her well worn jeans and sweater.

"You look great to me. I'd let you in." His eyes raked over her thoroughly, giving his statement a whole different meaning. "Besides, I already know they'd let you in." His eyes met hers with a devilish twinkle.

She swallowed hard, trying to contain her lust. He was so difficult to resist when he was being a naughty boy. She crossed her arms over her chest as she met his mischievous look with a doubtful one of her own. "You look awfully full of yourself. I'm sure they have a dress code even if you are Ian Campbell."

He reached out his hand to pull her up beside him. She took it, shivering at the power in his grip as he easily pulled her from her seat on the couch.

He didn't let go of her hand as he pulled her along behind him to the door. He paused as his hand met the door handle to answer, "They do have a dress code. But it hardly applies to me. They would never turn us away."

She gaped at him. "Oh, God. You really think you're that superior."

"Nope. Not superior at all." His grin was wicked as he pulled the door open, his eyes never leaving hers. "But I do own the place."

She choked on her laughter as he pulled her out the door. She smacked him on the shoulder. "You're completely evil, Ian."

"Not as evil as I'd like to be," she heard his barely audible murmur.

He laughed and joked the rest of the afternoon as they completed his visit to the hospital, but she felt him squeeze her hand a few times as they entered. She squeezed back in reassurance.

When they finished he wanted to take her to his restaurant. She argued that she was supposed to get her choice.

He relented.

They ate at McDonalds.

*****

One more day. One more day.

The chant had been going through Ian's head all day long.

He grunted as he added more weight to his upper body workout. The gym was the only way he could work out his frustrations. It was a good thing he had his own at home. He had spent a lot of time here in the last week.

There was a prescribed workout for his legs due to his injuries, but he could work the hell out of his upper body.

Ian put his hands back on the handles, relishing the burn of the extra weight. He tried to lose himself in the effort and the rhythmic motion of the arm movements...but it wasn't working. Nothing could erase the horrified look on Abbie's face today after he had kissed her.

The one woman he had ever really wanted...and he couldn't have her. He had thought she wanted him. Apparently...she didn't. She was a mystery he couldn't solve. Sometimes he thought he was getting mixed signals, but that could just be wishful thinking.

Ian had been trying to figure it out for hours. She had left several hours ago and he had come straight to the gym, his body aching with unfulfilled lust.

He let go of the handles with a disgusted curse. His arms, chest and abdomen were burning from exertion and he was still as wound up as ever. He got up and grabbed a towel, wiping down his face. Sweat was trickling down his extremities, but his body was still burning with need.

"She'll be done tomorrow," he grumbled to himself as he wiped his arms and chest. He wondered if he could find a way to drag out the project. Just the thought of not seeing her smile every day made his blood turn cold.

He sat down on the bench and dropped the towel beside him. Was it possible that she couldn't see past his scars? As his eyes moved over the mangled mess of his right leg beneath his workout shorts he released a long sigh. She hadn't even seen the worst of them.

His head hit the wall as he leaned his head back. "Maybe she just doesn't like you, idiot," he uttered what was probably the sad truth.

Ian had to stop pushing her. He was chasing after her like a lovesick teenager, his time constraints worrying him. Would he ever see her again after the project was done? They had become friends, but he wanted so much more.

Abbie was special. Yes...he lusted after her lush body, but he wanted all of her. He knew he'd never find another woman like her. It had taken him thirty-four years to find perfection and he didn't want to let her go.

He needed to get it through his thick head that she just didn't care the same way that he did. That fact clawed at his insides and raked at his gut. How was he going to survive a day without her? Who was going to make him laugh at himself when he got too serious? Who would challenge him and keep him on his toes? Abbie did all of that and more. He got up every day looking forward to seeing her and fell asleep each night with her image in his mind.