doorway that led from the garage into his back hallway. They’d returned from the party fifteen minutes ago and while she’d disappeared into the bathroom to change clothes and brush her teeth, he’d retreated to the one place in the house that had the most soothing effect on him.
“I’m enjoying my latest purchase.”
Rachel stepped into the garage, her three-inch heels giving her long legs a positively sinful appearance. She wore the red and black baby-doll nightie Hailey had packed for the trip to Gulf Shores. That weekend, his appetite hadn’t afforded her the chance to wear it. He recalled her opinion about the futility of wearing the thing. That he would have it off her in ten seconds.
“Wouldn’t you enjoy it more if you took it for a drive?” She stopped near the front of the car and bent down to slide her palms up the hood. The black lace edging her neckline gaped, baring her round breasts. Beneath his intent regard, her nipples puckered against the gown’s thin fabric.
The combination of muscle car and half-dressed Rachel was irresistible. He was instantly hard.
“Feel like going for a ride?” He got out of the car and prowled toward her.
She plucked a condom from inside her bodice and held it up. “Maybe later.”
He put his arms around her, hands riding the sexy curve of her butt to the nightgown’s hem. “How about now?”
He loved the flow of the material over her warm curves and the contrast between the scratchy lace and her silky skin. But he adored the heat between her thighs even more. And the low moan of longing that rumbled through her as he dipped his fingers into the moisture awaiting him there.
She pressed hot kisses to his neck as her fingers dipped inside the elastic waistband of his underwear and slid them down his thighs. He kicked free of the material, groaning his appreciation as her hands rolled the condom on his hot shaft.
Her mouth was open and awaiting his kiss as he lifted her off her feet, savoring the damp slide of her hot, sweet center against his belly. Gently, he placed her on the car’s hood, past caring what damage he might do to the very expensive collectible. He only gave himself a second to enjoy the sight of Rachel splayed across the yellow hood, but the mental snapshot was unforgettable.
The elastic band kept the bodice snug against her chest and allowed the rest of the material to billow around the top of her thighs. However, the nightie was so short that when he’d set her on the car, the fabric rode up, exposing her concave belly and the thatch of dark blond curls at the juncture of her thighs. Nothing looked as gorgeous as she did at the moment.
He stepped between her legs and gathered her butt in his hands. Fastening his mouth on her, barely hearing her gasp past the roar in his ears, he feasted on her. She tasted incredible. Mewling sounds erupted from her parted lips as her fingers clutched his shoulders. He laved her with his tongue, penetrating deep while she writhed within his grasp. He drove her toward orgasm without mercy, ignoring her incomprehensible protests. Maybe later he would give her a turn at him. Right now, he wanted to put his mark on her body and soul.
When she was close to the edge, he slipped two fingers inside her and watched her explode. She screamed his name. Her nails bit into his shoulders as her back arched and her heels found purchase on the bumper. Shudder after shudder pummeled her body, wringing every single sensation possible out of her. Only when she went completely limp did he cease his erotic assault and kiss his way up her body.
Sliding his hands under the elastic beneath her breasts, he rode the material up over her head. She blinked and stared at him, dazzled.
“No fair,” she complained. “I was going to do that for you.”
“Later,” he promised, riding the curve of her breast with his lips.
“It’ll have to be much later,” she agreed, sifting her fingers though his hair. “Because I can’t move at the moment.”
“That’s okay. You just lie back and let me do all the work.” He opened his mouth over her nipple, swirling his tongue around and flicking it over the sensitive tip. Her body jerked as he grazed his teeth against her flesh.
“Whatever you say.” She closed her eyes. A half smile curved her lips. She looked the picture of utter contentment.
His heart turned over. It was happening to him all over again. He was falling beneath her spell. Her palms glided along his biceps as he nudged against her entrance. She was so slick, he almost drove straight in. But a week of intense lovemaking had taken the sharp edge off his driving need. He intended to savor every inch of their joining. To take his time enjoying the tight sheath that seemed made just for him.
And to watch her expression as he did so.
For it seemed the only time she truly dropped her guard and let him in was when he was buried inside her. That’s when she couldn’t fight what she needed or hide her thoughts.
He eased forward, delighting in the play of happy emotions across her features. When he was fully embedded, she surrendered a smile of sheer delight and opened her eyes. Plummeting into their blue depth, Max sank past her doubts and fears to her true heart. Jewel bright, her joy welcomed him. Pure and fierce it connected him to her.
“Again,” she coaxed, cradling his face between her hands. “I love the feel of you sliding inside me.”
He was happy to oblige her. She crooned her delight as he completed another long slow thrust. It was then that she wrapped her legs around his hips and began moving with him. He increased his rhythm. Pleasure built in slow waves as he took his time and gave her more of exactly what she liked.
And when he came, the pressure, swelling low in his back, exploded through him like a concussion bomb. The waves of pleasure caught Rachel and pulled her into bliss along with him. He lowered his head and touched his lips to hers, fusing their mouths together in a kiss of tender passion.
“Best ride of my life,” he murmured against her neck as his heart labored and his lungs pumped.
Her nails grazed along his back to the base of his spine. “Better than racing around the track at a hundred twenty miles an hour?”
“Much, much better.”
With his body mostly recovered, he gathered her in his arms and carried her back to bed. Once there, she snuggled at his side, her head on his shoulder, hand on his chest. Peace swept over him. He liked falling asleep next to this woman. Sleepovers were something he usually frowned on. They suggested a level of intimacy he avoided with all the women he dated.
Rachel was different. She knew they had no future. Only the present. They weren’t dating. They were lovers. Lovers without expectations. She understood and accepted the limits of their relationship.
Because after much soul-searching tonight, he’d decided it was all he could offer her.
Max finished interviewing the last of the candidates Rachel had sent him. His respect for her ability to match employer to employee had increased over the last two days. She’d even scheduled the four women in order of their compatibility for both him and the type of work he would have them do, starting with the most likely candidate first and finishing
