feels so good, so strong, so…male.
In an instant her hunger ignited in a flashpoint of need. Ross returned in kind until any emotional restraints they might offer were lost as they clung to each other, passion flaring white-hot and unexpected.
Cara’s arms swept around his shoulders, and she leaned close to the man, allowing him to press her close to the hard strength of his chest. A part of her knew that what she was doing was dangerous. She was kissing a man who might someday make a claim on one of the twins. But with his arms around her, she couldn’t think that far. She was consumed with a need like nothing she had ever felt before. And the pleasure…sweet heaven, she had never felt such pleasure in Elliot’s arms! Ross knew just how to hold her, caress her, kiss her, to make her feel cherished and desirable, beautiful and seductive.
And she hadn’t felt that way in a very long time. Not since returning home early from a dinner with her friends to discover her husband was making love to another woman in the same bed that she’d shared with him only the night before.
Suddenly starving for air, the two of them broke apart. But the need thrummed between them even more potently, swamping whatever restraints they might have cared to impose.
Cara had never experienced anything like this before. She was normally so careful around men. After her divorce she’d rarely dated—and that had been by her own choosing.
But as she looked into the dark depths of Ross’s eyes, she was lost again. When he reached for her, she didn’t resist. This time their embrace was slow and lingering and infinitely sensual. Her hands spread wide over his back, sweeping low to tug the hem of his shirt free, then explore the bare flesh beneath. His hissing inhalation told her that he must have felt the same jolt of electricity that coursed through her fingertips the moment she’d grazed the sensitive skin. The very thought that she could incite such a reaction filled her with an even hotter passion.
“We’ve got to stop,” he rasped against her throat. But rather than end the embrace, he trailed his tongue along a particularly sensitive nerve, causing her to gasp.
This time it was her turn to pull him to her for a kiss. Again, she was struck by the differences between Elliot and this near stranger. Elliot had been a sloppy kisser—too wet, too intrusive. But Ross…
Ross knew just when to advance, to retreat. When to stroke, when to tease.
She moaned deep in her throat, slowly losing her touch with reality. There was only this man. This kiss.
Without warning, a high-pitched bleeping noise split the silence. The two of them sprang apart as if a shot had rung through the room.
It took a moment for Cara to realize the sound was coming from her duffel bag.
“My phone,” she gasped, dodging toward the bag. The noise increased as she removed the receiver from its pocket and punched the send button.
“Yes?”
Did she really sound that breathless? That out of control?
“Cara? Are you all right?”
Polly.
“Yes. Yes, I’m fine.”
“You sound strained. Did something happen when Ross came home? Did he find out there was a problem?”
Cara automatically smoothed her hair, even though Polly couldn’t possibly see her. “No. I’m…I’m still here.”
“What’s the matter?”
“Nothing, I just stayed for coffee, that’s all.”
“You did what?” Polly’s tone was incredulous.
Suddenly Cara felt like a teenager who’d broken curfew. If Polly was this shocked that Cara had stayed for coffee, imagine her reaction if she knew the full details. “I should be home in about ten minutes.”
“You’re sure you’re okay?”
“Yes, yes. I’ll see you soon.”
Cara terminated the call before Polly’s concern communicated itself through the slight noises that Ross must be able to hear.
“Trouble?”
“No. Just the…ah…baby-sitter.”
“You hired a baby-sitter so that you could come tend my kids?”
“Not exactly. One of my partners was watching them. She thought I would be back by now.”
“Ah.”
The silence pulsed between them, fraught with the memories of the passionate embrace they had just shared.
Staring at Ross, she saw her own discomfort reflected in his eyes. They had just shared a terribly intimate embrace and yet they were strangers. Complete and total strangers?
So what did they do now? What were they supposed to say to each other?
Cara was the first to speak. “I, uh…I’ve got to go.”
So why wasn’t she moving?
Ross nodded, his eyes never leaving her face. “Sure. I understand. After all, I know all about getting back in time to relieve the sitter.” His lips twitched in something akin to chagrin. The expression had a little-boy charm that tugged at her heart. Before grief had tainted this man’s expression, he must have been devastating. If a slight twitch of his lips had the ability to knock at her defenses, what would a full-blown smile do?
Just as quickly as the smile had appeared, it disappeared again. He grew instantly serious, and she regretted the hint of gentleness. Before she could reconcile herself to the transformation, Ross was once again the epitome of a powerful businessman. In a heartbeat, the approachable person who had kissed her so spontaneously disappeared so completely, she might have imagined the interlude if her body didn’t still tremble with the aftereffects.
“Listen…” Ross slid a hand into the pocket of his trousers and stared down at the toe of his shoe. “I want you to know I don’t usually go around…kissing my baby-sitters.”
She hitched the duffel bag over her shoulder, her own cheeks growing hot. “Of course not, and I don’t—”
“No, you wouldn’t.”
Again the room shimmered in a heavy silence.
“Well,” she whispered. “I’ve got to go.”
He gently lifted the bag, relieving her of its weight. “I’ll walk you to your car.”
As they made their way to the front of the house, Cara was even more conscious of Ross beside her—and the awareness frightened her.
What was wrong with her? She’d sworn off men after Elliot. What was it about this particular male that urged her to abandon all those heartfelt promises? Had she totally lost her mind? Why couldn’t she remember everything that was at stake as soon as Ross discovered the truth about their children?
Needing
