smile lit up her face and he could feel that light sear through his heart.
“I wanted you to have it. I like the idea of you having a part of me wrapped around you.” Her hand flew to her mouth. “I can’t believe that came out the way it did. I meant since you were so incredible today… I give up.” She covered her face and shook her head.
Will’s heart felt as though it beat double-time as he reached up and pulled her hands away from her face.
“You never have to be embarrassed with me.” He touched her cheek gently with the back of his fingers. Her skin was so smooth. It took all of his resolve to keep from hauling her into his lap. “I should get going.” Those words were tough to say but he was doing his best to be a gentleman.
Her lips formed a straight line. “I forgot you have a job to go to tomorrow morning.” She touched his hand. “I’ve kept you out late and—”
“Hannah, stop. It’s only eleven and I do want to stay. Trust me I do. But you’ve had a really long and eventful day. I saw you hiding the yawns during dinner.”
“Oh, no, and here I thought I was being so clever with my napkin. I haven’t slept for a couple of days. So much was riding on this show. But, and I know how this makes me sound, I don’t want to be alone. Can you stay, just for a little while? We can watch the documentary and I have popcorn and beer or wine. And maybe some cheese and bottled water. I eat out a lot.”
“I figured as much when I saw your kitchen. I’m happy to stay if you aren’t too tired.”
“Stay right there.”
She ran off to the kitchen and returned with some beer and a giant bowl of popcorn. She scooted in next to him and he slipped his arm across her petite shoulders.
Less than ten minutes later Will had to save her couch by grabbing the bottle of beer out of her hand. She’d fallen asleep.
When he shifted to put the bowl of popcorn on the coffee table, she fell into his lap. He grabbed a pillow to put between her and his thighs, praying that she didn’t feel the sudden bulge when she’d touched him there.
Will pushed the tiny tendrils that escaped her ponytail away from her face. She was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen.
Now what the hell am I going to do?
3
HANNAH OPENED HER EYES to find the television was on. She yawned and noticed she was lying on her sofa pillow, which was on top of two strong thighs.
Will.
Great. I fell asleep.
Turning her head, she glanced up to find an amused look on his face.
“Hey.” That whiskey voice got to her every time.
She sat up and tugged the pillow from his lap. “Okay, I’m mortified. I can’t believe I did that.”
“You had a good excuse.” He stood and stretched. His shirt lifted enough she caught a glimpse of his hardened abs. The lower region of her body reacted instantly. “You were right about the documentary. It was great.”
His next words would be about him needing to leave. He’d be polite and obliging but she wasn’t ready for that yet. The man was so handsome that part of her wondered if he was a hallucination. If he were a dream, she would make the most of it.
“Will? I don’t ask men I just met to stay overnight.”
“I was heading out.” He was so earnest.
Hannah made a bold move without even thinking about it. She quickly stood before him and placed her hand on his chest.
“Um, you misunderstood. What would you think of me if I told you I want you to stay? That I want to do naughty, dirty things to your body. That I—”
Before she could say another word his lips captured hers, his tongue begging for entrance as it teased her lips. With the lightest touch his knuckle outlined her jaw.
Her hands lifted his shirt so she could run her palms up and down the muscles beneath.
Will moaned when she touched him and he twined her hands up around his neck so that her body was flush against his, her breasts rubbing against his hard chest. There was a strange sense of coming home, almost as if she could feel her body binding to his.
His hand moved behind her head and he loosened her ponytail. “Your hair is like wavy sunshine.”
Her hair was her arch enemy but now wasn’t the time to talk about that.
When she glanced up, the need in his eyes stole her breath. He wanted her as much as she did him.
“Hannah, are you trying to seduce me?”
“If you think I’m just trying, then I’m obviously not doing it very well. I’ll race you to the bedroom,” she said as she took off in a dead run, sliding across the floor in her socks.
“Hey, you cheated.”
“It’s only cheating if there are rules and there are no rules tonight, Will.” She slipped off her clothes and he did the same. A few seconds later, they watched each other from opposite sides of the bed. Naked. His cock was at attention and Hannah wondered at the length and width of him.
A slight panic engulfed her. He was so big.
Before she could think too much about it, she climbed on the bed and sat on her knees in the middle of it. Will mirrored her. Even in the dark, she could see two circular scars below his right shoulder. There were also burn marks on his left shoulder. The pink tissue was tight and angry-looking. With one finger she touched him lightly.
“What happened?”
“Bomb and sniper in Baghdad.” The pain in those words struck her. Though somehow she knew he didn’t want her sympathy.
She couldn’t imagine everything he’d been through. The horrors he had seen and the pain he must have experienced with his injuries. Her every instinct wanted to protect him from harm, to soothe his pain.
“Hannah?” Will was watching her carefully.
She would have to work harder to hide her emotions from him.
“You know I’m just using you for your body, right?”
He chuckled. “You don’t see me complaining.”
She had a feeling he didn’t do much smiling and if she could bring a little lightness to his world, well…
His hand slid down her arm.
She took his hand and put it on her breast over her heart and wondered if he could feel the speed of the beating there. His thumb grazed the nipple, causing it to harden. When he replaced his thumb with his tongue, Hannah sucked in a breath.
Still sitting on her knees she arched back and cried out when his teeth gently nipped her. Continuing
