It Started with No Strings.... Kate Hardy

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СКАЧАТЬ SHE STAY or would she go?

      Aaron didn’t have a clue.

      Joni was silent for a long, long time. And then she said, ‘I, um, don’t usually do this sort of thing.’

      ‘I’d already guessed that,’ he said softly. ‘Sorry. I shouldn’t have asked you.’

      ‘It’s not that,’ she said. ‘I’m flattered. But I’m not looking for a relationship right now.’

      ‘Neither am I,’ he said. ‘Which makes it even more unforgivable of me to have asked you to stay. It’s totally dishonourable.’

      He was about to turn away and grab the phone to call her a taxi when she slid her hand over his and squeezed it. ‘The answer’s yes.’

      He knew he ought to give her a chance to change her mind. But right now he wanted this so badly. Needed this so badly. And he had the strongest feeling it was the same for her.

      In answer, he kissed her.

      Then he lifted her up and carried her to his bedroom. He stood by the bed and let her slide down his body so she was left in no doubt about how much he wanted her.

      She looked him in the eye and licked her lower lip.

      He took the invitation and kissed her, then lifted her hair so it fell over her shoulder towards the front of her body, turned her round and undid the zip very, very slowly. He caressed her skin as he uncovered it; it was so soft, he couldn’t resist touching his mouth to it and kissing his way down her spine. She made a tiny noise of pleasure, so he unsnapped her bra and continued kissing his way downwards. When he eased the dress over her shoulders so it could slide to the floor, she stepped out of it. Then, once he’d dealt with her bra, he turned her to face him.

      ‘You’re so beautiful,’ he said softly. She was still wearing her knickers and, with her hair falling to cover her breasts, she looked almost as modest as she would’ve done wearing a bikini at a beach. Yet, at the same time, she was sexy as hell. The ultimate temptress.

      ‘I need to see you, Joni,’ he said hoarsely. ‘Lift your hair.’

      Just as he’d hoped, she pushed her hair back with both hands and lifted them to the back of her head.

      ‘Like a goddess,’ he whispered.

      She blushed. ‘Hardly. I’m just an ordinary woman.’

      Did she really have no idea? ‘You’re gorgeous,’ he said. ‘Everything about you. Your hair, your smile, your eyes—just gorgeous.’

      This time, she actually smiled. ‘And I’m feeling just a little bit vulnerable here, because you’re wearing an awful lot more than I am.’

      It took him less than ten seconds to get naked. ‘Better?’

      ‘Much better.’ And this time it was his turn to blush as she surveyed him.

      She leaned forward and traced a line from his ribcage to his belly button. ‘Very nice abs.’

      ‘Thank you. But I’m just ord—’ He caught himself as she laughed.

      ‘You’re not very good at taking compliments,’ she said.

      ‘That makes two of us,’ he said wryly.

      She swallowed. ‘I forgot to ask—do you have, um, protection?’

      ‘Yeah. Though I guess I ought to check it’s in date.’

      She blinked. ‘You’re seriously telling me that a hot guy like you …’ She stopped and clapped her hand over her mouth. ‘Sorry. None of my business. No questions.’

      Meaning, he thought, that she didn’t want him to ask questions, either. That moment when she’d looked sad in the salsa club and then claimed that she was celebrating … Whatever the reason, she clearly didn’t want to talk about it.

      And it suited him just fine—because he didn’t want to talk about emotional stuff, either.

      ‘Thank you for the compliment,’ he said, focusing on the bit that wasn’t going to rake across any raw edges. ‘I guess I ought to let you know that I don’t normally invite women I’ve only just met back to my flat.’ He stroked her face. ‘And I’m pretty sure you don’t normally accept invitations from men you’ve only just met.’

      ‘I don’t.’ She shook her head.

      So why him? Why tonight?

       No questions.

      Ask nothing, and you’ll hear no lies. And you won’t be expected to answer anything, either, he reminded himself.

      He rummaged in his bedside drawer and checked the date on the packet of condoms. ‘We’re safe.’ He paused. ‘Though if you’d rather I left the room so you could get dressed while I call you a taxi, that’s fine—I’m not the kind of man who’d ever force a woman to do something she didn’t want to do.’

      ‘I know,’ she said softly. ‘Or I wouldn’t have agreed to come here with you.’

      Funny how her confidence in him warmed him. It almost felt as if something had cracked around the region of his heart. Though he was pretty sure the permafrost would be too deep for that. This was about pleasure, not emotions. He’d make this good for her. Good for himself, too. And then he’d drive her home, they’d say goodbye, and the chances of their paths crossing again in a city of nearly eight million people were pretty remote. They’d just get on with their lives. And he could go back to doing what he always did: getting on just fine with people, fitting in with the crowd on the surface, and not letting himself get too close to anyone.

      ‘Don’t think,’ she said softly.

      Meaning that she didn’t want to think, either? He was pretty sure that she was running from something; and he appreciated that she didn’t want to discuss it. Because he sure as hell didn’t want to discuss what was ricocheting round his head.

      ‘No thinking,’ he agreed, and kissed her.

      And it was easier not to think when he was touching her. Easier just to feel, to lose himself in pleasure.

      He pushed the duvet aside, then lifted her up and laid her against the pillows.

      She stroked his cheek and smiled at him. ‘Aaron.’

      He kissed her again, then hooked his thumbs into the sides of her knickers and drew them down. She lifted her bottom slightly so he could remove them easily.

      ‘You’re beautiful,’ he said again. ‘And I really want to touch you.’

      ‘Then do it,’ she commanded softly.

      He dipped his head and nuzzled the hollows of her collar bones. She arched back against the bed and he moved lower, taking one nipple into his mouth and sucking hard. She slid her hands into his hair, urging him on.

      He kissed his way down over her abdomen, then shifted to kneel between СКАЧАТЬ