17. Ari
17
ARI
W hat was wrong with me?
Other than a really great orgasm?
I’d run straight back to the room after our hot and heavy session in the alcove and basically dived under the covers like a coward after getting ready for bed and checking our jammer. Because that had been the only appropriate response. I’d never—and I mean never—had an orgasm with anyone before. Not like my sex life was some rousing success.
Damon had come to bed thirty minutes later and climbed under the covers, but he’d taken my lead and kept to his side of the bed. At least at first. Somehow, I’d woken up starfished over his big body.
I clearly had no idea what I was doing. A part of him scared me, but I was drawn to him. I’d been completely lost, diving headfirst into kissing him. That wasn’t me. Acting without a plan.
In the morning, I’d peeled myself off him, showered, and dressed before he was even up. After the shower, I’d started reviewing the security schematics.
“You’re up early.” His voice sounded like a growl.
I squeaked, whirling around as he sat up and the covers fell off him, baring his muscled chest and all that golden-bronze skin with a light dusting of hair. He looked delicious. Gorgeous. Like something to savor and delight in, something to lick all over.
Oh my God, stop it.
“Good morning,” I said.
“When did you get up?” he asked.
I frowned at the time. It was seven o’clock. Normally by now, I would have left for a run, eaten, and gone over the day’s clients and their needs. “Um, early riser, I guess.”
He cocked his head and gave me a smile that was somewhere between smug and sweet. “You were in bed early too.”
“We don’t have to talk about this.”
He sighed. “Ari, we should talk.”
“Damon, can’t we just leave it at it’s complicated ?”
“Don’t you want to clear the air?”
I sucked in a sharp breath and held it maybe for a little too long, because I started to feel lightheaded. Oh God, what was I supposed to say? I didn’t lose control. Not ever.
He watched me carefully. “Okay, we don’t have to talk about it. But you know, next time you want to wrap your arms around my neck and rub those gorgeous tits on me, let me know. I’ll make myself available. And I don’t count you throwing your body over mine when you sleep. You weren’t kidding about being a bed hog.”
Frustrated, I threw the hotel notepad at him.
He blocked it deftly with a pillow. “Got to talk about that crackle between us eventually, angel.” He climbed out of bed, and I got one hell of a glimpse at what he’d been hiding under the covers. He’d only worn boxer briefs to bed.
Jesus Christ, he looked like Adonis. Broad shoulders. Lean, tapered waist. And abs. So. Many. Abs. Fully defined. Flat. Taut. His leg muscles well-defined. Honestly, I was probably salivating. I forced myself to turn around and get back to the schematics.
I cleared my throat. “We’re scheduled to ‘run into Lucas’ at breakfast shortly, and I wanted to make sure I was ready.” The plan was to have him spill something on me, then invite us to join him as recompense.
“Are those the schematics?” he asked.
I jumped in surprise. He was right behind me, looking over my shoulder. His breath tickled my neck, making my body stiff.
All I could think about was last night. His nose running along my skin, his hands cupping my breasts, his thumb rubbing over my nipple. The way I’d begged him to make me come. Heat suffused my face, and I wanted to duck and hide.
Why had I said yes?
And honestly, just because Galen had saved me didn’t mean I needed to do everything he said. If I had just said no, I wouldn’t be here. So close to Damon Hunt. I wouldn’t have let the man kiss me and certainly wouldn’t have let him...
Let him what? Give you a much-needed orgasm? Let’s face it. You are uptight. You needed that.
If I could have scowled at my libido, I would’ve. She was not helpful.
Damon pointed at the black area we’d seen on our thermal scans last night. “So today we need to get over here?”
I nodded. “Yeah, the auction is taking place over here.” I pointed to the right of the map. “I think if we walk the grounds on that side to get a good estimate, we might get lucky.”
His arms wrapped around me as he pointed at the schematics and blueprints in front of me. “This will be our best spot. I want to at least scope it out. We’ll take in the landscape from the outside and then come back and plan from here. We just need to see how much security is posted there. What they’ve got in terms of cameras, et cetera.”
I nodded stiffly. “Yeah, sounds good. Um, why don’t you get ready for breakfast, and we’ll take a walk outside.”
He turned and grinned at me. “Are we going to head back to the garden?”
I was certain he couldn’t see my flush. My skin was too dark. But his grin told me that he sensed it. I must have been giving off heat in waves. Jesus.
He held his hands up. “I’m only kidding. Unless, of course, that’s what you want.”
“Jackass.”
Damon
She was retreating. Last night had been... unexpected.
After seeing the way she’d bolted from that garden, I had known I should have gone after her. Should have told her it didn’t have to mean anything that she didn’t want it to mean. Should have said something.
Instead, I had let her run. I’d come back to the chalet after trying to force my erection down for a half hour and found her already in bed, and she hadn’t budged as I’d gotten ready to sleep.
Sure, I was selfish. I tended to get what I wanted and tended to be willing to do anything to get it. However, with Ari, I hadn’t meant to push her. But every time I saw her with her mouth tight and her back straight, all I wanted to do was make her relax just a little. She’d always been so serious. But before, there had been flashes of determination and a little bit of mischief. This new version of her never let go.
Had I done that to her? Was I the reason?
As I showered and scowled at my again-pulsing erection, I tried to keep my mind focused on the mission at hand. These feelings for Ari were only going to get more complicated.
Especially since kissing her always felt like coming home.
When she had said yes, that looming, buzzing excitement inside my body had exploded everywhere, making me high, and lightheaded, and exhilarated.
But even if she wants you, she will never, ever forgive you. She blames you for Paul’s death.
If that couldn’t get my cock to go down, nothing could do it.
Okay, at least it was only at half-mast now. I toweled off quickly and finished getting ready. By the time I marched back out into the room, Ari had the blinds open, soft morning light streaming in and a breeze wafting through.
She looked stunning. Her bright-marigold sundress with the slit up to her thigh showcased her mile-long legs.
“Are you ready?”
Her gaze snapped to mine, then traveled down my body. I kept my grin in check. I liked it when she looked at me. Her gaze was assessing, but it was also hungry.
“See something you like, Ari?”
She thought I didn’t notice when she flushed, but her cheeks grew slightly rosier and the tips of her ears went a slightly darker shade of brown. Dead giveaway, but I was never telling her that.
Try and focus. This is never going to happen.
The likes of Ari Denton didn’t fall for the likes of me. History or not, incredible chemistry or not, I’d been with her father when he died. It had been my job to protect him, to at least help him. But what had I done? Not enough.
And now, I needed her help.
You need to suck it up. Ari Denton is not for you. She never was. Remember that. Remember why you’re doing this.
I reached my hand out for hers. “Are you ready, angel?”
She stared at my hand for a long moment as if it would bite her or attack her.
Did I want to fit my hand perfectly over her breast like I had last night, but this time without the tight catsuit in the way? Yes. Was I going to do that? No. “Like I said, you can trust me, Ari.”
I could almost see her shoring up her courage. She inhaled deeply, gave me a nod, and plastered a fake smile on her face. She put the armor back on, and that was the safest thing for both of us. Because the moment she was unguarded, all I wanted to do was kiss her, taste her, possess her. And since I couldn’t have her, thanks to our past, it was better if she kept her distance.