A weight she didn’t know she was carrying was lifted off her shoulders. “Ian said recording wouldn’t start for a couple months, but he’s getting me the script to look over. Aiden O’Neil is going to play opposite me.”
“Wasn’t he the guy in one of the scripts you just turned down?”
Lily nodded. “He declined after he heard I wouldn’t do it. He’s a good friend, like Max. And this will be a good change of pace for me. Hey, no hair and makeup, either.”
Nash laughed. “You’re stunning no matter what you have on.” Those eyes darted down to her lips as his fingers trailed up her thigh and beneath the cotton gown. “Or don’t have on.”
The man could get her body to respond with the simplest words or lightest of touches.
“You know you’re the only man I’ve let get this close to me since the scandal.” She trembled as his hand continued to glide over her skin. “I never thought I’d get this close to someone again, let my heart be exposed to the chance of being ripped apart.”
Nash’s looked at her seriously. “You humble me, Lily.”
“If you want to try to make this work, you’re not going to be able to avoid the media. Not once the pregnancy is out there.”
The muscle in Nash’s jaw ticked. She knew he didn’t want to be thrust into the public eye. Resting her hand against the side of his face, rubbing her thumb along his bottom lip, Lily leaned in and whispered, “Take me inside and make love to me.”
In one swift move, he had her lifted and turned to straddle his lap. Then his hands were lifting her gown to her waist. Lily leaned forward and clutched his shoulders as he worked the zipper on his jeans.
“Or not,” she added as he threw her a crooked grin.
“I don’t want to wait,” he said, easing a hand between her legs to stroke her until she thought her eyes would roll back in her head. “Do you?”
Lily shivered, holding on tight to him so she didn’t fall. “No,” she whispered as he continued to torture her. “Please, Nash.”
* * *
She’d come out here wearing a flimsy nightgown, sans underwear and she thought he could wait to get inside the house? Hell no. Nash wanted her here, now.
He also wanted to not discuss how the media would hone in on them. The last thing he needed was being identified before he could fully disclose the rest of his life.
The little moans escaping her, the way her hips rocked against his hand and seeing her eyes closed, head tilted back as he pleasured her was nearly his undoing. Not to mention the perfect distraction for both of them.
Damn it, he owed her so much...a debt he could never repay because while she was freely handing out her love, he was still betraying her by keeping a lie bottled inside.
The thought of having her walk out of his life once she learned the truth would be the equivalent of taking a knife to his heart. Because he loved her. God help him, he did. And when she’d whispered those sweet words to him, it had taken all of his willpower to remain silent.
He couldn’t tell her he loved her, not when there was such a heavy lie that still hovered between them. He could only show her how much she meant to him. Once he revealed himself, after he’d talked with Damon one more time, Nash would truly open up and tell her every single thing she deserved to know.