Fearless In Love(25)

…who was making delicious little noises that started Matt’s primal head thinking on its own. With sleepy, throaty sounds, maybe a moan, she rubbed sinuously against him in her sleep.

Sweet Lord, he wanted her again. He was this close to pulling her leg over his and taking her from behind, giving them both more of the most sinful pleasure he’d ever known. But he couldn’t keep taking her, consequences be damned. She was here for Noah. She was only twenty-four to his thirty-four. She was wholesome, fresh, and innocent—and even though he wasn’t her first, he’d still debauched her.

She’d kissed him in a gesture of comfort. And he’d let things blaze out of control.

Susan would have his head if she ever found out. Daniel would simply kill him. The Mavericks would disown him. And Matt would deserve it. He’d broken a solemn promise not to take advantage of Ari.

But even as his gut told him how wrong he’d been to take her the way he had, his heart shouted how right she’d felt in his arms, every single second of their lovemaking.

If only she wasn’t working for him…

If only she wasn’t Noah’s perfect nanny…

If only he hadn’t made that vow to Daniel and the Mavericks…

The worst would be Susan’s disappointment in him. His family’s disappointment. He was a Maverick, and a Maverick never broke a promise. It was his job to step up, to protect his son, his family, the people who worked for him. Instead, he’d stepped off a cliff.

And God help him, he’d loved every moment of his fall.

But no matter how much he wished it were otherwise, a man couldn’t seduce his nanny without consequences, regardless of how rich and powerful he might be.

One hand fisted in the covers, he tugged them from the tangle of their legs. He wanted to be gentle, but they were so entwined that there was nothing gentle about it, no other choice but to throw them off. Then he damn near vaulted from the bed.

Where the hell were his jeans?

Awakened so abruptly, Ari stared at him, then sat up with the sheet clutched to her beautiful breasts, her hair a sexy mess that made him want to crawl right back in there with her.

The guilt choked him as he finally found his jeans and pulled them on commando. He made himself face her, so pretty, so perfect. So innocent. “I’m sorry. Last night was a mistake.” The words fell from his lips before he could find a way to make them softer. Or less harsh. “I shouldn’t have let that happen. It was entirely my fault. I took advantage.”

Ari tipped her head to the side, and he wondered if she could hear the staccato beating of his heart. She wasn’t the kind of woman who hid her emotions, but nor was she an open book.

Especially not when she replied with a far more even tone than his, “You didn’t let anything happen. Nothing was your fault. And you didn’t take advantage of me.” She paused, her eyes holding his. “I wanted you, Matt.”

Hearing his name on her lips made him remember every time she’d said it last night.

Every time she’d moaned it.

“I felt the same last night.” He wouldn’t lie to her, but he also needed to remind them both. “But you work for me, and I put you in a compromising position. It was wrong. And I apologize for doing that to you.”

She blinked, but she never looked away. He wished he knew what was going on behind her pretty eyes. There were so many things she could do. Freak out. Cry. Quit.

Instead, she held out her hand. “Could you please hand me my clothes?”

The sight of her bare arm reminded him vividly of her creamy skin beneath his hands, her luscious scent fogging his mind. Just like that, he was hard again, his body crazy for her even when his brain knew it was a bad idea.

He didn’t even want to consider what his heart wanted—or what it couldn’t have where she was concerned. Because this was so damned wrong.

He found her leggings, her shirt, her lingerie, and the simple act of touching the pink panties and matching bra sent him deeper into overdrive. His hands shook as he handed over the bundle.

“I have to go in to the office this morning,” he told her, shoving his hands in his pockets so he couldn’t reach for her. “Testing.” It was the truth, but it was also damned convenient under the circumstances.

“I’ll get dressed.”

Without an ounce of self-consciousness, she slipped out of bed, stepping into the pretty pink lingerie that made his mouth water. All that gorgeous skin, the breasts he’d cupped and tasted. Everything he’d tasted.

He wanted to drop to his knees and tell her he was an idiot to end things like this.

But he couldn’t. For her sake, because she mustn’t ever feel she had to sleep with her boss to keep her job. For Noah’s sake, to keep the best nanny he’d ever had. And because Matt had promised his friends he’d never take advantage of her. He couldn’t change last night, but he could make sure he never did it again.