One Real Man (Entangled Bliss)(34)

Finally, his mouth started to work. “So that’s why you went to the school dance with Eric.”

Her cheeks grew even redder. “That was a horrible thing to do to you. I was too cowardly to face you and break things off, so I used Eric.” She gulped again. “I never expected you to show up at the dance, and then when you got thrown out I’m sorry for what happened.”

After all these years Paige Kerrigan was apologizing to him. He’d never expected her to do so, but it gave him no pleasure.

“No, I was to blame, too.” Old memories rushed through him, but their familiar bitterness didn’t sting so much now, because of what Paige had just confessed. “I chose to gate-crash the dance. I behaved like a jerk in front of all your friends. Yes, you drove me crazy, but I was the one who decided to act crazy.”

Her lips curled in a wobbly smile. “For someone who didn’t talk much, you sure knew how to act crazy.”

And now he was on the brink of acting crazy all over again. He slid his hand up beneath her hair to cup the back of her neck. Her smooth nape rested in his palm as if made for it. “Speaking of crazyit’s nice to talk about the past, but there’s still some unfinished business between us.”

The gray of her eyes deepened as her pupils dilated. He felt a quiver shaft through her, felt her heat rise, felt his own rocket in response. He’d never wanted her as badly as tonight, and he didn’t care whether it was slow or fast or upside-down as long as he was with her.

“Unfinished business?” she said slowly, a tiny giveaway pulse beating fast at the base of her throat. “Well, we can’t have that. I’ve never liked loose ends.”

The sudden fever in her eyes took his breath away. Gently he cupped her cheek with his free hand, leaned in, and gave himself up to the pleasure of kissing her. Sighing, she nestled closer into him, twisting her body, shaping her lips to his. The magic of her mouth drew him in like always. He bent over and pushed her against the couch, their kissing quickly becoming hot and heavy. How the hell had he ever thought he could make love to Paige any way but this—intense, fiery, ravenous. She wasn’t milk and white bread at breakfast. She was tequila and pepper at midnight. She was burning ice in the middle of the desert. She was blood and sweat and tears and everything that made life worth living.

He scooped her up in his arms and lifted her from the couch. She let out a small gasp, flushed lips parted, eyes like moonshine on the sea.

“Owen.” A note of urgency sounded in her voice. “This—this doesn’t”

This doesn’t change anything between us. He read her mind like an open book. Her unspoken words should have hurt him, and maybe they would sting in the morning, but right now he felt invincible. Nothing could touch him. And nothing was going to stop him from making love to Paige all night long.

“I know. Don’t worry.” He hitched her more firmly in his arms. “This is just unfinished business, right?”

Her arms crept around his neck. Her fingers threaded through his hair, light and caressing, and the sweetness of her touch made him shudder.

“Yes,” she whispered.



Hazy sunlight, soft sheets, and a warm, masculine body beside her—Paige woke up in bliss. As the familiar surrounds of her small bedroom came into focus, the unfamiliar sensation of Owen taking up all the space in her bed burst to the fore. His limbs were tangled intimately with hers, his face buried in the back of her neck, one arm across her body, hand splayed possessively over her thigh.

A sigh rippled through her. She’d never woken up feeling so gratified and light, socherished.

The hand on her thigh twitched. “Morning,” Owen’s voice rumbled into her hair.

Instantly her pulse picked up. “Morning.” She turned over to face him. In the narrow bed there was no space between them. Not that she wanted any. Up close she could make out his stubble breaking through and the tiny dimples bracketing his lovely, sensual mouth. The mouth that had given her so much pleasure last night

“Is it a good morning?” he asked, one eyebrow raised.

She couldn’t help grinning. “It’s a very good morning.” She coasted her palm over his bare chest, reveling in the firmness of his pectorals.

His smile widened. “I could make it an even better morning for both of us.” His hand stroked her thigh, and she knew she was lost.

Sometime later, they fell apart, perspiring and gasping for air.

“I’ve just had a great idea,” Paige panted as she lay against the pillows. “Let’s go for a swim.”

He didn’t immediately agree as she’d expected. “A swim? In the pool?”

“Well, yeah. That’s what the pool’s for.”

His breathing slowly steadied as he continued to gaze up at the ceiling.

“Come on,” she cajoled. “A swim would be fun.” Suddenly it seemed crucial to get Owen into the pool. “You owe it to yourself, don’t you think, after all these years?”

Cagey eyes fixed on her. “You mean I finally deserve it after all the times I had to clean that damn thing?”

Hitching herself up, she rested on an elbow so she could lean over him. “That deserving part? That’s all in your head. You’re not the only poor boy who’s worked his way up the ladder. Get over yourself and come for a swim.”

He started as if she’d poked him before he smiled wryly. “You don’t pull any punches, princess.”

“It’s just a pool, for goodness’ sake.” She sat upright, the sheets falling away from her body. “I’m going for a swim, even if you won’t.” She got up, flung on her bathrobe, and turned back to Owen. Sprawled naked across her bed like a Greek god, he was a magnificent sight, enough to crush the air from her lungs, but she kept her tone light as she added, “And I’m not going to bother with a swimsuit either. Coming?”

The abs on his torso hardened as he jackknifed to his feet. “Why didn’t you say you were going skinny-dipping?” He grabbed a pair of shorts. “I would’ve said yes straightaway.”

They ambled across the garden. After their intense early-morning exertions, the sun was well up, promising a fine autumn day. Thank goodness it was Sunday and Wilkins wasn’t around. Glancing at Owen, she impulsively threaded her arm through his. She wanted this gorgeous man all to herself today. Maybe tomorrow, too No, what was she thinking? It was too dangerous to mix Owen with her future. The two were as incompatible as sweatpants and stilettos. She could enjoy Owen for today, but that was it. No matter how wonderful and beautiful he’d made her feel last night and this morning—and she’d never felt more special in her life—she couldn’t allow herself to dwell on what-ifs. They’d laid down the ground rules before succumbing to their mutual lust. Last night had been merely unfinished business. Nothing more. And this swim was just the final full stop, the dinner mint to round off the once-in-a-lifetime meal.

The conservatory was a bowl of golden sunshine and shimmering water. Paige flung open all the doors and windows to let in the air. When she turned back to Owen, he was scooping out a few leaves with the long-handled net.

“Typical.” She walked toward him, shaking her head. “You can’t help yourself, can you?”

He grinned. “Force of habit. I like a clean pool.”

His hair was all tousled, his skin gleamed, and he smelled of fantastic sex. Paige drew in a deep breath. As the air shimmered around them, the years fell away, and they were teenagers again, and she was gawking at the beautiful boy, frightened of the primitive feelings he aroused yet unable to stay away from him. Reaching out, she touched his shoulder. He was warm and solid and real, the one real man in all her life.

“You know, this is a fantasy of mine come true.” Holding the lapels of her robe, she slid the garment halfway down her shoulders. “I’ve always wanted to swim naked with you.” She let go of the robe and let it fall to the tiles.

Owen’s eyes lit up. “Seems I chose the perfect time for my first swim here, then.” He dropped his shorts, and a second later he scooped her into his arms and leaped into the pool.

She shrieked with sheer exhilaration as they hit the water. Arms and legs entwined, they sank beneath the surface and away from reality. He threaded his fingers through her drifting hair as he pressed a gentle kiss on her lips. Bubbles feathered her skin. Owen said something, but she couldn’t make out the muffled sounds. It didn’t matter down here. In the water, everything was different, weightless. She shut her eyes. If they could only remain submerged, this moment might last forever.

But her lungs were starting to ache. Opening her eyes, she found Owen gazing at her with such intensity her heart leaped in her throat.

I’m falling in love with him.

The notion exploded on her like a stone shattering glass. Disbelief speared through her. Impossible. I can’t be in love with Owen. That would be disastrous.

Her eardrums thudded. Panicked, she twisted free and kicked upward, desperate to get away from Owen’s penetrating gaze. He mustn’t suspect her feelings. Oh God, what was she going to do?

Gasping for breath, she bobbed up at the surface, but there was no escaping Owen as he burst up next to her with an almighty splash.