Relaxing warmth flowed through Sarah’s body and she fought back a moan. The feeling of Cole’s thumbs digging into the tight muscles of her back was almost as delightful as the pressure of his erection under her ass.
How had they ended up in this position anyway? When she’d bolted from the car, she’d wanted nothing more than to hide in his guest room until it was time to leave. Now the twin pleasures of his hands and his cock were almost enough to make her forget her earlier humiliation, to beg him to pick up where they’d left off at the track. Before everything had gone to hell.
What happened? Although she’d feared that her body would let her down, she wasn’t sure how it had come to pass. She’d been enjoying sex with Cole, really loving it. The way he’d pulled her from the car as if he couldn’t wait another second to kiss her. The heat in his eyes, the feel of his hand on her thigh. And when he’d turned her around and told her to brace herself… A shock of lust licked her core at the memory and she shivered. Had any man ever made her feel hotter? It was almost enough to make her want to go at it again.
Almost but not quite. She’d had quite enough humiliation for one night. He was being pretty awesome about it and for that she was grateful. He hadn’t even taken his own pleasure. That was odd. None of her other lovers had stopped when she failed to reach orgasm. She hadn’t even bothered to fake it with them. So why had she tried tonight?
Because she cared about what Cole thought of her.
That realization was so disturbing that it made her sit up in surprise. This guy was practically a stranger, why did she care about his opinion? After tomorrow she’d probably never see him again.
“Something wrong, darlin’?”
His voice was so tender that she wanted to melt back against his chest and stay there all night. And the way he kept calling her darlin’? It warmed her up from the inside out—
Whoa. This guy was a stranger. A gorgeous stranger with the hands of an angel and the body of a god, but a stranger nonetheless. There was no room for tenderness in a one-night stand, even one that included bone-melting back massages. She shook her head to clear it. “No, everything’s fine.”
Cole resumed the massage. His hands wrapped around her ribs as his thumbs pressed into the muscles on either side of her spine. His fingers brushed the underside of her breasts and her nipples tightened to painful peaks. Oh, yes. When Cole groaned and his cock twitched beneath her, she realized that she’d said it aloud.
“Glad you’re enjoying it.” His lips brushed the skin behind her ear. His chest was inches away and this time she didn’t fight the urge to lean back. When his arms wrapped around her torso and he sat back, she settled into the circle of his arms. A stranger’s arms but warm and comforting nonetheless. Her head fell against Cole’s shoulder. His hands slid up over her breasts and they swelled at his touch. Desire crept through her veins.
And fear. She stiffened.
“There are no expectations here,” he said as if he’d read her mind. “Just two people cuddling and relaxing together. Enjoying each other’s company.”
Cuddling. Relaxing. That she could handle. And she was enjoying him all right. His magical hands and firm muscles. His hard, hot cock under her ass—
Cole sat up, bringing them both upright. “I know, how about a nice hot shower? Wash the tension right out of those muscles.”
Mmmm, shower. Naked. Wet. Hot.
With his hands on her hips, he brought her to her feet, then got up himself. When he turned to her, his blue eyes were warm with desire and something else she couldn’t name.
He held out a hand. “Come.”
Chapter Nine
The long hallway at the top of the stairs had a wooden floor covered by a long, dark red runner. Sarah caught glimpses of a guest room and what looked like an office before they arrived at a bedroom the size of her Manhattan apartment. She got an answer to her earlier question—his bed was king-sized with cream-and-crimson sheets and a headboard of twisted wrought-iron bars. Dark wood furniture was scattered about the room—a dresser, twin end tables and an armchair.
A door to the left led to the master bathroom. Cole flicked a switch and the light came on, accompanied by the soft whir of a fan. Wood-framed mirrors reflected ivory tile and green accents. Two sinks sat side-by-side on the marble-topped vanity. A low glass shelf held a man’s shaving kit. The spicy scent of his cologne hung in the air.
A glassed-in shower stall that could have swallowed Sarah’s whole bathroom stood across from the sinks. Beyond it, shallow steps led to a tiled area with a sunken Jacuzzi large enough for four.