Storm Watch(50)
Or explode.
Depending on how he looked at it. He pushed up into her, a long, hard slide of slick, heated flesh that had her crying out in shocked pleasure as her arms went around him tight, holding on as if for dear life. “Jason—God, Jason…”
Yeah, the way she panted his name just about did him in. He tried to hold back, tried to hold still and just let it ride over him, the feel of his own body sliding in and out of hers, her soft, sweet body plastered up against him, but then she tightened, shuddered and, with a small cry, burst. Unable to hold it together in the face of her gorgeousness as she fell apart for him, all over him, he followed her over.
For what might have been forever, they remained wrapped up like pretzels, breathing like lunatics. He let himself absorb it all, her soft breath in his ear, her hands clasping him close, the feel of her little aftertremors.
Finally she pushed off him and rolled over to flop on the couch at his side. “Not a bad way to go out.”
He rolled to face her and pulled her in. “That wasn’t our last time.”
“Yes, it was.”
“Lizzy,” he said very gently. “It’s not going away.”
“What isn’t?”
“Us. Even though you want it to.”
She swallowed and closed her eyes. “Don’t.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re in transition. It’s a bad time for this.”
“Really? That’s all you’ve got?”
“Okay, then it’s because I’m going to LosAngeles.”
“Which, luckily, is still on Planet Earth. I even know how to get there, imagine that.” He dipped his head close. “This thing isn’t going to go away, just like my feelings for you aren’t going to. And pretend otherwise all you want, I’m going to bet it’s the same for you.” Because he knew his words needed a moment to sink in, he got up and went into the kitchen for water.
LIZZY WATCHED his sexy butt go into her kitchen, watched him grab a glass and turn on the tap while her breath caught in her throat, threatening to choke her. Standing up, she went into her bedroom and grabbed her bathrobe, and on second thought, her spare one, as well, since Jason’s clothes were damp. She put on one and entered the kitchen to find Jason finishing a glass of water.
In the buff.
He set down the glass and looked at her.
“I’ve thought about what you said,” she told him. “And I think you’re confusing love with…”
He stroked a finger down her jaw. “Love?”
She gulped. Yeah. That. The one emotion she’d never been able to tame, control or make work for her without pain.
Him being gloriously naked didn’t help. She tossed him the robe. He held up the pink silk and, with a small smile, slipped into it. He looked ridiculous.
And hot as hell.
“I’m not confused, Lizzy. In fact, I’ve never been more clear. This isn’t lust.”
“It’s been twenty-four hours.”
“It’s been over ten years. And here’s the thing I’ve known since high school, but never had the balls to follow up on—you’re it for me.”
“Oh my God.”
“I want this to work.”
“This?” She spread her hands. “This is merely adrenaline, and okay a lot of affection and heat, but that’s all in-the-moment stuff. I’m going off to get the life that’s always been within my grasp, and you…you don’t even know for sure what you’re doing.”
“So what? I still haven’t heard a reason for us to throw this away.” He crossed his arms and waited. In pink silk.
She gulped, torn between hysterical laughter and a horrible vulnerability. “Okay, it’s not you. It’s me.” She paused, then admitted the truth. “It’s all me. I…I don’t get love. I don’t trust it. I don’t want it.”
“That’s because love’s always cost you.” He stepped close, dipped down to meet her eyes. “It’s always been a burden, holding you back. It doesn’t have to be like that, Lizzy, not with us.”
“Stop.” Shakily, she lifted a hand to hold him off as she shook her head and backed up. “I can’t take you seriously in that thing. I’m sorry.”
“Fine.” He dropped it, smiling as silkily as the material of the robe. “Better?”
Was he kidding? “Okay, listen. I know what you’re saying. Hell, any shrink out there would have a field day with this, my textbook fear of commitment. I lost my parents young, had to raise my sister, always had to be in control and now I can’t give that up to share my life, blah, blah, blah…” She let out a breath. “Listen, you said you’re screwed up, but the truth is, I’m the screwed-up one. Let’s just leave it at that, okay?”