Talking Dirty With the Player(29)
“Hey, slow down.” He reached out, closed his hand around her jabbing finger, unable to resist the brief moment of contact. “And back up. What’s all this about me not calling you babycakes? I thought you hated that name.”
“I do!” She stepped closer. “But since when did you ever do what I say?”
Caleb suddenly became aware of three things. She was standing very near. That he could feel the heat of her body despite her wet clothing. And that her finger seemed to be generating some sort of electric current because holding it was making him breathless. “Jude, I have to tell you, this is not a good idea.”
“Why not?”
“Because you’re standing real close and touching me.”
“So? And how is that a problem?”
He made himself release her finger, move a step back. “Because of this chemistry. Because if I took advantage of it, I’d just be the player you seem to think I am.”
“But that’s just it, Caleb. I think…I think I was wrong about you.”
“What do you mean you were wrong?”
She took a step forward, closing the gap between them. “You actually listened when I told you we had to be professional, didn’t you? That’s why I’m not getting any babycakes today.”
“Of course I listened. You were very clear.”
“And when you put me to bed after that night. Cooked me breakfast. You were…taking care of me, weren’t you?”
Where was she going with this? Shit, she couldn’t start thinking he was decent. She couldn’t. Because he wasn’t. “You weren’t wrong,” he said roughly. “Don’t go getting ideas about me that aren’t true.”
She came even closer, inches between them now. Her blue eyes were wide as they stared up into his. “What ideas? Like the fact that you’re actually a good guy? That the stupid persona you hide behind isn’t really you?”
He should be stepping back, stepping away from her. But he didn’t. He just stood there, letting her come closer, letting her warmth seep into him, heating up the cold parts inside himself. “It’s not a persona. And I’m not a good guy, Jude. I never have been.”
“That’s such a lie. I saw you with that kid, Caleb. I saw the expression on his face. And I saw the expression on yours, too. You took your time with that little boy. You damn well made his day.”
“They’re my fans. It’s my job.”
“That’s not all it is.” She was almost touching him now and it was all he could do to keep his hands to himself. “I don’t understand why you keep selling yourself short. You act like you’re this stupid playboy but you’re not.” She put out a hand, pressed it gently against his bare chest, and all the breath went out of him.
Her palm felt like a hot coal against his cold skin. A brand.
“Don’t,” he forced out, a bolt of pure desire shooting straight down his spine. “This can’t go anywhere, Jude. I’m not even going to be in the country for long. Once my contract with the club expires, I’ll be looking at a TV job in Australia. Understand? I’ll be leaving. For good this time. And then there’s Joseph. He’d kill me if I touch you.”
“I don’t care.” Her voice sounded faint but she didn’t remove her hand. “I don’t care about any of that. I just want to see…”
“See what?”
The blue of her eyes became lost in black as her pupils dilated. The black top she wore was stuck to her skin, outlining every delicious curve, including the hard points of her nipples. “See if the man I used to know is still in there.”
She was so beautiful. And so very close. He wanted to touch her so badly. “He’s not, darling,” he began.
She didn’t let him finish. Her hands splayed on his chest as she rose on her tiptoes and pressed her mouth to his instead.
…
Judith slid her hands around his neck, nothing in her thoughts whatsoever but the need to kiss him…and keep on kissing him. His mouth was firm and when it opened beneath hers, it became hot and hungry, with an edge of demand that made her toes curl inside her wet high-heeled boots.
A small, helpless moan escaped her. Oh, how could she have forgotten how good he tasted? A delicious combination of chocolate and coffee. A decadent sweetness that tasted so very good but was probably so very bad for her.
She shouldn’t be doing this. She knew she shouldn’t. Even so, she hadn’t been able to help herself. The feel of his skin, the beat of his heart beneath her palm, and the desire in his dark eyes as she’d touched him had been too much for her. All her good intentions had vanished, consumed by the need that welled up from deep inside. A wild hunger from a part of herself she’d always kept tightly under control.