He’d promised her. She had to take his word for it.
“Then,” she said hoarsely, “I think I’d say what are we waiting for?”
…
Emotion too intense for mere relief flooded him. It was all he could do not to fling away the table between them, grab her in his arms, and haul her away somewhere dark and private right there and then.
God he was glad he’d decided to stay and sort this out with her once and for all.
Briefly his conscience muttered something about Joseph and he had to voice it, just to get it out there. “You know Joe’s going to kill me if he finds out?”
Judith’s gaze flickered. “He doesn’t have to know. And if you’re going to start treating me like a holy relic just because I’m his sister, then we’re going to have to rethink this.”
“I’m not. Don’t worry.” Already the meeting he had scheduled with Mike was as good as canceled. He felt no remorse. None at all. The only thing he felt was annoyance that he had nowhere to take her since he’d been living in a hotel since he got back from the UK. He’d been meaning to get a place but hadn’t got around to it since he hadn’t thought he’d be staying in Auckland permanently.
“So shall we go to your apartment?” he said.
“What? I mean…uh…now?” She looked vaguely shocked.
“Yeah, now.” He wanted her naked in his arms and as quickly as humanly possible. “I’m not good at waiting.”
She blushed again. It was adorable. “I guess I can manage that. But…you don’t want to go to your place?”
“No. I’m living in a hotel and there’s too many paps around since the media knows where I am.” He grinned. “I don’t want to see Steve again, do you?” Besides, he’d had too many women in hotels before and he didn’t want Judith to be just one more.
The tense look around her mouth eased. “Ugh, no, I don’t want that. Definitely my place then.”
Caleb rose to his feet, impatient. “Then let’s go, babycakes.”
They went back to her apartment in her car, the smell of her scent in the enclosed space driving him nuts. She didn’t speak and neither did he. The pressure of desire was too intense.
He was wired by the time they got to her door and he couldn’t wait to get her inside, push her up against the wall—hell any available surface would do—and relieve the ache that was driving them both.
Then he noticed that her hand shook as she put the key in the lock and it hit home—this was Judith. His best friend’s little sister. And he was fantasizing about shoving her against walls.
Caleb swore under his breath. Did she need more time to get used to the idea? Was he rushing her? “Jude,” he said.
She walked into the apartment, forcing him to follow.
When they got to the lounge she turned suddenly, dropping her bag to the floor. “You better not be changing your mind, Caleb,” she said, a fierce light burning in her eyes.
“You were shaking.”
“I’m nervous.” She took a step toward him. Then another. “But I want this. I do.”
He couldn’t refuse her, he just couldn’t. Not when she looked at him like that.
“What are you waiting for, then?” he said hoarsely. She took those last few steps toward him, then lifted her hands and pulled his mouth down on hers.
Oh, yes, this was what he wanted. So hot and sweet and so very, very good.
She kissed him, hungry and desperate, pressing her body against his. He could feel her shaking, taste her desperation, but he didn’t want it like this. Not when they had time and space to make it last.
Gently, he slid his fingers into her hair, tugged her back. Her face was flushed, her breathing quick and ragged. “Hey,” he said softly. “Not so fast.”
“What?” The word was panted out. “Did I do something wrong?”
“No, God no.” He smiled, wanting to reassure her. “There’s no rush. We have plenty of time.”
The serious look on her face eased a little. “O-okay.”
Caleb twined his fingers in her hair. “Kiss me again. Nice and slow this time.”
Judith let out a soft audible breath. Then she lifted her mouth to his, and this time the kiss was smoldering, hot and deep, leaving them both gasping.
“Oh yeah,” he whispered against her skin. “That’s more like it.”
She went still for a moment then stepped away. Determination burned in her eyes and a curious defiance that had his heart racing.
“Whatcha doing, babycakes?” he murmured.
“I want to call the shots this time.”
She would get no argument from him. “You got it.”