“Stop making this hard,” he ordered.
“I thought that was the idea,” she said, wiggling against his cock.
“Christ,” he swore, squeezing his eyes shut.
“Don’t you want me, Hayden?” she asked, twining her arms around him.
“More than I’ve ever wanted anyone.”
Staring up at him, there was no hiding from the truth of his words. He meant what he said, at least for now.
Pleasure swirled through her at the knowledge, making her feel powerful in a way she hadn’t felt in years.
“I’m right here,” she said.
His forehead dropped against hers. “If I let this go further, I’ll get you for one night.”
“Yes.” She arched up for a kiss.
He drew back. “I want more than that.”
She hissed. “That’s my line.”
“Give me this vacation, Avery. Let us explore what we have and enjoy it while we can.”
“Before real life sets in.”
“Exactly.”
Be his temporary mistress. Then, she could press her lips to every inch of his body. She could learn all the ways to make him forget his own name.
And when he was done with her, he’d walk away without a backward glance.
While she was growing increasingly sure she’d never stop wanting him.
“This can work,” he said, his words a devilish temptation. “We can work. Give us a chance.”
She closed her eyes, willing her heartbeat to return to normal. All she wanted was to curl up in his arms, or better yet, pull the clothing from his body and wrap her mouth around the cock that strained for her touch.
But while she might be willing to forget for a night all her reasons for keeping him at arm’s length, she couldn’t do it for the weeks he wanted.
Isn’t the pleasure he offers worth a little heartache? her inner voice asked.
Last time, heartache nearly destroyed me.
You’re not married to Hayden. This is different.
Was it? She’d been with Jon for years, and yet in the months she’d known Hayden, he’d inspired feelings in her that her husband never had. Staying on this slippery slope was a dangerous game. One that had the power to rip her apart if she wasn’t careful.
No, she couldn’t give him what he wanted. Even if she longed for it with every cell in her body.
“We are so good together.” He ran his lips over hers.
“The sex was never the problem,” she said, cupping his cheek in her palm.
Some of the joy in his eyes faded, and she hated that her words were the cause.
“I can’t give you more, Avery. I won’t lie about that.”
For all his faults, he always told her the truth. He wouldn’t consider a lasting relationship. He wouldn’t ever allow himself to be vulnerable with her. To really care for her.
To love her.
Not in the way he’d loved Sophia.
She closed her eyes. At one time, he’d been capable of being the man she wanted him to be. Only he’d been that man with someone else.
In the light of day that truth might not sting, but right now, with the soul shattering orgasm still gripping her, that knowledge hurt.
Leaning up, she pressed a soft kiss to his lips before pushing him off her.
“Avery?”
Not looking at him she tugged her dress back into place and slipped on her discarded panties.
He sat up, staring at her with resignation.
When she was satisfied she was presentable, she turned back to him. Seeing his beautiful face tugged at her heart but she stood firm. She was alone now. No one else would guard her heart for her.
Moving back to his side, she pressed a hand to his shoulder and leaned down.
“Thank you, Hayden,” she said, kissing his cheek.
He didn’t say anything as she left the room, didn’t try to call her back with false promises they both knew he’d never keep.
She almost wished he had.
Instead, she left the room with her head held high.
And tried to ignore the way her throat tightened with tears.
Chapter Ten
“I’d say Hayden might want to see these files, but we both know you’d only make me run them up to him,” Karen said, sitting on the bed as Avery rooted through her closet.
She glanced over at her friend. “I’m a little busy.”
“Running away.”
Avery rolled her eyes. “Overly dramatic, much?”
“What would you call this?”
“Research and a little R and R.”
Karen snorted. “Sure.”
Tossing her swimsuit into the canvas backpack she’d be living out of the next two days, she turned to her audience.
“You know as well as I do, we do some recon in our environment when we take a job. Get the lay of the land. See if there are any opportunities not being capitalized on.”