Page 26 of Hayes

"What does it look like?" he asked her mildly as he finished undoing the buttons. Taking off the shirt, he added it to the pile of clothing before sitting down and taking off his shoes.

"I spent an hour just driving around and telling myself that it was reasonable to wait for the next three days. I said to myself that I owed her that after what went on between us."

He rose, and she watched spellbound as he unhooked his belt and eased down his zipper. "She has been through so much; she needs time to adjust to the new reality of me being back in her life. I had the argument down pat and was about to drive home when it struck me."

"What?" Her throat was dry, and heat was already invading her body. He had taken off his dark blue dress pants and slung them over the chair. And he was aroused, fully engorged from the looks of it.

"It was ridiculous." He took off the underwear, his magnificent body in full display. "All of it, and I was a fool to agree in the first place. Come here, sweetheart."

"Hayes, we need to talk–"

"There has been way too much talking going on. Come here," he repeated hoarsely. "I have been denied the pleasure of having you for twelve years, and the other night, you gave me a taste, and I am addicted. I have been addicted for years. I cannot and will not deny myself any longer."

"Do I have a say in any of it?" she asked faintly.

"You do. Tell me where to touch you, where to kiss you, where to—Let me show you."

She went. How could she not? The entire time she had been here thinking about him, about being with him. It was as if she had conjured him up. Walking into his arms, she closed her eyes as he wrapped his hands around her with stunning force.

At first, they just stood there, savoring each other, the scents, and the feel of his flesh seeping through the material of the robe.

Then suddenly, the robe was pooling around her feet, her bare flesh pressed against his.

"Cammy," he groaned. Lifting her chin up, he gazed into her eyes, his body reacting to the passion on her exquisite face. "How the hell did I survive without you all those years?" Without waiting for a response, he bent his head and kissed her until she was melting against him. Her arms came around his neck as she surrendered completely.

*****

His head was resting on her left breast, his fingers circling the indentation of her navel. The lovemaking had been rough, and they were still trying to catch their breaths.

"I still don't think this is a good idea," she murmured, combing her fingers through the thickness of his blonde hair. She was not used to seeing it like this, groomed and stylishly cut, but she supposed with his position, he had to make a change.

"Noted," he murmured, completely content and sated for the moment.

"Hayes, we have to think this through."

"Absolutely." He was trailing a fascinating path from her navel to the hairs covering her sex and making it difficult for her to concentrate, which was probably his intention.

"The first time I went down on you, you cried."

"That's because I thought it was nasty."

"And you were ashamed of your reaction." Lifting his head, he shifted so that he could see her eyes. "You begged me not to do it again."

"And you demanded to know why," she remembered with a whimsical smile.

"You lied to me and said you didn't like it. As if I couldn't see the result on your face, the way you reacted and how you screamed out my name." He trailed a finger down her cheek, his touch gentle.

Everything about her intrigued him. He marveled that she was so unlike her parents. Being the child of celebrity parents had not corrupted her one bit. She was open and honest and kind and that was what had attracted him in the first place.

Not even the obvious sign that her mother had been jealous of her had not left a negative impression on her. Camelia had a big heart, and nothing had dented it. Turning her to face him, he kissed her on the lips gently. "Marry me."

Chapter 7

She had known it was coming and was ready with the answer. "No."

Pulling himself up against the pillows, he turned to look at her. "I know you think you are doing what's best for me–"

"I am doing what's best for me," she corrected him. "What we had as a teenager was wonderful, the most beautiful part of my past, and I will always treasure it." She sat up, so that she was facing him, and a smile touched her lips as she stared at him.

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