Page 45 of Undeniable Temptation

“Damn it.” She must’ve passed out.

He stared down the empty hall, arguing with himself over whether he should leave her be, or break the door down. Eventually, he chose a middle ground and rapped his knuckles gently against the wood.

Her throat cleared from inside, the sound sailing through his chest to nail him with arrhythmia. Every breath he took waiting for the door to open was akin to winning the lottery. He already had the lucky ticket, he already knew his prize. All he had to do was claim it.

The knob turned and she came to stand before him in a red silken nightgown. The straps mere threads, the hem falling to mid-thigh. She was a pin-up. A fantasy from the lazy blink of her eyes to her bare toes against the carpet.

“You were asleep.” He wanted to feel bad, even a little remorseful. He couldn’t muster either.

She rested her head against the door, her smile lazy. “I was watching TV and must have dozed.”

“Anticipation really had you by the throat, didn’t it?”

Her lips quirked and a sparkle lit the tired depths of her irises. “Anticipation of what?”

“Seeing me tonight.” Description wasn’t his strong suit, yet the words were a torrential flow through his head. All the things he wanted to do. All the places he wanted to taste. Not an inch of her would be spared or neglected.

“I see you all the time, Ryan.”

The way she said his name with dreamy seduction made him rally not to slide past her and drag her back into the room. Coy was a thousand times better than standoffish. A million times better than dismissive. It was a blessing to finally be through with the distance they’d successfully built between them.

“And you wore my favorite nightwear.”

Her chuckle was barely audible. “You’ve seen this before?”

“Yeah. I have.” Once, when they’d been overseas touring and he’d made the mistake of walking by the window to her ground room floor. “But this is the first time I haven’t felt guilty at the thought of stripping it off you.”

Her breath hitched. Her sleepy lethargy vanished. He waited to be scolded or to receive the lecture on inappropriate behavior. Instead, she stepped back, pulling the door wide to give him free access to her room.

He couldn’t deny the silent invitation scared the hell out of him. This was complicated. This was Leah. Success could have them sharing a future. Failure could land them in a place far worse than the aftermath of the Australian tour.

Slowly, he ate up the distance between them and walked inside. The atmosphere changed with the click of the lock as she shut them into the silent room bathed in the glow of a small television.

“How was your night?” Her words held a lilt he wasn’t familiar with, a seductive quality that played havoc with the professional and friendly Leah he knew.

He came to rest against the kitchenette, his ass leaning against the counter. “Torturous.”

“Hmm?” She raised a brow, every move enticing, every sound a push against his restraint. “What happened?”

“I spent the whole time thinking about you.” Slight understatement. He’d obsessed over her, reliving their kiss and the reciprocated hope he’d seen in her eyes.

“I’ve had a lot of time to think, too.”

That was never, ever a good sign when it came to this brilliant woman. “And?”

“You’re still married.” She raised her chin, some of her professional nature seeping back in.

“I’ve also scored two lesbian girlfriends.” He reached for her, pulling her into his arms. “What’s your point?”

She shook her head, denying his attempt at humor. “This situation is far from ideal.”

“I know.” He held her close, happy to do nothing but this for hours on end. No matter how much he looked at her, she seemed to grow more beautiful. More addictive. He could stare at her like this, no words, no movement, forever. “We’ll figure it out.”

“Do you mind sharing some of your optimism?”

“No problem. I’ve got enough for the both of us.” He ran a hand over the softness of her cheek and trailed the delicate strands of flower-scented hair behind her ear. Her head moved into his touch, her eyes briefly closing. Her acquiescence squeezed the breath from his lungs and boosted his resilience. Everything inside him felt right. In place. At ease. There was no guilt over a fake relationship, or regret due to a failed marriage. After years chipping away at any hope for his future, it was hard to ignore how monumental this moment was.

“Did you kiss her?” Her eyes opened, an expanse of blue hitting him. “Or them?”

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