Pleasures of the Night

Who the hell was the sword-wielding man in her shower, and what the fuck did he want with her?

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Chapter 9

Determined to tackle her gorgeous problem head on, Lyssa took the stairs two at a time. She sprinted into her room just in time to catch a still wet Aidan stepping naked from the bathroom, his arms lifted to towel-dry his hair, his pectorals and abs flexing in a way that made her mouth water. She skidded to a halt. "I… you… you're… Oh man… yum…"

She sputtered into silence as he grew hard right before her eyes.

He heaved out a sigh, and his arms fell to his sides. "I just got rid of that."

She swallowed hard, images flooding her mind of how he might have done that. Water beating down, soap-slick hands stroking the throbbing length of him, pumping with a primitive rhythm until he spurted his lust down the drain. She knew how that beautiful cock felt in her hands, how thick and hard it was when erect. Shit, it looked great pre-hard-on. How many men could say that?

He has a freckle on his right hip.

Her gaze flew to the spot, and her mouth fell open at the sight of the tiny little brown circle. Then she pulled herself together. She could have taken note of it in the shower. Remembering it didn't mean anything.

"Don't worry" His voice, low and husky, slipped into her musings. "There's more than enough left for you."

God, she loved the way he talked, how open he was about his sexuality and his desire for her. Had he approached her this way before? In a club, perhaps, when she'd been younger? She had been wild in college, skating through her school day and partying hard at night. She imagined the scene—dressed in shorts and backless tank, leaning against the bar, shouting her drink order at the bartender so she could be heard over the pulsing music. Then Aidan's hands at her hips, his erection at her lower back, his mouth to her throat as he had done downstairs. Before he led her away…

Was that how it had happened? She tried so hard to recall. Regardless, her body remembered his, even if her mind didn't.

He moved toward her with silent grace, one arm circling her waist, his other hand thrusting through her wet hair, angling her head to better fit her lips to his. He took her mouth with lush, deep licks of his tongue, making her shudder and clutch at his wet back.

"What are you thinking about when you look at me like that?" he asked in a voice dripping sin.

"Huh… ?" She wasn't thinking about anything; he'd fried her brain with that kiss.

"How dirty was the sex?" He tugged her hips into his, making certain she felt every hot, throbbing inch of him. His large hand cupped the back of her head; his mouth brushed against her ear. "Was I fucking you yet? Or just about to?"

"Aidan…" she moaned, tormented by her lustful body and his raw, heated seduction. "It's so good between us, I can't stop thinking about it."

Her eyes squeezed shut, her fingertips kneading restlessly into the hard muscles of his back.

"The best," he said hoarsely.

She nodded. "Is that why you came? To see if it's as good as you remembered? Is this just a booty call sort of thing?"

Will there be more? Or just this? Already the thought of his leaving made her chest tight.

He tucked her flushed face in the crook of his neck. "No, no, and no. Do you have time to talk?"

Sighing, she shook her head. "I have to go to work. I'm late."

"Can I come with you?"

For a moment she paused. What was she supposed to do with him? She needed some distance so she could think. Maybe do some investigating. Call some old friends. See if anyone else remembered Aidan. "It would be better if I went alone. I'll be busy, and I'm sure there are things you have to do while you're in town."

"There are things you need to know."

You don't date seriously, you're not looking for a girlfriend, no attachments. It's just sex.

"Please, Lyssa."

The strength of her deja vu was overwhelming. And painful. A one-night stand. That's what they'd had. That's all Aidan wanted.

He leaned back. "Don't shut me out. Listen to what I have to tell you."

She looked up at him, saw the brief flare of longing that he quickly hid with a crooked smile, and knew she had no choice. "Yeah, get dressed and… Crap. You don't have anything to wear." Lyssa wrinkled her nose. "Any idea when the airline is going to deliver your stuff?"

Then she thought about their situation, and her eyes narrowed suspiciously. "How did you know where I lived?"

"You told me," he said simply, his hands stroking down her back.

"You should have called before you showed up."

He nuzzled his nose against hers, rubbing his body all over her. "I know."

"How long are you planning to stay?"

"I haven't thought that far ahead," he murmured, his mouth brushing back and forth across hers.

She sighed, too tired to fight the feeling that she belonged in his arms. "We have to go. I'm going to be so late."

Aidan nodded, pulling back to retrieve the sweats from where he'd tossed them across the unmade bed. He tugged them on first, then a wicked-looking pair of combat boots that self-sealed with a simple tap of his fingertips.

When he stood, she crossed her arms and shook her head. "Neat boots, but you can't go out like that."

"Oh?" He arched a brow. "Why not?"

"It's cold outside."

"I'll be fine."

He was already damn fine with his luscious torso bared for all the world to see. A thick lock of dark hair hung over his brow, drawing attention to those beautiful eyes and sexy-as-hell lips. If they went outside with him looking like that, they would be mobbed by a pack of infatuated women.

Her lips pursed. "I'm not taking you around like that."

Aidan frowned. "What do you want me to do then?" Then his eyes widened and he crossed his arms, mimicking her pose. "Is this your way of saying you don't want me to go with you?"

"No! Well… yes." She tossed up her hands. "Maybe I can come back at lunchtime with something for you to wear? Then you can spend the rest of the day with me."

"Remember what we talked about?" he asked grimly. "You be open with me. I do the same with you."

Snorting out a laugh, Lyssa said, "Funny how that's led to you knowing everything about me and me knowing jackshit about you."

"I'm ready to talk anytime. Now would be good. You're the one who's got to fit me into her schedule."

"You're the one who invited himself over without a common courtesy call first!"

Aidan opened his mouth to retort, then blew out an exasperated breath. "You want to tell me why we're arguing?"

"We're not—" Lyssa stopped when he arched that brow at her again. She shrugged lamely. "I've got a problem with you being seen half naked, okay?"

He blinked. Then a slow, sinful grin spread across his features. "Are you feeling possessive, Hot Stuff?" he asked with laughter in his voice.

"No," she lied, turning away and moving quickly toward the door. "I've got to go. I'll be back around—"

He caught her with both arms around her middle, lifted her feet from the floor, and carried her out. Down the stairs they went, with him chuckling the whole way.

"What are you doing?" she asked in the sternest voice she could manage while grinning like an idiot. He was a big, brawny bully with an adorable smile and far too much arrogance.

She liked him. A lot.

"Coming with you. I'll wear one of Mike's lab coats, if that makes you feel better."

She stiffened. "You know what? The stalkerlike amount of information you have about me is freaking me out."

"I'm sure it is." He stopped in front of the breakfast bar. "Grab your stuff." She caught up her purse and keys. "And the two books right there."

"Yeah, about these books. What the hell are they, Aidan, and why are they in my house?"

"They're homework to keep me busy."

She bit back a retort, and then found herself fighting to stay mad, which wasn't easy while being carried around like a sack of potatoes. Aidan nipping at her neck didn't help, either.

"Stop that! Watch where we're going."

He didn't need the admonishment. He moved with unerring precision, clutching her with one arm while using the other hand to turn off the lights and coffeemaker, and open the door to the garage.

"We're putting the top up," she muttered as she dropped into the driver's seat, imagining stopping at a red light and the stares Aidan would elicit.

"You're being silly " He stilled her hand when she reached to engage the automatic soft top.

His mouth was a breath away from hers. He paused there, caging her in, making her wait. She could lean forward just that little bit and press her lips to his, but the need for answers and her growing unease were strong enough to hold her back.

Aidan hid his mounting frustration as Lyssa held out, her tongue darting out to wet her lips, but otherwise making no move to close the gap between them. He caught the seat belt, pulling it across her lap and snapping it into place. Then he gave her a quick buss on the lips, walked around the front end, and slid into the passenger seat.

She waited a moment, staring at him with those dark eyes that told him everything she was thinking. It was one of the many things he adored about her—the lack of guile. With her, he could just be. There was no mask to wear, no rigidity to maintain.

The relief of that was like a deep sigh after holding one's breath too long, but the new wariness he felt in her made his entire body tense. Needing to hold her to him, Aidan reached out and laced his fingers with hers.

"You're trouble with a capital T," she murmured with a sigh.

"Wait until I've got you back in bed."

He felt her shiver through their handclasp. Sweet Lyssa with the open-book smile did have some secrets, like her hidden desire to be ridden hard and put away wet. He couldn't help but wonder if any other man had taken the time to learn that about her. He would have eventually, even had he not been privy to her thoughts in her dreams. He was grateful, however, that he didn't need to wait to find out. Their strongest tie was the desire her body remembered. He wouldn't let her forget it.