She didn’t pull away.
Her arms circled his neck, and her body pressed against his. When she leaned her head to the side and opened her mouth, he took what she offered.
When the kiss ended, she smiled and said, “You smell like—” her brow furrowed as she sought to name the scents “—cinnamon and vanilla. I like it.”
“A gift from a friend.”
She drew back and looked at him. “A girlfriend?”
“No. A guy friend. He felt bad about my empty social calendar and thought a new scent might help.” Greer grinned, thinking maybe Val had been right after all. “How about you? You with anyone?” She’d said she wasn’t a second ago, but he had to be sure.
“No. I don’t tend to do relationships.”
“Why?”
“They become cumbersome after a while. I’m a workaholic. Not much for partner material.”
“Makes two of us.”
“So we doing this?” she asked, her voice warm and husky.
Fuck, yeah. This was how he liked it. Sex, clean and simple. Nothing more. Just mutually satisfying sex. She wasn’t going to be around him long enough to regret it. She began lifting the hem of his black T-shirt. His heart beat a little faster.
Her hands palmed his pecs.
“I’ve never been with a guy as big as you.” She smiled. “Nor one as fit. I feel like a gym poser next to you.”
“You’re perfect. I like the differences between us.” He drew back to look her in the eyes.
She lowered her head, then began unbuttoning her blouse. Her hair fell forward. He brushed it back behind her shoulder so he wouldn’t miss a second of the skin she was exposing. She pulled her shirt free and dropped it, leaving only her bra and a fine gold chain with an enameled yin-yang emblem.
He ran his hands down her neck, over her collarbone, over her chain, down to the edge of her bra. “Tell me you have condoms.”
She nodded. “In my purse.”
He followed her into the kitchen. She retrieved a packet from her purse. He looked down at the small package she handed him. “One?”
“I have more upstairs.”
“I’m gonna need three before we even hit your bedroom.”
“You’ll have to make it last. It’s all I have down here.”
“Then we’ll do you first.”
Chapter Five
Greer leaned forward and kissed her. Remi felt the smile on his lips and couldn’t help smiling back. She wasn’t a stranger to casual hookups, but none had felt like this. Maybe Greer was right; this was all about the adrenaline release from what had happened earlier. But maybe it was all about Greer…a terrifying thought she didn’t want to entertain.
She wasn’t looking for anything permanent, had in fact promised herself she’d never settle down, settle for someone. She was good on her own. Safer. This was just sex. No strings. No commitments. Satisfying and brief.
He pulled his shirt off and dropped it on the kitchen floor. No ink colored his skin. He was ridiculously buff. Remi reached for the light furring on his chest. A dark line led from just above his navel down below the waist of his cargo pants. She traced the path it made down his belly. His muscles tightened.
“You must be a body builder in your off-hours.”
He shrugged. “I work out.”
“I like it.” She smiled up at him.
“Take your jeans off,” he said. Judging by the tension in his face, it wasn’t a suggestion. She was used to setting the pace in her encounters, taking what she needed.
“I’ll do it when I’m ready.” She was out of her element here, standing half-naked in front of a man as powerful as he.
He shook his head. “You’ll do it now.”
She looked up into his intense eyes. There was no give in his expression. Only hunger. He wanted her. Took a second to absorb the heat of his desire. She’d never been desired like this. As if hypnotized, she surrendered. Her heart beat too fast. Her stomach clenched at the touch of her own thumbs going to the closure of her jeans. His eyes never left hers. Her body began an unusual buzzing.
She had the sense she’d never been with a guy like Greer. May never again. She wanted him to kiss her, wanted his hands around her, wanted to slow down what she feared would be intense and fast and too soon over. Why couldn’t a night last a thousand years?
She felt safe with Greer, safe as she’d never been since she was twelve. No. Safe as she’d never been—period. And that scared the living bejesus out of her.
Sex. This was only sex. Not forever. Not anything more.
Her eyes watered. God, she wanted so much more. More than she would ever allow herself.
Greer blinked as if speared by her thoughts. A muscle knotted the square corners of his jaw. He reached a hand up to her face. His nostrils flared. His eyes darkened. His gaze dropped to her mouth as his lips took hers. His mouth opened. She pushed up, against him, into the kiss. Her arms went around his bare chest, wide, strong. Her fingers spread over his shoulder blades. His body was layered with muscle upon muscle. Incredibly male.
Her breasts were pressed between their bodies. Something about him made something in her feel feminine. Whole. That she excited him as much as he excited her was powerful. She tilted her head so that they could deepen their kiss. She liked the way his tongue moved in her mouth, stroking hers, tempting hers into his mouth. He gave and he took and he gave. She never wanted it to end.
His other hand came up to grip the side of her face. He broke the kiss and started it again, kissing her upper lip. The corner of her mouth. Remi’s breath was coming in fast puffs. He leaned his forehead against hers.