First and Only (Callaghan Brothers #2)

She had no idea what she did to him, Ian thought as he ran the soapy cloth along her body, the now-familiar scents of orange and vanilla and honey filling the steamy shower. Lexi leaned against him, humming every now and then when he caressed an especially sensitive spot. He growled in response when she used some of the lather to stroke him clean as well.

“You are going to be the death of me, Lexi,” Ian said huskily, taking the soap from her hands. There was no way in hell he should be getting aroused again so quickly, but the moment she touched him, began those gentle, light strokes, his cock defied him.

The look in her eyes almost had him handing the soap right back to her. “You don’t like it?” She glanced doubtfully at his rapidly hardening shaft.

“I like it too much,” he said honestly, pulling her to him. “And there are other things I want to do with you today.”

Lexi raised an eyebrow as if she found that hard to believe, the hint of a smile on her face. “I know,” he chuckled. “I can hardly believe it myself.”

“So you don’t want me to do this anymore?” she asked innocently, reaching between them and cupping him between his legs, rolling lightly with her fingers. Ian closed his eyes and prayed for the strength to say no. All he could manage was a groan.

“Well, alright then,” she said as she reached around him with her other hand and turned the faucet all the way to the left. The water went almost instantly from hot to icy cold against his back.

“Wicked vixen,” he hissed, turning so that she took the brunt of it. She squealed and wriggled against him, but he held her fast. When he dipped his head and took her mouth, the icy water was forgotten.

“Goddamn, baby,” Ian said breathlessly moments later when he finally remembered to turn off the water. Lexi’s back was like ice, and she didn’t even seem to notice. She looked up at him with those half-glazed eyes, and he felt his chest lurch. No one had ever looked at him like that - like he was everything to her. The very idea that he could affect a woman so thoroughly was both sobering and intoxicating, and Ian realized in that moment that it was a once-in-a-lifetime gift. A gift he would do well to treasure, because he couldn’t bear the thought of her ever looking at another man the way she was looking at him.

“Come on, baby,” he said huskily, grabbing a towel. “I’ve got plans for you.”

*

Ian’s words finally seemed to register. She licked her lips, trying to clear her mind – not an easy thing to do while he was on his knees, deftly maneuvering a thick, fluffy towel along her inner thighs. “Ian, I – I can’t.”

He finished drying her legs, rising with smooth, masculine grace to take care of her back. “Don’t worry about Kieran. I’ll take care of him.”

“No, no, it’s not that. I’m – I’m leaving today.”

Ian’s hands stilled. “What did you say?”

Lexi stepped away, taking the towel from his hands and wrapping it around her torso. “I’m leaving. Going back to Benton.”

“What about ...” Ian paused, his face looking pained. “What about the house?”

“I’m giving it to Uncle Jack. He can do what he wants with it.”

“Why, Lexi? Why are you doing this?”

Lexi bit her lip. Ian seemed a lot more upset about this than she thought he’d be. She had figured Kieran would take it the hardest, but at least he would understand. But Ian...he couldn’t possibly know, could he? Dare she tell him the truth? She’d never been very good at lying, and, no matter what, she didn’t want to lie to Ian. “Because...”

Ian stood unnaturally still, his face expressionless. But his blue eyes blazed with so much intensity she actually began to feel a little weak in her knees. Ian had power over her that no man should have. She had to turn away before she forgot every reason why she had to go.

“Because that’s where my life is. My job. My apartment. My...” She hesitated, not sure she wanted to finish the thought. What else was there for her, really? Her elderly aunts were in an exclusive nursing home and didn’t even recognize her anymore. She had no close friends, with the possible exception of...

“Aidan.”

Lexi’s head whipped up. Dear Lord, Ian couldn’t possibly be reading her thoughts now, too, could he? “What?”

“Your boss. Aidan.”

His tone was strange. There, in those fire-and-ice blue eyes was something Lexi never expected to see when he looked at her – jealousy. Her heart squeezed.

“Yes,” she said slowly, drawing out the word as her brows knitted in puzzlement. “Aidan is there. But what does that have to do with anything?”

He blinked, as if he hadn’t expected her to ask him that. “You care for him.”

“Of course I care for him. I’ve known him for years. So?” She crossed her arms over her chest, still confused by Ian’s reaction.

“He’s in love with you.”

The words nearly stole the breath from her. Her lips parted, her eyes widened in surprise. Forgetting her defiant stance, she let her arms drop. “You’re insane.”