Just for fun and to play along, he faked an Oof even though it hadn’t hurt.
He heard the smile in her voice when she said, “That’s for insinuating that all women primp too long in the bathroom.”
“Pretty sure that’s a basic fact of life.” This was nice, he decided, lying in the dark with Sahara, teasing, playing.
Getting ridiculously turned on.
“Brand?”
“Hmm?”
“I’m saying yes,” she whispered, “if you’ll only ask.”
So she’d felt his erection, obviously. He wanted her, very badly, but trying to think of what she needed most, he said, “I think we should talk about your brother.” He waited for her refusal.
Instead, she said, “I’ve wondered what he’d think of you.”
“Me?” The idle way her fingertips teased over his skin drove him to distraction. He kept imagining them elsewhere, making it tough to concentrate.
“Scott was good at reading people.” She turned to face him, still close, but now with her breasts against his chest.
And he hadn’t forgotten, not for a second, that she wore only the shirt.
No panties.
Now with those teasing fingers on his chest, she asked, “Have you ever been seriously involved with a woman?”
It felt like a trap, so Brand tried to think of the right thing to say.
She saved him by adding, “I was once or twice, with men, I mean, until Scott met them and realized what they were really after.”
Brand went still, absorbing that hit, then erupted with anger.
In one smooth move he flipped Sahara to her back and loomed over her. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
Eyes wide in the dark, she asked, “Which part?”
“Damn it, Sahara.” He kissed her, which seemed to be his go-to move for every emotion she made him feel—anger, lust, humor, worry, sympathy...always a kiss to resolve it.
Her small, cool hands slipped up his chest to the tops of his shoulders, gently kneading. “What are these muscles called?”
“What? My traps?”
“Mmm, traps.”
“Trapezoid. Why?”
“They’re delicious.”
“No,” he said more to himself than her. “Don’t start seducing me.”
“But you’re already between my legs.”
He caught his breath, well aware of every inch of her that touched him. “Believe me, I know. Let’s both ignore it for just a minute, okay?”
“Only a minute?”
“Maybe two.” He kissed her again. “What do you mean that Scott figured out what the guys really wanted?”
“They were after connections. Financial and social. One of them had tried to get backing from Scott and failed, then he met me—”
“And probably fucking well fell in love.”
“Well, that’s what he claimed. But he hadn’t told me about his efforts with Scott, which did seem suspect, right?”
“He probably got one look at you and forgot all about Scott.”
She laughed. “You’re very sweet.”
No, he was very hard. He knew how badly he’d wanted her from the jump, so how could any other man be different? “You broke up with the guy?”
“Yes.”
“You loved him?”
“I guess not, not really. I liked him a lot, though, and I thought he was ‘the one.’ Good thing Scott knew better.”
Brand would really like to go back in time and have five minutes with her asshole brother. “Who was the second guy?”
“A farmer. I mean, I figured a farmer wouldn’t have any connection to Scott, you know?”
“Let me guess. Scott managed to dredge up something shady?”
“Don’t say it like that,” she chided. “He was looking out for me. He always had my best interest at heart.”
Brand nearly groaned. “So what was wrong with the farmer?”
“The farm was failing. I loved it, but he wanted out. Getting to my money would have been a big boost and made the transition for him much easier.”
“Did he tell you that?”
“He said we’d start over somewhere else, that between my money and what he’d make from selling the farm, we’d be in great shape.”
“Sounds reasonable to me.” Not that he’d ever touch a single cent of her money—especially now that he knew her perception of it.
“When Scott told him my inheritance was protected—”
“Scott told him?” He got angry all over again. “You didn’t tell him yourself?”
“I would have, but Scott met him and explained, and that was the end of that. He left mad and never contacted me again, which was all the proof I needed.”
“I’m not buying it.”
She drifted a foot up the back of his calf, making him tense all over. “That’s because you’re a really nice guy.”
“Odds are the guy was pissed, and insulted, and you never bothered to talk it out with him because Scott had you somehow convinced cold cash was more attractive than you are. And in that, honey, he was wrong.”
With a tiny bit of uncertainty, she asked, “You really think so?”
“Yes, and if you’re wondering what the lure is for me, it’s your attitude, your brass, your brains, your sexy body, your beautiful face, your confidence, your—”
Laughing, Sahara wrapped her long, slim legs around him. “You’re good for my ego.”
“Your ego should be huge.” He’d always thought it was. She’d coasted through a kidnapping as if she’d taken a walk through the park, but she was still so damn hurt over her brother’s indiscreet method of “protecting” her. Damn the man. “Just so you know, I have zero interest in your money.”
She drew his mouth down to hers. “Do you have interest in me?”
“I’m going to be insulted if you tell me that isn’t already obvious.” To prove his point, he nudged his straining erection against her smooth belly.
“Very obvious...that you’re interested in sex.”
“Sex with you, Sahara Silver.” Hell, he couldn’t resist her any longer—in fact, he could barely remember why he’d been resisting. Something about complications...that no longer seemed so important. Anything they had to work out, well, she was more than worth the effort.
Sahara was with him, she trusted him, she wanted him, and he was done being noble. Giving up the fight, he settled fully against her. “How could I be interested in any other woman when you’re the most unique, challenging, infuriating—”
“Hey, I liked the other compliments more!”
Brand opened his mouth on her throat. “Delicious.” He nuzzled his way down to her breasts, dragging the neckline of the big loose shirt along the way. “Fragrant.” Lathing his tongue around the nipple he exposed, he whispered, “Sweet.”
“Better,” she breathed. She sank her fingers into his hair, holding him close. “FYI,” she whispered, “I didn’t pack condoms.”
Brand smiled up at her. “I did.”
CHAPTER EIGHT
SAHARA WASN’T A timid woman, especially when it came to sex. She had no problem giving direction, stating what she liked or didn’t like, when she wanted something more, softer or harder, when slower worked better than faster...or vice versa.
With Brand, she didn’t say a single word because he already seemed to know.
Repeatedly, in between tantalizing touches all over her body, he came back to her mouth. He kissed her as if she were precious to him, then consumed her with his lust, alternating between gentle and hungry, reverent and feverish.
She couldn’t get her bearings. All she could do was feel.
His hand swept down her waist to her hip, back up again and over her breast. He seemed to be learning her, relishing each curve or hollow he found.
Just as busy touching him, Sahara explored every taut muscle in his neck, back and shoulders, down to his bulging biceps, and back up again. His skin was so sleek and hot, his hair cool and silky.
He kissed her again, his tongue stroking deep as he moved against her in a full body caress.
Liking that too much, she tightened her legs.
Brand kissed his way to her ear. “Let’s get rid of this shirt.”
He didn’t wait for her agreement, was already lifting her as if she weighed nothing, and whisking away the shirt. He handled her as easily as he would a rag doll, and at the moment, she felt just as boneless.