“I am sincerely sad I wasn’t aware of this situation.” He took a chance and stepped forward. She gave way, letting the door open and allowing him inside the room. “Is there any way I can make it up to you?”
Heat flashed in her eyes, and her lips parted. His groin tightened in response, and he decided it’d be good to lock the door after he closed it behind him. Uncertainty flickered across her expression then and he froze.
Reining in his raging hormones, he said slowly, “Any time you want things to stop, I will. I promise. I won’t be angry. I will back off.”
She swallowed, and a fraction of tension left her shoulders. “I don’t want to lead you on.”
“I want to be here.” He smiled, gave her time to gain confidence again. He found her grumpy morning personality hot, challenging, fun. “We go as far as you’re comfortable, and I will consider myself a lucky, lucky man.”
The heat came back into her gaze, and she licked her lower lip. “I was going to take a shower.”
His cock came to attention immediately. “That is a great idea.”
And none of the knuckleheads downstairs would hear a thing. Not that he cared for himself, but for her sake, they didn’t need to know what was going on or even that she was up here. Not this morning.
He waited, though, and thought he might strain a muscle holding still until she took a hesitant step, then another toward him. He held out his hands to her, and she placed hers in his, gently tugging him toward the close privacy of the bathroom.
Closed inside, he’d normally chafe at the tiny room, but right now he was completely focused on Elisa. She was facing him, searching his eyes with her cloudy blue gaze. Emotions swirled in a maelstrom through her, and he figured she could ask him to stop at any moment. Until she did, he wanted to give her as much pleasure as he could.
He reached out to touch the hem of her shirt, but she beat him to it and pulled the tee off in a smooth motion. His knees almost buckled on seeing her smooth shoulders, ivory skin, and very pretty breasts. He’d figured she hadn’t had a bra on under her tee, but suddenly having her right there, exposed to him, was a sight to feast on.
Pulling a few brain cells together was almost painful, but he did and realized she was nervously waiting for him. So he figured fair was fair. Moving slow, he stripped off his T-shirt, too, taking his time so she could get an eyeful.
And she did. Her eyes widened as she caught sight of the workout holster he wore strapped around his torso, but she didn’t back away. Instead she watched him closely as he removed it and set it carefully on the floor next to his discarded tee. Then he straightened, and her gaze followed him. She stared, taking in his chest and abs, before reaching out and running her hands over him. Her touch sent shocks of heat coursing through him and he closed his eyes to just enjoy it at first.
Her touch was featherlight, and he couldn’t keep his hands to himself anymore. Opening his eyes again so he could see as well as touch, he started at her shoulders, caressing and learning the ultra-softness of her skin. The sight of his darker, tanned hands on her pale skin was only one contrast of many, and he wanted to explore them all with her. He moved his hands down her back until he settled his grip in the small of her back and gently pulled her close.
She closed her eyes as he did, splaying her hands across his chest and tipping her head back in invitation. He bent, brushing his lips over the temptation of hers and going lower to press his lips to the hollow of her throat. She uttered a tiny gasp and he smiled as he licked at her pulse point with the tip of his tongue. Encouraged by the sound, and planning to experiment to hear even more, he licked again. Just a flick against her skin. Fine tremors ran through her when he did and he experimented, kissing and licking his way up the side of her neck to her ear before he captured her earlobe and sucked gently.
He liked her little moans, guessed she didn’t realize just how responsive she was, and delighted in the way she responded to the barest of touches.
She was gasping when he finally settled his mouth on hers, teasing her gently with his tongue until her fingers dug into his chest. Desire flared as she did and he struggled to keep his grip on her firm but not painful. Then he deepened the kiss to match her hunger and sent them both drowning in the heat of it.
She tore free of his mouth, tilting her face up to look at him, her eyes stormy and wild. Her chest lifted as she tried to catch her breath, and he gave her the moment, easing his hold on her until she leaned back against the bathroom counter for support. Reaching into the shower, he flipped on the water.
She’d gathered herself during the brief respite, and he was very happy the hunger was still in her gaze. Biting her lip, holding his gaze, she hooked her thumbs in her oh-so-loose sweat pants and pushed them down off her hips, revealing very pretty blue lace panties.
He groaned. “Do you want to keep those?”