Page 16 of Lovesick

He laughed. “Sorry. I didn’t mean for it to sound that way. Just curious. I haven’t met many women in my life who went without children. I did a fair bit of fertility work before I came to Regal’s so I guess that’s one reason.”

“Another reason being that I bet women have been throwing themselves at you dying to become Mrs. Dr. Max ever since you were old enough to sing bass.”

“Not that I noticed. I was always working pretty hard at my studies. Met my ex in undergrad and married right before I got out of med school.”

“Now what? Now that you’re single again—how long has it been since you last…?” This was a key piece of information, she realized, whether or not he was still on the rebound. Not that she was sure which was better, a vulnerable guy on the rebound, or a guy used to being on his own. She suddenly felt self-conscious standing there in her living room having this intimate honest conversation with the most magnetic man she could remember meeting since . . . whenever.

“Can I offer you a drink?” she blurted.

“I guess I could use one—if we’re going to continue this conversation.”

She chuckled. On her way to the small bar she had set up, she passed close enough by him to breathe in his scent, the outdoors and soap layered with a tease of spice. As she poured him a tumbler of Maker’s Mark whiskey, she asked, “Ice?”

“I could use some ice, too.”

The double entendre of his words jolted her and she slid a glance at him to see his arched brow and predatory smile. She poured herself a glass with ice too for the same reason. When she turned, she found he’d moved close to her. Within arm’s distance. She handed him the drink.

“You never answered my question.”

He took the whiskey from her. There was no way to turn away from him, no way to break the lock of his eyes on hers.

“I’ve been divorced two years now. Seems longer. We were separated for a while before that.” He took a deep breath and said, “It’s been tough on my son.”

“I knew you had a son. Tim. I looked at your file too.” Full disclosure was best. Not that his file was very enlightening, at least not about his failed marriage. It was better that she confessed to snooping, honesty being the best policy in a relationship. Since when she would know anything about relationships, she wasn’t sure, but all the relationship gurus said so, didn’t they?

He smiled and stepped closer, reaching an arm out, the one with the unsipped whiskey. He set the glass down on the bar behind her.

“I guess you’re not thirsty after all.” Stupid thing to say. Keep your mouth shut and let him kiss you. And if he doesn’t, you kiss him.

“No.” He said no more, but his mouth kept moving closer to her, lower until it was positioned a breath from his. His hands went to her shoulders, her bare tingling shoulders.

“To hell with the whiskey.” Her voice wafted on a breath. Then the steamy touch of his lips against hers filled her, setting off nerve endings all over, coalescing to shoot straight through her belly, turning her thighs into a quivering mess and plumping those sensitive parts between them.

“That’s an extreme attitude.” That she managed to speak while his hot breath tickled the fine hair just behind her earlobe, followed by the moist hot touch of his lips amazed her, sent a thrill through her. She’d always prided herself on being in control, the one in control in her liaisons with men. She needed it, needed him, too.

“I’m extremely provoked,” he whispered. “You have me way outside my comfort zone. All the rules are out the window now. I have no frame of reference.” He kissed the pulse point in that tender valley between her neck and clavicle, making her nerves sing that impossibly high pleasure-pain note, making her catch her breath.

“Only you . . . here in this moment to guide me,” he continued. “How you make me feel and, of utmost importance, how I make you feel.” The sound of his breathing, growing heavy, did something to make her belly flip. She leaned into him, tightened herself against him, needed to feel his arousal against her.

She was rewarded with a strangled groan and the sensation of a searing hot rod of pleasure grinding against her where her hips met his. Wrapping her arms tighter, she pulled herself even closer.

“You’re killing me, Lou.” He removed his mouth from her lips and rested his forehead against her, breathing heavy.

Her chest heaved within the confines of her dress so that she was afraid the seams might come apart with her next inhale.

“I know how you feel,” she said as soon as she could catch her breath. “I might need to lie down,” she added, taking another nibble of his irresistible lips, testing her theory that he wasn’t above breaking rules.

“I think you’re right. I’ll need to examine you.” As he spoke, he backed her toward the hall, knowing even though he couldn’t know that’s where her bedroom would be.

She should slow him down, though she had no idea why she was supposed to wait, to hold off. Not when she wanted him so much, when she almost throbbed with need, felt the delicious coiling inside her as his hot words and mouth teased the skin along her neck.

“Whatever you say. You know what’s good for me.” Her eyes had been closed, but when he stopped moving, she opened them, staring dreamily up at him. Then she realized there was a question in his eyes. They stood in the doorway to her bedroom and he was asking without asking for permission to cross the threshold with her, that point of no return between them, after which they could no longer pretend there was nothing between them, no longer behave casually toward one another.

She stepped backward over the threshold. He swept her up and shoved the door closed behind them with his foot.

“You make me dizzy.” Her breathy words sounded intimate in the small space between their mouths. She shuddered as she breathed in his scent. Hanging onto his neck, she flicked her shoes off to land on the carpet with a muted thud. When he reached the bed, he leaned forward, over her as he lay her down.

“I’ll need to figure out what’s causing your dizziness. It may take some experimentation. It could take a while.”