AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“This is my home, Vectra. I’ve never brought another woman here.”
This time she stilled. She watched him wolf down his food, curiosity waging war on her body temperature.
So why did he bring me here?
She didn’t dare ask that question aloud.
He’d already told her he was possessive when it came to her. Did that possession go beyond the act of sexual claiming? She swallowed her bacon and the corner of a biscuit with sincere effort.
Qasim scarfed down several more large portions of his food. “You want to know why I brought you, right?”
“Well—” she smiled, intending to make light of the matter “—we’re both well-known.” She popped a grape into her mouth, chewed around it. “Between trying to keep my well-meaning but nosy staff clueless and making sure we aren’t spotted at an area hotel, your place offers us the most privacy.”
Qasim stopped eating. His pitch-black gaze glinted with shards of frustration. “Do you think that’s why I brought you here?”
“Not entirely.” She could see that he didn’t appreciate the answer. “It’s a reasonable motivation, Qasim.”
“Is that easier for you to handle? That I brought you here because it was convenient?”
She gave him the benefit of an unapologetic stare. “I know what this is, and I told you I was fine with it. I meant that.” To herself she confided that she wasn’t too happy about making a point of it.
She wanted more than the physical act of sex. She wanted the tenderness, the sharing and the man far beyond the time limit that a fling allowed. Would he welcome that knowledge? Vectra accepted the fact that she just wasn’t willing to reveal that much of her hand.
“Are you telling me that’s not it?” She tried to determine whether he’d reveal more of his own.
“I won’t deny that I value my privacy. It’s something that I had very little of growing up. Hmph—very little? Try none. The foster care system doesn’t care much for providing homes promising areas for quiet reflection.” He smiled, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “I’m telling you that I didn’t want anyone interrupting what I wanted to do with you last night and that I have thought about doing that to you here in my bed for a very long time.”
“Oh.” She swallowed on the word.
Qasim quietly celebrated the fact that he’d pretty much rendered her speechless. There was more he wanted to confess, but he could be patient until she was ready to hear it. Despite her open, carefree demeanor, he sensed that she would be very cautious going into her next involvement. The last thing he wanted to do was pressure her. She’d had enough of that.
Qasim’s eyes roamed the tempting length of her legs all the way to her exquisite face. He wondered at what was going on behind those lovely features—how was she really reacting to what he had confessed? She seemed entranced by her food, apparently not wanting to delve any further into the topic.
“Eat up.” He smiled. “You’re gonna need your strength.” He heard her quiet moan escape her and his smile deepened.
Chapter 12
Qasim returned Vectra to the gallery the next morning. Their day together had been beyond anything Vectra had ever experienced. She admitted to feeling a little like a virgin—postvirginity. Her cheeks actually burned over memories of things done...and undone.
Her fingers brushed the back of his hand, halting its slow progress beneath her dress when he reached across the gear shift. They would be working on day two of their lovers’ tryst if she let his touch roam any higher.
The possibility of that did nothing to diminish her participation in the kiss they shared. Moaning as though overcome by thirst, Vectra desperately engaged his tongue.
Qasim knew he was playing with fire. It was a habit he was growing quite fond of. Sadly, it was not the right time or place. He wasn’t of a mind to take her on the front seat of his truck, regardless of how much the idea appealed to him.
“Take you inside?”
She smiled, loving the sensation of his velvety soft lips murmuring against hers. She inched back, though, as far as he’d allow, and scanned the street where the gallery was located.
She could see the movers carting in canvases of Yancey Croachman’s work and recognized the cars of her staff along the hilly street.
“It’s all right,” she said. “The place is already jumping.”
“How long will you be here?” Qasim cast a dark look toward the gallery entrance.
“Not long. I only need to get my car and then I’ll probably work from my dad’s place here in the city.” She smoothed a wispy lock behind her ear. “We’re supposed to have lunch together, and I’ll be able to grab a change of clothes there without having to drive back out to the vineyard.”
