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“So how are you finding civilian life?”
“Day one is shaping up okay so far.”
“Are you telling me this is your first day of freedom?”
“Yep.”
“Oh, well, that definitely calls for a celebration.”
“You’re already celebrating.”
“True. Maybe we should add our celebrations together. See if the sum isn’t greater than its parts.”
Her gaze held his. “Maybe we should.”
He smiled, and her mouth curved in response. Arousal and curiosity and the need to conquer buzzed through his veins, a heady cocktail of potential.
He reached for his beer and raised his glass in a casual toast. “To celebrations.”
“To celebrations,” she echoed.
IT WAS TWO IN THE MORNING when Charlie dragged her gaze from Rhys’s face and registered that Gina was long past the wilting stage and close to dropping off to sleep.
“We should probably think about heading home,” she said regretfully.
Rhys’s mouth quirked as he took in the way Gina’s head was propped on her hand and her eyes closed. “Yeah. Probably a good idea.”
Disappointment washed through her at his easy acquiescence. She’d never had a one-night stand in her life, but she didn’t want this night to end. She wanted to keep talking to Rhys, wanted to keep listening to his deep, mellow voice, wanted to have the chance to touch the hard, hot body that had been so close to hers, driving her more than a little crazy.
But apparently the feeling was far from mutual. So much for her sense of herself being outdated.
He was always out of your league and you know it.
True, but it had been fun while it lasted. More fun, more exciting, than anything she’d experienced in a long time.
“I’ll walk you down,” Rhys said.
“Sure.” She gave Gina’s knee a little shake. “Hey, Sleeping Beauty. Time to go home.”
Gina started. “What?”
Charlie laughed. “Come on. Let’s get you into bed.”
She stood and waited for Gina to gather her things together, then the three of them navigated the thinning crowd to the elevators. Charlie was very aware of Rhys standing by her side as the car dropped smoothly toward the ground. She shot him a quick glance. He was staring straight ahead, an unreadable expression on his face.
She gave a silent sigh as she registered for the millionth time how handsome he was. Not in a perfect, pretty-boy way, but in a real, rugged, masculine way. He had a strong jaw and a straight nose with a bump near the bridge. His lips were chiseled yet still soft looking. His dark hair and eyes made her wonder if he had Greek or Italian heritage. Then there was his body…
As though he felt her regard, he glanced her way. She felt herself blush.
Busted. Good one, Long. Too subtle.
“Is your background Italian?” she blurted, as though asking about his forebears would excuse the fact that she’d been ogling him.
“There’s some Spanish blood in there somewhere, I think. But my dad keeps telling me we’re Black Irish. Whatever that means.”
“Huh.”
The doors opened and they entered the echoey foyer of Customs House. It was all but deserted at this time of night and even the bar at ground level had whittled its patrons down to hard-core players.
The night air was cool on her bare shoulders as they exited to the street. Customs House was situated smack-dab in the middle of Circular Quay, usually a busy hub for buses, trains and ferries, but at this time of night the last ferries had well and truly gone and bus service was reduced to bare bones. The taxi stand was located at the end of the street. A handful of cabs idled, waiting for passengers.
“It’s like a ghost town,” Charlie said as they made their way across the cobblestones toward the taxis.
“I’m sure there are still plenty of idiots raising hell in Kings Cross,” Rhys said, referring to a part of the city that was infamous for its nightlife and girlie bars.
She stumbled on an uneven cobble and Rhys grabbed her shoulder to steady her.
“Thanks,” she said ruefully. “Believe it or not, I have worn high heels before tonight.”
“You’re freezing,” he said, his hand tightening on her shoulder.
“No, I’m fine.” The words were barely out of her mouth before Rhys’s arm wrapped around her shoulder. Heat unfurled in her belly at the feel of his strong arm around her body.
“Better?” he asked.
“Yes.” She risked a glance toward his face. He was watching her closely. Almost as though he was trying to get a read on her.
Gina had walked ahead of them and was talking to the first driver through the open passenger window.
“He’ll take us,” she called.
Charlie’s hip bumped against Rhys’s as they walked the last few feet. Gina slid into the backseat, leaving the door open. Charlie turned to face Rhys, hoping that the regret she felt didn’t show in her face.
“I had a good night.” She held her breath, waiting for him to ask for her phone number or give some indication that his interest in her extended beyond casual flirtation.
“I had a great night,” he said. Then he reached out and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
She forced a smile. “Well—”
He leaned closer and she swallowed the rest of her words as he pressed a kiss to her lips. He lifted his head slightly and looked into her eyes. She stared back at him, stunned, her heart thudding against her breastbone. He palmed the nape of her neck, and then he was kissing her again, his tongue sweeping into her mouth this time, turning her legs to jelly.
She pressed her body against his, her skin on fire, desire beating a tattoo through her veins. His tongue stroked hers gently, provocatively, and she reached out and gripped his shoulders with both hands.
After a long, long moment he drew back. “Come home with me?” he asked very quietly, his voice a low husk.
Dear God, I thought you’d never ask.
“Yes.”
He smiled. There was so much hot promise in his eyes that she squeezed her thighs together.
“Hold that thought.” She slipped from his arms to approach the taxi and ducked her head inside.
“Let me guess, I’m on my own,” Gina said.
“Yeah.” Charlie laughed. She sounded like a giddy schoolgirl, but she didn’t care. She wanted this. Wanted the way Rhys made her feel.
“When was your last drink?” Gina asked.
“Sorry?”
“I want to know how drunk you are so I can decide if I’m being a good friend letting you go home with this guy.”
“I’m not drunk. I’m not sober, but I know what I’m doing.”
“Okay. You’re a big girl. Have a good time, C. Be safe.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Charlie straightened, shutting the door. The taxi took off immediately and the reality of what she’d agreed to hit her like a bucket of cold water. She didn’t know this man, after all. He could be anyone. And she’d agreed to get naked with him and share the most intimate of acts with him.
A warm hand landed on the small of her back and a second later she felt Rhys brush the hair away from her nape before pressing a kiss there. Everything inside her tensed with delight as his whiskers rasped against her skin.
He moved closer, wrapping his arms around her from behind. She felt his erection against her backside, and every sane thought flew out her head like so much dandelion fluff.
She wanted him. She’d indulged herself precious few times in her life, but she wanted this man, wanted the experience he promised with his eyes and hard body, and she was damn well going to have him.
She rested her hands over his and pressed into his hips. He opened his mouth against her neck and she felt the hot press of his tongue. A shiver of need raced down her spine and her nipples hardened.
“Where do you live?” she whispered.
She hoped it was somewhere close because she was so turned on it almost hurt.
“Potts Point. About five minutes.”
She twisted in his arms and kissed him, her hands sliding to his hips and then, boldly, to his backside. She made a small approving sound in her throat as her hands felt hard muscle.
“You keep that up, we’re not going to make it home,” Rhys murmured against her mouth.
“What are we waiting for, then?”
CHAPTER THREE
RHYS SLIPPED HIS hand into hers and led her toward the next cab.
“Potts Point,” he said as he climbed into the backseat, pulling her behind him.
She wanted him to kiss her again very badly. Instead, he slid his arm around her and tugged her against his side.
“You smell good,” he said as the cab drove away from the curb.
“So do you.” She put her hand on his thigh, her belly tightening as she felt the firm muscle beneath her fingers. He had a beautiful body. She couldn’t wait to see it.
Rhys leaned close and started to kiss her neck, small, delicate caresses that made her limp with need. She let her head drop to the side and tried not to moan out loud.
She was aware that they’d arrived at their destination only when the taxi jerked to a halt. Rhys gave a surprised grunt and removed his arm from around her shoulders to pull his wallet from his back pocket.
“Keep the change,” he said as he handed the driver two twenties.
They slid out of the car.
“You realize you gave that guy an eighty percent tip, right?” she said.
“It was worth it.” He took her hand and led her toward the entrance of a modern apartment block. She felt light-headed with lust, all her thoughts concentrated on what was about to happen upstairs. In his bedroom.
His thumb brushed gentle circles inside her wrist as they rode to the sixth floor.
“This is me,” he said as he led her toward a nondescript gray door. He unlocked the door, flicking on a light as he led her inside.
“I’ve got beer or wine—”
Charlie pushed him against the wall and pressed her body to his. “I don’t want beer or wine.”
She kissed him, channeling years of frustrated desire into the meeting of their mouths and tongues. He responded with equal hunger, his hands sliding up her rib cage and onto her breasts. His thumbs found her nipples with unerring accuracy and she jerked her hips against his as he squeezed them gently.
“Man,” he muttered against her mouth.
She slid her hands onto his backside and urged his hips closer to hers, rubbing herself against his erection. He responded by pushing his hands beneath her top and cupping her bare breasts. He teased her mercilessly, to the point where she started to pant.
“Charlie, you are so damn hot,” he said, breaking their kiss to look into her face.
“I need to be naked.” She had no idea where the demand came from. She’d never been this sexually aggressive in her life, but there was something about this man…
“The feeling is totally mutual.”
He held her gaze as he slid a hand over the front of her trousers. She gave a small, needy whimper as he cupped her sex, his fingers pressing against the spot where she needed him the most.
“Are you ready for me, Charlie?” he asked, his voice very low.
She answered with her body, pressing herself forward, into his hand. She reached for the stud on his jeans at the same time, her fingers fumbling for the warm metal of his zipper. It gave readily and she felt him tense as she slid her hand into the opening she’d created. Her fingers found warm cotton over hard flesh. She gripped him firmly, stroking her hand along his length. He shuddered and closed his eyes for the briefest of seconds. When he opened them again his eyes blazed into hers.
“Let’s go.”
She removed her hand from his jeans as he pushed them both away from the wall. He led her into a darkened living room and up another hallway. She was too intent on the man walking ahead of her to pay much attention to her surroundings. As he entered what she assumed was the bedroom, she reached for the hem of her top and dragged it over her head. It hit the floor with a metallic hiss and Rhys turned to face her, his gaze dropping immediately to her naked breasts.
He mouthed a four-letter word, the appreciation in his eyes lifting her desire higher still.
“You’re going to have to help me with these stupid pants,” she said a she reached for the snap on her trousers.
