Page 53 of The Perfect Secret
“You’re welcome. I enjoy getting to know her.”
“So…I…I missed your voice. And I wanted to know how it went at your brother’s job.”
“It was…weird.” She lowered her voice, walking into her bedroom and shutting the door. “I haven’t toldBubbeabout thisyet. Mike is Jeff’s boss and his sponsor. He says Jeff is clean and has been for a year.”
“Do you believe him?”
She rose and paced around the room. “There’s a big part of me that doesn’t believe he can do it. But I can’t continue to ignore evidence. I’m not sure what that makes me, though. Mike wasn’t too complimentary.”
“Hannah, you’re a good person. You’ve been hurt. You have every right to distrust Jeff. The fact you’re trying to look at the evidence and conceive a reason why you should believe him is admirable. Mike doesn’t know you.”
“Well, here’s the thing. He was brash and forward and he knew me, or acted like he did, and somehow I responded to him. It was like I wasn’t surprised at the way he talked to me. Or maybe I was surprised. I didn’t know what else to do, so I answered him rather than calling him out on his behavior. Well, for the most part.”
“At least you got some answers.”
“Yeah. I have a lot to think about, and I have to figure out how to go forward with Jeff and with my grandmother. I think I want a relationship with him, I’m just not sure how much of one I can handle.”
“Give it time. You don’t have to decide right away.”
Hannah closed her eyes, letting Dan’s voice wash over her and calm her. He was right.
“Speaking of decisions,” he said, “did you send out your résumé yet?”
“Yeah, I have an interview on Tuesday with another PR firm.”
“That’s terrific. I can’t wait to hear about it.”
Shivers ran down her spine as his happiness for her deepened the timbre of his voice.
“You know, Tess is out tutoring again tomorrow night,” he said. “If you want to come over, I could help you prepare for your interview. Or we could relax…”
She’d have him all to herself. Desire coursed through her. “I’d love to come over.”
As she hung up the phone, her stomach tightened. Last time they’d been alone, Dan stopped them because she’d been upset about Jeff. This time, there would be no more excuses.
Chapter Fifteen
The ring of the doorbell echoed through the lonely apartment. Dan paused before he answered the door. Hannah was on the other side. Tess liked her. Was he ready? Maybe he was making a big deal out of nothing. Maybe he should let himself go this once. If Hannah was ready to give her brother a chance, maybe she could overlook Dan’s mistakes too. Hadn’t he paid enough for them? And if she could, there was no reason to hold himself back from her.
Squaring his shoulders, he pulled the door open. Raindrops spattered her jacket and darkened the ends of her hair to chocolate. She smelled of rain, vanilla, and something unique to her, and heat pooled low in his belly. She was here. They were alone at last. All the times he’d thought about her, dreamed about her, desired her, coalesced into one hot ball of need. He grabbed her hand and pulled her inside. His groin tightened and he pulled her close, capturing her lips with his as he tangled his fingers through her silky hair. She was his and she was glorious.
When she opened her mouth, he thrust his tongue inside, tasting her sweetness. He groaned. He hadn’t realized how much he’d missed her, how much he needed her, until this minute. If he were smart, he’d go slow, talk about his feelings, double check hers, make a plan. Running his hands down her back, his palms rounded over her backside. He pressed her against him and all thoughts of being smart, all thoughts, period, disappeared. Her sigh, or was it his, tickled his mouth as she moved her hips back and forth against him. He’d waited so long for her, wanting to make sure everything was perfect. Her movements were sure.Her desire was as great as his. The friction was exquisite torture. He couldn’t wait anymore and he backed her against the wall.
“Slow down,” she whispered against his lips. “We’ve got plenty of time.”
He trailed kisses down her neck. She whimpered as she tilted her head, exposing more of her skin for him to taste. For him to own.
“I need you,” he groaned, and ran his hands up and down her body, memorizing her curves as need built inside of him. He wanted to be inside of her, to be one with her. Preplanning be damned. Candles, roses, wine, they all could wait. His pulse pounded. He hardened as he pressed against her. He couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think, couldn’t focus on anything but her. He couldn’t wait.
She wiggled against him and he fought to maintain the little control he had left. Oh god, he would lose it right now if she kept that up. Pulling away from her, dizzy with desire, he took her hand and led her farther inside his apartment. Hands shaking, he pushed her jacket off her shoulders, leaving it where it dropped on the floor. He stared into her eyes. Her lashes were long and her pupils were dilated, surrounded by bright green rims. He slid his fingertips beneath her sweater. Her skin was warm and smooth, begging him to explore further, but he wasn’t a barbarian. Pausing, he waited for her response. She bit her lip, raised and lowered her hands. When she nodded, he raised her sweater over her head, flinging it aside to join her jacket. He stared at her, breathless.
Creamy skin with a light smattering of freckles. Breasts that fit perfectly into his hands. She was perfect. He cupped her breasts through her navy lace bra and her nipples puckered at the contact. It was him. He was doing this. He was making her react to him. His chest swelled. As he admired them with his touch, she tugged at his T-shirt, pulling it out from his jeans.Thank God, she wanted him as much as he wanted her. Her hands on his bare skin made him hiss. Her touch was like a brand. He raised his arms over his head for her to continue undressing him. Never before had he wanted to be naked with someone as much as he did with her.
Bare chest to bare chest, their hot skin touched, igniting a fire of need in him that matched what he saw reflected in her eyes. Pupils dilated, lips parted, she kissed his brow, down the bridge of his nose and across to his cheekbones. His skin burned beneath her lips and coherent thought fled.
He shut his eyes, let the feel of her lips take over. Their noses touched, their cheeks brushed against each other as she mapped his face with her kisses. When she finally reached his mouth, he opened it hungrily, devouring her, thrusting his tongue against hers, battling for ultimate control.
He clenched his stomach as the backs of her fingers slipped between his pants and his stomach. A tugging at his waistband made him open his eyes. He stretched his mouth in a wicked grin as he reached for her jeans, unbuckling her belt and the metal clasp. He couldn’t wait for them to be naked together. When she pulled away from him, the cool air shocked him. He stifled a protest at the space, space he didn’t want between them. His disappointment disappeared when she shimmied out of her jeans. He watched her, his gaze drawn to parts of her she kept hidden. She stood there, motionless as his gaze moved from her toes to her head and down again. Her skin blushed along with his gaze and she stepped forward.