But the feeling of being desired so intensely…
As if sensing the cause of her indecision, he said, “Don’t worry, I’ll behave.” Then his eyes crinkled slightly. “At least, as much as you want me to.”
“You should let go if you want me to pack,” she managed to say, despite the sudden dryness in her mouth.
He released her, triumph glittering in his eyes, and watched her go to her bedroom.
She didn’t have enough time for full makeup so she settled for powder and lipstick. Moving quickly from bedroom to bathroom to closet, she threw her toiletries, tubes and jars of cosmetics, a change of underwear and a couple of tops and bottoms into a small black duffel bag and returned to the living room.
Matto lay on Alex’s lap while Alex scratched him gently. The cat’s eyes were closed, and he was purring. The sight softened her heart so quickly and so absurdly, she paused there and soaked in the peacefulness, the odd sense of domestic harmony.
It was such a cliché for a woman to fall in love with a man who loved her pet. Of course, she was far too practical to fall for Alex just because he scratched Matto’s ears, but this felt like something faintly ominous—a crack in the wall surrounding her heart. Thunder off on the horizon.
Alex looked up. “I think he likes me.”
“Seems that way,” she said through a small lump in her throat.
He looked at the duffel bag in her hand. “Is that all?”
She nodded.
“Light packer. A woman after my own heart.” He took the bag from her. “After you.”
Chapter Nine
THE CABIN WAS surprisingly rustic, not at all like the slick modern cottage the Halls owned in British Columbia. It was surrounded by maple and oak trees and had a nice view of the lake.
Alex closed the Mercedes trunk with a soft thud. Natalie turned away from the water and looked at him. Somehow, she was glad he hadn’t driven his Lamborghini. The sun seeped through the gaps between the leaves and dappled his tall figure. He held a bag in each hand, one hers, one his. She couldn’t see his eyes through the dark sunglasses he wore.
The woods were full of small chirps and chitters as they went up to the cabin door. Alex unlocked it and shouldered his way inside. Natalie followed him, her sandals making light tocking sounds as she walked across the wooden floor. The scents of beeswax and pine swirled in the living room as a bit of the outside breeze came in with them. Sunlight poured in like honey through a wide skylight in the sloped roof.
Alex walked to a bedroom on the right and dropped the bags in there. “If you’re hungry, feel free to raid the fridge.”
“Okay. Thanks.”
Natalie poked around the place. The living room and the kitchen were surprisingly spacious, with only a rectangular marble-topped island separating them. There wasn’t any formal dining area, although the backyard had a small picnic table and a fairly large herb garden with basil, sage, and rosemary.
Through the gaps in the trees, the lake sparkled like sapphires. She’d thought she would see people around—it was a beautiful place—but only a doe came by to drink, disappearing into the woods after having her fill.
The faint sound of water running in the bathroom sink made her aware of what was to come. Suddenly nervous, she rubbed her palms against the soft fabric of her jeans. A small part of her cautioned against what she was about to do. It wasn’t like her to fall into bed with a man she’d met only a few days ago. Yet no man had been able to break down her defenses so quickly. Alex had been the only one to make her feel truly desirable. Wanted.
And no one before him had stood up for her. Her old boyfriends had been too busy trying to impress her important family.
As she stood leaning against the doorjamb and gazing out at the lake, warm arms came around her from behind. “What are you thinking?” His soft breath tickled her ear, as close and intimate as her own heartbeat.
She tilted her head back until she could look up into his eyes. Gray-blue in this light, they seemed to hold the essence of the man. There was desire, yes, and steel but also something forthright that said he wasn’t making pretty but empty promises—the passion he was offering was all that she was getting.
And it was up to her now. Take it or leave it.
Natalie turned in his embrace until she faced him and tiptoed so she could brush her lips against his. She felt him smile as they kissed. Then his mouth was moving leisurely over hers, his moist, hot tongue licking and tasting.
Impressions came in waves. Overwhelming masculinity. Tightly controlled, raw sexuality. Her hands traveled the vast, hard plane of his back. His tongue probed, penetrated her mouth. Her fingers dug into him.
His big hands skimmed her shoulders, her sides, under her breasts. They branded her through the cotton baby tee she wore. Her nipples hardened, aching for a direct touch.
His fingers circled around her breasts, climbed up the delicate skin, then ran down the length of her spine. She shivered and broke off the kiss.
“Alex.”