“Well, it worked. Like a charm.”
The truck ground to a halt outside their accommodation. Evan was out of the truck in an instant, pulling her door open and holding his hands out to capture her waist and lift her to the ground. He held her tightly for a few seconds. “Last chance, Violet.”
She shook her head. “I don’t need it.”
There were a few people still around, still working and coming in and out of the clinic building next door. Evan murmured responses to their greetings as he pulled her along behind him. Pausing for a second, he ducked into one of the supply closets.
“What are you doing?” Violet hissed. She could feel the tension building inside her. There were several people around, all looking as if they might try to engage her in conversation at any moment. Talking was the last thing she wanted to do right now.
“Nothing.” Evan came back outside, his hand stuffed inside his pocket. “Let’s go.”
“Evan, can you—?”
“Later.” He dismissed the person holding a clipboard with a wave of his hand.
Violet suppressed a smirk. Evan never usually did things like that. Did he realize he’d probably just set tongues wagging?
But his strides were getting longer as they headed into the accommodation. More determined. He stopped as they walked in the main entrance, turning to face her. “Your room or mine?”
She pretended to think about it, putting her finger on her chin. “Hmm, decisions, decisions.”
But Evan had obviously run out of patience. “Dammit. Mine is closer.”
He pushed open a wooden door near them and pulled her into his room, thudding the door closed and sliding the bolt.
There was no time to look around at his room. No small talk. No hesitant moves. Violet found herself pressed up against the door. “So, where were we?” He had that sexy smile and lowered eyelids look. The one that drove her secretly crazy.
She slid her hands around his neck and stood on tiptoe, which allowed her to place some kisses on his neck. “I think we were right about here.”
His hands settled on her hips, his full weight pressing against her. “So what’s changed, Violet? What’s changed for us?”
Was this a conversation she really wanted to have? Or did she just want to lose herself in the heat of the moment, because that’s how good things felt right now?
“Apart from the increased dose of chemistry?”
She concentrated on Evan, running her hands across the broad planes of his shoulders. She’d spent the past few months watching these shoulders from the other side of the room. Willing herself to forget what they’d felt like under her hands. Trying to erase all those thoughts from her head.
Because remembering had just made her want it all again.
And now she finally had it.
“Violet?” He wasn’t going to give this up. He wanted to pursue why nothing had ever happened between them. Why, after they’d kissed, the next time she’d seen him she hadn’t even looked him in the eye.
Her hands slid down the sides of his defined waist. She would have to ask him later whether he was a surfer. Maybe she’d do that when she’d finally got him naked.
Her hands inched lower, moving across his stomach, making the muscles twitch because he knew the inevitability of where she was heading.
He grabbed one hand and pinned it against the door, above her head. “Violet? Distraction techniques again?” He was teasing her, but she could see the questions in his eyes.
Was he afraid? Afraid that she was doing something she might regret and it could come back to bite him? Because she’d threaten to expose him a few weeks ago to the director? And it didn’t matter that she hadn’t meant it. He thought she did.
She bit her lip and looked him in the eye. Her other hand hesitated over the button of his chinos. “I wasn’t ready.”
It was as much as she could say. And it sounded so simple. Something that could easily be brushed over.
Because, right now, with her hormones swarming all over the place, the last thing she wanted to talk about was the stillbirth.
The last thing she wanted to acknowledge was the fact she’d had no sexual contact since it had happened. Just one passionate kiss with him.
She didn’t need him to psychoanalyze her to death. She needed him to sleep with her. She needed him to fulfill the unspoken promise he’d made when he’d kissed her and sparked a fire she hadn’t felt in three years.
She saw something flicker across his eyes. He was contemplating stopping what they were doing. He was considering pulling back. No!
His hand had inched upward from her waist toward her breast. But it had stopped midway. “And are you ready now?” He looked as if it was taking all his self-control not to move.
“I’m ready.” She flicked the button open on his chinos. Distraction techniques? You bet ya.
He let out a hiss as she slid her hand inside. “You’d better mean this, lady, because there’s no turning back.”
“I’ve no intention of turning back.” She could feel the adrenaline coursing through her veins. This feeling might not last but she fully intended to embrace it while it was there. She hadn’t let herself feel like this six months ago. She hadn’t let herself let go.
Now it was time.
She smiled at him. “I take it this means you like me a little?”
He raised his eyebrows, “You can take it that means I like you a lot.”
And the chemistry between them was leading her by the hand.
The air in the room was stifling. Claustrophobic. Or maybe it was their chemistry?
It was dusk; the early evening sun was vanishing, causing the dim room to be filled with occasional dark orange rays.
Something was making her want to get naked very quickly. And he obviously had the same idea because Evan started walking backward, pulling her toward the single bed. His fingers started tugging at her buba top, lifting the bottom and dragging it over her head. It hit the floor and he stopped for a second, taking in the sight of her pink-satin-covered breasts.
What was wrong? Didn’t he think they were big enough? Was he disappointed by what he was seeing? How much could he actually see in this light?
Then a sexy smile appeared on his face, and his hands reached up and cupped her breasts. “You’re beautiful, Violet. I’ve never got to tell you that before.”
A wave of relief swept over her. But he wasn’t finished. His hands pulled down her long skirt, leaving her in her pi
nk satin underwear. She felt herself pulling her stomach in. Would he notice? She had a few stretch marks from when she’d been pregnant. And her stomach was gently curved. Nothing in the world would ever change that.
And she wouldn’t want to.
But she couldn’t take the questions right now—not when she was feeling so ready to take the next step.
Evan seemed to have missed her stomach. His eyes were fixed firmly on her legs. “Why am I the only one undressed here?” she said out loud.
She stepped forward, pushing him back to the edge of the bed and slowly starting to undo the buttons on his cotton shirt. He watched her, unmoving, taking a sharp intake of breath as she reached the last button and slid the shirt off his shoulders, bringing both her palms around and running them up and down his chest.
She was taking her time over this—she’d waited too long not to enjoy it.
The scattered dark curly hairs on his chest tingled against the palms of her hands. His nipples tightened and she loved the effect she was having on his body. She pushed him back on the bed and sat astride him. “How about you take something else off for me? It’s a little hot in here, don’t you think?”
She was making a rocking motion, feeling the hardness of him underneath her. It felt so good.
Evan took a few seconds to push his chinos down over his hips, kicking his shoes off and grabbing her hips.
There was very little between them now. And she couldn’t wait for the inevitable.
Then something struck her and she froze. Why hadn’t she thought of that earlier? They were out in the middle of nowhere. This could ruin everything.
“What is it? What’s wrong?” Evan’s brow was wrinkled. “Violet?”
She thudded her hands down on his chest in frustration. “I’m not on the Pill. And I don’t have anything with me.”
His eyes twinkled. “That’s why I’m the team leader around here. I plan ahead.” He reached down and grabbed his trousers, pulling out a strip of foil packets that unraveled and almost reached the floor.
“Condoms? You brought condoms with you?”