Head Over Heels (22 page)

From the way he controlled this session, he made it obvious this would be an intense and slow experience. He brushed his fingertips over her hips and right over her clit. Kari curved her hips to get him to touch her more intimately.

Thane wouldn’t be tricked into doing anything he didn’t want. When she moved her hips, he raised his hand up to her stomach. Then he went down her thighs.

With his face next to hers, Kari couldn’t wait to show him what his treatment did to her. She put her hand to his cheek and kissed him. She tasted sweetness from the berries and cream, and the saltiness of her own juices on his mouth. The concoction made her want more. She drove her tongue into his mouth as he continued tickling her body, bringing her sensitive nerve endings up to the surface.

Thane broke from the kiss long enough to roll on top of her. He positioned himself at her opening. While keeping a direct stare on her eyes, he entered her ever so slowly. After so many years of not being with a man and not even taking care of her own needs, she didn’t take long to adjust to this introduction. She released a small cry, her stomach contracted, and her heart drummed. Kari coiled her legs around his and gripped his shoulders as she arched her back.

He surprised her by still taking his time. She half expected him to pound in her like an overeager frat boy. Thane controlled his strokes in a methodical manner that drove her crazy in the best way possible.

She reached down and gripped his firm ass. Perfect.

“You’re so beautiful, you know that?” Thane kept his stare on her until she answered.

“Yes.” Kari didn’t want to sound arrogant.

When she answered, she didn’t feel conceited. The way he looked at her throughout the night, and even before, made her feel sexy.

Thane kept his pace steady, occasionally surprising her by pulling so far back she thought he would remove himself completely, but then he would thrust hard and deep. She felt her body shaking again. No way could this man make her climax again so soon.

As the thought entered her mind, her intimate inner walls tightened around his shaft. He must have felt it. He smiled and nodded.

Before she could stop herself, Kari leaned her head back and released a scream that probably the entire floor heard. Thane pulled out of her long enough to slip behind her, positioned on his side, and eased himself into her again. He held onto her hip as he continued with his commanding thrusts.

Kari reached and held the back of his head. Her fingers slipped through his hair. He didn’t sweat even though he’d been working hard for her pleasure. Thank God for youth. She smiled.

“You like it?” he asked and kissed the side of her face.

She nodded. “Yes.”

Thane slipped his arm underneath her body and held onto her breast, massaging it and circling his thumb around her sensitive nipple. He used his other hand to rest on her hip at first. Then he eased it down, moving it between her legs to find her clit.

She gripped his hair in her fist and undulated her body to match his movements. The motion seemed like they had been together before. Everything about Thane felt so comfortable to her, which worried her. She’d gotten so relaxed around Jarrod that his leaving had blindsided her.

She had to stop thinking that way. As Reagan said, this one slip would be her vacation treat. When she got back home without a contract, she would be out of work.

Thane pulled out of her again to take her in another position. Kari surprised him by pushing him onto his back and straddling him. The man proved he could take control of a situation. She needed to show him that she could be just as powerful.

She rode him slowly at first. She grabbed his hands and placed them on her breasts. As soon as he began massaging them, circling her nipples with his thumbs, she increased her speed.

Thane coasted his hands down her body to her waist and over her ass. He palmed her cheeks, squeezing them occasionally as though letting her know he had her. She almost thought he would spank her. He never did. He didn’t need to resort to tricks to coax an orgasm.

Kari gyrated her body faster and faster. She rested her hands on his chest and he raised his hips in the air to meet her motions. She let out a curse as her body tightened. This time, she finally felt Thane cracking. His muscular thighs started to tremble. He interlaced his fingers with hers and squeezed his eyes shut until she came.

“Yes!” she exclaimed.

He gritted his teeth and his body froze for a moment before he relaxed against the bed. “Incredible.”

Kari smiled. “Yes.” She gave him a kiss and placed her head on his chest.

Now she would have to figure out a way to tactfully leave while still trying to get his business.

Thane stared at the woman in his bed. He knew the sex would be great. What he had with Kari couldn’t compare with anyone he’d been with in the past, including Anjana. Whenever Kari looked at him, the connection deepened.

He wanted her again. She’d slept in his bed after a second marathon session, and now he wanted to experience her flesh one more time. Thane couldn’t remember when his body had felt this alive and healthy and satisfied. As Kari lay on her side, he wrapped his arm around her waist and gently tried rolling her onto her back.

He wanted to see her face, watch her expression when she came again. Thinking about that moment raised his pulse. As soon as he got her on her back, and before he could climb over her, she moaned with her eyes still closed.

“Easy,” she whispered.

Thane moved back from her as she resumed her deep, heavy breathing. Christ, he had become that guy Kari had said she didn’t want. He’d taken his time with her last night for a couple of reasons. He didn’t want her thinking this young man couldn’t slow down for her. He’d also wanted to enjoy every curve and swell of her beautiful body.

I got to get out of here,
he thought. He threw on some workout clothes and wrote a note to Kari to let her know his whereabouts.

Working out some of his pent-up anxiety would help him calm down…he hoped. He crept out of the room and went down to the fitness center. At five in the morning, he hoped no one else would be there. He didn’t need a bunch of fans bothering him. He wanted to run and think about last night’s events and Kari.

Would she want to be in his life? How did he feel about her having a kid? No, better question. What did
she
think he thought about her having a child? Thane had come from a broken home and into an adopted family. He understood the power of blended families. If only his own family could meld together.

He stepped on the treadmill and did his run. The small gym had an all-glass wall and door that faced out into the main lobby. Although the treadmill allowed him to have his back to people walking by, the large mirror in front of him let him see who stopped to look into the room. For that reason, he covered his head with a hood, hoping to block out his identity.

The large wall Kari had around her had come down last night, but not all the way. She’d hid her child from him. Why hadn’t she wanted him to know? Then again, he hadn’t told her everything about his checkered past. She knew about all his former relationships, what had been reported in the media. He had more to tell, more to share. Could he trust Kari with those types of secrets?

* * * *

Kari curled her body in bed and felt soreness between her legs. This time she smiled. She’d had incredible, mind-blowing, hot sex with Thane Wells. No, he hadn’t been the guy she knew from the media or even the man she suspected from her research. He had been patient, kind, creative, passionate, and, damn it, lovable.

She wanted to be here with him. She wanted more of him. Kari slid her ass back to brush against Thane. When she didn’t feel anything at first, she continued moving back until she finally decided to open her eyes and look behind her.

Kari blinked a few times before the realization hit her that Thane had left her alone. She leaned to the side to peek into the bathroom, the darkened, quiet bathroom. No way he would be in there.

She clutched the comforter to her chest and scooted to the edge of the bed, hoping beyond hope to see him in the living room or dining area. Maybe he wanted her to sleep longer. She briefly glanced at the digital clock next to the bed. Almost six in the morning.

Kari stood while continuing to keep her body covered. She looked into the two areas and found nothing. Maybe Thane had gone out to get her breakfast. A man that compassionate and considerate wouldn’t have sex with her and leave. That move came out of Jarrod’s playbook.

One weak moment shortly after her grandfather had died still haunted Kari. She’d lied to Thane last night when she told him the story about a random boyfriend she had sex with years ago. Not so random. Jarrod had said the right things to her at the wrong moment, and she’d fallen for his lies. The topper had been the impersonal note he’d left.

“Thanks for the memories, babe,”
had been the sentiment Jarrod left for her after she’d opened herself up again.

As she yanked the covers from the bed, she noticed something fluttering to the floor. Kari peered down. By her foot sat a folded piece of hotel stationery. A note. Another fucking note. She wouldn’t be played again.

Kari stomped into her panties and yanked them up her legs. She put on her bra and hooked the back. Only after fastening it did she realize that she had the undergarment on inside out.

“Screw it.” She didn’t care about what she had on underneath. She had to get out before she had another embarrassing encounter with Thane.

Kari slipped on her shoes but didn’t bother tying them. Then she put on her dress and grabbed her jacket and purse. She wouldn’t be coming back to this hotel or seeing Thane again. She knew that for sure.

She yanked the door open and stormed down the hallway as fast as she could. As she waited for the elevator, she put on her jacket. She knew it would be chilly outside. Yes, she would use that excuse to explain why she couldn’t stop shaking. When she felt her throat tightening, she swallowed and blamed the reaction on pollen. The hotel did have fresh-cut flowers everywhere.

The elevator doors opened. She got in the empty car and pushed the button to take her down to the lobby. The smooth ride gave her too much time to think. She’d awakened from dreams of a life with Thane, him being in her life and in her child’s.

Kari shook her head. No way. She would never let him near Michael. If she hurt this badly from this disappointing experience, she couldn’t imagine how Michael would react.

The elevator doors opened and she practically ran from it. She kept her pace brisk but still ladylike.

“Hey!”

Kari heard the shout and assumed the exclamation had come from a concierge or maybe that nosy guard.

“Kari, wait.”

At the sound of her name, she couldn’t help but stop and turn. She saw a hooded man approach her. When he revealed his identity, she turned and headed to the door.

“Where are you going?” Thane touched Kari’s arm.

“Don’t touch me.” She backed away from him and balled her hands into fists like she wanted to fight.

In a look of surrender, he raised both hands in the air. “I’m not going to hurt you. I wanted to know why you are trying to leave so quickly. Did I do something wrong?”

She huffed. “No. I did. I let my guard down. I got soft.” She looked into his eyes, the same ones that had melted her heart whenever he’d stared at her during sex. “I should have stuck to business. No one gets hurt that way.” She started to head to the door again, but Thane blocked her.

“Will you wait one minute? Did you read my note?” Thane crouched down a little to meet her gaze face-to-face.

“I didn’t need to. I can guess what it said. ‘Had fun last night. I’ll call you. Take care.’ I would have more respect for you had you told me up front that all you wanted was sex. Don’t play with my head and my—” She stopped before she could reveal more of herself.

“Come back up to the room.” He stepped forward, which forced her to take a couple steps back.

“For what? You want to hit it again?” She didn’t realize the volume of her voice until she noticed the desk clerk’s uncomfortable expression.

“Please. I won’t touch you. I need you to see something.” Thane took a couple more steps toward her.

So that she didn’t look ridiculous walking backward, Kari turned and walked in front of him to the elevator. Thane hit the
up
button and the doors opened immediately. Inside the quiet car, Thane kept his stare on her but didn’t speak.

Kari didn’t look at him. Not directly. His reflection showed on the mirrored elevator doors. When she looked at him, she noticed sweat around the collar of his T-shirt under his hoodie. Perspiration also dotted his forehead and down the sides of his face. When she took a deep breath, she smelled that familiar sweaty aroma that she’d already grown to adore.

At the top floor, the doors opened. Like a gentleman, Thane waited for her to step out first. After he got out, he walked ahead of her to his hotel room door. He opened it for her and allowed her to go in first.

“I was in the gym downstairs,” Thane said. “I left you a note to let you know where I was.” He picked up the paper on the floor and came back to her. “Please read it.” He held it up to Kari.

She studied his face for a moment. That same sincere look returned. She snatched it from his hand and opened it. “This won’t change anything.”

Kari read the note:

To my honey badger. I need to get a workout in. Please don’t leave until I get back. Order whatever you want for breakfast. Can’t wait to see you. Thane.

Damn. The game had changed.

No, no, no. Kari wouldn’t fall for his charms.

“Seems awfully strange that you would need to do a workout after last night. Are you saying I wasn’t that exciting to you?” Kari ground her teeth as she awaited his answer.

Thane shook his head. “I needed to get away.”

She blinked. “Really? Get away from me?” She tossed the note to the floor. “Fine. I’m out of here.”

He held her arm without apology this time and stopped her. “Don’t you get it?” He looked down at the hand that held her. His thumb brushed over her arm.