Sweet Insanity (6 page)

She watched the muscles in his jaw clench and bit back a sigh. Just her luck. He was going to make it impossible for her to spend an evening with him, without allowing him to disrespect Mark.

He narrowed his gaze, but then inclined his head slightly. “Understood. Jokes about big dumb blondes are a no-no.”

“Thank you,” she said, annoyed that he had to get a last snide remark in about Mark.

He smiled and the tension between them dissipated. “So we’re having a drink?”

She nodded. “I think we are.”

“Great.” He slipped his arm around her waist and led her across the parking lot.

She waited until they stood by the passenger door of his car before stepping away from him. “You’re assuming that I don’t already have plans for tonight.”

He shook his head. “Not assuming. Hoping. Please tell me that you don’t. Besides, you said you’d have a drink with me.”

She hesitated. While she’d never approved of women who played unnecessarily hard to get, she didn’t want to come off as too easy again. Of course, given that she’d already slept with him, what did she have to lose except another chance to impress him? “I will.”

“Damn. That’s a relief.”

He seemed so pleased, she smiled.

“And since you don’t already have a date, why don’t we make it dinner?”

“I’m not exactly dressed for a night on the town.”

“You look fine but if you prefer, we’ll go somewhere casual.” He pressed his key fob and opened the passenger side door of his car for her.

She slipped inside.

After closing the door behind her he walked around to the driver’s side and got in. Instead of starting the car and driving off, he turned to look at her.

Aware of his gaze on her, she fastened her seatbelt before turning to face him.

“Carter Dean,” he said suddenly, extending his hand.

He clearly already knew her name, but she liked that he was now telling her his. She placed her hand in his. “Kira Harden.”

“I’m delighted to meet you Kira Harden.”

He sounded sincere.

“Thank you.”

He placed his other hand over hers. “Is there a man in your life?”

She shook her head. “No.”

“Do you want there to be?”

How was she supposed to answer that truthfully without appearing desperate? She decided to hedge her bets. “I’m not sure.”

“About what?”

“I’m sure I’d like a man in my life but I’m not sure how serious I want that relationship to be.”

He rubbed his thumb along her arm. “You almost sound like a woman looking for a friendship with benefits relationship.”

How like a man to decide she was looking for a strictly sexual relationship. Or maybe he was letting her know that was all he had to offer.

“Are you?” he asked.

The loneliness and difficulty she’d experienced after her breakup with Tyrone forced her to face the fact that she wanted and needed more than friendship with benefits. She wanted a serious relationship that would eventually lead to marriage. That’s the last thing he’d probably want to hear. “I’m not looking to be an easy lay.”
At least not again.

“Understood.”

Hopefully he understood enough to at least pretend he was interested in something other than sex. “What about you? Is there a woman in your life?”

Was it her imagination or was there a noticeable pause before he answered? “Not anymore.” He kissed her fingers before he released her hand and started the car. “There’s a very nice restaurant in my apartment complex. Do you have any objection to eating there?”

She had a feeling he already knew where she lived so she might as well see where he lived. “None at all.”

* * *

Although within the Philadelphia city limits, Carter lived in a sprawling complex nestled among several acres of well-manicured trees and shrubs. He parked in front of a two-story townhouse within one of several gated sections of the development.

He turned to look at her. “The clubhouse restaurant is less than a quarter mile down the path to the right. Will you walk with me or would you prefer to ride?”

It was a lovely night and chances were he’d hold her hand while they walked. Her choice was a no-brainer. “A walk sounds like a good idea.”

He got out of the car and walked around to open the passenger door for her. Immediately after helping her out, he released her hand.

Great. Clearly he wasn’t as lustful as she was.

They made the fifteen-minute walk in silence and the damned man kept his hands to himself. Whenever she glanced at him, she found him looking straight ahead. If he didn’t want to hold her hand and he had no conversation, why the hell had he asked her out?

She had a feeling she was going to regret agreeing to have dinner with him. Maybe he regretted asking her out too.

Chapter Five

“Why did you ask me out?” Kira asked the moment the waiter walked away from the table after taking their orders.

Carter arched a brow. He thought she was joking until he looked in her eyes. She was serious and clearly expected an answer. What the hell kind of question was that? So much for women’s intuition. “Excuse me?”

“Why did you ask me out?”

Why did a man generally ask a woman out? “I asked you out because I wanted to see you.”

To his surprise, she sighed. “I see.”

He didn’t like the sound of that. What the hell was going on in that charming head of hers? “There’s really nothing to see beyond the fact that I wanted to see you. So I asked you out. Thankfully, you said yes and here we are.”

“You don’t seem to have anything to say to me.”

So that was it. She wanted him to talk to her. He could do that—as soon as he decided what to say to her. What the hell was wrong with him? He’d never had a problem talking to a woman but found himself feeling as if he needed to choose each word carefully with her. “Tell me—”

“Are you married?” she asked.

This was a fine time to ask. He shook his head. “I’ve been divorced for five years and there’s no special woman in my life at the moment.”

“Why not?”

Why did a woman always probe a man’s past as if digging for gold? There was no way in hell that he was going to admit that he’d been in a relationship the night he slept with her—at least not at this stage. “My last relationship didn’t work out.”

As she was about to part her lips to probe even deeper, he decided to head her off at the pass. “We weren’t compatible.” For
God’s sake don’t ask me any more questions.
It was time he turned the tables to ensure she didn’t. “What about you, Kira? Why aren’t you in a relationship?”

“My last relationship ended eight months earlier.”

The tone of her voice indicated that it had not been her choice so he decided to tread carefully. “Were you married to him?”

“No.”

“Did you two live together?”

“Oh no,” she said quickly.

“Oh no?”

“Living with a man isn’t something I’d be comfortable doing.”

“Why not?”

“Because I’d feel as if he wanted all the perks of marriage without any of the commitments that should go with it.”

“Some women view living together as a sort of commitment.”

“You’re probably right, but I’m not one of them.”

Too bad.
“So what happened with your last relationship?”

“I thought we were in an in exclusive relationship heading towards marriage, but he had other ideas.”

“He was seeing other women?”

She nodded, her lips compressed.

So he had cheated on her. Not mentioning Jill in any detail had been a good move on his part. “Have you ever been married?”

“Yes but, like you, I’m now divorced.”

“Any kids? I have two sons. Eighteen and twenty. Both are away at school at the moment.”

She shook her head. “Unfortunately, we weren’t blessed with any children.”

He was certain he heard regret in her voice. Before he could decide whether to pursue the subject of children, the waiter brought their entrées. “Did you love him?” he asked when they were alone again.

She looked at him, a slight frown marring her face. “Did I love who? My ex-husband?”

“No. The man after him.”

She glanced down at her plate. “I thought I did, but now I’m not so sure.”

“Why not? What’s made you unsure?”

She shook her head, her gaze still on her plate.

Her refusal to answer made him determined to hear the truth. “What’s made you unsure, Kira?”

“Meeting you.” Sighing softly, she raised her eyelids and looked at him. “If I had been in love with him, surely I wouldn’t have slept with you.”

Women. When would they admit that sex very often had little to do with love and that a large majority of men preferred it that way? “I’m flattered.”

“I don’t know what to make of you,” she said, placing her fork by her untouched food.

“I’m not that hard to understand. You intrigue me and I want to get to know you. Where’s the mystery?”

“Do you really want to get to know me?”

He sighed. “I know we didn’t meet under ideal circumstances, but I want to get to know you. I’m not sure how much clearer I can make it than that.”

“I’d like that,” she said softly.

Damn, he hoped that meant the interrogation was over. He reached across the table to touch her hand. “So would I – naturally enough.”

She smiled and seemed to relax.

Even though he was dying to fuck her again and was fairly certain that he could talk his way into her bed that night, he decided he wouldn’t test his theory. He would romance her a little before they tumbled into bed again. At least that was the plan. He glanced at her mouth— unless she kept smiling at him and arousing him until he lost control. Then all bets were off and he’d take the first opportunity to slide his cock into her sweet pussy.

* * *

Reassured by their conversation, Kira slowly relaxed. During the course of the meal, she was delighted to find his gaze centered on her. Although he didn’t talk much, he still managed to give the impression that she had his complete attention.

As they left the restaurant, he reached for her hand linking his fingers through hers.

Yes! They walked back to his car in a comfortable silence.

Stopping by the passenger door, he glanced up at the starlit sky before looking at her.

“It’s a beautiful night,” she said.

He nodded. “The quality of the beauty of a night is all in the company.”

She smiled.

“Would you like to go for a drive?”

She wanted to be fucked but if she expected him to treat her with a modicum of respect, she’d have to stop thinking with her pussy. “I’d love to.”

After a forty-minute drive, he parked in a section of Fairmount Park she’d never been in before. She found studying the stars in silence so tranquil her lids drooped. The next thing she knew he had his arm around her, gently shaking her awake.

She sat up, blinking in surprise. They were in her apartment complex parking lot. She turned to look at him. “What are we doing here?”

“I drove here.”

“When?”

“We’ve been here for fifteen minutes.”

How long had she slept? “Oh my God. I’m so sorry.”

He arched a brow. “I don’t know if my ego can stand the beating you just gave it by falling asleep the moment we were alone again.”

She bit her lip and then laughed.

“Damn, woman. You fall asleep on me and then you laugh in my face. If your plan is to bruise my ego, you’re right on target.”

She shook her head, her lips quivering as she tried to suppress laughter. “I didn’t sleep well last night,” she said. “My plan for tonight included a light meal, a warm bath, and then reading in bed until I fell asleep.”

He brushed the back of his hand against the side of her neck. “And?”

“And…so you’ll have to forgive me.”

“Will I?”

“Yes. You will.”

He leaned close enough to kiss her ear. “I’ll think about it,” he said, and slipped out of the car.

At least he didn’t sound angry.

Opening the passenger door, he helped her alight. He guided her towards the entrance with a hand in her back. “I’ll see you inside.”

“I’d like that.”

At her apartment door, he tipped up her chin.

She met his gaze.
Take me to bed and spend the night with me.

He pressed a warm, sweet kiss against her lips.

She leaned against him, parting her lips and welcoming his tongue into her mouth. Lord she loved the feel and taste of his tongue and lips.

Cupping her ass in his palms he drew her closer.

The warmth of his palms seemed to burn through her clothes, quickly arousing her passions. Ready to surrender completely to him, she slipped her arms around his neck.
Fuck me. Please.

Even though he must have known how much she wanted him, after a sweet but brief interlude, he lifted his head and stepped away from her.

Hell. What did a woman have to do to get him back in bed?

He ran a hand through his hair and exhaled. “Even though you’ve done your best to give me an inferiority complex, I’ll call you,” he said.

Forget the calling shit and spend the night with me
. “Please do,” she said in a voice she hoped concealed her frustration.

He stroked his free hand down her back to cup her ass again. “Trust me. I will.”

Please spend the night with me.

He bent to kiss her again, gently caressing her ass as he did.

She trembled, clenching her fists at her sides to keep from wrapping her arms around his neck again. He clearly didn’t intend to stay.

He lifted his head, brushing the back of his hand against her cheek. “Good night, sweet.”