After another half hour, he turned and looked at her. “What’s it going to be, McKenzie? One bed…or two?”
* * *
Byron sat at the bar, inhaling McKenzie’s sweet scent, feeling as if he wouldn’t make it if she chose not to stay with him. Yes, he’d ambushed her with this place, and yes, he was pushing her, but he wasn’t doing anything she didn’t want to do.
She wanted to stay in his room. She wanted to let go. She just didn’t want to admit that’s what she wanted. She was stubborn, but what he didn’t understand was why. Sex wasn’t something new for her — the woman had been the madam of a very successful and very exclusive escort service.
Maybe this was her payback for the way he had approached her in the beginning. Yes, he knew she was a liar, and he knew she was out to get whatever she could get. But all women were like that. And though he never needed anyone, he somehow seemed to need her.
All he had to do was sleep with her — maybe one night, or maybe a few — and then he’d be able to begin purging her from his system. If he called a truce for a short time, she might give in, and give him his freedom.
Byron knew how to be romantic, how to put on a song and dance to impress a woman. It was just something he hadn’t cared to do in a long while. If a woman weren’t interested, then he would move on, because there would always be a line of eligible women waiting right behind each other — salivating over the chance that he would bed them.
No brag, just fact.
Was she was telling the truth about her sister? He wanted to believe it was just another lie in a long string of lies, but the pain in her voice, the sorrow in her eyes — that couldn’t possibly be made up. Or could it?
He couldn’t forget how well his mother had been able to lie. So he had to harden himself to McKenzie — no, no double entendre there. Yes, her story could well be all lies, something to soften him up… But this was something he could verify — if he cared enough to do so.
This whole trip, though, was obviously a fool’s errand. She’d made her living by stringing men along, teasing them, keeping them panting for her wares. And if her sob story had a shred of truth in it, she might not be ready to accept what she needed and share his bed. Time to cut his losses, he decided.
Just then, her head turned. “Let’s go to your cabin, Byron. I’d like to see it.”
Byron could have sworn his heart stopped beating for a few seconds as she whispered those words. She’d set down her empty glass and was gazing at his throat. She refused to look him in the eyes.
He stood up like a flash and held out his hand. “This way,” he said. He didn’t want to give her a chance to change her mind.
They walked silently from the lobby bar and made their way down a small path to a large cabin, the lights welcoming, the heavy curtains keeping them from seeing inside until he opened the door and held out an arm for her to enter.
He’d been to this place before. It was a favorite retreat of his when he wanted to get away from the city, wanted time to think, wanted to be left alone. He’d never before brought a woman there — and that was something he definitely refused to analyze.
Though the cabin appeared rustic from the outside, the inside had all the modern conveniences that he was too spoiled to give up, and it boasted granite countertops, top-of-the-line stainless-steel appliances, hardwood floors, plush rugs, and a rock-faced fireplace with a stack of wood next to it.
This unit had only one bedroom, but two full-sized bathrooms, plenty of cupboards and drawers, and a decent-sized living room with a plush couch and a couple of overstuffed chairs.
“They even have books and magazines sitting out,” McKenzie said as she slowly looked around the cabin.
“I hope you like it,” he said, making sure his voice gave nothing away — especially none of the anxiety he was suddenly feeling.
“It’s beautiful.” She turned toward the bedroom and he could see the tension in her eyes.
“I need a shower, McKenzie. I’ll use the one out here in case you want to use the master bath.”
Byron didn’t give her a chance to say anything. Instead, he grabbed his bag, shut himself in the bathroom and took a second to lean against the door. What he should do was shower, walk from the bathroom naked, and ravish her.
It was what they both wanted, after all.
What he did was shower, shave and then get dressed. He’d promised her dinner. It would be better for both of them if they had some fuel inside them to sustain their nighttime activities.
When he came out, the cabin smelled of peaches, and he closed his eyes for a moment and inhaled, thinking he could get used to entering a room and having this experience over and over again.
Shaking his head with frustration, he pushed that thought out of his head. He was a loner, and preferred it that way. There was no need to change anything in his life. Just because he appreciated a woman who took care of herself didn’t mean he needed to make a fool of himself over her.
He found McKenzie in the bedroom, looking in the mirror as she combed her wet hair. Their eyes connected in the mirror and she smiled what he would have thought was an innocent smile coming from anyone else. “The shower was heaven,” she said with a nervous giggle as she set down the comb.
And Byron couldn’t resist her any longer.
Taking a few short steps, he turned her around, and pulled her to him, bending and capturing her lips. He wanted her to know what she was missing by continuing to resist him, but after a single minute of his lips on hers, he wasn’t sure any longer who was being taught a lesson.
His hands slid down her back, his palms cupping her sweet derrière, and he tugged, lining her hips up with his, letting her feel how hard he was now — how hard he was each time they were in a room alone together. Hell, they didn’t even have to be alone. Since their first kiss, he always seemed ready in an instant to plunge into her sweet, hot folds.
When her soft sigh of surrender slipped into his mouth, he knew he could walk her backward, strip her clothes from her and thrust inside her. Somehow, knowing that helped to ease the pain he was feeling.
His lips softened as he gently traced her mouth with them, but he finally pulled back, triumph filling him at the desire shining in her eyes.
“We can finish what we’ve started, McKenzie, or I can feed you first, like I promised.” Oh, how he hoped she’d take option one.
He could clearly see the conflict raging within her, and then he saw when she decided. Damn!