UP IN FLAMES

Paul opened his mouth and then his eyes narrowed. Several seconds passed. “Where’s she staying?”NôvelD(ram)a.ôrg owns this content.

“Here.”

Silence. It stretched so long that Alaric wondered if the man had lost the ability to speak, but finally Paul spoke. “Are you fucking serious?”

The burn on the back of his neck increased. “Are you?”

“She’s staying here?” Paul’s voice dropped low. “In your home?”

“Unless there’s a different meaning for ‘here’ that I’m unaware of, then yes.” Alaric replied.

Paul stared at him like he’d whipped out his cock and started swinging it around. “Why not a hotel or somewhere less personal? Like we’d normally do in this situation? Or, I don’t know, have her go to family and we run detail outside?”

“She doesn’t have anyone else,” he said, acting on the urge to defend what he was doing and her. But the moment those words left his mouth, he regretted them.

“Does she have you?” Paul shot back.

Alaric’s eyes narrowed dangerously, but his voice remained level. “That’s really none of your business.”

Paul opened his mouth.

“I mean it, bud. Don’t fucking push me on this. She’s staying here with me and that’s as far as I’m discussing it.”

Holding up his hands, Paul shook his head. “Whatever. If you think this is a bright idea, then go with it. Not going to judge.”

Alaric didn’t respond and he didn’t relax at those words.

“Where is she anyway? Hiding from you?”

His lips twitched at that. “Maybe.” Alaric responded.

“Wouldn’t blame her for that.” Paul headed for the door. “I’ll let you know if I find out anything else.”

“Okay.” Alaric started to close the door but stopped. “Oh, and can you-”

“Call and get someone out there to clean up her place?” Paul smiled broadly, and for some reason, it made the guy look scarier. “Already did it. Also got a security system ordered for her.”

Muscles in his back eased a little. “You’re awesome,” said Alaric.

“I know.”

After Paul left, Alaric made sure his place was locked down, alarm set, and then grabbed the totes before heading upstairs. He headed straight to Vanessa’s room, but halfway, he hesitated. She was mad at him… He was sure of that, and he couldn’t blame her. He shouldn’t have stopped kissing her back then. He was only trying to do the right thing at the moment, but now that he thought about it, the right thing should have been taking her straight to his bed and pleasuring her till she forgot all her troubles.

He sighed deeply, then continued moving to her room. He started to knock on her bedroom door but found it slightly cracked. Easing it open, he slipped into her room. Maybe he should’ve knocked, but what the hell? It was his house.

His gaze fell to the bed first, and it was empty. The room smelled of her-lilac and vanilla. His eyes moved to the door to the bathroom. It was also ajar and soft light edged around the bottom. Sitting the totes on the dresser, he was about to force himself out of the bedroom when a startled cry edged with terror erupted from the bathroom.

What the hell? What kind of trouble could she get herself into alone in a bathroom? More than a little concerned, he moved toward the bathroom door. In the back of his head, he knew he should announce himself, but he pushed open the door.

And came to a complete stop, something tugging at his chest and causing the muscles to tighten in his stomach. Pulsing adrenaline coursed through him, and he couldn’t remember why he even came up the stairs to find her before he’d heard her cry out.

Never in his life had he met a more contrary woman, but right then, she was the embodiment of wet dreams. Go figure it was when she might be asleep. She must’ve had a nightmare that had passed over her. Now she rested peacefully, but a storm was raging inside his body.

Vanessa was in the tub, her head resting on a rolled-up towel, facing the door. A practically serene look marked her expression. He’d never really seen her as such. The tug in his chest was stronger this time, drawing him closer.

Her hair was piled up around her head, but without anything to hold it there, several tendrils hung down, drifting over her shoulders and into the water.

The scent of shower gel filled the bathroom, which explained the frothy white bubbles that obscured her body except for the sweet swell of her chest and a gracefully bent knee. Seeing her like this was a punch to the gut and caused his already hard cock to pulse against the zipper of his jeans.

Goddamn, it was the sexiest thing he’d ever seen. And he’d seen a lot of sexy in his life, but this-fuck yeah-this was stunning. Maybe it was the white-capped bubbles drifting over her skin or the way her plump lips were slightly parted. It could be the innocence of it all. How she slumbered without knowing he was there, watching her. Or maybe it was just because it was her.

Vanessa shifted slightly. She let out a soft, contented sigh that boiled his blood. Her knee slipped under the water, stirring the bubbles. The peaks of her breasts broke the surface. Nipples dusty pink and tightened into little nubs, they were absolutely perfect.

Holy hell, he was…he was absolutely undone by the mere sight of them.

He must’ve made a sound or she finally sensed his presence, because her eyes suddenly flew open. She sucked in a startled breath. Their eyes locked.

Vanessa jerked up, tucking her legs under her. Bubbles sloshed over the sides of the tub as she rose. Water sluiced down her body in thick rivulets, drawing his heated gaze. For the best seconds of his life, she froze before him, completely and splendidly naked. Her arms to her sides, tiny bubbles gliding down her skin, and all that beautiful flesh on display for him to devour. And boy, did he ever eat her up with his stare.

His mouth went dry as his balls tightened. As he suspected, she had been hiding a lush body under the shapeless suits.

Her breasts were medium sized, and they were perfect for her narrow waist. Her hips flared out, sweetly rounded, and her thighs were shapely. In a second, he could picture them wrapping around his hips.