Purchased For Pleasure

Her patience snapped and heat seeped into her cheeks as his smooth words recalled her attention to the crazy way she’d responded to his unexpected kiss moments before.

‘Cut the suave act, sailor boy. I’m not in the mood. Let’s open this damn lock so I can get out of here.’

‘Here, let me try.’

As his hand enclosed hers she couldn’t ignore the heat. It sizzled through her body every time he touched her, even at the innocuous touch of his hand trying to open the lock.

She’d lied. She was definitely in the mood.

‘There. You’re a free woman.’

I wish.

Unfortunately, seeing Ty tonight, swapping banter with him, even getting mad at him for that presumptuous kiss had woken her up.

She wasn’t as free as she’d like to think.

She might have got over him a long time ago and moved on with her life, but it hadn’t taken much more than a kiss to snap her emotions back to attention and right now they were firmly focussed on the sexy SEAL.

The lock snapped open and the bracelet sprang apart, clattering to the floor at their feet, and Kate winced as her wrist freed. She’d been so engrossed in her reaction to Ty turning on the charm that she hadn’t realised the hard plastic and steel had bitten into her soft flesh.

‘Thanks.’

She glared at him, wishing he didn’t look so darn appealing when he smiled, absent-mindedly rubbing her wrist.

‘Let me do that.’

Before she could protest, he reached over and captured her wrist between his hands, slowly massaging till the circulation returned to her aching flesh.

‘Mmm…that feels good,’ she murmured, her eyes drooping with fatigue.

However, as the pain in her wrist eased a deeper, more demanding ache increased, an ache she’d determinedly ignored for years. His hands were warm, firm, attuned and she imagined them leaving her wrist, travelling up her arm to her tight shoulders and then sliding down the rest of her body.

‘Better?’

Her eyes flew open as he relinquished her wrist and her gaze locked on his, questioning, hungry, reflecting the need she knew must be visible in her own. That all-seeing blue stare that had captured her so long ago, mesmerising her in the blink of an eye.

‘Would you like a lift home?’

She shook her head, knowing the last thing she needed right now was to be holed up with him in the confines of a car.

‘Thanks, but I’m fine. I came with the girls and we’re headed back to the office.’

He glanced at his watch. ‘We’ve been here a while. Maybe they’ve gone?’

‘Don’t worry about it. If they have I’ll take a taxi.’

Kate knew she sounded petulant but couldn’t bear being this close to him one second longer. If he took her home she’d be tempted to ask him in and, considering her reaction to his kiss, she knew exactly where that could lead.

Her sex life had been one, continuous dry spell since her last brief relationship had ended eighteen months ago and she had no intention of letting Ty be her drought breaker.

He laid a hand in the small of her back and guided her to the door. ‘Let’s check it out. It’s no problem, really. Where do you live?’

‘Beverly Hills.’

‘Pretty impressive.’ He looked at her with admiration and pride filled her.

‘My grandparents built the place. We hooked up after you left. They welcomed me with open arms, then died within a few months of each other shortly after our reunion. Amazingly, they left the house to me. Pretty special, huh?’

It had been a beautiful gesture and she liked to think they’d come to love her as much as she’d loved them in the short time they’d had together.

‘Sure is. I’m glad you had someone to look out for you.’

He dropped his hand and insanely she missed his warm touch.

This wasn’t good. Curiosity was one thing, kissing him and opening up to him about her grandparents was in another realm. She needed to get home before she really lost it and told him a few other deep, dark secrets.

‘Look, I really have to go,’ she said, her voice harsh and cold considering they’d just been making small talk.

‘What’s wrong?’

He stared at her and raised an eyebrow as if he couldn’t fathom what he was looking at and she hated the traitorous leap of her heart that the hint of concern in his voice might actually mean he cared.

‘Nothing, why?’

‘You’re wound tighter than a spring. You used to be spontaneous and eager and able to laugh at yourself. What happened? Did inheriting the family jewels change you?’

She clenched her fists, barely registering the sting of fingernails biting into her palms when all she felt like doing was kneeing him in his family jewels.

‘I’m just tired. Besides, you don’t know the first thing about me any more.’

He straightened and she had to tilt her head to look up at him. ‘That’s where you’re wrong. We used to have a connection and I intend to use the week ahead to catch up.’

Catch up.

Two simple words that held a staggering array of connotations, of the various ways in which they could catch up, and her heart flipped in a perfect somersault with double pike at the thought.

Sighing, she followed him to the doorway and, before they walked through it, reached out and touched his arm.

‘Why are you doing this, Ty?’

He stopped and swivelled to face her, his features softening. ‘You haven’t called me that in a long time.’

‘It’s been a long time,’ she responded, suddenly saddened by their lack of contact over the years. ‘Now answer my question.’

He shrugged. ‘A week isn’t all that long and I’m a sucker for a good cause. The orphanage is home to those poor little kids and they deserve a chance in life.’

She’d meant why was he doing this to them, insisting they spend a week together when they’d been finished for years.