“And that’s another thing.” Her father cleared his throat. “Something about you kissing him?”
“Well, he’s my boyfriend, Daddy. And he’d just stood up for me, defending my honor.”
Her heart rejoiced to see Doug’s face light up in a smile.
“Boyfriend? Since when? He’s only been working for us for a few weeks!”
“You were the one who wanted to invite him to the Boca house before his first official day of work. I thought you’d be happy for us.”
There was a moment of silence on the other end. “I am happy. I just want to make sure you’re not rushing into something.”
“Oh, you just aren’t happy regardless, are you?” she teased. “I’m single, you want me to date. I’m no longer single, you think I’m rushing it.”
“That’s not what I meant—”
“When in my life have you ever seen me rush into something without careful consideration?”
Another pause from his end. “I will admit you do have a very sensible head on your shou—”
“Then we’re in agreement that I’m both old enough and capable enough of picking my own boyfriends?” She shot another wink Doug’s way and was happy to see him return it.
Her father sighed, knowing he’d lost the argument from the start. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. I am a concerned father, you know.”
“I know, and I love you for it, believe me.” She looked at Doug. “But this is what I want.”
He’s my boyfriend. He wouldn’t lie and say the idea was abhorrent to him. He liked Harper.
Really liked her.
He just wondered if she felt what her kiss had done to him while she was in his arms. If she hadn’t felt his erection pressing against her, it would be a major miracle. If she had, she apparently didn’t mind.
After Harper finally got her father off the phone, she linked her arm through Doug’s as they walked toward his car. He opened her door for her first. When he turned to walk around the car, she snagged his arm and pulled him to her again.
It felt natural and right to slip his arms around her and kiss her. He stepped into her, pressing her against the back door of his car, and she practically melted in his arms as she ground herself against him.
So, that’s what she likes, hmm? It made sense. She was totally in charge all day, every day. Why wouldn’t she want to give up control in at least this area of her life?
His hands slid down her waist, over her hips, to cup her ass through her slacks. He crushed her lips with his, his tongue tasting and exploring her as her fingers twined in his hair, holding them together as if she was worried he’d let go.
After a few minutes, he finally lifted his head despite her protests. “Why don’t we continue this in private?” he hoarsely suggested. His cock throbbed, pounding, desperate to get inside her.
“Good idea. My place or yours?”
“I live with my parents, so I’d say yours is better.”
She laughed but didn’t let go of him. “Um, yeah, I guess you’re right. Let’s go.” She pulled him in for one more kiss. This one was feisty, demanding, her teeth nipping at his lower lip when he tried to let go of her.
He finally won his freedom, helped her in, and hurried around the car to the driver side. “I need directions.”
“That’s right, you’ve never been there, have you?” She sat back with a playful smile, her hand creeping over to settle on his right thigh.
She gave him directions. It was a nice place, a large, two-story house in old Carrollwood, but smaller than he would have anticipated someone of her stature owning.
She offered him a smile. “Let me guess, you expected me to own a McMansion or something?”
He laughed. “You pegged me right.”
“I don’t need anything that huge.”
He got out and opened her door for her. He wasn’t surprised when she caught his hand and laced her fingers through his. Then a frown crossed her face. “You’re not just doing this because of our deal, are you?”
Now that they were home, she was beginning to doubt herself. Was this really such a great idea?
The damp spot between her legs thought it was a dandy idea.
He pulled her to him and kissed her, hard and deep, melting her bones all the way to the tips of her toes. “I won’t deny I took the job for the money, but believe me, I wouldn’t be doing this if I wasn’t interested in you. And if you want me to sign some sort of amended contract to that effect, I will.”
She shook her head and kissed him again.
She unlocked the door and shut the alarm off. They finally made it inside before they ended up ripping their clothes off in the driveway for the neighbors to watch. A fit of giggles nearly overtook her when she realized she needed to get a spare key made for him, as well as get him the alarm code.
Shit! She’d also have to figure a way to hide her insulin from him. She wasn’t ready to reveal that to him.
In the living room, she kicked off her shoes and stepped into his arms again. His hands felt sooo good on her. It’d been too long since she’d slept with anyone.
He cupped her ass with his hands, pulling her tightly against him again. In the dim light, his brown eyes took on an even deeper intensity. She draped her arms over his shoulders, his hair soft in her hands as she ran her fingers through it.
“You make it hard for me to say no to you, Harper. Not because I have to say yes, but because I want to.”
She smiled. “Then don’t say no.”
They kissed again. “Where’s your bedroom?” he rumbled against her throat as he picked her up and headed for the stairs.
“Upstairs, first door on the right.”
“I hope you weren’t planning on going to bed early.” He nibbled the side of her neck as he mounted the stairs. She felt pleasant shivers run through her.
“Not anymore.”
He chuckled as he pushed her half-open door with his foot. “Good.”
Chapter Thirteen
He couldn’t believe he was doing this. He carried her over to her bed and laid her on it before crawling on top of her, his body pressing hers into the mattress.
This side of Harper he didn’t know, and he wanted to get acquainted with very well. He suspected this was Harper without her façade, without her protective walls in place. Probably someone very few—if any—people ever knew.
He knew it was stupid and wrong and probably one of the worst ideas on the planet after maybe Betamax and the Edsel, but he couldn’t help himself. He wanted her.
He wanted to make her happy.
She wrapped her arms around him, eagerly returning his kisses and devouring him with her hunger. He managed to sit up and get rid of his shirt and undershirt, tossing them onto the floor next to the bed. He reached down and started unbuttoning her blouse, kissing her as he did and enjoying the feel of her short nails raking across his bare back when she held on to him.
After her blouse joined his shirt on the floor, he released the front fastener on her bra and tossed it over his shoulder.
In the dim light thrown through the window by the streetlamp outside, her breasts looked beautifully pale and glowing. He cupped them in his hands, running his thumbs over her nipples.
She gasped and arched her back toward him. “Yes, please!” she begged.
He bent his head to first one, then the other, plucking at her nipples with his lips and tongue, gently grazing them with his teeth and drawing more happy moans from Harper.