Keeping Her Guilty Secret (Forever Yours Trilogy) by Anna James

what?”
    “Actually happened?”
    She stared up at him. What game was he playing at now? “Oh what. You’ve suddenly developed amnesia?”
    “I told you, things were a little fuzzy and—”
    She folded her arms across her breasts and glared up at him.
    “I remember kissing you and . . . You said I didn’t do anything I needed to apologize for.”
    “Who asked you to apologize?”
    “So, you wanted—?” A hint of uncertainty glittered in his eyes.
    What did she have to do? Shout it from the rooftop? Of course she wanted him. How could he not know? Wait a minute . What had he said earlier? Why didn’t I know? I never even suspected . . . She drew in a quick breath. Why didn’t I know? As in didn’t know his wife preferred women over men. I never even suspected. Meaning, even when they were together, he hadn’t suspected the truth. Holy crap.
    He shoved his hands in his pockets and turned away from her.
    He wasn’t kidding. He really did have a problem. She wasn’t surprised. The man had found his wife in bed with another woman after years together. “Angela messed up your head but good.”
    He let out a harsh laugh. “You must think I’m a complete moron.”
    No. She didn’t. Who had more insecurity when it came to the opposite sex than her? She was the queen of self-doubt. “Well, if you are then I’m one too. I’m just as uncertain when it comes to male/female relationships as you. Why do you think it took me so long to agree to go out with you in the first place?”
    He turned back to face her, his eyes wary. “I find that hard to believe, given you kissed me less than five minutes after we met.”
    She stiffened. “Yeah, well that was a one-off thing.”
    His eyebrow winged up.
    She understood his disbelief given her impulsive behavior. “I . . . Ah . . .” Heat crept up her neck and flooded her face. He’d confessed his problem to her it was only right she do the same. “I’d been sort of . . . fantasizing about what kissing you would be like.” She swallowed hard. “Since I saw your picture on Reed’s desk.”
    He flashed another of his sexy smiles, then his mouth settled on hers.
    Nicole sighed and gave herself up to the sweet tenderness of his kiss.
    He drew her into his arms long minutes later and she snuggled in close.
    “Are we okay now?”
    She nodded. “As long as you don’t walk out on me again the next time we’re in the middle of—”
    He laughed. “I won’t.”
    “Good.”
    Heat blazed in his eyes as he stared down at her. “I don’t want to talk anymore. I want to make love with you.”
    She wanted it, too, had from the moment she found him sitting in the conference room going through her files a few short weeks ago. “Then what are you waiting for?”
    He scooped her into his arms and strode toward the bed.
    Tingles of anticipation radiated through her as they made their way, and she came alive for the first time in . . . too long to remember. The need to taste him, become one with him overwhelmed her. Grasping his head, she drew it down, pressed her mouth to his, and savored the lush softness of his lips.
    He groaned. “Dear God, woman. Kissing you is enough to make me come right now.”
    She smiled, and a sense of her own feminine power soared inside her.
    He lowered her to the ground and gazed down at her, a burning intensity blazing in his eyes, then his lips lowered to hers again.
    Just the slightest brush of his mouth over hers, but the sweet tenderness was almost her undoing. She sighed and rested her head on his shoulder and his arms tightened around her. He held her there, in the warmth and security of his embrace, for long moments, then eased her away and removed her bra and jeans.
    She stood before him clad only in her navy satin panties. His fingers brushed over her cheek and he stared into her eyes.
    “You’re beautiful,” he said.
    His words warmed her heart. Lifting up on her tiptoes, she captured his mouth and drank in the sweetness of his