Love Takes Time (15 page)

F
or the first time in days, Sterling woke up finally feeling like his old self. Clear head, clear chest and miracle of miracles—no coughing. Drawing in a deep breath, he uncurled his tall frame and stretched as far as his muscles would allow him.

That is until he bumped into something—or rather someone. He jerked up and snatched back the top blanket. At first all he saw was arms and hair.

A woman?
What was a woman doing in his bed?

He tried to replay the events of last night, but for the longest time, he was just drawing a blank. Since the woman's back was to him, he leaned forward, trying to get a good look at her face.

What he saw shocked the hell out of him.

Oh-My-God!

Sterling quickly scrambled backward out of the bed, so fast that he fell over the edge. He smacked the floor, but bounced back up to see if he'd awakened her.

What the hell was Alyssa Jansen doing in his bed? And why was she curled up so snug under him? He glanced down and saw that he was naked. “Oh sweet Jesus.”

Think, Sterling. Think.

But he couldn't. He was still drawing a blank. Relax. Calm down, he said to himself over and over. A few deep breaths later, he did remember her dropping by—what, yesterday? He had gotten sick again and she demanded that he get in bed. Lots of medicine and…what? She jumped in bed with him? That didn't make a lick of sense.

I didn't do it. I didn't do it. I couldn't have done it. I wouldn't have done it. Would I?

Dangling from one of the bedposts was a lacy bra, and suddenly he remembered last night's dream. But it wasn't a dream.

Sterling's heart raced. He had screwed up.

A door slammed somewhere in the house and Quentin shouted out his name.

“Oh, hell,” he whispered fiercely.
What was Quentin doing here?
“Of all the days for him to remember the security gate code.”

The whole situation had the making of a bad
Three's Company
episode.

The usually unflappable Sterling Hinton raced around his bedroom like a chicken with its head cut off. He didn't know which way to go or what to do. How in the hell could he possibly explain
this
situation after the grief he'd given his little brother about his trying to pursue Alyssa in the first place?

I slept with Alyssa.

His first insane action was to run over to the bed and toss the covers over Alyssa's head—to hide her, of course.

“Sterling, bro. Are you still up here in bed?” Quentin's voice was growing closer.
He's coming up here.

Alyssa stirred.

Sterling grabbed his pajama pants and put them on in record time. “You gotta stop him,” he mumbled and then raced to the bedroom door. Good thing. Quentin was just reaching for the doorknob. “Hey.” Sterling stepped out into the hallway and pulled the door closed. “What are you doing here?”

“Wow. You're up.” Quentin beamed, and then glanced down at him. “You must be feeling better.”

“Can't keep me down for long.” Sterling wrapped an arm around Quentin's shoulders and started leading him away from the door. “So what are you doing here?” he asked again.

“What, I need a reason to drop by and see my
favorite
brother?” Q smiled and patted Sterling on the back.

Sterling cocked his head.

“All right. All right. So you're my
second
favorite brother. At least you're in the top two.”

“Gee. Thanks. Now what do you want?”

“Well, I rushed over as soon as I heard about Alfred. Xavier and I just got back in town and received your message.”

“I called your cell.”

“Had it turned off. I was um…busy.”

“I take it you took a woman up to the ski lodge with you?”

“I
always
take a woman with me. In fact, I usually don't leave home without one.” He laughed at his own joke. “Anyway, that's not the point. Soon as I got the message I raced over here. How's Alfred's family holding up?”

Sterling knew that by
family
he meant Alyssa. “Fine. Well, about as well as could be expected.”

“Alice taking this whole thing pretty hard?”

There was that damn pet name again. “Don't worry about her. I think she's going to be just fine.”

“I sure would like to send her my condolences. You know, as an old friend and all.”

Sterling clenched his jaw in annoyance, mainly because he knew the angle his brother was working, and there was little he could do about it. Quentin did have a right to be able to give his condolences, but there was no way he would ever just leave it at that.

“Do you think you could get me her number?”

Sterling stopped at the bottom of the stair and just stared at his brother.

“No funny stuff,” Q lied. “Just an old friend wanting to reach out to her in her time of need.”

So you can cozy up to her and seduce her.
What the hell was he saying? The girl was in his bed right now.

“Let me get back to you on that,” Sterling said, wrapping his arm back around his brother's shoulder and then leading him toward the door. “I'm sure I have her contact back at the office. I'll call you.”

Quentin's eyes narrowed suspiciously. “Now why don't I believe that?”

“I don't know. Maybe for the same reason that I don't believe that you just want to offer your condolences. When you left here last week you told me that you were going to track her down and make her your next wife.”

Q quirked up a smile. “You have a good memory.”

“Thanks.”

“But I still want the number. Despite what you may think, I liked Alfred. He was a good man. And I considered him a friend—Alice, too.”

“It's Alyssa, damn it.”

Quentin cocked his head.

“Fine. I'll get you the number,” Sterling covered as he finally reached the front door.

“Hey, wait a minute. Are you trying to get rid of me?”

“Of course not.” Sterling opened the door.

“Good.” Quentin sidestepped him and headed toward the kitchen. “Then you won't mind if I go make myself some breakfast.”

“Now?” Sterling rushed to block his path.

“People usually eat breakfast in the morning.”

“What I mean is that now isn't a good time for me.”

“Fine.” Quentin sidestepped him again. “I won't fix
you
anything to eat.”

There was a noise upstairs and both men froze.

“What was that?” Q asked.

“What was what?” Sterling attempted to play dumb.

“Is there somebody upstairs?”

“What? No,” he lied.

“Sterling?” Alyssa called.

Quentin broke out into a smile. “Why you old dog. Up here playing like you're sick and you got a woman in your room. I should have known. I thought I saw an extra car out there.”

Sterling's relief that Q hadn't recognized Alyssa's voice didn't last long. He still needed to get him out in case Alyssa decided to come downstairs. “That's right. I have company so get the hell out.” He grabbed his brother by the arm and pulled him back toward the door.

“Damn. Is it like that now?”

“You got it.”

“Damn. So this is how you act when you get some, huh?” He laughed as Sterling opened the front door. “Fine. Fine. I'll leave. Calm down. This must be serious if you're keeping her away from me.”

“You can say that.”

“So who is she?” Q stalled.

“Out.”

“The girl's gotta have a name. She has a momma, doesn't she?”

“You don't know her.”

“Maybe I do. I know
lots
of women.”

“Is that supposed to make me feel better?”

“I guess not,” Quentin chuckled. “Some things are best not to keep in the family.”

“Sterling?” Alyssa called again.

“Sounds like somebody is impatient.” Quentin elbowed him.

“Out.”

At last his brother tossed up his hands. “I'm leaving.” He stepped out of the house. “Just don't forget to—”

Sterling slammed the door in his face and turned around in time to see Alyssa approach the upstairs banister. She looked absolutely angelic with her tousled hair and his top bedsheet wrapped like a makeshift toga around her body.

“There you are,” Alyssa croaked. “I wondered where you disappeared to,” she said, rubbing her eyes. “How are you feeling?”

“Good. I feel much better,” he said. Of course at this moment his heart was racing and his erection was hardening.

“Great.” She nodded and coughed weakly. “Because now
I
don't feel so good.”

S
terling bounded up the stairs two at a time. He checked her forehead and found it just a little warm.

“I am so sorry,” Sterling fussed, sweeping her up into his arms and carrying her back toward his bedroom. “This is all my fault.”

Alyssa laughed at his overreaction. “Don't be silly. Put me down.”

He ignored the request until he had her back in his room. “Hold on. Let me strip the bed and put new sheets on here.” He stopped. “Of course I could just move you into another room.”

“None of the other rooms have as big a bed as this.”

Alyssa's breathtaking smile put a few more
inches on Sterling's erection.
What the hell is happening to me?

“I gave myself a tour yesterday,” she said. “I hope you don't mind.”

“No, um. Not at all.
Mi casa es su casa.
”

She surprised him by leaning up on her toes and wrapping her arms around his neck. “By the way, last night was wonderful.” She rubbed her nose against his and then gave him the softest and sweetest kiss he'd ever known.

When she drew back, Sterling could do no more than stare at her. Whatever small thread of hope he'd held that last night was just a dream dissolved. It really happened. He'd taken advantage of Alfred's little girl.

He was going to burn in hell for this.

“Is something wrong?” she asked innocently.

However, before he could answer, Alyssa erupted into a series of chest-racking coughs. Sterling frowned. “I don't like the sound of that.”

She waved off his concern. “It's nothing. I'm sure after a hot shower and some breakfast, I'll be good as new.”

The image of her in a shower caused him to step back and glance around. Unfortunately, his gaze zeroed in on the bed.
I want you, Sterling.
He trembled at the sudden memory.

“What is it? Is the shower not working or something?” she asked.

“Uh, no. I mean yes.” He shook his head to clear
more images filtering through his mind. How was he going to navigate through this? He hesitated. “Alyssa,” he began, shifting his gaze back to her.

“Yes.” Her arms slid around his waist as she pressed her firm and curvaceous body up against him.

The way her eyes lit up, there was no doubt in his mind that she could feel her effect on him. He should put some distance between them, but damned if he had the strength or the will to do it. “A-about last night,” he stammered.

“Um, hmm?” She nibbled on his bottom lip.

“Exactly…what happened?”

She stopped nibbling and leaned back to stare up at him. “What do you mean?”

He swallowed. “It's just that…it's a little…fuzzy.”

Her expression twisted in confusion. “How fuzzy?”

Sterling sensed that he needed to tread lightly. “I mean I remember making love to you.”

Her smile returned with a measure of relief.

“I just don't remember…how it all got started.”

A blush crept into Alyssa's face. “Well, that might have been my fault.”

Sterling blinked in surprise and then slumped with a slight relief. He was looking for anything to ease the heavy burden of guilt that was crashing in him.

“You were cold,” she said simply. “I was just trying to warm you up.”

Well that was awfully generous of you.
“Let me get this straight, you made love to me because I was cold?”

“Okay no. That didn't come out right.” She
laughed. “I climbed into bed to give you some body heat since you were shivering beneath the blankets. But then I guess, I got a little carried away when I started…you know.” She shrugged.

“No. I don't know.” His eyes narrowed. It was beginning to sound like she'd taken advantage of his weakened condition, but there was no guilt or even regret in her demeanor. “Well, I started snuggling against you, feeling how wide your chest was and running my finger along your face. You're very handsome.”

“Thank you.” He stared at her. “Then what happened?”

“Then you started snuggling with me. Smelling my hair and kissing my neck. And then you started asking me questions.”

He frowned.

Alyssa's smile only grew wider. “You started asking me if I knew what I did to you. Then you said that if you didn't make love to me that you'd go crazy.”

Sterling's guilt returned in full force.

“I have to admit, I felt the same way.” She was back on her toes and kissing him again.

He tried to be immune but failed, especially when her soft tongue glided into his mouth and began mating with his own. He groaned and pulled her close. For such a small woman she was able to conquer his defenses handily and easily. Without any help from him, Alyssa's sheet slipped off her body and revealed her dangerous curves in all their glory.

How in the world had he mistaken any inch of her for being just a mere dream?

“What do you say that we take a long hot bath together?” she asked.

No
suddenly disappeared from Sterling's vocabulary. Instead, he let her take him by the hand and led him toward his large bathroom and the huge Jacuzzi tub. It was evident in the very way that she walked that she was having fun teasing him. She switched and rolled her hips as she walked and when she bent over to turn on the water, she deliberately pushed her tush up high and then smiled back at him.

Yep. I'm definitely going to hell for this.

Alyssa smiled and stood up again. “If I didn't know any better I'd say you looked scared.”

“This is just…quite an adjustment.”

“I know,” she said, beaming up at him. “But a good adjustment, right?” Her hands roamed over his chest. “I mean…who would have ever thought.”

Her eyes shone as if she was playing with her favorite toy. Didn't she see the problems with this?

“You know what we need?” she asked.

“What's that?”

“Some bath salts and bubbles.”

The answer made him laugh. “Sorry. I'm all out.”

“Doesn't matter. We'll make do.” She turned and stepped into the large tub.

Sterling's eyes went back to her incredible body. There was still a small part of him that couldn't believe this was all happening, and being a practical man, he
tried to search for a right angle in this situation—a reasonable argument that justified what he was doing.

He couldn't find one.

“You getting in?”

He hesitated. Stepping in that tub meant removing his pajama pants. It meant getting naked…in front of Alyssa.
Alyssa.

“I promise to scrub your back if you scrub mine.” She settled down into the tub and leaned back so his gaze could take its fill.

The pants came off and he was stunned to watch her open approval of what she saw. How in the world did he get here? And why wasn't he turning around and running for his life?

He stepped into the tub.

His soul be damned.

Alyssa sat up and made room for him as he leaned over and shut off the water. After which, she glided into his arms and extracted another mind-blowing kiss. With sin so sweet he might never care if he got his soul back. There was something about the way their bodies fit that scared him. Even then his erection continued to rise despite the tub's warm water.

He wrestled with his emotions even when his hands were slipping and sliding over hips and waist. Why in hell did she have to feel so good?

“You're so tense,” she accused, breaking their kiss and smiling down at him. “I think I know just the thing to relax you.”

Before he could say or do anything, Alyssa rose
up to settle her knees on opposite sides of his hips and then eased effortlessly down on his thick shaft. At that moment every thought, troubled or otherwise, emptied out of his head.

“Oh that's better,” she sighed, smiling. “You look a lot more relaxed now.” She eased up and slid down again.

Was he ever.

She leaned in close to him and moaned against his ear. “Do you like how I take care of you, baby?”

“Oh God yes.” His hands locked on her hips. She was so tight, but could still take his full length. She set a slow torturous pace while her nipples hardened like diamonds as they rocked against his chest. But suddenly he wanted them in his mouth and he leaned forward to do just that. He licked and kissed, and then sucked and caressed her firm, plump breasts. He then surprised her by locking his arm around her waist and standing up from the tub.

“Whoa,” she giggled.

Determined to finally take control, Sterling turned her around so that she stood with her back to him and then bent her forward so that her hands were braced on the tub's edge. He then eased into her from behind, squeezing her high, firm tush and moaning out to God once again.

His strokes were just a little deeper and a little faster.

She gasped and even squealed whenever his shaft hit a particular sweet spot. The water sloshed in the tub while their bodies slapped against each other. As
the pace quickened, she then took to moaning his name and begging him not to stop.

Alyssa had never had sex this hot. A part of her thought that last night had been more fantasy than anything else. But now she had confirmation that Sterling really knew how to work her body over.

Well.

In a million years she would have never guessed that the straitlaced, serious-all-the-time businessman could be such a beast in the sex department. She never expected that she would one day become addicted to him. She came alive under his touch, grew bold when she sensed that he was having regrets. She wasn't so naive that she hadn't known what all his stammering was about before she lured him into the bathtub.

Alyssa didn't want him to regret last night. Nor did she want him to view her as anything other than a grown woman who desired him. If she had to seduce him morning, noon and night, that was exactly what she would do. She wasn't a little girl anymore. She was a woman who knew exactly what and who she wanted.

And she wanted him.

Gasping, Alyssa felt her inner walls ripple and contract. Heat swelled just below her clit and she knew she was about to come at any second.

“Are you ready, baby?” Sterling was losing his rhythm, but he clearly didn't want to come without her. Even that act of kindness made her love him more.

“Yes-yes,” she answered in a breathy, on-the-verge-of-coming way.

Sterling's hips transformed into a jackhammer and Alyssa held on for dear life. So far there had been no two orgasms alike with Sterling and this time was no different.

She gasped.

He growled.

They came.

An hour later, Sterling and Alyssa made their way to the kitchen. Sterling wore a pair of casual jeans and a T-shirt. Alyssa, who'd retrieved her luggage from her rental car, wore a pair of black jeans and a pink cotton top. “What do you say to pancakes?” he asked.

“Uh, no. Do you have any grapefruit or something light?” She rubbed her throat.

“Sore?”

She frowned. “Just a little.”

“That's the beginning of the end,” he warned. “Let me get you a throat lozenge.” He raced off and returned with an armful of cold remedies.

Alyssa just lifted a brow at him.

“I say hit it with everything early.” He placed them all on the counter.

She reached for a Halls and thanked him. “It's going to be all right. I very rarely get sick.”

He laughed. “Yeah. That's what I said when I volunteered to babysit my niece and nephew a few weeks back.”

She coughed again and frowned up at him.

“Don't say I didn't warn you.”

“You could have warned me when I was at your front gate that you were contagious.”

“You knew that I was contagious when you crawled into bed with me.”

Alyssa walked over to him and slid her arms around his waist. “Are you kidding me? It was the best thing I ever did.”

She offered up her lips and he leaned down to accept her kiss. Afterward, the nagging began again, but he was determined to ignore it…for now. “All righty.” He clapped his hands. “What about those pancakes?”

“No pancakes. I'm on diet.”

Sterling's expression twisted as he stole another look at her curves. “A diet for what?”

“Humph. You've forgotten what I do for a living. The camera picks up everything.”

He shook his head. “Well, we're not taking pictures today. We're eating a big hearty breakfast.
Together.
”