No Strings (4 page)

Their gazes locked, and he hesitated.

“Oh, God, I shouldn’t have said that.” She stuffed her key into the lock and turned it, then pulled open the door. “I didn’t mean it the way it sounded.” Of course, she had meant it exactly the way it sounded, but his hesitation had spoken volumes.

The uncertainty in his eyes prompted her to continue. “It’s just that I’ve never had a tattoo before and … well, I’m just being silly wanting you to look at it when I take the dressing off. I’m sure it’s fine.”

“If you’re really concerned—”

“No, really. It’s fine. Thanks anyway.”

Oh, God, was he really buying that? But she definitely didn’t want him to come up now. It would be so awkward.

He smiled. “I enjoyed today. Thank you.” He tucked his finger under her chin and tipped her face up, sending tingles through her. His lips brushed hers in the barest whisper of a kiss, and she thought she’d faint.

This was how fantasies were born.

Then he stepped back. “Good night.”

She nodded, then slipped in the door, glancing over her shoulder as she walked across the lobby. He waited outside the door until she turned down the corridor to the elevator before he walked away.

***

Rafe ensured Melanie got inside okay, then lingered as he watched her walk across the lobby.

What the hell was that? And now he couldn’t drag his gaze from her delightfully swaying derriere. It looked so round and inviting in those snug jeans of hers.

Memories of the creamy swell of her breast, the virginal flesh exposed and ready for her tattoo, lingered in his mind. Ever since Charlie had covered it with the dressing, Rafe couldn’t stop thinking about it. Couldn’t stop
longing
to touch it.

If it had been any other woman, he would have flirted all through dinner, then suggested they go back to his place. Or hers. But when Melanie had invited him up to her place … to see the damned tattoo, no less … he had faltered.

She had denied coming on to him, but she couldn’t hide the need in her eyes.

So why had he held back?

He flipped open the storage compartment on his bike and pulled out his helmet. There were times they’d worked long hours together, and he couldn’t help but notice that hot little body she kept well hidden behind her conservative business attire. But he’d cared about her too much to jeopardize their working relationship.

So he’d suppressed his attraction to her. And with great success. He was sure neither Melanie, Dane, nor anyone else knew he could barely contain himself when she was near. He’d become such a master at controlling those feelings, he’d almost forgotten about them.

Almost.

But today … fuck, his groin ached with need.

As he pulled on the helmet and fastened it, he noticed something sitting in the bottom of the container, beside the helmet Melanie had worn.

Ah, damn it.

***

Melanie stepped off the elevator, then walked down the hall to her apartment. Once inside, she closed the door behind her, then leaned against it.

Now, if only she could forget the whole embarrassing incident downstairs. She cringed at the thought of her lame come-on, then the way she’d babbled in an attempt to deny it. He’d probably seen right through her excuse.

She unzipped her sweater and tugged it off, then tossed it over the back of the couch.

“I’m such a dumbass,” she muttered as she walked into her bathroom and gazed in the mirror at the white patch on her chest. She was happy to distract herself by pulling off her top and gently peeling the dressing away, exposing the beautiful tattoo. The artist had done a wonderful job. She touched the reddened flesh around the design. It felt slick. She grabbed a fresh washcloth and dampened it, then wiped over the tattoo, as per the instructions they’d sent with her. Then she reached for the small tube of ointment from her dresser and applied it.

A knock sounded on her door. She pulled on her top again, then straightened it and hurried to the entrance. She smiled, assuming it was Jessica, coming over to see her new ink.

Oh, man, thank heavens Rafe hadn’t come up after all. It would have been awkward if Jessica had arrived with Rafe here.

Especially since as soon as the man walked into her apartment, she probably would have thrown herself at him and torn off his clothes.

She grabbed the door, anxious to show Jessica her new tattoo. When she pulled it open, shock vaulted through her.

There in the doorway stood big, sexy Rafe, a crooked smile on his face.

Bliss

Forbidden Heat

Secret Ties

Six

Blush

Swing

Twin Fantasies

Pleasure Bound

Total Abandon

Secret Weapon

Insatiable

Illicit

His to Command

His to Possess

Opal Carew is the
New York Times
and
USA Today
bestselling author of fourteen previous erotic romances for St. Martin’s Press. To learn more, visit her on the Web at
www.opalcarew.com
.

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

HIS TO CLAIM #1: NO STRINGS.
Copyright © 2014 by Opal Carew. All rights reserved. For information, address St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010.

www.stmartins.com

Cover design by Patricia “Pickyme” Schmitt e-ISBN 978-1-4668-5757-5

First Edition: June 2014

eBooks may be purchased for business or promotional use. For information on bulk purchases, please contact Macmillan Corporate and Premium Sales Department by writing to
[email protected]
.

Find out how it all began! Read Jessica and Storm’s novel

His To Possess

Available now!

And don’t miss Opal Carew’s next erotic romance

Riding Steele

Coming soon!