He scrubbed a hand down his face. “Couples fight.” Don’t they? “And just because I’m mad doesn’t mean it’s targeted at you.”

Besides, angry sex was hot. If they ever got to the sex part. He wanted to. Really, really badly. Yet this force she had around her—the one sucking him in willingly—should be holding him back from getting in too deep. Except it was having the opposite effect. Instead of getting hot and heavy between the sheets, they . . . talked.

She stared at him, on the precipice of running again, he could tell. To her credit, she didn’t. This time, she walked closer, until her breasts flattened against his chest and they were thigh to thigh. She smelled good enough to eat. That sugary signature scent that was solely hers rose up over the breeze as she wrapped her arms around his waist.

It was the first time she’d initiated contact. He liked it, the way she’d finally surrendered, so he dropped a kiss on her forehead.

“You always smell so good.” He buried his face in her hair and inhaled. “Like cupcakes and vanilla. It drives me crazy.”

“It must be my lotion.” Her voice quivered as he trailed his fingers down her throat. “Or body spray . . .”

Alec cut her off with a kiss, long and deep and languid. His hands drove into her hair and pulled the band out to run his fingers through the soft strands. The sweet scent intensified, as did his hard-on.

He pulled away and smiled at the drugged arousal he put in her eyes. It turned their color from amber to a deep golden brown. “I like looking at the front of you better than the rear. Not that you don’t have a great backside.” His hands drifted to cup her bottom to emphasize his point. “Please quit tucking tail and running. I’d rather be kissing you than thinking about doing it while I’m alone in my house.”

chapter

fifteen

Faith didn’t know what to make of it, but she and Alec had gotten into a comfortable routine the past week. She worked with Ginny during the day, while Alec slept back at his guesthouse. After dinner, he’d come over to her place. They’d talk or watch movies or read—like they were doing at this moment—with her reclined on the couch and her feet in his lap. After a few hours, Alec would take off for home and write most of the night while Faith slept.

They were like night and day. Oil and water. Yet this system worked. They . . . fit.

But aside from making out, Alec hadn’t made a move toward the bedroom. Every time things heated up and she was sure he would finally get her naked, a switch flipped and he backed off. It was disconcerting, to say the least. She wasn’t beautiful in any sense of the word—instead of sexy curves, her body had . . . edges—but she’d never considered herself unattractive. Alec had been in town a month, same as her, and he hadn’t been with anyone else that she was aware of. He had needs. So why wasn’t he sating them?

Faith had spent most of her life unsure of herself, and being with Alec—or not, in this case—was making her even more uncertain. She was sure he wanted her. His reactions were obvious. So, why didn’t he take them there?

Sighing, she tried to refocus on the book she was reading. It was the second book in Alec’s Hacked series. She’d read it twice before. The third and last book in the trilogy was the one they were attending the release party for in New York tomorrow night.

Alec peeked at her from over the book he was reading—a romance she’d picked out for him. He was loathe to comply, but did it with only minor grumbling. Faith had hoped it would spark some interest in getting frisky. So far all he’d done was caress her calf.

“You sighed,” he said. “What’s wrong? You don’t like the book? Which part?”

She smiled. “You know you’re a good author. Don’t fish for compliments.”

He set the book down on his lap. “It matters to me if you think I’m good.”

She had no way to gauge how seriously that statement was to be taken, so she stared at him before speaking. The tone of his voice was hesitant, his eyes bordering on pleading. He wasn’t looking for an ego boost. He was seeking her opinion, and that opinion mattered.

She tucked her feet under her legs and sat up. “I don’t think you’re good. I think you’re one of the best horror writers to hit the market in this generation, which makes you great. I’ve read this book twice before.”

Turning slowly to face her, he propped his arm on the back of the couch, his fingers inches from her face. “That means a lot, you saying that. Thank you.” The coarse gravel of his voice indicated he’d been touched by what she’d said. He looked around the room and patted her thigh. Like a pet. “Are you all packed for tomorrow?”

They’d only be gone one night. Packing didn’t require much effort. “Yes. All except my dress for the party. Lacey’s bringing one of hers for me to wear.”

He was treating her like a friend, not like someone he intended to sleep with or someone he found attractive. Faith’s heart fell somewhere near her stomach. She shouldn’t be disappointed, yet the feeling swamped her anyway. Hurt laced her throat. For once, she’d felt wanted when he’d kissed her. Desired. Not looked over and passed by. What had changed in the last couple days?

When a knock sounded at the door, Faith was relieved by the interruption. On the other side of the doorway stood Mia and Lacey, huge grins on their faces. Some of the tension drained just from seeing her friends.

Lacey held up a garment bag on a hanger. “One sexy cocktail dress, at your disposal.”

Faith didn’t remember saying it had to be sexy. She’d simply asked if Lacey had one she could borrow, not wanting to go shopping for a dress she’d probably never wear again.

Mia and Lacey strode inside, but halted when they saw Alec.

Mia turned. “I’m sorry we interrupted. We didn’t realize you had company.”

Grinning, Alec stood. “I was just leaving anyway. Early flight tomorrow.” He walked over to Faith and kissed her lightly on the mouth. Hardly a peck. “I look forward to seeing you in the quote ‘sexy cocktail dress.’”

“We’ll only need Faith for an hour or so,” Lacey said. “You can come back. Spend the night. Continue where you left off.”

Jeez. Subtle, Lacey was not. Besides, if they continued where they left off, Faith would finish reading the book and Alec would be snoring next to her.

Alec’s grin widened when he looked back at Faith. “I’ll see you in the morning.” He kissed her forehead this time—her forehead—and left.

“I’m sorry,” Mia said. “Did we ruin your night?”

“No, no.” Faith waved her hand, surprised by the tears blurring her vision.

“Oh, sweetie.” Lacey draped an arm over her shoulders and squeezed. “What’s wrong? What did Alec do? Should I send Jake to beat him up?”

Faith breathed out a laugh. “Thank you, but no. It’s nothing.” Except this nothing hurt. A lot. She’d known from day one she wasn’t the right match for Alec, but she didn’t listen to that internal voice. His actions belied his words. One minute hot, the next lukewarm. “He won’t have sex with me.”

Mortified, she sat on the couch and covered her face with her hands.

“That would make me cry, too,” Mia said, trying to lighten the mood. She put her hand on Faith’s knee and squatted down in front of her. “What do you mean, he won’t have sex with you? I thought things were going well. Isn’t that the whole basis of your relationship? Just fun for the summer?”

Faith wiped her eyes with the back of her hand and sniffed. Leave it to her to ruin even a no-strings relationship. “I don’t know what’s going on. Every time things heat up, he . . . stops.”

Lacey sat next to her and passed a tissue. “Has he said anything?”

“Just that he wanted to take things slow.”