He watched her, his gaze intent, his body so taut that he quivered.
Even in the shadows, he was magnificent. She hadn’t been joking when she’d said he was like a sculpture. She thought of Michelangelo’s David, the idealized male, all strength and perfect proportion. She remembered how she’d wanted to run her hands over the marble when she’d visited Florence. She ran her hands over Tyler, flattening her hand over the feel of his heartbeat, amazed that he wanted her so much.
She remembered the women he’d chosen in college, how similar they were to each other. They’d been tall and lithe, smooth and elegant. Usually blondes. The short and curvy ones like her had never made the cut.
It was incredible to be with him now, but Shannyn didn’t kid herself that there would ever be more than this. They had a deal.
And she was glad.
She saw the glimmer of his eyes as he surveyed her, then those lips curved in a smile that warned her. “How about I make you shout again?” he asked in a sultry voice.
“Impossible,” Shannyn said, even though she wasn’t sure. “It’s too soon for a second time.”
“New challenge,” he purred, sliding his hand so that his fingers were against her clitoris. He moved his hand and Shannyn rocked atop him, her breath catching again.
“You’re wicked.”
“No, I’m nice. Ask anyone.” Then his brows rose and his voice deepened. “Except you, of course.”
It didn’t sound as if that bothered him particularly. Shannyn couldn’t think straight, not with his fingers moving the way they were and him inside her.
“The best things come in threes.” Tyler continued in a low growl. Shannyn looked down to find him smiling at her. He lifted a brow. “Do you?”
She laughed, surprised into it. “You’re confident. Smug, even.”
“I’m feeling persuasive.”
Shannyn might have argued but felt him pinch her just a little bit, exactly the way he’d pinched her nipples, and she knew he was going to win this challenge, too.
And she’d have no complaints at all.
All these years, he’d been doing it wrong.
Ty was spooned behind Shannyn’s back, wide awake as she dozed. He’d always dated or hooked up with women who liked him or found him attractive, but this interlude with Shannyn had blown all his convictions out of the water. He couldn’t remember when a first time with anyone had been this amazing—but she despised him.
He rolled to his back, unable to even imagine how good it might have been if Shannyn actually liked him. He wanted to find out more than he’d ever wanted anything before.
Was it because he’d felt compelled to lift his game?
Was it because he’d wanted to prove himself to her?
Was it because he had no idea what she’d do next?
Ty sat up and studied her in the shadows as he wondered. It was getting darker, but he didn’t want to get up, much less turn on a light. She was on her side with her back to him, which meant he could see the tattoo across the back of her shoulders. Seven circles. He looked more closely and realized they were phases of the moon, with the full moon in the middle, right over her spine. Why? What did it mean? He doubted she would tell him, even if he asked. He had the impression that her secrets had secrets, that she wasn’t confessing to more than she had to, and that she didn’t really care what he thought of her.
And that was interesting.
Shannyn even questioned whether Ty was nice—which everyone in his life took for granted. He wished he could be as indifferent to her opinion as she seemed to be to his, but he desperately wanted to change her mind about him.
She could keep her other opinions. That was the one that burned.
They’d made a deal for a simple exchange—which already didn’t feel very simple at all.
Ty had to believe that Shannyn hadn’t planned to fall asleep in his bed, but he was glad she had. It gave him a few minutes to think, to try to prepare for whatever she might do next. He preferred to have a plan. What would she do when she woke up? He had a feeling she’d bolt and wasn’t ready for that yet.
Why not? They had a deal. Ty had been good with the terms.
Except that now he wanted more.
And that changed everything.
Shannyn had become a mystery he wanted to solve.
And really, if they were going to make their date to Katelyn’s wedding seem plausible, they had to know more about each other. They needed some history, ideally documented on their phones. There was the bridal shower in a week and a half, and it would be best if Shannyn was there.
Ty needed to have a solid plan to present to her when she woke up. He was pretty sure that Shannyn would disagree, and that he’d have only one chance to convince her. He had to prepare his argument.
He eased away from her and reached for the duvet, taking one last look at her. She looked delicate to him again, and he knew that any defensive barriers were down as she slept.
With her hair cut so short, he could see the curve of her nape. The sight reminded him of the day she’d sat in front of him in class. Her hair had been long then, wavy, but she’d had it up in a ponytail that day. He remembered being tempted to touch her, to find out if her skin was as soft as it looked. He’d felt as if something secret and special was revealed to him, but now the whole world could see her neck any time. He ran a fingertip gently down her spine from her hairline and Shannyn murmured in her sleep, rubbing against his hand like a kitten. He smiled and touched his lips to her shoulder, but she pulled away with a frown and a brush of her hand.
Maybe more like a feral cat.
She would definitely run as soon as she woke up.
Ty needed that plan before she did.
Three
Shannyn awakened with a rare sense of well-being. She wasn’t surprised that a trio of orgasms could improve her mood, but was amazed by how much. She’d been working too hard, been too stressed about money, and needed to indulge more often.
Especially like this.
She braced herself on her elbows to survey the city virtually spread at her feet and then the room. There was no sign of Tyler or any sound of his presence. Had he left? Shannyn doubted that. The door they’d entered was closed, a line of light showing beneath it, and she guessed he was on the other side, in the main room of the apartment.
The bedroom was bigger than her own living room, which Shannyn knew would be reflected in the cost of an apartment right downtown like this one. She was tucked into a king-sized bed with a firm mattress, smooth sheets and fluffy pillows. There was a high padded headboard upholstered in leather with brass studs around the perimeter and the bed was seriously solid. The duvet was light and warm, and the cover was as white as fresh snow. The bed didn’t come close to filling the space or even dominating it—that was left to the glorious view—and there were nightstands on either side of the bed, with lamps. The one furthest from the door to the living room was stacked with books, although in the shadows, Shannyn couldn’t read the titles.
Tyler’s place could have been a hotel.
One that she’d never be able to afford.
The wall between the door to the main space of the apartment and the windows was dark, and Shannyn realized from the flicker of light at the bottom of it that it had a gas fireplace. It was probably two-sided, so there could be a fire in the living room, too. There was a shaggy sheepskin rug in front of the fireplace and a big leather chair with a lamp in the corner against the window.