They’d slept some. Fucked more. She’d woken to find him kissing her at some random point in the night. His mouth had trailed over every inch of her body, and she’d screamed for him again when she came.
How many times had she come? Ella wasn’t sure.
What she did know…Antony Kyle was dangerous. Far, far more dangerous to her than she’d ever realized. One night hadn’t slaked the lust she felt for him. One night had just attuned her body to his. One night had made her desperate for more. One night had her body almost…programmed to need his. One night had her hungry for a thousand others—
She had to get the hell out of Antony’s condo.
She slid her hands over her dress as she smoothed the fabric into place. Ella tip-toed toward the bedroom door. Things between them had exploded out of control. They’d both been desperate—almost obsessed. Perhaps there had been no almost about it. I was obsessed. She’d wanted him with a need that she’d never felt before. Her body ached in a whole lot of places, but the aches were good. And when she thought of all the things they’d done…
Stop thinking about them! Move! Hurry up before he opens his eyes.
At the bedroom door, Ella glanced back. Her bare toes curled into the lush carpeting. This was her last time to see him. He didn’t get that she’d been telling him good-bye during the night. He’d figure it out when he woke up, and she was gone.
For two years—two years—she’d been falling in love with the man. But you couldn’t love a lie. She wasn’t sure that she knew the real Antony at all.
Ella’s chest ached as she turned away. She made her way down the narrow hallway. Found her shoes. Scooped them up. She hadn’t told Antony, but her bags were already packed. Her apartment cleaned out. Her new life was waiting. A life without him.
When she crept out of his place, a tear dripped down her cheek.
Good-bye, Antony.
***
He opened his eyes and knew that something was wrong. The bed felt empty. Cold. He turned his head on the pillow and saw that she was gone.
Antony jerked upright. “Ella?” His voice seemed to echo back to him.
But she made no response.
Naked, Antony climbed from the bed. He looked around and realized her dress was gone from the floor. She was gone. He knew it, but he still searched the condo. Went through every carefully and expensively decorated room, just in case. But there was no Ella.
She’d left.
He returned to the bedroom. Sucked in a deep breath and caught a light hint of her strawberry scent. He’d had the most incredible night of his life…and she’d left him before dawn. Hell, no. Hell, no. This couldn’t happen.
His fingers snagged his phone. She was his number one contact, so he called her instantly. Antony held his breath while he waited for her to answer. Come on, Ella. Come on—
“This isn’t a good time for me.” Her voice was cool. Careful.
Not like it’s my best moment ever. “You left without a word.” He sounded angry. Accusing. Screw it. He was angry. “I don’t like waking to a bed without you.”
Silence. Then… “You were sleeping.”
He grabbed a pair of jeans. Hauled them on. Kept the phone pressed to his ear. “You could have woken me.” He knew why she hadn’t. They both did. “You were running from me.” Would she deny it?
“It was easier this way.”
“Doesn’t feel fucking easy to me.” Not when he could still smell her. Taste her. Not when he craved her. He whirled for the door and caught a flash of white near the bottom of his bed. Her panties. Antony scooped them up.
“It was one night,” she said quietly. “It doesn’t change anything.”
“I think it changes everything.” It had for him. “Ella—”
“It was one great night.” Her voice had gone husky. “An incredible night. I won’t forget it. Or you.”
Damn straight she wasn’t going to forget him. “I want more.” He’d warned her about that very thing before. His word choice was deliberate. The exact words he’d given to her in the parking lot.
“That isn’t going to happen.” Again, her voice was husky.
A cold fear seized him. Was Ella crying? “You—you didn’t give me a chance to explain.”
“Could you explain? All the lies? The secrets?”
He could try. Maybe. “Ella…”
“I have to go.”
“No!” Desperation ate at him. “We’re not finished, Ella! Don’t—” Don’t leave me.
“I don’t want lies, Antony. And in case you’re wondering, I wasn’t looking for any kind of promises last night.”
Why the hell not? “What were you looking for?”
“I wondered what we would be like. Now I know.”
We are fucking combustible. “When can I see you again?”
“I’m leaving town.”
Antony tried to be rational about this. She was going on a little trip. Fair enough. Everyone needed a vacation once in a while. He’d be waiting on her when she returned, and they could figure things out. Obviously, the work situation was an issue. Now that he’d had her, he couldn’t go back to the way things had been before. No way. Not when he knew what she looked like when he was buried deep inside of her. Not when he knew how insanely beautiful she was when pleasure poured through her body. “When you get back, I can take you out for dinner.” He cleared his throat. “I can—”
“I’m not coming back.”
His heart stuttered. “What?”
“My apartment has already been packed up.”
His eyes narrowed. “You were planning this…”
“I was planning the new job, yes. I didn’t plan what happened last night. But if you want the truth…”
Yes, he’d love it.
“I’ve wanted you for a long time.”
Why the hell didn’t you tell me? He’d wanted her since day one. Day one! Antony had thought that he’d been alone with that need. If he’d realized that the same desire burned within Ella…
I would have done anything necessary to have her.
“When we kissed in the elevator, that kiss pretty much wrecked the walls I’d put up.” Ella’s soft admission.
He felt wrecked, too.
“I wanted a memory to take with me. I meant what I said before. I won’t forget you.”
Anger and fear twisted within him. “You think this is how it ends? You give me a night I’ll never forget, and you just walk away? Best fucking sex ever, then you vanish?”
He thought he heard her gasp.
“Don’t I get any say in this?” Anger burned hotter. So did a whole lot of emotions that he didn’t want to examine too closely. Antony had the terrible feeling that he’d majorly screwed up with her. She doesn’t know all the lies I’ve told. I didn’t have a choice. When you work for Uncle Sam, when lives are on the line, you don’t get to tell your secrets to the world.
But his secrets seemed to be costing him Ella…
No, no. He couldn’t lose her. Wouldn’t.
“You lied to me from the moment we met,” Ella accused.