Foreign Affair (27 page)

“Yeah. Stephanie’s brother.”

“Stephanie’s brother comes up to your cabin with you?” Fuck, he sounded like a jealous husband.

“No,” Lena gave him a close look. “Barry comes to
his
cabin whenever he wants.”

“His cabin.” Great, now he just took the idiot of the year award. “Then this is Stephanie’s cabin?”

“Stephanie’s and Barry’s. Their parents left it to them in their inheritance.”

“Stephanie has an inheritance?”

“Yes, they both do.” She opened the door to the cabin and stepped inside. “That’s how she was able to foot the bill to Europe.”

“Lucky you.”

Lena dumped her load in front of the fireplace and turned around, hands on hips.

“She’s a good friend.”

“Except when she’s leaving you stranded in B.F.E. with some guy you can’t stand.”

“Except that.” Her lips twitched. “And I never said I couldn’t stand you.”

The expression on her face shifted, became more vulnerable, before she jerked her gaze away.

His pulse kicked up a notch, and his jaw tightened.
Keep it platonic
or you’ll never get through this week.
Which meant if he didn’t get out of this
cabin again for a bit, he’d be all over her.

He set down his own stack of logs next to hers. “I think I’m going to take another walk down the river.”

“Oh. All right.” She lowered her gaze and nodded.

Interesting. She’d almost looked disappointed that he was leaving.

“I’ll be back in time for dinner.” He headed out the door.

Lena sighed and watched him go. So apparently, the only way they were going to maintain this truce was just to avoid each other.

She stood and wandered around the cabin, looking for something to do. Why the hell couldn’t there be a television in here? Her previous love of the rustic cabin had now turned into a mild irritation. Tyler had her on edge again.

She went in search of the romance novel she’d been reading. That should work to entertain her—she’d left off in a rather entertaining spot in the book.

After fluffing the pillows on the couch and lying back, she flipped open the novel and engrossed herself in a land where orgasms were multiple and happy endings were mandatory.

Twenty minutes later, the main characters were done screaming in ecstasy, the windows had ceased their rattling, and the characters were now falling asleep on one another.

She yawned. Sleep sounded pretty good, actually. With the whole Tyler drama of last night, she hadn’t gotten much.

Her eyelids drifted shut, and she took a couple of deep breaths. She didn’t realize she’d fallen asleep until something brushed across her stomach and woke her.

“Well, what have we have got here?”

Lena jerked upright and reached for the book that had been on her stomach, and then realized Tyler held it in his hand. He stared at the cover of the book, a smirk on his face.

“Will you check out the pecs on that guy? His chest is ten times bigger than the girl’s.”

“Give me the book back.” Lena could feel her cheeks burning up. “And how did he even get her in that position? Bent over a horse of all things—”

“Tyler, my
book
.” She reached out to grab it back, but he twisted effortlessly and held it above her head.

“That can’t be comfortable, being at that angle. I mean, look at her back. Oh, wait a minute, is that what I think it is?” He squinted and glanced closer at the cover of the book in amazement. “I’ll be damned. It sure is. We’ve got nipple action coming through the dress.”

She launched herself off the couch and ripped the book away from him. She glared at him and clutched the book protectively to her side.

“Do you mind?” she demanded. “I’d appreciate a little privacy with my things.”

“And I’d appreciate you letting me get a look at what’s on the inside of that book.” He whistled. “Judging by the cover, that’s some hot stuff.”

“Didn’t you say something about cooking dinner?” she reminded him to change the subject.

“Sure. I can do that.” He grinned and turned to walk into the kitchen. “I can see why people love it here. It’s beautiful. And I don’t think I’ve breathed such clear air...ever.”

“Yeah, I love coming here.” Lena stuffed the novel between the cushions of the couch to hide it from him.

She sat for a moment, her pulse beating a little too fast. She enjoyed this. Having him here and being able to have that easygoing nature again. Even if it was only because of a truce.

“Do you want tomato soup or chicken noodle?”

Lena sighed. “Tomato will be fine, thank you.”

“Good choice.”

Her stomach growled when he returned ten minutes later with the simple meal. Steaming soup, along with a sandwich cut neatly into two triangles, sat on a tray.

“I was going to eat outside on the porch. Did you want to come?”

She took the tray and nodded. “Sure, I’ll meet you out there.”

Tyler joined her a moment later on the porch swing, sitting down beside her.

His thigh brushed against hers, and the breath locked in her throat.

Truce. We’re just friends now
.

Drawing in an unsteady breath, she picked up one of the sandwich halves and glanced inside. “Peanut butter and jelly?”

“Yes. I hope that’s okay.” He took a bite of his half, taking out a good part of it.

“I like peanut butter and jelly. It’s good old comfort food. It brings me back to childhood.”

“Not mine.” He paused to lick a glob of sticky jam that had ended up on his pinkie. “My mom never got off on the whole peanut butter thing. It was either tuna or turkey.”

Lena’s gaze focused on his pinkie and his tongue, and heat spread through her. “I’m sorry to hear that. Every kid should have peanut butter and jelly.”

“Agreed.” He finished his sandwich and moved on to the soup. Something tickled her foot, and she glanced down in time to see a squirrel running across the porch.

She shrieked and jumped up. The tray went flying, and her bowl of soup tipped over on her tank top.

“
Hot
.” She jerked the fabric over her head, wiping tomato soup out of her cleavage.

“Lena.” Tyler’s voice came out on a choke.

She froze. Oh, crap. Had she just stripped down to her bra in front of him? Was she a complete idiot?

“I’m going to shower.” She dashed back inside before he could accuse her of doing it on purpose. Of trying to seduce him again.

Her stomach twisted, and she sighed. Why had Stephanie done this to her? They would never last a week.

Tyler stared out at the darkened forest and groaned. He shifted on the swing and adjusted his jeans. Great. He now had the vision of Lena’s sweet breasts in his head, and a massive hard-on.

You cannot touch her
.
She’s off limits.

He focused on the sound of the river rushing by the property, tempted to jump in and cool off.

Right now, she was inside taking a shower. Naked and wet. And naked. Wonderfully naked.

He cursed and stood up, picking up both their trays and taking them into the kitchen. He did up the dishes, yawning the entire time.

He must be more tired than he thought. He glanced at the couch and scowled. That thing was too damn short. He couldn’t even stretch out.

Lena came out of the bathroom, a robe around her body and a towel over her hair. He could smell the floral shampoo, or soap, or whatever she used.

“I think I’m going to go to bed early,” she told him, averting her gaze.

“I was thinking the same thing.”

She lifted her head and looked at him, her eyes wide. Something passed between them in that look, and more blood went to his crotch.

She licked her lips and glanced at the couch. “I know that’s not comfortable. Maybe we could...put pillows between us and share the bed.”

The pillows would be gone by morning. He’d bet his life on it. “Okay.” He nodded and cleared his throat. “I’ll go brush my teeth. I’ll be there in a bit.”

He took longer than he needed in the bathroom, hoping she’d be asleep by the time he got in the bedroom.

He stared at himself in the mirror.
You can’t touch her. You’ll never
respect yourself again if you do. The woman is married.

Setting his toothbrush back into his travel bag—thank God he’d had some necessities—he headed back into the bedroom. Apparently Lena had the same concerns about behaving.

The lights were out, and there were three pillows in a line down the middle of the bed. She had rolled onto her side, facing the other wall, and appeared to be asleep.

Disappointment stabbed in his gut, but he refused to acknowledge it. He climbed into his side of the bed and closed his eyes, willing sleep to come.

Lena groaned, blinking her eyes open in confusion just as her hips jerked.
What the heck
?

Tyler’s hand squeezed her ass again, and she bit back a gasp. He had to be awake. Her gaze lifted to his face, but his eyes were still closed, his breathing heavy.

She glanced around and spotted the pillows on the floor. Damn, what a useless plan that had been.

It appeared to be early morning. The room had just the faintest hint of sunrise.

His hand slipped into her panties to squeeze the bare cheek. She groaned and closed her eyes as moisture pooled between her thighs.

Oh, God, she missed this with him. The way his slightest touch could set her body on fire.

The heat between her legs increased, and suddenly she didn’t care if he was awake or not. Sleepy morning sex sounded all too good right now.

You’ll regret it thirty seconds after your orgasm.
Lena pushed the
annoying voice aside and kicked one leg over Tyler’s, giving him access to between her legs.

Right away he slid his fingers downward and rubbed against the folds of her sex.

Lena gasped and raised her gaze to his face again. He was very much awake and watching her.

Still holding her gaze, he slid his fingers inside her. Her nipples tightened, and she groaned, digging her nails into his shoulders.

He brought one finger up to rub her clit, spreading the slick moisture over the swollen nub.

She lifted her hips and gasped. “Tyler...please.”

His eyes darkened, flickering with some kind of emotion. It almost looked like anger. But then the heat returned, and he rolled her onto her back and straddled her.

He cupped her breasts, molding them in his hands and pinching her nipples.

“Lena. Lord, what you do to me.” He lowered his head and covered her mouth with his, thrusting his tongue deep inside.

He stroked her nipples rougher and deepened the kiss, catching her cry of pleasure.

He pulled his mouth away and closed his lips around one nipple, sucking hard.

“Oh, God.” She lifted her hips, her sex clenching with the need to have him inside her.

Pushing up her nightgown, he lowered his head to kiss her stomach. He adjusted his position so that he knelt between her legs.

Lowering his head, he traced the slit of her sex through her panties with his tongue. She closed her eyes and sighed, threading her fingers into his hair.

He continued to rub his tongue against the silk, stroking her clit. Pleasure built inside her, and she squirmed against him, her panties growing damp from more than his mouth.

He tugged her panties to the side, and then his tongue was on her, licking and circling, driving her toward that cliff of ultimate pleasure.

He slid a finger inside her, and she broke. Her stomach clenched, and she closed her eyes, gasping through the waves of sensation that rolled through her.

The warmth of his body over her lifted, and she cried out, opening her eyes in time to see Tyler pushing off his pants and boxers.

He returned to her, threading his fingers through hers and holding them above her head. His erection probed at her entrance before he flexed his hips and sank inside.

They moaned together, and Lena tightened her fingers around his. Lord, it felt so good to have him inside her again. She lifted her hips, meeting his thrusts.

“Lena...” He increased his pace, slammed harder into her, and she wrapped her legs around his waist.

He released one of her hands and reached between them to rub her clit.

“
Tyler
.” She tightened her muscles around him as the second orgasm hit. The room tilted and everything turned fuzzy.

He cried out, and she could feel him empty himself inside her while he kept making small thrusts.

She smoothed her hands up and down his back, tightening her ankles around the middle of his back.

“I love you, Lena.” He groaned, pushing deep into her and staying.

She froze. Her hands stopped moving. Had he just...? He loved her?

Hope flared in her heart. Could it be possible? She opened her mouth, but no words came out. She was almost afraid to break the moment.

Fuck
. Tyler blinked, slid out of Lena’s tight body, and rolled onto
his side away from her. What the hell had made him confess his love to her? She was a married woman.
A married woman you just fucked.

Guilt and depression warred in his gut, and he climbed off the bed and reached for his jeans. He had to get out of this cabin. Now.

“Tyler?”

Her soft voice compounded his guilt, and his jaw tightened. “How far are we from the main road?”

He didn’t miss the small choked sound she made, but he kept his gaze averted.

“You’re leaving?” The question came out on a tremble.

“I can’t do this,” he ground out. “Yes. I’m leaving.”

Please don’t bring up the fact that I said I love you.

“The highway is three miles down the road outside the door.” Her voice was flat now.

He turned to look at her but found her rolled on her side facing the opposite wall. The curve of her naked back jerked and then jerked again. Was she crying?

Doubt flickered in his gut, but he shoved it aside.
She’s just upset that her plans aren’t going well.

He grabbed his bag and left the bedroom.

Almost to the door, he turned and looked back.
Go. You need to just
go or you’ll never get over her.