Page 44 of Landry

Landry pulled her close. With one arm around her lower back, his other hand tipped her chin up. “On the contrary. I want you now more than ever.”

She looked up into his eyes. “You do?”

“I do,” he said, tightening his hold. “You make my blood burn with a desire so intense, I find it difficult to think of anything else but making love to you.” He brushed his lips across hers. “That intensity scares me.”

“I thought Navy SEALs weren’t afraid of anything,” she said, her voice low and breathy.

“I’m afraid that if I lose my edge, my concentration, my ability to recognize danger, it leaves you and Ava exposed.” He stared down into her eyes. “I’d never forgive myself if I let anything happen to either of you.”

“It’s only one night,” Camille said. “You fixed the door, you have a gun, we’ll be awake and should be able to hear if someone breaks in.” She leaned up and pressed a kiss to his lips. “Just one night. That’s all. We both don’t want relationships. I won’t cling. I won’t sit by my phone waiting for you to call. But if you don’t want this, I’ll respect your decision.”

When she started to pull away, Landry held tighter. “Oh, I want this more than I want to breathe.”

She beamed up at him. “Thank goodness. My next move was going to be begging.”

He chuckled. “You’re killing me,” he said and claimed her mouth, kissing her with all the pent-up desire he’d felt since she’d first popped chocolate in his mouth. When he brought his head up to breathe, he rested his forehead against hers. “I think there was magic in the Bayou Bark.”

She gave him a sly smile. “Maybe there was.” Then she stepped out of his arms, turned and walked toward her bedroom. Before she’d made it halfway across the room, she looked back over her shoulder. “I only have one request.”

“Which is?”

“We keep the noise to a minimum.” Her lips twitched. “I’m not ready to educate Ava on the birds and the bees or explain what Mr. Landry is doing to her mother.”

Landry laughed.

When he didn’t move to follow Camille, she turned fully around and fisted her hands on her hips. “Are you coming?”

Landry crossed the room in four long strides, scooped Camille up in his arms and carried her into her bedroom.

The disaster of the evening was turning out better than he’d dreamed. He just hoped he could retain perspective after making love with his incredible client.

* * *

Camille couldn’t believe she’d had the nerve to pretty much proposition Landry. From the doormat she’d been with Richard, she’d come a long way. She’d learned that her needs and desires were just as important as a man’s. And she’d had the gumption to express them. Thankfully, Landry hadn’t shot her down. Though she would have handled it. Rejection was better than regret for not having gone for what she wanted.

Once through the door, Landry started to kick it shut but stopped, his brow dipping low. “Closed or not?” he asked.

“Normally, I wouldn’t invite a man into my bedroom with my daughter down the hall,” Camille said. “But I’m making an exception this once.”

He grinned down at her. “I feel honored.”

“You might not feel so honored when all is said and done. Unfortunately, my daughter has a habit of unlocking her window, and a stray child has made a habit of visiting. Because of that, I’d rather leave the door open so we can hear anything happening in her room.”

Landry nodded. “Agreed.” He nudged the door almost closed, leaving enough of a gap that they could listen for Ava.

“With the door half-open, if Ava should wander down the hallway, I’ll need you to hide on the other side of the bed until I get her back to her own bed.”

He dipped his head. “Fair enough. Keep the noise down and hide if the munchkin pays a surprise visit.”

Camille frowned. “You’re all right with that?”

“I am—and I understand. If you want, we can postpone until we can be alone in the house or a hotel.”

Camille wrapped her arms around his neck. “I would, but it took a lot for me to take a step on the wild side to begin with. I’m not certain I could do it again.” She pressed a kiss against his lips and then leaned back to study his face. “Unless you’re having second thoughts…”

He nodded his head. “I should...” Then he shook his head side to side. “But I’m not.” He slowly lowered her feet to the floor, keeping her close the whole time.

Camille’s body slid down his until she was standing in front of him, her chest pressed to his. Her pulse pounded so hard she was certain he could feel it. “It’s been a long time,” she whispered. Old insecurities rose up to shake her newfound confidence.

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