Page 65 of Wicked Ambition

The damn man had been a perfect gentleman since he rescued her at the bus station. The worry that he only wanted the one night with her faded away when he’d shown her the earring. When Oz told her he carried it with him everywhere. No one went to that much effort for a woman he wasn’t interested in. It was a relief. She hadn’t been able to force him from her mind since the night they spent together.

This kiss? It might be sweet and easy, but Ayla felt his restraint.

Oz straightened and she tightened her hold, keeping him from stepping back. Going up on her toes, she pressed her lips to his. She didn’t have to test her calf muscles for long. He bent toward her, letting her stand normally again.

It was a little detail, hardly worth noticing, but over the past four or five days, there’d been dozens and dozens of these tiny things he did to take care of her. Ayla’s appreciation of Oz grew the more time they spent together. She opened her mouth under his, inviting him to deepen the kiss. After a brief hesitation, he did, still being careful. The kiss didn’t last long enough.

“Oziah.” His name came out like a sigh. “More, please.”

“Please?” His lips curved. “I love how polite you are.”

“Do you?”

“Uh-huh.” He nipped her lower lip. “Prissy in the streets.”

“And wild in the sheets. With you.”

He went still. “Is that an invitation?”

Fear stabbed through Ayla. What if he wasn’t as interested as she believed? One of her sister’s favorite sayings flitted through her brain.No risk, no reward.How long would her embarrassment last anyway if she was wrong? “Definitely an invitation.”

Oz’s eyes went molten. “I don’t have any condoms.”

“I can’t get any more pregnant.”

His grin made her toes curl. He sobered before he said, “You don’t have anything else to worry about.”

“You either.”

“I know, Pollita. Before our night together, your virginity almost grew back.”

Her cheeks scalded. “Thanks for reminding me I said that.”

“You’re cute when you blush.” Oz ran a thumb across her cheek. “If you change your mind, let me know and we’ll stop. If I go too fast and you want me to slow down, just?—”

Ayla put two fingers over his lips. “I know. If I didn’t trust you, there wouldn’t have been an invitation. Heck, if I didn’t trust you, I never would have gone to your hotel room with you back in Los Angeles to begin with.”

After kissing the pads of her fingers, Oz took her hand and lowered her arm. “LA was fun and games. We’re at a whole other level now.”

He might have stated that, but Oz wanted to make sure she understood this would change things between them irrevocably. Ayla nodded. “We’re in deep waters.”

“The deepest. Be sure, Ayla.”

“I’m sure. I want you, Oz.” And not only in bed. “What about you? Are you sure?”

As an answer, he lowered his head and kissed her. There was still restraint, but the leash he kept on himself was loosened. “Positive.”

The contrast of heat and gentleness left her spinning and Ayla closed her eyes, sinking into Oz’s kiss. He took his time to savor the moment as if they had forever. Maybe they did. With a soft sigh, she opened her mouth under his, inviting him again to deepen their connection. He did but at the same slow pace.

She ran her hands across his shoulders and hit the strap of his holster. It knocked some of the dreaminess out of her. There were things to do. Important things.

Opening her eyes, she met his gaze, saw the banked heat there, and caressed his nape. It was late in the afternoon, and she had no doubt he’d keep her under wraps until the morning even if it were a normal day. He didn’t allow her to search once the sun set. She could sit in this room and discuss disguises, or she could make love with Oz.

Easy decision.

“Do you want to stop?”

Ayla shook her head. “No. The reminder you’re armed jarred me for a minute, that’s all.” Her lips curved. “I didn’t have to worry about holsters in LA.”

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