Down Range. Lindsay McKenna

him. But that wasn’t what this was about.

      Barr hadn’t lied to her about what he could offer or made promises about the future. He was traveling from some place halfway around the world. This was about tonight and making each other feel amazing. As turned on as she already was, she knew this would be incredible.

      He slid her panties down her legs and tossed them over his shoulder. He reached under her and with a snap of his fingers, undid her bra. It came free and he rid her of that, too.

      He pulled a foil packet from the bedside table, opened it and rolled it on. “To make sure you are safe,” he said.

      Despite the preparation, he didn’t rush to push inside her. His mouth explored her body and his hands worshipped every inch of her.

      It was her that wanted more, faster. “Please, Barr, please hurry.”

      He laughed low in his throat. “I want to take my time with you. Every moment is already too fleeting and precious.”

      His mouth dropped to hers in a long, lingering kiss. His lips trailed south along her body to her breasts. He took them in his hands, using great care with her, sucking each pert tip into his mouth. As he slowly explored her, she strained against him.

      She lifted her hips in invitation and then clasped both sides of his face. She wanted to feel him moving inside her. Making her wait was driving her wild with lust. “Please.”

      Surrender in his eyes. He wanted this to be good for her, but he couldn’t say no to her plea. He tilted her chin to look at him. Their eyes locked and then he came into her. She was on the brink of release and went off the moment he was inside her. Mind-blowing, soul-shaking tremors rocked through her.

      He stilled as her climax eased. She was embarrassed by her quick finale, but Barr didn’t give her a chance to apologize or explain. He kissed her and then began moving again, long, slow glides of his body inside hers.

      She accepted him as part of her, meeting his thrusts and undulating her hips. More. Longer.

      Only when she came apart again in his arms did he crash with her in a tangle of limbs, panting breaths and racing hearts. The room was utterly still and quiet. The crisp sheets were now tangled and damp, the pillows in disarray. The single bedside light in the room cast a glow across Barr’s face, illuminating again how handsome he was.

      She had a hard time believing this had happened. It was so unlike her to meet someone and have an instant connection with him, but it had been so great, she didn’t have room for worries. Sarah accepted the night and Barr for the gifts they were. After the last several years, she figured the universe owed her some good luck.

      Barr didn’t speak, though his breathing was deep and still and his eyes were closed.

      What now? Did she get up and leave? Thank him? Wish him well?

      He was still inside her and she was thinking of an exit strategy. Not because she was eager to leave. Sex with Barr was the best she’d had in recent history. Well, he was the only man she’d slept with in recent history. She didn’t want to overstay her welcome or worse, mar the night by him asking her to leave. Sarah wanted to walk out of this room on her terms, her head held high. She shifted, extracting his body from hers.

      “What are you thinking?” Barr asked, running a hand down her hair.

      “Nothing much. Just going over my agenda for tomorrow.” A lie. She was watching him and he had every ounce of her attention.

      He laughed and opened one eye. “That stings a bit. I hoped you were basking in the afterglow of our lovemaking.”

      What man called it lovemaking? This was most assuredly a fantasy. Was she asleep? “I’m not sure what I need to do now.” She wished she had said something smoother and practiced, some witty response to his comment or to allude she was more worldly and confident than she was.

      “You don’t need to do anything except tell me what you’d like to eat or drink or if I can get you anything. And then you lie here with me and let me take care of you and hold you.”

      He’d confirmed it. This was make-believe to the nth degree.

      “I’m not hungry really,” she said.

      “If I didn’t exhaust you, at least a little, that means I didn’t do it right. Give me an hour and I’ll try again.”

      She laughed. “You did everything very, very right.” She kissed his forehead. She lay in his arms for a few minutes and closed her eyes.

      The phone on the bedside table rang. “I need to answer that.” He pulled away from her slowly and picked up the phone.

      Was this his exit strategy? Tell her to stay, give her the royal treatment and have one of his associates call with an emergency. She refused to think about how many times he had done this before.

      She hated to be made a fool of, so she stood and searched for her underwear and dress. She was still wearing her shoes. She refused to let her awkwardness post-sex ruin the memory. That she was holding close and preserving.

      He was speaking into the phone in another language and he sent her a questioning look. He hadn’t dressed, nor had he made any attempt to cover himself. Not that he had anything to be ashamed of. He was the most ripped man she had ever seen naked in real life.

      Barr shook his head, one corner of his mouth lifted and he pointed to the bed. He wrapped up the call quickly, never taking his eyes off her.

      “Please don’t leave so soon,” he said, sincerity in his voice.

      How could she say no to that? If he’d wanted her to leave, he hadn’t needed to stop her. “I’ll stay. For a little while.”

      She returned to the bed and he pulled her into the crook of his arms and held her. Sarah rested her head against his shoulder and found sleep tugging at her. She’d rest for a few minutes and then she would say goodbye.

      * * *

      Saafir cursed inwardly. Sarah Parker. Her name was Sarah Parker and she was the event coordinator for his trip while he was working with the Americans on the trade agreement.

      It had been Adham who had encouraged him to take the night off and enjoy some time in an American bar. As one of his last weekends as an unattached man, Saafir would forget his responsibilities for an evening. Adham had implied it would do Saafir good to have a fling with a woman. Flings were more complicated than the word implied and Saafir had learned to be careful both with a woman’s heart and with jumping into bed with her. Saafir hadn’t been sold on the idea until he’d seen Sarah, spoken to her and listened to the warmth in her voice. Her dress fit close to her body, showing off her curves, the right amount of softness and strength. They’d had a sense of connection, that rightness that came when two people clicked on a level beyond first impressions. Something primal had stirred in him and he’d known he’d needed to have Sarah in his bed.

      Having a drink and a meal in the bar had been a last-minute decision, like many of his social plans. Last-minute didn’t allow for security preparation, but it also limited anyone knowing where he was scheduled to be and using that information to plot an assassination. Though he didn’t like it, he had to think in those terms to protect his life.

      Though Saafir had told Adham not to, Adham had dug around and found out more about the woman who had approached him in the bar. Saafir would have connected who she was when she’d shown up at their meeting Monday morning.

      Did she not know who he was? The Americans wouldn’t try to manipulate him in such an obvious way. No one could have predicted the chemistry he had with Sarah. No one could have known he would desire her as strongly as he did. Even holding her in his arms a few minutes after sleeping with her turned him on.

      Her long brown hair hung over his arm and her skin was soft against his. She was different from the women in his country, no less sophisticated or beautiful, but more free and uninhibited. She hadn’t waited for him to take the lead on their meeting or remained passive when they were alone