For Lust or Money. Kate Hoffmann

as he furrowed his fingers through her silken hair and molded her mouth to his. He couldn’t recall ever needing to kiss a woman as much as he needed to kiss Kelly. It was like a hunger inside him that ached to be satisfied. But the more he tasted, the hungrier he became—Kelly was like the Chinese food of kissing.

      The buildup, the anticipation, had been almost too much to bear and he was already aroused, his erection pressing against her belly. There was no time to think about consequences or regrets, about mistakes he’d made in the past. This was about lust, pure and simple—the need for two people to take pleasure in each other.

      His hands skimmed over her body, her shoulders and then her arms, her torso and her hips. She twisted above him, her fingers clutching at his T-shirt. Zach slipped his hands beneath her blouse and ran his palms up and down her back, every shift of her body causing a wave of pleasure to race through him.

      Her skin felt incredible, like warm silk, soft against his hands. Zach forgot everything that had come before, all the hesitation and indecision, and gave himself over to pure sensation. The scent of her hair, the taste of her mouth, the sounds of their breathing mingling together, quick and shallow and desperate.

      Any indecision she’d felt earlier was gone and Kelly was now an equal partner in this seduction. When he kissed her, she kissed him back. When he touched her, her hands found a new spot on his body.

      Zach drew her leg up along his thigh. His palm skimmed along her rib cage, then over her flat stomach as he stared down into her eyes. “This isn’t rehearsal anymore, is it?”

      Kelly drew in a quick breath, surprised by his comment. “Did you want to rehearse?”

      “No,” Zach replied. He furrowed his hands through her silky hair and pulled her closer. “I think this is a much better use of our time, don’t you?”

      KELLY SLOWLY OPENED her eyes. Light spilled into the room through the sheer drapes and she squinted against the morning sun. A tiny headache nagged at the spot between her eyes and she reached up to rub at the pain. It was only then that she felt the body beside her.

      Holding her breath, she turned to look into Zach’s face. He was lying on her pillow, his dark hair mussed and his lips slightly parted. He’d discarded his shirt and the top button of his cargo pants was undone. And his feet were bare.

      Kelly closed her eyes and let her mind drift back to the events of the previous evening. She’d prepared herself for a night of wild sex and a morning of guilty regrets. But to her surprise, they’d gone no further than kissing and caressing. She was left with no regrets, just a warm, satisfied feeling inside.

      To her surprise, Zach had been a gentleman, waiting for her cues to move forward. And though she had been curious, kissing Zach had been an adventure in itself. He elevated the activity to an art. He could be sweet and soft and then turn fierce and demanding. Every need, every emotion he felt, was conveyed through his lips and tongue. And to be honest, Kelly had to admit that kissing him had been more exciting than anything else she’d ever experienced with a man.

      She looked at him again, taking in the tiny details of his face, the scar on his forehead, the mole near his left eye, the way the corners of his mouth curled up, even while he was sleeping. With youth came the ability to look good in the morning, and he looked irresistible.

      But Kelly knew she wasn’t quite as blessed. She carefully crawled out of bed, taking care not to wake him, and walked to the bathroom. The sight that greeted her was enough to make her groan. Her hair looked like a flock of birds might set up housekeeping at any moment. And her makeup was smudged beneath her eyes. And a big red crease ran down her cheek from a fold in the pillowcase.

      She quickly stripped out of her clothes and tossed them aside, then turned on the shower. If they were going to continue where they’d left off, she’d need to look a bit more alluring.

      She stepped beneath the warm flood of water and closed her eyes. It felt wonderful to finally wash away the stickiness of August in Atlanta. She rinsed her hair, then grabbed the tiny bottle of shampoo that the hotel provided. As she worked the lather through her hair, an unbidden fantasy crept in to her thoughts.

      She imagined Zach waking up in an empty bed. He’d look around, wonder where she was, and then he’d hear the shower. He’d walk to the bathroom and slip through the door, then stand silently on the other side of the curtain. Then slowly, he’d strip off his clothes and pull the curtain back. And then, she’d step into his arms and their naked bodies would touch for the very first time.

      Kelly drew a ragged breath. Oh, it was a wonderful fantasy, like an erotic movie running in her head. But the most wonderful thing about it was that it could actually happen. She stood beneath the water for a long time as she ran her soapy hands over her skin. But when her fingers began to get pruny, Kelly gave up on the fantasy and shut off the water. She grabbed a towel and dried her hair, then wrapped another around her body.

      She opened the door and peered out, but Zach hadn’t stirred. He was still sound asleep, his head on her pillow. Kelly grabbed her comb and slowly began to pull it through the tangles in her hair. But as she did, she heard a knock on the door.

      Holding the towel at her chest, she walked to the door and looked through the peephole. Angie was standing on the other side. She opened the door.

      “Good, you’re up!” Angie cried. “Get dressed. I’m taking you to breakfast. We have to find one of those all-you-can-eat buffets because I want pancakes and sausage and—”

      Kelly pressed a finger to her lips. “Shhh!”

      “Don’t worry. I’m awake.”

      She spun around to see Zach standing at the end of the bed, his cargo pants hanging low on his hips, his eyes sleepy. He smiled and gave Angie a little wave. “Hi, there,” he murmured. “I’m Zach.”

      Angie giggled softly. “The younger man?” she murmured beneath her breath.

      “Yes,” Kelly whispered.

      “The younger man who spent the night in your room?”

      “Yes.”

      “You know, I can hear everything you’re saying,” Zach commented. “Us younger guys have really good hearing. And I can see right through that towel. We have X-ray vision, too.”

      Angie stepped past Kelly, into the room, her hand extended. “Hi. I’m one of Kelly’s oldest friends, Angie Sheppard. Actually, Angie McMahon Sheppard.”

      He took her hand. “Zach Haas. It’s nice to meet you, Angie.”

      “Oh, it’s a pleasure to meet you, Zach. I understand you work for Just Between Us. I just love that Eve Best. She is so funny and smart. And sassy. Is she that way in real life?”

      Kelly felt a blush warm her cheeks and she gently took Angie’s arm and pulled her toward the door. “Can you wait for me downstairs? I’ll be down in just a minute.”

      “Take all the time you want,” Angie whispered. She gave Kelly a silly expression then mouthed the word gorgeous. “I’ll meet you in the restaurant. I’m pretty sure I saw a breakfast buffet when I walked past.”

      Kelly slowly closed the door and turned back to Zach. He was grinning, finding great amusement in her situation. “So you talked with your friend about me?”

      “I just mentioned we’d met.”

      He nodded. “I see.” He slowly approached her and Kelly backed up until she stood against the door. Zach placed his hands on either side of her head and bent down to kiss her. His lips were soft, the kiss fleeting. “Morning,” he murmured.

      Kelly felt her knees go weak and her head begin to spin. “Morning,” she said. She clutched the towel tightly at her chest and wondered what might happen if she’d simply let go. Let go, her mind repeated over and over again. Why not just…

      She loosened her fingers and the towel dropped silently to the floor. Zach’s breath caught in his throat