Too Many Secrets

THREE

Austin chuckled as he took hold of Brittany's hand and pulled it around his neck and to his mouth. He pressed a kiss on her wrist. She was confusing him, which wasn't too hard to do because he was extremely exhausted today. But what was her game? Why did she act so innocent? And especially, what was with all of the personal questions? Perhaps if he hadn't been up for forty-eight hours straight, he'd be able to think clearly.

He should send Brittany on her way. Derek's so-called Birthday surprise wasn't appreciated right now. Not when Austin couldn't make this meeting useful. He'd told Derek not to send him anyone for his birthday, but his friend had never listened before, so why should he start now? Derek also enjoyed clowning around. Was this one of his friend's jokes?

"You have such wonderful hands, Brittany."

"Thank you," she answered in a tight voice as she pulled her hand away.

Right now in his exhausted state, he wanted her hands back on his neck so he could feel the warmth flowing through his body from her tender touch, once again. But apparently, she wanted to talk. Strange, since most of the girls Derek found for him rarely wanted to talk.

Sighing, he relaxed back in the chair. Thankfully, she returned to massaging his neck. "You think Hillary and I were lovers?" He laughed weakly. "How could we be lovers if there was no love between us?"

"You didn't love her at all?"

"No."

"Were you two in a fight or something?"

"Brittany, why are you asking these questions? What does it have to do with your time with me?"

Her fingers froze, as did the hot breath blowing against his neck. Suddenly, she stepped back.

"Well, I better go," she whispered.

His breath stalled in his throat. He couldn't let her leave now. When she tried to move past him, he grabbed hold of her arm. "Hey, Brittany, I'm truly sorry about today. I'm extremely exhausted, and I must apologize. I've been up for forty-eight hours straight making a business deal."

The smile she gave him was fake as her gaze bounced between his eyes and the grip he had on her arm. "That's all right. I understand."

He didn't want her to leave like this. Derek would be upset at him for not allowing his friend to entertain him. Austin pulled on her arm and her legs bumped against his exposed knees, making his robe part, displaying more of his legs. Her eyes widened, and he nearly laughed. What was with her innocent act? Was this really one of Derek's jokes?

"Brittany, since I don't want you to think this was a total waste of your time, will you do something for me?"

Slowly her gaze lifted and met his eyes. "What's that?"

"Will you give me a kiss?"

Confusion consumed her expression along with the crimson color spreading to her cheeks. Once again, he wanted to laugh. She acted like an innocent girl, fresh out of an all girl's school. That's probably what Derek did—found him a girl who was soon going to become a nun.

When he first saw Brittany standing in his living room, she looked like most of the girls Derek had fixed up for him—sexy dress, with long hair flowing over their shoulders. Brittany was no different, except she was a lot prettier. He really liked how toned her body was, but he especially liked her long, black hair. Touching it to see if it was as soft as it looked was tempting, but he really was tired and needed sleep. But, he could spare a few minutes of her kiss. It would give him something to dream about.

"I...don't think so, Austin. Not this time. As you said, you're really tired, and I should be going."

This one was a tease. Derek must have paid her good money to trick him like this. Well, he couldn't have that. He'd show his friend who was in charge now.

Playfully, he tugged on her arm, pulling her nearer. "Come on, sweetie. I don't want you leaving here thinking you haven't earned you payment."

Suddenly, her bright red face faded, leaving it almost white. Panic coated her wide eyes. Even her lips quivered.

She licked her lips and gave him a shaky smile. "Well, if you insist. Now let me go."

The fear in her eyes worried him. So perhaps he'd been mistaken about Derek's joke. Obviously, this woman was nervous...either that or she was a very good actress.

Her chest rose and fell quickly, and the gushes of air coming out of her mouth blew across his face. He should stop this immediately. He'd never been one to force a woman, and he wasn't going to start now.

Her legs shook as she stepped toward him. He held up a hand to stop her. "Brittany, if you don't want to—"

Suddenly, she fell against him. Whether she'd tripped, or if it was on purpose, she was halfway on his lap, anyway. Her face flamed a deeper red as the palms of her hands moved over his chest. One slipped inside of his robe, and he sucked in a breath. The touch was electrifying, and jolted him to awareness.

Her eyes widened. Up this close he could see the color was brown...a very lovely brown. Almost a rust color, in fact.

Mumbling her apologies, she tried to stand, but all she could manage was to fall on his lap again. The embarrassment was evident on her bright face. He felt sorry for her, and he should try to make her relax so the awkward moment would pass quickly.

"It's all right, Brittany." He stroked her bare arms that were so very soft. "I'm not going to hurt you. Take a deep breath and try to calm yourself."

She closed her eyes and must have given up the idea that he was a scorching stove setting her on fire, because within seconds, her body relaxed and she sat sideways on his lap. He continued to rub up and down her arms until her ragged breathing sounded mostly normal. Her body still quivered slightly, but she seemed more in control, now.

"Are you feeling better?" he asked.

She opened her eyes and met his stare. "Yes, Austin."

Her voice was so soft, he could hardly hear. It almost sounded as if she sighed his name. When realization finally hit him, his heart leapt. She had sighed his name, and it sounded so sweet the way it rolled off her tongue.

Had this innocence of hers been an act? Because now her eyes told him a different story, and fear was not a chapter in this tale at all. Her gaze moved slowly over his face, coming to rest on his mouth. Was she going to kiss him? He'd only accept it as long as she didn't think he was forcing her.

"Brittany, if you don't want to kiss me, you don't have to."

"I don't?"

"No." He trailed his fingers from her shoulder, up her neck to her face in gentle caresses. "I don't know what Derek told you about me, but I'm not forceful."

"That's good to know."

He waited for her to scoot off his lap, but she didn't. He also realized one of her hands still rested inside his robe on his bare chest...well, at least her fingers were, and they were slowly sliding back and forth. He'd been so tired only moments ago, but her caress had brought him wide awake.

"You know, you have a very soft touch," he said.

"So do you."

Her breathing had changed again, and become just as ragged as his. One thing was certain—if she didn't make the first move and kiss him, he was going to do it.

He brushed his fingers across her bottom lip and her mouth opened. It was now or never.

Hesitantly, he leaned forward, waiting for her to stop him. But when she met his descending mouth, excitement filled him. As he touched her lips with his, fireworks shot off in his head, and he cupped her face. Another sigh breezed from her throat, but this time he didn't stop to figure out what she had said.

Austin moved his lips back and forth with hers. She clutched his robe, and thankfully, didn't pull away. He moved his hands around to her back, bringing her in closer. A low moan rattled in her throat, and he turned the kiss wilder.

No longer did he need sleep. He needed this. Perhaps he shouldn't, because he didn't want to give her the wrong idea about what kind of man he was, but breaking the kiss at this point was not plausible.

He moved his hands to her neck, and they knocked against the awkward tilt of the bun in her hair. Without asking permission, he slipped his fingers in her hair and pulled out the pins holding the style together, and dropped the objects to the floor. Her hair cascaded down her back, feeling just as silky as he'd imagined. It was also longer than he'd imagined as it reached her lower back.

Following his example, she threaded her fingers through his hair, still keeping up with his urgent kisses.

"You're absolutely beautiful," he murmured against her mouth. "I could kiss you all night long."

Another low moan came from her, but suddenly, her body stiffened and she pulled away. Passion was evident on her expression, but so was fear.

"I...I shouldn't have done this," she whispered as she tried to stand.

"No, Brittany. Don't stop—"

"I have to."

Her voice was sharp this time, and she jumped to her feet, quickly moving away from him as fast as she could go.

"Brittany—" He stood and tried to catch her, but the woman was already sprinting out of the door. "Brittany, stop. I can't have you leave me like this."

She threw him a glare for a few seconds before she entered the elevator. The doors closed before he could reach her.

Sighing, he leaned his forehead against the wall. There was something about this woman. She was vastly different from the other women Derek had fixed up for him. And he enjoyed the difference.

As he made his way back into his penthouse suite and closed the door, weariness consumed his body again, reminding him how he hadn't slept for forty-eight hours. Although his body was exhausted, his mind was not.

One way or another, he'd figure out how to find that woman. Next time, he'd make it so she wasn't afraid of him.