CHAPTER TWELVE
Luis knew he was on the verge of seriously losing control and he also knew he didn't care. He wanted Sher more than he had ever wanted any woman in his entire life. That fact should have scared him, but it didn't. Somehow it felt... right. He groaned as Sheridan slid her hand underneath his shirt. Then he pulled back and allowed her to pull the shirt over his head. Once they were both naked from the waist up, he crushed her to him. He loved the feel of her soft breasts against his chest. He captured her mouth with his then pressed her closer to him. He could feel her hardened nipples rubbing against his chest and he wasn't sure how much longer he could last without needing more.
Sher evidently had the same idea, because she suddenly reached her hands between them and released the button his jeans. As she lowered the zipper, he felt her fingers brush against his straining erection and he thought he would literally go insane. He had just deepened the kiss when a tap against the driver's side window of his truck broke through his passion filled thoughts. Oh god, he thought noticing the light that was suddenly lighting the inside of the truck, this was definitely not good.
Luis turned around to block Sher from their visitors' view, then quickly refastened his jeans and pulled his shirt back on. One he was dressed and made sure Sher was dressed he turned around and rolled down the window. He recognized the voice that greeted them instantly.
"I'm sorry for interrupting your, ah, fun Luis, but this is a public road and you are old enough to know better. I just hope your friend is." His brother, Antonio, said giving him disappointed frown. "She is old enough right?"
Luis grunted and leaned back against the seat. Antonio always seemed to think the worst of him. Did he really think he would stoop so low as to seduce a girl not even old enough to drink? It was insulting, but he refused to let Antonio know that. "Yeah, Tony she's old enough."
Antonio narrowed his eyes at the use of the nickname. Luis just grinned. He knew his brother hated to be called Tony. That was precisely why he'd done it. "Luis, I'm going to let you both off with a warning, but I firmly suggest you take the lady home now."
Luis raised a brow at the order, but didn't comment. He just nodded and started the truck. "Sure thing, Tony."
His brother just shook his head. "Don't think I'm letting you off so easy, Luis. I fully expect to see you at the house tomorrow. We need to have a serious talk about this."
Luis tightened his grip on the wheel then reached down and threw it in gear. "I'm not a little kid anymore, Antonio. I don't need a lecture from you."
"You obviously need one from someone Luis!" Antonio said as he stepped back from the truck. "We'll talk about this tomorrow."
Luis just gave him a go to hell look then turned his attention back to the road and pressed on the gas. He knew tomorrow his brother would give him one hell of a lecture and he was not looking forward to it. He wouldn't be at all surprised if Papa wasn't in on the lecture too. That always seemed to be the case. If Antonio thought he did wrong then Papa and Mama usually thought so too. It didn't even matter if they had no idea what he'd done, they just took Antonio's word.
"Luis?" Sher said quietly beside him. "I'm sorry I caused you so much trouble tonight. What happened a few minutes ago was just as much my fault as it is yours and I really hope you tell your brother that tomorrow."
Luis looked over at her and was disappointed to find that she wasn't even looking at him. "Sher, I'm the one that lost my head tonight. All you did was follow my lead."
Sher turned toward him regret in her eyes. "Are you sure about that Luis? Because if you recall I'm the one that usually instigates these situations."
That was true, but what happened between them tonight was his fault. He was the one that had kissed her. He knew what that kiss would lead to, what it always led to with Sher. Damn, he thought running a hand through his hair, tonight was definitely a first for him. He'd never been so carried away that he forgot where he was. Making out on the side of the road like a damn horny teenager was not the way he usually did things. Hell, he hadn't even done this when he was a teenager. He'd always been more responsible when he had sex. No one would believe him of course. His reputation had seen to that. Hell, he'd probably only been with half the girls everyone thought he had.
Yeah, he dated a lot of women, but he didn't sleep with them all. And none of them had ever made him loose control the way Sher always seemed to do. Not even Beth and at one time, he had thought he was in love with her. Hell, he had even gone so far as to buy her a damn engagement ring. But that was before he found out that she had cheated on him... with Josh, a guy that was supposed to be one of his best friends. That god he'd never actually given her the ring. No one, but Theresa even knew he had bought it and the only way Theresa knew is because she had helped him to pick it out.
Luis shook his head. Now was not the time to be reliving the past. "Sher, you may have instigated what happened in that pool this afternoon and in your bedroom yesterday, but tonight in this truck? That was my fault. I'm the one started it with that kiss. I swear I just meant to kiss you, but well every time we kiss things seem to get out of control."
Sher gave a small smile. "I know. I'm not sorry it happened, Luis. I'm just sorry it didn't happen someplace else. Someplace that we would not have been interrupted."
He groaned inwardly. "Sher doesn't it bother you that we don't even know each other? I mean you really don't know anything about me and I know I don't know much about you. Don't you think you should take the time to get to know each other before you hop into bed with someone?"
"Do you take the time to get to know every woman you sleep with?" She asked.
He shifted in his seat and ran a hand over his sore jaw. There was no way he was going to answer that question. No way in hell. Sher was different from the women he had been with before. She made him feel different. He genuinely liked her. Not because she was so bold in her pursuit, but because she was a refreshing change. She didn't hide what she wanted. She went after it and he admired that, but at the same time, it drove him completely crazy. "Sher you are not like those other women. You're Ethan's cousin and -"
"The fact that I'm Ethan's cousin" She said interrupting him yet again. "shouldn't have any bearing whatsoever on us having sex."
"But it does." He said turning onto the road that led to the Crane Estate. "If you weren't Ethan's cousin things would be a lot different, but the fact remains that you are. Ethan is my best friend and I won't do anything to jeopardize that. I'm sorry."
He could feel her studying him, but he refused to look at her. He was doing what was right. He wanted to be with her so much it hurt, but he knew that he couldn't offer more than a few nights in bed. So far, that seemed to be all she wanted, but he couldn't take the chance that one day she would want more. If that happened then he would only end up hurting her. There was no way he would give his heart to another woman. There was just no way.
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Luis stopped in front of the main house then shut off the engine and turned to look at her. "Sher -"
"Don't Luis." She said placing her fingers over his lips. "I know what you're going to say and I don't want to hear it. I want you and I know you want me. That's just a fact neither one of us can seem to control or ignore. And you know what I don't want to. I should warn you now that I'm not going to give up. I plan to change your mind."
Luis appeared stunned for a moment. She smiled then before he had a chance to say anything she opened her door and stepped out into the night air. She was halfway toward the house when Luis caught up with her. His swung her around to face him and the intensity she saw in his eyes took her by surprise. "You didn't let me finish what I was going to say."
"Luis, I don't -"
"Let me finish." He said placing his right forefinger over her lips. "I do want you. More than I've ever wanted any woman in my life, but -"
"No." She said removing his finger from her lips. "If you want me then there is no buts. I'll deal with Ethan and anyone else in my family that has a problem with it. I want to be with you Luis, just as much as you want to be with me."
"Sher, Ethan isn't my only concern. I don't want to get involved with anyone right now. A few nights of hot sex is one thing, but I know from experience that girls tend to see it as more than that. Eventually, they let their heart get involved and that only leads to pain - for them. Because I can tell you right now, my heart is off limits. It would just be sex, sweetheart, I won't let it go beyond that."
Sher shook her head. What an ego he had. "Who said I was looking to steal your heart, Luis? A few nights of hot sex is fine with me. More than fine actually. That is all I'm looking for too. I just got out of a serious relationship about a month ago and I'm certainly not looking or even ready to get into another one."
Luis searched her eyes for what seemed to be an eternity then he broke out into a sexy grin. He wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her close to his body. "As long as we understand each other then I don't see the harm in us getting better acquainted."
Sher smiled, then pulled his head down to hers. "It's about time you saw things my way."
This kiss was unlike the others they had shared. This one spoke of promises. Not the promise of love, but the promise of passion, intense undeniable passion. She moaned as his tongue traced her bottom lip then again when he slipped it inside to duel with hers. His hands ran over her back and down to her buttocks. He pulled her closer and she could feel his arousal against her belly. But then, a second later, he pulled away from her and she couldn't help but mutter a protest.
He gave a regretful smile. "We had better stop now, sweetheart. Someone could come out and I think we've provided enough entertainment for today."
She laughed and raised a hand to his cheek. "You're right we have. I guess I'll see you tomorrow then?"
He smiled and pulled her into for a quick kiss. "Just try and keep me away. Now that I know we both want the same things there is no way, I'm going to fight it any longer. Tomorrow is Saturday so I have the day off. How 'bout I take you to dinner tomorrow night? I'll pick you up about seven?"
"I'd love to and yes, seven is fine by me." She said with a huge smile on her face.
"Good." He said leaning down for one more quick kiss before letting her go. "I'll see you then."
"I can't wait." She said blowing him a kiss and watching him walk toward his truck. Once he got inside and started the engine, she turned to walk toward the front door. She was just about to open it when Luis said her name. She turned to see him leaning out the window his truck.
"Did I tell you how sexy you looked tonight?" He asked with a devilish gleam in his eye. "Because if I didn't, I sure as hell meant to."
She laughed and started to reply, but before she could, he leaned back inside the truck and started backing up. When he got to the end of the driveway, he waved. She smiled and waved back then watched him drive off. Once she couldn't see his truck anymore, she turned and opened the front door. She couldn't wait until tomorrow. She just knew they were going to have a good time.
Sighing happily she walked up the stairs toward her room, but not before stopping at Ethan's room to tell him she was home and that she was all right. She knew he wanted to ask what happened, but she had no desire to get into it right now. She could do that in the morning. Right now, the only thing she wanted to do was crawl into bed and dream. Dream of tomorrow night and her first date with Luis.
To Be Continued...