Star of His Heart by Brenda Jackson Page B

stared at her. Then finally he said, “First of all, when I made love to you Saturday night, it was the first time I had been intimate with a woman in over six months.”
    She couldn’t stop her mouth from dropping open. Nor could she disguise the flicker of surprise in her eyes. Both were probably what made him continue on to say, “This weekend I needed to get away, so I got up early Saturday morning and drove across the border to Tijuana. Alone. When I got back later that night, I discovered the paparazzi camped out at my place and called you. When I left your apartment Sunday afternoon, I went straight home. I don’t know what make-believe game Tae’Shawna is playing but, unfortunately, it’s not the first time and probably won’t be the last time that some woman claimed we were together or involved in an affair when we weren’t. That’s how those tabloids you don’t read are sold.”
    â€œEthan, I—”
    His sharp tone interrupted her. “The only thing I want to know from you now is whether you believe me or Tae’Shawna.”
    She frowned. “Does it matter?”
    â€œTo me it does.”
    She took a deep, uneven breath as she stared into his eyes, still jarred by his admission that their nighttogether had been his first time in over six months. Her heart was pounding because he indicated what she believed mattered to him. And although she didn’t quite understand why, she was glad that it did.
    As odd as it might seem, she didn’t want him to be involved with women like Tae’Shawna, women who would go so far as to invent a relationship with a man. Or even worse, women like Paige who would try anything to get him into their beds.
    There was one thing that was actually making her feel somewhat warm inside—the fact that he hadn’t wanted any of the model types. He had wanted her. And the strangest thing of all was that she didn’t want any of those other women to have him either.
    She couldn’t explain the thought processes that supported her reasons, especially not to him when they were still somewhat foggy to her. But what she could do was give him the answer he was still waiting for. “I don’t believe you’re involved with Tae’Shawna, Ethan.”
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    Ethan hadn’t realized he was holding his breath until he released it after Rachel had spoken. Why what she believed mattered so much he wasn’t sure, but it did. It might have everything to do with that bond he felt with her. A bond he’d never felt with any other woman. That bond had strengthened when they’d made love. He wondered if she realized it. If she didn’t comprehend it now, he was certain she would later.
    Needing to kiss her, he reached out and pulled her into his arms and captured her mouth with his. All thereasons this weekend had meant so much to him came roaring back to life like a living thing with a mind of its own. It had the ability to push him closer to her even when she wanted to keep him at a distance.
    He tried to steady his heart rate and had almost succeeded until she wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her body closer to his while returning his kiss with equal fervor. Her response was what he had hoped for and definitely what he was enjoying. It wouldn’t take much for him to take her like this, standing up against the wall. He fought the temptation. Instead, he continued to make love to her mouth with a hunger that seemed relentless. The feel of her hardened nipples pressing against his chest was sweet agony, as was the rough texture of her denim jeans rubbing against his hard erection. He continued to fight the temptation, knowing what his body wanted would only lead to trouble.
    That fight was taken out of his hands when they heard the sound of conversation right outside the trailer door and they quickly ended the kiss. He took a deep breath while forcing his body to cool down, which seemed