Sea Kissed, A Crane Series Romance: Crane Series by Nancy Warren Page B

expression in Steve’s eyes, and thought,
What am I doing?
It was her turn to grab a twenty dollar bill for a seven dollar cab ride and toss it into the front, with a hurried thanks.
    “Evening, Mr. Jackson.”
    “Hi, Ralph.”
    The doorman nodded to Lise.
    “There’s a good crowd up on top tonight,” he said. Steve stopped and stared at the doorman.
    “He means in the bar on top of your hotel,” she explained. “It’s usually busy on Fridays.”
    “That’s right, miss. Wonderful view of the city from up there.”
    “Thank you,” she said. “Good night.”
    “There’s only one view I want tonight,” Steve said in an urgent undertone.
    “Shh,” she said as they broke Olympic speed records racing to the elevator. Once the silver doors shut them in and they were fortunately alone, she wondered if he’d lunge for her the way she’d half-suspected he might in the cab. He didn’t. But the way he looked at her had the clothes damn near melting off her body. Maybe his hands didn’t touch her, or his lips, but his gaze touched her everywhere, igniting tiny flames across her skin. Anticipation, she decided, was the most potent aphrodisiac of all. He was staring at her body blatantly, and she felt all her womanly bits do their best to flirt with him. Her nipples fluttered to coy attention, her pulse thrummed to some ancient jungle beat, and her belly was growing heavy and warm with excitement.
    “I’ve wanted you since the minute I saw your breast pop out of your dress,” he said softly.
    And darned if both of her breasts didn’t do their level best to toss themselves out for him a second time. She heard a soft sigh and realized that it was hers.
    “It’s been driving me crazy that I saw only one. I want to see them both.” He stopped to drag in a hungry breath. “I want to touch them.”
    “Mmm.”
    “And taste them.” Oh, this was more foreplay than she’d had in her entire last relationship. She was so hot it was all going to be over before they hit his suite. She should have booked him on a lower floor.
    “I wanted you before we even met, when I first saw your picture,” she admitted, finally recognizing that had been the source of her dissatisfaction at first seeing the eight-by-tens.
    She’d felt not so much like Cinderella looking into the face of Prince Charming, but like one of the ugly stepsisters knowing that her foot would never fit the dainty glass slipper and that there could never be a chance for her. But even as she’d wanted him so much, she’d felt twitchy and restless.
    “Then I saw you in person.”
    “And?”
    “And I only wanted you more.”
    “That’s good.”
    “I guess.”
    “I’ve never had sex with anyone who wasn’t Australian before,” he said, looking momentarily shocked.
    “I’ve never had sex with anyone who wasn’t American,” she realized.
    “Christ, I hope I get it right.”
    They’d hit his floor, but the ding of the arriving elevator didn’t come close to blocking out her snort of laughter. She’d been petrified of disappointing him, and even his half-joking admission of his own fears had her relaxing. Maybe it was the way he’d kissed her earlier. Maybe it was the way he’d talked so sensibly at dinner, but somehow, she knew this was going to be okay. They left the elevator together but the hurry had dispersed. It was as though something momentous were about to happen and they wanted to savor every minute. Or the anticipation was so strong they wanted to draw it out. Or they were so scared they’d mess it up that they were in no hurry to dive between the sheets.
    He pulled out his key card and they entered the room. He flipped on a lamp and in the pool of golden light he appeared mysterious, his eyes dark and serious but oh, how they pulled her to him.
    “Do you want a drink?” he asked.
    “No. I just want to get the first time over with.” She gasped when she realized she’d said those words aloud, feeling herself blush scarlet. “I