typical Would you like to come in for a drink? awkwardness.
Nick placed his arm around her back as they ascended the front steps. She unlocked the door and went inside, hoping he hadn’t noticed the way the key had shaken in her hand. He followed her to the adjoining living room, where she dropped her purse and wrap into a chair. When she turned back around, he was closer than she’d expected.
“Come here,” he said.
CHAPTER 5
Beth stepped into the circle of his arms and raised her hands to his chest, laying them flat against the steady beat of his heart. She’d imagined how the taut muscles would feel against her palms a dozen times in the past three days. Even as they’d danced tonight, she had wanted to glide her fingers across his upper body and over his shoulders to feel the raw power beneath.
In her dreams those shoulders were bare and she’d kissed every last inch, tasting his skin as she went. The perfect combination of sweet and salty.
His heartbeat sped beneath her palms and brought her back to the present. She realized she had been staring at her hands, his chest, licking her lips. The intensity in his eyes told her she wasn’t the only one daydreaming. Beth rose up on her toes and melted into his embrace. And as her eyes closed, her remaining senses awakened.
His potent touch was soft, his smooth lips slowly moving across hers in a whispering glide. His tongue gently stroked, coaxing her to part for him. A quiver ran through her body as she felt his grip on her waist tighten. She took her time as she slid her hands up and around the back of his neck, her fingers skimming the edge of his hairline.
This kiss was different, so much more than the one they’d shared earlier in the evening. He tasted like wine and coffee and his breath still held a hint of the brisk winter air. His body radiated heat that intensified the deep woodsy spice of his cologne.
Their tongues leisurely mated in a seductive dance that made her knees weak. No rush, no frenzy. Just a slow burn that grew at her core as her insides uncoiled and began a silent plea for more. She heard a soft moan, and then realized the sound had come from her own throat. He answered with a smile she felt against the corner of her lips.
She felt suspended in time, losing herself in the feel of his mouth as it traveled over her cheekbone, nibbled on the edge of her earlobe, and made its way to the hollow at the base of her neck. His hands, one splayed across her back and the other around her waist, pressed every inch of their bodies together.
When his mouth came back to hers, she opened her eyes and found him staring. She couldn’t hide the desire that burned through every nerve ending in her body, nor did she try.
A war raged within her—what she wanted versus what she knew she had to do. She could ask him to stay. Every ounce of her body screamed with applause at the thought. The way he kissed, with such soft and gentle caress, paying attention to every nuance and reaction she gave, told her he’d be an amazing lover. Nothing like what she’d had in the few serious relationships of her past.
She forced the hand at the back of his head to relax and let go of the silky hair she’d been running her fingers through. Then she lowered both hands to the top of his shoulders without breaking their gaze.
“I should be going.” His lips were so close to hers she felt the air as he spoke. Then his mouth touched hers again.
She kissed him back in short, playful strokes until a smile emerged and she felt his hand loosen its hold on her back, moving to her waist. She slid her fingers to the center of his chest.
“Thank you for dinner.” She felt an awkward shyness she hadn’t expected. She didn’t want him to let go, to move away. Everywhere they touched tingled in a beautiful medley of delight.
“You’re very welcome.” He grinned as if he knew what she was thinking. Or maybe he felt the same way.
Clearing his throat, his hands moved to
Nick placed his arm around her back as they ascended the front steps. She unlocked the door and went inside, hoping he hadn’t noticed the way the key had shaken in her hand. He followed her to the adjoining living room, where she dropped her purse and wrap into a chair. When she turned back around, he was closer than she’d expected.
“Come here,” he said.
CHAPTER 5
Beth stepped into the circle of his arms and raised her hands to his chest, laying them flat against the steady beat of his heart. She’d imagined how the taut muscles would feel against her palms a dozen times in the past three days. Even as they’d danced tonight, she had wanted to glide her fingers across his upper body and over his shoulders to feel the raw power beneath.
In her dreams those shoulders were bare and she’d kissed every last inch, tasting his skin as she went. The perfect combination of sweet and salty.
His heartbeat sped beneath her palms and brought her back to the present. She realized she had been staring at her hands, his chest, licking her lips. The intensity in his eyes told her she wasn’t the only one daydreaming. Beth rose up on her toes and melted into his embrace. And as her eyes closed, her remaining senses awakened.
His potent touch was soft, his smooth lips slowly moving across hers in a whispering glide. His tongue gently stroked, coaxing her to part for him. A quiver ran through her body as she felt his grip on her waist tighten. She took her time as she slid her hands up and around the back of his neck, her fingers skimming the edge of his hairline.
This kiss was different, so much more than the one they’d shared earlier in the evening. He tasted like wine and coffee and his breath still held a hint of the brisk winter air. His body radiated heat that intensified the deep woodsy spice of his cologne.
Their tongues leisurely mated in a seductive dance that made her knees weak. No rush, no frenzy. Just a slow burn that grew at her core as her insides uncoiled and began a silent plea for more. She heard a soft moan, and then realized the sound had come from her own throat. He answered with a smile she felt against the corner of her lips.
She felt suspended in time, losing herself in the feel of his mouth as it traveled over her cheekbone, nibbled on the edge of her earlobe, and made its way to the hollow at the base of her neck. His hands, one splayed across her back and the other around her waist, pressed every inch of their bodies together.
When his mouth came back to hers, she opened her eyes and found him staring. She couldn’t hide the desire that burned through every nerve ending in her body, nor did she try.
A war raged within her—what she wanted versus what she knew she had to do. She could ask him to stay. Every ounce of her body screamed with applause at the thought. The way he kissed, with such soft and gentle caress, paying attention to every nuance and reaction she gave, told her he’d be an amazing lover. Nothing like what she’d had in the few serious relationships of her past.
She forced the hand at the back of his head to relax and let go of the silky hair she’d been running her fingers through. Then she lowered both hands to the top of his shoulders without breaking their gaze.
“I should be going.” His lips were so close to hers she felt the air as he spoke. Then his mouth touched hers again.
She kissed him back in short, playful strokes until a smile emerged and she felt his hand loosen its hold on her back, moving to her waist. She slid her fingers to the center of his chest.
“Thank you for dinner.” She felt an awkward shyness she hadn’t expected. She didn’t want him to let go, to move away. Everywhere they touched tingled in a beautiful medley of delight.
“You’re very welcome.” He grinned as if he knew what she was thinking. Or maybe he felt the same way.
Clearing his throat, his hands moved to
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