When I walked into the bar two nights ago to meet with the Leighton mayor, who’d been a long-time friend, I’d given up hope of hearing from her. The mayor had requested my assistance on a charity project he’d initiated with an orphanage. Yet, nothing could’ve prepared me when I wished him goodbye and stood to find my gaze clashing with a face that had haunted my dreams since our meeting at the airport. I wanted her, and I wasn’t afraid to admit how much to anyone who’d listen.
“Hey. Did you hear me?”
I looked up from my drink to meet Lisa’s wide smile. “Sorry.”
“She’s here.” She gestured with her chin to the door.
I kept my expression neutral but couldn’t stop the hard thump of my heart. As though connected to a live wire, my whole body sparked back to life. I forced myself to slow down my breathing as I struggled to get oxygen into my lungs. It took every ounce of willpower not to swing around like an infatuated teenager. Slowly, with the grace of a man my age, I stood and turned.
The breath caught in my throat for just a moment. My steps measured, I walked toward her. A sensual smile parted her pink lips when her eyes lifted to meet mine. My gaze traveled the length of her body in a slow admiration. God, she was breathtaking. I couldn’t tell whether her dress was blue or green, but against the light from the chandelier that hung above her, it made the hue of her eyes almost turquoise. I'd seen the ponytail and chic bun in our previous encounters. Now, big curls played around the middle of her back and enhanced a heart-shaped face with minimal make-up.
“Hi.” She fidgeted with her dress, and I smiled. “Your coat.” She held it out.
“It’s yours now.” I took it from her and placed it over her shoulders.
“I can’t—” I placed a finger over her lips.
“When you wear it, you’ll think of me.” She smiled. “I’m glad you came.” I leaned in for a soft kiss to her lips, and her breath hitched. “Relax, Princess,” I whispered in her ear as I slid an arm around her waist and guided her outside to my waiting car.
“I am relaxed.”
I laughed. “If this is you relaxed, I can only imagine how you’d react when my hands slide over these beautiful curves, naked, of course.” I caught the flare in her eyes before she lowered her gaze.
When we were seated, she took off the coat and placed it on the seat. As the car began moving, I handed her a glass. “To us.” She nodded and downed the drink quickly. I chuckled. “Definitely relaxed.” I raised a brow. “Do I make you that nervous?” She shook her head. “Would tequila help?” Again her eyes flared, her laugh almost a tinkle.
I ran a thumb over my bottom lip, delighting in the way her eyes followed the movement. “I got you something.” I reached for the box I’d left on the seat and handed it to her.
A deep frown creased her brow. “What is it?”
I switched on a light behind her. “You’d have to open it and see.”
Her cheeks flushed, she accepted the box and opened it. “Wow,” the soft gasp slipped through her pink lips. She ran a finger over the five-strand pearl necklace around a sapphire brooch centerpiece. A small smile played around her lips. “Why do I get the feeling I’ve seen this before?” She looked up, her perception a little intriguing.
“It’s designed around Lady Diana’s famous seven strand brooch necklace.”
Even in the dimly lit interior, her eyes glittered like that of a child marveling over a much-anticipated toy. “Oh, yes. The brooch was a gift from the Queen Mother when Diana married Charles.” I nodded. It’s beautiful, and thank you.” She pulled her teeth between her lip, closing the box. “But I can’t accept this.” She handed me the box and reached for her glass.
I eyed her with something akin to surprise. I knew plenty of women who’d bend over backward to get their hands on this piece of jewelry. Since it was designed a couple of years ago and despite numerous requests from my marketing team for it to be sold, I decided that it deserved to be worn by a special lady, just like Diana. I didn’t know who she was, but one look at Sia told me I’d found her.
“Why not?”
“Besides the fact that I don’t wear jewelry, it’s way too expensive for my taste.”
I chuckled. Her honesty was refreshing. “Even if I said it would make me extremely happy?”
I took another drink, almost choking on it when she said, “I can think of a few ways to make you extremely happy.” The sinful innocence of her smile had my heart stumbling in my chest.
I was so fucked.
I took a deep breath to rein in the desire that clouded my brain since catching sight of her at the entrance to the bar. I wanted to do a lot of things with this beautiful woman, and none of it entailed fucking her in the back seat of my car. Just like a vintage bottle of wine, opened for the first time, she deserved to be tasted and savored with each decadent sip.
“Come here, Sia.” I indicated the seat next to me. When she did as I asked, I traced a slow finger over her wrist. Her pulse tapped a quick dance against the pad of my finger. “Can I kiss you?”
She glanced up at me. “Would I be able to stop you?”
I leaned closer. “Be careful what you offer me, princess.”
“Why?” She licked her lips. The enticing action stole my gaze. “Isn’t that what you want tonight? All of me?”
I flicked my eyes back up to hers. Jesus, this woman had no idea the control it took for me not to give in to my need to fuck her hard. Just thinking about it had blood rushing to my cock. I’d been so good at denying myself. Resisting urges placed in my path every day, I’d turned a blind eye on the pleasures the world had to offer, yet Sia was one hell of a decadence the universe seemed intent on offering me. I just had to reach out and take it.
I sucked in a breath, leaned forward, and took her mouth. I slid my tongue against the seam of her lips, and she parted them for me. My kiss was anything but sweet. Filled with a voracious hunger, I owned her mouth, letting her feel my need to possess, to dominate her. I held nothing back, demanding everything she had to offer and more. She leaned into me, kissing me back, opening wider until our tongues danced in perfect harmony. I tasted all of her, all of her desire, and she didn’t resist. When she wrapped her arms around my neck and slipped her fingers into my hair, I circled her waist, drawing her closer while my free hand slid her dress up.
I trailed a lazy path from her knee to where her hip met her thigh, enjoying the silky smoothness. With each inch higher, she shivered. Goosebumps followed in the wake of my touch. When I stroked the soft cotton covering of her panty, she whimpered. Her heat radiated through the thin material. And when I moved my hand away, she tensed, waiting. I didn’t give her what she wanted. Instead, I ran my fingers in lax circles along her thigh.
“Please.” God, her moans were sweet, an aphrodisiac in their calling. Her head tipped back, drowsy blue eyes lifting to mine. A gradual smile widened lips, swollen from my kiss, making me want to continue nibbling at the lush bottom curve.
“What do you want?”
“You.” Her hand slid up my thigh and over my crotch, her touch tentative.
“Show me.” I flicked my gaze to her hand and back up to her eyes. While I was teasing her, I was tormenting myself. When she rubbed her hand along the length of my cock, I groaned. I needed to be inside her. My hand covered hers, pressing down lightly, guiding her fingers over me.