around her waist. The effort of putting one foot in front of the other tugged her out of the sensual haze she’d slipped into. What was she doing? She’d kissed John again. Kissing him one time could be seen as an accident. Kissing him twice? That was deliberate.
She wanted to kiss him again, too. What had come over her? She must be in the grip of some kind of madness. Still, she wasn’t going to pull away from the warm embrace of his arm. Instead she rested her hand on his, enjoying the closeness.
At the elevator he pressed the button. “Are we going down to the lobby?”
He looked rather disheveled from her running her hands all over him. She probably did, too. “No need to. The elevator also leads directly into my suite.”
“Oh, good.” Her own words made her blink. She was glad about him taking her to his private apartment?
Yes. She was. Which didn’t make any sense at all. She should insist on going straight to her car and back to her hotel for a cold shower.
They stepped into the unpleasantly bright space of the elevator and she shielded her eyes from the shining mirrors by leaning against his chest as he pressed the button. His suite was on the highest floor, right beneath the roof terrace, so in a few seconds the doors opened and they stepped out, right into his suite.
“Do strangers from the hotel ever press the wrong button and end up in your room?”
He smiled and shook his head. “You have to enter a code to go to this floor or the terrace. Don’t worry. No one will disturb us.”
They stepped out into his suite. A wide foyer led into a spacious living room with a wall of windows. Comfortable sofas faced what must have been an impressive view in daylight. Shelves held a collection of photographs and objects. She was curious about the things he had gathered in his home, but he led her past them and through another door into his bedroom. Decorated in a simple, masculine style, the room held nothing but a low platform bed and a dresser. Three wooden masks hung on the wall opposite. She stared at them for a moment. “Don’t you feel weird with these faces watching you?”
He laughed. “They’re hundreds of years old. I’m sure they’ve seen it all before.”
No doubt they’d seen a lot right here in John’s bedroom. She glanced warily at the bed. How many women had writhed in his arms there? Was she really going to be the next in a long procession of girls who succumbed to his seemingly irresistible charms? What was she doing? She knew she shouldn’t be here, but she didn’t want to be anywhere else.
John turned to her, slid his arms around her waist and held her close. He was several inches taller, so he had to incline his head to kiss her. Her mouth rose effortlessly to meet his and the kiss drew her back into that private realm where nothing else really mattered.
John sensed her doubts even as he kissed her. Constance could hardly believe she was here in his bedroom. He could hardly believe it either. Still, his disbelief mingled with a sense of wonder as he held her close and kissed her with feeling.
She didn’t have much experience. He could tell that by her sense of surprise and her awkward reaction to his simple advances. Somehow that only stoked his passion. This beautiful woman had been quietly living her life, free from desire and its complications, peering into corporate records and keeping her heart safe.
Constance was like a safe with a long and complicated combination, and his fingers itched to turn the dial until she clicked open for him. The image appealed to him. He wanted to unlock the door to her heart and let himself in.
He helped her carefully out of her suit jacket and laid it on the chair. Her blouse had a silky texture and he could feel the warmth of her body through it, so he let himself enjoy the sensation of her skin through the fabric while he kissed her.
Then he started to unbutton it. First just one button. Then another kiss. Then the second button. More kissing. Her eyes opened slightly as he went for the third button, and the sparkle of excitement in them fired his arousal.
Her hands roamed under his shirt, feeling the muscle along his back. When they dipped into the waistband of his pants, the sudden rush of sensation made him gasp. He was so hard it was difficult to be patient and careful with her, but that was the only way to unlock her closely guarded safe and enjoy the intimacy he craved. He knew he’d blow everything if he tried to rush. He wanted this to be as enjoyable for her as he knew it would be for him.
He guided her to the edge of the bed and sat her gently down, then knelt in front of her and pulled her shirt back to reveal her bra. She watched him curiously, eyes shining, as he lowered his mouth over her breast and dampened the fabric of her bra with his tongue. Already firm, her nipple thickened under his caress, and she let out a small murmur of pleasure.
She ran her fingers through his hair, encouraging him as he licked and sucked first one breast and then the other. Then he lowered his head to trace a line down toward her belly button. She inhaled sharply as he reached the waistband of her skirt.
“Lie back,” he murmured, stroking her cheek with his thumb.
She blinked, not questioning anything, then eased herself down onto the soft bedcover. Her thighs clenched together as he unbuttoned the top of her skirt—which opened at the side—and started to slide it down her shapely legs.
He wanted to tell her to relax, but had a feeling that words might have the opposite effect. Sometimes it was better to touch than talk.
The removal of her skirt revealed pretty lace-trimmed panties that rather surprised him. He’d expected utilitarian cotton. And she must have bought them since the fire. Had she known he’d see and enjoy them? Had she bought them for him? It was hard to imagine, but the thought made him smile.
He didn’t part her legs, which she still pressed together tightly, although he longed to taste her through the lacy fabric. Instead he kissed her thighs, her knees and her legs right down to her toes. She softened and relaxed as he traveled along her smooth skin.
He ventured tentatively toward her female center, wanting to explore every delicious inch of her. The soft silk of her panties didn’t conceal the heat radiating from her core. She flinched slightly as he flicked his tongue over her, then whimpered softly as he sucked her through the delicate fabric.
Once she was thoroughly relaxed and pulsing with heat and pleasure, all resistance kneaded away, he slid off her shirt. She eagerly reached for his shirt buttons, tugging at them, as a smile spread across her face. Her hungry energy surprised him. She wanted to see him naked almost as much as he wanted to be naked with her. Together they undid his belt and shed his pants, and pulled off his shirt. Then she hesitated, frowning slightly, staring at his briefs.
He was aroused almost to the point of madness, and it showed. He wondered for a second if she’d freeze up and try to backtrack—something that just might kill him at this moment. Instead he almost died anyway when she slid her fingers inside the waistband of his underwear and took hold of him.
* * *
Constance couldn’t remember being this aroused ever. Part of her couldn’t believe she had her fingers wrapped gently but firmly around John’s impressive erection. The rest of her really wanted to feel him inside her right now.
She
