was this strange awareness between them, which she’d felt the moment he’d turned to face her in the foyer. It was almost a recognition, as if she’d seen him many times, but had never quite caught up with him to start a conversation.
Yet he’d never removed his mask. She knew he had a chiseled jaw to match his well-defined mouth and a solid chest under his lapels, but that was it. The rest of his face remained hidden, like his body, his hopes, his disappointments...the mystery of it whet her appetite for more.
“Ever been on a speed date?” she asked him.
He took a sip of champagne and shook his head. “Can’t say that I have.”
She doubted he’d ever have a need to resort to such a thing. Dating as a whole never worked for her. Men usually fell into three categories: starstruck, unavailable or opportunist.
Rory was firmly in the last category. His rejection had been crushing, especially after losing her voice. She’d thought of all people, he’d understand and would sympathize. That he’d be there for her during the worst crisis of her life. Instead, he couldn’t dump her fast enough. On the bright side, he’d cured her of any desire to have a man in her life permanently.
Which made her masked friend exactly what the doctor ordered.
“I haven’t either, but I always wanted to. It seems like fun.”
“I’m always up for fun. What does it entail?”
She loved the way he talked, like it never occurred to him that normal people’s vocabulary didn’t usually include words like entail. And like it never occurred to him that she hadn’t gone to college. He treated her as if she possessed intelligence. That was potent.
“Well, to the best of my knowledge, there’s a time limit. We have to get to know each other as quickly as possible before the bell rings. It’s designed so you can figure out if you’re compatible in a short period of time.”
He cocked his head, lips pursed. “I already know I like you. Why do we need to have a speed date to figure that out?”
She shook her head, gaze glued to his. A part of her wanted to take this instant attraction to its natural conclusion as fast as possible. But no smart girl jumped into the pool without at least some clue how deep it was.
“Consider it part of the application process. There’s a spark here, and I’m curious to see what happens if we fan it.”
His irises flared. “Just so I’m clear, how does the time limit factor in?”
“Ask as many questions as you want, as fast as you can, and when the timer on my phone goes off, you’re going to kiss me.”
His palm cupped her face, tilting it up to almost meet his. “What if we skip the timer and I kiss you right now?”
“That’s no fun.” She firmly removed his hand from her chin, only to lose it to her hair as he threaded his fingers through the loose curls not caught up in her feather headpiece.
His warm thumb rested in the hollow behind her ear, brushing it lightly. “Clearly you need a refresher on how good my lips feel on yours.”
The shiver went deeper this time, and a nice little hum zipped along her skin, tightening all her erogenous zones into an ache she’d not experienced in a long time. Apparently the speed date was unnecessary to fan the spark.
“Where’s your sense of adventure? Five minutes.”
She pulled her phone from the clutch tied to a string at her waist and tapped up the timer. She set it on the stone ledge behind Matt, then locked onto the ice-blue of his eyes. Anticipation was one of her favorite parts, and she’d happily drag it out as long as she could.
“I’ll go first,” he said. “How many times have you seduced a man on a balcony?”
She couldn’t help but laugh. Was that what she was doing? “Never. I’m making all sorts of exceptions for you.”
“How many times have you seduced a man period?”
“Once or twice. I’m not one to apologize for having a healthy sex drive. Should I?”
“Not to me. Maybe to all the other men down there who are missing out. Your turn.”
“I’m naked. What do you do first?”
“Fall down on my knees and weep with joy. Did you really mean to ask what I’d do second?”
Oh, yeah, she really did like Matt. There was something to be said for a guy who could make her laugh with such regularity. “That is what I meant, and before you get all smart-alecky with me, go ahead and hit me with third, fourth and fifth.”
“Did I buy you dinner first?”
“Who cares? I’m naked or did you forget?”
“Oh, no, my gorgeous little butterfly, I did not forget. I asked because I’m trying to get a solid picture in my head of the scene.”
His hand pressed on her nape, oh-so-slightly, and her head fell back. His lips grazed the corner of her mouth, not quite touching, but close enough to send a frisson of sparkling heat all the way down to her core.
Well, she hadn’t intended for this speed date to descend into foreplay, but okay. It was sizzling. And personal information, like their secret professions, or lack thereof in her case, wasn’t likely to come up.
“Are you naked on a bed after I’ve undressed you?” he murmured against her jaw, breath fanning the uncovered part her of face and making her ache to turn into those lips to complete the connection. “Or naked in the shower and have no idea I’m about to join you? Naked, but asleep and I’m going to awaken you slowly?”
Her lungs hitched. “Cheater. You’ve played this game before.”
She felt his mouth turn up against her cheek. “Let’s assume I’m a quick study. Your answer? I believe that was three questions.”
“It was?”
Who was seducing whom here? And how far did she want this to go? Never had she contemplated such a dangerous liaison with a mysterious man she’d only just met but who touched her on so many levels.
“Bed, shower or asleep? I must know in order to tell you what I plan to do. Or perhaps you’d prefer I show you?”
Yes, yes she would. Except she couldn’t speak, as he slid an arm around her waist, drawing her taut against his warm body. She clutched his shoulders and they were amazing and strong underneath his jacket. “There’s no shower on this balcony.”
“So true,” he murmured. “The alarm’s going off.”
It wasn’t. She didn’t care.
He covered her mouth with his and turned her into liquid mercury for the second time. The man was a master, hot and forceful, and her lips fell open under the divine pressure. He plunged in, tongue skimming against hers, deliciously rough and tasting of champagne.
She
