undid the seat belt and opened the door, sliding out. Surprised, she saw he was mirroring her actions. He walked round to stand beside her.
‘I thought I’d see you to your door,’ he explained. ‘I wasn’t sure you could manage the stairs.’
She looked up at him, amazed. ‘Of course I can. What do you think I am? Blind drunk?’ Far from it, but she had to admit she did feel wobbly. Food, she reasoned. It was lack of food, not the proximity of the male in front of her.
‘No, but maybe a little tired.’ He laughed. It had the effect she was getting used to, making her meltingly vibrant. ‘Aren’t you?’
He was standing too close. She stood looking up at him, mesmerised as he came even closer.
‘If you’re quite sure you can manage, I’ll leave you,’ he said softly, still coming nearer.
‘Uh-huh,’ she replied, rooted to the spot. He was gorgeous. Tall, sexy, fun. She knew she should be marching straight up those stairs pronto, but she just couldn’t seem to get her legs to work. She stared up at him spellbound.
He reached out and stroked her hair gently. ‘Bye, beautiful,’ he whispered. Then he slid his hand down to the back of her neck in a loose caress, bent his head and kissed her.
It was the merest touch, light as a feather. Soft, warm, sweet, his lips just grazed hers. Then he broke the contact. She drew a sharp breath, her senses kick started and just when she knew she wanted more he returned, stealing the initiative, with full pressure. Firm, insistent, delightful. His hand cradled the back of her neck, his thumb stroking gently. Small sweeps upwards that had her softening, leaning closer, wanting yet more. She felt the weight and warmth of his other hand as it came to rest on her lower back. She wanted to touch him. She couldn’t help but kiss him back. Her mind wouldn’t focus on the fact that this was a really bad idea. It was only interested in the sensations he was stirring.
The hands she had raised in a defensive gesture didn’t push him away. Instead they slid up his chest, feeling the soft wool jumper and the hard muscle it sheathed, and reached around his neck. It was warm and smooth. He stepped closer so their bodies touched, length to length. The impact was so pleasurable she gasped. Opening her mouth to his she tasted him. Their tongues met and entwined and her mind blanked out completely. Her body reacted instinctively, her breasts tightening, tensing, her mouth softening, ripening, wanting him in. Eyes closed, she breathed in the faint lemony scent that was so heady and delicious. Her fingers curled into his hair and she held him to her. Her toes curled in her sandals and tension swelled. The magnetism, their hold, was unbreakable. The simple goodnight kiss became something much, much more.
His hands stroked down her back, pressing her against him. She loved the feel of his hard body against hers, all of it. She melted, her curves fitting to him. She worked her fingers through his hair and pressed herself against him as much as he did against her. Breathless, she trembled and gloried as he tightened his grip in answer. She felt his hands slide down over her skirt, holding her hips to his. Her bones liquefied and an almost intolerable heat washed through her. His hands stroked lower down the length of her skirt, slid under and back up her legs. His fingers encountered the top of her lace stockings and traced over and onto bare flesh. Skin on skin, incandescent. She heard him groan against her mouth as she moved her hips restlessly.
It was the alarm bell she needed. God, what was she doing? She tore her mouth from his and stepped back. Shocked and embarrassed about the ferocity of the kiss, she was unable to meet his eyes. Instead she looked across at the block of flats, begging her body to calm. She feared that if she looked at him again she would throw herself back into his arms.
He had let her pull back and said nothing, but she was aware of his deepened breathing. Her body clamoured for more of that kind of action. That had not been some chaste farewell kiss, it had been the ignition to a passion that would have led to an explosive encounter with only one conclusion. She was not about to have a one-night stand with her best mate’s friend. Especially when she knew him to be a flirt, a good-time guy. No wonder he was such a phenomenal kisser. He had plenty of experience. Attraction turned to anger, more with herself than at him. He was just doing what came natural; her response hadn’t been. No way could the depth of feeling from that one kiss be natural.
‘Goodnight,’ she muttered. She walked away from him, fossicking in her bag for her key as she climbed the stairs. It was not until she was up on the little balcony on her floor that she dared look down at him. He was leaning against the car, one leg resting over the other, his arms crossed, staring up at her. Although it was hard to tell in the gloomy light from the streetlamp nearby, she was sure he was grinning. He waved up at her casually. Agitated, she turned and miraculously got the key in the lock first time. She opened the door and slammed it behind her, not chancing another look back.
Five minutes later she tilted her head to let the hot water beat down on her neck as she showered. She couldn’t help but smile as his teasing lilt rang in her ears, couldn’t help the inner glow as she remembered his smile, couldn’t suppress the shiver as she relived that kiss.
Oh, boy.
Big mistake.
Temptation whispered in her ear. It was Karl. Gina’s friend. She didn’t work with him—it wouldn’t be an office affair. What harm could come from a fling? It had been so long. Basic, carnal lust, of lethal magnitude. Touch an element that hot and you were bound to get burns. Third degree.
And she was leaving in two months’ time. It would be madness to embark on something she sensed could be so strong when who knew how out of control things could get? No fling—not with him. Slow and steady with someone safe, remember? That was what she wanted.
Chapter Two
GRUMPY from lack of sleep she popped a fizzy vitamin tab into a glass of water and knocked it back. She’d have a more substantial breakfast later.
‘What happened to you last night?’ Gina was sitting at her desk munching through a bowl of cereal, her computer switched on and already running through a complicated-looking search request.
Lissa looked at her in surprise. She was almost certain Gina would have spoken to Karl already. She decided to play for time. ‘I wasn’t really up to it. I sat outside for a while and then went home early. What about you?’
Gina eyed her speculatively. ‘I’m sure there’s more to it, you have a guilty look.’
Lissa felt her face flush but dampened down the feelings of embarrassment and focussed on Gina’s own exploits. ‘Well what about you? You must be feeling pretty happy this morning!’
‘Why? Complete opposite, actually.’
‘Why? It looked like things were going great! You guys looked totally hot for each other!’
Gina looked at her, perplexed. ‘What are you talking about?’
‘You and Rory,’ Lissa said impatiently. ‘He couldn’t take his eyes off you.’
‘Rory? He wasn’t even there!’
Lissa’s head snapped back. ‘Yes, he was. I saw him talking to you; tall, dark, wearing a black leather coat.’
‘Oh!’ Gina started to laugh. ‘That wasn’t Rory, that was Karl.’
The earth tilted under Lissa’s feet. ‘Karl?
