her wildflower scent. Desire flooded him. She tiptoed, brushing against him, her luscious mouth a breath from his. He let out a stifled groan, made a move to grab her, then stopped. “Not in front of an audience,” he murmured.
Taking her hand, he led her out the closest exit, a side door leading to a thankfully empty deck. She was in his arms before he had time to think. Whether he scooped her up, or she put herself there, wasn’t clear. All he knew was that her sweet mouth beckoned him with an urgency he couldn’t ignore.
He explored her lips with tiny nips and gentle caresses. Then, framing her face with his palms, he ventured farther into her welcoming kiss. She anchored her fingers in his hair and met the tentative stroke of his tongue. For long, drugging moments he lost himself in her warmth.
A small moan escaped her. She moved against him, her breasts pressed to his chest. His hands roamed over her back, then her hips, while he savored her firm contour. Sweet. She was sweet and wild all at once, like nothing he’d ever experienced. Some unnamed emotion rose in him, triggering an innate protectiveness.
Angling his head, he parried the hungry thrust of her tongue and slid his palms up her sides, past her waist. His heart hammered. She shifted, allowing him better access as his thumbs skimmed the lower swells of her breasts.
“Um, ’scuse me guys,” Darcy’s voice sounded behind him.
Noah jerked away from Sabrina. He caught one glimpse of her stunned expression, before turning to the blonde.
Darcy’s gaze wandered sadly over him. “Guess this means you’re not coming back to my place.”
“Darcy, I—”
“It’s okay.” She held up her hand. “All’s fair in love and…you know. I’ll survive. I, um, really wanted to warn you that Cliff is looking for the birthday girl. Something tells me he might not be too pleased to find the two of you playing tongue hockey.”
“No, I don’t imagine he would be.” Sabrina brushed past Noah, stopping beside Darcy. She glanced at Noah and something hard glittered in her eyes. Then she turned to Darcy. “Thanks for the reminder.”
Noah straightened as she turned back to him. God, she was beautiful. Her eyes flashed, pink stained her cheeks and her whole face glowed.
“Seems I lost my head for a moment.” She turned, then pushed through the door, back into the party.
“Now wait a minute!” Noah bolted after her, his heart thudding. He reached for her as she rejoined her group of admirers, but she twisted away, ignoring him.
Turning to one of her entourage, she asked, “Pete, could you drive me home?”
Noah drew up to his full height. The man glanced his way. Noah stared evenly at him, sending a silent challenge. With a shake of his head, Pete shrank back into the sofa cushions.
“For goodness’ sake.” Sabrina glared at Noah.
He glared back. What was she mad about? A moment ago she’d nearly combusted in his arms. “I’ll take you home.”
She smiled a stiff smile and looked beyond his shoulder. “Thank you, but I wouldn’t want to keep you from your…bribe.”
A sick feeling hit the pit of his stomach. He turned to see Darcy at his side.
“Enough.” Noah stepped away from Darcy and reached again for Sabrina. His throat tightened at the flicker of hurt in her blue gaze.
A tall, slender blonde pushed past Mona, who had just arrived, her wide-eyed gaze taking them all in. “I’ll take you,” the slender blonde said. She gave Noah a curious look as she stepped to Sabrina’s side. “Let’s get you out of here.”
“Thanks, Bess.” Sabrina’s hands opened, then closed into fists. Her gaze swept back to Noah. “And thank you, for a most…enlightening evening.”
Noah swallowed. That sick feeling inside him grew. What had he done? “Sabrina—”
“Good night, Mona.” Sabrina gave her a quick hug. “Thanks for the party.”
Mona frowned. “Is everything okay? Are you sure you want to leave so soon?”
“Everything’s fine. It was a wonderful party. Thanks for all your hard work.” Sabrina glanced back again at Noah. “I’m sorry. I’m just really tired.”
Her icy tone sent chills down his spine. Regret rooted him to the floor as she turned with Bess, then left.
TWENTY MINUTES LATER, Sabrina sank into the pile of antique lace pillows strewn across her four-poster bed. She’d spent days scouring dozens of flea markets and antique dealers to find them. She captured one, bunching it between her palms. “That’s it, Bess, the last straw.”
The bed dipped as Bess sat beside her. “I can understand you’re upset, but just because your brother and his partner are jerks doesn’t mean you should toss aside your values.”
Sabrina smashed the pillow into the mattress. “What have my values gotten me?”
“Bree, you’ve got a great life. You own your own business. At twenty-five that’s quite an accomplishment. You have this wonderful apartment, and you’re free to come and go as you please. No strings tying you down.”
“Maybe I want some strings.”
“And getting laid by the first willing male will do that?”
“Hah, willing, there’s the problem. No one wants me because I’m a virgin, so how the hell am I supposed to lose my virginity?” She rolled over and tossed the pillow to the floor. “I don’t know. I just know I can’t go on like I have. Something has to change. I have to change.”
“You’re not the type to have a one-night stand, though. Think about it. When you take on a project, you always go all out. Remember when you wanted to repaint the dining room and ended up holed up in here painting every wall of every room?”
“And the ceilings. Boy, were my arms aching.”
“Then what about the time you wanted to make a shelf for some of your knickknacks and you ended up with…” She gestured to the floor-to-ceiling unit gracing the far wall.
“Who would have thought I had it in me?”
“Then look at the bookstore.”
Sabrina blew out a breath. She’d gone in for a part-time job, then ended up buying the place. “I’d always planned on owning a bookstore once I’d earned my business degree.”
“But you see my point. You won’t be satisfied with a one-night stand. You’ll want a relationship, and trust me, that isn’t the way to start one.”
With a sudden movement, Sabrina sat upright. “See, that’s where you’re wrong. The old Sabrina may have felt that way, but the new me won’t. He took a woman as a bribe, Bess. And did you see her? How am I supposed to compete with that? I’m reinventing myself. Drastic times call for drastic measures.”
She drew herself up. “It’s time I lost my virginity.”
