grown-up Lissa wasn’t what he’d expected. And different from the other women he’d associated with over the years. She didn’t fawn all over him; she had too much dignity. Nor did she give herself unrealistic airs. She was down-to-earth. She had guts. Moxy. Pride. When she’d lost her boat and almost everything she’d owned, she’d picked herself up and moved on.
And. for pity’s sake … when it came down to sheer sexuality, she attracted him like no other.
At that moment some of the guests nearby moved away, giving him a clear view of those attributes. Feminine curves. Shapely legs.
How would those thighs feel wrapped around his waist?
Lust clutched him low and hard and his vision blurred. He grabbed a beer from a waiter’s tray as he headed towards her. When he looked her way again a dude in a shiny gold suit had struck up a conversation with her.
Blake scowled. Typical indoors type—pale skin and smooth manicured hands. Wrong haircut. Apparently it didn’t bother Lissa because her eyes sparkled and that luscious mouth curved as she laughed at something he said.
Then, as if she felt the heat of Blake’s gaze, she turned her head slightly and their eyes met. A ribbon of heat arced across the space between them.
But then Midas Man shifted, leaned closer, blocking Blake’s view. Simmering with impatience, he threw back his beer, plunked the near-empty glass on a marble pedestal bedecked with gold-painted leaves and closed in.
He circled behind her so that he could lay his hand on the middle of her back and lean in close to catch the heat of her skin and inhale her scent. To claim possession. He felt her tense beneath his touch. Then she jerked round, and those stunning eyes blinked. Just once.
‘Blake.’
She sounded surprised. As if she wasn’t expecting to see him there. Damn it. Clearly that look they’d exchanged less than thirty seconds ago hadn’t meant what he’d thought it meant. His impatience reached flash point.
Ignoring her conversation partner, Blake leaned even closer, so that his lips grazed the tip of her ear, and murmured, ‘We need to leave.’
‘Now? But—’
‘Something’s come up.’
‘Oh? What?’
A heart-pounding beat. The tiny space between them crackled with something like static electricity. He knew she knew by the spark of realisation in her eyes, which were focused carefully on his. ‘Oh.’
‘And it needs immediate attention.’
She turned to the Midas Man. ‘Excuse me …’
Her voice trailed off as Blake grabbed her hand and towed her away.
‘What are you doing?’ she muttered breathlessly.
‘Saving you from terminal boredom.’
She shot a quick look behind her. ‘That’s mean, he was very sweet … not to mention mega-rich with a mansion to renovate. And we’re here in a professional capacity …’
‘Don’t change the subject,’ he snapped. His pulse was drumming in his ears. ‘We’re here as Gilda’s friends.’
‘What subject?’
Ignoring her question, he continued tugging her away from the crowd towards a wide chandeliered hallway, past alcoves where Grecian alabaster goddesses posed until he came to a narrower passage. He found the nearest closed door, pulled her inside and slammed it shut behind them. The party noise evaporated. A lone gold candle flickered on the bathroom vanity and he got a glimpse of his own reflection and Lissa’s wide eyes before he turned away.
The sound of the lock turning sounded preternaturally loud in the sudden silence and he heard her sharp indrawn breath as she pressed a hand to her chest.
‘What’s wrong?’
‘I … You startled me for a moment.’
‘You startle easily, party girl,’ he murmured. He could feel the warmth of her body beneath her dress, the silken slide of her arm as he twisted her so that she was wedged between him and the door.
‘What was all that stuff you said earlier about drumming up clients?’ In the dim light he saw her eyes spark as she looked up at him and her voice took on a clipped edge. ‘I noticed you weren’t d—’
‘Shut up and kiss me,’ he said, and laid his lips on that luscious mouth as he’d wanted to do all evening.
AS HIS lips claimed hers, everything else flew out of Lissa’s mind except that this was Blake kissing her and she was kissing him back. His hands on her shoulders, her waist, her hips. His body heat searing her from neck to knee and every place between. His forest-fresh cologne and the musky scent of clean male sweat.
But mostly it was the way he kissed her. Hot with impatience, rich with desire. And with a fast-burning energy that threatened to spontaneously combust her right where she stood. His tongue plunged between her lips then withdrew, and again, making love to her mouth over and over until she felt her legs turning to jelly.
Somehow her desperate arms found their way around his neck, and she clung to him as if he were the one dependable reality in a world gone momentarily crazy.
He lifted his head and watched her through heavy-lidded eyes as he slid one hard palm between her thighs. Anticipation danced along her nerve endings, heat shimmered on her skin and she shivered all over. ‘Yes …’
He continued to watch her as his hand moved higher. As his long fingers found the edge of her panties and crept beneath. As his thumb stroked her swollen sex, just once. Liquid heat rushed to her core and she sucked in a sharp breath as her intimate flesh quivered. ‘Oh, yes.’ Her head fell back against the door and her eyes slid shut.
‘Do you like that?’ His breath tickled as he nibbled her ear lobe.
‘You know … a woman … who doesn’t?’ She wondered vaguely whether she was going to hyperventilate.
He stroked her again, then dipped a finger inside her. Drew it out slowly—a long smooth glide that sent her soaring halfway to the moon. He slid in once more. Two fingers. Deeper, more insistent.
Ribbons of colour played behind her eyelids, she felt the familiar rippling sensation building, building. So soon. a mere touch and she was already on the edge.
‘Look at me,’ he demanded, his voice harsh.
As the wave crashed over her and her internal muscles contracted around his fingers she opened her eyes and tumbled into his gaze. Candle-light flickered over his features and the room smelled of lilacs. ‘Yes, yes, yes-s-s.’ She felt herself start to slide down the wall and clung tighter to his neck.
‘Gotcha.’ With his hands beneath her bottom, he lifted her so that she was pinned against the door. She started wrapping her legs
