“It was for me, you know that,” she replied breathlessly, studying him as he watched her. He had one of the most interesting faces and she wished he would let her paint his portrait. The only problem was that she would want to keep it, and that was the last thing she needed in her house right now, especially if she was trying to slow things down.
“I brought you something to remind you of the weekend and to let you know that it was special for me,” he said, handing her a small package.
Surprised, she looked up and smiled. “How sweet you are. You know you didn’t need to do this.”
She untied a silver ribbon and then unwrapped blue paper on a small box. When she opened it, another velvet box was inside. She removed it and took out a thin gold filigree bracelet.
“Garrett, it’s beautiful,” she said, touched and surprised. She looked up at him and then took it out to slip it on, turning her wrist as the candlelight highlighted the gold. “Thank you. It’s lovely and I’ll treasure it.”
“Enjoy it, Sophia, and remember the fun we had.”
“Of course I will,” she said, picking up his hand and leaning forward to brush a light kiss across his knuckles. He inhaled, his chest expanding while desire burned in the depths of his eyes.
All through dinner and later as they danced, desire kept her tingly. Dancing with him was as much fun as everything else. She enjoyed the fast dances; the slow dancing was sexy, tantalizing, making her want to love again. When they stopped and she looked up to meet his gaze, he appeared to be thinking about the same thing she’d been thinking about.
Garrett had a thick steak while she had lobster tail with white wine. Her appetite fled as she watched him in the flickering candlelight. Garrett had ensnared her heart. There was no way she could keep things light with him or hold to her resolution to avoid a relationship. He was important to her and he turned her insides out just looking at him.
By ten, when Garrett asked her if she was ready to leave, she nodded.
At her house, she invited Garrett inside.
“You’ve had the tour, so would you like a drink—a cup of hot chocolate, soda?”
“If you have iced tea, I’ll take that.”
“Two iced teas it is,” she said, heading for the kitchen. She crossed the room to get out glasses.
“Have a seat and I’ll get our drinks. We can go where it’s more comfortable.”
Garrett moved closer and turned her to face him. “Sophia,” he said in a husky voice, and her heart skipped. He leaned down to kiss her while his arm held her waist tightly.
The moment he touched her, her insides clenched and her pulse jumped. She hugged him tightly in return while her intentions to say no to making love vanished.
Nothing seemed as important as kissing and loving him.
“Now you’ll have to show me a bedroom,” he said, kissing her throat.
“There’s one down the hall on this floor,” she said, taking his hand to lead him to the bedroom where he stood her on her feet as he continued kissing her. His hands moved deftly over zippers and buttons, and her skirt floated to her ankles where she stepped out of it.
“This time we’re taking it nice and slow,” he said, taking time to shower kisses on her. He loved her with deliberation, trying to pleasure her and heighten desire every way he could until she was writhing beneath his touch, aching for him.
“Garrett, come here,” she whispered, reaching for him.
He slipped on a condom and lowered himself, slowly filling her, withdrawing and entering again while she arched beneath him.
His loving was slow, a sweet torment that fanned the fires he had already ignited.
He was beaded with sweat, trying to maintain control until finally he let go and loved furiously.
She cried out as she climaxed and in seconds he shuddered with his release.
Gradually her heartbeat returned to normal and her breathing grew quiet. They helped each other up and went to shower together, drying each other off only to return to bed. He pulled her into his embrace, holding her while he combed her hair with his fingers.
“Garrett, I didn’t know it could be this way,” she confessed. “I couldn’t say no to you.”
“I hope you never can,” he whispered, kissing her temple while he held her against his heart with his arms wrapped around her. “This is perfect, Sophia.”
“You might as well stay tonight. There’s no reason not to.”
“I’m glad to hear you say that. I’m surprised you asked me.”
“I surprised myself, but it seems logical. And my bracelet is beautiful. Thank you again.”
“Just remember our weekend together.”
“I will always. There’s no way I can forget it.”
He gazed into her eyes. “I hope you don’t. It was special to me.” He kissed her lightly. Though he’d told her many times before, his words thrilled her. She ran her hands over his shoulders, relishing being with him.
At two in the morning, he partially sat up. “I’m ready now for that cup of hot chocolate you offered. Is it still in the offering?”
“Of course. You have to wait a minute because I’m putting on a robe.”
“That takes away the fun.”
“Otherwise, we’ll never get to the hot chocolate.”
“True enough.”
She stood, wrapping herself in a comforter and going to get a robe. “I’ll meet you in the kitchen.”
He grinned and waved, his gaze roaming over her as if mentally peeling away the comforter.
“You look gorgeous.”
“It’s my beautiful gold bracelet,” she replied, holding out her arm and letting the bracelet catch glints of light. Smiling, she left to go upstairs and get her best robe, a black velvet robe with a silk lining. She brushed her hair and went down.
When she entered the kitchen, Garrett already had mugs with steaming cocoa on the table. Dressed in his white shirt and slacks again, he gazed at her, then walked to meet her and place his hands on her waist. His white shirt was unbuttoned halfway and she wanted to run her fingers through the hair on his chest. He had turned the fancy French cuffs back and he looked sexy.
“You look far too gorgeous for that to be called a bathrobe. And far too sexy for that to not be for the benefit of some man.”
“You know absolutely there hasn’t been a man—until now. It’s my best warm and comfy bathrobe.”
“I’m glad you said ‘until now’ and I hope it stays
