she could remember. But she finally had to admit she didn’t have a clue. “It’s something in French.” She absently chewed her bottom lip, shook her head and once again looked around where they stood.
“How about coming to my place? We can have a bite to eat, make some tea and I’m sure your memory will come back.”
The delicious drinks were clouding her mind. Even outside in the evening air, her head was still spinning.
“You know you really are a very nice man.”
“Don’t think I’m too nice,” he said, taking her hand and leading her down the darkened street. “Not when I have a beautiful woman in my arms.”
Since she had never been considered beautiful in her life, his words struck her as funny. Tallie couldn’t stop the giggle from leaving her throat.
She felt light on her feet, as though she was floating on air. Then she realized that he’d picked her up and was carrying her in his arms. After that, everything was a blur. A bell dinged and doors opened in front of them. She rested her head on his shoulder thinking what an incredible night it had been.
She caught a glimpse of his face through the darkening shadows. So very male. The deep indentions on both sides of his mouth seemed to make him that much more delicious. But it was those golden eyes that consumed her.
She had a vague realization that they were in a private apartment, although there was no light in the room. He set her on her feet.
“I’ll put that tea on,” he said and stepped back from her.
Tallie stepped forward, her hands running down the front of his shirt. Standing on her tiptoes, she placed her lips on his. The passion between them surged.
He pulled back. “Be very careful of what you ask for, darlin’. You’re playing with fire and you’re likely to get burned. I don’t do relationships.”
“What do you do?” Tallie was acting out of character, but it felt good. For the first time in her life she was actually flirting with a man.
“I think I’d better make the tea.”
“Do you really want tea?”
He stared at her in silence. She had her answer and suddenly she felt foolish. She could feel the blush crawl up her neck and cover her face. “I’m not looking for a relationship, either,” she said, turning away and picking up her purse. “And I know when I’m not wanted. Thanks again for the dance. Good night.”
Tallie walked toward the door.
Before she could open it he was in front of her, ensuring the door remained closed.
“Where are you going?”
“Back to my hotel. I’m just having a little trouble remembering where it is.” The humiliation burned inside like acid, acting as anti-venom for the passion she’d felt only moments ago. It stopped her from doing anything else stupid but couldn’t reverse the damage already done. She should never have accepted his offer to dance. “I’ll get a taxi.”
“And tell them to go where?”
He took her purse from her hand and tossed it behind them on the sofa. Then he picked her up again and carried her to a bedroom, setting her down gently next to the bed. His lips found hers again in a smoldering kiss. She was dimly aware he was unbuttoning her blouse. She sensed coolness against her back and a freedom from any restrictions and hazily realized he had removed her blouse and her bra. She ran her arms across the cool, silken sheets. The scent of incense hung heavy in the air around them. With one fluid movement his jacket and T-shirt hit the floor and she heard the zipper on his jeans.
His body was magnificent and Tallie knew they were about to cross a line, one that seemed to be growing blurrier by the second. If she didn’t say no immediately, he was going to make love to her.
As if sensing her apprehension, he raised his head, watching her through the dim glow of the subdued lighting, his eyes almost black with desire.
Her gaze moved over his face, finally coming to rest on his mouth.
“Are...are you married?” she whispered, running one finger across his bottom lip.
“No.” He lightly bit the tip of her finger before sucking it gently into his mouth and then releasing it. A shot of pure heat speared through her. “I’m going to make love to you. But I need to know you’re okay with this.”
“Yes,” she said. More than he might ever know. Any other time her timidity would step in and she wouldn’t think of admitting such a thing. She wasn’t sure if it was the alcohol she’d consumed or the man.
“I was hoping you would say that.”
Bracing his weight on both his arms and one knee, he hovered over her, kissing her cheek and trailing his teeth across her jawline, causing a surge of heat to flood her lower regions.
Oh, yes. She was very sure she wanted this. To hell with caution and rational thinking. She reached out to touch his face and felt the coarse five-o’clock shadow. In his arms she ached, overwhelmed with the feeling she was incomplete, needing him to make her whole. He kissed the palm of her hand then proceeded to suckle her fingers one finger at a time. His heavy body settled over hers. She felt his erection, hard and unyielding against her core, and heard him emit a deep growl. Pure liquid heat ran through her veins and Tallie was lost. Her head fell back on the pillow as the world spun. She pressed against him out of pure instinct, needing more, her body demanding it.
This incredible man was about to make love to her. And she was going to let him. A complete stranger. She’d gone around the bend to insanity. She inhaled a deep breath, the need for him destroying the last of her common sense. Her body was on fire. Was she dreaming? Or was this her prince charming in disguise? In this moment it didn’t matter. She was his. And she really couldn’t imagine anything better.
He stripped her of her jeans and panties in short order. She heard his own jeans hit the floor and then he was back. The strands of gold, blue and red beads fell around her breasts. They felt cold compared to the heat that was raging through her. His hand slid down over her stomach and farther, testing to ensure she was ready for him. He adjusted his body over hers. She knew a moment of panic as she noted the immense size of him. She wouldn’t be able to compete with his overpowering strength. She suddenly felt small and helpless as she realized she would have no control.
“This is your last chance to say no,” he told her, as if reading her mind, his voice both deep and hoarse with emotion. His breathing was shallow. She felt the blunt end of his sex positioned at her core. “Once I’m inside you, I can’t guarantee I’ll be able to stop.”
All Tallie could do was nod her head and hope her instincts about this man were right. She wanted this. Just once in her life she wanted to be with a man who could give her the experience she’d previously only heard about. Just once.
In what seemed to be slow motion, his lips again descended, finding and suckling her breast. His large hand kneaded the other, gently pinching her swollen nipple, making her arch her back as she swelled under his touch. Then he cupped her head in his hands, as though holding her where she needed to be. She inhaled the raw scent of him, lost in the heady potency that surrounded him. She felt her body relax, her mind clear of all thought, accepting what was to come without any thought of denying him what she knew he was about to take. The breath left her lungs on a sigh as the world grew dark and he was all that existed.
He pushed inside and the last remnant of her mind disappeared. Even though he went slowly, careful not to hurt her, she’d never been filled to such a degree. She hadn’t realized how muscular he was; how much bigger his body felt against hers. She inhaled a shuddering breath. As if understanding, he stopped.
“Take it easy, hon,” he whispered against her ear. “Just let yourself relax.”
Seconds passed and the pressure turned to incessant need. When she pushed against him, he began to move. Deeper. Harder. It sent her spiraling