she revealed too much, she took a sip and closed her eyes as the fruity flavors burst in her mouth. She couldn’t suppress the sigh that escaped her. That was a great bottle she’d grabbed from the wine cellar.
When she lifted her lids, Dane’s gaze had dropped to her mouth and...had he shifted closer?
Arousal churned through her and she couldn’t even blame the wine considering she’d just taken her first sip. The seclusion at this late hour and the roaring fire might be impacting her, yes, but not the wine.
“Do you want something more than Mirage?” he asked.
Stella set her glass next to his. The intimate image had her biting on her lip for a just a second before shifting her focus back to him.
“Mirage is all I’ve ever wanted,” she explained. “My father bought the resort several years ago and I’d heard the story of the lady who had built this, relentlessly pursuing her dream. A single mom who pushed through and built something so dynamic and spectacular just hit me, you know? I didn’t grow up with my mother, but I just felt pulled toward this strong female, even though I’d never met her. I knew I wanted this business to be mine. My father has plenty of companies around the globe, but this is the one I want.”
Dane’s eyes seemed to grow even darker, his jaw clenched, but he remained silent. She’d started talking and hadn’t even considered that he probably wanted a short, quick answer.
“Sorry,” she said with a soft laugh. “I didn’t mean to ramble.”
“Never apologize for going after what you want.”
Stella’s smile faltered as she swallowed. “And what is it you want, Dane?”
“That’s not so difficult to guess.”
Oh, he wasn’t subtle. And yet, something about the way he didn’t quite come out and say it, but let the implication hang heavily in the air packed an even sexier punch.
“And do you think I came here for sex?” she asked.
“I think you came here because you wanted to know what would happen once we were alone.”
“We were alone in the kitchen,” she reminded him, clasping her hands in her lap to prevent them from trembling—or reaching for him.
“Not like this.” He eased forward, never taking his eyes from hers. “You might not want to take risks, but you can’t help yourself. The resort, me... You want to know what it’s like to fully throw yourself into temptation and ride out the challenge.”
How did he peg her so easily when she’d met him only hours ago? And why did her entire body stir with each low, rumbled word that slid through his lips?
Because she wanted those lips on hers, on her body. The need crashed through her and took hold like nothing she’d ever experienced.
“I try to have a little more control than that—I’m not as reckless as you make me sound.” Or at least that’s what she tried to tell herself. “And I’d never take a risk with this resort. Mirage is my life.”
“You’re quite the professional,” he agreed. “But you still took a risk by taking it over. Business isn’t for the faint of heart.”
“You sound like my father,” she murmured.
Dane placed his hand on her knee. “Does he also tell you what a stellar job you’re doing?”
Stella eyed those tanned, rough fingers against her dark skin. The hem of her dress proved to be no barrier as the tip of his pinky slid beneath the fabric.
“He, um... No. No, he doesn’t.”
Mercy, how could Dane carry on a normal conversation? Her body was revved up and she was about to start begging. She really shouldn’t deprive her body so long from such a basic, necessary need.
Stella reached for her glass and took another sip. “Let’s not bring my father into this.”
His hand inched a bit higher, then his thumb slid over the bottom button of her dress as if he would pop it open at any moment.
“Agreed. Everyone should stay out of this room except us.”
Stella took another sip and set her glass back down. “We’re not having sex.”
“Not yet.”
She couldn’t stop her smile. “At all,” she clarified. “I can’t afford to get caught up in anything but work right now.”
Dane’s eyes crinkled in the corners as he smiled. “Yet here you are.”
Well, he had her there. Stella laid her hand over his and for a split second—okay, maybe more—she wanted to slid it on up and show him exactly how he could alleviate her stress. But she held his hand firmly in place on her bare thigh.
“I don’t even know you,” she stated. “Clearly there’s chemistry, but I can’t get sidetracked by a sexy man who came to my rescue.”
“I obviously wasn’t looking to get sidetracked, either, but there’s nothing more I want than to lay you out in front of that fire and give you exactly what your body is aching for.”
The man knew all the right words to say. There should be some major red flags going up. A stranger coming in at the exact time she needed someone, the fact he knew precisely what to say and just how much to press without being a jerk...
No matter the flags, she honestly couldn’t find a flaw here.
Stella reached for her glass and tipped it back, taking every last drop of her favorite wine. With a soft clink, she set the glass back down and came to her feet. Dane’s hand fell away, and he rose, as well.
“I should get to my room and attempt a few hours of sleep.”
Dane brushed her hair from her face, letting his fingertips feather across her jaw. Something flashed through his eyes a second before he curled those same fingers around the back of her neck and pulled her mouth to his.
Stella didn’t even try to fight the kiss...why would she? They’d been building toward this moment since they met—did it matter that was only a few hours ago?
Besides, a kiss was harmless. Well, most of them were. A kiss from Dane Michaels was powerful, toe curling, panty melting, and instantly had her mind on sex. The way his body lined perfectly with hers, the way his lips coaxed hers apart, eager for more, only had her more than ready to take him up on his offer.
The wine had gotten to her just as she’d thought it might. She swayed against him, reaching up to clutch his bare biceps. Those were rancher arms. No sedentary job could produce muscles so firm, so...magnificent.
Dane eased back and Stella whimpered. Damn alcohol. She’d never whimpered or begged for any man, yet she’d just done the first and was closing in on the second.
“I’ll check on you tomorrow,” he told her. “If you need me, you know where to find me.”
When he released her, Stella had to concentrate on staying upright. She hadn’t had nearly enough time with him. She wanted more of that whiskey-soaked tone, that dark gaze, those lips and hands on her.
Straightening her dress, Stella pulled herself together and crossed the suite to the elevator. Dane came up behind her, practically pressing her against the doors. Stella closed her eyes and inhaled that spicy, masculine scent.
“I’ll see you tomorrow.”
The whisper in her ear, the warmth of his breath on her skin had her shivering and with the way his chest was pressed to her back, there was no way he missed her body’s reaction to him.
Stella risked a glance over her shoulder. “I look forward to it.”
And then she fled back to her room where she replayed over and over the entire evening from the moment Dane stepped into the dining room to the moment