“Okay, just a little,” she acknowledged, finding it easier to give in this time. “But I’m used to it.”
“Really?” he mocked.
“I don’t have a drinking problem, if that’s what you’re implying.” But somehow she couldn’t seem to summon up much anger. She was beginning to feel relaxed and mellow. And, oh my, Jarrod Hammond really was a hunk. And that slow smile…combined with his expert hands…
“I think we’d better finish lunch,” he said, breaking into her thoughts, “then I’ll take you home.”
Would he make love to her?
“Come on, eat. It’ll soak up some of that wine. The media would have a field day if they heard the face of Blackstone’s was drunk off her face.”
That brought her out of her trance. He was right. It could jeopardize her contract renewal. And then she wouldn’t have the money to repay Jarrod….
She took a steadying breath, picked up her fork and started eating. Not long after, Jarrod began speaking of general things and she was glad to answer. Polite conversation she was used to. Personal, she was not.
She refused dessert but as they drank their coffee, he sat there looking at her. “How do you feel now?”
“Back to normal. The food helped.”
“Good.” His eyes took on a sudden sensual warmth that made her heart start hammering. “Now that you’re no longer tipsy, I’m going to take you back to my apartment.”
Her mouth turned dry. “Why?”
“I want to make love to you. I want you in my bed. Today. Tonight. Right now.”
She gave a soft gasp. “Don’t say things like that, Jarrod.”
“Does it offend you?”
Unfortunately, no.
“It…unsettles me,” she admitted, not knowing why she was even admitting that to him.
His gaze took on a piercing look. “I thought you’d be used to men saying they wanted you in their bed.”
“Then you’d be wrong.”
He gave her a sharp look, as if he had trouble believing that. Then he signaled to the waiter to bring over the check, and before too long they were walking back through the restaurant, through the diminishing crowd of people. The older gentleman had gone, and so had the other people, and that made her wonder if Jarrod had just made that up to keep her here.
But why keep her here when he wanted to take her to his home and make love to her?
And he proved that point as soon as they stepped inside his downtown apartment. She had a glimpse of luxurious surroundings before he swept her up in his arms and carried her into his bedroom.
“I almost hate to take this dress off you,” he said in a gravelly voice, slipping it over her head anyway. “It’s so very sexy.” His gaze slid down over her bra and panties. “You’re very sexy.”
And then he pulled her toward him and his lips found hers, his kiss flooding her with want and need and must haves. Before too long she was aware of a mattress giving way beneath her, of his hands cupping her breasts, touching her secret parts. Then he entered her in one swift movement. When he started to move inside her, hard muscle against soft satin, desire exploded inside her. Finally…finally…he consumed her.
It was dark when she woke and she had to gather her bearings. Her job took her all over the place, so she was used to waking up in strange beds. Alone.
“It’s eight-fifteen,” a deep male voice rumbled in her ear.
Jarrod!
“At night?” She should move, instead of lying there in the curve of his shoulder, her face pressed against his warm skin.
“I suppose we could be having an eclipse,” he joked in a husky voice, his sense of humor surprising her. It wasn’t something that came to mind with this man.
She stayed where she was. She couldn’t seem to find the energy to move. “Why didn’t you wake me?”
“I’ve been asleep, too. Neither of us got much sleep last night, remember?”
Everything came flooding back. The casino. The million dollars. Being possessed by this man.
Suddenly panicked, she lifted her head. “I’d better get back to my apartment.”
“Why?”
She looked up at him in the dim light, trying to focus, trying to think, but it was hard when “God’s gift to women” was beneath her. “Um—so I can go to—”
“Bed? You’re already in bed. With me.”
She moistened her lips. “I need to shower and get something to eat.”
“No problem. I’ll order in pizza. We’ll sit on the balcony and watch the Moomba fireworks light up the sky.” All at once, he put her away from him and rolled out of bed. Naked. And then he pulled her up on her feet. Naked.
“What are you doing?”
He bent and scooped her up in his arms. Naked. “We’re going to take a shower first.”
“Together?”
His brow rose as he carried her into the bathroom. “You have a problem with that?” he said, his blue eyes sure she wouldn’t object.
And for once she didn’t. “No.”
He gave her a look of mild surprise. “Sweet acquiescence?”
She nodded. “Maybe.”
His eyes dropped to her mouth. “I think I like it.”
Her heartbeat accelerated. “Don’t get too used to it.”
“That’s good. Because I kind of like that snappy Briana Davenport, too, remember.” He stood her inside the glass cubicle and picked up the soap. “And now, let’s see what type of fireworks we can make for ourselves tonight.”
She opened her mouth to jokingly point out that water would put out any fireworks, but his kiss stole her words away. Before too long she didn’t care anyway. She went up in flames first, then he joined her, and it proved one thing. They were combustible together, wet or not.
Afterward, he left her on the bed and walked out of the room with a towel wrapped around his hips, saying he’d be back shortly. Satiated but trying not to show it too much, Briana pulled the edge of the comforter over her nakedness. It was silly to even consider hiding her body, but she was still tingling from his touch. She had been putty in his hands. And that wasn’t good. Not good at all.
He was back in a few moments, carrying a woman’s robe. He came over to the bed and held it open for her, but she stared at the oyster-colored silk as if it carried the bubonic plague.
“Don’t worry. It’s new.”
“Order in a supply, did you?” she said, relieved not to be offered something worn by one of his previous lovers. Then she saw the label still attached to the sleeve. She glanced up at him. “This is one of the pieces you bought at the casino.”
“Yes.”
She almost said something about his getting his money’s worth, but she didn’t want to bring that up. Not right now. Not after he’d made such wonderful love to her. Besides, her brain was tired from fighting.
She let her mouth ease into a smile. “I hope you don’t plan on me wearing them all.”
A surprised glint of amusement appeared in his eyes. “That was my intention.”
“Good luck,” she quipped, throwing the cover aside in an