She couldn’t remember a kiss setting her body on fire like this. And then she giggled. Who was the best person to put out a fire but a fireman? Good grief. What was with these corny thoughts in her head?
“Are you laughing?” Hunter whispered against her cheek. “You don’t like this?”
“I love it,” Lorraine told him. She continued to run her fingers along the base of his neck, reveling in the way his breaths deepened. Then she pressed her body against his, feeling the evidence of his desire for her. Hard, thick. Impressive. “You’re making me forget we’re in a crowded bar.”
Hunter’s lips curved into a grin. He looked down at her, and she up at him. And she knew that whatever was brewing between them right now was something she didn’t want to end. She wanted to reclaim her singlehood in grand style. What better way than spending the night with a gorgeous man?
Hunter kissed her again, and she looped both of her arms around his neck and held on. His hand tightened on her waist, pulling her body against his. And the kiss deepened. Right there on the dance floor, they kissed as if they were the only two people in the room. It was the kind of display of public affection that would have had Lorraine rolling her eyes if she were witnessing it.
And yet, she’d been caught up in something spectacular with this man to the point where she was no longer thinking rationally. All she could think about was the fact that she didn’t want their night to end.
Hunter was the one to break the kiss, but he didn’t let her go.
He pressed his lips against her cheek, softly, and then moved his mouth to her ear. “You’re absolutely beautiful,” he told her. “You want to get out of here?”
“Yes,” she said, and he kissed her again, a soft, lingering kiss that was both sweet and fiery. Lorraine nearly lost it. She could feel her entire body trembling from an overload of sensations. She wanted this man.
“If we’re going to do this,” she said, “then we should do this now.”
He needed no further encouragement. He took her hand in his, linking their fingers, and led her back to her table, where her friends were looking at her with wide eyes and big smiles. It was as if they hadn’t seen her with a man before!
Not one this fine...
Lorraine lifted the margarita she hadn’t finished and downed it. “I’m leaving,” she announced.
Rosa gaped at her. “What?”
“I...” She looked up at Hunter, and that smile... Oh, that smile. He pushed part of her veil over her shoulder, his fingers skimming her skin where her blouse scooped low at the back. She swallowed, then faced her friends again. “I’m going to call it a night. I hope you guys aren’t mad.”
“You’re leaving with him?” Trina asked. Her eyes were dancing with delight.
“Yeah, uh, he’ll take me home.”
“I’ll bet” was Amanda’s mumbled comment.
Hunter tightened his arm around her waist, and Lorraine relaxed against him. “She’s in good hands,” he said.
“I’m sure she is,” Trina said, her double meaning evident in the twinkle in her eyes.
“However,” Rosa said, her expression becoming serious, “you never know what a serial killer looks like. So I’m going to give you my number so that you can call my phone right now. That way, I’ll have your number. And I’ll have a way to track my friend down—or evidence for the police—if she goes missing.” Rosa batted her eyelashes, smiling sweetly. “You cool with that?”
Hunter chuckled. “Of course.”
He took out his phone and called the number Rosa gave him. As her phone started to ring, she grinned. “Great. Now you can leave.”
“I’m just going to go and say good-night to my buddies,” Hunter said to Lorraine.
As he walked away, Rosa, Trina and Amanda began oohing and awwing. Amanda bit down on her knuckle as she shamelessly checked Hunter out.
“Oh. My. Word.” Trina’s eyes grew as wide as saucers. She fanned herself. “When... How?”
“He kind of came to my rescue outside of the restroom when some jerk was bothering me.” Lorraine shrugged as though it was no big deal. Yet inwardly, her libido was doing jumping jacks. “The rest, as they say, is history.”
“No, the rest is just beginning,” Rosa said, beaming. She jumped to her feet and threw her arms around Lorraine. “Have fun, girl!”
“Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do,” Trina added.
“In other words, do everything,” Amanda said, and laughed.
“I’m entitled to do everything—I’m a married woman,” Trina pointed out.
She was the only one of the group who was married now. Amanda and Rosa had never tied the knot.
Lorraine rounded the table to Trina and Amanda. “Okay, you guys,” she said, extending her arms wide. They both got up, and she hugged them each in turn. “I love you both.” She faced Rosa. “I love you all. Thanks again for coming out with me tonight. This has been a lot of fun.”
“And it’s about to get a lot better,” Amanda said, giving her a knowing look.
Lorraine glanced in Hunter’s direction and saw the moment he turned from his friends and met her gaze. He smiled, and as her heart skipped a beat, reality hit her.
She was leaving with this gorgeous man for a night that she knew would be incredible.
She couldn’t wait.
Lorraine’s anticipation built as the taxi approached Hunter’s place. They held hands, neither speaking. Her heart was racing. Was she really about to make love to this incredibly fine man?
They kept their hands off each other until they were in the elevator, where Hunter pulled her into his arms and started to kiss her. Lorraine gripped his biceps, her body melting against his. The elevator dinged, and they separated—barely—as they exited. Hunter led her down the hallway, then stopped in front of unit 1211. He quickly whisked her inside.
And then his mouth was on hers again, and delicious sensations exploded inside Lorraine’s body like mini fireworks going off on the Fourth of July. His lips moved slowly, his breathing heavy. He nibbled gently on her bottom lip before suckling her flesh.
A breathy moan escaped her lips. She looped her arms around Hunter’s neck.
“Oh, yeah,” Hunter whispered. Then, tightening his hand on the base of her back, he swept his tongue into her mouth with one broad stroke.
Lorraine pressed her fingertips against Hunter’s skin. Her desire was making her weak in the knees, light-headed.
He lifted her, and she fastened her legs around his body. Then he carried her down a hallway and through an open door.
It was the bedroom.
He took her straight to the bed, where he lowered their bodies down together, his on top of hers. He smoothed his hands up her side, his fingers flirting with her naked skin where her shirt had lifted. His touch was electric.
Hunter looked down at her. The room was dark, but pale light from outside filtered in through the slats in the blinds.
Lorraine smiled up at him and ran the tip of her heeled shoe down the length of his calf. Then she lifted her head to meet his lips and started kissing him again. She didn’t want to talk. She only wanted to feel.
She pulled at the shirt tucked into his jeans until it was free, and then placed