He was aware of her gaze on his chest, maybe directed at the ends of his bulldogger tie.If he’d had any idea he would have a beautiful woman in his arms, he’d have stayed dressed up.
“Ms.McBride?I was asking if my line dance would entice you to take the job.”
“It certainly doesn’t hurt,” she admitted in that husky voice of hers.
The song neared the end and he brought her a little closer.
Her breath caught as she swayed, almost missing a step.
She looked up and met his gaze.The gold flecks in her eyes appeared brighter.The longer he held her, the longer their gazes held, the more her hesitation and reserve seemed to melt.
For a moment, he thought of kissing her.He trailed his thumb across her upper lip, and her breath caught.
The darkness in him was attracted to the lightness in her.It was seductive.Relentless.Consuming.
Fuck it.
He moved them to a quiet corner.
“I want to kiss you, Sofia.”
“I…” Her eyes were wide, the gold flecks pronounced.
“Tell me no,” he encouraged her.
“Kiss me,” she said instead, stunning him.
She raised onto her tiptoes and leaned toward him.More than ever, he wanted to work his fingers into the luxurious length of her hair.It was long, thick and enticing, perfect for a sex scene.When they had more time, he would delight in pulling out the assortment of pins and removing the band at the bottom.For now, he settled for wrapping his fist around it, pretending, for a moment, he wasn’t a caveman.
He skimmed a finger across her lower lip before he kissed her.Then he demanded more.
She moaned.Rather than pulling away, she moaned.
God damn fucking wonderful response.
Once he touched his lips to hers and she surrendered, he was filled with a need that he’d never experienced.
She tasted of the freshness of citrus, and more, promise and hope, things that had been absent in his life for so long that he barely remembered them.
He breathed in her innocence, basked in it.It wasn’t enough.He wanted more.Wanted her.
As she responded by linking her arms around his neck, he kissed her harder, with more passion, all but devouring her.She met him boldly, accepting everything he offered.It was as if her innocence were wrapped in an inviting package of curiosity.
He wanted to be the one to show her.But that would be a mistake.Even though he’d been the one to encourage this, he needed to keep the enchanting Sofia in the off-limits category.
Slowly, reluctantly, he ended the kiss, but they remained wrapped together.Surprising him, she didn’t pull away.Surprising him even more, he didn’t encourage it, even after the music trailed off.
In the background, he heard the DJ announce that Lara was going to toss her bouquet and that all the single ladies were requested to gather around.
“I should go.”Her voice had a huskiness that spoke of the South and seductive summer nights.
“Are you hoping to catch the flowers?”
“No,” she said quickly.“I just want to be sure the photographer gets the right pictures.”She lowered her hands and took a step back.
“Thank you for the dance.”
“You were a perfect gentleman, as promised,” she said.
