She had melted. The idea of pushing him away filtered through her mind but was immediately filtered out. He had a mouth on him. Strong, sexy, delicious and heady. He tasted like strong wine and honey all wrapped together.
When things had gotten more heated, he had suggested the back seat. Where it had gotten hot and heavy. He had involved tongue and had her pressing against him; her body flushed from the heat.
She had all but flattened herself against him. Melanie sighed raggedly, pulling the sheets over her and between her legs as sensations rocked her. His hands had been all over her. Throat, neck, breasts. And then he had used his lips.
"Oh Lord." She felt feverish and hot, like she was coming down with a virus.
He had bared one shoulder and used his tongue to taste her skin. She did not stop him when he pushed the dress aside to cup herbare breast. She had not bothered with a bra, and his groan of appreciation had told her how much he appreciated the thought.
When he took the nipple between his teeth, she had felt it all the way to her toes. Sharp, stinging sensations that had her gripping his rich sable brown hair and digging in.
But he had backed off. Just like that, had lifted his head and reared up as if he was shot. His eyes a molten gold had stared at her in a daze.
"I'm sorry as hell," he told her thickly. "This, I haven't necked in the back of a vehicle since I was sixteen. Christ." He dragged shaky fingers through his tousled hair. "I need air."
She had straightened her clothing and waited a few minutes before joining him outside.
"I cannot touch you again." His voice had sounded harsh, his face taut. "I never lose control like that. If I touch you again, we're both going to go up in flames."
He had taken her back to the club right then and spent the rest of the night with her. She had noticed that they were being eyed. Several women had given her the evil eye.
Beautiful women, decked out in jewelry, the real thing that would set her and her son up for life. But he had chosen to be with her. He had chosen to dance with her, holding her close and whispering in her ear.
He had deflected the turmoil rising inside them by telling her about the people inside the room. She liked him, she realized. She had set out to snare someone wealthy but never dreamed she would catch the interest of one of the wealthiest men in the country. Old school wealth.
He had wanted to see her again tomorrow night. "I can't be seen with you."
He had stared at her with an uncomprehending frown. "And why is that?"
"You asked me what I do for a living." She had improvised quickly. "I volunteer at a women's shelter." She had prayed for forgiveness and that the Lord would not strike her down by lightning. There was a shelter of course, one where her friend Gibby worked at and she had pitched in on holidays to serve food and help with clothing drives.
"You understand why I cannot call attention to myself."
He had given her a speculative look that had her holding her breath, releasing it when he nodded in understanding. "How about dinner at somewhere private? I promise there's no danger of the press being there. It's operated by a friend of mine. A nice little Italian restaurant out by the harbor. Say yes. I want to get to know you. I'm attracted, Melanie."
He had handed her his card. Plain white with gold lettering that simply identified him as CEO of Lancashire Holdings. Multi-billionaire. And if he discovered that she was playing him, there would be hell to pay.
A shiver of fear ran up and down her spine and had her pulling the sheets tight around her. Carrie had dismissed her fear with a vague wave of her hand. She had landed a portly gentleman in his late fifties. Divorced, with no kids.
"Just the way I like them. He has a yacht and is into computer software. Travels a lot and made sure to stress that he likes his meat dark."
"Sounds like a pervert."
"Honey, he's rolling in dough and wants to buy me gifts. I spun a story about being a rich divorcee whose ex was a complete asshole and left me for a younger woman. He drank it up. His ex left him for her trainer. How cliched is that?"
"What are we doing?"
"Having fun," her friend said firmly. "Having a few laughs, getting something out of a relationship for once. Our own kind used us and left us broke and bitter. It's time to go to the other side. Time to start reaping the benefits."
"That sounds materialistic and very cold."
Carrie shrugged. "It's the way of life. You got the cream of the crop, and you said the man kissed like a dream. And he had eyes for you alone. All those beautiful bitches dripping with fabulous stones and he picked you. I heard a blonde wearing a king's ransom worth of emeralds wondered spitefully what he sees in you. 'I bet she's a nobody. Men are such idiots.' I right then and there put her in her place and said you were living in Italy and Paris and just now got back."
"Oh, Carrie."
"You should have seen the look on her pasty white face."
"I don't think I can do this."
