The driver opened the car door and helped her out. She thanked him, and when she headed up the steps, the wrought-iron glass door with intricate detailing and a brushed-gold finish suddenly opened, and Cobra stepped on the stoop.
She paused so as not to miss a step. Standing there in a buttoned-up shirt and a pair of dark slacks, with his hands shoved in the pockets, he was drop-dead gorgeous. Definitely easy on the eyes.
“Hello, Desiree.”
“Cobra,” she acknowledged.
“Welcome to my home.”
“Thanks for inviting me.” Swallowing deeply, she continued up the steps.
After nodding his thanks to the driver, he reached out to assist her up the remaining two steps. Desiree felt the heat from his touch all the way to her bones, and her body trembled from the seductive look in his gaze. When they were standing directly in front of each other, close enough that if she moved even an inch, their bodies would be touching, he tightened his hold on her hand and led her into his home.
***
Cobra was nearly drowning in her scent as he escorted her inside his home. When he opened the door and saw her coming toward the steps, he had to fight back the jolt of sexual hunger that stirred to life in his midsection. She looked mouthwatering in that blue sundress with thin straps across her shoulders. The hem stopped just above her knees, showcasing a gorgeous pair of legs.
“Your home is beautiful, Cobra.”
He gazed down at her. “This is the foyer. You haven’t seen the rest of it. Let me give you a tour.” That was something else he had never done before. Even when he lived in the condo, the only rooms his dates saw were the ones they passed on the way to the bedroom. “But first, I need this.”
Lowering his head, he captured her lips, thinking that the more he kissed her, the more he needed to kiss her. She was an addiction he was starting to like a little too much. Almost as much as he loved holding her in his arms. And when she returned his kiss with as equal fervor, he wondered… What was he getting himself into?
Growling low in his throat, he reluctantly dragged his mouth away. Otherwise, he would delay giving her the tour of his home - except for his bedroom - and his brothers would win thebet. But then, why make it to his bedroom? He was very,verytempted to push her against the wall, unlock his zipper, pull up her dress, and push her panties aside, then slide inside of her, giving her everything he had.
“Cobra?”
At the sound of his name, he shook his head to clear it, then glanced down at her. “Yes?”
“You said something about giving me a tour.”
Yes, but that was before he’d started thinking of giving her something else. “I did say that, didn’t I?” Tightening his grip on her hand, he said, “Come with me, Miss Sharpe.”
***
Desiree was amazed at every room they entered. The place was completely enchanting—the design of the furniture, the color scheme, the atmosphere. Every room seemed to have an identity of its own, and she loved it.
But the room that really took her breath away was his bedroom. He said the bedroom set had been handcrafted by renowned furniture maker Reese Singleton, who owned a huge warehouse in Newton Grove, North Carolina. And the double doors in the room led out to the rooftop that was almost magical.
When they returned to his living room, she sniffed the air. “Hmm, something smells good.”
“I believe you will enjoy it. It’s seafood spaghetti marinara. Mom and some of her friends take a cooking class in New Orleans at least once a year,” he said, leading her into the dining room. “She comes back home with a couple of new recipes. When I went home the week after Colton’s wedding, she tried it out on me, and I loved it. So I wanted to share it with you.”
“That was a wonderful thought, Cobra. Thanks.”
“Don’t thank me yet. I’m just giving you a fair warning that it might not taste as good as Mom’s. She has a way with food thatI’m not sure I inherited. She seems to know just which spices to use to enhance the flavor. Since Dad’s heart attack, she’s had to curtail cooking some of her favorite dishes. They’re a bit too spicy.”
She nodded. “I’ve been meaning to tell you something, Cobra. Something I feel bad about. After you told me about your father, I realized why you’re concerned about my grandfather’s health, and why you got upset with me when I accused you of having ulterior motives.”
Cobra brushed a lock of hair back from her face. “You accused me of something I didn’t do, something I wouldneverdo. My friendship with Richard is solid. He’s someone I admire and respect. I’ve learned a lot from him.”
She bit back a snide comment. It wasn’t Cobra’s fault that her grandfather had taught him things that he hadn’t bothered teaching her. “Well, I admit that I owe you an apology. I’m sorry.”
“Apology accepted. And I need to apologize to you as well. I was out of line when I accused you of being jealous of me because I was here with him when you weren’t. Will you accept my apology, Desiree?”
It was on the tip of her tongue to tell him that he hadn’t been wrong. Maybe one day she would confess to that, but not tonight. She lowered her head. “Apology accepted.”
Then, as if it was the most natural thing to do at that moment, he drew her into his arms and kissed her. She thought she would never get enough of his kisses. Each one was unique and bolder than the one before. He certainly had a way with his tongue that thrilled her, and as they kissed, her hips seemed to automatically flow into his, aligning their bodies perfectly.
