“I had just hoped for a little more private time with you.” She flipped her hand in the air. “Then again, you probably think me very bold for voicing my thoughts.”
“Actually, Nicole, that is one of the first things that attracted me to you.”
She sighed heavily. “Well then, now you know what I missed last night.”
The longer he stared into her eyes, the more he felt like a sinking man with no life raft. She was charming him for certain, yet he didn’t want her to stop. “Forgive me, but I just couldn’t find the right time—or excuse—to take you away after the meal. However, we are sharing a private moment now, are we not?”
She chuckled. “Yes, we are alone now, but it isn’t the same.”
“What isn’t the same?”
By the way, her chest moved quickly, he could tell her breathing had accelerated, which of course, made his heartbeat speed up, too. She stood and stepped closer to him. His heart flipped against his chest. From his current state of mind, he doubted he would be able to have the ability to catch the organ if it leaped from his body.
“The mood isn’t the same,” she said softly.
She was wrong. The mood had changed drastically in just the few seconds since the door closed. He doubted last night would have made him feel this strongly about wanting to hold her, but right now, all he wanted to do now was wrap his arms around her and pull her next to him.
Ashton took an unsteady breath and slid his palms up her arms. Keeping hold of her stare, he cherished the moment when the color of her eyes darkened. It was like golden sparkles mixed with melting chocolate.
Her body quivered under his hands, and he grinned. “I believe, my sweet Nicole, that at this moment, the mood is right. Don’t you agree?”
Her throat bounced from what he assumed was a hard swallow, and immediately, his mouth became dry.
“You are correct.” She lifted her hands and rested them on his chest, taking a step closer. She glanced at her right hand. “I can feel your heartbeat, and it is as erratic as my own.”
Her voice lowered, becoming more sultry and seductive. How could he snap out of this mood now? He couldn’t, and that was what worried him.
Sliding his arms around her, he brought her body up against his. He would never forget how perfect she fit in his arms. Closing his eyes, he pressed his face into her hair. She smelled wonderful—like heaven’s own flower garden.
“Oh, Nicole,” he sighed. “You are just so irresistible.”
Her hands slid up his chest and hooked around his shoulders. One of her hands moved to his head, and she threaded her fingers through his hair.
“So are you, Ashton.”
He fought the urge to kiss her, but as each second passed, his resolve weakened. He couldn’t allow her to break his heart any more than she had already done, yet how could he keep himself from giving in to temptation?
Placing his mouth against her neck, just under her ear, he hoped this would keep him occupied so as not to kiss her lips. Once that happened, he would be lost for sure and not be able to think straight. But she tilted her head back to give him more access, and his manly urges took over. He couldn’t resist her any longer. He didn’t want to resist her at all. And if that made him weak in his friends’ eyes, then so be it. He would gladly admit to being a weak man...but a very satisfied one.
He kissed her slowly. Just as always, clouds swam in his head, and heavenly harps strummed in his ears. Indeed, this incredible woman had put him under a spell—for which he had no desire to leave. A deep sigh ratted from her throat, and he knew keeping things slow wasn’t going to happen this time.
The skin at her neck was as silky smooth and delicate as he remembered it. As though acting on their own, his lips didn’t want to stop wandering over her. She clutched his shoulders but didn’t pull away.
He kissed every exposed part of her neck and then trailed his mouth lower to her bosom. Just as he neared what he was after, she pushed him away slightly. Her breaths escaped her throat much too fast, matching his own.
“Ashton, no,” she said softly.
Inwardly, he groaned and rested his forehead against hers. After several deep breaths, he was ready to speak, but barely. “Forgive me. I...got carried away.”
“As did I.” Her breaths were still heavy and fast.
Soon she relaxed back in his arms and traced the side of his face with the tip of her finger. “You are a hard man to resist.”
“Then we are in big trouble because you are harder to resist.”
“Ashton, I was thinking...” She took another deep breath.
“About what, my dear?”
