“Yes, I remember that now,” she said. “We keep saying that, don’t we?I remember that now.Oh well, more for me.”
“That’s what you always used to say.”
She laughed and then scooped the rest into her mouth, humming her enjoyment until she was finished. Finally, giving me a break, she laid down her spoon and sighed.
A corner of her mouth was smeared with chocolate. I stared at her.
“I’ve got some on my face, haven’t I?” she asked.
I nodded, smiling.
She swiped at her mouth. “Did I get it?”
“May I?” I asked and she nodded. I reached out and wiped the corner of her mouth with my thumb, and then I sucked the chocolate off the tip.
“Told you I’d make you taste it.” She had a sexy drop in her voice. “Want another taste?”
She moved toward me, her hand on my farthest thigh, which meant everything along her front brushed against me, and she placed her plump red lips slowly over mine. Now she had both hands on my thighs, and that warm pressure of her palms ignited my skin in pure lust. I caught her top lip with my teeth and nibbled, then licked into her mouth.
I was holding back and tired of not letting loose the way I wanted.
I groaned and pulled away. “Okay, that’s it,” I said. “I have to kiss you in a place where a roomful of people isn’t watching.”
She looked under her eyelashes at me. “Why don’t we go upstairs to your room?”
“Really?” I couldn’t breathe.
“Yes.” Holding my gaze, she nodded as though she had never been surer of anything.
36
Tabitha
Now a manon a mission, Tim waved down the waiter, got the bill, and paid in very short order. I traced his hands as he added the tip, scribbled his signature, grabbed his jacket, and vaulted to standing. His focused speed and eagerness only reinforced my decision to say yes.I’ve never felt so wanted in my life.
Moving to my side of the table, his intensity switched, and he paused to give me an easy smile. “Are you sure?”
His consideration only made me more certain. “Very sure.”
“Come on, then.” Intensity returned, he grabbed my hand and pulled me through the room so fast I started giggling. We raced all the way up the curved, carpeted staircase and ran along the hallway on the first floor, me breathless and him puffing, despite how fit he must be.
He stopped at a door, swiped his card, the light went green, and the door clicked unlocked. My pulse was a riot of nerves and want as he pushed it open, holding the door for me.
Brushing past him, I stepped in.I’m really doing this.
He stood behind me, not touching me, but still, the air between us pulled taut with a delicious tension. The expansive purple and gold room stretched before us. Taupe silk drapes at the huge picture windows were closed, and the bedside lamps were dimmed. In the center was a large bed, plump with white bedding.
The sight of a bed center stage drove home exactly what we were up here for, and I blushed hot, immediately shy and self-conscious.
I suddenly felt Tim behind me, the bulk of his body just touching mine, not pressing yet, and my skin sparked. The cool rustle of his jacket landing on the nearby chair was followed by the scuff of his shoes, which made me want to glance over my shoulder, but I knew when I turned around, he’d be looking at me, and it would be real.
“Tabs,” he said. “I’ve wanted this for so long.”
He smoothed his hands over my shoulders, and he tugged me back up against the hard planes of his chest, which rose and fell with his breath. His fresh-grass smell up close, mingled with the sophisticated vanilla scent of the hotel, made my heart beat with an excitement I’d never felt entering a bedroom. He ran his fingers through my hair, brushing his lips against my neck, and his hot breath warmed my ear. I shivered. Then my stomach twisted into a knot—what if I was a disappointment to him?
Tim’s hands went still.
“Tabitha, we don’t need to do this, you know,” he said softly. “Maybe it’s too soon. We can go back down to the bar and just talk.”
