Spark of Desire ; All for You

by Sheryl Lister

  She shot him an incredulous glance. “Oh, please. Now, that’s hard to believe.”

  “What? Why is that so hard to believe?”

  “Because...you’re hot and a doctor. I’m sure there are plenty of women who want to be your one.”

  “Not any women I want to be with.”

  “How long has it been?”

  He snorted. “Um... January?”

  “January?” She smacked her hands on the table. “That’s not a long time. Try two years.”

  He blinked. “Two years? You haven’t been with anyone in that long?”

  “I was just saying...some people go that long without sex. January was just five months ago.”

  As they finished their lunch, Myles attempted to formulate a game plan in his mind. Would she balk at another date so soon? Or should he play it cool and casual?

  Once he paid the bill, he walked her to her car. She walked ahead of him a little, giving him time to check her out. She wore camouflage pants and a black T-shirt. The fact that she’d chosen comfort over revealing was sexy as hell. He’d hoped she would come as herself and not some made-up version of what she thought he wanted. Just one more thing that made him want to see her again.

  Refreshing, fun, hilarious... Those were all words that had run through his mind during lunch. His life had been so hectic, so busy. And she’d made him laugh, she’d challenged him. He wanted more of that.

  Standing in front of her car now, she smiled. “Lunch was nice. I’m glad I came.”

  “Any chance you’ll let me take you to dinner?”

  “Myles, I—”

  He reached out, brushed his thumb over her cheek and pressed his fingers to the pulse point behind her ear. “I think I figured it out.”

  “What?” she whispered.

  “The problem. Somewhere along the line, I think you got confused. Maybe you think because I’m the serious twin, I’m the lame twin.”

  She opened her mouth to speak, but then closed it again.

  “Maybe that’s why you see us as different? Is that right?”

  The steady beat of her heart pounded against his fingers. Confirmation. His phone buzzed in his coat pocket, but he ignored it.

  “Are you going to answer that?” Her voice was as soft as her skin felt to his fingertips.

  Myles shook his head. “You didn’t answer my question.”

  “I guess, I...” Aria swallowed visibly, dropping her gaze. “I think...”

  I’m in trouble. Because, in that moment, all he wanted was her lips on his. He couldn’t take it anymore. He’d told himself to wait it out and let her set the pace. But he wanted her.

  Then her eyes were on his again, watching him. Is she going to push me away, make up an excuse to leave? But instead of pushing him away, she wrapped her arms around his waist and pulled him closer. A heartbeat later, her lips were on his, kissing him. Myles had never been lost in someone before, so consumed by a woman that he couldn’t think straight. But there was a first time for everything because that was exactly how he felt. He’d set rules for his life at an early age, and he’d never wanted to veer from his path. Until now. Aria Bell was a game changer.

  Finally, breaking the kiss, he leaned his forehead against hers. “So... Is that a yes...for dinner?”

  She dropped her head on his chest, giggling. “It’s a date.”

  Chapter 6

  “Any luck?” Brent asked, walking into the studio the following Monday.

  Aria sighed, her eyes focused on the blank canvas in front of her. The same blank canvas she’d been staring at for two days. She shook her head. “Nope. I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”

  “You’re whipped.”

  Her head flew around to face him. “Stop. That would imply that I’ve actually had sex in the past year.”

  During lunch with Myles, she’d slipped up and admitted it had been two years. It had been way too long since she’d been with someone. But she’d also been too engrossed with work to meet anyone that she’d been attracted to. Until Dr. Myles Jackson ensnared her with his dark eyes and sexy smile.

  “I’m telling you, you haven’t been right since the date with the doctor,” Brent said. “You’re distracted.”

  “Not true.”

  He shot her an incredulous look. “Yeah, right. You forget, I saw you after the date.”

  Aria thought back to Saturday afternoon, after she and Myles kissed so long and so hard and so good, right in the middle of the Applebee’s parking lot. It felt like they were the only two people there. In that short time, with one kiss, her world seemed to tilt on its axis. Because he was nothing like she’d expected. She didn’t know what to expect. The only thing she knew for sure was...shit. He’d mastered the art of kissing.

  It had been days since she’d seen him, but she couldn’t stop thinking about him. She still felt the heat of his hard body against her, smelled his cologne as if he was sitting next to her. Aria could still taste him.

  “Aria?” Brent waved a hand in front of her, drawing her from the memory.

  She jumped. “Huh?”

  “You agreed to another date.”

  “I did.” Which was totally against her plan to eat lunch and let him down easy so as to preserve the relationship with her friends. She absolutely should have turned him down. Because he wasn’t right for her. There were too many “not right” boxes he checked off. He was zipped up. She was free and easy. He was tightly scheduled. She was spontaneous. And, most important of all... Girlfriend Code. Hello. She loved hanging out with his sisters. Getting involved with him could definitely jeopardize her newfound friendships. Still, she’d agreed to see him again. For dinner. And after dinner. “But I’m going to cancel.” No, I’m not.

  When she met Brent’s gaze, she knew he knew she was lying. He walked over to her and squeezed her shoulder. “Have you talked to him?”

  “Not on the phone. We texted.” Multiple times a day. She wouldn’t tell Brent that little tidbit.

  “Listen, it’s not the end of the world. So, you’re attracted to him. Feel it. Besides, you have something to celebrate.”

  Aria smiled up at her best friend. He was right. The bid she’d put on a house had been accepted. She would finally have her own space again. “I know, right?”

  Her Realtor had called her with the news a few hours ago. Aria had fallen in love with the house on sight and had hoped she’d be able to purchase it. In less than a month, she would be a homeowner, and her relocation would be complete and permanent. At least for now.

  “It’s not the end of the world.” Brent stood behind her, arms folded over his chest. “It doesn’t make you less human to be attracted to someone.”

  “It’s not that. I just don’t think it’s right, you know? I still feel like I’m setting myself up for more heartbreak with him.”

  “Why? You told me that he seemed sincere, and not like you expected.”

  “Still... He could be playing me.”

  “I give up.” Brent lifted his arms in surrender. “This is why you need to talk to a woman. Because men don’t sit here and analyze and pick and overthink something so simple.”

  “I’m not being unreasonable. He’s rich, he’s organized, he’s a workaholic. And there’s a part of him that I fear he’ll never let me see.”

  That was the other part that bothered her. Yes, they’d talked about his work and his family, but he was still pretty closed off. The dress clothes and buttoned-up vibe seemed more like a defense mechanism than a fashion choice, a way to keep people from seeing the real Myles. She’d realized that too late in her last relationship, how a man’s outward appearance could be like armor, protecting him from anyone who wanted to pierce through to see the real person underneath. She wouldn’t make that mistake again.

  She shook her head, not knowing how to articulate that
without sounding weird. “Forget it. I’m just going to cancel. I’ll explain that I’m not in a space to date right now. I can use the house as an excuse. I need to concentrate on moving and working. And let’s not forget that I have a bigger reason for moving back to Michigan.”

  Opening the studio was great, but Aria’s ultimate goal was to start an academy, a school that focused on bringing art to inner-city kids who would not normally be exposed to such programs. Aria had completed a dual graduate program in art education and fine arts. She wanted to give children the gift of expression, creative freedom.

  “How can I forget? You know I’m all about that dream of yours. I can’t wait to see it come to fruition.”

  Picking up a paintbrush, she dipped it into the shade of red she’d mixed when she arrived at the studio and flung it onto the canvas. Without another word, she stroked the canvas, happy to be painting and not staring. Her best friend walked away, knowing time alone in her element was exactly what she needed to clear her mind.

  Hours later, Aria emerged from the back room, intent on grabbing something to drink from the corner store and maybe a Greek salad from the family diner next door. When she exited the building, she froze.

  Myles stood there, leaning against his car and smiling at her. “Hi.”

  “You’re here?” she said.

  “To see you.” He stood to his full height and walked toward her, his eyes never leaving hers.

  Aria forgot about canceling dates and hidden agendas. She couldn’t think of any reason she shouldn’t go out with him.

  “I figured I’d stop by to see you, take you for a walk. Show you that I can be spontaneous.”

  The fact that he’d come to see her in the middle of the day, when she knew he would normally be at work, made her feel special. Because one of the things she’d assumed was a deal breaker with him was the inability to be spontaneous, to go against the grain, let loose and do something unexpected. And yet, he’d surprised her. Again.

  She looked down at her outfit. She’d spent the last few hours working. Her worn jeans had fresh paint spattered on them, and her oversize shirt hung off her shoulders sloppily. And she was sure her hair looked like a hot mess.

  “I’m not suitable for people today,” she said.

  His brown eyes raked over her body, from her clunky work boots all the way up to her eyes. His perusal was so thorough, so slow, it felt like he’d stripped her bare. “You look beautiful.”

  No one had ever gazed at her like he was right now. His heated gaze made her feel warm, safe, beautiful and sexy. She shifted on her feet. “I didn’t expect you. Come on in.”

  He followed her back into the studio. “I missed you.”

  Her gaze dropped to his lips. He’d just gotten there, and she was already imagining him kissing her, holding her. “I’ve been painting.” Get it together, Aria.

  The corner of his mouth quirked up into a smile. “I think I figured that out.”

  She couldn’t pull her eyes away from him. He really was a work of art. If he had any physical imperfections, she couldn’t tell. Because everything about him was perfect to her. He smelled clean, like soap and sanitizer. Leaning in a little, she took a whiff.

  He pulled back. “Did you just sniff me?”

  The question shook her out of the Myles trance she’d been in and she backed away, tugging her shirt down. “No,” she lied. “I think I’m getting a cold.”

  He traced her lips with his forefinger. “Your mouth... There’s a fleck of paint.” His voice was gruff, dangerous.

  Aria pulled a handkerchief from her back pocket and wiped her mouth. “Still there?”

  With hooded eyes on her mouth, he licked his lips. “No. You got it.”

  “Where are we going?”

  His eyes snapped to hers. “Huh?”

  “You said you were taking me for a walk?”

  “Oh, yes. Let’s go.”

  “You still haven’t told me where we’re going? I should change.”

  He shook his head. “No need to change. You’re fine the way you are.”

  Aria smoothed a hand over her hair, hoping she didn’t look like Medusa, ready to terrorize the modern world. “If you say so.”

  Myles held out his hand. “You ready?”

  “For what?”

  “To come with me.”

  Aria knew his statement was so much more than what he’d said. Am I ready to go with him? Against all of her reservations she slipped her fingers into his, and tried not to moan at the warmth and strength of them. Yes, she had a thing for hands.

  A little while later, they were walking through the park, strolling leisurely and eating Italian ice. It was a perfect summer day. She dipped her spoon in her cup and sampled the mango-flavored treat. “This is so good. Thanks for bringing me here.”

  “No problem.”

  “Why did you? I already said yes to dinner.”

  He bumped into her softly. “I just wanted to make sure you weren’t going to cancel on me.”

  She laughed. Loudly. “I was really close to canceling,” she admitted.

  “I’m not surprised.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “What for?”

  “For being so weird. I just have a lot of baggage.” She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. “It’s not your fault, though.”

  “You mean, it’s you, not me.”

  Aria giggled. “You crack me up.”

  “I try,” he murmured. “So, have you changed your mind? About canceling on me?”

  “Pretty much.” She stopped and turned to him. “But I have a request.”

  He stepped into her, staring into her eyes. “What’s that?”

  “Take me somewhere that means something to you. I don’t want to go to some stuffy, expensive restaurant. You want to know me? Show me you.”

  He sighed, like he was considering her condition, and nodded. “You got it.”

  Smiling, she started walking away. “Good. Then, I’ll make sure I’m ready and waiting when you pick me up Friday night.” As they neared the studio, she let her gaze roam over him. Today he wore another suit, black with a light gray shirt and tie. “Can I ask you a question?”

  “If I said no, would you listen?”

  “Probably not.”

  He chuckled, eating a spoonful of his strawberry Italian ice. “Then, shoot.”

  “Do you always dress in a suit and tie?”

  “Is that a problem for you?”

  She shrugged. “I’m just curious. Every time I’ve seen you, you’ve been dressed formally. Even at Applebee’s on a Saturday. If I’m being honest, that does give me pause. Because I’m not so formal.” She made a show of looking down at her outfit. “See!”

  “I dress casual sometimes,” he said. “Usually when I’m not working. And I work a lot.”

  “You said that before.” They reached the studio door, and she unlocked it, stepping inside. Brent didn’t appear to be in the building, which was a good thing because she didn’t want to answer any questions. Once inside, she tossed her empty cup into the trash. “Do you ever feel overwhelmed with work? Need a break to let loose?”

  “Not normally. Until now.”

  Suddenly nervous, she forced her eyes straight ahead, to the wall on the other side of the room. Because if she looked at him, she would lose the battle of wills she’d waged in her head from the moment he’d shown up in front of her place of business.

  “Aria,” he whispered, approaching her.

  She let out a slow breath. “Yes?”

  He didn’t speak, didn’t finish his thought. He just stared, like he wanted to simultaneously save her and spank her, like he wanted to worship her. Damn. She wanted that, too. Which was unfathomable, really. They’d shared only one kiss. It was one perfect kiss, but still. She wanted to g
ive in.

  Swallowing, she turned to walk away, far from him and his intense eyes and hard body. But he reached for her hand, pulling her closer, back to him.

  He traced an invisible pattern with his thumb over her palm, sending sparks of electricity through her body. That’s it, I can’t take it anymore. Aria wasn’t some high school girl crushing on the star football player. She was a grown woman, capable of not sounding desperate and needy for male attention. This was no big deal. He was only a man, and she had plenty of experience dealing with men.

  “Myles,” she mumbled. “You can’t do this.”

  When his lips turned up into that sexy smile, she exhaled. He was doing this on purpose, tempting her, and her body ached for his touch. “Do what?”

  “I don’t know. Whatever you’re doing.”

  She felt the rumble of his laughter against her. “Looking at you?”

  Unable to stand being so close to him any longer, she put her hands up to his chest and backed away. “I can’t... I can’t think.” She sucked in a deep breath. Or breathe, apparently.

  He gripped her wrists and pulled her back to him again. “Then, don’t. That’s a good thing.”

  “Is it?” Her eyes dropped to his lips.

  Myles leaned forward, nibbled on the corner of her mouth. “It is.”

  His lips weren’t even fully on hers and she felt weak in the knees. He was so close, so male. “You’re teasing me.”

  “Am I?” He traced her bottom lip with his tongue before he dipped it into her mouth.

  She gasped, gripping his shirt in her fists. Any protest that could have been forming died on her lips when he finally kissed her. Oh my. His mouth applied the perfect amount of pressure. This wasn’t an average kiss. It was...more. With every kiss, every nip, he was stealing something from her. A low moan escaped her lips as he ravaged her mouth. He was the fan and she was the flames. His hands were everywhere—on her waist, her behind, in her hair.

  With his mouth still pressed to hers, he pulled her toward the couch in the corner. He fell back onto the cushions once they reached their destination and pulled her on top of him. Oh my, he’s good. She straddled his lap and frantically unbuttoned his shirt. She traced his hard chest and abs with her fingers, reveling in the feel of his skin. She wanted to create a mold of his amazing body, paint the lines of his handsome face. And she hadn’t even seen him naked yet. He was a work of art.