She looked at the pink sleeveless top that moulded to her body and the short pair of shorts she was wearing and tried to stamp down her nervousness. She was so inappropriately dressed for a business meeting. Well, not that this was a business meeting, he was only going to drop off a box of brochures and then he'd be off.
Why didn't he give me any advanced warning? And why didn't I tell him to wait five minutes?
Clarise heard the knocking on the front door of her apartment. She could still tell him to wait.
You're fine, Clarise, she heard a voice from inside her head. Play it cool. He's just dropping a box and you are not naked. No one would expect you to be in a business suit on a Sunday afternoon. She hastened to the door before she could overthink the situation any further.
She opened the door and there was Will, handsome as ever, carrying what looked to be a rather heavy box. "Hi," she said with a shy smile.
Will stared at her for a long moment with frank admiration before giving her a swoon-inducing smile. "Hi, Clarise." She blushed and licked her lips nervously. Will's attention went to those soft, lush lips.
"Do you want me to take that?" she asked softly, holding out her arms to take the box from him.
"It's rather heavy so how about I put it on a table for you?"
"Okay, thanks." She opened the door wider to let him in.
She was debating whether to apologise for her attire when he spoke. "Nice place." He was looking around her apartment as he deposited the box on her coffee table. The moment for an apology seemed to have passed so she didn't mention it. Besides, she wasn't really sure that she should be apologising.
Will looked around approvingly at her place, thinking how cosy and homey it felt, while at the same time having understated elegance. She had great taste in furniture. They were modern and inviting. Not like some showroom type pieces that were nice to look at but seemed like you couldn't be comfortable on them after a stressful day at work. She had two tall bookshelves chockfull of books and picture frames were scattered about strategically.
Then he saw her balcony off to the left of her living room and headed there. "So you love plants." He said, stating a fact. She had about ten or so pots of plants there of different colours and sizes.
"Yes, I do, but don't be fooled. I don't have a green thumb. I just love looking at them and being surrounded by them. I've already had a few plants die on me," Clarise answered with a little laugh.
Will asked her about the names of the plants she had. He didn't really want to know, he just wanted her to continue talking. He didn't want to leave yet.
Clarise was grateful for this chance to regain her equilibrium so she blabbed on about the plants, pretending to inspect them as she continued talking. She was still flustered from the way Will stared at her after she opened the door. And then he had to smile that devastating smile of his! Damn him for being so good looking.
Will found himself pretending to be interested in what Clarise was saying but his attention was glued to how utterly sexy she looked in her tight-fitting top and short shorts that exposed her lovely, long legs. She obviously wasn't expecting company, dressed like that.
He could tell she was flustered. Well, it didn't cross his mind that she would be in her 'home alone' clothes when he surprised her with his presence. Should he have given her some advanced warning? But somehow, he didn't feel at all sorry for his spontaneity. And anyway, why didn't she say 'no' or, at least, ask him to wait while she got dressed? He was also glad she didn't.
His gaze lingered on the swell of her breasts and continued on to look appreciatively at rest of her body. He forced himself to behave and his eyes went back to her beautiful face. She was still inspecting her plants and talking about some drip-feed system that watered them so she didn't have to remember to do it. But he couldn't focus on what she was saying. He could only focus on the movement of her lips. Will suddenly had the urge to draw her to him and kiss those luscious lips. He felt himself grow hard. If he didn't distract himself, it would be very, very awkward for the two of them and very, very uncomfortable for him.
He turned away from her and pretended to inspect a pot behind him, willing himself to cool down. He didn't come here to jump her, he merely wanted to drop the box of travel brochures so she could start with whatever she had to do for that article. For business, he stressed to himself. And she's no-go, remember, Will? So what the hell are you doing standing in her apartment with a hard-on?
"Will?" He heard Clarise call him. "Sorry, I think I'm boring you with my plant talk," she said with a wry smile.
"No," he tried to deny it, then laughed. "The first minute was interesting, and then...well..." They both laughed, releasing some of the tension in the room.
"Do you want to show me what's in your box before you go or do you have to leave straight away?" Please say you'll show me what's in your box. I don't want you to go yet.
Will looked at his watch. He really must go. He was already running late for the tennis game as it was.
"Sure, I have a few minutes. I can quickly go through the materials with you," he heard himself blurt out. Huh? He gave himself a mental shake. His mouth seemed to have a brain of its own when he was around Clarise. 'Dickhead' really applies to you right this minute, he said to himself, bemused.
"Okay, great. Would you like something cold to drink while you show me your goodies then? I have iced tea, orange juice or water."
Show her my goodies? Surely she couldn't mean...? Then realisation dawned a second later. She meant his travel books. He gave himself another mental shake. Will, you're a real dickhead, you know that? You must leave now!
The part of him who wanted to stay said, "Iced tea for me, thanks."
They sat on her couch and Will pulled out some of the contents of the box and gave Clarise an overview of the materials. He had what he called travel books that covered every aspect of a particular luxury holiday experience. He had a number of those relating to different places and different types of experiences. No wonder the box was slightly heavy. The paper they were printed on were thick and glossy. They really screamed expensive and exceptional. Clarise was impressed.
As she inspected the different titles, Clarise suddenly wondered how many of these holidays Will had actually been to. She turned to ask him only to find him staring at her with a smouldering look that took her breath away.
"Will?" Clarise said in a whisper, his hot look igniting a primal response in her.
"Clarise," he breathed. He shifted and leaned towards her, his face inches from hers, making his intentions clear and clearly asking for permission. Clarise tilted her head towards his, bringing their lips closer but not yet meeting, clearly giving her permission.
In the next moment, his mouth was on hers, kissing her thoroughly like he'd been wanting to do since he first met her. She was stunned for a moment at the passion in his kiss, then without another thought, she was kissing him back with equal fervour, travel books dropped and forgotten.
Their tongues danced as they tasted and explored each other's hungry mouths for long moments. She didn't know how it happened but Clarise suddenly found herself lying on her back on the couch. Will was leaning on her from his sitting position, tasting the sweetness of her mouth, while his hand stroked her upper thigh. Clarise wrapped her arms tighter around Will's neck, pulling him deeper into their kiss with a soft moan.
Will let out a groan and moved his burning hand from her thigh to underneath her top. He cupped her breast as his mouth moved to her neck, giving it a trail of hot kisses and gentle sucks. Clarise arched her back and tilted her head backwards, giving him greater access. His hands moved to her back and unclasped her bra. Clarise was mindless with desire and helped him pull her bra out of the way. Will bunched up her top to expose her beautiful breasts. He gasped at the sight of perfection and bent his head to lick and tease one already pebbled nipple with his tongue while his thumb flicked the other. Clarise moaned as electric currents of desire zipped through her body
, congregating onto the apex between her legs. She grabbed his hair and arched her breasts closer to him.
Just then Will's phone rang loudly and vibrated from his jeans pocket, making them both jump. Will swore softly at the intrusion, dug out his phone and checked who the caller was. Rick! He should have been at the tennis courts by now. He was already late for the game. It's only a game, for heaven's sake, he thought in frustration.
Will sighed raggedly and gave Clarise a quick, soft kiss on the lips. "I better get this, baby. It's Rick," he said while swiping his thumb on her cheek. He surprised himself at how easy 'baby' came out of his mouth. He wasn't usually a 'sweet' type of guy. It wasn't until they got engaged that he called Karen 'darling' and even then, he didn't use it often.
Baby! Clarise felt a warm glow from his gestures and term of endearment. She nodded and tried to calm down her heavy breathing and galloping heart. She couldn't believe what just happened. This wasn't like her at all.
Will got up from the couch and barked, "Rick!" He raked his free hand through his hair. "Yeah, I'm on my way. I'm just running a little late. Sorry. There was an unexpected matter that held me up. I'll be there soon."
He hang up and looked at Clarise who was now standing up, fixing her top back in place sans bra, looking adorably shy. She was flushed and he noticed her nervous lick on her lips. She looked damn beautiful and utterly desirable.
He cradled her cheeks with his hands and ran his thumb along her lower lip. "I have to go, baby. Call you tomorrow?" he asked huskily.
Clarise could only nod. And smile giddily.
At the door, Will gave her another quick, soft kiss.
"Good luck with your game," she murmured.
"Thank you. Although I have a feeling I'd be too distracted and Rick will not be a very happy man. They're already not very happy that I'm late," he smirked.
He turned to go, had his hand on the door knob when, to both their surprise, he turned to her again and gave her another kiss. Not a quick, soft one but a long, hot and probing one that made her knees go weak and her heart pound like mad again. When he pulled away he didn't leave immediately. He looked at her searchingly with those blazing, hazel eyes for a long moment before he went out the door.
Clarise stood with her back against her closed door for a long minute after Will left. She had never reacted that way to a man before. She was shocked at how wanton she acted. Goodness, she hardly knew him! But she couldn't get rid of the big, idiotic grin plastered on her face.
She realised just how much she was looking forward to Will calling her tomorrow, to seeing him again. She missed him already and it had only been two minutes since he left.
~~
Inside his car, Will ran his hands through his hair and shook his head. He'd never lost his self-control like that before. The feeling of wanting Clarise was just - intense. And she'd wanted him as much as he'd wanted her. Will had no doubt that if the interruption from Rick didn't come, he would still be in her apartment, more specifically, in her bedroom and they would have gone all the way. And he would have been in big trouble.
With another shake of his head, he started the car and drove. His biggest problem was that he wanted her. Bad. And, fuck, she was so hot and responsive. Will groaned out loud at the memory of Clarise moaning as he was licking and flicking her nipples and felt himself go hard again.
Focus on your driving, Will, or you might have an accident and have your dick cut off. At the thought of him being in a car accident, his parents' car accident came to mind and this had the effect of pouring ice-cold water all over him. He was grim for a moment from that memory, and then realised he could now think straight without lust muddling his brain.
He'd noticed Clarise's doe-eyed look just before he left her apartment. Sure there was lust there but he also recognised that tender, mushy look that women have when they become all romantic over a man. She'd be wanting a serious relationship eventually, not just the sex-with-no-strings-attached experience. A serious relationship. Just what he wanted to avoid at all cost. He had other priorities and he didn't want the complication.
So why was it that when Clarise looked at him with those shining brown eyes - tenderly, mushily, romantically - his heart skipped a beat and it took all his effort not to hold her again in his arms and kiss her some more?
Lust. That's all it was. Strong, powerful, lust.
He'd handle himself better next time. Better yet, he'd avoid a situation where there could be a next time. He couldn't give her what she would eventually want. And instinctively, he knew she deserved better.
~~
Clarise kept checking the time. It was now 5:17pm and he still hadn't called. Working hours had officially ended so he could take a break and call her now, couldn't he? He did say he would call, didn't he? Or was it just a figment of her fevered imagination?
Stop acting like a lovesick teenager, Clarise!
Her mobile phone rang and her heart raced. She looked at the caller ID and felt the heaviness of disappointment.
"Hi, Faye," she said a little unenthusiastically.
"Hi. What's wrong? You sound...off."
"Off?"
"Yeah, you sound a little down."
"I was just..." Clarise tried to think of a good lie but decided to tell her best friend the truth. "I was hoping it was Will."
"Oh? And you're expecting his call?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because he said he would call me today."
"How come?"
Clarise sighed. She knew Faye wouldn't let up until she was satisfied she had been told the full story to her satisfaction. "Well, we got interrupted when we were making out in my apartment yesterday," she whispered, as if someone in the office might be eavesdropping on her conversation. "He had to go without finishing what we started and he asked if he could call me today and I said yes."
"Oh. My. God," Faye said, shocked and pleased at the same time. "Why, Miss Carson, you can certainly move fast when you've made up your mind about something - or someone. Good for you!"
Clarise chuckled, then her blasted doubts surfaced. "But why hasn't he called yet? It's after five already."
"If he doesn't end up calling you today, until you know for sure what the reason is, don't jump to any conclusions," Faye advised, knowing her friend tended to think of the worst when it came to men, at times unfairly.
"Okay, I won't," Clarise promised. She wanted to hang on to the hope.
"Anyway," Faye continued, "Steve will definitely be interstate for work tomorrow. He won't be back until Wednesday so we can have a girls' night out tomorrow night. That is, if you don't have a date."
"Sounds great."
"Liar," Faye said with good humour. "You probably would prefer to be with this Will guy. But knowing you, I really can't believe you have made out with him already. So how far did he get?"
"Faye! I can't tell you all the details!"
"Okay, okay. So when do I get to meet him?"
"I don't know. I still don't know where we stand."
"Yes, it's probably too early to tell. But I'm glad you've decided to put fun before serious, Clarise."
"Yeah, me, too." Deep inside, Clarise hoped she had made the right decision. She had this niggling feeling her heart was already becoming too involved, even if she didn't want it to just yet. The last time her heart got involved this easily, it also got broken just as easily.
Clarise shook off her fears, remembering that she was finally moving on from the past.
~~
Will looked at his watch. 5:40pm. Is she expecting my call?
For some reason, he didn't want her to think badly of him. He'd been avoiding calling her all day because he didn't really know what to say. But he did say he would call. Today.
What am I supposed to say? He practiced a speech in his head. Clarise, I'm sorry about yesterday. I shouldn't have let it happen. I apologise. I promise it won't happen again.
He thought that was exactly what he shoul
d say, but hearing it in his head, it didn't sound right. It sounded wrong because while he thought what they did yesterday was a mistake, he very much still wanted it to happen again. And damn it, he wanted to go further than where they got to yesterday. Much further. So that stubborn part of him didn't want to promise it won't happen again even though he knew it shouldn't.
Will sat up straight on his chair. All of a sudden, he had clarity on what was bothering him.
While he knew he only wanted sex with no strings attached, he had always related it to one-night stands with maybe one or two more encounters and that was it. He felt guilty at the thought of having a one-night stand with Clarise. But could it be that with her, he was willing to consider something more?
Will thought deeply for a moment. Yes, he wouldn't mind having an on-going relationship with her as long as it didn't involve hearts and expectations and shit like that. One thing he was sure of was that he wouldn't put a relationship at the top of his priorities. And as long as she understood that...
Will to Love Page 6
