Going All the Way (Mills & Boon Temptation)
Page 19
David raised an eyebrow. “Guess she’s talking to you.”
They both glanced down at her turquoise-edged feet at the same time, then lifted their heads, coming dangerously close to banging their skulls together. After a week of deprivation, being so near him was making her head swim. From the heat in his eyes, he wasn’t unaffected himself.
“David, I—”
“No, it’s all right.” His gaze softened, and his tone was reassuring. “I’ve learned my lesson. I have been overbearing, but I’m finished with that.”
He’d misunderstood, she thought, fighting down a hysterical giggle.
Pointing up to the makeshift stage, he said, “Why don’t you walk me through the setup?”
Right. This was business, after all. But the way her emotions were swelling up inside her, she would have a tough time concentrating tonight. She hadn’t called him because she hadn’t figured out exactly what she wanted to say, and because she wanted to be sure of her feelings. It wouldn’t be fair to offer him any half measures. Looking at him now, recognizing the bubble of tender warmth inside her, she was sure.
So how did she go about this? Here’s the microphone, rest rooms are right outside, and I’m madly in love with you. Sorry I’ve been such an idiot about admitting it.
Possibly she could come up with something better.
She directed him toward the side steps of the portable stage. There was a short catwalk extending from the front of the stage, where David’s podium stood. Behind him was a makeshift black curtain. Serena would double-check each man’s costume before it was his turn to walk out.
Serena showed David the controls on the microphone and told him she’d sent a waiter to bring a chair and pitcher of water in case he needed either during the evening’s proceedings. She parted the curtain and stepped behind it. “And here’s where the guys will wait.” There was a door in the wall, so that no one would see the bachelors come in until the auction commenced. Serena had arranged for a rectangular table with beverages and cold cuts for the waiting men.
“Everything looks great,” David told her. “You look great. Not that I mean—”
“It’s okay if you did,” she assured him quickly, standing between him and the curtain. If she didn’t say this now, her fear might resurrect itself. “I’ve been thinking about what you said, about us, about the way you make me feel, and I…”
When words failed her, she grabbed him by the lapels of his tux and pulled him to her. He stood in shock as she lifted up on her toes, but he began moving plenty when she ground her mouth against his. His hands cupped her butt, dragging her closer as his tongue met hers. She almost moaned at the sweet friction between them.
She would have gone on kissing him all night if he hadn’t tilted his head away—or at least until the room began to fill with curious, costumed men.
“Serena—”
“I’m ready. I can definitely go all the way.”
He groaned, shooting a glance toward the rectangular table as though assessing how much weight it could handle. And he claimed not to have a thing for public places?
She chuckled. “To think I was afraid you were too conservative for me.”
“I might have been.” He squeezed both of her hands. “Without you, I might have become too stuffy. Too lonely. I looked at all the rooms in my place this afternoon, and do you know my apartment has virtually no color in it? I don’t want my life to be colorless, Serena.”
His words blossomed inside her. He’d known her for years—surely he knew what he was getting himself into. She could help give him balance, and he could return the favor. Maybe all their differences really would complement each other.
She ran her hands under his jacket, wanting to be closer even if they couldn’t be skin to skin yet. “I could probably convince Craig to sell you some great paintings at a discount.”
“Craig could no doubt help, but I think my apartment would benefit more from a woman’s touch.”
She stood on her tiptoes to nip at his earlobe. “I might be persuaded to go over after the auction, see if I can help out. Unless your parents…”
“They’re staying at a five-star hotel, and you still owe me the guest room and living room.”
She blinked, too engaged in picturing him naked to follow.
“My bedroom, the shower, the kitchen island, the balcony,” he recounted. “If you want me to have good fortune in my new home, you still owe me the guest room and the living room.”
She laughed out loud. “I thought you believed in making your own luck.”
“I believe in us,” he told her, the wicked playfulness in his expression giving way to something fiercer. “I love you, Serena. Stubborn and sarcastic and blue-toed, I love you. There’s nothing you have to change for me.”
“I love you, too.” The breathlessness she suddenly felt wasn’t panic, it was…exhilaration.
“How much?” he asked, his fingers tracing the bead-work along her plunging neckline, teasing the edges of her breasts.
“You Savannah Grants,” she chided, closing her eyes as a thrill of sensation shot through her. “Always pushing for more.”
“Hey, I think you’ll love my family,” he told her. “Maybe even enough that one day…”
“Maybe. One day.” As long as he understood she was keeping her name and would prefer an engagement navel ring.
Their eyes met, and he grinned suddenly. “Do me a favor, Serena. Don’t give in too quickly. I’m gonna have a hell of a good time convincing you.”
ISBN: 978-1-474-02743-4
GOING ALL THE WAY
© 2005 Tanya Michaels
Published in Great Britain 2014
by Mills & Boon, an imprint of Harlequin (UK) Limited
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