He’d noticed all of that? Jeez, the man was too observant. “I don’t need a partner to dance.”
“True, but what fun would dancing alone be?”
At that moment the band struck up another number and a rush of people hurriedly moved to the dance floor. “Come on,” he said, standing and extending his hand out to her. “Let’s dance.”
She glanced down at his hand. Should she? She had come here to loosen up on the dance floor. Besides, it was a fast number and their bodies wouldn’t even touch.
“Unless...”
Ainsley lifted a brow. “Unless what?”
He smiled. “Unless you think you’ll embarrass us both out there,” he said.
She knew he was only baiting her, but still, she didn’t take too kindly to his assertion. If anything, she could probably show him up. In addition to taking dancing classes all her life, she’d also worked part-time as a dancer at a hot spot in New York City, earning extra money while she’d attended journalism school at Columbia University.
She placed her hand in his and the moment their hands touched, she felt her nerve endings ignite. She looked up and met his eyes. It was as if he was staring straight into her soul, seeing things she didn’t want anyone to see, especially a stranger. Specifically, she didn’t want anyone to know how painful losing the election had been to her.
“Red?”
The man called Winston reclaimed her attention and she fought to ignore the heat sizzling through her veins. The attraction she felt to him was unsettling and she was tempted to pull away her hand but couldn’t.
Ainsley stood, tilting her head and meeting his gaze directly. “I’m not afraid of embarrassing you, Winston,” she finally responded, saying his name for the first time. “Lead the way.”
He lightly tugged on her hand and they moved toward the dance floor. He indicated he wasn’t from here and she couldn’t help wondering what had brought him to Hilton Head. Was he here trying to escape his troubles like she was, or was he here just to have a good time? She’d glanced at his left hand earlier and noticed he wasn’t wearing a ring, nor was there any indication one had recently been on his finger.
When he stopped on the dance floor, she faced him and saw they were standing under the bright lights. The music was lively and funky. The rhythm flowed through her, making her body instinctively move to the beat. She put her all into it.
She noted the surprised look on his face and threw back her head and laughed. Served him right for insinuating she would embarrass him on the dance floor. He laughed as well and then he surprised her when he joined her in the dance, his muscled thighs and broad chest moving in a way that made her insides sizzle. How could such a masculine body move with such grace, style and unfaltering virility? Out of nowhere she remembered hearing that a man who was good on his feet was probably good in bed.
The thought made her nipples harden against her dress and when he eased closer to her and rubbed those muscular thighs against hers, she felt desire flow through her bloodstream, drenching her pores. He continued to surprise her with his dance moves. It seemed they were even. He had pulled one on her, as well.
Ainsley didn’t have to be an onlooker to know they danced great together and they looked good as a couple on the dance floor. The room was noisy, the music loud, but none of that mattered. The only thing that attracted her full attention was Winston. She wasn’t even sure that was his real name but she would take him at his word. Yet she had no intention of sharing her name with him. If he wanted to continue to call her Red, that was fine with her.
Feeling somewhat feisty she deliberately brushed her body against his. In response, he leaned in close and whispered the words “Naughty Red” in her ear, sending hot waves through her and making a deep longing flare up between her legs. When he moved back to make a turn around the floor, their eyes connected and his penetrating gaze seared her.
She fought for breath when the dance came to an end and he bowed gracefully to her and she smiled. It had been quite a workout. She was about to go back to her table when he captured her hand and asked, “Another?”
Ainsley should have had the mind to decline and return to her seat, especially when the musicians began playing a slow number. Instead she nodded and he gently pulled her into his arms.
She automatically placed her head on his shoulder, not wanting to think about anything but what was happening to her. She had just completed a fast dance with a very handsome, virile and sexy man and now she was on the dance floor in his embrace as their bodies swayed to a slow number.
He tightened his arms around her, bringing her closer to him, and she felt all the contours of his body. She drew in a deep breath and pulled her head away from his shoulder to glance up at him as he moved them in a circular motion around the dance floor. “You didn’t tell me you could dance,” she whispered accusingly.
Laughing, he showed dimples in both cheeks and she immediately felt her pulse go wacky upon seeing them. “You didn’t tell me you could dance, either,” he countered.
He was right, she hadn’t. There was a lot they were keeping from each other but this was not a night to get serious. It was a night to live life and forget troubles. Besides, there was no reason to get personal. It was just a dance. “I’m not talking, remember?”
He chuckled. “I remember. You don’t have to talk but I do want you to feel.”
And with those words he drew her deeper into his arms and she could feel the weight of her breasts against his chest and how her nipples tingled with the contact. Then there was the way his hard, muscled thighs brushed against hers while his hand at the center of her back held her close. And she was fully aware every time his lips brushed against her forehead. If he was taking advantage of the soulful, sinfully sultry sound of the music to seduce her, it was working.
Tension curled in the pit of her stomach as the dance became more sensual. A soft gasp escaped from her lips when she felt the hard length of his erection settling indecently between her thighs. She closed her eyes as they moved together in perfect unison, melding their bodies in a lusty configuration around the dance floor. Heat was building between them; she could feel it like a tangible force storming her senses. The man had an intoxicating sensuality that was overwhelming.
They continued to dance and he was effectively wiping all unwanted thoughts from her mind and replacing them with ones too scandalous to think about. She opened her eyes and leaned back to look up at him and his intense gaze captured hers.
She could feel how his body was gliding against hers, igniting pleasure points wherever he brushed her. Her gaze traveled from his eyes to his mouth. She thought it arrogant before but it was sensuous now. His lips had a decadent shape to them, and immediately made her think of kissing...and tasting. She could imagine joining her lips to his while their tongues tangled desperately. Such thoughts made her lips feel dry and she swiped them with the tip of her tongue. She watched his gaze follow the movement.
All too soon she heard the music winding down and reluctantly their bodies parted. He took her hand and led her back to their table. As soon as they were seated, two margaritas were placed in front of them.
“Thanks,” she said to the waitress. The woman nodded and smiled before rushing off with the other drinks on her tray.
“Busy night,” Winston said smiling.
“Undoubtedly,” she said, taking a much-needed sip of her drink.
He was sitting across from her, intently holding her gaze while he sipped his. Sensations began overtaking over and they were sensations she’d never felt before meeting this stranger. There was something about being with this man that prevented her from thinking straight. Prevented her from thinking at all.
She felt dizzy and breathless and drew in a deep breath, trying to control all those lusty thoughts taking over her mind. He reached out and took her hand and smoldering heat suffused her. Why did she feel like a stick of dynamite ready to explode whenever he touched her?
“I’d
like to make a suggestion,” he said in a deep timbre that continued to wash over her like hot molten desire.
“What kind of suggestion?”
“Come with me.”
She swallowed. “And go where?”
“Upstairs. I have a room in this hotel.”
Ainsley didn’t say anything. She wasn’t dumb. She understood his invitation well and knew what would take place in that room. She had come here tonight for a good time, not to tangle between the sheets with a man. But he was making the thought of such a thing incredibly irresistible since he was stroking needs she hadn’t taken care of for more than a year now.
She didn’t say anything and took another sip of her drink as she continued to watch him with the same intensity that he was watching her. Heat was flowing between them and suddenly she felt an intense need to be alone with him and do what grown folks do.
She didn’t have to probe deep into her mind to discover why she was considering his suggestion. She’d been under a lot of strain lately and the election and all the campaigning had wound her up tight. All that negativity had been a crushing blow and she hadn’t had a means to escape or regroup. Now it was over and her body was looking for a release.
Maybe a night of mindless, overpowering pleasure was just the thing she needed. Chances were high that she wouldn’t see him again since her visit to Hilton Head was short-term.
“Red?”
Lifting her gaze, she tried to fight back sensations that were hurtling around inside her like a violent storm, stroking her needs. She was always someone who hadn’t hesitated going after anything she wanted, so why should she hesitate going after him when she did want him?
After taking another sip of her margarita, she set down her glass and said in a breathless quiver, “Okay let’s go.”
A smile eased to both corners of his lips and his hold on her hand tightened. “All right.”
Releasing her hand, he stood to pull out several bills and tossed them on the table to cover their drinks. And when she stood, he placed his hand at her waist as he led her out of the nightclub.
Chapter 3
Winston was grateful he knew his way around the Regency Resort. Holding Red’s hand firmly in his, he maneuvered their way past the guest elevators to the private one that would take them directly up to his penthouse suite.
Once or twice when they were forced to slow their pace or else plow into people in front of them, he would take her hand and bring it to his lips. And whenever he glanced over at her, she would give him a heated look that assured him that she was still with him all the way. He definitely appreciated that. Although this was not his first one-night stand and he doubted it would be his last, for some reason getting Red up to his suite was of monumental importance right now.
Red.
Hell, he didn’t even know her real name but that didn’t matter. The only thing that mattered to him was he wanted her and he wanted her bad. More than he could recall ever wanting a woman before and that was definitely a new experience for him.
Knowing he would be scoring big tonight, he led Red into the elevator. No sooner had the door swooshed closed behind them, he crushed her to him, backed her against the wall and his mouth came charging down. She wrapped her arms around his neck and parted her lips to return his blazing kiss. He actually felt every part of him become on fire.
Liking her taste, he deepened the kiss. His tongue skillfully moved from one side of her mouth to the other, exploring, tasting, stirring sensations he wanted her to feel. Some primitive force was taking over his senses, somehow trying to convince him that she would be different than all his other one-nighters, but for the life of him, he couldn’t understand or accept that nonsense. Still, a part of him was helpless to control the raging desire fueling him.
The buzzer went off and he remembered that this was the express elevator, which meant they had gotten to the twentieth floor already. He lifted his head and gazed down at her, taking note of her flushed cheeks, her dilated brown eyes staring at him. He took a step back at the same moment the elevator door opened and quickly stepped out, holding firmly to her hands again.
There were only two suites on this floor and they walked toward the one at the end of the hall. Releasing her hand he pulled the key card from his back pants pocket and then turned to her and said, “I didn’t lie. My name is Winston and for the record, I’m not a crazy person or anything. I’m safe.”
She nodded. “And for the record, I’m safe as well and you can continue to call me Red.”
Obviously she had no intention of giving him a name—first, middle or last. If that’s the way she wanted to deal, that was fine with him. The only thing on his mind was making love to her.
“Good enough,” he said quickly, inserting his key card in the door. It clicked and he opened it. Taking her hand again, he smiled and said, “Let the good times roll.”
He then pulled her inside.
* * *
Ainsley recalled getting a fleeting glimpse of Winston’s suite before he was all over her, pulling her into his arms and capturing her mouth. The moment their lips locked, his tongue went into action, treating her to all kinds of erotic pleasures while tasting her with openmouthed thoroughness. She’d never been kissed this way before and all coherent thoughts oozed like molten liquid from her brain.
His hands on her backside and thighs had already hiked up her short dress to her waist, and his fingers began working their way underneath the edge of her panties.
Desire was seeping into her pores. It had been a long time since she’d felt a man touch the swelling fullness of her womanhood and the moment he eased a finger between her folds to stroke her clitoris, every part of her began shaking.
This man had a way with his fingers and she clung to him, fearful if she let go he would stop and she didn’t want that. His fingers were plunging back and forth inside of her, stroking her in a sensual rhythm, as he licked the corners of her lips with his tongue. Both his fingers and tongue kept an erotic pace until she was certain she would die from the sweet torture.
“Winston...”
She could barely get out his name as his lips trailed along her chin, stopping only for an occasional scrape of his teeth along her jaw.
“Yeah, Red?” he answered in a tone so sexy it made her breath catch.
“I—I want...”
“Tell me what you want. Tonight I’m your delivery man. Whatever you want, I’ll deliver. Just tell me.”
Evidently the intent was to make her ask...beg or possibly plead, but at that moment, she was past caring. The only thing she wanted was to be taken by him. “I want this,” she said, reaching out and tracing her hand against the front of his pants, caressing the hard bulge there. His manhood felt powerful and large and nearly made her weak in the knees. Intense desire had her pressing her legs together at the same time she cupped his groin.
A hand suddenly grasped her jaw. “You sure that’s what you want?”
She drew in a deep breath. More desire than she could ever think about was seeping into her pores and triggering an intense throbbing in her womb. “Positive.”
From the smile on his face she could only assume he liked her response. In one easy move he took her dress off her body, then he stepped back and she felt the heat of his gaze roam over every inch of her, taking in her red lacy bra and matching panties.
Then he was lifting her in his arms and carrying her across the room to sit her on the high-top table where he quickly proceeded to remove her shoes. In the process he glanced up at her and in a low and guttural tone said, “Just so you’ll know, I plan to ride you hard.”
Before she could react to what he said, his hand began stroking up her thigh in a way that made her breath shallow. His hands cupped her bare bottom and lifted her to tug down her panties past her hips. The feel of his hands on her backside caused a tingling sensation in her nerve endings.
He leaned close to kiss the waxed flesh covering her femininity, and she felt the ti
p of his tongue trace a trail along the folds. At that moment she wasn’t sure if she would survive his brand of seduction...
But she would die trying.
* * *
Winston doubted he’d ever met a more sensuous woman in his entire life. And her scent was doing a number on him, drawing him in and pushing him to take her with an urgency that was driving him insane. And here she sat on his table wearing nothing but a red lacy bra. He couldn’t help but take pause to check out the lush curves of her body.
Straightening, he met her gaze seconds before undoing the front clasp of her bra, releasing the most gorgeous twin globes he ever had the pleasure of seeing. He cupped them, used his fingertips to fondle them, causing the nipples to harden before his eyes. He leaned in and with the tip of his tongue, licked them hard before easing them between his lips to suck them hungrily.
Hearing her groan out his name did something to him. He pulled back to look at her and saw passion and desire in the dark depths of her eyes. She was completely naked now and he intended to get naked, as well.
Kicking off his shoes and reaching down to pull off his socks, he straightened and focused his gazed directly on her as he pulled the belt from his slacks and proceeded to ease them down his legs along with his briefs.
He heard her soft gasp when his throbbing manhood was there in full view, and from the look on her face, she appreciated what she saw. Making quick work of removing his shirt, he moved back to her. His hand spanned her small waist, traced a path around her curves and stroked up her back. He leaned closer and asked in a deep, husky voice, “Sure you still want it?” He then took a step back to stare at her.
All Ainsley could do was stare back while every part of her body throbbed with a need she felt from the top of her head to the soles of her feet. Yes, she still wanted it and refused to think why. From the moment their gazes had connected in the nightclub, something about this man had touched her, sent hot desire rushing all through her bloodstream. She had been sexually drawn to men before, but this one was different. Even now there was something in the depths of his gaze that was making her ache. And he was toting more than a six-pack; the man was so well endowed it should be against the law.
Bachelor Unclaimed Page 2
