Deanna Lee
Page 25
Damn! Jackie and Ken Williams were the most boring people on the planet. But they had always been good neighbors to Mary, and she was careful to keep their relationship cordial.
I smiled briefly at Mary. “No problem. Company might be a good distraction for me. I feel pretty skanky; I think I’ll have a shower and change.” I dumped Jasmine to the ground, ignoring her yowl of annoyance.
I felt almost human again after taking a long, hot shower and changing into a pale blue sundress. I looked at myself critically in a full-length mirror. God, I really had to drop ten pounds…maybe fifteen. But my skin looked good, tanned to a honey shade, and the strong sun had brought out golden highlights in my wavy brown hair. Perhaps one day, after I got over the humiliation of Steve dumping me, another man might find me attractive and even enjoy me in bed.
The guests had arrived by the time I stepped out to the patio. Mary made the introductions. “Gillian, you remember Jackie and Ken…and this is their friend David Wentworth.”
“Hi, Gillian.” He smiled and reached out a hand. I gave it a limp shake, trying hard not to gawk. He wasn’t conventionally handsome, but he was striking. Somewhere in his early forties. About six feet tall, with the lean, hard physique of a marine, this man clearly had discipline. Light brown hair just starting to go gray. Full lips, ordinary nose. His eyes were his most stunning feature—glacial blue and penetrating. I felt mesmerized. Powerful was the word he brought to mind.
I had a sudden attack of shyness. I dropped my eyes from his face and found myself staring at his crotch. I burned with my easily aroused blush as I looked away, praying he hadn’t noticed.
The four of us exchanged the usual pleasantries. I sat on the wicker sofa to alleviate the weak feeling in my knees. David handed me a glass of white wine and sat next to me. Mary, Jackie and Ken huddled on the other side of the patio, complaining about the hideous new McMansion under construction down the street.
“I understand you’re an actress, Gillian.” David’s voice made me think of brandy—smooth and mellow but potent.
“Yes.” Why did my voice sound so squeaky? I cleared my throat. “Although, struggling actress is more accurate. I’ve performed in a few off–Broadway plays, starred in a couple of commercials…nothing really major. And nothing at all recently.”
“It’s a very tough and frustrating business. But I’m sure you’ll make it. You’re very pretty and obviously very bright.”
It was a superficial and conventional compliment, but it seemed authentic to me when he unleashed his brilliant smile. Perfect teeth, of course.
“Thanks.” My voice had spiraled into Minnie Mouse range again. His thigh seemed much too close to mine; I was sure I could feel his body heat through the thin cotton of my dress. “So what do you do?”
“Real estate. My parents owned a firm in Denver, so I grew up in the business. I came to New York for college, decided to stay after graduation and work in the industry here. It took a while, but eventually I started my own company.”
“Impressive.”
“Well, it took a lot of work. I have to admit I’m a bit of a workaholic…but I also take playtime very seriously.” His eyes locked onto mine, and my mouth went dry.
At that point Mary, Jackie and Ken joined the conversation, which promptly turned dull—the weather, golf, politics…It was hard not to squirm like a fidgety five-year-old. I was still hugely aware of David sitting so close to me, frequently catching my eyes with his and sending me small, secret smiles. The pheromones were flying.
Finally Jackie and Ken rose to say their good-byes; David stood as well. I felt a wave of disappointment. How could this devastating man disappear from my life so quickly?
David saved the day. “I’m driving back to New York tonight. I’m parked at the end of Jackie and Ken’s driveway.” He turned his intense gaze on me. “Gillian, would you walk me to my car?”
“Sure, I’d love to.” Damnit—squeaky voice again, plus I sounded way too eager. “I’ll be back in a little while, Mary.”
Mary raised one eyebrow and gave us a brief, enigmatic smile. “Sure, that’s fine. Dinner can wait a little bit longer.”
Jackie and Ken decided to walk the beach back to their house, thank God. I couldn’t have endured their incessant chatter bursting the bubble of attraction that surrounded me and David. We walked slowly down Mary’s driveway and even more slowly down the road to Jackie and Ken’s driveway and his car. A midnight-blue BMW convertible.
“Nice car.” Great, I sound as inane as Jackie and Ken.
“Glad you like it. We should go for a drive sometime.”
“I’d love to.” My confidence was rising; this amazing guy really seemed to like me.
“I enjoyed meeting you, Gillian. I’m just sorry I have to leave so soon.”
“Business in the city?”
“Yeah, I have to prepare for an early breakfast meeting on Monday. But I’d love to take you out for dinner sometime. Could I have your number?”
I rattled it off as he wrote it down—with a gold pen on a leather-covered notebook. Apparently his real-estate business was doing pretty well.
“Great, I’ll call you soon.” He tucked the pen and notebook into his jacket pocket. Then he reached out and touched my hair…skimmed his fingers along the curve of my cheek. I thought I’d swoon.
“You’re such a pretty little thing,” he whispered. “I wish I could take you home with me.” Then he was leaning down, pressing his warm, full lips against mine. The kiss was gentle but firm, practiced but somehow surprising. I wrapped my arms around his neck, caressed the taut muscles of his back and his chest. He smelled wonderful—a spicy-sweet scent I couldn’t quite identify.
He kissed me harder, more urgently. I felt lost….
I’m kissing a stranger in the middle of the street! I dropped my arms and pulled away.
David wasn’t fazed; he just gave me a lazy, sexy smile. “I’ll call you soon,” he said again and brushed his fingertips lightly against my breasts. My hard nipples were clearly visible through the sheer cotton of my sundress. I felt a slow burn rise in my face.
He quickly got into his car, started it up and put it into gear. “Bye, Gillian.”
“Bye, David.” I watched his blue convertible turn the corner and drive out of sight.
Over dinner, Mary studied me carefully. “David is certainly an attractive man…and he was certainly attracted to you. Are you going to go out with him?”
I shrugged, pretending nonchalance. “I gave him my phone number, but I doubt he’ll call. He’s a flirt—probably just likes to collect digits.”
“Oh, I think he’ll call,” replied Mary. “And if you do go out with him, be very careful. You’re in a vulnerable position right now, and David has a reputation.”
“Reputation? What do you mean?”
Mary took a sip of her wine and fiddled with the glass stem. “I’ve heard gossip, and I see his name sometimes in the tabloids. After all, Wentworth Properties has made him very, very rich. He must be worth tens of millions.”
I nearly dropped my fork. “Oh, my god, he’s that David Wentworth? I never made the connection.”
“Yes, he’s that Wentworth. People say he’s ruthless, used to getting what he wants by any means. And I heard that his divorce—I think it was about three years ago—was pretty messy.”
“Well, thanks for the warning, Mary. I will be careful. I doubt anything will happen with this guy anyway. He must be used to having gorgeous women throw themselves at him.”
“You’re not the type to throw yourself at anyone, Gillian. I’m sure that’s very appealing to David.”
I thought of our passionate kiss in Ken and Jackie’s driveway and fought hard to keep an embarrassed blush at bay. Thank God Mary hadn’t witnessed that little scene.
That night I lay in bed, unable to sleep, my mind whirling. I thought about calling Anita—meeting David definitely fell into the “major news” category—but it was very late. And for some
reason I wanted to keep this stunningly wonderful development to myself for a while.
I tossed and turned in bed for hours. I kept reliving every moment of our meeting—his electric-blue eyes and lazy smile, that unbelievable kiss. My heart was pounding. Please, God, let him call me…. I have to see him again.
Suddenly Miss Prudence and Miss Hornypants popped into my head. These two voices had first appeared during my adolescence, when my hormones and my good sense were constantly engaged in battle.
“You acted like a complete slut,” said Miss Prudence. “Letting a stranger kiss you and touch your breasts—in public! What were you thinking?”
“He wasn’t a complete stranger,” Miss Hornypants pointed out. “She’d known him a few hours.”
“A few hours!” Miss Prudence was outraged.
“It was just a kiss and a little fondling. It’s not like she dropped to her knees and gave him a blow job.”
“It was bad enough! He probably thinks she’s an easy piece of ass.”
“No, he doesn’t. He was very attracted to her, and she felt the same way. Why pretend otherwise? They simply acted on their feelings.”
“She’s going to regret—”
“Oh, both of you leave now!” I demanded.
Once they had disappeared from my mind, I turned my thoughts back to David. What would he be like in bed? I immediately knew the answer: amazing.
I pulled my nightshirt all the way up to my neck. I closed my eyes and massaged my hard nipples, remembering David’s fingers brushing gently against them. I imagined his lips and tongue on my breasts, kissing and licking, sucking and teasing…and then slowly making a wet trail down my stomach…. I imagined the roughness of his cheek against the soft skin of my thighs as he slowly parted them and lapped hungrily at my pussy…teasing my clit with the tip of his warm tongue….
I felt an insistent ache growing between my thighs. My breathing quickened. I spread my legs and slowly rubbed my pussy lips together. I was very wet. I slid two fingers inside, imagining David’s hard cock pumping into me, and rubbed my clit with my other hand. Within minutes I came intensely, convulsing and stifling a scream.
I didn’t know it then, but it was the first of many incredible orgasms David would give me.
APHRODISIA are published by
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Copyright © 2007 by Deanna Lee
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ISBN: 0-7582-2495-8