What was it about this woman?
He'd been asking that question since they'd met, and he finally had his answer…she was the right woman.
Taking the container that turned out to be a small plastic replica of a dove with Jackson and Delia's names and wedding date imprinted on the wings, he cupped it in his hands, watched as she unscrewed the head off her own.
"Bubbles." She held up a tiny wand.
"Nice touch."
Puckering her lips, she let loose a stream of miniscule bubbles as the bride and groom walked the aisle to applause. Then she shot him a sidelong glance and hissed, "Blow."
"Be still my heart."
"Don't you ever think about anything but sex?"
"I asked you the very same question and you told me you couldn't help it. Ditto."
She laughed and the silvery sound filtered through him, natural and right As the bedding consultant's escort, he had a certain standard to maintain, so he got with the program and blew bubbles as Jackson and Delia passed by.
His two favorite interns paused to acknowledge them. Laura and Delia hugged while Jackson extended his hand.
"You two come work for me again," Dale said. "You're welcome on my team anytime."
"You name the time and the place, boss," Jackson said and Delia kissed his cheek. Then the newly joined couple continued through a pathway of floating bubbles.
Dale glanced down at Laura, her cheeks flushed, her misty eyes shining, and knew he'd never seen a more beautiful sight.
"You know," he said. "As long as I'm relocating to Niagara Falls, what do you think about getting married?"
With the wand still poised at her lips, she lifted her gaze. "Is that a proposal?"
"Yes." He blew bubbles her way, a stream that landed on her nose before bursting. "Marry me, Laura."
"Are you caught up in all this wedding madness?"
"No. This is pure selfishness. The thought of driving home after I make love to you is bumming me out. I don't see why I should set up a house I don't want to live in. The only place I want to be is with you." Leveling the wand, he aimed more bubbles her way, laughed when they made her blink. "So, what do you say?"
"The only place I want to be is with you."
"That's exactly what I wanted to hear," he said, placing the wand back into the novelty dove.
Dropping the whole thing into his pocket, he reached out to grab Laura, heedless of the guests that were filing out of the aisles in the wake of the bride and groom. He wanted a kiss to seal the deal, and she proved herself more than willing to give him what he wanted when she wrapped her arms around his waist and melted against him.
Romance was in the air today, as it was most days at Falling Inn Bed, and he was glad.
"Cherish." He gave a soft laugh. "I do, you know."
"What?"
"Cherish you." The words echoed in his mind. "That's a song."
Laura scowled. "Where do you think my parents came up with the name?"
"Where does the Laura come from?"
"My grandmother. She died when my mom was young."
"You've got a lot to share with me about your life. I want to know everything."
"It'll be my pleasure."
His, too. And if anyone had even suggested to Dale that spending time at Falling Inn Bed would turn him into a man so obsessed with a woman that he'd propose marriage, Dale wouldn't have bid on the Wedding Wing job.
But now…as he held the right woman in his arms, crooning a stanza of an old seventies tune in her ear, he wasn't sorry. Not when Laura laughed that silvery laugh and smiled a smile meant only for him.
"I didn't know you could sing, Dale."
"There are lots of things you don't know about me, and now that we'll be together, think how much fun we're going to have finding out about each other."
She rested her cheek against his shoulder, closed her eyes and exhaled a satisfied sigh. "Can't wait."
"Me, either." And he meant it.
Don't miss a visit to the next sexy suite at FALLING INN BED…
Sneak a peek at Tori and Adam's story
RUN FOR COVERS
coming in November 2004
Chapter One
Adam's simmering-beneath-the-surface passion had called to Tori and geared her up for an explosion, but his mouth parted over hers almost softly, as if he was poised on the edge of a breath and hadn't quite committed to the course.
Had Tori's hands been free, she would have slipped them around his neck and drawn him into a real kiss, convinced him with her mouth and tongue that he wanted nothing more at this moment than to kiss her.
But her hands weren't free.
They were playing this game by his rules so she could only keep her face tipped toward his as he brushed his mouth across hers again, tempting her with the moist silk of his lips and the taste of his warm breath.
Then he swept his tongue inside.
It was a thorough kiss, one that let her savor the growing heat His strong hands held her face anchored as he explored her mouth, and a strange feeling of being possessed took hold, an exciting, out-of-control feeling that made her toes curl.
She wanted to wrap her arms around him and press her body close, but she could only return his kiss. She wanted fast and furious, but he championed a slow introduction that tantalized her until her hands instinctively tested the restraints.
Was he teasing her as payback for teasing him?
Tori didn't know, but if that was Adam's game, it was effective. By the time he let his fingers drift down her neck, her tension had mounted so much that she could feel his touch straight through her skin, a liquid heat that sank deep.
With each stroke of his tongue, her whole body felt alive, as if every nerve burst like the fizz in good champagne. He slanted his head to deepen their kiss, and she met him eagerly, tangled her tongue with his, touching him the only way she could right now. She was half-tempted to admit he was driving her wild, but she couldn't talk and kiss at the same time.
And there was no contest between talking and kissing…the longer he kissed her, the more her body responded. Her breasts grew heavy. Her nipples tingled. Every muscle in her body felt aroused with the air circulating between her thighs.
He caressed her throat in a steady motion, and she grew breathless, her chest rising and falling so her nipples almost grazed his shirt. Almost.
This was torture.
Which, Tori supposed, was the point of the restraints. She could only focus on how she felt She was so caught up in their kiss that his hands slipping down her neck didn't register until he rounded her shoulders, zeroed in on her breasts. His fingers cupped her in a smooth move, an erotic touch that made her gasp.
Adam caught the sound with his mouth, a throaty chuckle that became part of their kiss. He toyed with her, goaded her. If not for the restraints, she wouldn't have been able to keep her hands off him, and through the daze of arousal, Tori understood his game.
The very same game she'd played with him.
He wanted to tease her and tempt her until she insisted he satisfy this ache inside.
He wanted a reaction.
But Adam hadn't given her what she'd wanted. The man had sat on a massage table butt-naked while she copped feels of his body and still resisted her. She'd wanted to shied his composure until he couldn't resist her, and even though he'd finally given in, there was nothing out of control about him now.
If he thought she'd give in after one kiss—even a devastatingly delicious kiss—Adam Grant had another thing coming. He wasn't the only one making up the rules to this game.
Restraints or no restraints.
Tori gave a melting sigh and swirled her tongue over his lips, a promise. While he might have all the control right now, he wouldn't always be the one in charge…
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Hot Sheets Page 21
