“Oh my! What a spectacular view,” she said as she slipped into the buttery leather seat.
“Yes, isn’t it great? We can go out there after dinner, if you wish.”
She regarded him with an upraised brow. Did he plan this dinner to be a romantic interlude?
“That would be nice.”
He smiled and motioned to the waiter.
The waiter appeared with a wine list and filled their glasses with ice water. “May I interest you in a cocktail before dinner?” He displayed the list with a practiced air.
“Dana, please feel free to have anything you wish. It’s on me.”
She perused the menu and ordered chardonnay. He smiled at her selection. “My favorite. I’ll have the same.” When the drinks arrived, he raised his glass to her.
“To friendly competition,” he toasted, leaning so close she could smell his heady cologne.
“I thought we weren’t going to talk about work.”
“I’m not. This is just to set the record straight. I want to be your friend, not your enemy.”
“Cheers,” she said, clicking her glass against his. Dana noted that he watched her every move.
“So, tell me, what brought you to our little town? It’s not the night life because, frankly, that’s very limited. Most people come here for the water sports on the Gulf of Mexico.”
She shook her head. “Actually, I don’t have time to party and I’m not into boating or fishing. I moved here several months ago to be near my elderly parents. They retired to Florida ten years ago when Mom developed Alzheimer’s. Recently, Dad showed similar symptoms and now they’re both in a senior care center. I’m here for them.”
He nodded and gave her a sympathetic smile.
“I did something similar. My uncle had a stroke three years ago. He realized he couldn’t manage the family-owned business and asked if I would do it. I couldn’t turn him down, so here I am.” He shrugged. “It also meant moving here and changing careers.”
She smiled. It was nice to talk with someone who understood what tough choices she had to make.
“So, your uncle, is he okay?”
“The stroke left his right side paralyzed. He’s in a wheelchair now, but he’s in good hands. My aunt spoils him. She’s grateful that he doesn’t have to worry about the candy store anymore…uh, which brings us back to talking about business.” He cleared his throat and shook his head. “I’m sorry.”
“That’s all right. You know, I saw that corner store at the edge of town when my parents first moved here. I fell in love with its charm, but never thought I’d buy it someday and open my candy shop. I thought I’d live in Arkansas my whole life. Yet, here I am.”
“Yeah. Life sure throws us some curve balls, doesn’t it?”
“Uh huh.” She shook her head, thinking of Jesse. “But they say everything happens for a reason. I might not have opened a candy shop there, but now I’m following my dream.” She smiled.
“You sound like a woman who knows what she wants.” He reached over and placed his hand on top of hers.
“Yes, I do.” A successful business and a handsome man like you at my side. For a brief moment, she let herself daydream about him. He smiled and she wondered if he could read her mind.
“So now I understand why owning the candy shop is important to you. But I also get the impression that your life is all work and no play. What do you do for pleasure? I mean…leisure.” His eyes bored into hers with an intensity that made her squirm in her chair. She knew exactly what he meant. How’s my love life?
“I’m a sculptor. I like to make beautiful things with my hands, whether it is candy or clay. When I’m not in my store, I’m usually in my studio at home working on some project.”
“Sculpting. That’s right. I do recall you saying you’re an artist. I didn’t realize that you created all of the decorative pieces made of candy in your store. I’m impressed.”
“Thank you. Yes, first I draw the design, then I sculpt it and finally make a mold.”
He moved his hand out of sight. “I’m curious. Have you ever had a naked man sit for one of your sculptures?” His leg brushed against hers under the table and a shiver flowed along a direct line to her clit.
Dana’s sucked in a deep breath. She had considered asking a nude male model to sit for her, but never did. “No, I haven’t. The statue of David in the store was created from a picture in a magazine.”
His brows lifted in amusement and he appeared to be thinking something wicked. Below the table, the warmth of his touch on her knee made her heart beat faster.
“That doesn’t count. You didn’t use a living, breathing model. But if you ever get the itch, I’d be more than happy to scratch it.” He spoke softly and with a hint of seduction, while his hand slipped higher upon her thigh, caressing her with featherlight strokes.
“Oh really.” Though she attempted to listen carefully to his words, a familiar throb in her clit distracted her. She squeezed her inner thighs together, hoping to stifle the burgeoning need.
The corners of his mouth lifted into a sly smile, revealing perfect white teeth. Hmm. He knew exactly what he was doing to her.
“Absolutely. I did professional modeling in my life, prior to selling candy, that is. So I’m qualified,” he stated nonchalantly.
His comment jarred her thoughts back to the conversation. “That’s interesting. I thought you were still modeling on the side,” Dana said. “I saw your picture on the cover of a magazine a couple days ago.”
“Oh that.” A scowl replaced the sexy smile and he removed his hand from her knee to cross his arms over his chest. “That’s not me. It’s my brother.”
“You have an identical twin?”
“Yes.” He sighed deeply. “He still models. I quit when I took over the family business. The candy store is my life now.”
Imagine that. Two of them!
“Where is he now?”
“I don’t know…Paris, Rome. He travels a lot. We don’t keep in touch very much these days.” He shook his head and reached over to grasp her hand. “I didn’t come here tonight to talk about my brother. Dana, I want to know more about you.”
It seemed as though Trevor was pleading with her to forget that she ever mentioned his brother. Dana thought his reticence strange and that only piqued her curiosity. She sensed his unease, both in his expression and the tenseness of his posture. He wasn’t telling her something and because of that, she wanted to know more.
Would she meet the mirror image of her fantasy man? Dana wondered if they would be identical in all aspects. There would be a way to find out, if she could get them both to model for her. She toyed with the idea of two gorgeous, naked men standing before her.
“You know, I might take you up on your offer to model nude for me.”
“Really? I’d be honored. I’m ready anytime you need me.” He lifted her hand to place a kiss upon the back of it. His soft lips were warm and moist against her skin.
The waiter chose that moment to take their order. Dana appreciated the interruption, for the conversation was heading down a dangerous path—one that her active imagination was anxious to pursue. Discussing naked male bodies with her totally delicious dinner companion raised her body heat. It was bad enough that he had planted the vision in her subconscious. Now it was hard to look at him without imagining what he looked like without his Tommy Bahama shirt and fine linen pants.
She observed him as he read the menu and gave his order to the waiter. The soft yellow hue of his crisp shirt enhanced his golden tan. He wore the top button open, just enough to get a teasing glimpse of the edge of a tattoo on his chest. With his hair falling in soft waves on his forehead and his lips slightly parted, he looked sexy as all hell. It was hard to look at him and not remember the way his body felt against hers at the store.
“A penny for your thoughts,” Trevor said after the waiter left. He reached over and rubbed his thumb maddeningly across her hand.
“Oh sorry
. I didn’t mean to stare. It’s just that I noticed the edge of your tattoo and I couldn’t help wondering what it looks like.”
“Feel free to stare all you want. I’ll be happy to show you my tattoo later. Would you like that, Dana?”
Her heart skipped a beat. Depending on the size of the tattoo, he would have to take off his shirt either partially or fully to show her. She would soon find out if her dinner companion was as yummy as she imagined. Perhaps he’d even let her run her fingers across it.
“Yes, I’d love to see it. As you know, art intrigues me. How long have you had it?”
“A little over two years. I had it done after I left modeling. But enough about me. I’d rather talk about you. Did I mention how lovely you look tonight? You’re wearing my favorite color. Baby blue matches your eyes. They look so beautiful that I’m having a hard time not staring, also.”
Warmth coursed through her body. Damn, the man knew the right thing to say to keep her on the edge of her seat.
He squeezed her hand while giving her a lopsided grin. “Dana, I really like you. Though we’re competitors, we’re not that different. In fact, we have a lot in common. We both like sunsets and sweets. And who knows? Maybe there’s something else we both like.”
He pulled his chair closer to her and rested his leg against her thigh.
She smiled at his thinly veiled hint that sex was that other “something”. The man had a devious mind! His leg was very distracting too. How could she possibly think straight when his hard thigh was pressed against hers?
“What am I going to do with you, Trevor?”
A grin spread across his lips as slow as chocolate melting in a pot on a hot stove. “Would you really like to know, Dana? I’d be happy to show you.” Again, his voice was low and seductive and combined with the heated look in his eyes, held her captivated.
Dana sucked in a breath as her pussy flooded with moisture at his comment. She closed her eyes for a moment, trying to concentrate on calming her fluttering heartbeat. But that only made matters worse. Unbidden, a vision came to mind of being sandwiched naked between identical brothers, their arms wrapped around her body. As they slowly rocked back and forth, Trevor locked his lips with hers in a passionate kiss that made her head swim. She could hardly catch her breath. The waiter’s deep voice broke into her daydream and shattered it. Her eyes snapped open.
“Pardon. Your steak, madame,” the waiter said as he placed her dish in front of her. “And your lobster, sir.” He smiled and folded his hands. “Is there anything else I can get you?”
I could use a cold shower. Dana smiled and said, “No. Thank you.”
“We’re fine. Thank you, Mark.”
Trevor gave her a piercing look that said he suspected where her thoughts had traveled. She shivered, wondering if he guessed her deepest, darkest desires.
Dana took a big gulp of ice water. Cool down, girl!
Trevor looked at both of their dinners and smiled. “Let’s begin.”
The moment Dana took her first bite, she moaned. Her eyes drifted closed as she savored the unique flavor and tenderness of the meat. “Mmm, this is so good!”
Trevor laughed heartily. “You make it sound as if it’s better than sex.”
“It might be.”
A dark eyebrow shot up.
“Apparently you haven’t had mind-blowing sex yet. I definitely think you need a refresher course. Nothing is better than a hot, steamy coupling with a partner who gives you his all. Perhaps this meal will just be the beginning.”
The beginning!
“Trevor, I…”
“You want me to have a taste? I was hoping you’d offer.” He effectively cut off her train of thought when he leaned over and opened his mouth. Dana sliced a piece of the filet mignon and fed it to him. She watched as his lips wrapped around the fork and slowly slid the meat off. His tongue darted out to lick his lips and all Dana could think about was what it would feel like to have that tongue licking her lips.
“Now you. Here, try my lobster.”
Dana observed him dip the succulent shellfish into butter and lean toward her with the sample. She opened her mouth and slipped the lobster off his fork very slowly and rolled it around inside her mouth to savor the flavor.
“Mmm.”
He chuckled. “Should I take that as a yes, you enjoyed it?”
“Oh my! It is delicious. Thank you.”
He reached over, wiped a drop of butter from the corner of her mouth and smeared his thumb across her lips. “But not as delicious as you, beautiful.”
Dana swallowed hard as her clit jumped.
The waiter returned after they finished their meal. “Will you be having dessert tonight?”
Trevor smiled at Dana while he answered. “Yes. But we have other plans for that.” His eyes locked with hers and suggested unspoken delights.
A shiver of excitement shimmied down her spine. We do? What plans? Am I the dessert? Her nipples peaked as her pussy throbbed. Between the wine and her sexy dinner partner’s comments, she had become totally relaxed, yet extremely aroused.
After he paid the bill, Trevor extended his hand to her. “Let’s go down to the pier.”
She stood and placed her hand in his. “All right. But you have to promise not to throw me into the water. I can’t swim.” She laughed.
He shook his head. “Don’t worry. The only things I want to drown you in are kisses and chocolate.”
“Oh.” Snared by his gaze, she stood immobilized before him, her heartbeat quickening. Drowning in kisses…what a lovely way to spend the night.
“Come.” He tucked her arm beneath his and led her toward the secluded gazebo. She walked beside him on the floating wooden deck crossing over lines of light, which spilled upon the pier from the small base lamps. A slight breeze blew her hair around. When they came to the end, he stopped at the railing under the gazebo, staring down into her eyes. Moonlight highlighted his features and shone in his hair, giving him an irresistibly sexy aura.
He glanced up at the full moon sheathed in wispy clouds. “What is it about the moon that seems so romantic?”
She rubbed her arms while gazing up at the moon. “I don’t know,” she said, trying to sound nonchalant, yet feeling more excited than she had been in a long time.
“Are you chilled? Here, let me warm you.” He pulled her into the circle of his arms, settling her back tight against his chest as they stood staring out across the calm water.
“Relax,” he said softly, his breath warm against her ear.
As he rubbed up and down her arms, his fingertips brushed against the sides of her breasts with brief, teasing strokes. Her pulse quickened as ribbons of pleasure washed over her. There was no mistaking his intentions, even if he hadn’t vocalized them.
“It’s difficult to relax when you’re doing that to me.”
He turned her around to face him, lifting her chin with his thumb so she could look into his eyes. Those beautiful, expressive eyes of his made her breath hitch every time she looked into them.
“I think I know what would relax you.” His large hands framed her face as he smiled warmly at her. “Would you mind if I kissed you?” The husky timbre of his voice mesmerized her.
Dana got snared by his eyes, so deep and dark that it seemed she was falling into an abyss. His voice sent shivers of delight down her spine. As he talked, she focused on his lush lips and the way his mouth formed words. The memory of their close encounter at the store rushed back full force.
Yes, kiss me. Kiss me now. Drown me in kisses.
She opened her mouth to answer, but he didn’t wait to hear her response.
As his mouth descended, Dana’s heart slammed against her chest. Her legs seemed ready to buckle beneath her. It wasn’t every day the man of her dreams walked into her life and asked to kiss her.
His possession of her lips was much more forceful and urgent than she expected. As his tongue swept inside her mouth and mated with hers, the full impact of
his passion curled her toes. She wrapped her arms around his neck, clinging to him for support. He crushed her to his chest, one hand sweeping up her back, the other cupping and squeezing her breast. She trembled as his hand encircled the sensitive tip, teasing it through her thin sundress.
A whimper escaped her lips as a delicious shiver of sensation traveled to her core. Lower, his hard-on bulged against his slacks and made her very aware of the effect she had on him. He ground against her soft femininity and she rocked against him, her pussy throbbing with want.
His lips were warm and insistent. Her whole body tingled from the tips of her toes to the hair on her head. With every stroke of his fingertips, every lick of his tongue, she fell deeper under his spell. He was strong and gentle at the same time, his hands molding her breasts with the expertise of a sculptor fashioning a statue. The world and all their differences faded away as she became totally enraptured by his passionate kiss.
She raked her nails across his buttocks, feeling the muscles clench at her touch. He moaned his pleasure against her lips, encouraging her to further explore the hard outline of his rear end. It had been too long since she had pleasured a man, fondled a throbbing cock or tasted cum on her tongue.
Her head fell back to accept the soft ministrations of his lips brushing against her cheek. She smelled the wonderful, masculine scent of his hair as he drew the tender flesh of her earlobe into his mouth and sucked on it until she moaned with pleasure.
Lost in a daze, blood pounding in her ears, Dana couldn’t think of anything but the exquisite need building inside her. Her clit throbbed harshly and she writhed against him to ease that precious ache. He responded with a flex of his hips. With every stroke of his fingertips, each nibble on her ear, she fell deeper into an erotic trance.
It wasn’t until he slipped the material off her shoulder to run his tongue along her collarbone to her ear that she shivered from the cool lake breeze blowing upon the wet line he had drawn.
He pulled back to look at her, his eyes glazed by passion, his moist lips slightly parted. She drew in a ragged breath, trying to calm her racing heartbeat.
Decadent Delights Page 3
