“Ladies,” their waiter began as he stopped beside their table, “courtesy of Mr. Craig.” He placed a shot glass filled with layers of brown, cream and orange liquid in front of each of them. “It’s a B-52.”
“Someone wants to get you drunk,” Margo said as she lifted her shot glass. “Come on, let’s not disappoint him.”
Lia loosened the scarf around her neck, suddenly too warm. She was going to be in trouble tonight. She could feel it. “Cheers,” she said before downing the sweet liquid in two swallows.
“Here he comes,” Margo whispered.
Lia watched Joseph make his way towards them, his stride unhurried and surprisingly graceful for someone his height as he navigated through the throng of people mingling about, pausing a few times to return handshakes and pat a couple of backs, but then he was beside their table, his eyes looking into hers, and Lia felt overwhelmed, like she was in the presence of a celebrity.
“Is this a girls-only table, or are boys welcome?”
“Yes.”
“Yes.” Amusement danced in his eyes. “Coming from your lips, I believe that may be my new favorite word.”
She smiled, not as embarrassed as she should have been, thanks to the liquid courage coursing through her bloodstream. “I meant yes, you are welcome to join us.”
“Oh, I think you were saying yes to more than that, but we can talk about that later.” He continued to meet her eyes for a few more seconds before turning to greet Margo and Kim.
Lia’s gaze traveled over him, taking in his broad shoulders, his custom-tailored suit and the gold watch on his wrist. She was thankful she’d decided to wear her black dress instead of the pants suit, knowing it made her look more feminine.
Kim was giggling in response to something he said, and she felt a pang of jealousy in her chest, fearing he might be attracted to her friend. It had been months since he’d propositioned her, after all. What if he was no longer interested? Like Kathy Paige, Kim was blonde with Barbie-like good looks.
“Mr. Craig, may I get you a drink or—”
“A chair,” Joseph interrupted as the waiter stopped beside him.
“Of course.” The waiter hurried off and, to Lia’s surprise, returned in less than thirty seconds with a chair he must have snagged from another area of the restaurant, because there was nothing available in the crowded bar.
“Thank you.” Joseph intercepted the chair as the waiter attempted to place it between Margo and Kim, effortlessly lifting it into the air before setting it beside Lia. “I can squeeze in here,” he said as he turned to Margo. “Do you mind?”
“No, of course not.” She moved her chair so there was enough space for him to sit beside Lia.
“Would you like something to drink, Mr. Craig?”
“Yes, another round for the table.” He sat down, his thigh brushing against Lia’s as he adjusted his chair. “Wait,” he said to the waiter, turning to Lia. “Are you hungry?”
“Hungry?” She was having a hard time concentrating with the feel of his hard thigh pressed against hers. The moment their eyes met, a wave of attraction passed between them, and the jealousy over Kim was forgotten as she became lost in his eyes. He was so close she could see the intricate patterns in his irises. They were extraordinary, with gold flecks mixed in with the brown.
“Bring us some appetizers,” he said to the waiter, continuing to stare into Lia’s eyes.
“Which—”
“An assortment of whatever you think is good,” he interrupted. “Thank you.”
Lia was the first to break eye contact, taking a breath as she looked down at her drink. Every nerve ending in her body seemed to be tingling in response to his closeness.
“You changed your hair,” he said.
“I just didn’t straighten it.”
“Whatever you did, I like it.”
“Taylor asked me if I forgot to comb it this morning.” She smiled at the memory. “I think she prefers it straight.”
“Taylor’s five. Take it from a thirty-four-year-old man. It suits you.”
She could feel him staring at her, and her heart rate, which was already elevated, jumped a notch higher. She needed another drink. “Thanks.”
“It’s good to see you.”
“You too.” Another wave of attraction pulsed between them as their eyes met.
“Joe Craig!” A burly man with a head of thick black hair stopped beside their table, gripping Joseph’s shoulder. “How the hell are you?”
And so the tone was set for the evening, as dozens of people approached their table to greet Joseph, and a simple “hello” rarely sufficed. By 9:00 p.m., Lia’s original trio had expanded into a group in excess of twenty people, and at some point Joseph’s arm stretched out behind her chair, the gesture clearly demonstrating a familiarity that made the two appear as a couple, and Lia found herself liking the idea of people assuming they were together.
The Joseph of tonight was full of the charisma she’d seen him exhibit on CNN back in October. He was the center of attention, with everyone vying to speak to him, and though he seemed to enjoy the camaraderie, he never neglected Lia, working to include her in the conversation and remaining attentive to her needs. He ensured her glass was never empty and urged her to try the different plates of food that seemed to continually arrive. She couldn’t recall the last time a man had made her feel so special.
At some point, his hand drifted from the back of her chair to her neck, his fingers lightly caressing the exposed skin above her collar, and it felt strangely natural, as if they had been a couple for months if not years.
“Have you had enough?” Joseph asked, his hand cupping her shoulder as he leaned in to be heard over the crowd. “I want to be alone with you.”
The warmth of his breath tickled her ear, causing goose bumps to run up her arms.
She turned to him, their faces just inches apart, and she knew the entire evening, from the moment she sent him the drink, had been leading to this moment, and there was no way she had the willpower to resist him. “Okay.”
Lia pushed her hands into the pockets of her wool coat as soon as they stepped outside, a gust of wind making the forty-degree evening feel chillier. “Cold?” She heard his deep voice before his arm wrapped around her shoulder, pulling her into his side as they began walking towards the parking lot. After several seconds, he stopped. “I completely forgot. My partner drove today. I don’t have a car.”
“We could take mine, if you don’t mind driving. I’m not sure I’d pass a sobriety test. It’s parked in the garage under my building.”
“He has everything—my keys, briefcase. It’s your fault.”
“My fault?” She laughed. “How is that possible?”
“You distracted me.” He clasped the front of her coat, slowly drawing her towards him.
“Really?” She didn’t even attempt to look serious. “I’m sorry.”
“Yeah.” His eyes searched hers for a long moment before he dropped his gaze to her lips. “You’re going to let me kiss you tonight, aren’t you?”
The question caught her off guard, and a soft blush covered her cheeks.
His lips turned up in a smile. “Oh, you’re definitely going to let me kiss you,” he said, almost to himself, as his eyes returned to hers.
He moved his hands to the sides of her face, taking his time as he tilted her head back and lowered his mouth towards hers. “I’ve waited a long time for this, Lia Merrick.”
He didn’t attempt to start slow as his lips covered hers, the passion building between them since December unleashed in one kiss. She slipped her hands beneath his jacket, registering the hardness of his body as she ran them up his chest. She leaned into him, moaning softly when she felt the evidence of his desire pressing into her stomach. She resisted the urge to run her hand over the length of him. She wanted him, needed him. Why had she been fighting this? He felt so right.
His hands remained around her face, cupping her jaw with his palms as he
continued to kiss her, his tongue tangling with hers.
The sound of laughter from an approaching group had him stiffening and then lifting his head slightly, his breathing uneven as he rested his forehead against hers. “Where’s your car?”
Lia took his hand, leading him in the direction of the parking garage, their pace brisk, both seemingly in a hurry to get to their destination. After several seconds, Joseph’s arm again found its way around her shoulders, pulling her against his side as they continued walking.
The silence wasn’t broken until they reached her car. “This is me.” The words were barely uttered before he was on her, his mouth finding hers as he pushed her back against her car, his body pressing into hers. Lia let her purse fall to the ground as she wound her arms around his neck, her body straining to get closer as he deepened the kiss. She was completely lost, her body on fire as he ground his hips forward, leaving her with no doubt that he wanted her as much as she wanted him.
His mouth left hers as he dragged his lips across her cheek and down to her neck, his stubble rough against her skin. “Jesus,” he breathed between kisses. One hand began to squeeze her breast, while he inserted one of his knees between her thighs, fitting his upper thigh into the juncture between her legs.
Lia clung to his neck, her mouth searching and then finding his, no longer thinking as her body’s need became all-consuming.
“Not here,” he said deeply. “This isn’t happening here.” She was so lost in her desire, it wasn’t until she heard his words that she became conscious of the fact she was trying to unbuckle his belt. “Where are your keys?”
“My purse,” she managed, not sure if she was more upset that he’d pulled away from her or that she would have let him have sex with her against her car in a parking garage.
“I live off Route Seven, near the mall,” she told him when they were both in the car. Her head was back against the seat, her eyes closed as she struggled for some semblance of control. This wasn’t her. She wasn’t the type of woman who lost her mind during sex. Sex with Ned had been nice, but it was something for the privacy of a bedroom. What she was experiencing, feeling with Joseph was at a completely different level. Even now, with some distance between them, she wanted to climb across the seat and continue where they left off.
The car was out of the garage and merged into the light evening traffic before she allowed herself to look at him, instantly discovering the short reprieve did nothing to curb her desire. The confines of her car weren’t big enough. His scent, a subtle woodsy cologne or aftershave mixed with soap and a hint of scotch and something else that she decided was him served as an aphrodisiac to her senses. She crossed her legs, sinking farther back in her seat as her gaze feasted on his profile, tracing the sharp line of his jaw down to his chin. She raised her gaze to his lips, breathing in as she recalled the feel of them against her own. She clenched her hands into fists, resisting the consuming need to touch him. It had to be the alcohol. There was no other explanation.
“Is the temperature okay?” His voice pulled her from her obsessive internal banter.
“Yes.” She watched his hand drop to the knob for the stereo, and seconds later music from her favorite pop station drifted from the speakers. He took her hand and brought it to rest on his upper thigh, entwining their fingers. Her eyes drifted to their hands. His were large and masculine, befitting of a man his size, but there was also something refined about them, the nails perfectly manicured, the veins on their backs visible but subtle. When she began to imagine them touching her, she looked away.
After parking in the lot outside her apartment, Joseph switched off the ignition and turned to her, resting his arm along the back of her seat. “Are you sure?” There was warmth in his eyes, the same warmth she’d caught glimpses of that day in his law firm and again when he stood in the parking lot beside her car at Pearson’s, a warmth that couldn’t be faked.
She felt a stirring deep inside her chest and reached out, trailing her fingers down the side of his cheek. Where had this boldness come from? She didn’t know this version of herself. “Yes.”
“Okay.” He leaned in and kissed her, his lips brushing softly over hers.
It wasn’t until she was preceding him into her apartment that she considered whether she had picked up that morning. It wasn’t that she was messy, but she usually straightened up in the evening, too rushed before work to pick up after herself or Taylor.
“Do you want something to drink?”
“No.” He was behind her, taking her purse strap from her shoulder and then helping her out of her coat. “Take me to your bedroom,” he whispered as he gripped her hips and pulled her back into his body.
Her bedroom was a bit of a disaster, a pile of clean clothes on the center of her unmade bed, a few drawers left haphazardly open from her morning haste, a pair of yoga pants on the floor. “Sorry about the mess.” She hurried to the bed and scooped the clothes into her arms, placing them on a wicker chair in the corner before crossing to the bureau and quickly closing the drawers. “I’m not usually this bad.” She grabbed the yoga pants and tossed them to the chair. “We overslept this morning and I didn’t have time—”
“Relax,” he said from behind her, his hands sliding down her arms. “I don’t care about any of that.” He dropped his mouth to her neck, his lips warming her skin.
She closed her eyes as she leaned back into him, tilting her head to the side to give him more access to her neck. This was really happening. Joseph Craig was in her bedroom, about to make love to her. Again, she couldn’t fathom why she ever resisted him.
When he began lifting her dress, her whole body tensed, as she remembered the simple white cotton panties she was wearing. They were comfortable and practical, but certainly not date worthy. Her thoughts shot to Kathy Paige. Joseph dated supermodels. She doubted he had ever seen cotton underwear. She wanted to stop him and escape to the bathroom before he saw them, but as she felt the cool air touch her stomach, she knew it was too late. He was going to see them whether she liked it or not. “Turn around. I want to look at you.”
“I didn’t expect to bring you home. I never would have worn these underwear if I—”
“Why do you keep apologizing to me?” he asked gently. “Do you really think I’m here to see how neat your house is or what your underwear look like?”
“No.”
“Turn around, Lia.” His voice felt like a caress. “Please.”
She slowly turned to face him, a blush heating her cheeks. As she watched his eyes travel over her body, her insecurities began to dissipate. It was obvious from the heat in his stare how much he appreciated her body.
“Beautiful,” he said when his eyes finally met hers. “Take off the rest.”
She lifted her hands to the straps of her bra, the desire to please him overpowering any reservations. Maybe she should have been put off by the fact he was still clothed, but she wasn’t, and as she stood before him, completely naked and seeing the desire in his eyes, she’d never felt sexier.
He took a step towards her, their bodies so close she could feel the heat of his. “You’re perfect.” He cupped one of her breasts, squeezing it in his hand as he dropped his head, running his tongue over her nipple before closing his lips around it and sucking it into his mouth.
A bolt of desire shot straight to her groin and she gripped his head, a small moan escaping her lips as he sucked one nipple and then the other, his tongue swirling the tip. Lia pulled his head down, her hands moving deeper into his hair as she pushed her breasts up, lost in the feelings.
He propelled her backwards until her legs bumped her mattress, and then he was following her onto the bed, one hand continuing to squeeze her breasts as his mouth rained warm kisses down her stomach. Lia’s hips began to rotate, her body seeking more as he ran his chin over her stomach, his razor stubble rough against her soft skin. “Lie back,” he ordered when she moved to sit up, his hand pushing gently against her chest. “Just lie there.”
The mattress shifted as he came to his feet and she opened her eyes, watching as he began to shed his clothes. Her level of desire seemed to grow with each piece of clothing he stripped, and as he took off his undershirt, her fingers gripped the sheet beneath her, her need for him all consuming. His chest and arms had just the right amount of muscle. He followed some type of exercise routine that included weights and cardio. She wasn’t attracted to the bodybuilder type, and he certainly wasn’t that, but he clearly spent hours each week in a gym.
When his hands hesitated at his belt, she raised her eyes to find him watching her. He was watching her admire his body, just as she had watched him admire hers. “This isn’t a deal-breaker moment, is it?”
“What?” Her heart dropped. Was there something wrong with him?
“If you don’t like my”—he hesitated—“briefs.”
She sagged with relief. “Only if they’re the girl variety.”
He laughed aloud and then she was joining him, the sexual tension temporarily broken as their laughter filled the room. He collapsed on the bed beside her, falling onto his back and throwing his arm over his eyes as he continued to laugh, his shoulders shaking. “What would you have done?”
She propped herself on her elbow, smiling down at him. “I don’t know.” A vision of him in women’s underwear had her giggling again. “You scared me.”
“Oh, I know. You should have seen your face. What did you think I was going to say?”
“I didn’t know—something bad, I guess. Like there was something wrong with it.”
He lifted his arm from his eyes. “God, that was funny.” He pushed her hair back from her eyes. “Come here.” He curved his hand around the back of her neck, pulling her towards him. “I like that smile,” he whispered before meeting her lips. Within moments, he reversed their positions, his body over hers.
She trailed her fingers down his back as the kiss deepened, exploring the contours of his body, his skin warm and smooth beneath her fingers. They kissed for minutes before he left her and repositioned himself at the end of the bed, running his hand down the length of one thigh and then the other, his eyes watching the movement.
When I Saw You Page 14
