“I didn’t want to make you nervous.”
“Who said I’d be nervous?”
“You might have been. I didn’t want to put unnecessary pressure on you. And as for the evil beer, you didn’t need to drink a few pints of it for my sake. I’d have understood.”
He gave her one those bone-melting looks and she couldn’t stop a stupid smile spreading across her face. It was the beer, just the beer, nothing else at all. “I think it’s time I went home before I let myself down and get another refill. It’s addictive.”
“It’s Passion Creek’s very own love elixir,” he whispered in her ear. “If you believe in that kind of thing.”
She snorted. “I absolutely do not.”
She watched as he caught the eye of the security guard standing by the exit and tapped an imaginary watch on his wrist. “Let’s get out of here,” he murmured. “Don’t want to be here until dawn touching flesh and smiling sweetly.”
“All for a good cause though,” she said kindly. “For charity.”
“Sure, but there’s only a handful of people here tonight who aren’t here because of self-interest.” He shrugged. “Not that I care. As long as my foundation to expand access to educational opportunities is a few hundred thousand dollars better off, they can do what they like.”
“Educational opportunities?”
“Scholarships for high-achieving minority students, poor students, computers in libraries so everyone can get on the grid. Everyone.”
“Nice. Emptying the pockets of the rich to give to the poor. I like it.”
“I want to put something back, give some of those city kids opportunities I never had. Make them less dependent on the incomes of their parents. Give them half a chance at least.”
“A latter day Robin Hood?”
“That guy had more morals than I do.” He indicated that she should head for the door and she felt the warmth of his hand guiding her between her shoulder blades. “And I haven’t worn tights to work so far.”
“Maybe you should try it.” She giggled. “My lips would be sealed.”
“Let’s get out of here,” he whispered into her neck as they made their way through the chattering crowds. “I want to kiss you.”
Chapter Ten
I want to kiss you.
Those words thrilled her, but also left her speechless because she could hardly wait for him to follow through. She wanted his lips on hers, his strong arms pulling her into him and up against the hardness of his muscled torso. She wanted to sink into him and into sensual oblivion.
The exit door swung closed behind them and, without speaking, they rushed into the waiting elevator. It was empty: just them, the mirrored walls, and the sound of their breathing as the door slid shut. Piper lost herself in the sight of him for a moment and then tugged off the black sliver of silk around his neck. She stopped breathing for a second as he jabbed his fingers at the elevator control panel and the metal box lurched to a halt with a squeal. The interior lights stuttered, but to her relief they weren’t plunged into darkness. “What the hell are you doing?”
“I said I wanted to kiss you.”
“But what if someone thinks the elevator has broken down and they catch us—”
“Catch us?” The shock of the elevator grinding to a halt and the sudden, treacherous heat building between her thighs stole any words of reply. Her heart raced with excitement as his hand inched toward her face and delicately traced the contour of her cheekbone. His fingers threaded through her hair and bunched together firmly, gripping the back of her head as his lips slanted down over hers. “Then we should do this quickly.”
She closed her eyes and tilted back her chin to bare her mouth and throat to his hovering lips. Her voice was husky. “You mean…in here? Elevator sex?”
“You started the list in Sanibel, remember?” he murmured and bit lightly at the soft skin of her throat. “Fantasy places to have sex. This is one of mine.”
She pressed her body closer as his lips moved up to her ear, letting him nip gently while his free hand slid inside the light silk of her jacket to curve around her breast. Every part of her became sensitized as she felt him stiffen against her stomach. He pushed her gently back against the cool walls. She wound her arms tightly around his neck, dizzy with arousal, needing to feel and taste his skin. They both knew she was saying yes and his lips found hers, easing them effortlessly apart with his tongue.
He tasted like heaven and she moaned into him, fumbling with his shirt buttons, desperate to feel his hot, bare skin beneath her fingertips. It was like being back in Sanibel all over again where physical sensation overrode all sense of caution or restraint. Except this time it was even better because she knew what hard-muscled strength and sensuality lay beneath the fine fabric of his clothes. It was impossible to hide her eagerness when he squeezed her breast through her thin top and his hand moved from her hair to find the hem of her camisole. “Quickly,” she muttered and helped him lift it over her chest.
She heard his breath catch. “Front-fastening bra…” His heartbeat was strong beneath her palm and she felt a rush of sensual power at being able to arouse such a powerful and attractive man with so little effort. “It’s almost as if you planned this yourself.”
Her voice was tight and breathy. “Did you plan this all along?”
His answer was another kiss, a stronger one as he undid the clasp of her bra and her breasts broke free of their lacy confines. His quick fingers dealt with the side button and zipper of her pants, which slithered like melting ice cream onto the elevator floor. She was beyond caring about the world outside her erotic prison already and trembled with anticipation as her silk panties were eased aside.
“God…” She groaned, her voice laced with lust as his fingers slid smoothly in. She arched and flexed, wordlessly encouraging him with her body to go harder, deeper, and higher.
“More?” His tone was forceful and wicked, matching the movement of his fingers, and she cried out as his other hand found her nipple and squeezed.
She could smell the gallery event clinging to his skin—alcohol, perfume, paint, and new carpet as her muscles clenched tightly around him. “Yes,” she gasped, sensation zinging through her body at the intense pleasure he was inflicting. And then his hand fell away, his mouth closing over her tight red peak to suck and lick gently. He was prolonging her agonizing arousal and it was like riding an erotic wave, knowing that she would eventually crash but he was keeping her on the crest with his skillful touch. It was heaven letting him take control, but she wouldn’t let his sweet punishment make her come before she wanted to. Not yet. This was too good and she was feeling greedy.