He chuckles as he turns back to me, and one of his eyebrows rises just a little higher than the other. “Really,” His eyes dip to my lips, and stay there for a second before rising back to my eyes, with a teasing and unmistakably sensual look. “I would say you know a lot about me, Sop
hie.”
I don’t miss his meaning, and I blush fiercely. We’ve spent the last twenty-four hours more naked in bed than out of it. The memories are enough to make my body clench with helpless desire. I cast an embarrassed glance towards Steve, but he is totally occupied with driving, his eyes straight ahead.
“I meant... about your life, your work...” I can’t stop stammering. I look up at David in despair. Around him, I’ve obviously lost the ability to be coherent.
He studies me as I trip over my tongue. “You’re charming.” He says, amusement dancing on his lips. The compliment only makes me blush harder, and I bend my face to hide my flaming cheeks.
He puts a hand under my chin and lifts up my face, so I’m looking at him. “Don’t hide your face when you blush,” His voice is soft and compelling. “I like it.”
I nod helplessly. With his fingers under my chin and his blue eyes doing things to my heart, it’s not as if I can refuse him anything.
I’m still thinking of what to say when he bends over to brush his lips across mine in the lightest of kisses. I lean into it, as pleasure flutters through my body. By the time he lifts his head, my whole body is shaking with anticipation. I can’t believe how much I want him. Nobody told me it would be like this. My body feels as if it’s in a permanent state of sexual hunger.
“We’ll be home soon.” He says, his eyes dark with desire. It’s as if he can read my mind and knows exactly what I want.
I can’t wait.
Chapter Two
I FALL ASLEEP SOON AFTER, LULLED by the steady hum of the car engine. When I wake up, my head is resting on David’s shoulder, and he is stroking my hair, his fingers gentle and soothing. I realize that the car is no longer moving. I open my eyes and sit up, wondering how long I’ve been asleep.
“I was beginning to think I would have to kiss you to get you to wake up.” His hand leaves my hair. “You were very determined to use me as a pillow.” He adds wryly. I wonder if he is teasing me, but I can’t tell from his face.
I stretch self-consciously and smooth my hair. Steve is already opening the door on my side, so I step out of the car, looking around to get a feel of my surroundings.
We’re parked on a tree-lined street, in front of a towering stone and glass apartment block. I have to crane my neck to try to see all of it. The walls are cream stone, and the glass gleams blue in the sun. It’s massive and yet elegantly beautiful.
Right in front of me, a pair of glass double doors stands under a wide curved awning. As I take it in, David comes to my side, slipping his hand around my waist with a touch that is both firm and proprietary. As always, I immediately respond to the contact, my skin tingling where I can feel the pressure of his fingers.
He starts to lead me inside. When we reach the entrance, a doorman holds the door open.
“Good afternoon, Mrs. Preston, Mr. Preston.” The man greets me with a smile as David and I step inside the building. I look at him in surprise, and smile back. “Good afternoon.” I reply, inexplicably pleased at being addressed by my new name.
“Thank you Jimmy.” David’s voice is curt. He doesn’t pause. His hand on my waist urges me forward, and I follow him into the spacious lobby.
I take a second to look around, taking in the magnificent space. The floors are perfect gleaming marble, so well-polished that I can see my reflection when I look down. The walls are richly detailed and paneled, and the ceiling is at least two-storeys high, and adorned with a sparkling crystal chandelier. Everything carries an air of unmistakable luxury.
I would stand and admire, but David’s hand at my waist is firm and insistent, and I have no choice but to follow him. I turn a questioning glance at him, wondering at his haste, but his face is impassive. I assume he has no time to watch me appreciate the beauty that’s probably commonplace to him.
The man at the front desk gives us a greeting too, also calling me Mrs. Preston, and making me wonder if Linda has been passing a picture of me around. We acknowledge him without stopping as David leads me further towards the elevators. In only a matter of moments, we’ve crossed the lobby and are in the private elevator that leads to his penthouse apartment.
As the doors close, he turns to me, and using his body, presses me against the wall, pinning my arms at my sides. His face is only inches from mine, and the desire in his eyes turns my bones to liquid. I swallow hard as my body heats up from the close contact with his. Then his lips dip, and he claims my senses in a scorching kiss.
I open my lips to him, hungry for him, and hungry for more.
“I’m going to make love to you until your voice is hoarse from screaming my name.” He promises softly when we come up for air, making my heart pound with excitement, his sudden passion erasing any doubts I have had in the past hour. He kisses me again. “Your lips are so soft.” He whispers huskily. He continues to kiss me, his lips tracing a path from the sensitive spot below my ear, down to where the neckline of my blouse covers the top of my breasts, which are heavy and aching with need. My breath starts to come in short moans. I want him here, now.
He straightens with a low chuckle. “Don’t be in such a rush, sweetheart,” His voice is gently teasing, “We’re almost there.”
I don’t understand how he can be so calm, when the torrent of need flowing through me has made me almost incapable of speech. My hands are shaking with the need to touch him, even the sound of his voice is like an aphrodisiac, stirring me on. I take a deep breath to steady myself.
The bell dings and the doors open into an immaculate foyer, which is bigger than the living room of my apartment back in Ashford. The honey-toned wall paneling complements the perfectly finished dark wood floors, and lovely paintings of subjects ranging from wildflowers to waterfalls add definition to the walls. At one end of the room, a set of polished wood double doors lead out into a large living room.
It’s exceptionally beautiful. On two sides, the walls are windows, with exquisite views of the Sound, the city, the Mountains beyond, and many landmarks I can’t yet identify. A couple of artfully placed rugs cover the polished wood floors. In the perfectly arranged lounge area, there are two comfortable looking couches and a window seat, where I can instantly see myself curled up and reading. Further inside, in another carpeted area, there is a large dining table, with a vase of beautifully arranged flowers sitting on top of the gleaming wood surface.
Everything is perfect. “Wow.” I breathe, entranced. “It’s so beautiful.”