He finally exhaled his pent-up breath. “I’ll be sure to make a note of that.”
So not only had he failed to impress her, she’d ended up counseling him.
To make things worse, he’d totally lost track of time. Six hours had passed, when he’d intended to tantalize her for only a couple of hours and leave her wanting more, so next time she’d be more eager, or at least, less resistant.
But he’d been incapable of ending the most enchanting day he’d ever had, the most exhilarating duel he’d ever waged. He’d been swept on the tide of their affinity, the hunger that had been building inside him demanding more of her. It now craved all of her. Now, not later.
She pushed her cappuccino cup away. “Was that leisurely enough for you?”
“Not quite.”
“C’mon, you said lunch, and it’s now time for dinner.”
“Then we have dinner. At a place of your choosing.”
“You think it’s possible for me to eat anything else? I can barely breathe. But you’re a big boy who needs his nutrition, so you go ahead. I’ll walk back home.” She tapped her slightly curved belly through that dress whose color made her skin glow and her hair and eyes sparkle with red and gold fires. “I can sure use a long, hard walk.”
“So we’ll walk together. Then I’ll drive you home.” She started to object and he cut her off. “You don’t think I’d let you go back home on your own, do you?”
“Why not? I’ve been doing it since I was a kid.”
“You’re not doing it on my watch.” Before she could say anything else, he was on his feet, his hand extended to her.
Though she grumbled that he was an entitled chauvinist, she gave him her hand. It was all he could do not to yank her by it, slam her against his aching body and drink her dissension dry.
As they stepped out into the night, the warm, humid ocean breeze was so strong it swept her curls across his face. He groaned, getting another whiff of her scent, which had almost had him pouncing on her back in her house. His hardness had long crossed from painful to agonizing.
Giving in, he reached out to catch those locks. He’d send his plans of taking it slow to hell, would capture her by that lush cascade of silk, push her against the nearest building and devour her.
But she aborted his feverish intentions, pulling her locks away, one from between his lips. And their hands touched. Jerking hers away as if he’d electrocuted her, she mumbled that her hair came alive in the wind, produced a clip from her purse and secured her rioting hair in an improvised updo.
Triumphantly declaring the problem contained, she starting walking. It took him a moment to get his stiff legs to fall into step with her. His breath had clogged in his chest so hard again he had to force himself to breathe.
That tightness increased all through their two-hour walk down the bustling streets. As did his enjoyment.
They argued, agreed, bickered and shared companionable silences. He even got her to laugh many times, once so hard she shed tears.
Getting her to lower her guard enough with him, then to respond to his wit and teasing so unreservedly, was the most rewarding thing he’d ever done.
Then to his dismay, she said that her feet were starting to hurt, being so unused to heels. He should have considered this, at least realized her discomfort when she’d slowed down. Not only had he been inconsiderate but now their walk had to end.
He offered to carry her so they could go on, and she laughed it off, thinking he was joking, which he wasn’t. He called Paolo to deliver his car, and she took her sandals off while they waited, so he did scoop her up. No matter how much she spluttered for him to put her down, he insisted he wasn’t letting her stand barefoot in the street.
Once driving, every cell of his body on fire, he kept wondering how he’d prolong the drive and his time with her.
He didn’t want this night to end.
Then he felt her looking at him. At the next light he turned to her, found her gaze fixed on him with what looked like distressed embarrassment.
The tightness he was getting used to feeling around her returned in full force. “What’s wrong?”
Her lips twisted. “Just that you went to great lengths to show me a good time and I was only a rude jackass in return.”
“You only said what you thought without filters.”
“Which is the definition of rudeness. I played back our whole outing and I realized you’ve been nothing but gracious while I’ve been obnoxious. At first I was so on purpose, but then I decided to stop, and I was still downright offensive.”
“You were no such thing. You even paid me the biggest compliment anyone ever has. To everyone I am my success and power and money. You’re the only one who ever thought I am the one who gives worth to my achievements and assets.” Those wide eyes he never wanted to stop staring into grew larger. He gritted his teeth as he had to turn back to the road and drive again. “And even if you’ve been rude, I would have deserved it, since you consider I’ve coerced you into this outing.”