Chapter 12
CHAPTER 12
T he daisies’ bright, romantic cheerfulness contrasted with Dylan’s masculine visage. Dylan is here for me. His neatly buttoned white dress shirt was tucked into his dark slacks, his hair was damp from a shower, and his focus was utterly on her.
They were alone, together, in her suite with the whole evening spread out before them. A feat she would have thought impossible after this week when career demands had pulled him away every waking hour, and extended even beyond that into hours that should have been reserved for sleep.
Dylan held out the bouquet. “For you.”
Mallory accepted the gift. “I love them.” They were in private. There would be no interruptions. Her insides sparkled and fluttered. “I don’t know what charm you used to twist time, and I’m scared to say it, but I think we’ve made it, carved out time just for us.”
Dylan moved closer. “Don’t jinx us.” He wrapped one arm around her waist and trapped her hand holding the bouquet of pink daisies flat against the door.
The pretty romantic gesture became sexy.
Bracing her there, Dylan moved his lips to her neck. He kissed and sucked on the column of her skin as if he had an eternity to toy with her. The sensations intoxicated her even more than her imagination, even better than those caused by his voice. His cologne merged with the faint hint of daisies. His masculine fingers entwined with hers. The promise of their bodies coming together lured and enticed her, dragging her deeply into the moment.
Mallory rose to her tiptoes, searching for his lips.
Their lips collided in perfect timing, the kiss molten and dreamy and hot. An impossible combination that somehow was possible. His tongue touching hers sent zings through her body, awakening every inch.
Mallory wiggled her fingers free and wrapped her arms around him. The flowers fell between them.
Dylan pulled her closer, and the daisies crushed against them.
The feel of his hands heightened the pulses of pleasure within her, and the flutters sparked at a rapid pace, leaving no room for languorous exploration. She wanted more, now. Mallory tugged his dress shirt free of his waistband and placed her hands on the warmth of his waist. Soft cotton lay against the back of her hands, and hard abs flexed under her palms. She smoothed her fingers over his skin, again and again.
The wonder of touching his body was next-level thrilling.
Dylan groaned, leaned back, unhooked the oversized buttons at the top of her merlot-colored dress, and revealed her pale pink bra. “Beautiful.” He took his time and placed kisses along the top of her breasts.
The contrast of his lips and the crushed petals made her nipples swell to aching points, and a hushed, needy whimper escaped her. “Dylan.”
“I know.” Dylan gently pressed her bottom lip with his thumb, parting her lips. “I got you.” Then his lips found hers. He touched his tongue to her teeth, seeking entry, then stroked his tongue against hers in a passionate, wet, incendiary kiss. The kiss went on and on. Different angles, different pressure, light then deep, sweet, then passionate, taking her further under his spell.
Mallory’s breasts rose and fell beneath the silk of her bra. She squeezed his biceps, wanting him utterly. She moved her fingers to the buttons of his shirt. “Dylan.”
“Mallory.”
“Yes.”
He groaned and took a deep breath, his body shaking, and turned her so her back was to the door. He reached under her floaty skirt and drew her silk panties down her legs. The pale pink of the silk tangled in his fingers.
Mallory’s core tightened.
He pressed his lips to hers in another slow kiss. Mallory got all the buttons on his shirt undone and couldn’t wait. She wrapped her arms around his neck, pressed, and rubbed against him. The cotton of his shirt and the silk of her bra separated them, and she still wasn’t close enough.
Dylan put his hand under her skirt and brushed his fingertips gently over her soft mound, and down to the back of her knees.
The intensity was a vivid rush. “Ah.”
“Mmm.” He let out a pleased murmur. He cupped her knee and, with his other arm under her bum, lifted her. She wrapped her legs around his waist. “Want to go to the bedroom?”
“Yes.” Mallory’s voice came out husky and delighted. She wanted to be more eloquent, but the drowning sensations she was experiencing were only allowing her to make enthusiastic murmurs.
Dylan smiled slowly. “Promise you’ll let me tease you a little when we get there,” he said in a deep voice. He walked with her toward the bedroom, and every bounce shot desire through her.
Mallory groaned. “You’ve been teasing me all week.” She put her lips to his neck and gave him a stinging kiss with her teeth and tongue.
“Do that again.”
She threaded her hands into his silky hair and repeated the gesture, savoring the taste of him, masculine, clean, and sexy, against her tongue.
The light darkened behind her closed eyes, and Mallory lifted her head. Only the soft city lights of Paris coming through the sheer blinds illuminated the room. The glow was somehow perfect. She wanted to see Dylan naked, lit only by the Paris night, across her bed. She nodded to the bed. “I want to see you there.”
“You got it.”
Dylan’s phone buzzed.
Mallory held her breath. “Don’t take that.”
He chuckled. “I won’t.” Tilting her against the doorframe, he held her up with one arm. He moved his free hand under her skirt and glided a finger over her core. “Love how you feel, so soft, so responsive. Love how you sound, like tangled need and delight.”
He was better with words than he knew.
Alluring sensations flowed from his fingers through every inch of her. “Please.” Mallory dropped her head back. Her body was alight with tense, hollow sensations. She opened her eyes and stared into his. This was better than her daydreams; the visceral and hot realness of him was beyond what she’d wished for. She wanted more.
His brown eyes blazed with fierce need.
“Take off your clothes, Dylan.”
His fingers rewarded her with another brush against her core.
“Ah.”
“I imagined having you on those soft, white sheets.” Dylan kissed her and moved them to the foot of her bed. He paused and slid his fingers against her again, dipping his finger lightly into her. “Why can’t I wait? I love touching you.”
Colors flashed behind her eyes. “Oh.”
His phone rang again, a different custom rock tune.
Dylan stilled.
Mallory wanted to grab his wrist and put his hand back in motion. She sank her teeth into her bottom lip, using the sting to hide the instinctive protest. She pulled in a breath.
Throw the phone off the balcony .
Dylan cursed. He let her feet drop to the carpet.
Mallory wobbled and balanced herself with her palms on his chest. What was he doing? They were too far gone for phone calls. Weren’t they? Her eyes widened. Wasn’t he? Was she alone in this?
Dylan frowned at his phone. “It’s my band.” His voice was reluctant but certain. “They wouldn’t call like that if there wasn’t a problem.” He moved back to the living room.
Mallory could only stare after him. False assurances that taking a call was okay wouldn’t pass her lips. She was too in the moment to lie to comfort him. The words don’t leave caught in her throat.
His thick, dark hair was tousled by her fingers, his clothes were crumpled, his shirt open. He stood barefoot in a pile of crushed daisies. The most handsome man she’d ever seen or dreamed of. How lucky was she to be with him?
If she were a painter, she’d capture him exactly like that.
Dylan cupped the receiver, stared at her with regret, and moved to the door. “I promised them I’d answer.” He hesitated. “I promised. I have to go take this.” He stepped into his shoes and looked back at her. His reluctance showed on his face and in his clenched hand. “They wouldn’t do this if there wasn’t a problem.” His words weren’t a comfort. Dylan crossed to her, kissed her once more, then departed.
He left, just like that.
Mallory’s breath left her body, and she blinked. After the door clicked closed, she gathered the crushed flowers and placed them in the bin, pausing as a heated, fleeting flush moved over her body. A few minutes later, she came back to herself. How long had she knelt there, holding the flowers?
She shook her head but carefully selected a few petals, took the ribbon, and pressed them into a book.
The melodic hum of the limo’s engine underscored Dylan’s thoughts as the music took shape. He strummed an invisible guitar, relieved and eager as a song flowed through him for the first time in months.
The limo door opened, admitting a flurry of crisp autumn air, a hint of vanilla perfume, and a flash of pretty. Mallory had joined him in the limo. Shadows under her eyes showed purple from lack of sleep, and her silky brown hair was tied in a high ponytail with a rosy ribbon, a darker color than the pale pink panties she’d worn last night.
Mallory is here ?
The door shut behind her.
Mallory slid along the seat, wearing black yoga pants and a plum hoodie unzipped over a white t-shirt. Her hazel eyes widened at the sight of him, and her face pinkened.
Dylan’s heart slammed against his chest. Normally, he’d highly resent any interruption during a wave of creativity, especially as the music had been in hiding lately. Instead, delight thrummed through him. His body was absolutely on board with her surprise.
The instant hardening of his body reminded him of how he’d cheated them both by being called away last night. And wasn’t she the best to show up for him this morning? “Come to wish me goodbye? Come closer.” He used his deepest voice.
Her pupils dilated, and the flush in her cheeks deepened. So responsive, and he hadn’t even touched her yet. He touched his tongue to his bottom lip. Her gaze followed the movement.
He was leaving Paris right now.
If Mallory wanted a passionate goodbye, they had only an hour at most until the limo reached Charles de Gaulle and paparazzi swarmed him at the airport.
He’d take whatever she would offer. A week-long fling had turned into a long weekend, then settling for one hot night. All options had been stolen from him. Now all they had left was a quickie in the limo. She’d shown up here knowing that.
He wouldn’t say no to her. Whatever she wanted, he was in. Dylan held up his phone so the screen faced her and powered the device off.
He reached for her, ready to make the most of the minutes left to them and the limo’s privacy.