Chapter Ten
The minute his mouth found hers, she knew she wanted this man with a need that was staggering.
The bedroom was too far away. Desperately, her fingers found the buttons on his shirt, and she pulled and tugged, her only thought that she wanted to touch him, wanted to find out whether her dreams did justice to reality.
With an oath, he lifted his head and dragged his shirt over his head, his eyes molten chocolate.
“Last chance,” he warned, his eyes glittering.
But his voice was far away. Her eyes had zoomed in on his six-pack, and her hands slid adoringly over the hard contours before her sluggish brain cells could work.
Her fingers stroked and caressed every muscle until his skin quivered beneath her touch.
His heart tripped under her hand, and she lifted her gaze to his.
His eyes were half closed, his nostrils flaring, the proof of his desire throbbing against her stomach, and she was lost. She snaked her arms around his neck, and brought his head down and had just one thought—she wanted to become part of this man so badly, it was burning her up.
*
Somewhere a voice was calling out, telling him to take it slowly, but his body was functioning on instinct, ignoring any rational reasoning. Because with Dana in his arms, the logical workings of his brain simply ceased to function.
Her upper body was firmly pressed against his. His fingers sought and found the clasp behind her back. Finally, he could unhook the sexy pink satin and lace number and remove it. His hands found her lushness, and his knees buckled.
“The bed…” He breathed in between kisses.
“Too far away,” Dana whispered and smiled.
He had a moment to gape at her before his heated blood rushed through his body, making it impossible to speak.
His head bent down and he slipped his tongue around a rock-hard nipple She cried out his name. The sound echoed through him, egging him on, heating his blood.
Her hands fumbled with his belt, and swearing with frustration, he dragged his mouth away from her. He put her down and without taking his eyes off of her, got rid of his jeans. She lowered her eyes, watching his every movement.
When her eyes widened, he barked out a laugh.
“Like what you see?” he teased, and pulled down the zipper on her jeans.
Her eyes were nearly black with desire. He dropped down, yanking her jeans all the way down. All she was left wearing was a tiny scrap of pink satin. He had difficulty breathing, difficulty remembering who the hell he was.
With lust raging through him, it was impossible to give a name to the other feelings that were hurtling through him. But he wanted, he craved, he desired, he needed. Her. Just her.
He closed his hands around her ankles, moved up over silken skin, reveled in softness, felt heat under his fingertips until they reached the place his whole being was focused on.
Her scent lured him closer while he got rid of the last piece of clothing. His hands slid up. She was wet and ready for him.
*
Dana had lost all ability to speak a while ago.
Sensation after sensation racked her body. When David’s fingers found her, her legs gave way beneath her, and she fell forward into his arms.
“I wasn’t finished.” He smiled, and his fingers went right back to where they were.
Her breath hitched in her throat, and she pulled his head down. His kiss was wet, greedy, demanding. And she gave willingly, passionately, putting everything he was making her feel into the kiss.
A vortex picked her up and swept her along. She kept spinning and spinning, moving closer and closer to an edge she’d never been on before until, finally, she let go and went over the abyss—falling and falling and falling.
*
In awe, David looked down at her. Her eyes opened, still glazed with desire.
“I’ve never seen anything so beautiful,” he whispered and raised himself over her.
Her hands landed on his arms. “I want to touch you,” she whispered, moving her hands downward.
But he shook his head. “I can’t wait.” With one movement, he pushed into her.
He tried to keep his eyes on her, tried to make this last, he’d waited a lifetime for this moment. But with her heat surrounding him, her eyes darkening, he was unable to do anything else but pull her closer and lose himself in her.
They began spinning away. He held on tightly, not wanting to let go, ever.
Passion blinded him, and his other senses took over.
The soft, luxurious, velvety texture of her skin nearly drove him insane.
Her intoxicating scent surrounded him, and her unique taste filled a hunger he’d been unaware of until now.
*
Dana’s eyes flew open. For a few seconds she hovered in that empty space between dreams and reality before everything came crashing in.
Life would never be the same. Ever. She wasn’t certain of anything else—but that she knew. She turned her head but even before she did, she could feel it—David wasn’t next to her.
They’d finally made it to the bed. She put her arms over her eyes.
Images of what had happened during the night kept popping up.
David’s muscled body above hers, his magical hands discovering, caressing every centimeter of her body, their legs entwined, and his eyes—dark with desire, lazy in the aftermath of lovemaking, heating up when he kissed her, laughing at her when she blushed.
This was temporary; she knew that. She was a teacher at a local high school; he was a billionaire and a co-owner of a string of hotels. She seldom left the small town where she made her living; he flew all over the world. And she was probably one of many women he’d spent a night with.
But for her it had been a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and what had happened between her and David was something she’d carry in her heart forever.
There was a footstep outside her door. She smelled coffee.
The door to the bedroom opened, and David walked in with two mugs on a tray, wearing only his jeans.
“Good morning, beautiful,” he sang, putting the tray on the stand and sitting down next to her.
Dana tried to swallow, tried to speak, but her mouth was dry, her body started humming, and she could only look helplessly at him.
David stilled, his eyes darkened, and he shot his hands out to haul her against him.
Pushing his fingers into her hair, he devoured her mouth.
“Damn, I thought last night would have eased the want, but it’s worse. This constant need to have you is worse,” he scolded and claimed her mouth again.
This was not supposed to happen again. The night was over; life had to continue. That was her last rational thought. David kicked off his jeans, and she held out her arms. This was what she wanted. It was that simple.
*
David stared at the computer, frowning. He was trying to concentrate, trying to make sense of what he was reading. But it was difficult. He kept looking in the direction of Dana’s bedroom door, waiting for her to appear.
It was nearly time for lunch, and he’d finally realized that if he wanted to see what he could find out from old newspapers, he’d have to get out of Dana’s room so she could get dressed. Again.
They tried showering together, dressing together, but each time they’d ended up in bed. Just a glimpse of her long legs, of her ample breasts, and he was like a hormone-driven teenager. He had absolutely no self-control around this woman.
And he wasn’t sure he liked it.
He felt her before he saw her. He turned his head and there she was, walking toward him. Something shifted inside him.
“Come here.” He held out his hand.
“David…” she began but took his hand.
“I have to touch you,” he insisted and pulled her onto his lap.
With his fingers, he lightly traced the outline of her face.
“You’re beautiful.”
She shuddered.
And then he had to kiss her again. And just like that, the fire was back in his blood, the need to make her his again raging inside him.
*
“What are you doing?” David asked from behind her.
It was lunchtime. They’d showered again.
She’d fled the bedroom before she could attack him one more time. My goodness, she had absolutely no willpower when it came to David Cavallo. One look from his heated eyes, and she turned into a wanton hussy.
She was not going to turn around.
“I’m making omelets,” she said, trying to sound cheerful instead of lustful. “Get us the plates, will you?” She still didn’t look in his direction.
“It’s not going to work, you know.” He folded his arms around her from behind.
She groaned. “We have to stop this! We… have to eat, we have to—”
But he’d turned her around and was kissing her again, his hands already finding their way under her top.
A loud ringing sound finally penetrated her befuddled brain.
“David,” she mumbled against his lips, but he ignored her. “David,” she said again and pushed against him. “Your phone is ringing,” she tried again between kisses.
He finally lifted his head, his eyes molten chocolate.
Still breathing heavily, he looked for his phone and answered it. Dana turned back to the stove, just in time to save the omelet.
While he was talking, David walked toward the sliding doors that led to a small patio.
Dana quickly got out the plates, dished up the omelets, and put on the kettle. When David returned, they could sit down like two normal people and eat. She was starving. The last meal they had was lunch yesterday.
He was finishing his call, and she looked up as he walked toward her. Oh, her poor heart. She quickly looked around for something else to do—otherwise they were never going to get anything into their stomachs.
She pointed to his chair before he could come closer. “Sit, we’re going to eat.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Eat before it gets cold,” she ordered and sat down.
He took her hand and brought it to his mouth. “Thank you for cooking for me.”
“It’s frightening to cook for one of Rosa’s sons, I can tell you.”
He bit into the omelet and groaned. “I didn’t realize how hungry I am—this is so good.”
“Everything okay?” she asked, pointing to his phone.
“Yes. There’s no big crisis, but I’ll have to leave tonight. I was hoping to stay another night.” He took her hand. “But we have an early meeting tomorrow, so it would make more sense to leave tonight.”
“Of course.” Dana tried to ignore the sudden hollow feeling inside of her.
He pulled his laptop closer while still eating. “But let’s see if we can find out anything more from old newspapers.” He grinned. “I have been trying to do this since early this morning, but you kept luring me back to bed.”
Indignant, she gasped. “Me! You’re the one who’s insatiable,” she blabbered before she could stop herself.
His eyes darkened. “You’re right. But I’m not the only one, am I?” he asked and took her hand.
She wanted to disagree, but she picked up the touch of uncertainty beneath his smile. David Cavallo uncertain about something?
She lowered her gaze, confused.
“Am I?” he insisted, playing with her hand.
She had to be honest. “No, you’re not,” she agreed, but quickly pointed to his laptop. “How far back can you trace old newspapers?”
His eyes narrowed slightly, but then he pulled the laptop closer with his other hand. “We should be able to find everything that was written two years ago. I don’t think that will be a problem. And it’s nice to know I’m not the only one who’s insatiable.”
It took a few seconds before she registered the last part of what he was saying.
“David…” was all she could get out, her blood heating again, her hormones going haywire.
“I know.” His voice was soft as he gazed at her. Then he turned his head back toward the computer, her hand still in his. “Let’s see what we can find out.”