Chapter 10
Beth
It was happening again. Adam was staring at me as if I was crazy. What was I thinking, suggesting we sleep together? Sure, he claimed we were friends now, and he found me attractive. Still, he never said anything about wanting to be intimate with me. Once again, I’d made a fool of myself. I wished the floor would open up and take me in to save me from further embarrassment.
“You have a different kind of charm.”
I wasn’t sure what to make of his statement. “Different weird?” Flirting wasn’t my forte. I felt like I was crashing and burning. The corners of his mouth kicked up slightly and he scratched his stubbled jaw.
“Yes, but somehow it works for you.”
“Oh…”
What did I do now? I hadn’t turned him off with my very unique seduction technique. I couldn’t tell if he was willing to cross that line with me. Did I make the first move? Having never been in such a position before, I was on the brink of a panic attack.
Finally, I admitted, “I’m not sure what to do now.” I must have been the most pitiful female Adam ever came across in the sex department. Gone were my fiery attitude and confidence.
He continued to stare, his eyes ablaze with interest. The smokey orbs dipped to my chest and lower then, they lifted back to my face. There was blatant hunger in them that sent every cell of my body into a frenzy of arousal.
“Now we’ll finish what we started, if you're absolutely sure.”
My breathing accelerated, my skin heated and my inner muscles clenched with anticipation. All of that and he hadn’t even touched me. I was starting to understand why women threw themself into bed with him even when they knew they’d never get more than sex. It worried me a little that sleeping with him would mean little but my growing desire overrode that knowledge.
“I’m sure.”
His eyes changed from silver to a stormy night's sky. He put his glass down and draped his arms over the back of the sofa.Why hadn’t he pulled me into his arms already? “Isn’t this where you rip my clothes off and have your wicked way with me?”
His laughter―more of a sexy hum than anything else―sent another wave of need coursing through me.
“No, this is where you show me that you’re sure about this. You make a move.”
I didn’t even know which move to make. A part of me wanted to chicken out and make a hasty retreat, but another part was eager to feel more of what I felt with him the other night. Those eyes of his, compelling and peering at me with challenge, drew me closer to him. Heart hammering, I leaned in until my mouth hovered near his. Neither of us moved or blinked. I think I even stopped breathing until I closed the distance between us and our lips touched. He remained still and I hesitantly continued, teasing his lips until they parted and he kissed me back with the same enthusiasm.
Every time Adam and I kissed, it was a new experience. Our first kiss had shocked me to the core. The second almost made me spontaneously combust. This time, it felt like I was slowly melting from the inside. He certainly knew how to kiss. Every graze of his lips and stroke of his tongue sent my arousal skyrocketing. I wanted more and I couldn’t wait another second for it. Breathless, I pulled away with a slight frown, wondering why the only part of him that was touching me were his lips.
“Why aren’t you touching me?”
“If I touch you now, I’ll lose control. I don’t want your first time to be rushed.”
I almost melted into a puddle at his feet. There I was a nervous wreck and he put me at ease with his consideration. He was being so...sweet. I liked this side of Adam.
“That’s the sweetest thing any man has ever said to me.”
He lifted a brow, his eyes dancing with laughter. “Seriously?”
My face caught fire. Now wasn’t the time for him to start teasing me.
“I didn’t have a string of men lined up to give me compliments,” I defended.
It really hit me what an amateur I was when it came to sex and my insecurities surfaced. There was no way I’d compare to the many bombshells I’d seen on his arm over the years. Self-consciously, I began pulling away but he snagged my wrist and pulled me back.
“We’ll have to change that...but it will be just me giving you compliments.”
I thought I saw a glint of possessiveness in his eyes but it had to be my imagination. What was happening between us was purely physical. At least, I assumed it was. It was hard to tell with the way he was gazing at me, as if I meant something to him.
“I don’t care if we rush, it’ll still be good.”
From the little I had experienced in his arms the other night, I was sure he could do no wrong.
“Beth―”
I didn’t want to talk anymore, I wanted to feel. So I slid my fingers in his hair and pulled him down for another bone-melting kiss. That seemed to snap whatever control he was holding on to because our kiss became ravenous. My top flew over my head before I even realized I was being undressed. It was happening, I was going to make love to Adam. Breaths coming out in short, excited gasps, I lifted my hips so he could pull my jeans off. We both attacked his shirt, sending a few buttons flying. I’d never experienced such untamed need before. It was exhilarating...until he stopped. I barely suppressed my frustrated growl.
“This doesn’t feel right,” he said.
My heart sank. How could he get me so heated just to leave me hanging again ? “It doesn’t?”
“We can’t do this here. I’m taking you to bed.”
Relief swamped me. “Ok.” It didn’t matter to me where it happened. All I wanted was to feel the passion that kept flaring between us to the full extent. It felt nice knowing he cared about my comfort, though.
He stood up and offered a hand. Without hesitation, I placed mine in his. As I followed him out of the office, it occured to me that, after overcoming my initial case of nerves, I felt comfortable with Adam. I’d known him for years, after all. Plus, it was hard not to put myself in his obviously experienced hands when he was being such a gentleman.
“My room is closer.”
“I want you in my bed,” he affirmed.
That domineering, possessive undertone should have annoyed me but it only made me want him more. At that point, I would have done anything he asked. By the time we made it up the stairs, a bit of nervousness had seeped back in. There was something daunting about being in his bedroom. There was a surprising slivering of jealousy too. One could just imagine the amount of women he’d had in there. The door closed and I jumped.
“Having second thoughts?” His eyes were on me, probably taking in every facet of my expression.
“No, I just…” I looked away, cheeks on fire. There was no way I’d verbalize what I was thinking.
Once again, surprising me with intuition, I didn’t know he had, he announced, “This is a first for me too. I usually keep my escapades out of my personal domain.”
I could only stare at him, speechless. I didn’t know he’d guess what I was thinking and what he claimed was hard to believe.
“I think you’re messing with me.” My eyes were glued to his hands as he casually continued to undress.
“I’m many things but a liar isn’t one of them. I’ve never felt comfortable enough to let anyone get too close. The thought of me with another woman makes you jealous, doesn’t it?”
That teasing smirk of his was in full effect. It irritated me and made my heart flutter at the same time.
“Never.”
“Sure,” he drawled, taking steps toward me with a wolfish grin. He reminded me of a predator stalking his prey―and I was a willing prey.