Page 16 of Midnight & Memories
“Neither did I,” Poppy said with a matching one. She motioned around the room with her glass before continuing. “You have a marvelous place here. I love the Hollywood Glam style, but I never pictured you as someone who was into it.”
“Actually, I’ve always liked the 40s for films. Humphrey Bogart is one of my favorites, and the furniture reminds me of movies like Casablanca.”
“Here’s looking at you, kid. I love that movie! In fact, I’m into a lot of the old stuff, and I prefer that over anything out now.”
“Me too!” Ridge said as he took his glass off the coffee table and sat next to Poppy on the couch. “Casablanca is on HBO Max right now. Would you like to watch it before bed?”
“I’d love to!”
Ridge pushed a few buttons on the remote, and the music started. Poppy instinctually leaned on Ridge’s shoulder to settle into the sofa. Ridge slinked his arm around her shoulders, and she responded by resting a palm on his chest.
The first few scenes came on, and Ridge looked down at Poppy. He could only think about kissing her again, but he didn’t want her to be uncomfortable. Instead, he settled on kissing the top of her head. Poppy looked up, met his gaze, and palmed his cheek.
“I can think of a better way to kill time between the more boring parts.” She said as she drew his lips to hers.
It was the first time she had initiated a kiss, and it drove him crazy. He wanted her, and he was uncertain if he had it within him to keep that need under wraps for tonight. He deepened the kiss, and she moaned. Her hands trailed from his chest to his lap. His breath hitched when she palmed his now hard cock. He let out a moan.
“Christ, Poppy, that feels so good.” He breathed over her ear before sucking on the lobe.
His lips slid down to her neck as his hand found her breast. He massaged the nipple with his thumb, causing her to moan. His forehead pressed against hers.
“I want you, Poppy.”
She pulled away from him enough to hold his gaze.
“Ridge, I want you too, but—” Her voice trailed.
“I know. It’s too soon.” He said as he kissed her forehead. “And I’m pretty sure the alcohol is doing some of the talking for the both of us, too. How about I show you to your room?”
Poppy closed her eyes and nodded. Ridge got up from the couch and extended his hand to her. She grasped it, and he led her down the long hallway.
“This is my room, and yours is the one across from it.” He pulled her in for a hug and kissed the top of her head. “Goodnight, my darling.”
She palmed his cheek.
“Goodnight, Ridge, and thanks for letting me stay.”
Ridge smiled and walked into his room, closing the door behind him.
Chapter Nine
POPPY
Poppy let out a sigh as she watched Ridge close his door. Just being near him set her libido into overdrive. She couldn’t deny it any longer, no matter how hard she tried. She wanted him, and her soaked panties proved that. But she also couldn’t say to hell with consequences. Sleeping with him was a bad idea because he was a client. But it was also a bad idea because she wanted much more than a one-night stand with him. It was hard for her to understand, but being older and more experienced in dating, she knew she was falling hard and fast for Ridge. And she figured some distance would help her figure out why she was being so reckless with her heart.
The only problem with the plan was that there wasn’t much distance between them since Ridge was just across the hall. She let out a sigh as she slid into the tee-shirt he laid out for her and curled up under the covers.
“God, I want him so much, and I can’t figure out why.”
Poppy glanced at her phone to check the time.
“11. Great. I’ve never gone to bed this early in my entire adulthood.”
She frowned and sighed once more before she buried her head into her pillow and shut her eyes.
Sleep came after a full half an hour of heavy tossing and turning. But then images of Ridge flooded her mind, keeping her consciousness fully aware of her dream state. She was dancing with him, and this time it was inside one of the Titanic’s staterooms she’d seen in a documentary once.
Why am I dreaming of a stateroom on the Titanic?
