Page 16 of Texas Tycoon's Christmas Fiancée
As he showed her the upper decks, Nick kept the conversation on ordinary events, shared interests in movies and books. When he led her into his master suite, her senses spiked and her nerves became raw. She looked at the luxurious burnished-wood built-in furniture, rich brown leather upholstery, and a wide king-size bed covered in satin.
“Here’s where I sleep when I stay on board,” Nick said. His voice lowered, developing a husky note. Again his words were harmless, but his tone, his gaze when she looked up at him, his hand lightly on her arm—all combined to have her picture herself lying on his bed in his embrace.
When he turned her to face him, her heart thudded. His hand on her arm was one more casual contact that should have been meaningless but instead was sizzling. She didn’t want this fiery attraction that kept her breathless with him, yet there was no denying it. She wanted his kiss, could actually feel herself lean slightly toward him. His dark eyes warmed, his lids partially closing as he gazed at her mouth. She gathered her wits and her will.
“Nick, we should go back. Maybe dance now,” she whispered, making an effort to turn away. Her heartbeat galloped in anticipation. Before the evening was over they would kiss and that knowledge played havoc with her nerves. Desire heightened, plaguing her.
“If that’s what you want,” he said.
They returned to the upper deck, where he drew her into his arms to dance, holding her lightly, gazing at her as they moved together in complete unison.
Hours later, as they stood talking quietly at the rail, she turned to him. “This is a bewitching night, Nick. You shouldn’t make it so unforgettable and enticing.”
“Why not? We can have a life separate from the problems caused by my father.”
“Actually, I don’t think we can,” she said. “And it’s time to start back home.”
“Whatever you want,” he said, smiling at her as they left the rail.
Within the hour they were airborne and Nick was entertaining her with more tales from his past.
It was almost three in the morning when his limo stopped at her apartment complex and Nick walked her to the door. “Give me your key and let me open the door.”
Wordlessly, she handed over the key. He pushed open the door and held it for her to enter, following her inside and closing the door while she cut off the alarm. She turned to face him.
“Thank you, Nick. The evening was a dream come true—a night I’ll remember for a very long time.”
“It’s not over yet,” he said in a husky voice, slipping an arm around her waist and drawing her closer. At his hungry look, she glanced at his sensuous mouth, wanting to step into his embrace and kiss him, to be kissed. Yet once she did, her life might not ever be the same.
“Nick, this is dangerous, foolish,” she whispered.
“Shh, it’s only a kiss. It’s meaningless—a goodbye, a touch. A kiss won’t change our lives or the future.”
“You are so sure of yourself,” she said quietly, the tension growing between them. The warning inside grew dimmer. She couldn’t look away from Nick’s dark eyes, couldn’t move away from him. Could he hear her heart pounding? Or feel her pulse racing?
Lightly, his fingers drifted along her throat, then up to her ear and in her hair while his arm tightened around her waist, drawing her closer.
“Nick, we shouldn’t,” she said, but her protest was weak, more of an invitation. She was losing ground, succumbing to desire. She inhaled and stepped back, out of his embrace. “You’re not going to charm me into giving you what you want. You wanted this night to be about getting to know each other.”
“I’ve kept my promise. I haven’t pushed you about Michael.”
“You did what you promised,” she acknowledged. “I had a wonderful time, but now you need to go.”
He gazed at her in silence and she could see the craving burning in the depths of his eyes. He nodded. “I’ll take you to lunch Tuesday and we can talk.”
He turned and was gone, the door closing quietly behind him.
She stared at the door. Every inch of her yearned to call him back, to step into his embrace and kiss. Kisses that she suspected would be as spellbinding as the entire evening had been. Desire scalded her. She wanted him with a hunger she wouldn’t have believed possible.
She had done the right thing by keeping a distance between them. Then why was it so unsatisfactory and why did she long to be in his arms?
Sleep was lost for most of the remainder of the night. The time with Nick replayed in her mind while longing heightened instead of diminishing. She had to forget Nick, go on with her life, keep Michael safe from the Raffords, but it was difficult to think of never seeing Nick again. Lunch Tuesday. He wanted to talk about Michael. She could refuse, stop this before it went any further. Nick’s dark brown eyes and the way he had held her when they danced tormented her until she finally drifted to sleep and dreamed about kissing Nick.
Four
At home Nick swam laps in his pool, trying to cool his raging libido. He ached to kiss Grace, too aware she had wanted to kiss. Her green eyes had conveyed lust and she had come close to succumbing. He was determined to win her over. Too much rested on the outcome of his dealings with her. He was accustomed to getting what he wanted and he intended to with Grace.
Meanwhile, he wanted her with an urgency that surprised him. He thought about her constantly and he couldn’t recall doing that with any other woman.
