One Night with Prince Charming (Aristocratic Grooms #2)(17)
Author: Anna DePalo

She shivered. “Really, I—”

He nipped her earlobe.

She gulped, and then forced herself to say, “D-don’t you want to get to know each other better?”

“Much better,” he agreed on a soft laugh.

His body brushed hers from behind, sending delicious shivers through her.

Slowly, he turned her to face him, and then searched her eyes. “I’ve been wanting to do this—” he bent and tasted her lips “—ever since we left the bar.”

“Oh,” she breathed.

This was her fantasy. He was here now.

He cupped her shoulders, his thumbs tracing a soothing circular pattern. “We won’t do anything you don’t want to do.”

“Th-that’s what I’m afraid of.”

He smiled. “Ah, Pia. You really are special.” Then his expression turned more intent and amorous. “Let me show you how much.”

He cupped her cheek, laid his lips against hers and tasted her.

She sighed and gripped his shirt, fisting her hand into the material, as little shock waves of pleasure jolted her.

She felt his arousal grow between them as his mouth stroked hers. Within moments, they had fitted their bodies together, giving in to the desire that had been kindled in the bar and stoked on the cab ride to her apartment.

He cupped her face with both hands, his fingers delving into her hair as he sipped from her mouth.

She relaxed her grip on his shirt and flattened her hands against his chest, where she could feel the steady beat of his heart.

Around them, the sweet notes of string instruments sounded, the tune low and soulful.

Pia felt herself relax even as every inch of her skin tingled with awareness. She sighed against James’s mouth, wanting the kiss to go on and on as his hunger matched her own.

Giving in to the urge to shed attire, she kicked off her sandals. In the next moment, she lowered a couple of inches, enough to break the contact of her lips with James’s.

“My bed isn’t very big.” They were the first words to pop out of her mouth, her tone apologetic, and she flushed.

James looked indulgent, and then dimpled as he nodded beside them. “You’ve never made love on a love seat before?”

She’d never made love period. But she was afraid if she told him, he’d flee out the door. She knew he must be used to more experienced women.

She shrugged one shoulder. “Why bother when a bed is available?”

“Mmm,” he said, and then bent and nuzzled her ear.

Oh. She gripped his upper arms for support, her fingers digging into his biceps, as his action did funny things to her insides.

She felt his hand go to the zipper at the back of her dress.

“Would it be okay if I did this?” he murmured.

“Yes, please,” she breathed.

She heard the rasp of the zipper and felt her dress slither downward, exposing to his gaze that she wasn’t wearing a bra.

James stepped back and looked at her with a hooded, rapt expression.

“Ah, Pia, you’re so beautiful.” He raised his hands to cup and caress her. “You’re just as pretty as I thought when my imagination was running rampant in the bar.”

“Kiss me,” she whispered.

He sat on the arm of the love seat beside them and, pulling her toward him, fastened his mouth over one pert breast.

Pia was lost. Her heart beat wildly, and she tangled her fingers in his hair.

He pushed the rest of the dress off her, and then peeled her panties away without lifting his mouth from her.

Pia moaned.

He shifted his focus to her other breast, but then paused, his lips hovering over her taut flesh, his breath fanning her erect nipple.

“And would it be okay if I kissed you here?” he said hoarsely.

Pia had never been so close to begging and pleading.

But instead of answering, she guided his head to her breast, her eyes fluttering shut on a sigh as his lips closed over her.

He soothed and aroused her with his tongue, fanning the fire of their desire.

Before she knew it, she was on his lap on the love seat, and they were kissing passionately but yet like longtime lovers who had all the time in the world. His arousal pressed against her flesh, and his hand caressed up and down her thigh.

When they finally broke away, he groaned softly. “Have mercy, Pia.”

In response, she snuggled closer. He nuzzled her temple and his breath rasped in her ear. She shivered and rubbed against him.

She let her hand go to the buttons of his shirt, undoing one and then another. The strong, corded line of his neck came into view.

“Pia,” he said from somewhere above her head, “please say you don’t want to stop.”

“Who said anything about stopping?” This was her fantasy, and she found that she wanted to see it through to its conclusion. Her last drink at the bar had given her a delicious, unbound feeling, and James’s seduction had lowered her inhibitions even more.

“Ah, Pia.” He slipped his hand between her thighs and pressed, giving her a heady sensation. “I just want to assure you that I’m clean.”

“I am, too,” she answered, understanding what he was alluding to. “I’ve never had unprotected sex.”

It was literally true, though it hid the truth—that she’d never had sex at all.

He kissed her neck. “Are you…? If not, I have something with me. Not that I walked in here with any expectations, of course, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t attracted to you from the first moment I spotted you.”

“Mmm…when did you first notice me? Are you saying our encounter in the bar wasn’t by chance?”

“I saw you minutes before you tried to order a drink,” he admitted. “When I spotted a damsel in distress, though, I saw my opening. I took a chance that Cinderella was looking for a Prince Charming to come rescue her, and that she’d mistake me for him if I tried to do her a favor.”

Pia’s heart gave a little squeeze. It was as if he knew her well already. Did he suspect that she was a romantic at heart? Did he know that she’d thrilled to stories of true love, though a part of her knew better?

She pulled his head down for a kiss as the music reached a low crescendo around them.

They kissed deeply, their mouths clinging, unable to get enough of each other.

When he finally broke their kiss, he stood up with her in his arms. “What’s your preference, Cinderella?”

She glanced down at the love seat—next time.

“Bed,” she said.