Evidence of Passion (Shadow Agents #7)(21)
Author: Cynthia Eden

He took his own seat. Dylan drank a sip of wine then, his fingers loose around the stem of the glass, he asked, voice curious, “What did you expect? That I’d tumble you into bed as soon as you stepped out of the bathroom?”

She grabbed for her wine. Took a big, fortifying gulp and replied, honestly, “Yes.”

The candlelight seemed to be reflected in his eyes. His lips—sensual, but with a slightly hard edge—curved faintly. “I’d be lying if I said that thought didn’t cross my mind.”

She had to take another gulp of her wine. So much for elegant sipping.

“But what I have in mind for us…it’s not going to be fast. It’s not going to be easy.”

Oh…wow.

“The pleasure will last all night. One time with you isn’t going to be enough for me.”

It sounded as if he was warning her.

He was.

“I’ve wanted you too long. When I get you beneath me, I won’t be letting you go anytime soon.”

She’d drained her wine.

That faint grin of his stretched a bit more. “You should eat, Rachel, before the wine goes to your head.”

She started eating, but her mind was on what he’d said to her. On him. “If you wanted me, why didn’t you say something?”

“Because at first, you weren’t ready for me.” A darker note entered his voice. “Jack made you afraid. You didn’t trust any man that you met, not in those early days.”

She still didn’t trust easily. Rachel put down her fork. “I trust you.”

He poured her more wine. “I know.” His head cocked as he watched her. “But you haven’t told me all of your secrets, have you?”

No. She didn’t drink more. Not yet. “And you haven’t told me yours.” There was a lot she didn’t know about him. A lot she hadn’t explored before.

“What do you want to know?” He’d finished his food and went back to sipping more wine.

The wine was making it easier for her to ask him. “Your lovers.” The words tumbled from her. “I’m going to assume that you’ve had your share.”

A man like him—with that aura of bad-boy danger he carried—had no hard time hooking up with the ladies. She’d witnessed him in action herself. When they’d gone on missions, the women always seemed to flock to Dylan.

“My share,” he repeated, nodding faintly. “Don’t worry, baby. If you’re trying to find out if I know my way around the bedroom, rest assured, I do.”

She needed more wine. “I know that.” She’d never doubted it for a second. The sensual promise was right there in his eyes. “I, um…” Tell him. If they were taking this step, he needed to know her secrets. “I already told you that I didn’t sleep with Jack.” Her hands slid down and curled in her lap. The silk of her robe brushed lightly against her skin.

“And I’m damn glad to know that.”

“But the thing is…I haven’t exactly had a lot of lovers in my life.” She held his gaze, waiting for his response. If he was expecting some kind of casual sophistication from her about this aspect of their relationship, well…

It won’t happen.

He’d better get used to some disappointment on that end. And, despite the little speech she’d planned in the shower, now that the moment was actually at hand, Rachel just couldn’t force herself to say those words. That wasn’t who she was.

He leaned toward her. “I don’t want to know about the lovers from your past. They don’t matter anymore.”

Oh. “There were only two,” she muttered.

His eyes narrowed. “Forget them.”

She already had.

“I only want you to think about me tonight. Not about your past. Not about that loser Jack. No one else is here. Just you and just me.”

Right. She could do this. She wanted to do this. “I’ve fantasized about you before,” Rachel confessed. Her voice had gone husky. “Wondered what it would be like if you—”

Dylan surged to his feet. The back of his chair slammed to the floor and, in the next instant, he’d yanked her out of her chair. His fingers were tight around her arms. “In my dreams, you were in my bed more times than I can count.”

Her lips parted in surprise and he kissed her. Not an easy, teasing kiss. Not any kind of getting-to-know-you peck.

This was a full-on, I-want-you-naked-and-I’ll-have-you-that-way kiss. His tongue thrust into her mouth. He tasted her. He dominated. He made her toes curl and made her want so much more from him.

Her hands rose and sank into the darkness of his hair. It was so soft against her fingers. A direct contrast to his rock-hard body. There was incredible power in his body. She knew it. She’d sure seen him in action enough times.

He twisted them around, pushing her back against the edge of the table. He tasted of the wine, and his taste was making her feel a rush of euphoria.

Dylan was right. This moment is just about us.

First times with a new lover were supposed to be awkward. Hers sure had been. Fumbling. Hesitations. A woman was supposed to need time in order to get to know her lover.

But…Dylan already knew her.

His mouth slid down her neck. His breath blew over the sensitive skin. Then she felt the press of his mouth against her. The lick of his tongue. Arousal spiked through her and she found herself arching against him.

His hands—big, strong—slid down between their bodies. His fingers curled around the small, silken strap of her belt.

Then he loosened the tie she’d made. The robe parted. She’d just put underwear on beneath the robe—her sexiest bra and panties. Black, with lace at the cups of her bra and lace around the top of her panties.

His head lifted. He stared down at her body. “The first time…” The dark rumble of his voice sent goose bumps rising over her. “It will be wild and hard because I’ve waited too long for you.”

Wild and hard didn’t sound so bad to her. It sounded exciting. Perfect.

“The second time…” Oh, but she loved the deep, dark sound of his voice. “I’ll savor you.”

Her hands flew back and slapped down on the table because her knees had just gone seriously weak right then. She needed to brace herself. She needed—

He lifted her into his arms. The move was so unexpected that a shocked laugh escaped her. “I can walk, Dylan.”

“And I like holding you, Rachel.”

But he didn’t take her to the bedroom. He stopped near the couch. He lowered her down until her toes skimmed the edge of the carpet. She was glad they’d stopped there. Rachel didn’t want to go into her bedroom. Jack had been there the night before. Each time she saw the bed, she thought of him.