Chapter 105 105
He wanted her in his life for real. He didn’t let many people into his life and when he did, he didn’t want them to waltz right out. That wasn’t the point of trust. If you believed in someone, if you wanted them in your life, they would stay. There was no telling how long Sherry would be able to stay, or even if she would want to.
Tempering romance aside, this thing with BenTel left him with a very narrow tightrope on which to balance, at least for the foreseeable future. The War Chest had closed ranks, forging ahead with the scheme he’d planted in their heads. He refused to regret doing it, but he sure as hell wished he could turn it around. If he could just find someone willing to back down, the rest of them might follow, and that would mean one less thing hanging over his head.
He glanced at his watch. Sherry would be here any minute and that made his nerve endings stand up straight and tall, pinging electricity throughout his body. The anticipation brewed an unholy cocktail of adrenaline and testosterone in him. He could only imagine what it would be like when he finally saw her. When he could finally kiss her again, feel her come alive beneath his touch. That was the response he cherished—when she allowed herself to be vulnerable, when she surrendered to him and he could feel and see the tangible results—quivers, shakes and trembles.
He walked out into his kitchen and removed a bottle of champagne from the fridge. Cliché? Maybe. But Sherry did deserve at least one or two trappings of romance. He wasn’t about to let that go completely unaddressed. The knock at his door sent his pulse embarking on a similar staccato rhythm. He retained his composure, fairly certain that it was the smooth, in-control Justin that she lusted after. The one she wanted to take to bed.
He opened the door and had to fight the impulses of his jaw. This was not the time to do nothing more than stand there, mouth agape, like an idiot.
“Hi.” Her grin was equal parts flirtatious and shy. Her cheeks flushed with that gorgeous pink, a slightly paler shade than her lips, all of it hopelessly inviting.
“Hello yourself.” He ushered her in, shutting the door.
He followed her into the living room just off the foyer and helped her with her coat. His eyes zeroed in on the view—her black, sleeveless dress was tailored within a whisper of her figure, hugging every gorgeous inch. Good God. Was he still standing? The thing he admired most about her in that dress was that a woman like Sherry could get away with wearing something like that to a meeting.
Granted, a meeting where every guy in the room might have an impossible time focusing. Her toned legs looked even more tempting in black sky-high heels. Note to self: bring Sherry to an important meeting someday. She’ll make the deal.
“You look absolutely gorgeous,” he said, craving her touch. He tossed her coat over the back of a chair and gripped her elbow. The electricity between them was obscene, like an out-of-control experiment. He was surprised he couldn’t see the sizzling current arcing between them.
“Thank you.” Her head dropped to the side, only a fraction of an inch, but he loved to see her soften to him like that, to give him a subtle indication that he was on the right track. “You don’t look half-bad yourself.”
She stepped closer, still needing to look up at him in killer heels. He might have to beg her to keep them on the whole night. Her hand pressed against his chest, smoothing the fabric of his suit jacket. He watched her, smiling, their eyes connecting. It looked as if there was a fire blazing behind hers—hot and intense. Which one of them would give in first? He had no idea, only that for once in his life he knew that he’d still be the winner if he was the first to show his hand.
“I missed you, Sherry . I know we said that this wasn’t a good idea, but I missed you. It’s as simple as that. I missed standing close to you and looking at you and thinking about all of the things I want to do with you. The things I want to do to you.”
Her lips parted ever so slightly and a gentle rush of air passed them. It was the sound of pressure being released. “I couldn’t stop thinking about you, either. Every time I thought of the reasons we should stay away from each other, I just kept coming back to that original thought...”
He was reasonably sure of what she might say next, but he wanted to hear her say it. “Thought of what?”
“Of you and everything I was missing by staying away.”
Perfect. “So now what?”
Her hand hadn’t left his chest. She bowed into him, placing her other hand opposite it. Her fingers played with the knot of his tie. “We have the whole night ahead of us. Maybe we just need to see what happens.”
He smiled again, this time much wider. It was hard not to be incurably happy around her. “Like what happens when I do this?” He snaked his hand around her waist and settled it in the curve of her lower back.
“Mmm.” Her lips traveled closer to his. “I think the next thing that happens is this.”
She tugged his tie loose, watching his reaction. She flicked open the top button of his shirt, taking liberties again. “Oops. I took two turns in a row.”
“Taking advantage, I see,” he murmured.
This game of undressing, however compelling and sexy, would need to be seen to a quick conclusion. He wanted her naked. Now. He reached up for the zipper, pulling it down the center of her back as she made quick work of his shirt buttons. He longed to see that stretch of her skin, the one he’d kissed a week ago. He turned her around, admiring her beauty as it contrasted with a black bra and as he lowered the zipper further, lacy panties. He eased the dress from her shoulders, savoring every sensory pleasure—her smell, the heat that radiated from her, her smooth skin as he dragged the back of his hand along the channel of her spine. Her presence didn’t merely have him primed, he was already teetering on the brink.