Gabrielle grinned. Her friend was right. She did have it bad for Derek. And it was time he discovered just how bad.
DEREK FOLLOWED GABRIELLE into her room. She flipped on the lamp beside the bed, illuminating a sparsely decorated area. He’d been here before, but this was the first time he’d really looked around. Besides the bed and a night table, there was a dresser and a TV stand with a small television on top. In the corner, her suitcase was propped open on a chair.
All in all, there wasn’t much living space. “Aren’t you getting tired of being so cramped?” Derek asked.
She shrugged. “I haven’t spent much time in here so it hasn’t been too bad. Anyway, I’m enjoying catching up with you and Sharon. Who cares where I sleep?”
He cared. A lot. He wanted her sleeping with him, in his bed. Or hers. He wasn’t fussy as long as they were together.
“I’m enjoying spending time with you, too.” Not that getting out of the house had been easy tonight. Holly had wanted to spend more time with Gabrielle and a nightclub had sounded fun to her. She hadn’t appreciated being left behind, and he had a feeling she’d be heaping on the guilt for a while.
“I just wish we’d had a more productive night.” Gabrielle interrupted his thoughts.
Derek agreed, but he didn’t want to spend the time they had thinking about Sharon’s problems. “Since we can’t change it, let’s try to forget it for a while.”
“You have a point,” she said, her voice suddenly more sultry. She stepped toward the nightstand and pushed a button on travel-size iPod speakers.
Soft music filled the air.
“Do you want to dance with me now?” she asked, reaching her hand out to him.
He grinned. “You know I do.” This was her fantasy and he intended to give it to her. He linked his fingers through hers and pulled her close.
Her breasts pressed into his chest, her hips swayed in unison with his, and her soft curves cushioned him in molten heat. His groin hardened and swelled thick in his jeans. They moved together slowly, with an ease born of familiarity. It seemed his body had never forgotten hers.
“Mmm. This feels good,” she said, splaying her fingers across his back. “I’ve missed holding you.”
“Same here. Reminds me of prom.”
“Minus the rented tux, the fancy dress and the chaperones.” She laughed.
“You’re such a brat,” he said, chuckling. He eased her closer. Burying his face in her hair, he inhaled deep. “Chocolate?” he asked, guessing her scent.
“Mmm-hmm. Isn’t it delicious?”
He breathed in again and g
roaned. “You’re delicious.” He swept her hair off her neck and nuzzled the soft skin there. She swayed against him, her body sensuously brushing against his, deliberately provocative.
Remaining still enough to continue the dance wasn’t easy, but he was determined to pace himself.
She cupped her hands around his cheeks and pulled his face to hers, capturing his lips in a long-awaited kiss. It wasn’t their first since her return, but because they were alone, because there’d be no interruptions, he savored it.
Prolonged it.
Made it last.
She didn’t rush it, either. She slid her lips back and forth over his, teasing with her tongue, heightening the foreplay and his arousal until he slanted his head and deepened the kiss.
She took the lead in the dance, easing them toward the bed. She braced her hands on his shoulders and pushed him down before stepping away.
“Going somewhere?” He patted the space beside him, encouraging her to join him.
“I’ll be right back. Why don’t you get undressed in the meantime?” Her eyes gleamed in anticipation as she sashayed toward the bathroom, stopping only to open a drawer and pull out something that looked like flimsy lingerie on the way.
CHAPTER NINE
GABRIELLE HAD GONE BACK to her apartment for clothes and for the garment in her hands—baby-doll-style lingerie with lace covering her breasts and a pleated fall of silky material that ended high on her thighs. The peach color complemented her tanned skin and gave her a boost of confidence. She quickly slipped into the sexy negligee, needing all the confidence she could get.