‘Her star’s on the wane, if you ask me. And yours is on the rise.’
‘Let’s hope so.’ Olivia made a face, but Ben could tell she was enjoying herself...just as he was enjoying himself.
Too much, maybe.
Now that Caris had left them alone, there was no reason to stay. Normally Ben would have been happy to bow out, swim a few dozen laps and hit the sack. Now, however, he had a gorgeous woman on his arm, a glass of champagne in his hand, and for the first time in years he actually wanted to enjoy himself. With Olivia.
‘Care to dance?’ he asked, and her eyes widened some more. Her smile kicked up. She deposited her half-drunk glass on a passing tray.
‘I thought you’d never ask.’
* * *
This was dangerous, Olivia knew as she glided in Ben’s arms on the salon’s dance floor. Dangerous and very, very nice. A string orchestra had just struck up a tune and Ben slid his hands around her waist, his fingers dipping down towards her butt. Shivers of pleasure rippled through her and she tilted her head to smile up at him.
‘I didn’t take you for a dancer.’
‘I’m not usually. But it seemed a shame not to, considering the circumstances.’
‘Which are?’
‘The music. The party. Your dress.’
Something fluttered low in her belly. ‘You like this dress, huh?’
He pulled her closer, so her hips and thighs came into exquisite contact with his. ‘I love this dress,’ he murmured in her ear, and this time Olivia shivered for real.
What were they doing? One minute it was all banter and flirt as they pretended for the public, and the next it felt all too real. All too intense.
And Olivia didn’t know which she wanted. No, she knew what she wanted. Wanted very, very badly. She was just afraid to want it...for a whole lot of reasons.
Ben tightened his hold on her and after a second’s hesitation she rested her cheek against his shoulder. It was easier than trying to angle her head away from him, and the truth was she’d been wanting to do it since he’d first taken her in his arms. He felt hard and safe and comforting all at once, and his throat was so close she could lick it.
Not that she was going to do something that stupid and frankly weird. She’d just think about it for a little while.
The music ebbed and swelled in a tide of sound and they swayed to its languorous beat, Ben’s hands tightening on her hips as Olivia nestled against him. She never wanted the moment to end, never wanted to stop breathing in the clean, male scent of him, of feeling his arms around her. Of feeling safe and cherished and loved.
Ridiculous, of course, to feel all that. She knew that. They were little more than strangers. And yet she’d shared more of herself with Ben than with anyone else in just about ever. She felt more for him than she had any other man. She didn’t move.
Eventually the music ended and couples began to leave the dance floor. Neither of them moved for a moment, just kept swaying to the music that was no longer playing. Then Ben eased back, and when Olivia risked a look upwards she saw that his expression was fiercely intent, almost primal, his eyes blazing, and her heart lurched against her ribs. Then it started beating double time as Ben took her hand in his own, lacing their fingers together, and without so much as a word led her off the dance floor and out of the ballroom.
CHAPTER SEVEN
AT SOME POINT between taking her in his arms to dance and leading her off the floor, Ben had decided to ignore all his intentions and principles. He wanted Olivia. She wanted him. This could, he decided, be simple. He’d cautioned himself against a fling, but he was tired of caution. Tired of denying himself. In little more than a week they’d never see each other again. Why not explore and enjoy this attraction?
And the truth was, he didn’t have the will power or self-control not to.
Olivia didn’t resist, didn’t so much as offer a single question, as he led her away from the party, through the hotel lobby and then into the lift that led to the floor of executive suites.
As the lift moved upwards Ben turned to her. Her eyes were huge, her lips parted, her breath coming out in a rush as he pressed her against the wall and kissed her with all the pent-up need and desire he felt. Blood roared in his ears and his libido took over. He grabbed handfuls of slippery satin as he yanked her dress upwards, needing to feel her bare flesh against his. His hand found the smooth, warm skin of her calf and he groaned aloud as he slid it upwards to her thigh.
Olivia’s head fell back, her breath coming in shallow pants.
‘Too much dress,’ he muttered, and she let out a wild laugh that fired his blood even more.
The doors pinged open.
Ben stepped back, the need pulsing through him so hard and fast his vision blurred. Wordlessly he turned from Olivia and left the elevator. She followed, fumbling for her key card in her clutch.