Andrew’s voice purred in my ear. “Should we go say hello to your friend?”
I was genuinely touched that he remembered her. “She works for a rival firm, so we politely ignore each other at events if possible,” I whispered.
“Gotcha. I certainly understand strict security.” His hand on the small of my back was strangely comforting.
We were checked off the list, then Andrew guided me straight to the bar. “Water, or something stronger?” he asked.
“White wine,” I said automatically. Even if I only drank half, it looked social. I scanned the room quickly. “You should have beer in this crowd.”
He leaned down to breathe, “Yes, dear.”
A shiver ran through me. Even though I knew he was teasing, I couldn’t help it. Every time we were close, I turned into a love-struck maniac who couldn’t stop staring at his lips.
We took our drinks for a walk diagonally through the vast room, as I nodded to several people along the way. “Do you know them?” Andrew asked, using every excuse he could find to bring his lips close to my ear.
“Only from their photos online. I’m gauging which ones have the most open expressions and body language, so that we can chat when we bump into them again.”
His deep chuckle made me grin up at him. “And here I thought Terry was the mad scientist. You’re a mad psychologist.”
“I’ve studied a bit, yes, but I wouldn’t say that I was quite mad yet. Maybe I’ll go crazy in a few years, if I keep it up.”
“Tell me something that really does make you mad,” he said, slipping his arm around me as he led us to a quieter corner. “Does it make you angry when I touch you?”
“Um, no,” I nearly whispered. Why did this man make every intelligent word fall out of my head and run away?
“Because you want to be with me,” he said, running his hand slowly up my bare back. When I didn’t answer, he smirked at me. “You wore this dress knowing that I’d need to touch you.”
“Not really. Lots of women wear backless dresses to these things. I wanted to fit in.” I didn’t mention that this dress camouflaged my wide hips, putting the spotlight on my breasts so everything else looked smaller.
His hand brushed my fingers as he took our drinks and set them on a table. “You wanted to tease me,” he nearly growled, pulling me against him. “Tell me to stop, Jenna. Tell me not to kiss you and ruin your luscious lipstick.”
The right thing to do was guide him through the crowd and start making introductions. The right thing to do was remind myself that I was a professional, and this was my slightly obnoxious client.
The wrong thing to do was slide my hands up the front of his shirt, listening for his sharp inhale as I wound my fingers up the back of his neck.
But I did it anyway.
“Last chance, Jenna. If you don’t tell me to stop, I might not be able to.”
Stretching up, my lips parted for his. His mouth crushed to mine, those huge hands so warm against my hips as we ground together.
Hearing his low voice mutter, “I want you. Let’s leave now,” made my stomach seize, my inner muscles clenching as I suddenly felt empty for the first time ever.
I’d never thought much about sex, perhaps because I’d never been close enough to a man who made me feel ready for it.
“I can feel how much you need this too, Jenna.”
My mind was spinning as my lips parted wider, his tongue slipping inside. Melting in his arms, I needed to wrap my legs around him so that I could feel his pressure between my thighs.
“Come with me,” he rasped as we finally parted for air. “The car. Now.”
Staring up at him, I began to nod, then saw lipstick all over his mouth. Grabbing a napkin from the table, I handed it to him. “Lips. Get it off fast.”
I was impressed that he obeyed immediately. Digging in my purse, I found a mirror and a tissue, swiftly tidying up the worst of it around my mouth.
“I need to fix this in the ladies’ room,” I said, trying to pull myself together. “We’re here to mingle. Think about your company.”
His hand slipped into the back of my hair, fisting it, tugging my face to his. “When you’re near me, you’re the only thing that exists, Jenna.”