Page 17 of A Matter of Time
“I love you, my friend, but I wouldn’t bait the fair Angelina too often. She can be brutal. Believe me, I know,” Nick said, trying to stifle a snicker.
“You’d do well to listen to your friend.” Those beautiful pools of blue were focused on him again, but this time there was a smile behind them. Richard immediately decided her eyes would be the death of him, even as he returned her heated gaze. He found he couldn’t tear himself away this time, instead deciding he might just wade right in and stay for a while.
Chapter 9
They ordered pizza, but Angelina made sure that this time they ordered a salad and a veggie pizza for her. She went to the bar and got out a bottle of red wine and some glasses. “Nick would you open this, please?”
Nick dutifully uncorked the bottle and handed it to her.
“Wine?” she asked. “It goes better with pizza than whiskey.”
Richard walked across to her and took a glass. God he was handsome. She didn’t know if she wanted Nick to stay or go. This could be a disaster, if it didn’t go well, so having Nick around was probably for the best. She hadn’t felt a pull this strong in forever. It was making her fidgety and she did her best to get it under control, but every time he came within a few feet of her, she could feel his energy – warm, masculine and virile. She reminded herself that she’d already decided it was not a good idea to set her sights on him. Her mind was a little fuzzy right now, as to the reason she had made that decision. He looked so good, and she found herself wondering what he’d look like without the shirt. He was strong, that much she knew from watching him at practice. His chest was broad and muscular, which she could see even with the impediment of his shirt. Her breathing was growing ragged and she knew she had to get her mind focused on something else, because this line of thinking was going to get her into trouble and it was looking a lot like trouble’s name was Richard Jefford. Maybe if she faced away from him, it would help. She made herself busy, putting every last item on the bar in order and when that was done she headed for the kitchen, where she ran her wrists under some cold water to cool the heated blood coursing through her veins and pooling between her thighs.
“Pizza’s here,” Nick called from the front door.
The thoughts in her head were so loud she hadn’t even heard the doorbell. She turned the water off and dried her hands before turning to find Richard leaning sexily against the wall, his dark eyes burning holes through her. Was that lust she saw there?Oh, God!She breezed past him, blurting out the first thing she could think of to say. “You might want to get in there before Nick eats it all, because if you leave him alone with a pizza long enough…” She nearly tripped over the area rug on her way past him, but he caught her and steadied her against his hard body. She found her hands resting on his chest and they seemed to move without her knowledge, caressing the rock hard muscles beneath. Finding herself in such close proximity had her quivering and pushing herself away quickly, before he could notice. “Thanks, I’m such a klutz sometimes. Nice pecs, by the way.”
He hadno idea what a klutz was, but Richard was more than pleased with the way Angelina had responded to his touch. If being a klutz meant that she would hold herself against him again, and brush her soft hands across his chest, then he was all for it. His appetite seemed to have left him, for everything but this woman. He was hungry for Angelina. Yes, he had told himself not to get involved with her, as he was planning to leave soon, but would it be so wrong to take her to his bed, even if it was only for a brief time? A little voice at the back of his mind told him it would. He was becoming a better man and the new Richard would never compromise a lady’s virtue in that way.
After waiting for the evidence of his lust to quiet itself, he entered the living room and settled on the sofa. Angelina brought him a slice of pizza and then sat right next to him. A little too close for comfort, but he had nowhere to go without appearing rude.
Nick had put a movie on the television. Thankfully, Richard was familiar with this device from his visit to Glendaloch, so he remained calm and didn’t ask any questions that might arouse Angelina’s suspicions. Some things she could no doubt chalk up to the language barrier, but other things would definitely set off alarm bells in her head and Richard didn’t want that to happen.
Stretching his arm across the back of the sofa, Richard tried to get comfortable. Not an easy task with such a beautiful creature seated to his right, but he did his best to appear unfazed by her presence.
“Nick loves this movie,” Angelina explained. “Ladyhawke is his favorite. I think he’s watched it at least a dozen times.”
“Hmmm,” Richard answered vaguely, not paying any attention to the screen. That little chat he’d had with himself earlier was not helping. The physical pull he felt towards Angelina was beyond his ability to control. His hand was enticingly close to her silky black locks. He wanted to run his fingers through them, to feel the softness for himself, but he stayed his hand. Sheer torture would be the best way to describe his current situation. He listened as Nick and Angelina teased each other with an easy banter. Her laughter reminded him of tiny bells, tinkling pleasantly in his ears. He prayed he’d be able to make it through this night without making a fool of himself.
“Ilove that movie,” Nick said, getting up from his seat. He turned off most of the lights. “I’m exhausted, so it’s off to bed for me.”
“Good night,” Angelina said.
She observed Richard giving Nick a meaningful look as he turned to leave.I wonder what that’s all about.They both watched Nick leave the room and headed down the hallway.
“I’ll bring pillows and a blanket for ye, Richard,” Nick called and true to his word, he appeared a few moments later, depositing the items on a nearby chair. Nick left them alone again and Angelina found herself without a thing to say, painfully aware that the sexual tension in the room was increasing by the second. Richard leaned forward and picked up a large book of photos from the coffee table. He began turning the pages and from Angelina’s perspective, seemed as though he was trying to ignore her presence. Things were getting awkward between them, but she didn’t want to leave him and go to bed. In fact, despite warning herself against pursuing this man, she found herself watching his full, firm lips and wanting to kiss them.
“That’s a book of photos I took around the Bay Area.” Angelina pointed to the book and Richard muttered something under his breath, which she didn’t quite catch. “I’m sorry, I didn’t hear you.”
He cleared his throat. “I said they are beautiful. You actually created these?” He sounded astonished.
“Well, I wouldn’t saycreated. Photography is a hobby of mine and I had collected so many photos over the years that I decided to put them into a book. That’s the only copy.”
“It is very precious then,” he noted.
“Here, let me show you some of my favorites,” Angelina said. She leaned closer to him, her breast brushing his arm as she turned the pages until she reached the one she was looking for, a beautiful shot of the Golden Gate Bridge. The sensation of his arm pressing against her shirt was scorching, but she refused to move away. “I’m particularly proud of this one.”
Richard’s sharp intake of breath, told her he was equally excited by the touch. She moved closer, placing one hand on his thigh, on the pretense of showing him more photos.Mmmm. This is nice.She moved her hair back behind her ear and peeked up at him. His intense dark eyes were waiting for her. He bent his head a little closer, until their lips were mere inches apart.
Kiss me,her muddled brain demanded. Fortunately she still had enough presence of mind to avoid saying the words out loud. What would Richard think of her if she did?
She needn’t have worried because he placed one finger under her chin to hold her steady and then warm, soft lips tentatively kissed her own. He paused, remaining completely still. One second passed, and then another. She didn’t dare move, or even breathe, not wanting to break the magic between them. Again, he dipped his mouth to hers, but this time, he lingered, moving his hand so that he was gently cradling her head. He moved his other hand up to her face and she couldn’t remember ever being kissed like this.Please, don’t stop!
And he didn’t. His kisses grew more impassioned as Angelina molded herself against him. She found herself overcome by an overwhelming desire to be with him, and wondered if he felt it, too. He had to, because the connection between them was amazing – how could he not be aware of it?
Abruptly, Richard stopped and of all things, apologized. “I beg your forgiveness. I have overstepped my bounds.” He separated himself from her, placing the book back on the coffee table and putting as much distance between them as he could manage. The expression on his face was difficult to read, his passions tightly shut down. Angelina decided he was a gorgeous man, even when he was looking very stern.
“No need to apologize. I’m glad you kissed me,” Angelina said, keeping her voice soft and low. She hoped her eyes were communicating her true feelings on the subject, letting him know she didn’t want him to stop.
