Page 24 of Dimitri
"I will look forward to the next time."
With a nod, he rose gracefully and came around to take Allison's hand.
"You gave her too much."
"I can afford to, and the meal was excellent."
"I suppose it does not bother you to throw money around."
He shrugged with an easy confidence. "Money's only useful if it makes life better for me, for others." His gaze softened, lingeringon her a moment before he released her hand. "Besides, generosity is never wasted."
She shook her head, bemused despite herself, and gathered her things.
"Did you come up with that all on your own or did you read it in a fortune cookie?"
He grinned at her as he opened the door for her to get in.
"What are you doing?" She squeaked when he leaned in.
"Fastening your seatbelt." He slid the buckle in place and stayed where he was. He was so close, she realized to her surprise that his eyes had flecks of gold on the irises and were not completely black as she had originally thought.
"The belt is hooked." Her breathing was becoming constricted and to her mortification, her nipples were reacting alarmingly.
"So, it is." He made no effort to move and was amused at how jumpy he made her. "You know, you have the prettiest lips I have ever seen."
"I bet you've seen plenty."
"I have, yes. More than my fair share." He lifted a hand to cup her chin, his thumb making circles over her lush bottom lip. "What do you call this color?" he asked lazily.
"What?"
"The lipstick."
She tried to ignore the flutter in her stomach and focused on his question, determined not to let his nearness get to her. "It's called Crimson Dream," she replied, her voice steadier than she felt. The name seemed to hang between them, charged with a meaning neither wanted to define just yet.
"It's apt. I wonder what it tastes like?" he was speaking more to himself than to her.
"We're in the parking lot--" A moan slid from her throat, as he bent his head and brushed his lips against hers. Her breath was backed up and she was helpless to resist. Warmth slid through her body slowly, insidiously, and before she knew it, her fingers were curling into the thin material of his sweater. The kiss was lazy, a stroking of lips against lips. Their breaths tangled, the air thick with desire.
She wanted him. It was no use pretending otherwise. She wanted him like she had never wanted another human being before, and it frightened her.
His hands slid to her waist, anchoring her gently but firmly, as if he needed to feel her just as much as she needed him. Time seemed to pause, the sounds of the parking lot fading into a distant hum, leaving only the two of them cocooned in the moment. She felt herself melting, caught between the thrill of surrender and the sharp edge of uncertainty, but unable to let go.
She would cheerfully have allowed him to take her right here in full view of the people in the diner and the vehicles whizzing by. That was how much she had lost her senses. Desire, white hot and glaring, spread throughout her body like a sickness and swamped her mind. His mouth ravished and devoured and made her feel weak and vulnerable. It was the raucous laughter a few feet behind them that brought her to her senses.
She pushed at him and when he would not budge but simply trailed his lips over her cheek and down to her throat, she shoved harder. This time he lifted his head, eyes darkened, face harsh with passion, the intensity of it frightening her.
For a heartbeat, neither moved, suspended on the precipice of something wild and irreversible. Her chest heaved, pulling in shaky breaths scented with his cologne and the faint trace of her own perfume blending in the air. She searched his face, trying toread the storm behind his gaze, both craving and dreading what might come next.
When he eased away, she told herself that it was relief that she felt and not regret. His body leaving hers, left a vacuum that astounded and confused her. Without a word, he slammed the door shut, giving her the chance to lean back and struggle for control. Turning her head away, she did not look when he climbed in and started the vehicle.
They made the short ride to her office in complete silence, each burdened with their own thoughts.
As soon as he stopped the vehicle in front of the unassuming gray stone building, she fumbled for the handle to make her escape. When his hand clamped on her arm, her head whipped around to snarl at him, the words dying inside her throat at the look on his face. "I will see you later," he told her harshly. "Even if I have to wait all night camped out at your place, I will see you." His fingers bit into her skin. "And if you decide to stay away, I'm going to find you."
Emotions strangled her chest and stopped her breath. This was utter madness, and it had to stop. Pulling her arm away, she made her escape and did not look back.
Chapter 7
