Page 17 of Feels Like the First Time

“I forgot what it was like. Feeling like such an outsider,” she murmured. “I didn’t quite expect…”

“Were they rude?” His words were simple enough, but the anger underlying them made Zoe shake off her pity party and stare up at him. Now that he’d pulled off the cloak she could see the wide strength of his shoulders. But it was the set of his jaw that caught her attention. Stiff with anger, for all his calm words he looked like he might go back in there and…what? Give them a one-two-kapow?

Zoe snickered at her imagination. Then she realized she’d given too much energy to the responses in the ballroom. She hadn’t cared what those people thought ten years ago, why should she now?

“It was no big deal,” she said with a shrug. “More hits than barbs if you know what I mean.”

“The guys hit on you?” he asked with a deep, husky laugh. “Figures. I mean, you’re gorgeous. And your costume challenges every man in the room and makes all the women disappear into the wallpaper.”

Zoe’s breath caught in her chest. This guy oozed sex appeal the way Candice oozed bitchiness. It was a physical thing, intense and overpowering. It was a sexual energy that tempted. The kind that made her think of dark nights, warm breezes and naked bodies. And he thought she was gorgeous.

He’d given her his cape, growled in irritation over perceived slights and made her laugh.

Call her vain, but he’d had her at gorgeous.

As she stared up at him, wishing she could see the color of his eyes in the evening light, his laughter faded. His gaze narrowed and he stepped closer.

“You don’t look like you believe me,” he murmured, his words low and musical.

“I’ve been called challenging plenty of times,” she admitted, her head spinning as her body reacted to the closeness of his. “But never gorgeous.”

“But you are.” He reached out, his hand fisted, and rubbed his knuckles over her cheek. Zoe damn near purred.

“Maybe you just have a leather fetish,” she suggested.

“Maybe I’d like to try a few fetishes with you and see how they feel,” he said, his words low and intense.

The image of the two of them naked except for his mask and her boots filled her mind. Zoe swallowed, her pulse racing so fast she felt as though it was going to pound its way out of her throat. Was he Brad after all? Confusion swirled through the desire filling her brain. Hadn’t one of the twins mentioned Brad had gone to England? Was that an English accent? He obviously knew her. She couldn’t imagine any other guy at the reunion   would flirt with her like this.

His hand left her cheek. Zoe bit her bottom lip to keep from pouting. Then he wrapped both hands around the edges of the cape he’d draped around her shoulders.

The cloth still bunched over his fists, he used them to tilt her chin up.

“I’d want you even without the leather,” he said.

Her grin was fast and wicked. “Naked, you mean?”

He groaned, then laughed. Zoe’s heart tripped a little. So few guys could handle her smart mouth, let alone appreciate it while they were trying to make a move. But Mr. Supersexy? He just shook his head and grinned. His lips still curved with humor, he held her gaze captive as he lowered his mouth.

Her breath caught. Then her mind went blank.

His lips rubbed gently over hers. Warm, soft, intoxicating. Almost sweet, except for the sexual flare of heat zinging through her body. Her nipples hardened, her legs went lax. She grabbed his waist for support, her head falling back as he shifted from soft and sweet to hard and wild.

Zoe gasped, instantly aching and wet as his tongue took hers. She’d never had a kiss like this—so hungry and intense, she could barely keep up. Instead of trying, she gave herself over to the power of his demanding mouth. Let herself freefall with the swirling passion tightening in her belly.

Who knew the wrong costume could garner such a perfect prize?

DEX PULLED BACK from the kiss, his mind blown to bits. Damn. He’d finally found something—someone—to shut his always churning brain off.

“Come up to my room,” he blurted out. Then he cringed. Great, Drake. First time you’ve seen her in ten years and five minutes after saying hello you hit on her. You haven’t even told her who you are and you’re trying to get your best friend naked so you can nibble your way up and down her body.Her green eyes were filled with a heady combination of shock and desire. Her breath came in short bursts from her glossy, inviting lips.

Dex couldn’t rip his eyes off Zoe. She was hot. Sexy, secure and so damned sassy. The eyes of an angel, a mouth to suit the leather lovingly encasing her body. And her taste. Pure ambrosia. He could get drunk on her taste alone.

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