I took that moment to rest the hand he’d been holding in my lap. With my other, I wrapped it around my fist and squeezed trying to quell the tingling sensation. My insides were a quivering mess. I wondered if he’d picked up on the tremors in my hand. Not from nerves but desire. I wanted Aaren like none other. And being his emotional pillow for the last fifteen minutes had only endeared me even more to him. A man that wasn’t too macho to confess his emotions was a lure. Aaren had trusted me with his.
A couple minutes later he finished talking to Blaine the security guard on duty in the main lobby then said, “Our food is downstairs. Sit tight. I’ll go get it.”
“Thanks. Can I at least give you money for the tip?” I offered.
“Absolutely not.” He rummaged around one of the inside flaps of his coat on the back of his desk chair and pulled out his wallet. “Be right back.” He strutted from the office and, seconds later, I heard him whistling down the hall.
That sound made me smile. I never figured Aaren for a whistler. Tonight was becoming an evening of information about Mr. Aaren Reston. I was glad I had decided to stay. Rising, I grabbed my purse from the corner of the couch and walked to the side door that led to his bathroom. All the department heads at the company had bathrooms in their offices. I couldn’t wait until I was at the senior level so I could have one in mine. Using the time I had before Aaren returned, I turned on the light and stared at myself in the mirror.
Thankful I didn't appear as wrung out and exhausted as I felt from the extended hours, I removed the band from my hair that I had used to keep it out of my way while we worked. Pulling my brush from my purse, I ran it briskly through my hair. He and I were the only two left in the building besides Security. Even the cleaning crew had come in two hours ago and emptied the trash, I knew Aaren would be back soon since there was no wait at the elevator.
Next, I added a fresh coat of plum passion gloss to my lips. Not too much where it would look like I was trying to spruce up, but enough that they didn’t look so dry and unappealing. Finally, I fluffed my hair to give it more body, wishing I had waves like my cousin Chase and his mother instead of the straight tresses I was born with. When I heard the dinging of the elevator, I pinched up along my cheekbones to add color to my face and rushed out.
Tossing my purse back into the corner of the couch, I went to stand before the window. Not because I was attempting any kind of seductive pose. Hell, I knew that the heated look Aaren had given me when he was sitting beside me showed he may have appreciated the view of my cleavage like any other red-blooded male that liked large breasts, but I didn't know if that meant he could even be seduced. Was he attracted to me any further than a glance?
Pushing away rampant lustful thoughts of him and his level of interest in me, I took a few seconds to get myself together. Staring down at the busy streets of Uptown Charlotte, I inhaled a deep breath. Fourteen floors up, I could see people leisurely strolling to and from bars and restaurants while valets opened and closed doors of expensive cars. The booming city was hectic in the day but came alive at night.
“Dinner has arrived,” Aaren announced.
Drawn more by his voice instead of the knowledge that my empty stomach would be satisfied soon, I turned. Facing him, I smiled and watched him move with a panther's grace into the office. Watching him would never get old.
I crossed to the sitting area we had practically lived in for the last six weeks and started helping him move some of the paper to the floor just to give us a little room to set down our food.
Handing me my round aluminum tray, he set his down on the table then pulled out plastic forks and a bag of bread. I could smell the warm buttery garlic coming from it and it made my mouth water.
“Gino sent over a bottle of Amarone. I guess he wanted to help me to impress the woman I was eating with.” He held up the bottle of wine. “I know we both have to drive home eventually, but I don’t think a glass will be overdoing it.”
Eventually. My cheeks warmed at the thought of relaxing for hours with Aaren while we sipped wine and ate good food getting to know each other. “Not at all.”
Setting the bottle on the table, he grabbed our two mugs. “Go ahead and dig in. I’m going to wash out our wine glasses,” he jested and headed to the bathroom.
I laughed and peeled the top off my food and was assailed by the delicious scent of fresh herbs steeped in a rich tomato sauce. I almost groaned at the sight of melted, golden mozzarella. I had never mastered the art of just eating a salad or a couple bites of a meal when on a date with a man. Even though technically this was not a date with Aaren, I was still concerned. Aaren may be like my cousin Chase who, before he proposed to my best friend Oriana, found himself dating a woman that lived off a cup of yogurt and a large latte a day.
“Alright, two clean cups.” Aaren strolled in from the bathroom drying the mugs with a paper towel. “I thought you’d be eating, by now. I usually can’t resist digging in as soon as I smell the wonderful aroma. Evidently you have a stronger will power than I.” He smiled as he removed the cork from the wine with the mini wine opener from the bag.
I could see the restaurant's logo on the stem of the opener. A great marketing tool, I thought.
“I didn’t want to start eating without you. Manners from my parents, sorry.” I gave him a single shoulder shrug and a small smile. It wasn’t a complete lie— my parents did instill in us the etiquette of waiting for everyone to be ready to eat at the table. No need for Aaren to know I was nervous.
“That’s very kind.” After filling both cups, he removed the lid from his dish, held it below his face and inhaled. “Oh, Kalan, I don’t think there are many things that smell as good as this. No other food anyway.”
Even though I knew he was talking about the food, his gaze was fixed on mine--those green eyes dark and intense. My heart rate started beating faster and I crossed my legs and sat back on the couch. Parting my lips just a little, I exhaled low and slow then said, “Nothing.”
My mind was mush. Lowering my eyes away from his compelling ones, I stared at my meal. Digging in, I took the first bite, decided it was best for me to concentrate fully on feeding the need that I could satisfy. Aaren wasn’t an option.
My taste buds exploded when the amazing flavors coated my tongue and caused my eyes to close and a moan to come out of my mouth. “Ohhhh my gracious. Mmmmm.”
I could not help it, I loved good food and this was delicious. I slowly chewed and continued to whimper in contentment. Finally swallowing the first cheesy, sauce-filled bite of fresh pasta, I opened my eyes and said, “Aaren, this is wonderf—”
The hot, intense stare he was giving me removed the words from my mouth. His fork was buried deep into his lasagna but he had yet to lift his first bite of the delicious food. However, his gaze was locked on me as if I was the item on the menu to be consumed, fully, and that turned my insides to molten rivers of desire.
Shit. I’d never had a man look at me with such blanket need as I saw in the deep green of Aaren’s eyes. My heart began to pound hard; I thought it would beat right out of my chest. Lifting my hand, I placed it over my chest and pressed just to ensure it stayed encased behind my ribs. If there was even a remote possibility that I could have something with this man I wasn’t going to die of a heart attack before experiencing passion with him.
My movement must have snapped him out of whatever lustful thoughts were going on in his mind, because he reached for his mug of wine and drank. After the drink, he inhaled and smiled at me, his gaze once again clear.
Damn it, this man’s control is ridiculous. I can see he’s just as attracted to me as I am to him, why won’t he say something? Let it loose and please both of us.
“I’m glad you like it.” He took a bite of his and nodded as if agreeing it was as good as he remembered and promptly took a second bite.
I wish he’d groaned. I would have liked to hear what he possibly could sound like during the throes of passion. Let it go, Kalan.
<
br /> Lifting my wine, I sipped, allowing the bitter taste of the rich Italian dry wine to return me to my senses. Since it worked so well for him.
We ate in silence for a moment. When I was halfway through with my lasagna, Aaren held the white paper bag toward me. “You must try the garlic knots, Kalan.”
Lowering my fork, I shook my head and smiled at him. “I don’t know. The last thing I tried has already caused an addiction for me.”
He chuckled. “Hey, you are not alone. We’ll just have to keep each other supplied constantly is all.” He shook the bag and the bread rattled from the inside.
“Probably.” Reaching my fingers into the opening, I removed a single knot. It was shining with the buttery coating, chunks of garlic and diced parsley and it made my mouth water. Taking a bite into the soft, fresh bread, I was hooked. Swallowing, I argued, “See, this is exactly what I was talking about, Aaren.”
I bounced up and down in my seat. Setting my container on the table, I pouted while nibbling on the remaining half of the bread.
“I just couldn’t be miserably happy with this addiction alone.” He winked as he dug out his own knot.
“True. Something this good you have to share.” I smiled and popped the last bite into my mouth.
“Tell me about you, Kalan.” He leaned back casually in his chair and ate his knot while still holding his lasagna in his other hand.
“There’s not much to tell. What you see is what you get.” I drank more wine and felt the warmth of the alcohol spread through my stomach.
“I like what I see.” There was a deeper meaning weaving through his words but instead of continuing on that vein, he said, “How old are you?”
“Thirty-one next month.” I didn’t attempt to play the coy role of a woman and tease him about asking me the question. I was very proud of what I’d accomplished in my years. At least professionally. “You?”
“Thirty-seven as of last month. However, for you, I’m tempted to ask for your identification to prove you’re not twenty-five.” He teased, finishing his bread and setting his food on the table.
“Oh, goodness, not twenty-five again.” I groaned and picked up my lid and placed it on my lasagna. Tomorrow it would be great for breakfast or lunch once the herbs had finished settling in.
Following suit, he packed his up and placed it and the bread back in the large to go bag it had come in. The only thing remaining was wine and our mugs.
“There sounds like a story there…” Still leaning forward with his elbows balanced on his knees he held his wine and gazed at me.
Seeing the curiosity in his eyes, I took a breath and then a drink, not truly wanting to reminisce on that year.
“If it’s too painful you don’t have to share it.” His thumb was stroking the side of his mug.
I remembered those fingers touching mine when he had opened up. Deciding it was only fair, I began. “I don’t know if you’ve ever been foolish in love, but I can at times jump without looking where I’m going to land.”
Nodding, he confessed. “I’ve been down that same path before.”
“Well, in a nutshell. I fell hard for a guy that I thought wanted the same things out of a relationship, but after almost two years, I realized it wasn’t true. Some people have a way of being cruel without raising a hand or their voice.”
“He abused you?” He growled, moving forward slightly in his seat as if he were going to get up as his hand tightened around the ceramic mug. I was concerned by the tension I could see in his body that the cup would shatter in his hand.
“No, I abused myself. Trying to be someone I wasn’t.” I drank liberally trying to remove the sour memories from my mind.
“You’re such a brilliant, successful woman. Hell, you exude confidence in everything you do. I’m finding it hard to believe that some asshole could cause you to be different than that.”
I was flattered by his words. “Truthfully, I thank him for that. I was working in a job I wasn’t happy with. In a relationship I was killing myself to keep. When I finally woke up, I was in the hospital from dehydration and close to malnutrition.” A sharp laugh broke from my lips. “Never thought that was possible for a full-figured girl.”
“Malnutrition has more to do with your body lacking vitamins and nutrients than it does with weight. And you are beautiful just as you are, Kalan.” He raised his mug as if toasting me before he drank.
Smiling, I acknowledged it and sipped my own wine. Lowering the cup, I said, “Thank you. I now feel the same way. My family was there at the hospital for the three days I spent there. When my ex came in, I thought my cousin Chase was going to strangle him. However, I let my family know it wasn’t his fault. It was mine. I let Marvin, my ex, know that it was over. Chase and my best friend Oriana, who are currently engaged, packed Marvin out of my apartment before I left the hospital. Two weeks later, I quit my job, and lived off my saving for three months until I landed something I knew I’d be happy doing. I’ve been here ever since.”
“I must say that happiness looks damn good on you.”
I tossed my head back and laughed, loudly. I didn’t care if I sounded like a Mad Hatter, I felt free now that I’d shared the story with someone. My family and close friend already knew what had happened so there had been no need to talk about it. “You’re very good for my ego, Mr. Reston.”
“Happy to help, Ms. Henderson.”
Leaning forward, I set my cup down on the table. Truly I had tarried long enough. Dinner was now over and there wasn’t really any reason for me to stay. Pushing the cork back in the bottle of wine, I handed it to him to place in his bag. When he didn’t take it, I glanced at his face and noticed he was looking at me.
Correction. He was staring at my mouth. The heat in his gaze made my lips tingle and all I wanted to do was lick my lips or kiss his.
Taking the bottle from my hand, without lowering his eyes, he set it down beside the bag. “I’m assuming the lasagna must have been very much to your liking?” he asked.
I frowned, not understanding his question because he’d heard my throated moan I’d made after the first bite. “Um, really good. I can see why you like Gino’s Italiana.”
The side smile on his mouth was the sexiest. “Kalan, you have a little sauce…”
“Oh!” Now I felt like a damn fool. Reaching up, I swiped at one corner of my mouth and then my chin and looked at my hands, not seeing anything. “Did I get it?”
“No.” He rose.
I looked around for the napkin and recalled they were already packed up. Shit. I couldn’t believe I’d sat here all this time spilling the woes of my horrid relationship with a glob of sauce on my chin like a two year old. Forgetting the napkin, I decided to just go to the bathroom.
Before I could rise, Aaren sat beside me and placed a hand on my shoulder. “Hold on a moment. It’s just a small droplet. I’ll get it for you.”
“Thanks.” I sat still and waited.
His hand cupped my face. It was warm and strong, but his touch was gentle as his thumb brushed over my chin.
“Did you get it?”
“Not yet.”
I wondered what he was waiting on. Prepared to question him, I turned my head and looked at him. His eyes struck me speechless. The only thing I could think of to describe the green color was dark and mysterious as the enchanted forest. I was captivated by them. The heat and passion that I’d witnessed a time or two through the night was back but at a more powerful level.
It sucked me in and drew my own desire to a point of boiling. My lips parted as I let out a sigh, like a pressure cooker needing to release a little of the built up steam. Just like the pot, I felt close to exploding from too much heat gathering for too long—past the point of being done, ready.
The urge to warn him about my feelings toward him, let him know that he was either going to need to do something about the lust between us or let me go. “Aaren—”
“Kalan.” His whisper of my name came out at the same ti
me before he leaned in and slid his tongue over my bottom lip. The glide was smooth, slow and torturous, moving from corner to corner.
I gasped. Shocked and thrilled by his action.
“Mm, even better eaten off you than I imagined.”
What? He’d thought about licking the thick, savory sauce from my body? That was the most erotic thing a man had ever said to me. Knowing that Aaren hadn’t been so controlled while we’d sat eating and talking gave me joy. That joy elevated my desire for him. “Kiss me.”
With no further pretty words or erotic notions, he claimed my mouth. Slipping his hand from my face to behind my head to hold me to him.
I parted my lips, wanting him inside of me. My tongue was there to meet his when he entered my mouth. I’d never had a man exhibit so much passion in a kiss. This man wanted me just as much as I desired him.
The heat seemed to erupt between us. Even though he was only kissing me and holding my head, I felt taken and consumed. I needed to touch him. Feel those bulging, flexing muscles that had tempted me with for the last six weeks while I’d worked beside him, watched him move with controlled grace.
In this kiss, I knew his control had been a fallacy. A lie. Oh, yes.
Gripping his shoulders, I squeezed and rubbed along the thick muscles and followed them down his arms. The strength I felt caused cream to flood my panties. I moaned.
As if responding to my pleasure, his other arm circled my waist and pulled me closer to him as he fisted the hand in my hair, taking control, kiss deepening. He pressed his tongue into my mouth, pushing over mine and stroking the roof of my mouth.
We feasted on each other, panting and groaning. I couldn’t get enough. Tightening my lips around him, I sucked hard on his tongue as he thrust it in and out of my mouth. I wanted to taste all of the man from his taut thighs to his succulent mouth and then feel his cock inside me.
Pulling away, he moved down the side of my neck and his tongue drew a sensual design along my skin. I tilted my head and gave him more access.
He dragged his hand from my back around to my breasts and palmed one. Using the span of his large hand, he squeezed the bountiful weight.
Nightie Night: The Lingerie Series (Stir Sticks & Stilettos) Page 2