Stormy Passion

by Brenda Jernigan

  “Nice touch.” She nodded toward the doors. “I love the ocean,” she told Steven as she handed him the bottle and corkscrew. “This place is beautiful.”

  “I'm glad you approve.” He took the bottle, but not before his fingers glided over hers.

  Her heart fluttered. She blinked a couple of times because she was seeing double. And, of course, she hiccupped. “I--I'm sorry. I seem to have developed hiccups.

  “So I hear.” He chuckled. “Evidently, you've not had champagne before.”

  “W--what makes you say that?”

  “Champagne doesn't require a corkscrew,” he said and laid it on the nightstand.

  She watched his skillful hands as he maneuvered the twist wire. He took his thumbs and pushed at the cork, but instead of the top flying across the room, he successfully managed to capture the cork in the palm of his hand. He'd become a real pro.

  Warmth spread over Dani's body as she realized that shortly his hands would be maneuvering over her. What had she said about talking first? They really should talk.

  He filled the glasses she held, then placed the bottle on the nightstand. For just a minute, Dani was tempted to turn on the lights so she could see his face, but since he'd gone to so much trouble to make this a romantic evening, something he’d never done before, she wouldn't spoil it. Hope filled her. Maybe Steven had changed.

  “Welcome.” He clicked his glass with hers. “We'll have to help you get rid of those hiccups.”

  “T--that would be a blessing.” She smiled, then gave a toast of her own as she felt a surge of longing so intense that she ached with it. It had been so long. “To a night of memories,” she countered when her glass touched his.

  The hell with talking.

  Dani gulped the bubbly liquid, knowing she should sip, but suddenly she was nervous. Very nervous. And getting drunker. Something told her this wasn't the Steven she remembered. Again she thought his voice sounded strange. Or maybe the booze had muddled her mind. Why hadn’t Steven taken her into his arms? Finally, she said, “Aren't you going to kiss me?”

  “I'm going to do more than that, sweetheart, but first another drink.” Adrian reached for the bottle and replenished the glasses.

  At first Adrian had been uncertain about his odd birthday present. But now ... Adrian needed a moment to compose himself. He'd been expecting a high-class call girl, but when she'd appeared in the doorway the light from the living room had shown on her silver-blonde hair, giving her the appearance of an angel. And when she'd paused by the candles, the soft glow on her face had taken his breath away.

  Must be the booze.

  She was beautiful and poised. And normal. Except for the hiccups. Nothing like he'd expected. What a birthday present! Of course he’d been drinking and probably wasn’t thinking his best.

  For a split second, he wondered if he could keep her instead of sending her away tomorrow. Maybe, just for tonight, he could reevaluate his earlier decision about women. And he knew -- that was the liquor talking.

  Adrian touched her knee. She tensed. Shy? How refreshing, he thought. Patiently, he waited for her to relax before he slid his hand along the silkiness of her leg. The over-powering desire to kiss her struck him like lightning hitting a tree. She trembled. God, the woman was sexy. He took the glass from her hand and placed it next to his on the nightstand.

  “Come here, sweetheart.”

  The minute his hand slipped under her skirt, Dani stopped breathing. Instantly, her hiccups were cured.

  “Don’t you want to shed a few clothes?” he asked.

  Dani stood and began unbuttoning her silk blouse. She tossed it on the floor; next her black bra came off, revealing her puckered nipples. She unhooked her skirt and let it slide across her stomach, teasing her sensitized thighs before hitting the floor.

  He took her wrist and pulled her toward him. She wanted to taste his lips. And she was more than ready to make up for lost time as he coaxed her down to him.

  She marveled in the feel of his skin as her hands slipped across his bare chest. The hair tickled between her fingers. He felt different. Maybe a little more muscular than before, probably from all the hard work he'd been doing. She caught his manly, musk fragrance just before she leaned down and brushed his lips.

  His kiss was light, tantalizing, or more to the point, teasing.

  And strange.

  Had she forgotten everything about him? The firm pressure of his hands drifting across her shoulders, then moving lower gave her the feeling he was holding back until she was ready.

  Consideration ... she liked that.

  She traced a finger along his strong jaw, taking in every detail beneath her hand. She didn't remember his jaw being so square. If only she could look into his eyes.

  He took her hand and placed a kiss on her open palm, then pulled her closer. He groaned as he seized her lips in a devouring kiss that sent Dani's head spinning with stormy desire and shedding her inhibitions. She hardly noticed as his other hand clamped around her waist and pulled her over him to the other side of the bed. Just that quickly they had switched positions. He was on top and in command with his lips moving insistently on hers.

  A long dormant desire surged through her, and somewhere in the back of Dani's mind a voice told her Steven had changed. She had never felt like this before. Something about him seemed so manly, so strong, so unique. Whatever doubts she had, she pushed aside.

  He kissed her now with such tenderness that she clung to him as a hungry, urgent passion crept across her body. He parted her lips. She moaned with pleasure as she touched her tongue to his. A delicious shiver slid down her spine.

  He pulled back for just a moment, then crushed her to him again, taking her mouth with urgent hunger. He brushed his hand down the length of her back until it came to rest on her hips.

  Adrian was hot ... hard ... and ready. This young woman beneath him was slowly driving him to the edge of insanity. She wasn't aggressive or bold, but when she arched her body into his, his body trembled with burning desire.

  She touched him almost shyly and clung to him as if she were afraid he'd leave her .... Leave her? Hell, a million dollars couldn't get him out of this bed.

  She was good. Damn good!

  Bracing his arms, he reluctantly pulled away from her tempting lips. He noticed her puffy mouth and black, sooty lashes lying on the shadows of her cheeks. “You're beautiful,” he whispered, thinking again that she looked like an angel.

  Her eyelids fluttered open. “Thank you,” she said, wishing she could see his face clearly. But the pills had taken their toll and blurred her vision. Right this minute, Dani loved him more than she ever had, and didn't hesitate as she raised her hand to his cheek, feeling his smooth skin beneath her fingers. “I want you,” she told him.

  She didn’t have to ask twice. He spread her thighs so he could fulfill both their longings. Her arms wrapped around him as he slipped his hands beneath her hips, lifting her slightly to meet his need. And then ... Nothing . . . .

  Adrian couldn’t believe it. He glanced down at her. Damned if she hadn't passed out.

  The woman had passed out in the heat of passion.

  Damn! He must be losing his touch.

  Adrian eased himself to the side with a chuckle. This most certainly had never happened to him before. “I want a refund,” he murmured, but as he watched the glorious angel beside him, he decided it was probably for the best. He pulled her next to him and wrapped his arms around her glad for the company.

  Tomorrow he'd send her on her way.

  The next morning, Dani had barely opened her eyes, before she winced at the pain. Boy, did her head hurt. A hangover. Her first. And definitely her last. How did anyone get drunk more than once?

  She longed to sleep some more, but the pounding in her temples prevented any possibility of that. Reluctantly, she opened her eyes and saw a mass of black hair on a well built chest. It took a few minutes for her to realize she was with Steven.

  Last n
ight had been wonderful. Or what she could remember. She never knew she could feel this happy.

  With a heart bursting with love, she rubbed her fingers happily across his chest and sighed.

  “What are you thinking, this morning?” a husky male voice asked.

  That voice. It-it was strange. “I was thinking how much I love you,” she admitted but immediately regretted the words when she felt his muscles tense beneath her cheek.

  She didn't miss the coldness in his tone when he asked, “Isn't this a little sudden?”

  What was it about that voice? Maybe it was just her hangover. “I wouldn't call four years sudden. Don't tease me, Steven. I have a headache.”

  “It must be a hell of a headache if you think my name is Steven.”

  Dani’s hand jerked to a sudden stop as a cold fear crawled up her spine.

  W-what did he say? She couldn't possibly have heard him correctly. Steven was just playing another sick joke on her.

  Wasn't he?

  Her hand trembled as she pushed herself up into a sitting position, then swung to face . . . .

  Chapter Two

  A stranger!

  Danielle Kapur had no idea that she could move with such haste and agility as she leapt from the bed to position herself as far away from him as possible.

  Her eyes widened in horror at the . . . the stranger she'd slept with. Oh God, what had she done and how had it happened? That was a stupid question, she scolded herself. She knew exactly how it had happened – she’d climbed in bed with the wrong person.

  The man had his arms folded across his chest as he smiled at her. He didn't look anything like Steven. They were about the same height with the same coloring, close enough to mistake in the dark, maybe, but that was where the similarity ended. His strong jaw suggested he was a take-charge kind of guy, a guy who would take no nonsense from anyone. But he most certainly was no one she'd seen before.

  “Who the hell are you?” she asked.

  No answer. Instead, he stared at her with that same smug expression, reminding her of a cat who had cornered a mouse.

  Danielle couldn’t stand the silence. “Well, aren't you going to say something?”

  “Nice view,” he commented leisurely, his grin widening as his gaze traveled over her body, seeming to burn every place it lingered.

  Only then did Danielle glance down and realize she stood stark naked in front of him, her hands on her hips, asking for explanations.

  “Pervert!” she spat, her face heating with embarrassment and humiliation. Quickly, she snatched the bedspread off the bed and wrapped it around her before turning back to face the enemy. “What are you doing here? And who are you?”

  “If you remember correctly, sweetheart, I was here before you were.” He propped a couple of pillows up on the headboard, apparently to make himself more comfortable. “If calling me Steven makes you feel better and calms you down, I'll gladly change my name.”

  “Changing your name won't help. Y--you're not who you're supposed to be ... I mean, you're not supposed to be here. Y--you're not who I expected!”

  “Sorry to disappoint you,” he said, a look of irritation flickering across his face. “I don't know what you're so excited about. I intend to pay you--” He raised a brow before continuing, “--for a job well done. And if you'd like to stay another night ... I'll double the price.”

  “Pay me,” Dani tilted her head to the side. “For what?”

  “Come now ... you're a modest little wh--”

  “A--a whore?” Danielle's humiliation soared to new heights. Her cheeks heated like glowing, hot embers. As a matter of fact, her whole body burned with indignation. “You son of a bitch! How dare you speak to me like that!” It didn't matter that she'd slept with him--made mad passionate love to him—or at least she thought she had since she couldn’t remember, but he had no right to speak to her as if she were a tramp. Why, he didn't even know her. Which, she'd like to point out, was the problem. “I am not a whore!”

  His brows drew together in puzzlement as if he finally realized that something wasn't right. “If you're not my birthday present, then who the hell are you?”

  “I believe that's the exact question I asked you just a few minutes ago,” Danielle informed him.

  She took a deep breath, then continued, “But seeing as you've lost your memory, I'll tell you who I am. My name is Danielle Kapur, and I came here to meet my--”

  “I believe the name was Steven,” the cad supplied with an expression of distaste as if he knew Steven.

  “I can prove you’re in the wrong house.” Picking up the end of her bedspread as one would the train of a gown, Dani moved with as much dignity as she could muster to the side of the bed where her skirt lay crumpled on the floor. The accusing evidence reminded her all too well that she hadn't thought twice about removing her clothing last night. He must really think the worst of her. Flashbacks of the evening popped into her mind, especially when he'd run his hand up her skirt. She shook her head to dispel the image and fumbled in the pocket for the slip of paper she'd stuffed in there last night. She needed to prove that she wasn't crazy. Grasping the slip of paper, Dani shoved it at him. “See! That's the address he gave me.”

  Adrian unfolded the crumpled paper. Scrawled across the plain white sheet were three numbers 699. He smiled, and it took all of his willpower not to laugh at the twist of fate that had put this poor girl in the wrong house, at the wrong time and, to his satisfaction, with the wrong man. Turning the paper upside down he handed it back to her and said, “Are you sure it was 699 Sandy Lane?”

  Dani gaped at the numbers. She'd been in a hurry when she'd jotted them down, and the doorbell had rung at the same time. She could have been mistaken. Then the stark cold realization hit her with a wallop. She should have gone to 669 Sandy Lane. The blood slowly left her face and she felt light-headed. She had come to the wrong house. What a terrible mistake.

  God, she could just die.

  Dani was thinking about fainting when she heard him chuckle as he smugly watched her mull over her predicament. He crossed his legs beneath the sheet which, thank the Lord, still covered his lower body, then he folded his hands behind his head. He could have, at least, had the decency not to laugh. Yet he seemed to be enjoying himself way too much.

  Although she realized she'd probably regret it, Dani knew she had to do something to wipe that superior expression off his face. Then the full impact of what she'd done really sank in, and her eyes grew wide. “My God, I could get AIDS!”

  She covered her mouth with one hand, but then the bedspread started to slide, and she had to clamp her arms down again. “How often do you do this? Have you ever had any diseases?”

  She knew she was rambling, but she couldn’t stop herself. She peered at him sharply. “God knows what kind of other diseases you have. You probably do this all the time. Don't you?”

  Her last remark hit home. At least, she had finally wiped the smirk off his face. Coldness clouded his dark, mysterious eyes, and Danielle sensed she'd better move, but before she could back away from the bed, he reached out and grabbed her arm, jerking her back onto the bed.

  He pinned her arms above her head, his glowering face hovering just above hers. His brown eyes were almost black as he stared down at her.

  Dani began to struggle, but he simply tightened his grip by squeezing her wrist until she stopped.

  “No, sweetheart. I don't have to pay women,” he whispered, between clenched teeth. “They're usually more than willing to have my attention.” He paused, and she could tell he was trying to regain his composure. “And I can assure you, I have a clean bill of health. I don't believe I heard any complaints last night.” A devilish gleam entered his eyes as he lowered his head and nuzzled her neck to prove his point.

  “D--don't.” Even to her own ears her protest sounded feeble.

  His mouth moved over hers. His tongue tentatively urged her lips apart, sending liquid heat surging through her body and making her f
orget who she was and what she was doing here. Damn he was good.

  Dani moaned, bringing them both back to their senses. When she dared to open her eyes, he tilted his head and smiled. Only then did Danielle realize he'd let go of her hands, and she had her fingers entangled in his hair. She was mortified at her wanton behavior.

  “You don't seem to be thinking of your precious Steven now,” he taunted her.

  Steven was the farthest thing from her mind, but she’d never admit the truth. Placing both hands on his chest, she shoved him away and slid from the bed. “I won't be bothering you much longer. I'll get dressed and leave.”

  Adrian watched the hellcat walk haughtily toward the bathroom--in the wrong direction. “It's the other way,” he told her, then chuckled when she pretended he hadn't spoken. At least she did change directions.

  What a perfect beauty she was ... and what a stroke of luck ... no bad luck, Adrian decided. She was the only woman who had stirred his interest in a long, long time, and she already had a boyfriend, the unfortunate Steven.

  Of course, he could tell her that she'd passed out and nothing happened, but that would spoil the fun. He grinned. Perhaps a little suffering would improve her disposition.

  Adrian shoved out of bed, not caring that he was naked, and went to the closet to retrieve his favorite pair of ragged, blue jeans. As he donned a chambray shirt, he figured it was just as well she was leaving. He didn't have time for another woman complicating his life. His last girlfriend had complained that she talked to his secretary more than she talked to him. Women were trouble as far as he was concerned, and most only saw dollar signs dancing before their eyes.

  Adrian made a decision -– he’d do the right thing. He could at least take Ms. Kapur to the correct address and deposit her in her precious Steven's hands.

  With that decision made, he needed some strong coffee. He had drunk a little too much last night, himself, and he needed the reviving caffeine. Adrian wondered how she would explain her absence to her boyfriend as he scooped the coffee out of the decanter and dropped it into a filter. After pouring water into the coffee maker, he rubbed the back of his neck. The son of a bitch had better not give Ms. Kapur any trouble. After all, sleeping together had clearly been a mistake on both their parts.