She allowed his tongue inside her mouth after the first gentle pressure applied to the seam of her lips. He tasted like she remembered. Hot. Spicy. Masculine.
When he pulled away, she was too lost in her own sensual reaction to his kiss to even notice he was leading her anywhere. It wasn’t until he stopped at the waiting limo and rapped out instructions to the ever-present security team, that she once again became aware of her surroundings.
Mary, mother of Joseph, it was just like at the party.
He could have done anything to her and she would have let him. She was also aware that while she’d been completely lost to reality, he had been in absolute control.
She tried to tell herself she was letting him hand her into the car because she didn’t relish riding public transport alone at night. But she knew the truth.
If she didn’t sit down soon, she’d fall down. Her legs were like jelly and no way did she want him realizing that betraying fact.
Inside the car, she fiddled nervously with the strap of her brightly colored shoulder bag. It had a pattern of bright yellow and orange sunflowers all over it.
She’d bought it so that it would be easily spotted among the other ladies’ bags on the tour, but it looked gauche sitting on the cool leather seat of the ultra-luxurious limo.
She was also positive that her casual lemon yellow sundress and flat leather sandals were not de rigueur for the types of restaurants he frequented.
“I think it would be best if you took me back to my hotel,” she said at the same time as he asked, “Are you enjoying your holiday?”
Her eyes met Dash’s in the well-lit interior of the car. Apparently neither one of them wanted to discuss the recent kiss.
His intense gaze mesmerized her. “I do not wish to take you back to your hotel.” He replied her question.
“I’m not dressed for dinner out.” She said. She indicated her casual, day worn clothes with a wave of her hand.
“You look fine.” Dash said
She snorted in disbelief. “Where are we eating, a hot dog stand?”
“I do not think they have those in here, Tess.”
“You know what I mean.” She said.
She didn’t even want to think how her hair looked. She’d long ago given up trying for a chic hairstyle and wore her natural curls in an only slightly tamed riot. Most of the time it suited her, but she could imagine that after spending the day tramping the streets it probably looked like she’d never brushed her hair in her life.
“You must trust me, Tess. I would not embarrass you.”
That was rich, coming from him. She thought.
“Now, please, won’t you tell me how you are finding your holiday? I remember you looked forward to it very much.”
He had closed the privacy window between them and the front seat and turned on the tiny lights that ran the entire length of the roof, giving off a surprisingly illuminating glow. A glow that cast his features in stark relief. The genuine interest reflected in his expression prompted her to answer.
“It’s been wonderful.” She said finally.
“And what has been your favorite stop so far?”
She couldn’t believe a man of his extensive experiences would truly be interested in her first taste of Europe, but she answered nonetheless. “I really can’t say.” She smiled, remembering all the incredible things she’d seen. “I’ve loved every moment. Well, maybe not the airports, but David and the others have made the waiting around in drab terminals fun.”
Dash frowned at the mention of David’s name. “It is not serious between you two, is it?” he asked.
“If it were, you put a spanner in the works tonight, didn’t you?” She replied. She might have preferred that spanner, but he didn’t know that and his behavior had been unreasonable.
He did not look in the least bit guilty. “He implied you might come back to his room tonight. Are you sleeping with him?”
“That’s none of your business!” she retorted.
He leaned over her, the big torso of his six feet, four inch body intimidating at such close range. Suddenly he didn’t remind her of just any old jaguar, but a hungry one intent on hunting his prey and moving in for the kill.
She felt like the prey.
“Tell me.” He said.
She was shy, but she wasn’t a coward, or so she reminded herself frequently.
“No. And if you’re going to act like some kind of Neanderthal brute all evening, you may as well tell your chauffeur to take me back to my hotel right now.” She said.
She’d said it so many times now, it was beginning to sound like an impotent litany.
Amazingly, he backed off. Physically anyway.
“I am no brute, but I admit the thought you share your body with him does not predispose me to good temper.”
“Why?”
“I have my reasons. I’m surprised you don’t know yet. But let’s skip that for now. Surely after the kiss we shared only minutes ago, you do not have to ask this.” He replied.
“Are you saying you give the third degree to every woman you kiss?” She didn’t believe it.
“You are not every woman.”
“No. I’m the hopelessly introverted, hopelessly average and probably hopeless in bed daughter of your business associate.” The bitter memory rolled off her tongue before she became conscious what the word probably would reveal to him. Maybe he wouldn’t notice she’d all but told him she was not sleeping with David. “I don’t see where that makes me anything special to you.”
It seemed he hadn’t comprehended the implication of her words when he spoke. “You are not introverted with this David fellow. You were laughing with him and holding his hand.” He said.
He made it sound like she’d been caught in flagrante delicto with David.
“He’s my friend.” Tess replied.
“I also am your friend, but you do not hold my hand.”
“For Heaven’s sake, you wouldn’t hold a woman’s hand unless it was to lead her to bed.”
Had she really said that?
“And are you trying to say this is not where your friend David was leading you?”
She sighed. “Don’t be ridiculous!”