A Convenient Arrangement(6)

A wall of smooth muscle and big infinity-pool eyes, deep brown looking almost black in the dim light.

Heat pulsed through her body, lingering in the spot between her legs. Oranges. Soap. Citrusy, clean smell with a hint of…man.

“Hey there, pretty party-planner. Where’d you disappear to?”

“Uh…” Small talk was usually her weapon of choice, but when Leo directed his words, his eyes, his lips toward her, every thought in her head dried up like dew drops in a desert.

Her gaze lingered on his jet black hair, worn just a touch too long for a man who worked in finance. His eyes, my God, molten brown eyes that looked nearly black in the darkened hallway, cheekbones sharp enough to cut glass, and a strong, angular jaw. The entire package screamed best-looking man ever. Finally her gaze landed on his full lips. The same lips she’d found her gaze locked to like a magnet to metal in the booze room. What would Leo’s lips feel like wrapped around her—

“Uh, horns!” Gwen gasped out, jerking herself back to reality. She held up the bag of noisemakers. “Aubrey forgot the horns.”

This was the best she could do? After years and years of planning parties and fine-tuning small talk, the best she could come up with when cornered by the man of her fantasies was to say the word “horns”? Nice job, Gwen.

Leo tilted his head and cupped his hand around his ear, toward the sharp bleating carrying from the living room. “Sounds like most of them already have their horns.”

Gwen could hear the beginning of the countdown as well. A chorus of excited voices chanted in unison, “10…9…”

“We’re going to miss it.” Locked by Leo’s gaze, she couldn’t move, she could barely breathe, and she definitely…definitely wasn’t thinking straight.

“8…7…”

“Miss what?” He shifted forward, the wall of muscle that was his chest blocking her view of the hallway. A wave of that brilliant clean scent. His lips, God, those lips, so close…way too close. “I think maybe we both have everything we need right here.”

Her heart scurried like a white mouse trying to escape a boa constrictor. Everything was backwards, her mouth was dry and her palms were wet. They both had everything they needed?

“6…5…”

Leo stepped closer and she didn’t step back. Heat flushed up her neck and into her cheeks. What would it feel like to nibble that bottom lip? His pupils were dilated and…was that lust that clung to his face? Her gaze trailed down his chest, over his waist, to that bulge…seriously…what would it be like to—

“Have any resolutions?” One simple question, in a low sultry voice, sounded impossibly naughty coming from Leo’s lips.

“Uhh…” Gwen jerked her gaze back to his face. The corners of his mouth lifted, with the hint of a devilish lift to his brow. How obvious could she be? Leo knew she’d been checking out his body, undressing him with her eyes. “Maybe…” Her breath faltered and her thoughts fell from her mind.

Leo stepped closer. His arm snaked around her waist.

“Maybe…” He tilted his head down, his mouth so near hers now. The thunder of her own heartbeat in her ears drowned out the final metronome mumble of the distant crowd, counting down to the new year.

“Maybe,” she breathed out. She looked up into Leo’s dark smoldering eyes, nearly lost, nearly gone. He pulled her body to his, and the hard nudge of his sex pressed against her.

“Yes, tell me.”

“Maybe, have more fun.” She rasped out her voice a low whisper.

“That’s a resolution I agree with.” He leaned down, his breath warm against her face. Heat flared in Gwen’s belly. My God. He was magnificent in every way—strong, funny, successful, handsome. The crowd roared in the distance with excited cheers Gwen could barely hear.

“Happy New Year, Gwen.”

Those lips. Those lush Leo lips were on hers. The sweet soft kiss quickly turned greedy. She wove her fingertips through his hair and his hands curved up and over her ribs. His tongue played along the seam of her lips, and her mouth opened to him. A song, a familiar song, played in the background while Leo plundered her mouth with his kiss.

Heat curled through her belly and pulled between her legs. Yes, oh my, yes. With a hand on her hip, he pulled her forward to rest against his hard maleness. His other hand held the nape of her neck in a possessive clasp, one she could fall into over and over and over again.

She wouldn’t pull away, she’d never pull away from this kiss, Leo’s kiss, how she’d longed for this exact kiss.

A horn blasted close by. Gwen jerked back and Max with his buddies plodded down the hall toward Max’s room. She looked up at Leo through her eyelashes. Heat warmed her neck and face.