“And you?”
“I’m not so into sports. Makes me a sort of grey sheep in my family.”
“Oh.” She seemed surprised, and then she nodded sympathetically. “That’s too bad.”
“My parents don’t understand why I went into IT.” He found himself confessing even further. “Law is the family business, but I found that incredibly boring. Even though I’m succeeding in my field, my father still hopes I might change my mind and become a lawyer. So I’m glad I came out to Sydney. I can breathe here.”
Plus, from where he was sitting, the view was spectacular.
Anna glanced down at her wine glass, then back at him, a peculiar expression wrinkling her nose.
“What is it?” he asked, wondering if he’d revealed too much of himself.
She bit her lip, seeming conflicted, before she spoke in a low voice. “I had you plugged as some rich toff who had everything handed to you on a silver platter, but you’ve had your share of knocks, haven’t you?”
Warmth blossomed in him as he realised how much he appreciated the friendly rapport building between them. Resting his arms on the table, he leaned towards her. “We got off on the wrong foot, but I’m glad we’re in synch now.”
Her eyes widened, sweet pools of honey brown, and the atmosphere between them crackled as desire, always lurking beneath the surface, surged up again. She arched her back as if wanting to draw closer to him, but a second later hesitation ruffled her eyes, and she drew back with a small sigh and took a sip of wine.
“You know, I’ve played at the Opera House,” she said in a bright tone.
“You have?” Instinct told him not to push this ‘thing’ between them; that it would develop in its own good time, even if he was chafing at the bit.
“I was ten, and I played a recorder along with about three hundred other schoolkids.” Anna grinned self-deprecatingly. “I was so nervous about playing a dud note. As if anyone would’ve noticed! Can you believe it?”
“I can, actually.” He smiled at the image of a schoolkid Anna anxiously blowing into her recorder, thinking her mistakes might be heard above three hundred other recorders. “You’re a perfectionist. You don’t like doing a mediocre job. I can relate to that.”
He was hard on himself, too, and always strove to be the best, whatever he attempted. That was why he could command the consulting fees he did these days. He and Anna had a lot in common even if they did come from very different backgrounds.
Anna leaned back in her chair, the night breeze playing with her hair, drifting strands about her pretty face. She had more colour in her cheeks now, and she looked relaxed and soft and ravishing. Giles’ gut tensed against the onslaught of desire. As much as he enjoyed this easy, friendly mood between them, he knew it wasn’t enough for him. He wanted more, and the longer he sat here staring at her and not being able to touch her, the more likely the chance of him doing something rash.
He downed the dregs of his beer and set down his glass. “Well, that was nice. Shall we go and find a couple of taxis?”
Her mouth opened in total surprise, and he experienced a stab of satisfaction that she’d obviously expected them to hang around for longer. But she quickly recovered and pushed to her feet.
“Sure. I’ll get the first round next time,” she said as if to make a point that she wasn’t going to let him buy her drinks.
He grinned at her. “Glad to hear there’ll be a next time.”
“Well, sure.” She tossed her gleaming hair over one shoulder. “We’ll have drinks to celebrate when our project gets through user acceptance testing.”
That could be weeks from now. He didn’t want to wait that long.
He followed her out of the bar, his gaze glued to the swing of her hair, the sway of her hips, and the long, sexy length of her legs. God, he really didn’t want to wait. But he had to.
At the rear of the Opera House snaked a long line of people queuing for a taxi. They decided to head up a few blocks towards a quieter part of town. Giles slung his jacket over one shoulder and shortened his stride to accommodate Anna’s high heels.
Walking through the darkened streets with her, he felt hyper-aware of her, of her exact size and proportions next to him, of each breath she took, each movement of her hands, each look she darted in his direction. Her presence filled him like an indelible scent, and he felt as if he could walk by her side all night, a quiet, appreciative companion.
They were strolling across a section of cobblestones in a tree-lined mall when she stumbled, and Giles, acting instinctively, caught her by the arm, pulling her to safety towards him. As their bodies bumped together, his jacket slid to the ground, but he barely noticed that as her nearness consumed him.
“Th-thanks,” she stuttered, sounding far more breathless than she should have been from a minor stumble.
His fingers remained curled around her upper arm, and he seemed to have great difficulty in letting her go. In fact, his other arm curved around her, drawing her closer to his chest.
“You’re welcome,” he said and heard his own voice was far from steady, too.
He forced his fingers to relax but didn’t—couldn’t—let go of her, instead rubbing his palms slowly up and down her arms. She could have pulled back any time she wanted, but she didn’t, and that made his heart pound even faster.
She pressed her hand against his chest right where his heart was, and he didn’t mind that she could detect the racing of his pulses. When she looked up at him, her eyes were shimmering, and he sensed her own heartbeat accelerating in rhythm with his.
“We’re not in the stationery closet,” she murmured.
“No.” For once he had no witty reply ready, not when all his attention was riveted on her lips.
Her hands slid tentatively up his chest, and he shuddered, desperate for her hands to glide all over him, preferably with no clothes between them.
“This...” She gulped audibly. “This place is much nicer, don’t you think?”
“Much.” Damn. What had happened to all his smooth lines? He was all at sea here with Anna. She had launched him into uncharted waters.
Her hands moved up to cup his face, and her expression grew serious as she studied him. The trees overhead dimmed the street lights, casting shifting shadows over her, but nonetheless her face was clear to him, and the intent in her, the fierce hunger in her eyes, took his breath away.
Fortunately his instincts still worked fine, if not his tongue. He bent closer to her, and her fingers shifted through his hair, triggering delightful tingles over his scalp and neck. And then, unable to resist temptation any longer, he lowered his mouth to hers.
At last, his body sang out.
They both sighed simultaneously, in relief that the moment had finally arrived. Then, sensation took over as he moved his lips against hers, her heat and softness surprising and arousing him. His arms locked around her, pulling her up on her toes as he kissed her harder, wilder, his hunger running amok.
She responded by twining her fingers through his hair to bring him closer. She tasted of wine and summer and heady nights. Her delicate perfume wrapped around him like a silken mist, obliterating the outside world. Her lips parted, and when he deepened the kiss, a husky moan purred in her throat, setting Giles on fire. Blood thrummed in his groin as he stroked his tongue into her mouth, seeking her moist heat, and by the time they had to break apart for air, he was impossibly hard.
“W-well—” She licked her lips, the tip of her wet tongue causing his erection to swell painfully against his zipper. “Well...”
It seemed she was short of words this time.
“Worth waiting for, hmm?” he managed to get out.
He waited for her to nod before claiming her mouth again. Their kiss was blistering hot and quickly ran out of control. He sucked greedily on her lower lip, and she moaned her approval before returning the favour, her gentle nips on his flesh giving him molten brain flashes. He ran his hands down her back, around her hips, feverish to learn every dip and curve. She was just as busy, her fingers sliding over his shoulders and neck, riffling through the short hairs at his nape, causing tiny thrills to chase down his spine.
The night was filled with magic. Shadows pressed around them, the salty scent of the sea sharpening the senses. Her kisses fed a hunger hidden deep within him, a hunger he’d never fully recognised until tonight. His head spun as he kissed her over and over, dizzy with the scent and taste and touch of her. It might have been oxygen deprivation, but even when they came up for air, he was sure it was something more.
He caught his breath as he sifted his fingers through her liquid hair, relishing its cool weight. Deep appreciation shuddered through him. “God, you’re beautiful!” he gasped out.
Her eyelashes fluttered up as she aimed a startled look at him. “You think so?” she whispered.
“Of course. Christ, even a blind man can see you’re beautiful.”
A rare blush stole across her cheeks as she fiddled with the top button of his shirt.
He frowned, slightly puzzled. “Anna, you don’t mean to tell me no man’s ever told you how gorgeous you are. I can’t believe Australian men could be that dense.”
“Oh, yeah, I’ve heard it before, but...” She toyed with his button again. “But not from someone like you.”