Scarred Beauty(22)

Deciding not to take offense, she left the bathroom to get ready for her date.

She picked out a pink knee-length dress with some stockings. There was no way she would be going out in the cold without being warm. The colour would contrast with her hair, but she didn’t mind. The dress looked good on her. Brad had told her so. She hoped it played down her large curves.

She phoned for a taxi. While she waited, she wrapped her face with a scarf and a hat. When the sound of the taxi came up, she took her key and locked the apartment.

The drive didn’t last long. It never did, and soon the taxi was pulling up outside the hotel. She paid him then went to the reception desk to ask for her key. The man on the desk was used to her, so he handed her the key and wished her a good night.

She was late from dealing with Brad. When she turned the corner, she saw Isaac waiting for her.

“You’re late,” he said the moment he saw her.

“My friend needed me.”

“Then I can forgive you.” He gestured for her to open the door.

She felt his presence against her back, dominating and invasive at the same time. Noelle fumbled with the key a few times. Eventually, Isaac took it from her and let them both into the room.

“Take your hat and scarf off. I want to see you.”

She followed his command, removing the hat from her head and feeling the rush of relief from having her bound hair released to tumble around her shoulder. Gently, she unwrapped the scarf.

Isaac removed his coat. “I’m so pleased you could see me tonight.”

“I can see you every night. I’m not exactly busy.”

“The life of an artist is free and light?”

“Inspiration has been in short supply. I can’t paint unless I feel the need to.”

Isaac held out his hands. She placed hers inside his. They were warm and soothing to the touch. The electricity caught her off guard again.

“You feel it, too?”

She nodded her head, unable to speak.

“I feel like tiny bolts of lightning are going up and down my arms.”

He led the way to the bed and lay down. He tapped the side of the bed. “Come and join me.”

Pulling her coat off, she heard him gasp as she revealed the dress she wore.

“You look stunning.”

She smiled and tucked her hair behind her ear. When she was with him, she wasn’t as conscious about her scar as other times. Isaac helped her to see past her worries. Tucking her dress under her, she settled on the bed beside him, staring up at the ceiling.

“How far have you ever gone with a man?” he asked, startling her with his question. Had she spoken out loud?

“Why?”

“I’m curious about you.”

“Do you ask all your clients this?” She felt nervous in case he compared her with them. Is that why he asked the question?

“No, I don’t. You’re the first. Why do you keep bringing up other clients?”

“I don’t want to forget that this is what you do,” she said.

“What do I do?”

“You do what women tell you to do. You make them all feel special in their own way for a price. I’m no different, and I don’t want to forget that.”

“What we have is different.” He stared down at her. “I’m not like this with other women, Elle. You’re special. I want to be with you. I don’t phone any other women to be with.”

She heard what he said, and her heart lifted. Her gaze went from his eyes to his lips. The thoughts she’d been having earlier came back to haunt her.

“Will you kiss me?” she asked before she could stop herself.

“What?”

Closing her eyes at the stupidity of her thoughts, she asked the question again. She had nothing to lose.

****

“Will you kiss me?” she asked. Isaac stared into her beautiful eyes and knew he’d lost any battle he once had. Brad asked for him to let her down gently, so she wouldn’t be tempted to see him again. After meeting her, he wanted to spend more time in her company. He didn’t see the scar on her face. He saw the kindness in her heart. The beauty of her scar told him she’d fought to survive. “Forget about it.” She pulled away from him and sat on the bed.

Without thinking, he pulled her into his arms. Cupping the right side of her face, he ran his thumb over the scarred flesh of her cheek. She gasped, and he took her lips in a gentle kiss. The moment his lips touched hers, he was a goner. The soft feel of her mouth frozen under him made him want to coax a response from her, to feel her passion as she kissed him back. Tilting her head back, Isaac plunged his tongue inside her mouth. The exquisite sound and vibration as she moaned had his cock thickening inside his pants.