"Has it?"
He smirked at her smugly, clearly implying more than what she'd meant. She resisted the urge to harumph at him and looked out over the water. They were up high now, winding along on the cliff road. She rarely came out this way but the views were spectacular. And they weren't even all the way to his house yet.
He pulled up to a high gate and pressed a button. The gate slid open silently and they drove through. Artfully placed landscape lighting highlighted the lush plantings and the stark angles of his house. He jogged around the car to get her door for her, swiftly pulling her to her feet.
He stood there for a moment, holding her hand. They were only a few inches apart. She stared up at him, inhaling his spicy warm scent. He was giving her the oddest look. For a moment she thought he was going to kiss her.
"Shall we?"
She stared up at him dumbly. He didn't beat around the bush did he?
"Shall we- what?"
He quirked an eyebrow at her and glanced down at his proffered arm.
"Shall we go inside?"
"Oh. Yes, of course."
She was kicking herself as he led her to the front entryway and inside the foyer. He looked like the cat that ate the canary. Obviously he knew that he'd thrown her off her game. She'd had to be on her guard with this one. She was woefully out of practice being around a man. And she'd never been around one as confident as Davis.
She followed him wordlessly into the main room. A high tech kitchen, dining and sunken living room with one long wall of glass. She gasped. The view was stunning. It felt like you were literally in the ocean. She walked closer and stared out.
"Are you cold?"
"What? No, I'm fine."
"Do you want to take your sweater off?"
He looked very hopeful as he eyed her cardigan. She stiffened her spine.
"No, I'm fine thank you."
He grinned ruefully and headed into the kitchen. It looked like he'd already started preparing something. There was a bottle of wine with two glasses. He opened it and held it up, a question in his eyes. She nodded and turned back to the sea. It was getting dark out and the rain was falling, but you could still tell that there was nothing outside but water. You could feel the ocean out there somehow, waiting.
She saw him bringing her wine in the reflection of the glass. She turned to accept it. He lifted his glass in a toast.
"To new friends."
She felt shy as she clinked glasses with him and took a sip. It was delicious.
"That's good."
He smiled and went back to the kitchen island. She followed him, sitting on one of the stool opposite.
"You, Fiona, are a master of understatement."
"It's very good?"
"Better. It's an extremely rare burgundy."
"Oh, I see. Very expensive right?"
"Yes, it is."
"Is that supposed to impress me?"
He grinned at her as he chopped herbs and added them to whatever was simmering on the stove.
"No. But my cooking is."
She laughed. He had a way of knocking her off balance and setting her back at ease without breaking a sweat. Did he know what he was doing to her? She sipped her wine and watched him cook surreptitiously. He was so graceful, his movements sharp and decisive. He did everything with precision- and- his shoulders were shaking-
He was laughing at her!
She narrowed her eyes as he turned around, not even trying to cover his mirth.
"What's so funny?"
"You are. I haven't been dissected like this since- well, ever."
He'd been about to say something but he cut himself off. And him saying she stared! He had some nerve.
"Oh really. You are the one who is always watching me with your- big - bedroom eyes!"
He really started laughing then. She felt heat rising in her cheeks as she stood and headed for the door. He was on her heels in an instant. He grabbed her hand and turned her around. Her eyes were blazing with annoyance as he pulled her into his arms.
"You are absolutely right Fiona. I do watch you."
She stood stiffly in his arms as his hands rose up to cup her face.
"You're so beautiful. And nervous. Like a little bunny rabbit."
She started to pull away from him but he stopped her.
"Don't be mad. I was just hoping that you liked what you saw."
He lowered his face to hers, his lips pressing into hers. She lasted about thirty seconds before the warmth overwhelmed her and she melted into his arms. The kiss went wild after that. His hands pulled her against him and held her there. His tongue dove into her mouth again and again. The room seemed to tilt and then right itself as he lifted his head, staring down at her in wonder.
"If you keep distracting me like this, I'm going to burn dinner."
He took her hand and led her back into the kitchen. She sat on the stool and watched as he finished cooking. Her mind was blank except for the kiss replaying over and over in her head. She'd never been kissed so passionately in her life. Not even close.
He filled two plates and led her over to the dark wood table. It wasn't until she was sitting across from him, eating a deliciously prepared fillet of sole that she realized he had taken her sweater off. He wasn't just undressing her with his eyes. He had actually undressed her! She felt self conscious as he looked her over, sensuously eating his food. Her cheeks were bright red again as he started laughing.
"I'm glad I amuse you."
"I'm sorry Fiona, you're just so adorable. I've never met a woman who was so unaware of her own charms. And you have a lot of charms."
She frowned and sipped her wine, hoping it would calm her nerves. He kept refilling it for her. She was starting to feel a bit lightheaded. Not that she wasn't already off kilter.
"I don't know what I'm doing here."
He smiled tenderly at her.
"I can see that."
"I should probably go. You are looking for something that I don't know the first thing about."
He stood up, blocking her way.
"What do you think I'm looking for?"
"Someone sophisticated! Someone who is used to men who undress them with their eyes! That's not me!"
He cupped her chin and pulled her against him again.
"If that's what I wanted, why would I be so infatuated with you?"
"Infatuated?"
He nodded and leaned down.
"Yes Fiona. Isn't it obvious?"
Her mouth opened in surprise. He was a playboy obviously. He was just telling her what she wanted to hear...
"No, I'm not telling you what you want to hear Fiona. Stop thinking for once."
"How did you-"
His mouth swooped down and took hers possessively, cutting her off. Her head fell backwards as he devoured her. Maybe he was infatuated with her after all. There was no way he could be faking this level of intensity. He clearly wanted her at the very least. Very, very badly.
She didn't protest as he scooped her up and carried her down the hallway to a set of stairs. She felt as if she were floating as he carried her up a flight of stairs and into another room. His bedroom.
He lowered her to the ground and turned away to lower the lights. He was only away for a minute but the chill set in immediately. So did all of her doubts.
"I'm not sure I can do this."
He was back, wrapping his warm arms around her.
"You don't have to do anything. Just stay."
She looked up at him and nodded.
That's how she ended up wrapped in a man's button down shirt and sleeping next to a topless Davis Johnson in his big, incredibly comfortable bed. She snuggled deeper into his embrace. His body was incredible. His skin was almost softer than hers but his muscles... not so much. And he was so warm. It was like curling up next to a big, sexy furnace. She opened her eyes a crack, seeing the dawn start to light up the sky.
He'd been through to his word, not touching her anywhere too naughty, just kissing and stroking. She'd almost wished she hadn't said anything. But this was nice. Really nice. And his promise had circumvented the anxiety attack she'd felt mounting at the thought of going to bed with him. Well, not to bed, but making love. It did sound like a pretty good idea right about now...
What would happen tomorrow?
She stood up to use the master bathroom and froze. Davis was groaning behind her. He sounded like he was in agony. She hurried back to his side and he stilled. She chewed on her lip, wondering what was going on. She stood again and dashed to the stunning marble bathroom. She peed quickly and was back at his side in an instant.
He was writhing on the bed, clearly in a lot of pain. She laid her hand on his skin and gasped. It was cold and rough. She leaned closer... his skin was... changing.
His eyes snapped open and she reared back. Those were not human eyes. The pupils were gone, replaced by two solid black orbs. She screamed and fell backwards off the bed.
"Fiona.."
He was reaching for her with his rough skinned hands. His mouth opened to reveal rows and rows of razor sharp teeth. Fiona was frozen, her breath coming in tiny gasps. She'd never been so afraid in her life. He was halfway off the bed now, his hand around her ankle. She strained to get away but it was no use. She started whimpering as he crawled up and over her, pressing her down into the soft wool carpet.