If she hadn’t fallen for Luke McNamara before, she sure as hell had now, and she knew that if she opened her mouth, all kinds of things were going to come out. Questions about things she didn’t want to know the answer to. Words that once said couldn’t ever be taken back. So she didn’t say anything. Instead she lifted her head and kissed him. Wrapped her legs around his hips and let him take her. Let the pleasure wash over her and carry her away.
Chapter Eleven
Luke held her panting and breathless against him. He didn’t want to let her go. He quite possibly never wanted to let her go. She felt right in his arms. The kind of “right” feeling he got after he’d completed a ritual or managed a compulsion.
“Hey,” she said, pushing at his shoulder. “You’re getting heavy.”
He shifted to get off her but unexpectedly, her hands tightened on his shoulders. “I didn’t say leave.”
Luke shifted again, rolling to one side and propping himself up on one elbow, looking down at her. She was all flushed pink skin, golden hair, and big blue eyes. And his heart clenched inside his chest. Yes, she was a dream. A dream he hadn’t allowed himself because he thought he wouldn’t be able to have something like this.
Yet it was possible with Marisa, wasn’t it? But he’d make sure she didn’t feel anything less than important to him. He would treat her like the princess she was.
“Is that better?” he asked.
She smiled and reached out a hand to touch his face, tracing his mouth with her fingers. “That’s perfect.”
The temptation was too great to resist so he nipped the ends of them, making her laugh.
“Careful, Mr. McNamara,” she murmured. “You’re in danger of becoming playful.”
“I might actually be in danger of asking you out. On a proper date.”
Her smiled deepened. “A date? As in a flowers and dinner and dessert type of date?”
“Yes. Well, I missed out on lunch with you today. I think I deserve a dinner to make up for it.”
She pursed her lips, frowning as if thinking about it. “Hmm. You know I’m going to have to check my schedule. I’ve got several guys lined up, all of whom—”
Luke growled, pulling her in his arms, kissing her hungrily, stopping her words dead. “Make your schedule free for me. Otherwise there will be consequences.”
“Oooh, consequences.” She fluttered her eyelashes at him. “Will they be sexy consequences?”
Flirting. She was flirting with him. And hell, he liked it. “The sexy consequences come after the date. Which means you won’t get any if you don’t go on the date.”
“Sneaky. I like it.” She gave a theatrical sigh. “Well, you leave me no choice then. I suppose I’ll have to come.”
She made him wait for a whole thirty minutes while she got ready. But it was worth it because when she finally came out of the bedroom his heart nearly stopped.
She wore a sheath dress in dark-blue silk that left her shoulders and a good proportion of her legs bare. On her feet she wore a pair of silver sandals with straps that wove around her calves like ballet shoe ribbons. Her hair was loose down her back and her mouth was glossy and red and kissable.
“What do you think?” She gave him a sultry look and did a little twirl.
Luke frowned. “It’s missing something.”
She blinked, surprised. Then glanced down at herself. “What do you mean it’s missing something? I thought I’d go simple tonight.”
Gently he put his hands on her silk-clad hips and pulled her close. “You’re missing a crown, princess.”
Marisa stared at him. “Did you just tease me?”
“I might have.”
Her mouth curved. “Oh, you’re good.”
“I had a good teacher.” He gave in to temptation, bent, and kissed her. “Come on. Let’s go before I decide to have you for dinner instead.”
They went down to the garage underneath the house and he said, “Choose your carriage, your majesty.”
She laughed and, as he knew she would, made a beeline for the Ferrari. Of course. She liked red. And the car had many interesting…memories. It was too showy and not at all suitable for city driving, but what his princess wanted, she got.
This night was special. It was their first formal date and it needed to be perfect.
“I just need to…check the car over,” he said calmly as he unlocked the door. “There were a few mechanical issues last time. It’ll only take a minute or so.”
“Oh sure.” She stood back, waiting.
He tried not to hurry with the checks because he wanted to go out, not waste precious time on stupid checking procedures he knew weren’t necessary anyway.