But Studman or whoever he was only laughed, the sound of it making her feel good. In the same way licking melted chocolate from a spoon made her feel good. Hot and sweet, and very, very naughty.
“Urgent women’s problems, huh? And here I was thinking it was because you didn’t find me attractive enough.”
“You’re kidding, right?”
His lazy sensual smile went straight to her head like a glass of expensive champagne. “Perhaps. But chemistry is a tricky thing.”
“Chemistry?”
“Yeah, chemistry. We had it online but I wasn’t sure we’d have it in real life.”
“A-and do we?”
His gaze traveled down over the stretchy black dress again before returning to her face, making something way down inside her feel hot and restless and needy. “Oh yeah,” he murmured. “I think we do. Don’t you?”
He seemed to want an answer from her, but the look in his eyes had made her brain decide to take a vacation and she had no idea what to say.
Naughtygirl would know.
The thought hit her like an electric shock.
Yes. Naughtygirl would know. And this was kind of like being online, wasn’t it? He didn’t know who she was and she didn’t know who he was. There were no expectations. No pressures. She could be whoever she wanted to be. Even Naughtygirl25, who took her clothes off and lay on sheepskin rugs with gorgeous, disreputable strangers who called themselves Studman.
Christie swallowed. Then gathered her courage. “Y-yes. I think we do have c-chemistry.”
Way to go with the stutter. Great start.
Both brows drew together this time. “You don’t sound very sure.”
Just pretend you’re typing this into the computer. That he’s not standing right in front of you, blinding you with his hotness.
She lifted her chin. “Well, of course I’m sure. They don’t call me Naughtygirl for nothing, you know.”
“Is that a fact? You were pretty naughty online.” The flame in his gaze burned hotter. “How about in real life?”
Oh wow. Something was crackling in the air between them, a tension that left her breathless.
Was this the chemistry he was talking about? Because if it was…damn.
Christie took an uncertain step toward him. “Oh, I have been known to get pretty naughty there, too.”
He smiled. “Would admitting that I do, in fact, have etchings you can come up and see be too much?”
“Etchings are never too much.”
“In that case, would you like to come up and look at mine?”
“Only if you have a sheepskin rug and Neil Diamond.”
“I don’t. But I can make a mean Bloody Mary.”
“I have a confession. I don’t really like tomato juice.”
“Good. Because neither do I.”
Somehow they’d gotten closer to each other and she had no idea how it had happened. But it wasn’t enough. She wanted to get even closer.
Excitement caught in her throat. She took another few steps, her heels teetering, her dress pulling tight around her thighs. Unfamiliar sensations. Reminding her of who she was supposed to be. Naughtygirl.
She took a breath. “Then what do you like?”
“I like women with long legs that go on forever. In stretchy black dresses. Wearing sheep on their chests.” His gaze never left hers.
Another step closer. “It’s not a sheep. It’s a lamb.”
“Some kind of bovine, then.”
His eyes were so blue, even in the dim light of the street. And he smelled good. And he was warm. Hot. She could feel his heat even from… Good God, she was barely inches away from him now.
“Cows are bovine. Sheep are ovine,” she corrected thickly.
He didn’t move, just let her come close, staring down into her eyes, into her. Looking at her as if she was the most fascinating thing he’d ever seen. The door to the bar opened behind him and people spilled out onto the street, full of loud laughter and shouting. But he didn’t even turn, all his attention focused on her.
And she soaked it up like a plant starved of sunlight.
“Naughtygirl,” he said. “How far are you planning on taking this naughtiness? Because I have to confess, I want to take you home to find out right now.”
Christie’s breath caught. “You want to take me home?” she repeated. Just to be sure she’d heard him correctly.
He smiled. Again. And she melted. Again. “Yes. I’d like to see if you’re wearing a garter belt along with your Ugg boots.” He took one hand out of his pocket and pushed back an errant curl that had come down from her bun. His fingers brushed the side of her neck and she shivered, sparks scattering all over her skin. “And perhaps explore this chemistry.”