The Hunter(4)
“You betcha we do,” I winked at him as he moved to escort us to the taxi waiting at the curb.
“You are incorrigible!” laughed Angel as we pulled away in the taxi, en route to my office. “He has a point though. You do look incredibly hot! I’m not sure that is going to help you to keep up your man ban. Guys are going to be drawn to you even more than usual tonight!”
I gave her arm a friendly punch. “Ah,” I replied. “Don’t worry, I need a good night’s sleep and a clear head in the morning so there is no chance of me bringing someone home tonight. Sex could not be further from my mind.”
“Okay then,” Angel replied as the taxi pulled up at the curb outside the high rise building that housed my office.
“Back in two,” I said as I slid out of the cab, clutching the box.
The guard rushed forward to take the box from my arms as I emerged from the revolving door into the lobby. I smiled my thanks and headed for the elevator. When the doors opened, he handed back the box and I stepped into the car. As the elevator purred up to the 4 floor, I could feel my nerves resurfacing. I took a deep steadying breath and when the doors opened, I squared my shoulders and marched out of the elevator … colliding with something solid as I did so.
A deep voice cursed angrily “What the hell …” and I jumped at the harsh sound, dropping my box on to the floor.
Realizing that I had walked headlong into someone, I opened my mouth to apologize but when my eyes focused on him, I found I couldn’t speak. I stood there like an idiot, my mouth gaping open as my brain fully registered the man standing before me. His handsome features were so strong that they could have been chiseled from granite. They might have been softened somewhat by his sexy bed hair of the darkest brown that fell over his collar, but for those eyes. Eyes that were boring into mine and getting darker by the second. They looked to be black, surely that must be just his pupils. I found myself wondering what color his irises must be. I couldn’t tell but I noticed that they were framed by lashes I would kill for. Then I noticed one of his perfectly shaped eyebrows arch suddenly and I realized that I was actually leaning in towards him, closing the small gap between us.
I quickly straightened and stepped back, my heart hammering in my chest. I wanted to breathe out but my breath had caught in my throat and I couldn’t free it. Before I could stop myself, I found my gaze returning to those eyes and I jolted when they narrowed in response but I couldn’t tear mine away. His eyes returned to their natural shape and I noticed that his irises were indeed almost black. They were a deep midnight blue. My mouth went dry and I tried to swallow but couldn’t. I tried to lick my lips but I couldn’t do that either. My gaze moved subconsciously to his mouth. Oh god, it was perfect and I found myself wishing that I could lick his lips too. I wonder what those lips would feel like on mine … on my skin … on my … Oh my! Heat was pooling between my legs in response to my wicked thoughts. Suddenly, I noticed the corner of his mouth twitch and as I flicked my eyes back up his face, I noticed that eyebrow arching again as his eyes lightened to a deep cobalt blue. He held my gaze for a second before looking pointedly at the floor.
Finally, I found that I could breathe and I drew in a lungful of air and then swallowed, hard. I followed his gaze and tried to determine whether he was looking at the cardboard box at my feet or my knee length boot clad legs. Oh my god, my designs! I suddenly remembered where I was and what I was doing here and I bent down quickly to scoop up the box. Belatedly, I realized that he had crouched gracefully and was about to pick it up too. Our hands touched fleetingly and I felt a current surge through my fingertips, up my arms and straight to my chest, my nipples tightening instantly. I gasped and pulled back my hands, trying not to squirm as the sensation moved down between my legs.
He lifted up the box effortlessly, tucked it under one arm and looked at me questioningly. I tried to speak to thank him but my lips felt sealed together. I flicked out my tongue to moisten my lower lip and felt my insides contract as his eyes darkened in response. Oh my god, I can feel myself getting wet! Could there be any more sexual tension between two people who have just met, well, almost met? I pointed dumbly along the corridor, towards my office and he nodded and strode confidently away from me. As I scurried to catch up, I noticed that he was dressed totally in black, as I was.
As we walked the short distance, another of my senses began to operate and I drank in his delicious scent. It wasn’t just cologne. I couldn’t place it but it definitely all male because of the way my body reacted. As soon as my brain registered it, I felt my nipples harden further against the smooth satin of my cami. Oh my goodness, how could my body react to a stranger in this way? How could it betray my desire? I shook my head, trying to clear those thoughts as I fumbled in my purse trying to grab the door key. I inwardly cursed my temporary clumsiness, caused I realized, by my shaking fingers. Get a grip, Issy!