Page 9 of Tuxedos and Tinsel

She nodded. “A little.” That wasn’t exactly the truth. She wasa lotnervous.

Ian angled his head and stared intently at her. He obviously sensed it, because he pulled her into his embrace and said, “Maya, I want you, but if you’re having second thoughts we don’t have to do anything.”

She knew he wanted her, felt the solid ridge of his erection pressed against her belly and read the desire in his eyes. She also saw honesty reflected in his face and it had a calming effect on her nerves. “I want you, too.”

“Good. I want to kiss you again.”

“That’s all?”

He chuckled low and dark. “Sweetheart, kissing you is just the start of what I want to do to you...what I’mgoingto do to you.” Ian lifted her hand and placed a lingering kiss on the back, turned her palm up and circled his tongue over the pulse point on her wrist.

Her breath hitched. Electricity shot from her arm straight to her core and she felt a rush of moisture between her thighs.

“I hope you don’t have anywhere to be tomorrow,” he murmured, still teasing the pulse point. “I plan to touch, taste and explore every delectable inch of your gorgeous body. When I’m done, neither of us will be able to move.”

Maya’s eyes widened when his statement filtered through her haze of desire. What had she gotten herself into? Before she formed a reply to his heated promise, he slanted his mouth over hers in a kiss that was hot, hard and literally made her weak. He tasted of chocolate and cognac. The heady combination sent her senses spiraling out of control and she gripped the lapels of his suit coat to keep from sliding to the floor. Desire unlike anything she had ever felt raced through her body and she trembled as his tongue made sweeping, swirling motions inside her mouth. He brought his hands up to frame her face, holding her in place and delving deeper. When he finally lifted his head, Maya was breathing like she had run a marathon.

“Mmm,” Ian said.

“What are you doing to me?” she asked, still trying to catch her breath.

A wicked gleam leaped into his eyes. “Tasting you.”

Oh. My. God!

He leaned forward again, but was interrupted by a knock on the door. “Ah, right on time.” He stepped around her and went to open the door.

She tilted her head, puzzled. A hotel employee entered pushing a cart with two covered domes. Ian tipped the man and closed the door behind him. “Did you order dinner?”

A smile played around the corners of Ian’s mouth and he shook his head. “It’s a little dessert.” He lifted the covers to reveal a bowl of strawberries, a bowl of melted chocolate and two servings of the black-and-white pudding parfait.

Maya laughed. “Is that from Mr. Capshaw’s party?”

“I told you chocolate is my favorite.”

“Well, go ahead.” He shrugged out of his jacket, loosened and removed the tie and then tossed them on the sofa. Next, he went to work on his shirt. Keeping his eyes trained on her, he undid the buttons, one by one, until it hung open. Her mouth ran dry when he discarded it, leaving him in trousers that hung low on a trim waist. Lean muscular arms, defined chest with a light dusting of hair and washboard abs.Chiseled chocolate!She was so busy gawking she didn’t realize he had moved until he stood in front of her, and had undone the first button on her blouse.

“Will you trust me tonight, Maya?” Ian asked, his fingers lightly tracing the tops of her breasts above her bra.

There was something about the way this man touched her. “Trust you?”

“Yes. Will you trust me to give you pleasure? If you don’t like something, you can stop me at any time.” He bent and replaced his fingers with his tongue.

Maya could hardly talk. “Ye...yes.” For one night it would be about her and she wanted everything he had to give.

He continued unbuttoning her blouse. “Nice. Sexy.”

She glanced down at her black lace-edged bra. Thank goodness she’d had the presence of mind to wear matching underwear.

He helped her out of the top and carefully laid it across the corner of the chair, then reached behind her to lower the zipper on her skirt. Ian squatted down. “Step out.”

She did as he asked, along with the sensible two-inch pumps she always wore when working.

“I’ve been wanting to touch these beautiful legs all night,” he said, skimming his hands along her calves, up her thighs, and dragging her panties down and off. He came to his feet.

Maya started shaking again. “I... I thought you were going to have dessert.”

Ian picked up one of the parfaits, snaked an arm around her waist and walked her backward to the large table. “I am.” He dipped his finger in the whipped cream, smeared it across her lips and proceeded to lick it off. He groaned. “Absolutely delicious.” He dug out another portion, this time a mixture of the cream and the pudding, and made a path from her neck to the top of her breasts.