Surprise Seduction (17 page)

Earlier this year? That would have been right before she’d come to work for him.
 
Shock riveted through him.

“Quit trying to change the subject.
 
I know you did something to keep Mel from showing tonight.”

“Oh?
 
Did lover boy call?”
 
Chase’s mind still reeled at her revelation about her father’s death.
 
Was that the explanation for the way she’d acted and dressed during these past few months?
 
Had she been grieving her father’s death by downplaying herself and leading an alternative lifestyle?
 
That would explain a lot.

“No, but why would he just no show?”

“Beats me,” he said innocently.
 
Too innocently he knew, but he didn’t try to hide the truth from his eyes.

“Don’t tempt me,” Adrienne warned.
 
“What did you do?”

“Let’s just say Mel is sufficiently occupied for the evening preparing for an audit of his department scheduled at the last minute for first thing in the morning.”

“I knew it!”

The brilliant blue color outlining the iris of her eyes captured his attention.
 
How had he never gotten lost in her eyes before?
 
They were huge and captivating.
 
Beautiful.

Because she’d hidden them behind those ridiculous glasses she wore.

“I’ve never noticed your eyes are so blue.”

“They’re not.”
 
Her tone was dismissive.
 
“You’re trying to do it again.
 
I’m not going to let you.”

“What?
 
Kiss you?” he asked his foremost thought.

“I meant change the subject.
 
But no, you aren’t going to kiss me again, either,” she denied as her hands went to her hips.

He threw his head back, laughing at her hostile stance.
 

“Don’t count on it, lil mouse,” he warned, tugging her to him and proving her wrong with the gentle kiss he placed on her lips.
 
He didn’t deepen the caress, not even when he felt her resistance melt.

Tonight wasn’t about lust.
 
He had that by the bucketfuls already.
 
Tonight was about getting to know the woman causing all those buckets to overflow.

“Come on, Adrienne.
 
Let’s call a truce for tonight.
 
You’re here to dance.
 
Dance with me.”

Adrienne fought the urge to get lost in sea green eyes.
 
She might drown in their depths.
 
This was not how the evening was supposed to turn out.

Maybe she wasn’t supposed to be, but here she stood melting into Chase Aaron.
 
Darn his irresistible sex appeal.

It was more than just his raw sexuality.

He was fun to be around.
 
He made her laugh.
 
Sometimes at him.
 
Sometimes at herself.
 
Sometimes just at life in general.

She forgot her anger with him for firing her, for causing her date who she was supposed to go into cahoots with to stand her up.
 
What she remembered was the twinkle in his eye when he’d warned the three men off, the warmth of his touch, the magic of the kiss they’d shared in her office.

“A truce?” she asked.

“For tonight, let’s put the past behind us.
 
Pretend as if we’ve just met and just enjoy being together.”
 
His words tempted.

“After tonight?
 
What then?”

“There is no after tonight.
 
It’s just this moment in time.
 
Me and you.”
 
His hand rose to touch her hair.
 
He tangled his fingers in her tresses, and breathed against her ear.
 
“What do you say?
 
Will you dance with me?”

His tangy, male scent teased her, filling her senses to capacity with him.

Why deny herself what she wanted so badly she hurt?
 
Mel wasn’t here and had to work until late into the night.
 
There wasn’t anything more she could do before morning.

The man she really wanted was right here, tempting her, seducing her with his words.
 
For tonight, he offered her a taste of heaven—to meet him on equal ground with no pretenses between them.

“We forget about Weston and have just met?”
 
She stared at him, hoping he’d say yes.

“Yes, we’re strangers.
 
I’ve been watching you and want to spend the evening with you in my arms.”
 
He wrapped his arms around her waist, and like a moth to a flame she stepped into the light.
 
His light.
 
Dangerous and deadly as it might be.

“Okay, we’re strangers,” she agreed.
 
Nervous energy bubbled.
 
They really were strangers.

“Chase Aaron,” he introduced himself with a wink.

“Adrienne.”
 
It was as close as she could get to giving him her real name.
 
If only a magic wand could be waved and Morrigans wasn’t under threat, and they had just met…

Why hadn’t her father introduced her to Chase?

Because he’d handpicked Roger as her husband and his successor.

“Can I have this dance, Adrienne?”
 
His dimples deepened.
 
Her gaze lit on the indentions.
 
Unable to stop herself, her fingertip delved over the small crevice.
 
Her heart skipped a beat when his hand closed over hers.
 
“I’ll take that as a yes.”

He led her inside the club and onto the dance floor.
 
She didn’t protest when he pulled her full against him.
 
Why would she when that’s exactly where she wanted to be?
 
She rested her cheek against his chest as they moved to the slow rhythm of the music.

Chase’s hands pressed against her back, stoking the material in a caressing gesture.

“You smell so good,” he whispered into her hair.

Funny, she’d been thinking the same thing about him.
 
She could pick up the faint scent of expensive spicy cologne.
 
Or maybe his aftershave.
 
Regardless, she wanted to drown herself in the exotic male fragrance.

Her fingers played at his nape.
 
The powerful strength of his neck and shoulder muscles flexed beneath her touch.

She closed her eyes and melted as close to him as physically possible while fully clothed and in public.
 
The strong beat of his heart pounded against her cheek.

Her insides short-circuited, leaving her dazed and aware of only him.

Neither spoke while they moved to the music.
 
When the slow song ended and another began, they continued their sensual shuffling without missing a beat.

When the third song began and was an upbeat pop tune, Chase eased back.
 
But not before she felt him breathe in the fragrance of her hair.

Did he feel the electricity surging between them?

He had to.
 
How could he not?

“Do you want a drink?” he asked.

Adrienne shook her head.
 
What she wanted was to be back in his arms.

As if he heard her request, he granted her wish.
 
Ignoring the fast paced music and the wildly gyrating couples around them, his arms encircled her waist.
 
Their feet slowly shifted on the dance floor.

“I watched you dance with Mel.”

She blinked, having to dredge her brain to even remember that she had danced with Mel at the anniversary party.

“You don’t know me.
 
Remember?”

“I don’t think I can forget.”

She met his gaze and caught her breath.
 
Desire shone in his eyes.
 
Chase wanted her.
 
Maybe as much as she wanted him.
 
Dear Lord.

“I wanted to beat him to a pulp when he kissed you.”

The tension in his body left her in no doubt he told the truth.
 
Needing to sooth those tightened muscles she rose up on her tiptoes and tentatively touched her lips to his.
 
Lightning streaked across her body, starting at where her lips met his and flaring out to singe every cell of her body.

His feet quit moving.
 
Green eyes stared into hers.
 
His pupils dilated as her tongue darted out to taste him.
 
His groan rumbled through her body.
 
His hold tightened.
 
Lips demanding access took control.

She opened her mouth for his exploration.
 
His tongue thrust between her lips.
 
She wanted to savor the ambrosia of his mouth.
 
Not willing to deny herself, her tongue danced in cadence with his.
 
Tangling in a rhythm dating back to Adam and Eve.

Her chest squeezed.
 
Her stomach quivered.

Pure heaven, like the sweetest chocolate.
 
That’s what he tasted of.
 
Her fingers twisted in his soft, silky hair, wanting to pull him closer.
 
He wouldn’t be close enough until she had him inside.

The thought excited her.
 
Terrified her
.

Her hands fell from around his neck, and she leaned from him.

His head lifted.
 
“Adrienne?”

She didn’t answer.

“Adrienne,” he repeated.

She averted her gaze.

“Look at me.”

Her gaze met his.

“Damn,” he cursed.
 
Music blared around them.
 
Throngs of people in motion danced around them.
 
But for Adrienne only they existed as she continued to stare in his eyes.

“This is all new to you, isn’t it?”

Did her few kisses with Roger count?
 
She nodded, not breaking eye contact.

He swore again.
 
Shook his head in slow…something.
 
She couldn’t be sure if it was disgust or chagrin.
 
His tension visibly eased as he stared at something over her left shoulder.