He dipped his head and positioned it close to her ear. “After you,” he murmured.
As she moved through the doorway, he gave her a smile so sweet and genuine her insides twisted, and she took a moment to consider things longer. Time had changed him outwardly, for the better, could it have changed him inwardly as well? Did he remember things about her and her friends because he’d grown up, changed his ways? Taking an interest in more than just his next conquest?
“So how’d you guess I was designing a romantic room for lovers?”
He cocked a brow. “A Jacuzzi tub. A fireplace. It’s pretty obvious.”
Okay, so it was pretty obvious, proving he didn’t really know her or her desires at all.
“Right. Of course.” She rolled her eyes and berated herself for her wishful thinking.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“Then why did you roll your eyes?”
“I was just thinking some things never change.”
His voice was a low, strained whisper when he countered, “And here I was just thinking some things should.”
Anna gulped. She didn’t miss the sexual undertones or his undisguised need, nor was she unaffected by the deep-seated desire she heard in his voice. But she was not going to sleep with him, no matter how hard he tried to seduce his way into her panties. Decision made, she pushed back her lust, stepped away from him and his warm body, and waved her hand around the room.
Daniel followed her gaze, and she watched him take in the big bay window overlooking the pond, as well as the old fireplace that was in need of an updated design. She grabbed her sketchbook off the nightstand and stepped toward the bathroom door.
“The Jacuzzi tub is in here.”
Daniel moved in behind her and pressed his chest to her back. He glanced over her shoulder and looked at the sketchpad. “These are your ideas?”
She angled her head to see him and when he gave a low side-to-side shake of his head, she tilted her chin, ready to defend her artistic designs. “Yes. They’re my ideas.”
“They’re fantastic.” He scrubbed a hand over his jaw and a look of genuine respect crossed his face. “This room is going to be spectacular. I can’t wait to see the end product.”
She felt pride well up inside her. She’d worked hard on her designs, and although she appreciated his enthusiasm and confidence in her, she mostly hated that it meant so much to her.
His grin was slow, if not a little wicked, and arousal edged his voice. “A woman doesn’t stand a chance if a guy brings her here.”
“What do you mean?” Trying to see the room from his eyes, she perused the large space, taking in the king-sized bed with the unfinished white down duvet still haphazardly thrown over it, the jasmine-scented candles which she’d yet to strategically position for romance and ambiance, and the maroon-colored walls used to enhance passion and imagination, and awaken the romantic spirit in one’s lover.
“With this romantic ambiance, a woman will easily fall under her man’s spell, don’t you think?”
“That’s what I’m going for. Romance and Prince Charming might not be in the cards for me, but I’m hoping it will inspire it for someone else.” When she caught the odd look on his face she knew she’d said too much and immediately began to backpedal, stumbling over her words. “I…uh…I…mean—”
“I always knew you had talent, Anna.” He gave her a way out and she appreciated the gesture more than he knew.
She wrinkled her nose, unprepared for the mix of emotions she suddenly felt. “You did. How?”
A sheepish look crossed his face—a sweet innocent look she’d only ever seen him give her—and it knotted her all up inside and affected her in the most bizarre ways. What the heck was it about that unguarded expression of his that always got to her, anyway? Not wanting him to know her true feelings, she pinched herself, a quick reminder that it was all an act. Right?
Anna pressed. “How, Daniel? How did you know I had talent?”
“Back in high school, I saw some of your designs.” He rolled on the balls of his feet, swaying back and forth like a schoolboy who got caught with his hand in the cookie jar.
She furrowed her brow in thought. “I never showed you any of my designs.”
“I used to see them when you sat in the backyard with your sketchbook,” he confessed.
Her lids widened, and she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “You were spying on me.”
“Well technically it wasn’t spying.” He gave her a half-smile and continued. “My bedroom window overlooked—”
“You were. You were spying on me.” Probably so he could learn things about her and sweet-talk his way into her pants.
Penetrating eyes full of desire and seduction met hers. His tongue snaked out to moisten his lips and in a swift move, he grabbed her hips and pulled her close. The warmth of his touch traveled all the way to the tips of her toes, igniting her flesh along the way. Her body turned to mush and she could feel herself blushing. Hazel eyes smoldered with passion, and something else. Something dark and intense that Anna couldn’t quite put a name to.
His gaze fixed on her mouth. “Anna, I—”
She wanted him. God, how she wanted him. On the bed, up against the wall, down on the floor and inside the tub. She ached to feel those strong arms around her waist. To have that warm wet mouth on her body, and to finally experience what so many other women before her had—the pleasure of his cock moving in and out of her and bringing her joy beyond anything she’d ever known. Oh bloody hell, she needed this so badly her entire body shuddered in anticipation. A fire she knew better than to let burn free ignited between her legs. A reminder that she was a woman and standing before her was a red-blooded man who could undoubtedly
