There were very few times in Arden’s life where his breath was actually taken from him. But as he waited in the lobby of the hotel where he was meeting his family and Keera, he wasn’t prepared for the vision that walked in.
Yes, she was stunning every single time he saw her, but when she stepped through the doors, a smile on her pink lips, the blue dress clinging to every delicious curve of her body, and her hair cascading down her back, he literally lost his breath.
He didn’t see any other person in the vast lobby, didn’t even remember his own name. His body, which was already tense, went rigid as he gazed at her, so blown away he couldn’t command his feet to move. He had a moment to stare before she turned, before she saw him.
The smile she wore slowly faded as her eyes dilated, and she let out a whoosh of air. The hunger between the two of them was tangible. It felt as if they could swim through it, it was so thick and humid.
He’d brought her into his home, and though it killed him to do so, he hadn’t touched her, had tried to be respectful, and not make her feel she was pressured or obligated in any way to him. He’d been waiting for her to make a move on him. He didn’t think he’d be able to wait any longer—not with how incredibly turned on he was at just the sight of her walking.
The five women approached, and Arden stood before them, dumbfounded as he tried to open his mouth, tried to express what a vision she was. A giggle from his sister and a punch in the arm shook him out of his paralysis.
“There aren’t words to describe how stunning you are,” he said. Her tongue came out and moistened her lips, and he almost dropped to his knees to beg for mercy.
“Thanks,” she told him as she licked those kissable lips again. “You look amazing.”
Arden couldn’t even remember what he’d thrown on, but it didn’t matter. For the first time in his life, he felt unworthy to have a woman on his arm. Just as soon as he had that thought, he smiled, brushing it aside. Hell, they were going to be the belles of the ball. He held out his arm and grinned.
“I’d like to escort inside the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen,” he told her. Arden felt his pants tighten as her cheeks reddened. This was going to be one hell of a night. He wondered how quickly he could escape his friends and family and get her out of that dress that was going to give him wet dreams for years to come.
“Ah, aren’t you being the perfect gentleman,” Dakota said with a chuckle.
“There are five of us here. We’re waiting for more compliments,” Roxie said with a laugh.
Though it took a lot of effort, Arden ripped his gaze from Keera to look at the other ladies. “Of course, you are all a vision,” he said with a bow. They laughed, knowing he had eyes for only one woman. The four women turned and began walking toward the elevators.
Keera put her arm in his, and he felt as if he’d just been knighted. She’d given him her trust with that small gesture.
“Seriously, Keera, you are stunning every day,” he told her, in no hurry to leave this spot right here, where he felt as if the rest of the world had disappeared. “But with your hair down and that dress . . .” He paused again as he inhaled her sweet scent that was playing havoc with his hormones. “With that dress, you will stop traffic.”
She blushed again but didn’t look away. There was as much heat in her eyes as he was sure was in his own. Yes, tonight he wasn’t going to play the gentleman. Tonight he was going to give them what they both needed. He realized he’d been waiting for her, but he hadn’t realized she was too shy to ever make a move. She wanted him as much as he wanted her, even if she was scared. He just had to prove to her she had nothing to fear.
He began moving them to the elevators, and the girls were long gone. Good. He wanted a few more minutes alone with this woman. Though when they stepped inside, several other people crowded in with them. It didn’t matter. He’d made his own bubble around the two of them, and no one could pop it.
As a few more people crammed themselves inside at the last minute, Arden and Keera were pushed to the corner, her body pressed against his. His already hard body pulsed painfully as he inhaled her sweet scent, closing his eyes for just a moment to picture her rubbing a dab between her luscious breasts, maybe a line down the inside of her thigh. A groan escaped him, and she looked at him curiously. He shifted, which only brought him that much more tightly against her.
“How set are you on this evening?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper. Even he could hear the urgency in his voice.
“Why?” she asked. Though she felt his heat, felt the passion between them, she had no idea how close he was to picking her up and finding the nearest closet. Her innocence was turning him on that much more.
“No reason,” he said. There was no way he could take her away from here when she had taken the time to dress up. It would be a shame to the rest of the people there to not see the glorious package she was.
The doors to the elevator opened, and Arden wasn’t sure if he was grateful or not. His sanity might be saved by escaping the tight confines, but he in no way wanted to let this woman go. He was becoming quite possessive when it came to her. He couldn’t remember ever having felt that way toward a woman. He knew there had never been anyone he hadn’t been willing to let go.
When they stepped into the upscale lounge, soft piano music was playing, and the lights were dim. It was a nice place, and he was sure he could find some little alcove to whisk her away to. He saw his family all the time and didn’t need to tonight. He actually looked around to find potential hiding places.
“Wow, this is stunning,” she said as she looked around. He followed the direction of her gaze and tried to see it through her eyes. He’d gotten so used to the finer things in life, he sometimes didn’t appreciate the beauty. He had a feeling that being with this woman would help change that for him.
The place had a classy elegance about it, with low-hung chandeliers and cloth-covered tables with vases in the middle holding fresh-cut flowers. Candles burned throughout the room, giving a flickering of light as well as a delicious aroma. The hardwood floors were polished to perfection, and the vaulted ceilings showed exposed beams. It was a beautiful place, and he wished it was just the two of them. He would pull her onto the dance floor before the night was over, he assured himself.
In the corner a band was setting up. Good. He loved piano music, but it was more for ambience. Arden wanted this woman in his arms, and he knew this band, knew they played a lot of slow songs. He could wait a little while. The anticipation of this night with her, of touching her, flirting with her, looking into her eyes and watching them burn, was all worth the wait.
By the time they finally got home, they’d detonate. Arden had a feeling it would always be this way with Keera. She inspired him in so many ways. He was certain he wasn’t going to let her go. Now he just had to convince her he was worth keeping, that he was worth trusting. Tonight he’d begin showing her they belonged together.
“My family is waiting on us,” he said on a sigh.
“We should go, then,” she said, seeming almost as disappointed as him.
He thought about lifting her into his arms and walking out, but he wanted her to know that she meant so much more to him than just a roll in the hay. So with that in mind, he stepped forward, pleased to walk through the room knowing every eye was on his date.
She was truly the one a man would be a fool to let get away. Lucky for him, he’d been the one to find her. She was his now. She’d realize that soon. Arden had never given up on something that mattered to him.
And Keera Thompson mattered a lot.