CHAPTER 10

She was stuffed from dinner and dessert, but she didn’t want to end their night so soon. She was enjoying his company far more than she should. She felt him slid his arm around her waist and pull her gently into his side. She liked how she fit snuggly into him, as if she was meant to be there. Breathing in the scent of his cologne mixed with a scent that was just him she didn’t know if she would ever smell anything so arousing or so masculine ever again.

As they reached the bar entrance Amanda thought that Russ would put some distance between them. In anticipation she leaned away from him slightly hoping that he got the hint that it would be okay, instead she felt his arm tighten around her waist as if he couldn’t let her go. She smiled because right now she was feeling the same way.

Her eyes roamed the room and landed on the beautiful bartender and wondered if she and Russ and a past together. The spark of jealously was instant and she tried to tamp it down. The thought of the two of them together made her heart sink. She couldn’t compete with a woman that beautiful. She had to remind herself that she had competed with Janice, albeit unknowingly and won. That made her feel slightly better but when Russ started to stroke her hip to get her attention she started to feel a lot better.

Amanda looked up into Russ’ eyes and caught him looking down at her. “You okay?” he asked her and held her closer as if she wasn’t plastered against his body as it was.

“I’m good I was just thinking I don’t want to get you into trouble since you work here and I’m a guest.” She couldn’t help but let her gaze wonder over to where the bartender was staring at them.

“Its fine come on.” He said and lead her deeper into the bar.

As they approached an empty table Amanda got a feeling of Deja-vu. Slowly she looked around and it dawned on her that this was the table from last night. As Russ stopped at the table he pulled the stool out for her. Sliding onto it she turned to look at him.

“Don’t tell me that this table just happens to be empty. Especially with how busy this place is.”  She smiled at the sweetness of his gesture.

“Well actually it just so happens that I know the bartender and she saved it for me.”

“I just bet you do.”  She mumbled under her breath.

She must not have been quiet enough because he chuckled and reached for her hand. Once again threading their finger together he brought her knuckles up to lips and placed a gentle kiss on them. “Not like that. She and my sister have been best friends their entire lives. She’s family, she had some personal problems and needed a job. I was able to get her one.” He said as if it was a simple enough answer.

Blushing, all she could manage was “Oh that was nice of you.” She couldn’t believe the spark of jealousy that speared through her for a moment. She just met Russ, neither one of them were angels before they met.

In the next moment, the bartender showed up with two glasses. A beer for Russ and what appeared to be a Whiskey and Coke for her. Wow what a great memory.

Russ thanked her and then turned to Amanda. “Amanda this is Stephanie. Steph this is Amanda.”

The two women shook hands and then Steph returned to the bar with a knowing wink in Russ’ direction. Amanda wanted to ask what that was all about but was afraid of the answer.

As Amanda sat there and let the classic rock surround her, she felt Russ take her hand into his. She noticed that he couldn’t seem to keep his hand from finding some way to touch her. It made her feel special, and as his thumb started to rub small circles on the back of hers, it made her start to feel other things as well. Just that small contact sent shivers across her body. Why was she reacting to him like this?  She never had this kind of reaction to a man before. Maybe it was her body’s way of telling her that it had been too long since she was with a man. That it craved intimacy.

The warmth from his hand started to migrate up her arm until she could feel her face heat with a flush. She wanted desperately to blame it on the alcohol, but she hadn’t even touched her drink yet. She swiveled her head slightly and met his gaze. Before she knew what was happening he lowered his head and kissed her in the middle of the bar. He brought his hand up to cup the side of her face and angled her mouth to deepen the kiss.

She didn’t think it was possible for a kiss to be hotter than the one that they had shared earlier in her room, but she had been wrong. This kiss was more intimate, even though they were in a bar full of people. The feelings that he could incite in a kiss made her want to climb into his lap not caring who was watching. Luckily for her, and her modestly, he broke the kiss before she could embarrass either of them.

“Are you ready to get out of here?” he asked huskily not removing his hand from her face.

“We just got here.”  She replied breathlessly.

His eyes had darkened with desire and she could feel the unsteadiness of his hand as it cupped her face. She knew in the moment he truly desired her.

“I don’t care” he replied huskily, “I want to get you out of here, but the choice is yours. Do you want to stay, or do you want to go back to your room?”

Amanda leaned away from the hand on her cheek, took a big gulp from her drink, grabbed his hand, and proceeded to lead him out the door. She had made her choice before he had even asked.

 

Barely resisting the urge to continually press the elevator button Russ ran a frustrated hand through his hair. As soon as the elevator doors opened, he gently pulled Amanda inside and all thoughts fled his mind. He had to have her in his arms and there was no way he could wait until they reached her room.

He pulled her into his arms and heatedly kissed her, unable to get her close enough. He ran his hand though her hair holding her mouth in place as he devoured her. His other hand splayed on her lower back and held her to him. Even with the knowledge that the elevators had cameras in them he couldn’t pull away from her. He couldn’t stop himself from pushing her back against the wall of the elevator and devouring her mouth. When he felt her leg slide up the outside of his thigh his hand immediately went to pull her closer. His hand slid up the hem of her dress to cup her ass, as he heard her moan he thought he might come on the spot. Damn where was his legendary control?

At the ding of the elevator they both looked up in surprise. How was it possible to reach her floor already? Russ felt guilty that his mind and body was so consumed with her that he had forgotten to take care of her. Anyone could have boarded the elevator and he would have embarrassed her. Hell, he had forgotten about the security cameras on the elevator. He would have to figure that one out later.

There was no way that he would allow his staff to gossip about the woman in his arms. She meant too much to him already. He had to convince her to stay, to not leave at the end of her vacation. He had no idea how that was going to happen, but he would make it happen.

As they quickly walked down the hallway to her room he watched in amusement as Amanda fumbled in her purse for her room key. It seemed that she was just as shaken by their chemistry as he was. He couldn’t stop himself from bending down and nibbling where her collar bone and neck met. He couldn’t keep his hands, or his lips off her.

The moment that the little light on the door turned green she flung the door open and pulled him into the room. As it banged closed they separated slightly, both breathing heavily. He could see the lust in her eyes and knew that she must certainly be able to see the same reflected in his.

He watched in amazement as her eyes lowered in embarrassment but before his anger could surface her confession had him freezing.

“Contrary to how this must seem to you I don’t normally do this kind of thing.” 

Her confession made Russ’ heart tighten, God she was beautiful, and she didn’t even know that every time she got shy it just about killed him. He couldn’t believe that he was with her. That she had given him a chance even after telling him that she wasn’t interested in a fling. He would thank whatever higher power that had smiled down on him to bring this woman into his life.

Russ tilted her chin forcing her to make eye contact with him, it seemed to be a habit for her to avert her gaze when she confessed something to him. He wanted her to hear him when he spoke to her. “You have caught me completely off guard and if you want me to leave, I will. I want to get to know you and if this is moving too fast for you all you have to do is tell me.”