Chapter 26

Emma shied past the night security guard, keeping her head down as she made her way towards the elevator. Arran had just dropped her off, opting to drive home with her in the same car, going completely out of his way. She insisted that she would be fine, but he wouldn’t hear of it.

She wasn’t surprised when he didn’t ask her if he could come up, but she had a gentle excuse ready just in case he did. It wasn’t that she didn’t have a good time with him, just the opposite. Their flight home had been quite steamy, but Arran had a big personality that filled a whole lot of space. Along with being quick-witted, intelligent and intuitive, he also seemed to have endless stamina, and while she had no issues keeping pace with him, she found it draining, especially given her lack of sleep. Instead, he gave her the sweetest kiss goodnight and told her he would call her soon. Then, just as she was getting out of the car, he said he had never met a woman so captivating, and he was certain he was hopelessly smitten with her. (Could he be more British?)

Two late nights in a row took its toll on Emma. She didn’t have much energy left, but she couldn’t get into her bed without a shower, especially after being on an airplane. Stripped down, she slipped under the hot stream, allowing the water to freshen her up. She looked down and ran her hands over her breasts, hesitating over the two little welt marks offered up by Arran’s teeth. Without enthusiasm or regret, she allowed her mind to drift back over their date.

After their meal, they’d spent a few minutes chatting with the chef, complimenting him on the fabulous meal. It truly had been one of the best culinary experiences she’d ever had, and in spite of the indulgence, she felt completely pampered. As promised, they took a car directly back to the airport and only had to wait thirty or forty minutes for take-off. Once they were in the air, Arran had the cabin lights turned down low. The flight attendant brought them some delicious Irish Coffees, heavily spiked, and they curled up together on a sofa to enjoy them. Emma was convinced that she would never be able to fly coach again, especially after kicking it in first-class style.

It didn’t take long for Arran to commence his seduction. Emma was nervous, partly because she knew where things were heading, but also because she wasn’t exactly sure they were on the same page. Actually, she really didn’t know where Arran stood. She was very attracted to him and was definitely turned on, especially since it had been over a year since she had been intimate with a man, but beyond that, she wasn’t certain that she was capable of anything more. She wanted to bring it up, to put all her cards on the table, but each time she tried to share her thoughts with him, he would interrupt her or distract her with kisses.

They were in the sky for about an hour when Arran insisted on some privacy, tipping the flight attendant generously to make herself scarce. He assured her they wouldn’t be disturbed and proceeded to clumsily undress her, unfastening the zipper on her dress and baring her shoulders before she even recognized what was happening. When she realized he was having trouble removing her sleeves, she smiled tentatively at him and offered some assistance. It had been an awkward moment but they figured it out, and before long she was lying back on the sofa in nothing but her lacy black bra and panties.

He eyed her approvingly, then started kissing her again, only this time his mouth came down hard, parting her mouth assertively so he could taste her with his tongue. His eagerness was not unpleasant, quite the contrary. She liked being wanted, having such a desired effect on a man, but his kisses were hasty, even a little sloppy. She had tried to slow him down a little, gently holding his face in her hands so she could guide his passion, but he didn’t seem to understand her unspoken signals. He kissed down her neck, gently nibbling at the sensitive flesh of her throat, pulling at her bra. She assumed he was trying to unfasten it, unaware perhaps that it opened at the back. She eased herself up on her elbows and whispered to him that the clasps were behind her. He looked a little confused, but quickly caught on to the problem and reached underneath her to unhook it. After several seconds, it was clear that he would need some help. She giggled softly, trying to ease both of their embarrassment, and sat forward, easily releasing the hooks herself. If he had been flustered, he hid it well, burying his face into her neck again. This time his nibbles were much more determined, even a little painful, as though he was replacing his embarrassment with aggression. She remembered giggling uncomfortably, not sure whether she enjoyed it or not. While part of her liked the wicked sensation of teeth on flesh, it all seemed so frenzied, manic even.

Emma turned off the water and stepped out of the shower, grabbing a nearby towel to dry off. The entire night with Arran left her confused. She was attracted to him for so many reasons, and yet part of her just didn’t jive with him. She just felt so detached from herself when she was with him. He was romantic, charming, and adventurous, so what the hell was her problem? She needed to talk to Luke about it. He would help her sort it all out. As usual, she was probably overthinking everything, she considered miserably.

She found her way into the bedroom and without an ounce of energy left, she dropped her towel and slipped under her covers, falling asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.