A Calculated Seduction(40)

“And just where do you think you’re going, Miss Menendez?” he asked, his voice rough with arousal and so deep, she could feel the vibrations down to her toes.

She swallowed before answering. “I thought I would...umm...I needed to go to the bathroom.”

He chuckled knowingly. “Really? For a moment there, I thought maybe you were having second thoughts.”

She laughed but it sounded forced even to her own ears.

“No...no. I just needed to get more comfortable.” She tried to sound very nonchalant about the whole thing and failed miserably.

His arm tightened around her waist. “I can help you with that.”

Oh God, she would love to wake up every morning to that voice. Smooth and delicious, just like chocolate. Every hormone in her body surged to the surface. Defiantly, she pushed them down and tried to grasp at some sense of decorum.

“Really, Mr. MacMillan, I need to use the bathroom.”

She knew her face turned bright pink. Sure, she was more embarrassed about announcing her bladder problems than the fact she jumped her boss’s bones.

He chuckled again. “Now, Dulcy, I liked it when you called me Ethan. And truth is, I think it’s a little awkward. Don’t you agree?”

“Agree?” She swallowed and tried to concentrate on the conversation, but it was difficult. His hot breath whispered against the sensitive skin just behind her ear. Every time he talked, his chest vibrated against her velvet clad back.

“Well, considering what happened in the limo, I assumed you’d use my first name.”

She opened her mouth to tell him in no way was this going to change their relationship, when his head moved away from hers. A second later, his upper lip touched just above the neckline of her dress and she tensed, expecting a kiss on her skin. Instead, all the breath in her body escaped in a whoosh as his teeth grabbed hold of her zipper. Slowly, he inched the zipper down her back, releasing her waist now he had no reason to hold her. He captivated her with his lips against her skin as he slid the zipper down, his breath warming her back.

She lay frozen, but she was far from cold. Every nerve in her body shimmered when he reached the bottom of the zipper. A moment later, his tongue touched the small of her back. He licked a path back up to her neck and nuzzled her ear again.

“You taste good, Dulcinea.”

The use of her full name usually irritated her. But the sound of it on his lips transformed her blood from warm to hot molten lava. “From the first time we kissed, I knew you would be my downfall, woman. You tasted so innocent and so wicked, both at the same time.”

He nipped at her ear lobe as he slid his hand beneath the fabric of her dress. She’d lost any control over rational thought, but she had to at least try to curb this problem before it blew up in her face. Like if she fell in love with him.

Panic clawed at her stomach. She wasn’t in love with Ethan MacMillan. That would be beyond stupid. Men like him ate girls like her for breakfast. She attempted to stop the situation from spiraling out of control.

“Really, Mr. MacMillan—”

“Ethan,” he demanded. His hand had stilled on her hip. “Ethan.” He relaxed against her back as his hand moved down past her hip. His fingers trailed a path down to cup her bottom. “Ethan.”

“Hmmm.” His voice filled with lazy sensuality. “I really want you out of this dress, Dulcinea.”

The sound of her name on his lips again sent her senses whirling out of control. He shifted behind her, the bed dipping as he moved. The sound of a match being struck had her rolling onto her back. Ethan lighted several candles he had on his bedside table.

“So you’re prepared for any situation?” Her voice flattened and a little of her soul died. Truthfully, she wasn’t surprised. It didn’t mean she wasn’t hurt.

“Naw. Been a little stressed out and Uncle Bill gave these to me.” She raised an eyebrow and he chuckled. “No, really. Marge insisted they would help me sleep.”

Sounded like her. “Did it help?”

“No. Kept having the same dream.”

“What dream?”

“The one where I make love to you all night.”

It was then she realized he stood beside the bed, completely nude. The warm glow of the candlelight cast shadows on his bronze skin. Every muscle on his chest resembled stone. Her eyes traveled down past his sculpted abs and to his erection. She gulped.

“Like what you see?”