Redemption(10)

“Actually, I am. Brett’s covering the DC. I had hoped I’d get to see you for lunch and convince you to have dinner with me tonight.”

I giggled as I stared up into the sweetest olive-colored eyes. “You took an afternoon off to try to con me into hanging out with you?”

“Absolutely, plus if you said no, by default I got the time I spent trying to convince you. So it was a win-win for me. But it would be even better if you said yes.”

He escorted me to my office as we continued to talk. “What did you have in mind?” There had to be more to his request. He hadn’t bothered asking me to do anything in ages; he’d just shown up much like he had today.

Dan closed the door behind him after entering my office. And then locked it. My heart started to race in anticipation of what might happen. He’d been patient, far more so than any other man I’d ever dated. But the heated look in his eye said his patience was waning. His stocky build backed me against my desk. My bottom hovered just above it until he managed to situate himself between my thighs. The billowing skirt I had on allowed room for him to intrude into my space. My center burned for attention, my chest heaved in anticipation, and my eyes never left his.

Large hands stroked my outer thighs slowly raising my skirt with each pass up to my hips. He knew what he was doing, baring my legs for his touch. My skin pebbled once he had my skirt sitting in my lap. The feel of his hands on my sensitive skin kept me wanting, desperate for more, but unable to ask for it. My breath hitched as he slid his grip to my behind and tugged me as close as possible to where he stood in front of me—pressing us together. I prayed he couldn’t feel the heat radiating from underneath the fabric. I’m sure it was obvious how desperate I was for him, but I hoped I could retain a little dignity and not have an orgasm sitting in front of him.

He leaned down to find my waiting lips—taking them with his own, Dan delivered the most erotic kiss I’d ever received. My panties were wet—the thin fabric did nothing to protect him from my essence. With my eyes closed, my hands roamed under his shirt, my legs wrapped around his hips, and my feet instinctively dug into his ass. From his back to his front, my fingers danced on his skin. The tiny peaks of his nipples indicated his arousal matched my own.

I broke from the kiss remembering where I was. “Dan.” His name came out a breathy moan begging for him to continue but cautioning him against it.

His head dipped next to mine, his mouth hovering so near my ear I could sense the warmth of his breath on my neck. It tickled in the most delicious of ways. And then he growled. The way his chest rumbled as he said my name ignited my fire, but I had to stop.

“I have a class soon.”

“I want you all to myself tonight, Penny.”

I loved the nickname—that my hair reminded him of a shiny piece of copper. Or maybe it was just the way he said it or that it came from his mouth. Either way, it was mine, something he gave me, something he shared with no one else.

Forcing him back with my palms still on his chest and under his shirt, I gazed up at him with lazy, lust-filled eyes. “Okay.” I would have given him access to my bank accounts at that moment.

“My house. The moment you get out of class.” He shifted backward, casually dropping my skirt back to my ankles as he went.

The flush I felt on my face was a dead giveaway for how aroused I remained. He stroked my warmed cheeks with his thumbs before he kissed the tip of my nose. “And we will pick up where we left off. Just to be clear.”

“You can stay if you’d like.” I’d never invited anyone to sit in on one of my classes before, but I didn’t want him to leave. The comfort his presence brought me was one I’d never felt, and I was afraid if he left that feeling would as well.

“For your class?”

I nodded still hanging on to the lazy smile he’d put on my face.

“It’s actually a strings ensemble, so you wouldn’t be bored by a lecture.”

“I’d love to, but I don’t want to get you in trouble. Rob seems to have an affinity for you.”

I dropped my hands to my lap and let out a huff. “He asked me out today at lunch.”

Dan’s brow furrowed. “On a date?”

I shrugged. “I guess. The school got tickets to see Ya-sang Min at the Peace Center, and he dangled them in front of me.”

“What’s a yasangmin?”

I couldn’t help but laugh. This was the area of my life no man ever shared with me. I’d yet to find anyone, other than another teacher, who enjoyed classical music. My eyes would have filled with little cartoon hearts if it were possible. Instead, they glazed over with love for the once child prodigy who would grace the downtown stage. “He’s a brilliant cellist. I’m sure tickets were outrageously expensive, but in the music world, it’s the equivalent of meeting the greatest president ever to live.”

“Do you want to go?” He eyed me with weary caution.

“Oh, wow, I’d give my right arm to go. But not with Rob.” I pushed off the desk and lifted to my toes to plant a kiss on his supple lips.

“You need to tell Rob you’re not available.”

I cocked my head to the side wondering if I’d really just heard Dan right. I stifled a laugh. He was serious but clearly had no idea I was head over heels for him, not Rob. “Oh, do I?”