London Falling (Falling #2)(4)
He rolled his eyes and sighed. “She’s not staying in my bed. Well, maybe.” He grinned and waggled his brows.
The cringe that stole across my face could not be contained. The thought of him and the lovely London almost made me lose my appetite. Then my gaze settled on her across the room. I was once again famished, practically starved. She looked at me, our gazes held. Her grayish-blue eyes, full of light, seemed to call to me. I moved along the room navigating through other guests, eyes tethered to hers. It felt as though I was in a trance, as if my body floated along the room, defying gravity to reach her side.
A large smile split her delicate features, making her impossibly more beautiful when I held out my hand. She clasped mine and electricity sparked and crackled between us. I lifted her hand and brought it to my lips for a brief kiss. She smelled of cinnamon and I wanted to run my tongue along her wrist and taste the spicy scent for myself.
“Have we met?” she asked. Her voice filtered through the noise of the party and I could hear nothing but her soft tone. “You seem familiar.”
I shook my head. “I would remember you.” I placed another kiss on her hand. “Collier Stone. It’s good to meet you, Love.” The desire to keep a hold of her hand was strong but I didn’t want to appear creepy. Strangely, when I let go, I missed its warmth.
“You’re English?” She smiled. Her face lit up. It was adorable and made my groin stir in appreciation.
“Guilty. Though my mate and I left the Queen Mum five years ago. Can’t shake off the accent to fit in with you Yanks. ”
“You should never change yourself for another person. You’re perfect just the way you are.”
Her words pierced my heart. My ex didn’t agree. She wanted to change everything about me.
“I’m sorry, now you look sad.” Her hand came up to my cheek. Her thumb skimmed across my cheekbone as her eyes searched mine, swirling from gray to blue to gray again.
I could spend the rest of eternity looking into those eyes trying to determine their color. Her touch slipped away leaving me feeling bereft. I wanted those hands on me. When I blinked, the man she was with earlier held her tucked into his side.
“You ready to go home, Bridge?” The tall man kissed her on the temple. Jealousy flared in my gut. She patted his chest and nodded. “I’ll get your coat sweet cheeks.” He turned and left without an introduction. It irked me.
“Your husband?” The glance down at her left hand was obvious. No ring sparkled back at me. Just long, delicate fingers painted with a golden nail polish.
“No,” was her small reply.
“Boyfriend? Significant other perhaps?” My tone held a twinge of irritation but I clamped it down.
“Tripp is definitely significant,” she answered vaguely.
“Tripp is ready to take home the most beautiful woman in all of New York.” The man’s arm went around London’s shoulders pulling her closer. Her slim arms encircled his form. Made me wish I had that familiarity with her, that it was my body she was pressed against. He looked at me, his eyes assessing me from my dirty blond hair to my wing-tipped shoes. “Mmmm hmmm, unless you have plans to bed James Bond over here,” he blatantly allowed his gaze to look me up and down again.
“Thinking about it,” she answered coyly and bit her lip. She did her own assessment, head cocked to the side in thought.
The image of her face, her lips glistening and reddened from the bite of her teeth made me imagine her down on her knees, her head titled just so as I plunged my cock into her mouth over and over again. I took a deep, calming breath and stared into her eyes. She must see the desire there; I wasn’t trying to hide it. All rational thought be damned, I wanted this woman.
“I sure as hell know what I would do to that fine ass.” Tripp grinned. He was a good-looking bloke but I could hold my own. My dance card was rather full…with women. Now that I was confident she wasn’t attached, only one name had just skyrocketed to the top of the list, London Kelley.
“Thank you, I think.”
“I see you’ve met my brother,” Nathaniel’s voice broke the staring contest between London and me. He held out his hand to London’s “significant other” as it were, though I don’t know how significant he could be if he likes men over women. Maybe he does both?
“Not at all. Collier Stone.” I held my hand out to Tripp and he shook it quickly, as if in a hurry.
“Tripp Devereaux. And you are?” Tripp’s voice lowered to a gravelly timber as he openly ogled Nathaniel.
My brother grinned playing into Tripp’s suggestive tone. “Nathaniel Walker. Good to meet ya, mate. London, always a pleasure seeing you.” He pulled her into a hug. Bastard.
“English hotties, Bridge? Tell me I’m dreaming because I feel like I’ve died and gone to heaven.” Tripp’s gaze undressed us with abandon.
All four of us laughed but my eyes stayed glued to London’s. Nathaniel and Tripp started talking about someone they both knew named Hank. I encircled London’s wrist and pulled her to the side. “It seems as though your mate and mine are hitting it off quite nicely.” I laughed then held her hand. It was warm and soft.
“Nate works for my sister. He even dated her for half a second,” she offered.
“Then your sister does work with me. I’m the ‘Stone’ in Stone, Walker & Associates,” I smiled and made a point to touch her forearm. I couldn’t not. The woman’s skin, body, and simple being called to me. Made me need to be near, want to hold her.