Stormy Passion Read Free

but not before his fingers glided over
hers.
    Her heart fluttered. She blinked a couple of
times because she was seeing double. And, of course, she hiccupped.
“I--I'm sorry. I seem to have developed hiccups.
    “ So I hear.” He chuckled.
“Evidently, you've not had champagne before.”
    “ W--what makes you say
that?”
    “ Champagne doesn't require
a corkscrew,” he said and laid it on the nightstand.
    She watched his skillful hands as he
maneuvered the twist wire. He took his thumbs and pushed at the
cork, but instead of the top flying across the room, he
successfully managed to capture the cork in the palm of his hand.
He'd become a real pro.
    Warmth spread over Dani's body as she
realized that shortly his hands would be maneuvering over her. What
had she said about talking first? They really should talk.
    He filled the glasses she held, then placed
the bottle on the nightstand. For just a minute, Dani was tempted
to turn on the lights so she could see his face, but since he'd
gone to so much trouble to make this a romantic evening, something
he’d never done before, she wouldn't spoil it. Hope filled her.
Maybe Steven had changed.
    “ Welcome.” He clicked his
glass with hers. “We'll have to help you get rid of those
hiccups.”
    “ T--that would be a
blessing.” She smiled, then gave a toast of her own as she felt a
surge of longing so intense that she ached with it. It had been so
long. “To a night of memories,” she countered when her glass
touched his.
    The hell with talking.
    Dani gulped the bubbly liquid, knowing she
should sip, but suddenly she was nervous. Very nervous. And getting
drunker. Something told her this wasn't the Steven she remembered.
Again she thought his voice sounded strange. Or maybe the booze had
muddled her mind. Why hadn’t Steven taken her into his arms?
Finally, she said, “Aren't you going to kiss me?”
    “ I'm going to do more than
that, sweetheart, but first another drink.” Adrian reached for the
bottle and replenished the glasses.
    At first Adrian had been uncertain about his
odd birthday present. But now ... Adrian needed a moment to compose
himself. He'd been expecting a high-class call girl, but when she'd
appeared in the doorway the light from the living room had shown on
her silver-blonde hair, giving her the appearance of an angel. And
when she'd paused by the candles, the soft glow on her face had
taken his breath away.
    Must be the booze.
    She was beautiful and poised. And normal.
Except for the hiccups. Nothing like he'd expected. What a birthday
present! Of course he’d been drinking and probably wasn’t thinking
his best.
    For a split second, he wondered if he could
keep her instead of sending her away tomorrow. Maybe, just for
tonight, he could reevaluate his earlier decision about women. And
he knew -- that was the liquor talking.
    Adrian touched her knee. She tensed. Shy? How
refreshing, he thought. Patiently, he waited for her to relax
before he slid his hand along the silkiness of her leg. The
over-powering desire to kiss her struck him like lightning hitting
a tree. She trembled. God, the woman was sexy. He took the glass
from her hand and placed it next to his on the nightstand.
    “ Come here,
sweetheart.”
    The minute his hand slipped under her skirt,
Dani stopped breathing. Instantly, her hiccups were cured.
    “ Don’t you want to shed a
few clothes?” he asked.
    Dani stood and began unbuttoning her silk
blouse. She tossed it on the floor; next her black bra came off,
revealing her puckered nipples. She unhooked her skirt and let it
slide across her stomach, teasing her sensitized thighs before
hitting the floor.
    He took her wrist and pulled her toward him.
She wanted to taste his lips. And she was more than ready to make
up for lost time as he coaxed her down to him.
    She marveled in the feel of his skin as her
hands slipped across his bare chest. The hair tickled between her
fingers. He felt different. Maybe a little more muscular