Then & Now (9 page)

“Yeah, you two would have a great time.” Teresa involuntarily agreed.  “Well, Millie I’ll catch up with you later.  Maybe I can still salvage my Friday night.”  Turning on her heel she sashayed away not looking back once.

Amelia had to admit that watching someone like Teresa getting rejected on a possible come on was quiet amusing.  Although she didn’t think she would be the reason behind it.  Why was she behind it?

“Do you usually go clubbing on the weekends?”  His question was laced with skepticism.

The question bothered her.  What did he think she just sat home watching old movies and crocheting? Sadly he would be half right, although she wouldn’t let him know that.  “Sometimes.”  It wasn’t a total lie.

Raising both hands in mock surrender he grinned. “Sorry.  You just don’t look like the-”

“Like what?  Like the type that wouldn’t have fun.”  Folding her arms defensively in front of her, she awaited his reply.  What she got wasn’t what she had expected.

“You know, you’re adorable when you’re angry.”  He commended, with a wickedly stunning smile.

“Oh…err, thanks.  Umm…” Unexpectedly nervous, she tucked a lose curl behind her ear.  For some reason she could not remember why she was so uptight.  His breathtaking eyes were fixed on her making her insides all warm and mushy. “I guess I shouldn’t take up any more of your night.”  She backed up slowly hoping that she wouldn’t say something ridiculous, like ‘want to come upstairs and tuck me in?’

He took
her hand once more, restricting her from any further escape.  “Why shouldn’t you?”

Her
eyes shot back down to their hands.  Although they were the only two around, she could not help but be shocked at his blunt openness.  “You probably want to get home to your fiancée.”

“What!” He flinched back as if she had hit him.
“Fiancée?  I don’t have a fiancée.”

“You don’t?”

“No.  Why on earth would you think that?”  Tilting his head to the side he quirked one eyebrow.

“Jacob Masson.  He said that he wanted to be invited to
your
wedding.”  Did Heidi hear him wrong?  She didn’t like the way her heart jumped at the possible misunderstanding.

A strange expression past over his features before he said.  “That’s all you heard.”

She didn’t miss the way he hadn’t put it into a question. “I didn’t hear it.  Heidi did.”

Relief past over the other expression on his handsome face.
  “Now I know how rumors are started.” He chuckled lightly.  “Amelia, I’m not getting married.  Jake was teasing me.”

Wrapping
her arms around her middle to avoid any more contact, she took in long breath of the night air grabbing some of his scent with it.  “Why would he tease you about that?  I mean it sounds—”

“I’ve wanted to ask you out.  I’ve been wanting to for a
while.  Jake thinks it’s quite humorous that I’ve waited so long to do so.”  He informed casually.

“Oh!” 
Calm down heart!
  She coached herself.  The girlish side of her nearly came apart with glee.  The woman side of her did the same damn thing.  “You want to come in?”

His eyes widened.  “Are you sure?  I mean after what happened tonight…”

“It could have went a lot worse.”  She stated mindfully.  Truthfully she hadn’t thought much about it since he offered her a ride home.  There should be a break here.  Time to get over what happened.  Only she didn’t want it.  She wanted him.  All of him.  And if now was it she would take it.

Stepping towards her apartment she tilted her head faintly.  “If you can get impressed over some rewiring, you should see what else I’m capable of.” Turning quickly to the door she hid her surprised reaction at the sexy way she played her own words.  Where did that come from?

She unlocked the large oak door, that all the residents pitched in and gave to Gorge and Gladis for Christmas last year, and turned back just in time to catch Bryant admiring her bottom.  She smiled bluntly back.  “So, can I take that as a ‘yes’ to my invitation?”

“You can take it as a hell yes.”  He affirmed coming up close to her.  Hitting the alarm on his car, he reached around her and opened the door.

The smell of his cologne as he leaned past her made her light headed.  Bending forward she took in a deeper breath.  Lord help her, he smelt so good she wanted to sink her lips into the tiny spot of skin between the collar of his suit and his chin.

“We can stand here or we
could
go to your apartment.  I do suggest the apartment though.  Because if you keep rubbing against me I might lose it on the gentleman part and I don’t think your neighbors want us going at it on the porch.”  His voice was ruggedly hot against her ear.

“O-okay.”
  She breathed, as she tried to calm the squeezing sensation between her legs.

When he pulled back his eyes were dark as they met hers.  Amusement tugged at the corners of those brilliant lips.  “Which one is yours?”

“What?”  His question wouldn’t register.  “What one is mine?”

He chuckled as he leaned back towards her.  “Which apartment is yours?”

“Oh, umm….It’s on the second floor.  The first floor is Gorge and Gladis’s.”  She explained without taking her eyes off of his incredible mouth. “We’ll have to take the stairs. There is no elevator.”

He glanced at the stairs then back.  Sweeping his hand out in front of them, he gestured for her to go first. 

There was very little talk on the way up, only small comments on the floor and walls.  Once at her door she opened it a little too anxiously.  She was a little
too
excited to have him there.  Only after he entered did she become utterly apprehensive.  At that moment she realized that she didn’t really know what she was doing.  She had never invited a man in, less they had been dating for a while.  Seeing that she had only crushed on this God-like man, it seemed all the more complicated. 

Her actions down stairs came at whim.  She really didn’t know if it will come back or if she would totally flub it up.  He did say that he had wanted to ask her out.  But would she keep him interested or have
him running out the door?

“Would you like some
coff—” She stopped herself.  The last time she brought the man coffee she practically drown him with it.  “Wine.  Would you like some wine.”

“Wine would be great, thanks.”  He smiled.

Rushing to her kitchen she scurried around not wanting him to wait too long for her. Thankfully she had a bottle chilling in the fridge, and two glasses cleaned.  She normally had wine with her dinner it always relaxed her after a long day.

Hurrying around the short wall that separated the kitchen from living room, she found herself coming to a halt.  The mere essence of him seemed to overwhelm her tiny living room.  She nearly dropped both glasses at the sight of his strong shoulders as they remained straight while he bent to get a better look at a photo on the wall.  She had dreamed of Bryant Sharp being here in her home, she just never thought it would actually happen.

She must have made some kind of noise because he turned and aimed a heart-stopping smile at her.  “Is this of you and your parents?”

   Nodding, she took small steps in his direction, hopping that she wouldn’t spill on him.  “That was taken a few days before they moved to
France.”

“
France?” He asked taking the goblet gently.

Did he purposely allow his fingers to linger on hers?  “Yeah, after my father retired they both decided they needed a little adventure. 
Which I’m thankful for.  I mean I’m the only child and they get a little over protective.”

He took a generous sip of wine, before he
stated nonchalantly.  “I can’t blame them.  If you were mine I would be protective as well.”

Swallowing a large gulp of wine, she brought her eyes straight up to his.  The look on his face stated quite bluntly that his attention was just that. 
To make her his.  Her hands quivered around the cold goblet, causing the wine to vibrate giving her away.  “Why did it take you so long to ask
me
out?  You work with many unrealistically beautiful women.  Why the mouse?”

“Don’t call yourself that.”  He scolded as he set his glass aside.  “In the short time I’ve spent with you tonight, you’ve established that you
might come across as a mouse, though you are anything but.”  Removing the glass from her still trembling hands he set it next to his.  “Besides you answered your own question.  The women we work with are unrealistic.  I’m not impressed with unrealistic.”   

“What are you impressed with?”  She exhaled while she forced herself to remain still as he leaned closer to her.  Every inch of her wanted to through her arms around him and finally
find out what he tasted like.

Brining his lips dangerously close to hers, he whispered across her bottom lip.  “I think you know.”

That did it.  She couldn’t control herself any longer.  Practically lunching herself forward, she took his mouth with zeal.  She really didn’t know what shocked her more; her own candor or his. 

He took her with as much passion as she took him.  With one arm wrapped tightly around her waist, and a hand nestled at the base of her neck she knew he wanted this as badly as she did.    

Exhilarated by it she rubbed her tongue against his.  The taste of him brought out a primitive side that she didn’t know that she possessed.  She took his lip between her teeth, lightly nibbling and teasing him playfully.  He let out a deep throated moan that had her realizing that she was affecting him erotically.  The realization spread a wicked smile across her face. 

Wanting to explore this more,
she lightly licked his bottom lip.  He jumped, but didn’t move away.  The only thing consuming her thoughts was Bryant’s incredible mouth.  She drove her hands into his jet-black hair, just like she had always wanted to do.  Allowing the soft strands to caress her fingers, she sank them deeper. This was all she ever wanted, virtually
needed
.

Breaking away abruptly h
e asked breathless. “Wow! Where did you learn to kiss like that?” 

Smiling she sighed,
“I don’t know.  I have never kissed anyone like that before.”

“Ditto.”
  He smiled back.  Snuggling her closer, he chuckled softly. “I have never been more fascinated with anyone, than I have been with you.”

“Really?”

“Yes, really.  I’ve watched you around the office.”  He cocked one of his eyebrows, and she felt a sudden prick of fear.

She had known
that he had seen her on a few occasions.  A little wink or smile in her direction to allow her the acknowledgement.  “Oh?” She asked on a shaky breath.

He nodded, as he stood straighter, bringing him a head taller than
her.  “I kept waiting for you to approach me.  But you never did.  In fact the few times I thought that maybe I should come to you, you would get this panicked look on your face and take off.”  He sighed and shook his head.  “You know you can give a guy a complex that way.”

She had to laugh at that.  Giving a man like Bryant Sharp
a complex wasn’t in her power.  “Oh, I can?”

“Yeah, you can.” He said on a mock sincerity.  “But, honestly I can’t do this.”

Putting substantial space between them, his smile turned more polite than sexual.

Oh, no. No. No. No!  How did this go bad?  She just knew she would
flub this up.  Trying to hide the sudden moister in her eyes she cleared her throat and banished the thought of rejection.  Maybe she just came on too strong.  “Alright.” 

A strange expression crossed over his face as he studied her.  “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.  I understand why you don’t want to stay.”  Folding her arms protectively in front of her, she dropped her gaze to the floor.  Oh, man come Monday this will be awkward.  Maybe she’ll call in.

So fast that she wasn’t sure how it came about he closed the space between them.  His muscular hands held her gently by her shoulders.  “Amelia, I want to stay.  I want to so bad it’s killing me.  In fact, making love to you is all I’ve thought about since….”

She watched his Adam’s apple bob as he took a moment to swallow.  “Since…”  She coaxed, the suspense; torture.

“Since the day you started at
Sharp Industries.”  He confessed in a rush.  “But this can’t happen tonight.  Not after what—”

“And if I want you to stay?  Regardless.” She
interrupted meekly, all too aware of how close they were to fulfilling her most desired fantasy.  It took every ounce of self-control not to attack him like she had earlier.

Taking her face into his hands, he made her look at him.  “If that’s really what you want.  But if this is something that you might regret in the morning, then I won’t stay.”

Regret making love to Bryant Sharp?  The man she was thoroughly infatuated with? 
The star of her lustful, nightly cravings?  Impossible.  “I’m not acting on impulse because of some high, from surviving an attack.  You can’t possibly say that you weren’t aware of my crush on you.”