Change of Heart - By S.E. Edwards Page 0,6

eyes at him. “Why? Am I supposed to know you?” Suddenly I remember the way the bartender instantly gave him respect, and the possessive way Richard came onto me… just like he owned the place. There’d been no hesitation in his game at all.

“No,” he says, eyes dancing. “No, you’re not.” He looks down to swirl his drink with the straw. His eyes flash up to meet mine again. I’m startled by the hunger I find in them.

“Who are you, Richard?” I ask. “Some type of womanizer?”

“I’ve been called worse,” he smirks.

“Then you can take it as a compliment.”

He smiles at me again. I find myself staring at his lips, wondering what they would taste like. He has very kissable lips.

“You’re attracted to me,” he declares without warning.

“What?” I say, momentarily caught off-guard by the statement.

“You keep doing that thing with your hair… flipping it back. And you’re looking at my mouth as if you want to kiss me.”

“I am not!” I defend, feeling a flush of heat enter my cheeks.

Richard chuckles. “It’s nothing to be ashamed of,” he says. “Sometimes it pays off to look for the little details. That way, we don’t have to waste time.”

“Waste time?” I ask.

“I study psychology,” Rich explains. “I love learning about people. Body language… It communicates so much. People think that words are what make the difference in an interaction, but that’s not true. It’s the subtleties, the small gestures, that can reveal so much about how a person feels at any moment.”

“So what you’re saying is…?”

“What I’m saying,” Rich smiles, “is that your reaction to my statement gives me all the confirmation I need.” He leans back triumphantly. “No matter what you might say, I know you’re already attracted to me.”

I scoff at his arrogance and try my best to appear indifferent. But he’d read me like a book. A few minutes later, the waitress brings us our food. Before I can take a bite, Richard sweeps up my hand in his and stands up.

“Let’s go,” he says, fire burning in his eyes.

“Where?”

“My apartment.”

I don’t have time to protest as he pulls me away from our table. As soon as we’re outside, he spins me around and presses me against the glass wall. I only have the briefest sliver of a warning before his mouth dips down to cover mine. I kiss him back immediately. My hands tangle in his hair, my mouth opens to let him in, and I feel a staggering warmth grow between my legs.

Richard’s hands trail down my bare arms, from my shoulders to my wrists, and he locks his fingers with mine in a tight grip. He’s so tall I have to stand on my toes just to reach him. It makes me feel like I’m on the verge of falling backwards, and somehow it makes kissing him all the more thrilling. The faint taste of liquor on his tongue blends with his potent masculinity. Strength and power seep into me through his kiss. I can feel him taking control.

My resistance wanes as his tongue continues to explore my mouth. I want more of him. More of his taste, more of his smell. More of his body. I react the only way I know how—by drawing him closer to me. My heartbeat doubles, and the warmth becomes even more pronounced as I kiss him back hard.

When I resurface on unsteady feet, I nudge him back a little. “Rich, wait,” I say. I feel dizzy, light-headed, and even a little bit crazy, making out like this with a guy I barely know in the middle of the street. “You didn’t tell me the third thing you liked about me.”

“Oh, that?” He winks. “That, you get to find out later.”

***

I’d imagine most girls would get the feeling they’re about to do something incredibly stupid when confronted with the sight of a dark, unfamiliar apartment building towering in front of them in the night, about to be pulled inside by a man they’d only known for a few hours.

Like I said before, I’m not like most girls. Being with Rich doesn’t elicit that feeling.

“Come on.” He tugs my hand, pulling me from the cab straight into the lobby. It’s empty, and as soon as we’re through his mouth and hands are all over me again, just like they had been during the quick ride here. His kisses are sharp, tactful, and teasing all at once. They tempt me with the promise of what is going to happen when we