the door suddenly opened, I was glad he was still there. I forgot to breathe at the sight of Michelle in a sleeveless little black dress. The front scooped very low, drawing my gaze. Her chest rose and fell with each breath.
Jim gave a wolf whistle, jarring me from her spell. Her, too. She jumped a little, and I noticed she was holding a bra. My gaze drifted to her chest again. No bra? I swallowed hard.
“What are you doing here?” she said. Panic pitched her words.
“You sounded upset.” Although I was paying attention to Michelle, it wasn’t with eye contact. I couldn’t stop studying the way the dress hugged her.
Jim nudged me lightly.
“Okay, you saw,” I said. “Now go away.”
With a laugh, Jim left.
“Saw what?” she asked.
“He wanted to see how you looked in the dress.”
“Could we maybe go somewhere casual enough for jean shorts?”
Not a chance.
“I can smell your nervousness. You look lovely. Please wear it,” I said, finally meeting her eyes. “Do you need a jacket?”
She shook her head, and I hoped it meant she didn’t need a jacket, rather than a rejection of my request. Her shoes waited in the hallway. Pretty heels with thin straps. The story of Cinderella popped into my head as I bent down to pick up the shoes. I wanted to help her put them on.
While I was going for the shoes, she quickly threw the bra over her shoulder and turned off the bathroom light. I kept my head down so she wouldn’t see my grin, then straightened and motioned for her to lead the way.
The back of her dress dipped just as low as the front. I wanted to taste her skin.
When she paused at the door, I squatted before her and held out a shoe. With just a light touch on my shoulder, she lifted one delicate foot. I slipped the shoe on, fighting the urge to kiss her calf. Where my lips couldn’t yet go, my fingers did. She quivered in response to my hand first on one calf, then the next. I took my time securing the straps, and when I stood, her stunned expression made me smile. It wasn’t shock that I’d touched her. No, based on her scent, she’d finally realized just how much she wanted me.
Unable to resist, I stepped closer and slowly moved her hair off her shoulder. I was giving her time to move away or say no. But she didn’t. The pulse in her neck thrummed at a speed to match mine. Sliding my hands over her arms, I leaned in and inhaled. Want and need were weak words for what I felt for her. I tracked my way up to the spot just below her ear. Her breathing changed to a short, shallow pant. If I didn’t stop, we’d never leave.
“Thank you for saying yes,” I said, pulling back.
Her expression didn’t clear until I led her from the apartment. Even then, she seemed unsteady. The stairs worried me, so I wrapped her hand around my arm and held her as we descended. There was a good amount of male pride coursing through me when we finally reached the bottom. I’d done that to her. I’d made her want me enough to forget everything.
She seemed to come to the same conclusion because she stopped walking and looked at me. Her gaze beckoned me, begging for more. I gave in and crowded her for a second time. She tilted her head, giving me better access.
“You smell wonderful,” I said. Scenting her was heaven, but I desperately wanted a taste. How much longer would I need to wait?
She turned her head slightly and pressed her cheek to mine. I groaned. Not much longer.
It took a strong amount of will to straighten away from her so we could say good-bye to her brothers. She held my arm as we left. The rain had stopped, leaving the air cooler and the ground spongy.
She smiled at me when I opened the truck door for her.
“Where are we going?” she asked as I offered her a hand to get in. I should have asked Winifred to use her car. I hadn’t been thinking. Michelle didn’t seem to mind, though. Honestly, I didn’t either. The effort of getting into the higher truck had hiked her skirt up an extra few inches. Nope, I didn’t mind at all.
“A steak and seafood place just outside of town,” I said.
After one last glance at her smooth legs, I closed her