Learning Curves - By Elyse Mady Page 0,9

to run his fingers across more of her body—the vulnerable column of her throat, the delicate skin behind her knees, the full mounds of her breasts. He moved closer, unable to focus on anything but the slight pressure of his thumb against her skin, incredibly aroused by this barely there touching.

Later, he would swear he’d meant to let go, that he’d opened his mouth to apologize for his unwarranted and forward behavior and to ask her to leave for good. He’d never be sure, because his next words took him by complete surprise.

“I saw you tonight,” he said softly as he stepped even closer. She didn’t resist his gesture, but tilted her head back to keep looking in his face.

Her eyes were dark and uncertain. A fine scattering of freckles dusted her nose. She swayed slightly as she licked her lips and Brandon felt his cock grow even harder when her breasts brushed against his chest.

“Saw me?” she said in a husky tone.

“From the stage. When I was dancing,” he murmured. He stepped even closer, until there was barely any space between them. He could feel the tight beads of her nipples through his robe. His cock surged, and he knew she could feel his erection pressing into her hip but he didn’t back away.

His mouth was only millimeters from her ear as he traced her jaw. He stopped at the corner of her lips. Either one of them had only to move a fraction of an inch for their mouths to meet. He wanted to kiss her so badly but forced himself to be still as he whispered, “You were sitting so still, but I knew you were thinking about me. Tell me, what were you imagining I was doing to you?”

Their eyes met, the unspoken answer hanging between them, drawing them even deeper into a bewitching, erotic haze.

As she looked into his face, his eyes dark and inscrutable in the poorly lit room, Leanne couldn’t forget the sensations he’d aroused in her while she watched him onstage. Or the fantasies he’d called forth. She remembered thinking earlier in the night that there was no way she’d ever be turned on by the dancers and the illusions they peddled. Hubris. The word suddenly popped into her mind. That was what the Greeks had called it. Because this stranger turned her on in a serious way.

The faith and confidence he had in his body, the smooth, almost musical way he moved, whether onstage or in the small space of the dressing room, combined to strip away her natural reserve and caution, compelling her to seize this charged moment.

The walls’ thick soundproofing muted the music from the club, softening it to a rumbling hint of bass. The sound seemed to beat in time with her heart even as the silence between them stretched out. Blood pulsed through her body. Her breasts were full, and warmth seeped through her body, settling between her legs, making her wet and turned on.

She couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt like this. So ready, so hot. Even when Steven was around, their sex life had never been spectacular. By the time they’d broken up, it had gotten to the point where Leanne could darn near time the whole thing. Start to finish, nine minutes. Nine brief, unmemorable minutes. Routine and boring and…

Leanne didn’t want to be routine anymore. She didn’t want to play it safe or by the book. Because the way Brandon looked at her made her feel dangerous and giddy and out of control. The way she imagined in her daydreams but never in real life. Until now.

Desire burst over her. This close, his face only inches from her own, she could see the small scar on his jaw and the remnants of his stage makeup.

“I was thinking about how it would feel to kiss you,” she confessed, her voice thick and languorous.

“Where?” he asked. He dipped his head the smallest degree and tasted her trembling lower lip. As their warm breath mingled, Leanne melted, her whole body overrun with need, until she felt more liquid than solid.

“Everywhere.”

A gleam of satisfaction lit deep within his blue eyes.

“What do you think we should do about it?” he asked, his voice a low growl.

She wanted to kiss him but her reservations made her hesitate. He tilted her chin up so their eyes could meet.

“You don’t do this very often, do you?” His voice was still dark and aroused but an undercurrent of gentle amusement eased