One Night On The Virgin's Terms - Melanie Milburne Page 0,28

already like this or did you design it?’

‘I made some changes, along with the house.’

Louis put the tray down on the outdoor table under the wisteria trellis, the sweet fragrance of the pendulous blooms as heady as a drug. Or maybe he was feeling a little intoxicated by the way Ivy looked and the fact she was here. Alone with him.

‘How long have you had this place?’

‘Three years.’ He uncorked the bottle and poured out two glasses. He put the bottle down, handed her a glass then picked up his own.

Ivy took the glass from him, her fingers brushing his, and a jolt of electricity shot through him. ‘I really like the way you’ve blended the old with the new. You didn’t think of designing a new house from scratch like you do for most of your clients?’

Louis shrugged one shoulder. ‘I saw this place and liked it. It had good bones, so I didn’t see the sense in changing it too much, just enough to put my stamp on it.’

‘I think you’ve done an amazing job,’ she said, turning back to look at the house. Now that her back was towards him, Louis had an uncontrollable urge to press a kiss to the back of her neck where red-gold curls dangled like miniature corkscrews.

She turned around again and smiled. ‘Your parents must be so proud of you. How many awards have you won now? Dozens?’

Louis held his glass to hers. ‘To achieving goals.’

Her brow furrowed, her blue eyes searching his. ‘They are proud of you, aren’t they? I mean, you’re one of the most talented architects in the world. Ronan told me you have a long waiting list of clients desperate for you to work for them.’

‘I don’t like talking about my family. It’s too depressing to be reminded of how much of a disappointment I am to them, especially to my father.’ He handed her the plate of cheese and fruit. ‘Want some?’

She took a grape off the plate and popped it in her mouth. After she’d swallowed it, she took a portion of cheese and placed it on a cracker. ‘I’m glad my parents never really interfered with Ronan’s or my career plans. I love working in antiques and can’t imagine doing anything else.’

‘What do you love about it?’

‘So many things...like the fact that generations of people have used a piece of furniture or crockery, or glassware or jewellery, before. The sense of history fascinates me.’ Her face shone with enthusiasm, her tone almost reverent as she went on. ‘My pet love is Victorian crockery. I sometimes just hold a piece of it in my hand and imagine the people who have used it before. I’m going to Paris next week to see a collection from a deceased estate.’

Louis reached out and tucked one of her loose tendrils behind her ear. ‘It’s not ridiculous to be passionate about something.’

Her eyes dipped to his mouth and back again, the tip of her tongue darting out to moisten her lips. A rocket blast of lust hit him like a sucker punch, and he took the champagne glass off her and set it down beside his on the table. He took her hands in his and brought her closer to his body. ‘And while we’re on the topic of passion...’

He lowered his mouth to her upturned one, her lips flowering open to the gentle pressure of his. She made a soft whimpering sound and rose up on tiptoe, her hands creeping up to link around his neck, the action bringing her even closer. Dangerously, temptingly, tantalisingly closer. He entered her mouth with a bold stroke of his tongue, shivers coursing down his spine as her tongue mated shyly with his. The playful little darts and flickers of her tongue sent his pulse soaring, the delicious press of her breasts against his chest making him wild with primal want. Heat poured into his lower body—hot, hard heat that threatened to engulf him.

Louis placed a hand at the small of her back, just above the sweet curve of her bottom, his senses reeling at the way her mouth responded to him with such passionate fervour. He brought his other hand to the curve of her breast, cradling it through her dress, allowing her time to get used to being touched so intimately. She made another sound of encouragement and leaned her pelvis further into him, moving against him in an instinctive fashion. He lifted his mouth off hers and placed it on