‘Afraid so.’
Take that however you wish.
Surely he’d be going in search of someone else to dance with now? Hopefully not when she’d made up her mind to let loose a little—with him. Damn, but she was hopeless at this. Should she grab his hand tightly so he couldn’t get away? Yeah, right. Then he’d really be running. So what happened next? More dancing? A drink? Mix and mingle? Talk about being out of practice. ‘What are you known by?’
‘Noah.’
Odd that they only exchanged first names, but it might be best. All fun, and no tomorrow. Who needed to get caught up in too much talk and a lot less fun? Not her, not tonight. Her pulse rate dipped. What if she wanted to see him again? Getting ahead of herself? Sure she was. Enjoying the moment, finding her feet in this dating game, and having some fun was the only way to go. She was fizzing on the inside as the beat in her wrists sped up again. Getting on with the dancing and fun and stop thinking beyond now took over.
Stacey’s feet moved, her body swayed, and they were away, her hand in her partner’s as they swung their legs high, then he had her in his arms, tipping her back further than before, and she was raising her leg beyond high. Around them others were trying to do the same with mixed levels of success, and some on the sidelines were clapping. At them? Who knew? She wasn’t stopping to find out. This was amazing. She could do it all night. She grinned at her partner and continued dancing, rolling her hips and lifting her feet.
When the band finally stopped for a break, Stacey’s lungs were working overtime, making her chest rise and fall rapidly. ‘I need a drink after that,’ she managed between sharp breaths. So much for dancing like a mad thing all night. She was whacked, and thrilled at letting go all the restraints she’d known for the past year. Why hadn’t she done this sooner?
‘What would you like?’ Noah asked, also gasping.
‘A mojito, please, Noah.’ It did make a difference, knowing his name. They were no longer complete strangers.
‘Come on, let’s get to the bar before I pass out from lack of liquid.’ He took her elbow and led her through the crowd as the DJ put on a song, this one a little quieter and slower. At the bar, he pulled out a stool and continued holding her elbow until she was seated.
Once their drinks were in front of them Stacey thought everything would become awkward. They didn’t know each other. Forget awkward, she decided. ‘I haven’t had so much fun in a long time,’ she told him honestly.
‘I’d have thought you went dancing every Friday night the way you handled that.’
‘Been busy with other things,’ she said, adjusting the truth a little, then hurried to change the subject away from her. ‘What about you? Do a lot of nightclubbing?’
‘Can’t say I do. Like you, it’s finding the time.’
‘Which...’ She stopped. No, don’t spoil the night getting to know personal details. The anonymity of it all gave her the freedom of being herself, being able to dance and have a drink and not think about overstepping the mark. Of finding who she really was now she was unattached. There might be a totally different person lurking inside, a stronger, more entertaining woman—one who was thinking too much when she should be focusing on now.
‘No questions?’ he asked with a smile. ‘That’s a good idea. We’re having a great time with no comebacks. Shall we take our drinks out into the foyer? It might be a little cooler there. And quieter.’ He spoke close to her ear.
She stifled a gasp as his breath grazed her skin, sending a ripple of heat to places that hadn’t been warm for a long time. When she nodded, he took her elbow to help her off the stool. Definitely a gentleman as well as a hunk. Would she bump into him around the hospital she worked at over the coming days? What would his reaction to her be then? Or hers to him in the light of day and work? There’d been no sign of him during the previous two weeks, or she’d passed him and not noticed his looks. Huh? How likely was that when they instantly turned her into a hot mess?
Relax...go with the fun aspect. He’s not hurting you, quite the opposite.
With her glass in one hand, she let him lead her out of the room. This was the way to having a great time.
‘Forget quieter.’ Stacey laughed, and she was doing a lot of that tonight. The band had come on again, now even louder, and more people were making their way out here. Sipping her drink, she looked around, a big smile on her face. What a night. She wanted to pinch herself.
They stood in companionable silence, cooling down as their drinks disappeared—probably too quickly for someone out of practice, but, hey, she was getting back on her feet, right? Then Noah took her in his arms and began dancing around the edge of the foyer, easily avoiding those standing in groups, talking. As he reached a far corner he paused and gazed down into her eyes. Forget companionable. Butterflies flapped wildly in her stomach. Her skin heated.
‘Thank you for a wonderful evening.’
Stacey blinked. ‘No, thank you.’ The heat in her body began dissipating. Was this the end? He’d go one way, she the other? She wasn’t ready to say goodnight.
‘Thank us. I was dragged here by a friend who I haven’t seen most of the night. I’d intended sneaking away early, then along came this amazing dancing lady.’
Phew. That sounded positive, didn’t it? ‘Is that a chat-up line?’ she gasped, unable to believe she’d asked that.
The corner of his mouth lifted as he smiled. ‘It wasn’t meant to be.’
Damn. If ever the moment to continue moving on from the past was going to happen, surely this was it? Another deep breath. Give it a go. What was there to lose? ‘Do you think you could kiss me?’
‘Are you a mind reader?’ He bent his head and brushed his mouth across hers.
‘Absolutely.’ See? It wasn’t so difficult to take the enjoyment another step. She inhaled, smelt spice, and man. Oh, yes, man. This man. Hot, strong, pulse-racing scent. Her mouth opened under his, and somehow her breasts were up against his chest and her feet lifting onto their toes. And she was kissing him back. Kissing Noah, a man she’d only met hours ago. And loving it. Loving the sensations zapping through her body, touching her stomach, her toes, her breasts, her centre. All on a kiss.
Splayed hands rested on her hips. Then that delicious mouth pulled back. Serious grey eyes filled with sparks of heat locked on her. Desire? For her? ‘Anastasia?’
She nodded slowly. ‘Noah.’
‘I’ve got a room upstairs.’ He grimaced. ‘That sounds corny. But I’ve been here for three nights as I’ve packed up my house. I’m heading away tomorrow.’
So she could continue to let her hair down, have that fun she craved, and go home knowing she wouldn’t bump into him at the hospital and be embarrassed if it didn’t work out. She slipped her hand into his before she could overthink what she was doing. To hell with the past and the future. She’d seize the moment and make the most of what was on offer. ‘Yes, please.’ Ouch. What did someone say in this situation? She’d never faced it before. How naïve could she be? It was definitely time to get out there and learn a thing or two.
The lift was empty and seemed to fly to Noah’s floor. Within moments they were inside his room, kissing as though their lives depended on it. Hot strokes from his tongue turned her to jelly. Had her holding on to him tight, pressing her body to his. Made her crave to be taken. Here. Now. His hand slipped between them to cradle her breast, his finger tweaking the peak, sending bolts of desire slicing through her straight to her point of need. ‘Noah,’ she growled against his mouth.
Lifting her into his arms, he carried her to the turned-down bed and laid her on it. He stood upright to pull his shirt over his head, exposing the broad, muscular chest she’d imagined. Then he was taking off his trousers. His erection burst free of his underwear and Stacey groaned with need. She wanted him, all the way, now.
‘Slowly,’ Noah murmured against her ear as he
lay down and reached for her, removing her clothes tantalisingly slowly. His hands were magic on her hot skin. His tongue a tease as he tasted her neck, shoulder, first one breast, then the other.
She swallowed a scream, pushing her breasts up closer to that source of wonder. Her hands were working his backside, kneading and stroking, kneading, stroking. Then she reached for him, wrapped her fingers around his hot, throbbing need and rubbed him.
‘Anastasia. Wait.’ He groped in his trouser pocket, removed his wallet and tugged out a condom packet.
Anastasia. It was like another version of herself. A version who wasn’t waiting for her past to catch up and move forward, a version who was moving ahead, making the most of what she had and not wishing for what was gone. Touching Noah, his back, those chest muscles rippling under her fingertips, his flat stomach, and beyond.
Then he was above her, touching, bringing her to a climax like no other, and she was bucking under him. Taking him in and losing herself in a wave of desire and longing and heat.
As he joined her in their release she had one sane thought. I’ve done it. I’m free.
When the alarm went off at five thirty in the morning she slipped out of bed before Noah had opened his eyes and ducked into the bathroom for a quick shower. At some stage during the night he’d mentioned having to leave for the airport by six, and she didn’t want to hang around, dragging out the last moments with this amazing man.
Dressed, feeling a sight without make-up, she headed through the room to the door, where she paused for one more look at the man who’d given her so much without realising it. ‘Noah? Thank you.’
He turned from digging clothes out of his case. ‘Whatever for?’
‘Helping me get on with my life.’
‘You’re welcome.’ His smile was a gem, and one she’d take with her throughout whatever lay ahead.