“That’s surprising to you?” he murmured.
“Very.” She tilted her head back and met his gaze. “I never expected to end up here tonight. But I’m not leaving.”
Thank God.
He ran his hand up her back and over her neck. His fingers tangled with her loose hair. He gave a soft tug on her long locks, drawing her head back as his lips pressed against hers.
Her hands glided over his body, freeing the rest of the buttons, releasing his cummerbund and unbuttoning his pants. The pieces of his tux fell to the ground as he kissed her.
She broke the kiss and stepped back, leaving him panting and naked except for his boxers.
“Just to be clear,” she said as her hands moved to her right side. He could have sworn he heard her zipper. But that could have been his imagination, fueled by the lust pumping through him. And he didn’t dare look closer. He kept his gaze focused on her face. Then her gown loosened, and he couldn’t resist watching as she slipped her arms free from the flowing fabric. “I want you, Carter Burke.”
He followed the dress’s descent, lingering for a second, maybe two, on her bare, full breasts. The gown’s cutout had tempted him. But now he ached to touch her.
“The only thing I’m clear about right now is that I plan to spend the night worshipping your body,” he growled as she tugged the tulle creation down over her hips. “And I plan to start with your breasts.”
Her dress slipped over her legs and pooled at her feet, leaving her in a pair of lacy, beige panties. He stepped onto the dress, close enough to run his hands over her, and knelt down on the pile of fabric.
“Or maybe I’ll start right here.” He wrapped his hands around her waist and pressed his lips to her taut stomach. His thumbs slipped beneath the thin lace at her waist. Slowly, he drew her underwear down her legs and onto the ground.
He sat back on his heels, allowing his gaze to travel up her naked body. He met her questioning gaze and grinned.
“You can’t give the gown credit now, beautiful.”
Chapter 17
My boss is kneeling at my feet and I’m naked.
Ivy stared at the tan, muscular display of skin. Any minute now, she would faint. Or maybe she’d wake up and realize this was all a dream.
The gown.
The wild night.
This man…
She’d admired gorgeous men like him, with his blue eyes and short dark curls. But always from a distance. Not stripped to his underwear and kneeling before her.
Plus, he called me beautiful. Naked me!
“Carter—”
“You’re going to protest because I called you beautiful, aren’t you?” He shook his head. “Don’t answer that. Let me prove it to you.”
He leaned forward and placed his hands on her thighs. Her skin tingled beneath his touch. Her hormones begged and pled with her common sense.
Keep your mouth shut and let him prove it!
“How?” she murmured, unable to give the need pulsing through her free rein.
He responded with kisses. His lips pressed against her thigh, blazing a path up and up…
“Carter?” she whispered.
He drew his head away from her legs and she missed the feel of his mouth. But his hands continued to roam, traveling over her thighs and then slipping between them. He didn’t waste time teasing her. He went straight to his destination and his fingers traced small circles over the perfect spot.
Yes, yes, yes!