The door handle clicked, and as it opened, Rafe solidified his vow to stick to business for Mia tonight. To win her some confidence with Silver. Maybe even a little business gig on the side. Nothing major. Just a step in the right direction.
“Hey.” Her voice dragged his gaze down. “You look as handsome as always.”
He saw the flash of a red dress before she opened the door wider and stepped aside to let him in.
“Nice,” he said, looking around at the mini suite.
“Joe says they automatically upgrade him because of his frequent-traveler status.”
Rafe turned toward Mia at the same time she stepped toward him. Her fingers slipped under the lapels of his blazer, and her body pressed against his. His surprise melted in the warm, curvy, soft feel of her against him. And she smelled like sex on cloud nine. Like wildflowers and passion and heat and desire and… God, he wanted her.
“Wow,” he said, stroking his hands over the silky fabric covering her shoulders. “This is a nice surprise.”
She let the door close, then slid her hands up to his shoulders. Rafe walked backward, trying like hell to remember the fun stuff was supposed to come later. But his back hit the door, Mia eased against him, and all his blood rushed south. While he was fighting to pull some back to his brain, her hand wound around the back of his neck and pulled his head down.
And as soon as her mouth opened under his, all those great intentions of Rafe’s went straight to hell. He groaned, cupped her head, and kissed her back. Licked into her mouth, ate at her lips. God, it felt like he hadn’t kissed her in forever. And he didn’t realize how hungry he was until he’d tasted her again.
Before he knew how it happened, he had her pinned against the opposite wall, her legs wrapped at his hips, his erection rubbing between her legs. He broke the kiss and pressed his mouth to her shoulder. “Mia,” he said, breathless. “Jesus Christ. You make me…insane.”
She ran her fingers through his hair. Kissed his neck. “We don’t have to go. No one will know. Let’s stay in—”
“Silver will know.” He eased back and released his hold so she slid back to the floor. “Joe and Tate will know.”
Pulling away from a beautiful, willing woman had never been this painful.
Her big eyes gazed up at him, flooded with heat and emotion and desire that twisted him inside out. “Let’s cancel,” she said, her voice husky. “Just tell them I’m not feeling well.”
Yes. Yes, yes, yes. There was nothing he wanted more. But he said, “No, Mia. This is important.”
She sighed, released him, and stepped back. “It’s more important to you than it is to me, but I still can’t quite figure out why.”
“What do you mean, why?” He already missed the feel of her. “It’s a great opportunity for you, that’s why.” He reached up and lifted her hair off her forehead. “And there’s a car downstairs waiting. Grab your things.”
She moved to the table, picking up a portfolio and clutch purse, and Rafe glanced around the hotel room while he pulled himself together.
“Ready,” she said.
Rafe turned toward the door and took his first full look at her. Hundreds of thousands of brain cells instantly imploded. Her dress was indeed red. Fucking fire-engine red. It hugged every perfect curvy line of her beautiful body and made Rafe ache everywhere. It was also that soft see-through material with a solid layer of color beneath. The straps were all sparkles, the bodice barely more than a bikini top. The material was gathered in a crisscross across the top, supporting her breasts in a way that created cleavage Rafe wanted to lose himself in. The knee-length skirt gathered on the side beneath another shiny jewel, giving the dress an uneven hem and Rafe a mouthwatering view of one toned thigh.
“That’s, that’s…” Yeah, he couldn’t find words.
“A mini empire chiffon,” she said, looking down.
“No, that’s not what I meant. It’s…” He shook his head and took her in again, head to toe, then met her gaze. Her hair was in a bun just above her nape, her long bangs loose on one side. It was like seeing her for the first time. Seeing her without all the filters he’d used for years.
“Gorgeous doesn’t even begin do it justice. Or you justice.” He was blown away by this whole amazing, stunningly strong woman. “You have never looked more beautiful.”
Her expression softened, and her gaze dropped away. “Thank you.”
On the way to the elevator, Mia asked, “Are Joe and Tate meeting us downstairs?”
Rafe hit the button for the first floor. “No. I got them their own car.” When Mia just lifted one brow, Rafe said, “I wanted to give you some time to relax before the meeting. And I didn’t think Tate and Joe would let you do that.”
Outside, Rafe opened the door to the Lincoln Town Car for Mia and slid in after her. Champagne was already waiting in chilled glasses. Rafe gave the driver their destination, the time they needed to arrive, and asked him to take the long way. Then he lifted the smoked glass between the compartments, stretched out his legs, and sighed.
Now, if he could just keep a couple of feet between him and Mia for the next half hour…
He picked up the champagne glasses, offered one to Mia, then raised his own. “To new business ventures.”