A smile at me expense, I realized
"What are you smiling at, for heaven's sake?"
"I can't help it. You look like a beautiful flamingo," he replied, fighting to hold back a laugh
"You promised you'd close your eyes," I reminded him through gritted teeth. "Or blindfold yourself or something."
"Oh, right." He closed his eyes. "Is that better?
"Somewhat," I sighed. He would go now right? But instead of leaving , to my shock and amazement, Brian started walking toward me, with eyes squeezed closed.
"What in the world do you think you're doing?" I demanded.
"I'm going to help you get into the chair, so that you don't break your pretty neck..and other attractive parts of your anatomy, Olivia," he explained patiently. "You will warn me if I'm in danger of falling into the tub?
"I will not," I huffed in reply. I tried to get into the chair on my own, but he was right, I couldn't manage it without putting weight on sprained leg.
"Tell me when I'm getting warmer, Olivia, he asked in a teasing tone.
I was getting warmer by the second. Of course, I 'd rather die than admit it to him. "You're impossible, is what you are, I said giving up. I reached out and touched his arm
"Okay, stop right there. That's far enough."
"That's better, he coached me. "Now, just hold on to my shoulders and I'll help you into the chair."
"Okay,'" Imurmured. "Give me a second."
I didn't know how I was going to hold the towel and his shoulders at the same time. The answer was, I couldn't. I tucked the towel edge a tightly as I could against my breasts and hoped for the best.
"Are you ready?" he asked.
"Just keep your eyes closed," I warned as I gripped his shoulders. I felt his big hands grip my waist in an achingly intimate fashion, and I suddenly put too much weight on my bad ankle and felt my head spin.
"Just lean against me, Olivia. I've got you. lt's okay." he assured me.
I did lean against him, pressing my cheek to his hard chest. But it wasn't okay at all. Not one tiny bit. I felt Brians head dip toward my own, his cheek nuzzling my damp, freshly shampooed hair Then his hands slipped a little lower, down to my hips, his fingertips grazing my bare bottom where the towel edge ended. My heart pounded and my breath caught in my throat. I felt rooted to the spot, balancing on one leg with my full weight pressed against him.
"Hmm, you smell wonderful, he murmured.
"Must be the shampoo, I answered inanely
"I think it's just..-you, Olivia, he whispered huskily against my ear. You feel so warm and soft... sweet. I felt his lips on my chcek and then moving lower toward her mouth. "I just can't resist...though I will keep my eyes closed, he promised.
"So will I," I agreed, as I closed my eyes and tipped my head back to meet his kiss. His strong arm wound tightly around my waist, pulling her close to the heat of his hard body, supporting me totally, so that I gave no thought to my injury. To the contrary, as our kiss deepened, I relaxed in his arms, floating on a cloud of pure sensual bliss.
This kiss was far different from the first time. It was slow and coaxing. Sweet and persuading. It made my feel cherished, desired...beautiful. His deep murmurs of satisfaction excited me even more, and when his tongue met mine in a slow sensual dance every nerve ending tingled and my knees turned to utter mush.
"I know I promised to be on my best behaviour.....but standing next to that door was driving me Crazy, he admitted as he gently nibbled my lower lip.
"Me, too," I confessed. In tune with my reaction, he hugged me even closer, and our kiss continued, the heat between us slowly building, higher and higher. I felt the hard, throbbing evidence of his desire pressing against my bare leg beneath his damp sweatpants.
Suddenly it seemed that there was very littel between us...and nothing at all stopping us from making love right in the middle of the bathroom Except for Noah's presence downstairs, I realized in some dim recess of my mind. They had let him in charge of setting the table for dinner and keeping watch over a pan of frozen lasagna that had been left to heat up in the microwave
Noah! A voice in my mind fairly screamed,
I rarely dated and had never faced the problem of... Had I absolutely lost my mind?
I suddenly pulled away, forcing myself to call a halt to his sweet, sensuous assault
"Brian.....please, I sighed, abruptly pulling away from him.
"Olivia ...hold on. What are you doing? His eyes flew open, and he tried to keep me from losing my balance. You're going to fall," he warned.
I pulled out of his grasp and held on to the chair for dear life. "I'm just fine,'" I insisted. Now please go."
He took a deep breath, stared at my wide-eyed, then averted his gaze. "All right, if you insist."Then with his eyes theatrically squeezed shut, he reached out and gently tugged up the edge of my towel, which had slipped down to a point well beyond decency. "Careful or you'll catch a chill." His tone was casual-but the Cheshire Cat grin twitching at the cormers of his mouth was unmistakable.
I clasped the towel to my chest and practically growled in my distress. Meanwhile Brian had gallantly turned his back to me. " I'd tell you that you're lovely when you'revangry..but that would probably just make you madder,"
"You already have!" I demanded. Without another word he stepped out of the room and quietly closed the door while I collapsed in an embarrassed heap into the armchair.