resumes and I unravel my scarf, playfully sliding it over his shoulder. I turn and place my back to his chest, feeling the warmth of his firm hand move to cup the side of my elbow. I glance over my shoulder and peek up, and my eyes latch onto his. Raw, sizzling desire burns there, mixed with a glimmer of humor. I can feel every eye in the room on us, but Tanner’s are penetrating, locking me in a complete standstill. I’m dazed for a second but quickly snap myself out of it to return to the stage as I hear the song coming to an end. A lively bout of applause follows my performance, and the second the microphone is back on its stand, I duck my head and hurry back to the table, where Tanner now sits with Lana.
“That was quite the show, Miss Banks,” he says, standing to meet me.
“You were a rock star, woman!” Lana high fives me and suddenly all I want to do is hide under the table. The rush of confidence has faded, and now Tanner Christensen is here, staring me down.
“What are you doing here?” I ask him, hoping to change the subject.
“Just doing my evening rounds. It looks like you ladies are having a great time.”
“That we are,” Lana chirps, sipping her drink.
“I hate to intrude on girls’ night,” Tanner glances at Lana, “but would you mind if I stole Anya away for a few hours?”
Lana jumps in before I have a second to speak. “Are you kiddin’? Whisk her away as long as you want, Mr. Christensen. She’s all yours.”
“I am?”
“You are.” She smiles sweetly and nods to Tanner. “Have fun, An.”
I look to Tanner and he extends his arm with an expectant smirk. I can’t resist that smile, or those damned blue eyes, or that suit, or that insanely sexy body, so I step forward and slip my arm in his.
“Where to?” I ask as he escorts me out of the lounge.
“My place.”
“Your place?”
He nods and keeps a firm grip on my arm, leading me toward the elevator.
“I wasn’t expecting to see you until tomorrow night.”
“I wasn’t expecting to see you, either. I’m glad I did. I realize now I don’t want to wait.”
The elevator doors open and a couple steps out, leaving us with the space.
“You couldn’t wait one night?” I laugh, letting him take my hand to lead me inside.
“Not for this,” he says the second the doors close. He presses me against the cool metal. A quiet gasp breaks free and my shoulders tense up as his mouth connects with mine. The heat of his lips melts away the tension and I sink into him, sparks of energy crackling against his touch. His body curves and fits with mine, locking me in a tight embrace. His tongue explores mine as he brings his hand up to rub my earlobe between the pads of his fingers. I reach for his shoulders and his tall body leans forward and presses me further back. What is it with this man and public places?
“Tanner,” I breathe, gripping at his tie. “What about dinner?”
“I love the way you say my name,” he whispers gruffly. “I’ll love it even more when you say it as you come.” His hand floats down and cups the apex of my thighs. He doesn’t move, just teases with a push of firm, tight pressure. A small moan leaks from my mouth and slips into his. “Do you want me?”
Disbelief washes over me. I can’t believe I’m doing this. “Yes.”
“Not yet,” he breathes against my ear.
The elevator dings and the doors slide open, welcoming a rush of chilly air into the lift. It hits my cheeks and I’m thankful for the relief. Tanner leads me out into the hall, briskly nodding at the people waiting to pass us. I’m still flustered as he directs me up a central, winding stairwell to two wide, dark sliding doors. He reaches for the keypad and punches in a code, and the doors slide open with grace, revealing what could only be the equivalent of a high-rise penthouse apartment. The cabin’s view is just as awe-inspiring as his office view, and the décor is clean and masculine, with nautical touches
“That was quite the show, Miss Banks,” he says, standing to meet me.
“You were a rock star, woman!” Lana high fives me and suddenly all I want to do is hide under the table. The rush of confidence has faded, and now Tanner Christensen is here, staring me down.
“What are you doing here?” I ask him, hoping to change the subject.
“Just doing my evening rounds. It looks like you ladies are having a great time.”
“That we are,” Lana chirps, sipping her drink.
“I hate to intrude on girls’ night,” Tanner glances at Lana, “but would you mind if I stole Anya away for a few hours?”
Lana jumps in before I have a second to speak. “Are you kiddin’? Whisk her away as long as you want, Mr. Christensen. She’s all yours.”
“I am?”
“You are.” She smiles sweetly and nods to Tanner. “Have fun, An.”
I look to Tanner and he extends his arm with an expectant smirk. I can’t resist that smile, or those damned blue eyes, or that suit, or that insanely sexy body, so I step forward and slip my arm in his.
“Where to?” I ask as he escorts me out of the lounge.
“My place.”
“Your place?”
He nods and keeps a firm grip on my arm, leading me toward the elevator.
“I wasn’t expecting to see you until tomorrow night.”
“I wasn’t expecting to see you, either. I’m glad I did. I realize now I don’t want to wait.”
The elevator doors open and a couple steps out, leaving us with the space.
“You couldn’t wait one night?” I laugh, letting him take my hand to lead me inside.
“Not for this,” he says the second the doors close. He presses me against the cool metal. A quiet gasp breaks free and my shoulders tense up as his mouth connects with mine. The heat of his lips melts away the tension and I sink into him, sparks of energy crackling against his touch. His body curves and fits with mine, locking me in a tight embrace. His tongue explores mine as he brings his hand up to rub my earlobe between the pads of his fingers. I reach for his shoulders and his tall body leans forward and presses me further back. What is it with this man and public places?
“Tanner,” I breathe, gripping at his tie. “What about dinner?”
“I love the way you say my name,” he whispers gruffly. “I’ll love it even more when you say it as you come.” His hand floats down and cups the apex of my thighs. He doesn’t move, just teases with a push of firm, tight pressure. A small moan leaks from my mouth and slips into his. “Do you want me?”
Disbelief washes over me. I can’t believe I’m doing this. “Yes.”
“Not yet,” he breathes against my ear.
The elevator dings and the doors slide open, welcoming a rush of chilly air into the lift. It hits my cheeks and I’m thankful for the relief. Tanner leads me out into the hall, briskly nodding at the people waiting to pass us. I’m still flustered as he directs me up a central, winding stairwell to two wide, dark sliding doors. He reaches for the keypad and punches in a code, and the doors slide open with grace, revealing what could only be the equivalent of a high-rise penthouse apartment. The cabin’s view is just as awe-inspiring as his office view, and the décor is clean and masculine, with nautical touches
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