tongue trace the seam of that full, gorgeous mouth. Felt her breath hitch as his hands clasped her to keep her close and his mouth opened and welcomed her. They kissed; the best slow, blissful meeting of mouths she’d experienced. When she finally pulled back Ailsa would’ve sworn he’d see the stars in her eyes. Nick fixed her with his gaze, “The woman who appears on TV looking like the answer to every young man’s fantasy is sitting on my hotel room sofa, telling me she’s not cut out for this. I think you’re wrong. But I like you all the more for your confessions, your honesty. And that kiss. If you want to leave you’re welcome to go.” When she blinked back at him she found his arms encircle her waist and his expert hands did some strange barely touching thing that made her shiver. “Or you could stay. And go with exploring the new real you. Without pressure or expectation.” Ailsa felt hypnotised by the seductive power of watching his lips. And then he kissed her neck softly. His fingers travelled to the tiny zip at the back of her dress. “I thought I was supposed to be seducing you?” “Why not let me show you how it’s done?” Nick looked her square in the eyes as she heard the zip buzz down. “Do you always have this problem with men undressing you on sofas?” “Actually not until now.” She giggled in spite of herself. He placed another delectable kiss on her neck, let his lips travel down making her breathe deep to stay afloat. Then his lips met hers. Parted them, dove deep, replenished and incited. Mouths opened, tongue slid and teased tongue with speed and ease. That kiss should have been illegal. Censored and sent to prison for a long long time to mend its wayward ways. Somehow her dress was around her shoulders. So she was reclining on the sofa in her barely there lingerie and her dress a wispy blanket. She felt him slowly unfastening her dress belt and Nick was doing amazing things with his lips on the skin of her neck and shoulders. Slowly he let the dress fall away. Then with the very tips of his fingers he pulled it down… Ailsa felt the closeness of his fingertips act like drawing a magnet over iron filings. The tips of his thumbs skimmed the mound of her breasts that swelled above her bra. She heard his breath quicken and it was divine. He licked his finger and brushed around the edge of her bra cup, which caused pleasure to swell inside her in greeting and made her sigh and groan aloud. Her nipples swelled with need. “Told you this evening together would be magic,” he whispered and kissed her again. Nick stroked the skin of her torso beneath her bra so very softly. He held her gaze then bent his head to kiss her from her neck, across the sweep of her shoulders, then down to her silky bra. And Ailsa knew she didn’t want him to stop. She closed her eyes and savoured that brief snatch of paradise. Surely Kirsty wouldn’t mind her relinquishing power this once in favour of instruction? And Nick proved himself more than up to the job of taking the lead from there. He pulled her close to him and made her stand. Then somehow navigated them in a close tango into the bedroom, towards the bed. His body was all hard planes. His ragged, fast breathing made her head spin. He did things with his tongue that said, I’m fantastic in bed and you’ll regret it if you don’t let me seduce you . His body said, hey I’m so fit and strong you’ll never let me go . “I hope I’ve stalled your reservations now I’m turning you on.” It was no word of a lie. “I think you might be onto something,” she whispered. “To think I wasted a whole year just giving you dictation and audio tapes,” he whispered. “I really needed my head examined.” *** Nick crooked her chin up and kissed her; just as she’d imagined at nineteen. How perfect was that? Heaven was there within her grasp. Eight years ago it would have been her every waking fantasy come true. Okay it