Page 15 of Purrfectly Bound

“Come on, beautiful,” he said.

But Anna stopped and turned to him. She needed to make things clear from the beginning, so there were no false expectations.

“You don’t have to do that, you know,” she said, “call me things like baby or beautiful.”

“Why not? Do you not like that? I would never want to offend-”

“Oh, not,” she shook her head, “I am not offended. I just mean I am a realist. Men don’t do that with me.”

“I don’t know what kind of idiots you’ve dated in the past, Annalia, but when you’re with me I want you to know how gorgeous you are,” the hand on her waist squeezed and she trembled in response, “I mean it. You are absolutely breathtaking.”

She was gonna die. Right there. That, or she was going to come with nothing more than his words. Her breathing was growing heavier. The perfume and cologne in the air made it even more difficult.

But that was not why her pulse was racing. It was in the way this blue-eyed man was practically purring and running a single finger across her cheek. Like she was something precious.

“You are precious,” he murmured, “and beautiful. That’s just the truth, Anna.”

“Thank you,” she whispered, painfully aware she’d spoken aloud again.

Sigh.Annalia stepped back, taking a moment to collect herself. The room was gorgeous, done all in blues and silvers. The event planner had done an outstanding job with the decorations.

“It really looks like a winter wonderland in here,” she mused.

“Right? I like the ice sculptures over there,” Lance nodded to the far wall where a huge forest scene was carved from ice depicting a wide array of wild animals.

“They hired an orchestra too,” she pointed out.

“Would you like to dance?” he asked.

Annalia did not know how much she could take of him touching her before she jumped on him, but yes, she wanted to dance. Nodding, she allowed him to lead her onto the dance floor.

The gleaming wood was packed with beautifully dressed couples moving close together. The ladies dressed in their finest, and men in their suits looked dashing. But no one held a candle to Lance.

Not in her eyes, anyway. The band began to play a beautiful arrangement of a modern dance song with their dozens of wind, string, and wood instruments.

The result a spectacular rendition causing her body to vibrate with need. Or was that him? Lance tugged her gently towards a dark corner of the dance floor, and she was glad. She wanted him all to herself. Craved it. He sheltered her in his big embrace, heat coming off him in waves that made her shiver and shake.

Anna hadn’t been this turned on in forever. A soul-deep craving she’d never experienced. It would have frightened her if she didn’t see the same thing echoed in his own stare.

Concentrate on dancing, she told herself. Easy enough with Lance leading. He moved expertly, guiding her between the other swaying couples. Anna felt like a princess. She smiled, laughing delightfully when the crowd gasped at the sudden dimming of the lights.

“This is like magic,” she said, and rested her head against his chest while he tucked her in close.

“That’s just you, beautiful,” his deep voice and warm breath tickled her ear.

It was all too much. She was on sensory overload. Need coursed through her veins, and Anna turned her head. But there he was. Big and handsome, and so damn close. All she had to do was lean forward, and their lips would meet.

Most of the men she’d kissed were not particularly adept at the activity. A true pity because Annalia loved to kiss. This could be a deal breaker, she reasoned, but better to find out ahead of time.

“Won’t know unless I try,” she whispered.

Lance frowned but caught on as she lifted her face for him. A soft sound, like a growl, escaped his lips before he brushed her mouth with his once, then twice. The light, teasing touches were driving her mad. She licked her lips. Not because she was trying to be seductive, but because she wanted, needed more pressure.

Lance was a fast learner. His lips pressed against hers in a hot and hard crush. He held her closer still, flooding her with his heat. One hand on her waist, the other on her cheek, Lance slid his tongue inside her mouth, dominating her with his seductive skill.

Sirens were going off like mad inside of her. If Anna wasn’t careful, she would be confessing her undying love for the man after one single kiss. Why not? It had happened for her parents that way. Love at first sight. But things like that didn’t happen anymore, the reasonable side of her brain said blandly.

Fuck it, she thought, and threw herself into the moment. She’d never been kissed like that. Never had the world stand still and tremble at the same time while fireworks went off in the sky.