slant and pressure when he
captured my lips. His kisses were never sloppy, and unlike Charles’s, they had
a definite give-and-take. It was the kind of kiss that made a woman lift one
heel off the ground as she leaned in and let herself get swept away. With Chad,
there was no pricey cologne to distract me—only a hint of aftershave with a fresh,
youthful scent.
His low hum of appreciation sounded like the purr of a
jungle cat. I swallowed the sound and felt it vibrate through my breastbone
before it echoed lower in my body.
Although Chad had no problem with public displays of
affection, he was always careful not to make me uncomfortable. He teased me
with the barest flick of his tongue before he stepped back to give me the full
once-over. I should have been too satiated to feel aroused, but the heat behind
his jade-green gaze ignited tingles beneath my skin.
“ Sei bella ,” he
said in Italian. You’re beautiful. Then in French, “ Je t’adore .” I adore you. “You have to be the sexiest thing on two
legs in that little black dress, Fila. Absolutely stunning.” He fingered one of
the spaghetti straps.
Where Charles had made me blush with his bluntness and
sexual demands, Chad had my cheeks burning rosy with a different sort of
warmth. “You’re such a smooth talker.”
“It’s no more than the truth.”
That’s what I loved about him. He had a way of making me feel
like the center of his world, like some kind of treasure. His compliments did
wonders for my ego, especially since he looked pretty amazing himself.
He’d grown out his hair until it reached his collar, which
made him look like the artist he harbored in his soul. Either that or a fallen
angel. His skin had a much darker tan than either of my other men, and I knew
from firsthand experience he didn’t have any tan lines. Anywhere.
Chad also had the most ripped body. He cultivated his prime
physique with rigorous workouts—running, biking, weight lifting, you name it.
It was always a treat to see him all sweaty and wearing nothing but shorts.
Better yet, the shorts could easily be removed for a different sort of
aerobics.
He was built for seduction, and he knew it. Even the way he
moved when he held my chair for me was sensual.
He returned to his seat across from me. “I hope you don’t
mind. I took the liberty of ordering us some wine.” He wrapped his fingers
around a sleek bottle of red and splashed some into the waiting glasses.
I caught the name on the label and shot him a coy look
through my lashes. “You know very well I don’t mind. This is one of my
favorites.”
“Is it?” His grin turned teasing.
I kept my gaze locked with his as I lifted the glass to my
mouth. The smooth edge of the wineglass felt cool against my lower lip, and the
bold flavor soaked into my tongue before it warmed my throat on the way down.
The sensation reminded me of his welcoming kiss.
The only things standing between us on the small, round
table were the menus and silverware and a center candle flickering in the
evening breeze. Without thinking, I reached out my right hand to take his. His
larger palm engulfed mine, and I felt the metal band of his wedding ring
beneath my fingers.
“So how was your day, love?”
My lips curved as I took another sip. Images of the
lovemaking I’d enjoyed with Chuck and Charles spilled through me as deliciously
as the drink.
“I’ve had a pretty terrific day,” I admitted. “And it’s even
better now that I’m here with you.”
“Good. I missed you.” He managed a boyish pout that brought
my attention back to his mouth.
I laughed, though the sound came out husky. “You say that
like we’ve been apart forever. We just had breakfast together this morning.”
“Maybe it feels like forever.” The way he stroked the stem
of his glass made me cross my legs. “ Ti
penso sempre, Fila . I’m always thinking of you. Tell me everything you’ve
done since we were last together.”
Another of Chad’s