Lust and Lies 04 - Pretty Maids in a Row

"I may have made a slight miscalculation about the innocence, though. That dress doesn't promote innocent thoughts. It's very... alluring."
    "Thank you. I've had it for ages." Ever since this afternoon.
    "Why didn't you wear the one you wore at the benefit dinner, like I asked you to yesterday?"
    She touched his cheek as she moved around his side carrying the vase. "Probably because you didn't ask . You told me to wear it. Now, had you asked..."
    "Like a good little boy? Sorry. You can't turn a big, bad wolf into a good little boy. Only witches can do that." He tweaked her nose as a reminder that she had no such power then followed her back into the living room. She set the vase down on a table and picked up a small silver purse that matched her shoes.
    With a perfectly sincere expression, she said, "The last man who underestimated my power now spends his days barking and chasing cars. Shall we go?"
    He rolled his eyes to the ceiling, wondering if she hadn't already worked some sort of spell on him. How in the world was he going to keep his hands off her for the next five hours?
    As it turned out, he didn't, though not in the way he had been imagining. During dinner he opened his hand on the table and she placed her palm on his. As they spoke of inconsequential things, their fingers intertwined, slipped apart, and came together again. He fed her a bit of buttered bread and she licked his thumb. She pushed a wayward lock of hair out of his eyes and he kissed her wrist.
    Although he had been to the symphony with women before, he couldn't remember actually enjoying the music. It was just one of those places sophisticated men took classy ladies to impress them. But Holly loved the music, so he loved the music.
    And they held hands. No playing footsie or running fingers up and down thighs until they could finally escape the necessary preliminary rounds and get on to the main event. They held hands and let the music of Brahms and Mozart stimulate their souls. He had never experienced anything quite so sensual.
    For the first time in his adult life, he accepted a woman's invitation to "come in for a nightcap", and actually sat down to have one. He found he really wanted to continue talking to Holly. But when the brandy in their snifters was drained, his mind, and body, were ready for what came more naturally to him.
    She could not recall ever having such a perfect evening. As much as she would have preferred to dislike David and remain unaffected by his charm, it was impossible. Throughout the evening he behaved like the suave gentleman he appeared to be. In spite of a restaurant and concert hall full of beautiful women, he only had eyes for her.
    He had suppressed his innate sexuality beneath a civilized veneer, and her reaction to that was somewhat shocking. She realized she had come to enjoy his innuendos and the constant teasing that kept her in a state of expectancy. All evening his touches and caresses were attentive without being aggressive. She should have been pleased with that. Instead she was wondering how long he was going to make her wait for another of his heart-stopping kisses. God help her, she was dying for him to make love to her again.
    As if admitting it to herself was the key, her waiting was ended. He took her glass and set it on the table then helped her rise from the couch. Only one word was needed, and he spoke it. "Where?"
    She led him to her bedroom.
    Unlike the first time, they savored each moment of their undressing. Their kisses were a physical reflection of the tenderness that had been building between them all evening. And when they moved to the bed it was with a mutual desire to please and be pleased. "Holly, as much as I'd like to continue this without further discussion, there's something we neglected the last time. I'm normally very careful but I wasn't exactly prepared for what happened between us."
    She tilted her head at him. "Are you admitting that David Wells, Most Eligible Bachelor in D.C., lost his cool?"
    He nipped her earlobe. "And whose fault was that? Don't answer. The point is, we're both mature, responsible adults, and should have handled things better. It's a little late but I want you to know I have always used protection when I, um, have been with other women, so—"
    "So, I won't catch anything? Neither will you, if that's what you're worried about. I'm perfectly healthy."
    "Actually, it never occurred to me that you weren't. I just wanted you to know I usually