Star of His Heart - Brenda Jackson [60]
Then she saw him.
He was standing in the shadows across the room, watching her but not saying anything. An element of some type of sexual charge penetrated the atmosphere surrounding them, increasing and sharpening their awareness of each other. She took a deep breath as self-preservation instincts surged through her but they didn’t stand a chance right now, not with her adrenaline pumping fast and furious through her veins and with her breathing becoming long and deep.
And especially not when he took a step forward into the light.
All she could do was to stand there and stare at him. His eyes were darker than usual. His hair was undone and flowed around his shoulders, held back by a headband. He had taken the time to stop by the hotel to change clothes. He was no longer wearing his marine uniform but was wearing a pair of jeans and a fringed cowhide vest that was open, exposing a bare muscular chest that glistened with a thin sheen of sweat.
He took another step. Then another. Stalking slowly and increasing her heart rate with every move he took. Parts of her…all of her throbbed with the electrical energy surging between them—stimulating, invigorating. Arousing.
He came to a stop in front of her. The look in his eyes quickened the sparks that were going off deep inside of her. Taking a deep breath she looked directly into his eyes. “Why did you come, Ashton? Why are you here?”
He gave her a slow, sensuous smile and said calmly, “I came to kidnap you, Netherland.”
Before she could comprehend what he meant, he quickly reached up and touched an area on the side of her neck, directly underneath her ear. His hand felt warm and firm.
That was her last thought before everything went black.
Rome’s fingers curled around Jada’s as they walked from his car. There was a brisk wind in the air and when she shivered, he instinctively gathered her close as they went up the stairs to her apartment.
When they stood in front of her door she turned to him. “Would you like to come inside?”
He smiled. “I was hoping you would ask.” Moments later he reached for her hand before she opened the door. “Thanks for asking.”
After a minute or two of strained silence she smiled and said, “You’re welcome.”
Once they were inside Rome closed the door behind them and immediately pulled her gently into his arms. “Can I kiss you, Jada?” He always asked, never assuming anything.
She looked up at him with both of her hands resting on his firm chest. “Yes. Please.”
And so he did. With amazing gentleness, he touched his lips to hers, tasting her and letting her taste him. Without breaking the kiss, he picked her up in his arms and carried her to the sofa and sat down with her in his lap.
He continued kissing her for a few moments before finally coming up for air.
“Rome!” Her breath came out deep, uneven and she tightened her arms around his neck. “Hold me. Please hold me,” she whispered softly, tightening her hold around his neck.
He held her as she requested, loving the feel of her in his arms. He wanted to do more than just hold her, but knew she wasn’t ready for such a big step in their relationship yet, and he didn’t want to rush her. Tonight, like the other nights before, he would just sit and hold her and make her feel special, as special as he thought she was. He would be leaving next week for Camp Pendleton in California, but he intended to return to Houston to see her every chance he got.
The need to keep her a part of his life was monumental to him.
“I enjoyed myself here tonight, Miss Gilford.”
Rainey looked up from what she was doing and met Howard Reeves’s heated gaze. She smiled. “I’m glad. If you’re ever in town again I hope that you drop by.” She had found out from Nettie—who for a short while had sat at the head table—that he lived in Chicago and was head of security for Chenault Electronics, a nationally known company.