Topaz snuggled deeper into the burgundy cushions and smiled in appreciation of his lips tracing the tops and undersides of her breasts. She chewed her bottom lip when his thumb and forefinger manipulated one nipple with teasing strokes and squeezes. She felt the tip of his nose encircle the other rigid nipple.
“Alex, please, please ... ” she begged, enticing him to put his mouth on her. “Please ...” she whispered, when he did not oblige.
Alex, however, was battling a war within himself. Desperate to take what he wanted—what she offered—he squeezed his eyes shut tight to silence the warnings screaming inside his head. Suddenly, he moved away, pulling her arms from around his neck. “Topaz, fix this,” he ordered, referring to the loosened tie that had secured her blouse. “I should take you home,” he told her again, his tone signaling that his decision was final.
“What about the garage? How’s that workin’ out?”
“Well, she hasn’t really been heavily recruited.”
“Well, get her recruited!”
“She and those two contractors are gonna take time. They aren’t as easy as some of the others.”
“Well, make them easy or make them irrelevant.”
Alex arrived on Topaz’s doorstep promptly at 8:00 p.m. When she answered the door, his seemingly translucent gaze narrowed sharply as he took in the devastating cut of her gown. The black beaded leaf dress was floor length with deep side splits. The V neckline drew attention to her provocative bustline. Black roses and leaves trailed a diagonal path across the silky creation. Double spaghetti straps emphasized the graceful curve of her neck and shoulders while dipping low to meet at the small of her back.
He cleared his throat softly, bringing his gaze to her face. “Are you ready?” he asked.
“I only need to get my jacket,” Topaz whispered, trying to take her mind off how incredible he appeared in the finely tailored tuxedo. The silk bow tie was still loose and hanging around the shirt’s unfastened collar.
“I’ll just wait out here,” Alex decided, already turning to leave the porch.
“Would you come in please?” she called from the doorway.
Alex hung his head. “Topaz—”
“I insist ... please,” she whispered, stepping aside and waiting.
He slowly complied, strolling into the foyer with both hands hidden deep within his trouser pockets.
Topaz smoothed her palms across her gown and took a baby step toward him. “Alex did I do something wrong? Last night? Was I ... too forward?”
Alex could have laughed had it not been for the uncertainty he saw on her face. “Baby, you didn’t do a thing wrong,” he quietly reassured her, “you did everything right.” Too right.
“Then why didn’t you make love to me?”
Alex bowed his head, grinding his teeth as thoughts of that night flooded his memory. The way she responded to his touch and whispered his name when he ...
“Baby we better make a move if—”
“Alex, wait,” she urged, moving before him when he would have walked past her. “Can’t you just answer my question first?”
He looked everywhere but her face. “Honey, you know we shouldn’t be too late,” he cautioned.
Topaz could see he was struggling to contain his emotions. She searched his gorgeous face, her eyes tracing the angular curve of his jaw and his magnificent gaze. Finally, she turned away, deciding to let the subject drop.
Alex watched her collect her things. He studied every inch of her body, appraising the graceful length of her neck bared by the upswept style of her hair. Curled tendrils bounced against her shoulders. The dress molded to every dip and curve she possessed. The deep split bared one leg almost to her upper thigh and he could feel himself responding physically and emotionally.
Topaz turned to find Alex already holding open the door—a silent message to hurry. The drive to the outskirts of Charlotte was silent.
“Listen, thank you for coming here tonight,” Topaz was saying later, when Alex parked his SUV on the front lawn amid scores of other vehicles. “I promise we won’t stay long,” she added.
“I don’t mind being here, Topaz,” he told her in a soft voice.
She offered no reply and left the truck without his assistance.
Alex caught up to her, keeping his hand at the middle of her back as they headed up the steep front stairway leading to the stately home. He could feel Topaz stiffen beneath his touch and silently cursed himself for creating the wall between them. He was moments away from pulling her into his arms and confessing all, when the double doors opened and they were greeted by a tall, middle-aged dark man.
“Topaz!”
“Hey, Samuel,” she greeted, favoring her aunt’s butler with a warm hug.
Samuel Moore grinned, stepping back to inspect the young woman he’d known since she was an infant. “Lovely,” was all he could say.
“Thank you,” Topaz replied with a slow nod. “Where’s Miss Rita?” she asked, referring to Samuel’s wife and her aunt’s head cook.
Samuel rolled his eyes. “Where else but in the kitchen? And she’ll kill us both if you don’t stop in there and speak to her before you go.”
Topaz smiled and kissed Samuel’s cheek. “I promise.”
“Topaz? Darling! Is that you?”
