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.
He was branding her with his lips, ruining her for anyone else, marking her with his tongue. Lance’s kiss was changing the way she would think about kisses forevermore. She was gasping for air by the time he lifted his head. And Anna was gratified to see. So was he.
“Anna,” he whispered her name.
“Hello Lance, Annalia, I see you arrived safe and sound,” a familiar voice interrupted them.
Anna raised her shocked face to see Gerri Wilder dancing alongside them with a dashing, silver-haired man. The older woman was resplendent in a snow-white evening gown that accentuated her figure and her trademark haircut.
“Hello Gerri,” Annalia couldn’t stop herself from smiling widely, “Are you having an enjoyable time?”
“Oh, you look beautiful, dear. Yes, it is lovely tonight,” Gerri smiled.
“Good evening, Mrs. Wilder,” Lance smiled.
“Maybe, Mr. Jacosa, but I think we shall have to see,” Gerri’s eyes seemed vacant for a moment as she answered.
A second later, she nodded, and her dance partner spun her away. Lance was still grinning when he turned to Anna. The older woman’s comment was cryptic, but she was more concerned with the dozens of eyes that seemed to be watching them.
“Can I ask you a question, Lance?”
“Of course,” he said, “you can ask me anything.”
“Let’s stop dancing a moment.”
“Of course,” he led her off the floor.
White flower arrangements with pale blue ribbons adorning them sat on several of the tall tables surrounding the dance floor. There had to be four hundred fashionably dressed people in the large space, and suddenly Annalia’s chest squeezed tight.
She hated crowds. Was shy at heart, but the flowers, the perfume, her nerves, all were adding up. Of course, her asthma pump was in her clutch. The very one she’d checked with her coat at the entrance. But she would be okay, Anna just had to breathe slowly.
Take it easy, she scolded herself. Last thing she wanted was to cause a scene.
“Can I get you something? A drink perhaps?”
“Please,” Anna responded and placed her palms flat on the table.
Lance looked worried. She wanted to tell him not to be, but right then she had other things to do. Like breathe. He hailed a passing server. Snagging a glass of champagne from the tray, he handed it to her. Anna nodded her thanks, sipping the chilled wine to soothe her frayed nerves.
“Anna, do you want to go?”
“No, I apologize, I just got winded.”
“You don’t have to apologize,” he frowned.
“Lance? Um, why did you hire Gerri to find you a date?”
“What?”
“Well, look at you. I mean, you’re completely hot, and from the moment we walked into this place, dozens of women have been giving you come hither looks. So, obviously you aren’t struggling for a date,” she noticed a striking blonde headed their way, and rolled her eyes.
“For example,” Annalia sighed.
“Excuse me,” the blonde looked at Anna like she was a bug under her shoe.
She practically pushed her out of her way. Her slim figure was decked out in a skintight dress that showed off not an ounce of fat. Red fingernails reached out and grabbed his lapels as the woman pressed her body against his.
Anna’s whole being tensed. She couldn’t help but stare at the scene as it played out. So, this was his usual date. Made perfect sense. She hardly knew him, had no reason to be hurt, and yet Anna felt like her heart was being torn in two.
Maybe he would push her away? Maybe he would explain the blonde bombshell mistook him for someone else? But no. Anna watched Lance’s expression. Red-faced, like he’d been caught double-dipping. Yes, he was more than uncomfortable. He looked guilty.
Oh no. She wanted to yell, to scream. What an idiot she’d been! Building castles out of a dance!
This was a mistake. Talking to Gerri, agreeing to the makeover, coming here had all been a terrible mistake. Anna didn’t even have to listen to the simpering female to know she was right.
“Lancey-baby, I am so sorry about the other morning. I shouldn’t have left like that,” the thin woman pressed herself against him some more, “I miss you, sexy. Let’s not fight anymore.”
Anna cursed herself ten times for being a fool. Her breathing became strained as her emotions grew even more volatile. This was stupid of her. Sandra was right all along. It didn’t matter what she wore, she had nothing to offer a man. Especially one who looked like that. She should have known better.
But so should he. What the hell was he thinking? Kissing her and dancing with her like she was the only person who existed. Fuck, it wasn’t far! Not at all. The skinny stranger obviously knew him. And he wasn’t even trying to deny her claim. He was looking from Anna to the stranger, but he was silent. Tongue-tied and red-faced as fuck.
That could only mean one thing. The woman’s claims he’d spent the night with her recently were true. This whole date was probably some kind of pity thing. A favor he owed Gerri. Hadn’t he told her she’d helped his whole Tiger Pride?