Instruction in Seduction (7 page)

“Then what’s the problem? You’re chasing it around the plate?”

Ailsa blew away a wispy tendril of her hair. “It’s just so fantastic. And it must cost a fortune. And it’s better than many newlyweds get on honeymoon and I can’t believe you’ve gone to this much effort and now I feel like you’ve gone to all this trouble for me.”

As soon as the words were out Ailsa realised her seductress mask had slipped irreparably.

“Why wouldn’t I go to trouble for you?” Nick held up a stalling hand. “I can afford it. Worrying is not on the menu. I won’t bite. Chillax okay. I wanted to do this; I’m actually doing the owner a favour coming here at all. He’d like me to stay longer. He’s begged me for years.” Nick blushed deeply at the confession then held his champagne flute to his lips. She saw his jaw flex. He slowly sipped. Then steeled himself. His eyes bored into hers.

She looked at him askance. “You’re not just saying that to make me feel better?”

“Want me to call him and make him tell you that?” Nick went into his pocket and took out his iphone.

Ailsa held out a stalling hand. “No need to go to those lengths,” Ailsa answered, now feeling foolish. “I am relaxed,” she said and dropped her napkin then scrabbled on the floor to get it. Nick’s fingers brushed hers when he reached it first. The point of contact scorched like it was molten.

Relaxed pah
. So relaxed her toes were tapping on the carpeted floor hidden beneath the table. Her fingers clutching at the cutlery.

“You relaxed? And a porcupine isn’t prickly. You’re wired. Come on, loosen up here.”

“Turns out you lead a millionaire lifestyle and I’m suddenly out of my league. Who was I kidding?”

“You’re frightened of success and money? Or of me?”

“Both. I’m worried I’ll let you down. Worried it’s under false pretences; I really don’t go around propositioning men for hot nights together. In fact, I guess now that I’m getting to crunch point I’m wondering if I really can.”

As soon as the words were out she realised she’d gone and defied Kirsty’s mantra. She’d screwed up on her mission.

All her well crafted preparations tumbled down to reveal the patent truth. At her own admission, she wasn’t up to this. She was fake.

Half an hour at this place with Nick and she’d gone right back to her Pygmalion of Passion roots. She was faking assertiveness. Lying about being a vamp. In the face of such open opulence she just couldn’t keep up the ruse. But surely truth was better than falsehood?

She stood up. Laid down her napkin, “I should go.”

She may be wearing Lisa’s clothes; but clothes alone didn’t make the vamp.

Ailsa Murray didn’t do this kind of thing. She couldn’t keep up the façade.

“I’m just not hungry right now,” she said and pushed her plate away. “As divine as everything is, it’s shown me I’m just not equipped.”

Nick stood up and stopped her in her tracks from walking away from the table.

“There’s no pressure or expectation from me. If you look through there,” Nick said, pointing with his finger, “you’ll see that there are two rooms in this suite. As I said an enjoyable evening getting to know each other with entirely no pressure from me. Stop over-thinking things.”

His words made her heart wobble and her resolve melt.

“Don’t use any excuse you can to spook yourself.”

She looked where he’d pointed and indeed there was a room, he even took her to the master suite to prove it. Two amazing rooms, with no inter-connecting door. No expectation.

He wasn’t just romancing her, he was rocking her world.

“Now I feel like an idiot.” She pulsed her temples with her fingers.

He smoothed his hands down her arms. Then did so again and she almost melted on the floor in front of him. “Don’t. Just kiss me and I’ll forget all about it,” he urged her. And welcomed her into the cave of his arms. She was inches from his chest, his warmth. And magnetised by the heat of the man.

His head lowered to hers. Their lips met and the molten heat that he always incited with that deft flick of lips and tongue started an instant inferno. My, his kisses were magic. And he didn’t prolong the kiss either. He pulled back and gave her a heart-stopping smile.

“I’m not letting you go tonight. I made that mistake once before.”

And Ailsa realised she’d done him a huge disservice assuming he may have seedy motives. The man was the most romantic man she’d ever met in her entire life. What kind of idiot was she, doubting him?

“Was that kiss okay? Don’t want to peak too soon?” His handsome smile curled in mischief.

“Think I peaked from the moment I walked in.”

Nick confided, “I saw your TV ad. You never said you’re such a temptress. I’ve put a deposit on a leather three piece. I may even go back for the recliner chair.”

Ailsa laughed. “I’ll have you know I’m the sexiest thing on sofas in Scotland. There was a poll about it once. None of them imagine I’m this awful at dates though.”

Most men went into fits of trying to impress her. Nick took it in his stride.

“You’re so much better in real life than the model version.”

“The modelling is cheesy but it’s a regular contract. I’m saving money for my business start-up.”

“Tell me more?” he encouraged.

“I love my day job working for a tour company in the old town that runs ghost tours. But I want to start a drama club for disaffected kids. I’ve been studying at nights to finish my qualifications. All I need is money now and I won’t stop until I’ve done it.”

Nick’s eyes held hers and softened. “Very commendable. You really are a woman of hidden talents.” He placed down his folded damask napkin like it was a done deal. “In that case I heartily endorse the modelling for getting you where you want to be.”

“If you’re not going to eat all this wonderful food.” He took her fingers in his. “Then the least we can do is go over to the sofa and make ourselves comfortable while we get better acquainted?”

Ailsa smiled.

“I think you read my mind,” she answered.

***

“I’m glad you’re here,” he took her hand. “I want you to know, I’m no playboy. Cross my heart. I’m pretty useless at chatting up. Would you believe the most I ever get out is for a weekly game of squash and a run? Yes I’m successful in my business and I have the trappings of success. My business in on the travel enterprise A List. But I mostly live and breathe work. Which doesn’t leave social time.”

“So what do you do?”

“I own EliteEscape Dot Com. I started it from my back bedroom at home when I left hotel management. It grew. And grew. Now I employ 6000 people.”

Ailsa’s eyes opened wide. “You’ve won awards. My Aunty used them for a special anniversary cruise and she said it was the holiday of a lifetime.”

Nick smiled, pleased at the compliment. “I’m just an internet geek who loves computers and to travel. Combine the two and the job was made for me. Beach bum with techie traits, that’s me.”

“Is this a line to make me drool? Or are you hiding that clearly you’ve a mastermind business brain and you’re a computer ace too.”

“You often fall for internet geeks who spend all their free time flying in and out of meetings and chasing their tails?”

He stopped to click on a fancy coffee machine that bleeped and seconds later the air was full of fresh java aroma. Then he kicked off his loafers with a smile. His grey and yellow toed socks made her smile.

“Hence why chic hotel owners want you.”

“Chic hotel owners suffer from the credit crunch as much as everybody. Thankfully I can make empty rooms an opportunity rather than a cash flow crisis. At the end of the day my company is about high end branding and endorsement. Plus I’m select enough to bring some very exclusive and wealthy names to these hotels and that brings caché. My company’s a brand stamp hotels and select locations want. That could all change at any time, of course.”

Wow. What a guy.

Ailsa looked around, took in the room was little short of splendour. There were big spongy sofas and an enormous maxi-fun-sized bed visible through the doorway. He may play it down all he liked, but this man wasn’t just doing well. He was leagues of success out of her reach.

“Nick, there’s something you should know.”

Her abdomen may have started to swell like a washing machine on the slow warm rinse programme but she wanted to tell it to stop. It was no doubt at Nick’s seductive tones. But really this wasn’t what she was comfortable with. No matter how hot the partner. He needed the facts; she had to be straight.

“I’m not as free and wild and loose and easy as I suggested,” she confided.

Nick just watched her. As weird electrical charges started off in her veins and coursed around her body pumping their energy to parts of her long neglected and in need of playtime. But now was not their prized moment to clamour for kicks.

Ailsa glanced yet again at the football pitch-sized bed under spotlights. It was practically shouting 'Hope you like performing floodlit.'

Ailsa gulped, “Look Nick. It’s been a lovely evening but I’m not that kinda girl. I’m not sassy, I’m not strident. I was faking a lie.” She gulped then ran on, unable to stop. “I like you a lot. I fancied you so very badly years ago but there’s no getting around this just isn’t me. I’m leagues away from Sofa Girl in real life.” She’d opened up a dam now. And it was threatening a gush of explanation and woe betide anyone who wanted to stem the flow. “When I wear stockings I ladder them. Spike heels don’t suit me, I trip. When I try sexy underwear I feel like I’m playing dress up. I’m a flirtation fraud. I only asked you to sleep with me to try and break out of my boring mould. When push comes to shove I can’t do it.”

He gave her a solemn devastating look. Nick cleared his throat and then he pulled her to him. Pulled her so hard she sat right on top of his lap on the sofa.

Their noses were no more than half an inch apart. His breathing in such close proximity did sensational things to her insides. Hot meltdown inducing things.

“Don’t talk. Or make excuses. Or tell me you can’t. Just kiss me like you did last night. Imagine it’s the only time we’ll ever get to do it again.”

His eyes speared hers.

Suddenly she wanted to kiss. She wanted to kiss passionately and crazily and let her fingers and her tongue go wild as she undressed them both with abandon.

His lips met hers briefly. Gently. Tiny butterfly touches as they’d both shut their eyes and gently explored the sacred art of that one special kiss. It was a sensory exploration that inflamed but also tantalised and soothed long neglected impulses.

Nick sat back. “You can’t possibly know you can’t do it until you try. And that’s not a line to get you into my bed. You’re way too hard on yourself. This isn’t something I can walk away from quite so easily.” Nick reached out to touch her face. His fingers brushing torch heat as he did. “Walk away if you really don’t feel something amazing. One more kiss and give me your best shot.”

She did.

She pushed her mouth to his and let her lips entice him. Let her tongue trace the seam of that full, gorgeous mouth. Felt her breath hitch as his hands clasped her to keep her close and his mouth opened and welcomed her. They kissed; the best slow, blissful meeting of mouths she’d experienced. When she finally pulled back Ailsa would’ve sworn he’d see the stars in her eyes.

Nick fixed her with his gaze, “The woman who appears on TV looking like the answer to every young man’s fantasy is sitting on my hotel room sofa, telling me she’s not cut out for this. I think you’re wrong. But I like you all the more for your confessions, your honesty. And that kiss. If you want to leave you’re welcome to go.”

When she blinked back at him she found his arms encircle her waist and his expert hands did some strange barely touching thing that made her shiver. “Or you could stay. And go with exploring the new real you. Without pressure or expectation.”

Ailsa felt hypnotised by the seductive power of watching his lips.

And then he kissed her neck softly. His fingers travelled to the tiny zip at the back of her dress.

“I thought I was supposed to be seducing you?”

“Why not let me show you how it’s done?”

Nick looked her square in the eyes as she heard the zip buzz down. “Do you always have this problem with men undressing you on sofas?”

“Actually not until now.” She giggled in spite of herself.

He placed another delectable kiss on her neck, let his lips travel down making her breathe deep to stay afloat. Then his lips met hers. Parted them, dove deep, replenished and incited.

Mouths opened, tongue slid and teased tongue with speed and ease. That kiss should have been illegal. Censored and sent to prison for a long long time to mend its wayward ways.

Somehow her dress was around her shoulders. So she was reclining on the sofa in her barely there lingerie and her dress a wispy blanket. She felt him slowly unfastening her dress belt and Nick was doing amazing things with his lips on the skin of her neck and shoulders.

Slowly he let the dress fall away. Then with the very tips of his fingers he pulled it down…

Ailsa felt the closeness of his fingertips act like drawing a magnet over iron filings. The tips of his thumbs skimmed the mound of her breasts that swelled above her bra. She heard his breath quicken and it was divine.

He licked his finger and brushed around the edge of her bra cup, which caused pleasure to swell inside her in greeting and made her sigh and groan aloud. Her nipples swelled with need.

“Told you this evening together would be magic,” he whispered and kissed her again. Nick stroked the skin of her torso beneath her bra so very softly.

He held her gaze then bent his head to kiss her from her neck, across the sweep of her shoulders, then down to her silky bra.

And Ailsa knew she didn’t want him to stop. She closed her eyes and savoured that brief snatch of paradise. Surely Kirsty wouldn’t mind her relinquishing power this once in favour of instruction?

And Nick proved himself more than up to the job of taking the lead from there. He pulled her close to him and made her stand. Then somehow navigated them in a close tango into the bedroom, towards the bed.