Janelle Denison - Sinfully Sweet

REBECCA EXITED the elevator and headed toward her hotel room, glad that the cocktail party was over and she was able to slip out relatively unnoticed. She’d had a nice time mingling with the bridal party and Greg’s family and had managed to avoid running into Connor. However, her attempts at putting distance between them hadn’t stopped the rogue from watching her from afar.

Every time she’d happened to casually glance his way their eyes would meet, and with a lazy sweep of his gaze he’d make her feel as though she was wearing provocative, revealing lingerie, instead of the button-up silk blouse, straight A-line skirt, and no-nonsense pumps. Then, as if that hadn’t been enough to make her melt, he’d followed up that smoldering glance with a private, breath-stealing smile that had kept her body in a constant state of awareness.

Even now, a pleasant buzz of desire seemed to hum through her veins, and she knew it had nothing to do with the one glass of champagne she’d consumed. No, this intimate longing had been her constant companion since Connor had caught her eating that chocolate-covered strawberry in a very seductive manner. What had begun as a slow burn at the candy shop had gradually increased over the course of the evening into a full-blown craving. For Connor.

Digging her key card from her purse, she shook that notion from her head, only to be replaced by the image of how well he’d cleaned up from his T-shirt and jeans. For the evening’s festivities, he’d changed into a pair of brown slacks and a tan knit shirt that did incredible things for his bedroom eyes. His disheveled hair had been combed away from his face, making his gorgeous, chiseled features even more pronounced. And she wasn’t the only one who’d noticed how hot he’d looked, either, considering the way a few of Celeste’s bridesmaids had tried to capture Connor’s attention. She’d expected him to flirt with those other younger women as he did with her, but much to her surprise he remained polite and sociable, expressing no interest in any of the females other than to make cordial conversation-much to the girls’ disappointment.

So why did Connor’s lack of interest in other women give her such a perverse sense of satisfaction? The question, she decided, didn’t bear close scrutiny.

She entered her room and turned on the light in the sitting area, all too aware of how quiet the place was since her sister was staying the night in the bridal suite. Setting her purse and key card down on a small table, she kicked off her pumps and curled her toes into the plush carpeting.

Pink foil in the shape of half a heart caught the overhead light and winked at her. When she’d arrived back from Sinfully Sweet earlier that afternoon she’d left the candy that Ellie had given her on the table, unopened, just to prove to herself that she had the willpower to resist its seductive pull. But now, it seemed to tempt and tease her with its presence, beckoning her to eat the luscious, creamy bit of ambrosia.

“Oh, what the hell,” she murmured to herself. She had no desire to take part in the Valentine contest Sinfully Sweet was sponsoring, but there was absolutely no reason why she should waste such a generous piece of the richest, most amazing chocolate she’d ever tasted.

She unwrapped the candy and ate it leisurely, and with as much enjoyment as she had her strawberry that afternoon. Her moans of pleasure were for her ears only as her taste buds savored each bite of pure ecstasy.

Much to her disappointment, her moment of heavenly bliss was over much too soon, leaving her feeling unfulfilled, restless, and aching for a whole lot more. Thank goodness she hadn’t purchased a whole box of chocolates for herself or she would have lain in bed tonight with a good book and eaten each and every one.

She scooped up the wrappings to throw them away in the trash, but the strip of paper with a typed message on it caught her attention. No way was she going to gallivant all over town trying to match up her note with someone else’s, but she was more than a tad curious to see what her hidden message might reveal.

Unfolding the piece of paper, she read the contents:

Opposites do attract.

Be bold. Be spontaneous.

Go for it!

A burst of amused laughter escaped her. Oh, now that was funny, she mused as she made her way back to the bedroom to change, because she was so not daring or adventurous.

A white box topped with an elaborate red bow sat on her pillow, stopping Rebecca in her tracks. Once her initial surprise faded, she moved closer. Obviously, The Delaford didn’t do little mint chocolates at night. They gave their guests something more memorable. She couldn’t argue with that.

Making herself comfortable on the bed, she lifted the pretty box onto her lap. Dying to know what was inside, she slipped off the ribbon and opened the lid to reveal six of the most perfect chocolate-dipped strawberries, all individually wrapped in clear cellophane and sealed with a gold Sinfully Sweet sticker. There was a small envelope with her name on the front, and she pulled out the note card tucked inside. Written in a bold masculine print were the words “Be Mine,” followed by Connor’s name. Beneath that was his room number.

Her stomach fluttered with a strange inner excitement and delight, and she couldn’t stop the grin that tipped up the corners of her lips. The man was definitely creative, she had to give him that. And he certainly wasn’t a quitter, even in the face of another possible rejection from her.

Opposites do attract.

The words she’d found inside her chocolate heart half whispered in her mind as she fingered one of the treats. That much was true about herself and Connor. The two of them were as opposite as a couple could get, what with his carefree, laid-back attitude, and her more structured lifestyle. He was impetuous and she was cautious-especially when it came to men.

Unable to resist the strawberries, she tore open the cellophane sealing one of them and took a big bite, certain that she was going to return to work on Monday ten pounds heavier from all the desserts she’d consumed this weekend. At the moment, with the sweetest piece of fruit and chocolate melting in her mouth, she didn’t care.

Be bold. Be spontaneous, a little voice repeated, taking advantage of her deepest yearnings and fantasies when she was weak and susceptible from both the arousing chocolate and the loneliness of losing her sister this weekend. But the more those words chanted in her head, the more empowered and daring they made her feel. She took another bite of her strawberry, the sweet juice she swallowed like a liquid boost of courage.

Go for it.

Three little words that were incredibly effective and persuasive, especially when she was under the influence of such seductive chocolate.

All the reasons why she’d resisted Connor for so long fell to the wayside when she thought about their attraction in basic, elemental, physical terms. He wanted her, and Lord knew she wanted him. He was virile, and hotter than any guy she’d ever dated. And sex with him would no doubt be amazing. She shivered as she imagined that strong body of his moving over her, and inside her, in slow, deep strokes…

The sinful thought caused her to press her knees together, the surge of warmth between her thighs a direct reminder of just how long it had been since she’d been with a man. At the moment, it seemed like forever.

Maybe, just maybe, if she accepted the invitation to be his , they could both fulfill this craving they had and finally get one another out of their respective systems. Then she could move on and continue her quest for the kind of man she could settle down with. Someone driven, steadfast, and who had the same goals that she did.