Lynn Montagano - Catch My Breath

“Just ‘fine’?”

I shrugged. He touched my shoulder again. A surge of heat rushed through me.

“Sounds like you weren’t able to achieve maximum satisfaction. Need a personal trainer?”

I held my breath and counted to ten before answering. Jesus.

“Let me guess. You think you’re the perfect guy for the job,” I smirked.

Alastair’s eyes darkened. Whatever shield he had in place over them slid away unleashing a fiery intensity. We just stared at each other. I moistened my lips almost as a reflex.

“Do you have plans tonight?” he asked, not releasing me from his tractor beam stare.

“No,” I answered, a bit too breathy. “Why?”

“Thought maybe I could show you around the city. Football and charity benefits aren’t a proper way to see Glasgow.”

“Hey,” Darren interrupted, leaning forward. “I hate to cut this short, but I gotta go. We’ll walk you girls back to the hotel.”

“That’s not necessary Darren. I’ll walk Lia back when we’re finished. You two can go.” He leaned back, lowering his hands to his lap.

The calm, commanding tone he used sent a shockwave through me. I saw Stephanie’s eyes widen in disbelief.

“I won’t be too much longer,” I said, finally finding my voice.

The three of them had a brief conversation but I wasn’t aware of any of it. I was too busy focusing on the circular strokes he was making on my thigh. His powerful energy surrounded me, invading every fiber of my being. Thank goodness the table was wide enough to cover up his shenanigans. I snapped awake just as they walked off. The sounds and smells of the restaurant came roaring back, clanging through my brain.

“What are you doing?” I barked, jerking my leg away.

“Nothing,” he muttered, pulling his wallet out from his back pocket. He dropped a handful of bills on the table. “Let’s go for a walk.”

We stepped out into the crisp evening air. I hoped it would knock a few degrees off my increased body temperature. Alastair placed his hand at the small of my back, guiding me down the sidewalk. I had no idea where he was taking me, but since it was a busy street, I figured kidnapping was out of the question.

He glanced over his shoulder before gently taking my elbow and moving me towards a cluster of trees next to a nearby building. There was a nice little park-like atmosphere with benches and shrubbery. My blood froze as his luminous eyes locked with mine.

“Can I see you again tomorrow?”

“We’re supposed to be going to Edinburgh for the day.”

“Change your plans.” It wasn’t so much a question as it was an order.

I crossed my arms and gave him a look. “I’m not going to ditch Stephanie.”

“Is Darren going with you tomorrow?” he asked, moving closer to me.

“Yep.”

“He’ll be more than enough company for your friend.” He pulled gently on the end of my braid. It resonated deep within me, setting off a spark. I had to get away from him.

“Alastair, I’m not—”

He held my face, the warmth of his skin washing over me. “Tell me you don’t feel whatever this is between us, and I’ll walk away now.”

Blood pounded in my ears while Alastair traced his fingers along my jaw. His movements were smooth and controlled, as though he was afraid he'd spook me. I lost my ability to breathe as my mouth went dry. His verdant gaze made my knees shake.

Of course I felt whatever it was that hummed between us. I felt it since last night but I’d never admit it to him.

“I should get back to the hotel.”

“Why?”

“Because I didn’t come here looking for this,” I snapped, my voice rising. “If anything, I want to get away from it.”

“My kitten has claws.” His smug grin irked me.

“I’m not your kitten. I don’t want whatever it is you’re offering,” I grumbled.

Staring at me for several seconds, he stroked the curve of my cheek then dipped his mouth close to my ear.

“Your body betrays you, Lia.”

Desire ran thickly through my veins as he slowly moved his hands down my neck, over my shoulders and onto my waist. I wet my dry lips, eliciting a small groan from him. It was a gorgeous sound, immediately conjuring images of him and I tangled together on the ground where we stood. I was in the middle of a busy city on a sidewalk, yet he made me feel like we were completely alone.

My walls finally went up with a resounding bang, enabling me to snap myself out of his powerful trance.

“I can’t…I’m not interested in being a one-night stand for you.”

I pulled away from him sharply and walked back to the hotel on wobbly legs. I willed myself to make it to the elevators. The concierge smiled warmly as I stumbled past. When the elevator arrived I jumped in like it was my salvation. Thankfully nobody else was around. I slumped against the wall and exhaled.

I didn’t stop shaking until I was safely in the room.

“You’re back already?” Stephanie yelled from the bathroom. “I’m taking a bubble bath. We’ll talk when I’m done.”

Collapsing onto the couch, I covered my eyes with my arm. My head pounded, my skin tingled and my heart raced. Never in my life had I experienced such a strong reaction to a person. A soft knock at the door startled me.

I shuffled over and opened it without looking through the peephole. A young man dressed in the hotel’s concierge uniform smiled at me.

“Amelia Meyers?”

“Yes.”

“This is for you,” he said, handing me a small envelope.

“Thank you.”

“Cheers, miss. Good night.”

I closed the door, went back to the couch and opened it. Written in perfect block penmanship was a phone number and a simple request: Call me. Please. Alastair x

“That was some serious flirting I saw today. Well done.” Stephanie perched on the edge of the couch, towel drying her hair. I quickly folded the note.

“What’s that?” she asked.

Dammit.

“Nothing.”

“Don’t ‘nothing,’ me. The two of you flirted and circled each other like dogs all day. What happened after Darren and I left?”

“Nothing.”

“You are the worst liar on the planet,” she exclaimed, throwing her hands in the air. “That man is sex on a stick. I could feel the tension between you guys and I wasn’t even taking part in the conversation. You were mentally tearing his clothes off all afternoon. And he’s so primed and ready for you, it’s not even funny.”

“There will be none of that.” I clenched the note, crinkling the paper.

"Oh come on. Enjoy it."

“Is there a particular reason why you want me to have what will most likely be a one-night stand with this guy?”

“He’s hot. His entire physical being exudes wild, uninhibited sex. Do a little something for yourself for once. You need this. Grab him, throw him down and use him for his body.”

“Gee, when you put it like that…”

“You’re a fabulous, successful, available twenty-seven year old woman. But you’ve become too buttoned up and in control all the time. Where’s my spontaneous Lia? My bold Lia? I miss her.”

We exchanged glances. I sighed.

“She’s still there, Steph. It’s just taking me a bit to find her again.”

“Sweetie, just because Nathan turned out to be a grade-A asshole doesn’t mean you should let it rule the rest of your life. You have to live a little.”

* * *

I stared at my cell phone. Ten-thirty. It was still relatively early, but Stephanie had already turned in for the night. I was sitting alone in the suite’s living room, wide-awake and twitchy. The crumpled note beckoned me from the coffee table. It annoyed me that I couldn’t get him out of my mind but I couldn’t help myself. I reached for the phone, ignoring all of my instincts as they screamed in protest.